Self-awareness receives a severe rebuke in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus specifically calls out three activities commonly associated with "good" people, alms-giving, prayer, and fasting. In all three cases, he makes it clear that if you are aware of how you look, how righteous you look, you will have your reward, self-satisfaction? But in order gain God's ear, so to speak, to align yourself with the Principle of being, self-awareness must be gone!

We typically think of progress as the accrual of knowledge, skill, assets, or perhaps being a better person, but spiritual progress is totally different. Spiritual progress involves dropping earth-weights, those things that the world smiles upon, but are baggage that impede our journey upward. It is not about trying to improve ourselves, as such, but rather it is about relinquishing “pride of life” and being more able to discern our spiritual nature, to get out of God’s way, exemplified by Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemani: “ O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.“

Too often the kingdom of God is thought of as a place where good people go after death. But this is far from the teaching and legacy of Christ Jesus.
His instructions are clear, for the present, not some future existence: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on… But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

First spoken about by the great prophet, Jeremiah, the New Covenant is presented in Hebrews in the context of the Christ.

Can you imagine? No more proselytizing, no more thinking we know and "they" don't! But, as Science and Health brings out, this state of thought comes with a price. Who is willing to pay it?

It is apparent that Jesus' audience was past the point of worshipping golden calves, but in the Sermon on the Mount he did address other forms of idolatry (placing more importance on material things than on the Principle of being): financial assets, obsessing about food and/or clothing.

This morning I read another challenging passage in the Bible (I look for the challenging passages!) Jesus taught that when you have guests over for dinner or whatever, don't invite your friends, family members or "important people", lest they reciprocate. Instead, invite "the poor, the lame, the maimed, the blind," those who cannot give back - and you will be blessed and rewarded "at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14)

This morning I opened to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (from Paul to the Galations)

What's this all about? Free from what? Paul then went on to say "if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." "Christ shall be of no effect unto you, whosoever are justified by the law." Ouch!! to those faithful church-going types who do everything they are supposed to do...

Jesus said he came so that the blind could see and those with sight would be made blind. Really? Some Pharisees asked if that meant they were blind. Jesus answered, "If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” (John 9)

We have heard so much about being "born again." What's up with that? It is thought that once you profess that Jesus is Lord, or something like that, you are in! Then this morning (from audio selection below) I read that those born of God cannot sin. I'd like to meet that person. (btw - Elsewhere in the same book it says anyone who claims he is without sin is a liar!)

PODCAST

Why did Jesus leave no record of himself? He didn’t write anything down, didn’t establish any church organization, made no effort to nail down his legacy in the usual ways. He certainly could have. He was educated and wise and attracted quite a following. And so, due to his refusal to leave a tangible record of himself, there are those who suggest he never really existed!

I have, on occasion, wondered if Jesus were to appear in my life, would I recognize him? Surely it would be a powerful feeling, but perhaps, what type of feeling would depend on my state of thought at the time.