innercircle university of spiritual psychology
History and Philosophy of The InnerCircle University
History of the InnerCircle University (ICU)
founded in 1981 by Rev. Clara L. Bujol and Nathan L. Crawford, Jr.
The InnerCircle University was formed out of a quest for and a love of education and spirituality. In the foundation of this institution was poured the commitment to honor both African spirituality and Woman’s spirituality as an essential element on the path of Self Knowledge.
The Founder, Rev. Crystal Clarity Bujol, is the daughter of Leslie Joseph Bujol, Sr and Rev. Dr. Ruth Bujol, both now deceased. Dr. Ruth Bujol served as Director of Women’s work for People’s Independent Church of Christ for twenty-two years and was the president and senior teacher of the Metaphysical Bible Institute of America for over fifteen years, until her death. Her dream, to be fulfilled in the evolution of InnerCircle University, was to create an institution where she could teach people to:
Read it for yourself, be it for yourself, know it for yourself . . . Recognize that the “it” is you and the you is the “I Am” of the everything of God.
In 1980, then known as Clara Leslie Bujol, she was a Licensed Religious Science Practitioner at The Guidance Church of Religious Science in Los Angeles, and a member of the International Board of Trustees for the United Church of Religious Science.
With the encouragement and assistance of her husband, Nathan L. Crawford, Jr., she was inspired to write the first full companion workbook for the Science of Mind Textbook, written by Dr. Ernest Holmes, Dean and Founder of Religious Science. The name of her 3-volume set is The Science of YOUR Mind: A 30-Week Course of Enlightenment. Little did anyone realize that she and Nathan were becoming co-founders of a new educational institution and a new spiritual movement, soon to become a denomination which would encompass Christianity and other religions and be known as Graduate Christianity.
Eight students were attracted to her first class which used her newly published workbook. Beginning in October, 1980, the class met upstairs at the Elegant Manor, Monday evenings. Thus the seeds for InnerCircle University (ICU) were planted.
On April 13, 1981, the Board of Trustees of the InnerCircle Church was formed and met at the home of Clara's cousin, William Rucker and Marion Rucker (student).
Other members of that first Board were Leslie Bujol, Jr. (Brother),
Jeryl S. Thompson (son),
Mel Brown (student), and husband,
Nathan L. Crawford, Jr.
The first order of business was to call Clara Bujol to the ministry of this newly incorporated institution. The second order of business was to name the educational institution “The InnerCircle University of Graduate Christianity.”
The following Sunday, April 19, Easter 1981, InnerCircle Church held its first official Sunday morning service at the Elegant Manor, giving birth to a new religious dance: Graduate Christianity. The following June, the first graduation exercise for InnerCircle University was held. The guest speaker was Rev. Dr. Marjorie Hebert, wife of Rev. Dr. Archille (Uncle Bubba) Hebert. All eight students completed the course and received certificate of completion.
The basic philosophy of Graduate Christianity is based on African Spiritual teachings; The Aquarian Spiritual Teachings of Black Gnostics (as preserved and developed by Dr. Alfred Ligon); The Science of Mind; and the teachings of Rev. Dr. Ruth Bujol. That philosophy is: “It’s up to you to find a way to be at one with all life.” Graduate Christianity promotes Self Knowledge as being The Way, The Truth, and The Light in preparation for the Aquarian Age.
In this institution, Graduate Christians are defined as those who write their own bible, design their own religion, sign their name to it and practice what they preach.
Some Historic Dates:
Our first ministerial Graduate was Rev. Marilyn Knipp, 1982. Our first MA in Graduate Christianity was awarded to Rev. Kujichagulia, 1982. Our youngest student to complete The Science of Your Mind course is Frederick Johnson in 1983 when he was 11 years old. Our first AA degree was awarded to Gene Brown, 1986.
Through the years, InnerCircle University has continued to recognize our students and deserving members of the community. At all our graduations, we present certificates of recognition, completion, earned degrees and special awards for service to the community. At the original suggestion of one of our first students, Alma (Robinson) Sanshagrin, we have continued to diligently search out the most honorable servants of humanity to recognize and honor for their outstanding legacies by conferring the InnerCircle University Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities. In our twenty-year history, we have conferred these Honorary Degrees the following individuals who are also pictured to the right:
1981 - Dr. Majorie Herbert
1982 - Dr. Juanita Dunn
1983 - Dr. Beverly Coleman
1984 - Dr. A. Hasani Perry
1985 - Dr. Hilda S. Spragin
1986 - Dr. Elaine Armour Word
1987 - Dr. Yolanda Thompson
1988 - Dr. Crystal Clarity Bujol
1989 - Dr. Ahman
1990 - Dr. Patricia Pratt
1991 - Dr. Bernice Ligon
2001 - Dr. Rainbow Johnson
2001 - The First Earned PhD awarded to Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol, PhD in Spiritual Psychology In our twenty-year history, we are proud to report that we have continued to live up to our mission statement, which follows:
The InnerCircle University of Graduate Christians
Mission Statement
---- Know Yourself; There’s No Other Way
InnerCircle University is an educational organization dedicated to spiritual growth and personal development, as a means of advancing on the path of authentic self-determination while contributing to the collective power and wisdom of the community.
We utilize Universal and African spiritual principles that honor the Sacred Feminine and masculine Essence of God, to invoke a fuller and more joyful expression of the Divine Presence in each person.
We are committed to nourishing and empowering the individual within the context of community, in order to promote and inspire a higher spiritual evolution of human consciousness.
We offer this profound formula from the African Mystics as an essential key to higher spiritual evolution of all human consciousness.
Know Yourself, There’s No Other Way.
Facts and Intentions of the Corporation:
The InnerCircle University is a non-profit educational and spiritual organization dedicated to building bridges between the individual and God that transcend social, religious and cultural barriers, connecting us to a new reality - a now reality - of Oneness of Being.
We offer explorations in personal and spiritual development, workshops and retreats promoting physical, financial, and emotional health and well being, and special seasonal festivals, celebrating the planetary cycles of nature, and acknowledging the sacredness of all life, while honoring the Divine Masculine and Feminine Essence of God.
We invite our students to experience genuine personal transformation that takes them beyond the limitations of traditional thinking in order to advance on the path of authentic self-determination within the context of community.
We encourage our students to forge a deep understanding of and working relationship with their own Divine Inner Authority, supporting spiritual growth, and nurturing personal development leading to individual contributions to the collective power and wisdom of the community.
We envision the creation of a more joyful and harmonious world, dedicated to peace, security, and justice for all, guided by the African spiritual principles of truth, justice, harmony, balance, righteousness, reciprocity, and beauty — all sustained by a benevolent love and compassion for everyone and everything.
We intend all of this as a twentieth-century cultural endowment from the creativity and self-determination of African American society to the global spectrum of religions in the spiritual community and the universal curriculums in the educational community.
Long live InnerCircle University:
Long may you Know Yourself!
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ICU DEGREE PROGRAMS
BOOKS REQUIRED FOR ICU DEGREES OR INDIVIDUAL STUDY CAN BE PURCHASED OR DOWNLOADED HERE
The Science of YOUR Mind Can Be Ordered Here
Volume 1 - $40 plus shipping
Volume 2 - $50 plus shipping
Volume 3 - $60 plus shipping
All 3 - $150.00 plus shipping
Shipping charges differ. Email - xtalankh@gmail.com to get shipping charges for your address.
Send check to:
InnerCircle University Books
c/o 8 Vista Gardens Trail #102
Vero Beach, FL 32962
Allow 10 - 12 days for delivery.
A Path Through the Heart
Volume 1: Chapters 1-10
A Path to Wholeness
Volume 2: Chapters 11 - 20
a path of oneness
Volume 3: Chapters 21 - 30
JESSIE MAE CHRIS{T}, a Religious Science Fiction Book about Jesus' Twin Sister by Dr. Crystal Bujol. Includes the Woman's Church Myths from 1988 and conversations with her twin brother.
VOLUME 1 OF 5
JESSIE MAE CHRIS{t} MAY BE ORDERED ON AMAZON.COM
12.99 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING
HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN BIBLE SUMMARY CAN BE EMAILED TO YOU
Send your email to xtalankh@gmail.com.
I will send you the free summary so you can have a guide to write your own Bible.
Sometime in 2020, the Book: How I Wrote My Own Bible . . and you can, too! will be ready to purchase from Amazon. We will keep you posted on its availability. If you should desire further assistance with writing your Bible, contact us through the above email for personal guidance. For this personal service, a donation to the InnerCircle would be appreciated.
HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES CONFIRRED by ICU
WHO, WHAT AND WHY
Their Honorary Degree is equivalent to an ICU earned PhD. These degrees can not be purchased, or applied for. They are supremely unique in nature, services to humanity, and adding to the "Shoulders of Giants" that support the future.
Their life experiences are equivalent to all ICU requirements and they were part of the teaching staff of InnerCircle University in its infancy, nominated by and voted on by past PhD recipients, ICU Board of Regents, and the Founders.
RECIPIENTS 1981 - 2001
1981 – Dr. Majorie Hebert
1982 - Dr. Juanita Dunn
1983 - Dr. Beverly Coleman
1984 - Dr. A. Hasani Perry
1985 - Dr. Hilda S. Spragin
1986 - Dr. Elaine Armour Word
1987 - Dr. Yolanda Thompson
1988 - Dr. Crystal Clarity Bujol
1989 - Dr. Ahman
1992 - Dr. Patricia Pratt
1999 - Dr. Bernice ligon
2001 – Dr. Rainbow Johnson
Dr. Majorie Hebert: Supreme Youth Guidance Counselor - 1981
Dr. Juanita Dunn - Supreme Religious Science Practitioner 1982
Dr. Beverly Coleman Supreme Wellness Care - 1983
Dr. A. Hasani Perry - Supreme Spiritual Communicator - 1984
Dr. Hilda Spragin: Supreme Religious Science Children's Education Institution - 1985
Dr. Elaine Word: Sureme Educator - 1986
Dr. Yolanda Thompson: Supreme Community Entrepreneur - 1987
Dr. Crystal Clarity Bujol: ICU Founder - 1988
Dr. Ahman Ahman: Supreme Inspirations Ministry - 1989
Dr. Bernice Ligon: Surpreme Mistress Aquarian Spiritual Center Bookstore - 1999
Dr. Patricia Pratt: Supreme Medical Professor - 1992

Dr. Rainbow Johnson: Supreme Supreme Meditation Composer - 2001
InnerCircle University History of Award Presentations
InnerCircle University Awards Archive
All the inhabitants of this heaven known as earth are eligible to be nominated for these awards in accordance with the criteria stated below, except those who by way of accepting the ICU honorary doctorate or having been recognized as the Graduate Christian of the year, have reached the status of Graduate Christian Persona Emeritus. Past recipients form the future selection committee for each award area, except for the Founder’s Award and Board awards.
Additionally, the Kwanzaa award nomination is voted on by ballots taken from the InnerCircle Church, First Woman’s Church, and Board of Trustees, and The Crystal Foundation.
The “first” award - The Graduate Christian Black Eye Peas Award,
Awarded annually to a member or student of the InnerCircle Institutions for the obvious diligent and consistent of the four basic Graduate Christian Black Peas: Personalize, Plan, Practice and Produce.
Past recipients/year:
1982 Jan Freeman
1983 Kujichagulia
1984 Gene Brown
1985 Rev. Edmund Cleaver
1986 Nawili Ayo
1987 Nubi
1990 Rev. Victoria Lee
1991 Denise Cunningham Reed
1992 Rev. Betty Robinson
The Performing Artist of the Year Award
Awarded annually to a member of the InnerCircle Institutions for artistically expressing the higher consciousness of Graduate Christianity through any of the various mediums and art forms.
1982 Pat Hodges, music
1983 Leslie Bujol, recording engineer/productions
1984 Nathalie Forrest, music
1985 Kujichagulia, art (painting)
1986 Gene Brown, textiles/fashion design
1987 Don Level, music
1990 Glory Dean Scott, music
1991 Corneila McDonald Playwright/performance
1992 Rev. Victoria Lee-Owens, poet
The Graduate Christian Gift of the Year Award
Awarded every year for the obvious increased expression of the Graduate Christian gift for the year as expressed through service to the InnerCircle Institutions, application of the principle in one’s personal life and enrichment of the community. The Theme for this award changes every year in celebration of the gift of the year.
1982 Alma Robinson - Consistency
1983 William Rucker - Health and Wealth
1984 Nicole Piggee — Love and Happiness
1985 Susie Porter — Golden Opportunities
1986 Gregory and Dr. Helen Mendes Love - My Perfect Mate
1987 Joyce Downs — Self Realization
1990 Linda Hicks — Family Unity
1991 Mae Lynn Lee — Oneness With All Life
1992 Nirankar Kaur Khalsa - Higher Consciousness
The Kwanzaa Award
Presented annually in appreciation for and in recognition of this first African American Holiday, to that person who brigs from their inner plane, to ICU and the community, those qualities, resources, talents and expression of spiritual development representing the Kwanzaa for that seven year cycle and whose work contributes to the members and community a greater refinement of all Kwanzaa blessings.
Past recipients are:
1985 Rev. Kujichagulia
1986 Rone’ Ellis
1987 Zandra Daniels
1990 El Rita Neusome
1991 Rev. Covese Silken
1992 Rev. Yvonne Stuckey
GRADUATE CHRISTIAN OF THE YEAR
Presented annually to that person who, in the opinion of the selection committee, (1) reflects a higher consciousness of the twelve Graduate Christian gifts, as demonstrated by their increased consciousness, enriched living, service to the InnerCircle Institutions, the world movement of Graduate Christianity and the community in which we are based; (2) designed and signed one name to one’s own religion, actively and obviously practices what they preach. (3) promotes InnerCircle Institutions and Graduate Christianity to the beloved community of the world.
Past recipients are:
1982 Arlillian Moody - Elegant Manor
1983 Nathan L. Crawford co-founder InnerCircle Institutions
1984 Rev. Kujichagulia
1985 Gene Brown
1986 Dr. Vera Epps Riley
1987 Nawili Ayo
1990 Rev. Dr. Archille Hebert II
1991 Rev. Susie Porter
1992 Rev. Denise Cunningham-Reed
OUTSTANDING MAN OF THE YEAR: Founder’s Award
Awarded annually in memory of the co-founder, Nathan L. Crawford’s father and in honor of all fathers, who, in the opinion of the remaining co-founder, will upon nomination from the Board, has demonstrated outstanding development in the three elemental areas of life: intellectual, physical and spiritual, as well as demonstrating an outstanding ability to use creative awareness to enrich the lives of himself and others.
Past recipients are:
1985 Frank Granderson
1986 Aaron Piggee
1987 Carl Totten
1990 Dr. Alfred A. Ligon
1991 Dadisi Sanyika
1992 Robert “Bobby” Lorenzo Adams, Jr.
FINER WOMANHOOD AWARD: Founder’s Award
Awarded annually, to a woman who, in the opinion of the co-founder, Rev. Dr. Crystal C. Bujol, most exemplifies those qualities of her mother, the late Rev. Dr. Ruth Elenora Bujol, that were most admired by Clara: courage, integrity, service, Aquarian vision, sisterhood, womanship, adventure, unique individualism, poise, glamour, charisma, spirituality, reverence, and Family Unity. “The I Dare You” aspect of this award illuminates a challenge to all would take up the cross and not follow, but carve out a path of their own!
Past recipients are:
1982 Marilyn Knipp
1983 Helen Key
1984 Rainbow Johnson
1985 Butterfly
1986 Vinnie Liddell
1987 Ahneva Ahneva
1990 Rubyline Douglas
1991 Heshima Sanyika
1992 Barbara J. Piggee
INNERCIRCLE UNIVERSITY BOARD AWARDS:
Vision Award — presented to the one who holds a vision until it crystallizes, then uses that reality in service to “the beloved community”
Past recipients are:
1990 - Dr. Peggy Best
1991 - Rev. Betty Robinson
1992 - Dr. Linda M. Bridges, OMD
MAGNIFICENT WOMAN OF THE YEAR: FOUNDER'S AWARD
Awarded on rare occasions for unusual and noteworthy excellence of service, primarily to the community in which we are based and have long term, far reaching physical and metaphysical effects on seeding and growing “the beloved community” of the world.
Past recipients are:
Aileen Crenshaw - 1985
The Honorable Maxine Waters - 1990
Cecile McCormick - 1991
Barbara O - 1992
FOUNDING ICU BOARD MEMBERS
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JERYL S. THOMPSON
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You Can Write Your Own Bible, Too: A Guide to Help You Do Just That!
(66 PERSONAL BOOKS REQUIRED BY ALL DOCTORAL STUDENTS)
I WROTE MY OWN BIBLE AND YOU CAN TOO!
Created by Crystal Bujol (c) 1975
Yes, I wrote my own bible!
Once I got started, I keep finding more reasons to do so.
And, I keep adding pages to it. I have so much fun with the freedom to do this writing that I think others may want to do it as well. If so, here is my story.
I started writing this book to tell others how to write their own bible. But my own message kept puling my writings back to myself rather than as an aide to helping others break free and write their own.
So, I changed horses in the middle of the stream and decided to instead share what is my experience, my joy, and my reward with anyone interested in writing their own bible. I think this stream of consciousness is more in line with the integrity if making it personal; making it fit the feet of the writer, than if I try to continue telling you how to do that. Thus, this book: How and Why I write My Own Bible. The main topics that drew me to correcting the thoughts that the bible given to me by my mother, my Sunday School, and my community are the ideas and scriptures about:
- The Chosen people
- The Beloved son
- Continued Denigration of women
- Evils of being black and/or Egyptian/African
- This is the way you should act -- Says who?
- The men who wrote the bible were inspired by God-- as if I am not inspired by God.
- What About MY Genealogy
- I know more about Jewish genealogy and begats than I do about my own
- Covenants others made -- Did I promise to do that!
- In whose beginning?
- The non existent Mother of God
- That’s your story – mine is just as important, if not more so to me and my future generations
I have divided this book into four parts:
- My understanding about the history of the bible
- My descriptions of the 66 books in the bible
- The arguments with myself as I continuously freed myself to write my own bible, and
- Suggestions for how you can begin to write your own bible
The work of writing your own Bible is Graduate Christian work. One might say it is to Christianity as geometry is to 1st grade math. You have to know God and then know that you know and apply what you know. When you do, you are free to graduate from math to geometry; from grade to grade; from what other writers said to knowing that what you have to say is just as much God’s word as was wha whomever wrote whenever they wrote in the Bible. Their writings fit them same as your writings will fit you.
"I am that I am" is greater than all the pieces.
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Genesis the origin or coming into being of something. In this case, the first book of the Jewish Bible, which includes their stories of the creation of the world, Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Assignment: So, here is your first assignment in writing your own Bible. Think about your beginnings and your version of the beginning of the heavens, earth, plant, animal, human life and also of human institutions and relationships. Then write a paragraph or two about your family history. Of course, if you are woman, the paragraph will be your family “her” story.
Write about your Mother and Father, or the mother/ father figure who raised you; Grandparents; Godparents; or if you have none, make up a story. Where you were born, when, why, how, and other information about your beginnings. This is not the family tree section. That will go into Chronicles when you get to that chapter. To help you get started, you may want to finish this sentence:
In my beginning . . . |
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Exodus records “going out" or redemption from bondage.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph about how you left your home; when you left, where you went, what you did. |
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Leviticus: The book about how to be redeemed (rehabilitated, rescued, reformed, transformed), how to worship, and how to serve.
The Assignment: Write four paragraphs: (1) What do you do or how do you "redeem" yourself from errors or mistakes? (2) What is (are) the most important elements in your form of worship? (3) How do you serve humankind and the Goddess/God of your understanding now that you are redeemed? (4) Describe the Divine (The Goddess, The God, The Infinite, etc., of your understanding. You may want to finish the sentence: “God is . . .” using whatever name you use to describe the Divine.) |
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Numbers: The book of enumerations and order The Assignment: Write a paragraph about the numbers in your life and or family. i.e. Birth date, address, number of children, number in family, dates of marriages and deaths, other numerological information. Write this information in your Book of Numbers, titled, for example:
MY NUMBERS AND MY HOLY NAME Another Chapter in My Holy Bible First, calculate the numbers in your birth date, address, number of children, number of people in your family, social security number, telephone number and any other numbers you think to be important. XXXX
Then: Write three paragraphs: (1) How do you interpret your birth date number? (2) How do you interpret the number that is vibrating in your holy name? (3) Pick a third number and write about how you interpret that number to be operative in your life. |
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Deuteronomy -- The book of "Thou Shalts"
The Assignment: Write a paragraph on one or some of the "I Shalts" that you plan to practice in your life.
Write a paragraph on one or some of the “I Dids” that you may want to graduate.
Write a paragraph of forgiveness for the “I Dids” you are leaving in the past. |
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Joshua -- The book about conflict and victory; a time of blessing through divine power.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph about your first 7 years - what you learned, what were your obstacles ... what battles you fought and how you were victorious.
Write a paragraph about your most significant experience during this period.
Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity? |
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In Judges (19:20-end) you will find one of the Bible stories on rape. There are many of them, but nothing to help the victim recover. Rape comes in many forms of violation – all of which require some sort of intervention to affect a more meaningful healing as soon as possible
The Assignment for Judges: Identify 13 people or institutions that came to your aid or into your life during your cycle of "8-14 years of age."
Write a paragraph or two about the people or institutions that entered your life during this period. What did they teach you, what did you learn, what were your values as you remember them? What were your dreams? What organizations did you join? Why did you join?
Write a paragraph about your most significant experience during this period.
Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity? |
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Ruth -- The book of friendship. Because of this story, the name Ruth has been given the definition of friendship. Her life and these scriptures have come to be synonymous with friendship. Every name has a story. Every name has a definition. By thinking on the story, or message contained within a name, the power of that name is revealed, unleashed, and available to serve the one who wears that name. What is the definition of your name?
The Assignment: 1. Write a paragraph or two about the definition of your name.
Contemplate the meaning of your name. Ponder the meaning of your name. And, if you can't find one, make up a meaning for your name. That definition is something you should not leave home without. Put the American Express card in the drawer and take the definition of your name where ever you go. Within it you will find the answers to all the questions you will ever have in your life.
2(a) Write a paragraph or two about your friends and relationships during the 15-21 years of your life.
To whom are you most dedicated, devoted, connected and why. What are the qualities that you most admire in them and in yourself? (If you have not reached this stage in your age, write your paragraphs as if they are a prediction of what you see happening in your life or what you want to happen in your life when you reach this age.)
2(b) Write a paragraph about your most significant experience during this period.
2(c) Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity?
3. Think about the meaning of Ruth's name(friendship) and the story of Ruth and Naomi (Ruth wouldn't leave Naomi's side for anything!). Write about how it is that you are your best friend, not willing to leave your own side for anything in the world. |
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I Samuel – In this prophetic book, Samuel, like Moses, speaks on behalf of God. Prophetic means the foretelling of events, usually by divine inspiration. The book of 1 Samuel is a record of triumph and tragedy. Its three main characters, Samuel the prophet, Saul, and David are among the most powerful people in the Bible, yet their lives were scarred by far-reaching mistakes, none of which reduce the power with which they rule.
The Assignment: (1) Write a paragraph or two about the hopes, dreams, and wishes you remember from the past, particularly from the period when you were between the age of 22 and 28. What were you religious and or spiritual connections, values, beliefs, and activities. What activities were you involved in to change yourself, i.e. personal growth and development, education, reading, etc. What organizations did you join? Why? (2) Write a paragraph about your most significant experience during this period. (3) Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity?
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11 Samuel - The 2nd book of Samuel is a political book about kingship over Israel.
The Assignment: (1) Write a paragraph or two about your political history, particularly from the period when you were 29 - 35. (Remember what to do if you are not yet in this age group?) What was your political party and or political connections, values, beliefs, and activities? What part did you play in changing society? To what did you contribute time and money that made a difference? What organizations did you join? Why? (2) Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity? (3) Write a paragraph about your most significant experience during this period. |
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1 Kings – The building of the temple.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph or two about your state of health and well-being, particularly from the period when you were 36 - 42. (By now, you certainly know what to do even if you are not yet between the ages of 36-1. Write, anyway!) During this age, what are your physical, mental, and/or emotional challenges? How do you handle them? What do you do to either restore your health or cope with your conditions? Talk about your therapists, doctors, dentists, holistic practitioners, spiritual practitioners, and self-healing techniques. How do you earn your money? How does money come to you? What is your favorite occupation/job/business development or adventure during this age? Do you do well? For what activity, project or service will you give yourself a gold star (or some other type acknowledgment) for effort and/or one for accomplishment? What organizations do you belong to? Why? |
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II Kings - Maintaining the Temple.
The Assignment:
(1) Write a paragraph or two about your state of health and well-being, particularly from the period when you were 43 - 49 (Or write about how you want it to be when you become 43-49). During this period, what are your physical, mental, and/or emotional challenges? How do you handle them? What do you do to either restore your health or cope with your conditions? Talk about your therapists, doctors, dentists, holistic practitioners, spiritual practitioners, and self-healing techniques. How do you earn your money? How does money come to you? Of all you have done, what is your favorite occupation/job/business development or adventure? Are you doing well? For what activity or project will you give yourself a gold star (or some other type acknowledgment) for effort and/or one for accomplishment? (2) During this age, what organizations do you belong to? Why? (3) Write a paragraph on what, if anything, you would do differently if given the opportunity? |
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I Chronicles: The book of genealogies and historical information
The Assignment: (1) Design and fill in the blanks of your family tree for your immediate family, i.e. grand and great grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers, children and grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc., or names of extended family, or make up one. (2) Write a paragraph or two about your family tree. Who has a copy of it? How do you obtain the information? If your family tree is "mythological," tell what inspires your story. |
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II Chronicles: A second book of historical information
The Assignment: (1) Design and fill in the blanks of the family tree of your friends, husbands, and others important to you. (2) Write a paragraph or two about the groups of people you include in this chapter. |
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Ezra, the book of decrees and dedications
The Assignment: Write a paragraph or two about your decrees and dedications. Include at least those decrees you choose to have govern your life. Include people, places, and things to which you are dedicated and give a brief description and explanation to satisfy your own questioning as to why. |
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Nehemiah, the book of legal order restored and acts of individual faith
The name means "Jehovah consoles; Jehovah comforts; compassion of Jah."
The Assignment: (1) Write a paragraph or two about some of your acts of faith and the principles involved in those acts.
The Old Testament Bible Chapter of Nehemiah is a Book of legal order and restored and acts of individual faith. (2) Write a paragraph or two about some of your acts of faith and the principles involved in those acts. Your "writ" will make more "right" and "righteous" how this book can be interpreted in life under today's conditions.
Nehemiah has eight divisions: The journey to Jerusalem, The building of the wall, the census, the revival, the census of the priests and Levites, dedication of the wall, restoration of the temple worship and the legal order restored. (3) What do you have to say about these things, today, in your life, as you wish it to be? Write it! Right it! Write about your journey to a place of peace. Write about how you built walls around yourself for protection or isolation. Write about the census during this time: where do you live, where are other family members living, what are the occupations, what's happening in your life and in their life. Write about a family reunion experience - the revival. Write about what occurred in your family communication and gatherings after a "matriarch" passed on (or whoever was the communication center). What changed in the family reunions or unity? How was it restored, or has it been restored? |
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The book of Esther -- A story about the courage of Queen Esther.
The Assignment: (1) Write a short story about a time in your life when you exemplified courage and the God of your understanding or "Life" helped you out in a mysterious or magical way. This is a story with a happy ending and it can be real or imagined.
(2) Write a short story about a time in your life when you exemplified courage and the God of your understanding or "Life" helped you out in a mysterious or magical way. Talk about the happy ending to that story. Your Bible needs happy endings. (3) Write a paragraph or two about some revelation that came to you during an "Imprisonment." |
5 BOOKS OF POETRY AND DRAMA FOLLOW BE POETIC, BE DRAMATIC, BE ARTISTIC |
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Job: A story of cause and effect and an undying belief in God Job is considered one of the Wisdom Books. Wisdom does not just “come” with age, wisdom comes with experiences. If you learn from the experiences help you live your future life with greater ease. You will be able to give yourself advice. You will have greater foresight. You will be better able to use discretion. You will recognize wise counsel. You will develop your common sense. You will expand your genius for living. And with this wisdom, you will love and enjoy life so much more.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph or two, or a short story about yourself and a times or times when: (1) you were able to trace the cause of the effects occurring, i.e. what conditions have you expressed or do you now experience for which you can trace a mental or emotional cause or a belief pattern which brought it about. Also, write about what the results were - OR what you want the results to be, or, (2) when you were able to trace the cause of the effects occurring, i.e. what conditions have you expressed or do you now experience for which you can trace a mental or emotional cause or a belief pattern which brought it about, or, (3) when you had an experience and you learned from it. Include what it is that you learned that will help you live your life with greater ease, or,
(4) when you kept the faith through chaos, finger pointing, family and friends telling you to abandon ship, and you stuck it out. Be sure to include what the “reward” was for hanging in there!
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Psalms -- The book of praises, prayers, and songs.
The best-known and probably the most often used book among the writings is Psalms (from the Greek word for "song"). It is a collection of hymns and songs dating from various periods in the history of Israel. The collection was assembled so that it could be conveniently used at worship services. The book is often called "Psalms of David," referring to the king of Israel in about 1000 BC It is now generally accepted by Biblical scholars that, while David may have written some of them, the authorship of most of them is unknown.
The Assignment: Write as many songs, prayers, and praises as you want - either original or copied from material which has been or is now inspirational to you. Include the author/composer/lyric's name and date written whether yours or someone else's material. Include family songs, prayers, and stories about times when you sang, repeated, or learned them.
Author’s notes from 1994 when she was teaching Bible writing to her congregation: “This month, April, 1994, we are using the old testament example found in Psalms - A book of praises, prayers, and songs. David is given credit for writing all the Psalms, but bible students know he was not the composer of all of them. Most of them were copied from the walls of the temples of Egypt, written by ancestors who looked like African Americans. The same thing happens today in the music industry - most of the music has been written by people other than those given credit for it. However, if you write your own songs (psalms) and put them in your own Bible, no one can steal them from you or your family for generations to come. So, today, right now, write a song of praise, or love, or adoration, of thanksgiving, or about confidence, victories, hopes, dreams and wishes. If you can't get started with your own words and music, quote someone else's song, giving credit to the original composer and lyric's name. You can change the words to fit your occasion. In your personal Bible, you will probably want to include any other song of inspiration, family songs, prayers, and stories about times when you sang, repeated, or learned them. This is how the Biblical Psalms came to be!”
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Proverbs -- A collection of timely saying and divine wisdom.
The Assignment: (1) Write as many sayings as you remember from your family and your up-bringing and wisdom statements from any other source which has or is serving as a guide for you. Remember to include names and dates of composers.
Author’s Notes, again from teaching Bible writing in 1994: “For this exercise, we use as an outline, the Christian Bible. This month, May, 1994, we are using the old testament example found in - Proverbs - A collection of saying and divine wisdom.
“A book of wise sayings, admonitions, proverbs, and other instructional ditties. Old folks have used many terms to describe their wise sayings. Sometimes they refer to them as "proverbs." Sometimes called "fables," i.e. Aesop's Fables, sometimes called "fairy tales", i.e. Red Riding Hood, sometimes called "sayings," sometimes called "nursery rhymes," as in Humpty Dumpty.
“And, like Psalms, bible students know Solomon was not the composer of all the proverbs, if any at all. Most of them were copied from the walls of the temples of Egypt, written by their African ancestors. However, if you write your own wise sayings and those of the wise women and wise men in your family (proverbs) and put them in your own Bible, no one can steal them from you or your family for generations to come. So, today, right now, write a wise saying you want to insure gets passed on to your future generations. If you can't get started with your own "proverb," quote someone else's wisdom, giving credit to the original author or the person from whom you heard the saying. In your personal Bible, you will probably want to include any other wisdom that inspires you. This is how the Biblical Proverbs came to be!” |
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Ecclesiastes - 'The Preacher' - A collection of reasonings about and other things, "under the sun.'
For this exercise, we use as an outline, the Christian Bible. This month, June, 1994, we are using the old testament example found in Ecclesiastes - the book of "The Preacher"
This book is a collection of reasonings about life and other things, "under the sun.' In this assortment of topics, we find the conclusions one can arrive at after contemplating, meditation, and reasonings. So, for this month's bible writing exercise, you are asked to write your own reasonings, conclusions, and perceptions about life. Include date and time you compose these ideas and add to them as often as you are so moved. |
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Song of Solomon -- the love of husbands, wives, and lovers
The Assignment: In poetic or dramatical form, write a paragraph or two about: (1) your most beautiful and loving relationship(s) or make up one, or, (2) Your most beautiful and loving feelings about the Goddess/God of Your Understanding, or make up some. |
THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS According to Scofield’s Bible, “Prophets are men raised up of God, primarily revivalists and patriots, speaking on behalf of God to the heart and conscience of the nation. The prophetic messages have a twofold character: first, that which was local and for the prophet’s time; secondly, that which was predictive of the divine purpose in the future.”
Usually, the predictions would spring up from the current local circumstance, and that is one of the reasons you are encouraged to write your own Bible. If you continue to perpetrate predictions based on the past local circumstances, which occurred in the last eon, or the last century, or the last year, or even yesterday – yu are just perpetuating what has already been – instead of envisioning something newer, more exciting, and more pleasing to the eye and comforting to the heart.
Abraham Lincoln once said, "A people without vision soon perish." If the Christian nation, or the American Nation, or even the "nation of your family" does not envision something else brighter, we will continue down the dark path that has been predicted by ancient prophets. Writing your own bible gives you another opportunity to predict what you would have the future bring. Therefore, we proceed with the books of prophecy: |
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The Book of the Prophet Isaiah was written under the LAWS needed for Israel and gives us a clear view of "grace".
'Grace' is a most powerful concept, pleasing to the eye, heart, and senses. It is such a powerful word that just reading the definitions attributed to this word is a healing experience in and of itself. For that reason, an extensive list of definitions and thoughts are included for your contemplation.
The word 'grace' carries the meaning of :
1. gratis, meaning free. "I will perform a service for you, gratis." There is no charge for this service. I give it to you. That's grace. 2. pleasant. " 3. grateful, 4. gratitude, 5. agree.
Grace has as its root - chairo, meaning 6. to rejoice, 7. love, 8. yearn.
Webster defines it as 9. elegance or dignity of form, movement or expression; 10. attractive, ease, smoothness of movement. 11. beauty, charm, or 12. any pleasing attribute; 13. favor, 14. good will, or 14. kindness; 15. a sense of decency or propriety; 16. a special dispensation or privilege; 17. mercy, clemency or pardon 18. a temporary reprieve.
Under 'LAW' grace is a period of time following the due date of a debt during which the debtor is allowed to make payment without penalty; also, there are days of grace.
In Theology, the unmerited love and favor of God is Grace; the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
Also, the divine influence renewing and morally strengthening humankind; a state of reconciliation with God; a virtue or excellence of divine origin; the influence or spirit of God operating in humans.
Grace is also a short prayer before or after meals giving thanks or, asking a blessing.
In music, a grace note is one that is played according to feeling and embellishes whatever notes precede or follow it.
The condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
Grace is also a title used in addressing a duke, duchess, or bishop, usually preceded by 'your,' 'her,' or 'his' grace.
When one is found to be in the good grace of another, it means they are in the favor of another person.
To grace something is to lend or add honor, to dignify, to adorn, to enhance. In other words, 'Grace' is a most powerful concept, pleasing to the eye, heart, and senses.
<Graces> the ancient Greek and Roman Goddesses of beauty and kindness, usually. represented as three in number.
To lend or add grace to; adorn: Many paintings graced the walls.
<with bad grace> reluctantly; grudgingly. <with good grace> willingly; ungrudgingly.
[1125-75; ME < OF < L gratia favor, kindness, esteem, der. of gratus pleasing]
The Assignment: Therefore, let the words of your pen and the meditations of your heart be filled with grace as you write your book of Isaiah. Write a paragraph or two about a time in your life when you were in deep trouble and the future looked bleak; maybe you were wishing you had taken a different road. Then write a paragraph about how this bleakness was redeemed, gracefully and what seemed to be a "lemon" was somehow turned into "lemonade."
Or, if the situation never turned into “lemonade,” make up an ending as you wished it had been.
Or, if you do not have such a story to tell, make up one, or record one that you have heard, especially if you have one about another family member.
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Jeremiah -- a book of prophecy and visions.
Parts of the books of Hebrews, Revelations, Thessalonians, and Galatians are some of the New Testimonies that evolved out of Jeremiah's visions. In other words, Jeremiah gave the prophecy and later, writers proved his prophecies to be true. Even today, some people are still finding proof in their life and time to prove Jeremiah’s prophecies true. For example, one of Jeremiah’s prophecies (42:15) tells the Jewish people that if they go to Egypt, where they see no war, and see no hunger, they shall be overtaken by famine and death. Some historians report that this very thing happened to the Jewish children who went to Egypt. That was then and it should be over and done with! But, Jeremiah sent this prophecy into the future. In the year this book is being published, more than 2000 years later, there are people in Israel and Egypt warring with each other over this prophecy!
This prophecy continues to hamper the peace keeping negotiations that men of peace are trying to set in motion. That’s how powerful a prophecy can be. So, unless you want to continue the prophecies based on the local conditions of these ancient times, or based on people’s prejudices from the past, or their ignorance of the future, you need you to write a new prophecy.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph or two about the prophecy you want to send into the future for yourself and your future generations. Some suggestions of topics are:
And so forth. You get the picture!
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Lamentations -- Contains stories about the love and sorrow for the people. As the name implies, Lamentations is a book of lamenting. To lament means to express mourning or grief for or about the death of a leader, to be very sorry for or regret, to mourn deeply and vocalize expressions of mourning about a loved one. This book is the “time and place for everything (all those things that make you cry, complain, whine, feel despair, make you want to curse) else under the sun.”
The Assignment: (1) Write those things that you regret, mourn, and for which you feel grief. Write your amends and other ideas of how you would do it differently or how you wish it had been. (2) Or just write about your anguish with an ending and let it stand as is for you and others to contemplate the way it was. Everything does not have to have a happy ending. Sometimes it is just as beautiful to understand the dark night of the soul as it is to understand the awakening of Spirit.
This is the book, the time, and the place to express your lamentations. |
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The book of Ezekiel – A book of symbols and visions.
If you have heard the Negro Spiritual, “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, Way Up in the Middle of the Sky,” you understand that this is a vision, a symbol. (If you have not heard the song, check out You-Tube)
Ezekiel is written as if it is the voice of God, as indicated by the formula, "And the word of the Lord came unto me..." Every time you pick up a pen to write, or sit at your computer to write, "the words of the Lord always come upon you." (Author’s note: "Not only do the words of the Lord (Law) come upon you ... but if you let your heart be open, the words of the 'Lady" will come upon you, as well!")
Ezekiel's purpose was to keep the children of Israel reminded of their sins so they wouldn't repeat them. That was important then. But you are not one of those children who needs to be reminded of your sins, repeatedly. This is a new day, a new era, a new dispensation. You have graduated!
Now you need to realize you have been forgiven of your sins and not carry the fear of reprimand around as if it were part of your skin. You now know so much about the working of the mind and how it manifests that which it dwells on. Therefore, whatever you keep on your mind is magnified and repeated. If it is your sins that get your focus, the greater the chance of repeating them either consciously or unconsciously. If you keep your hopes, dreams, wishes, successes, good deeds, self-esteem, beauty, spirituality, prosperity, good health on your mind – that is what your body manifests in your life.
When writing your book of Ezekiel, if you should record any of your so-called sins, that’s OK – but the more important part of that recording is "what would you do instead?"
The rest of the words for that Negro spiritual about Ezekiel, are: "Ezekiel saw the wheel, way up in the middle of the sky, Ezekiel say the wheel, way in the middle of the sky. The big wheel run by faith and the little wheel run by the grace of God, a wheel in a wheel, way in the middle of the sky."
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it is to write a paragraph or two about your these two 'wheels' and what you would do instead: (1) With faith, instead I would ... (2) By grace, instead, the result would be ... |
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Daniel -- The Book of Dreams. One of the things that Daniel did, and recorded, which put him in good graces with the King Nebuchadnezzar, was to interpret the king's dream.
The Assignment: (1) This is a perfect place to write your dreams and your interpretations and the interpretations of others, as well. Thinking about your most recent or your most vivid dream, record it here and write your interpretation. (2) Also, write what you think you need to do as a result of receiving this dream and what the final outdone might be of your actions. At some time in the future, you will probably look back on this dream and be able to record facts from your future that correspond to the dream you write today. (3) If you are part of a community of artists, you may also want to join or initiate a dream workshop where you and others can participate in interpreting them and using the information gained from them, just as King Nebuchadnezzar did with Daniel, and the Egyptian Pharaoh did with Joseph’s interpretations.
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The book of Hosea — a book of prophecy: An opportunity to restore the Divine Feminine and restore humanity to a consciousness of oneness — family — community! This book reveals some deep wounds created by the prophecies and metaphors in its writings. Wounds you can help heal by writing new ideas in your Bible.
Hosea means "deliverance, safety, salvation, and help," the very ideas needed to deliver, make safe, save, and help the Divine Feminine.
In this book, Israel is considered to be God's adulterous wife, needing to be purified and restored. They were called “Loammi,” which means, “not my people.” In this book, humankind is divided into two distinct groups: Loammi, which means "not my people," and Ammi, which means "my people." This means that a whole race of people was considered to be feminine and adulterous. This also means that humanity, according to this law of God, is divided into two groups: God’s people and those who are not chosen as God’s people.
No wonder humanity is faced with so many dilemmas. It’s terrible that some folks feel left out of the Divine plan. And it’s hard to be identified as the chosen ones when others think you did the choosing. This kind of thinking breeds contempt, disrespect, anger, even rage.
Likewise, psychologically, it is not healthy to think of yourself as an adulterous wife from the cradle to the grave! There is no hope of redemption in feeling this way, thinking this way, being viewed in this way, or reading it over and over and over that this is who you are!
That was then — we need a new idea and you can write it.
And what about women feeling as though they are “God’s adulterous wife!?” Can you imagine how defensive this makes a person feel or act? How contentious a personality would be having been exposed to this kind of negative affirmation all their life, for generations? If these are the feelings that live in the hearts of mothers such as yours and mine, no wonder the planet is experiencing so much trouble in male - female relationships! This has got to stop! It’s got to be healed!
In your Hosea writings, you have the power in your pen to restore all people to the status of being “God's people" — good people! You have the power to lift the divine feminine from adultery to divinity!
The adultery being committed is that this 'wife' held allegiance to more than one 'aspect' of God - the Father of God and the Mother of God (The Divine Feminine - The Holy Spirit). For this she was branded, rejected, and found unworthy. Hosea also spoke as if he were God, by saying in his first verse: "The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, ... etc." Then in his second verse, he says, "The beginning of the word of the Lord of Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, go take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms . . "
The Assignment: (1) Write your book of Hosea with power and boldness. Change the prophecy from what is written in the Judeo-Christian Bible and restore the value and sacredness of the Divine Feminine.
(2) Likewise, you can write the words you hear: In the beginning of the words of the God of ______ (put your name here),
And God said to _____, .... (continue with what the God of your understanding has to say about The Mother of God and the chosen people, remember -- the words God reveals to you are as potent and important as the words God gave to Hosea!" (3) In your book of Hosea, write a few paragraphs of a conversation you have with 'the God of your understanding' about your feelings regarding the 'masculine/male' and the 'feminine/female' aspects of the wholeness of God. Write your words and thoughts, as well as those which the God of your understanding gives to you in response! |
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Joel – A telegram to the future. Joel starts his book in a similar fashion as Hosea. He says, "The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation!”
The Assignment: (1) When writing your book of Joel, assume a "Joel Consciousness" and start your book with the same words, putting your name and gender in the appropriate places. (2) Now, what is it you want to tell your children? Your grandchildren? All your future generations of children? Write it here in Joel, whose name means "Jehovah God; Jah is his God; worshiper of God; he who desires; he who wills; he who fulfills every desire.” Joel bespeaks the I AM in dominion in the individual. In this consciousness all things are possible. All things are possible!!!! |
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Amos - Another book of prophesy. The metaphysical definition of Amos is “Conscience.” Ethics moral principle standard.
The Assignment: It is important to know what drive your conscience; to know when your conscience may jump up and point a finger at you. Hopefully you have morals, standards and principles, and this is the place to write yours. What do you think you “ought” to do and “ought not” do? What are your principles about life, interactions with others, relationship to other planetary beings? It doesn’t have to be deeply profound and highly spiritual. Your writings can be as simple as:
So, write your Amos paragraph. Keep it simple! |
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Obadiai – Another prophet whose name means “The Day of the Lord.” He is "the first to use the formula - the day of the Lord." He writes about Edom. The Edomites are descendants of Esau - "cousins" to the children of Israel and described as "dwellers of caves and caverns." For some reason they are reported to "always be at war with the relatives, the children of Israel. This prophecy speaks to these Edomites, describing their humiliation, their great sin, what can be expected for them in "the day of the Lord," and that they shall be included in the "kingdom."
The Assignment: In families where there are cousins, no matter how distant, there sometimes arises little incidents of jealousy, envy, frustration, annoyances between the seeming haves and the seeming have-nots — or for other legitimate and illegitimate reasons. These kinds of situations can cause one to wish evil on the other. If you’ve ever wished ill to befall any of your relatives, you can leave your wish as it stands, or you can re-write your thoughts and feelings in your personal book of Obadiah.
If you don’t have cousins or any family that fit this category, maybe you can write about a friend, or an employer or co-worker who has touched you in such a way that you cursed them, or wished them to be punished — but now you no longer hold that grudge. If you don’t have anyone who fits this category, examine your race relations with others, or gender relations, or physically challenged relations. Surely, there is someone in your life you previously condemned, cursed, secretly wished they would get their “karma” returned so you could see it with your own eyes! If you can find that person, this is the one to target in your Obadiah Book. This is the one for whom a new wish from you would heal some of the dis-ease you have or do experience. Maybe you just want to write a new prophecy for yourself. The beauty of this kind of writing is that you don’t have to tell them (whoever they are) why you are writing this new wish — all you have to do is write it!
And, if none of these fit, perhaps there was a time in your life when you were humiliated, embarrassed, or ashamed but later discovered that even though this situation occurred, you were still among the blessed. If so, write about that.
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The Book of Jonah: This is an early resurrection story. This story is an early version of the Jesus Christ story about being laid in a tomb and later resurrected. Jonah was instructed by God to do something he didn't want to do. In his efforts to "go the other way," he fell out of the boat, was swallowed by a whale and after 3 days, was spit out on the land where he was originally told to go. This story is about two ideas: (1) the consequences of the act of disobedience to the instructions of one's own God and (2) the resurrection from death.
If Jesus was a reincarnation of Jonah, he learned his lesson about traveling a different path than the one instructed by His Indwelling God, he almost got it! At the last minute on the cross, it is written that he said something like, "If you can just see your way clear to remove this cup ... lighten up ... this is so hard ... but, nevertheless, not my will but yours...". That's a long way up the road of learning the lesson from where he was when he was Jonah saying, "I'm not going, I don't care what you do," and thereby caused all the ruckus in the boat and ending up in the belly of a whale! The Assignment: Check yourself and think about a time when you decided to go against your own highest self - your indwelling God - your indwelling Grace from The Goddess of Life.
Write a paragraph or two about: (1) a time when you intuitively knew you should or shouldn't have done something but acted in just the opposite manner. What were the undesirable consequences? How did it all turn out right in the end? - or write about (2) a time when you were "on the death bed," and found yourself "resurrected." What were your new thoughts, new actions, new convictions? - or write about (3) a time when you were in tune with and followed the voice of your inner wisdom - your highest conscious-ness - and discovered how absolutely perfect it was to be "obedient!"
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The Book of Micah, reminding us we are in the image and likeness of God. The name Micah appears in Judges 17 and 18 which refers to a time when "there was no king in Israel," but "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Amazing. Does this mean the people did not need a king to them do right? Does this mean that there is a possibility that without a King, without a Priest, without a Pope, with a President, without a Chieftain, without someone wielding control over them -- that people might be able to "do the right thing?" Amazing. If this is so, that would explain why Micah was bent and determine to spread the Gospel contained within his name: "Who is like unto Jehovah? Who can assimilate Jah?"
The metaphysical interpretation of his names means, "The individual's awakening to the truth of his real being...(This includes the individual awakening) to the fact that in his (and her) real true self they are spiritually endowed with all the possibilities that can be attained through the use of one’s spiritual powers: life, love, wisdom, intelligence, faith, strength, power, substance, all that is contained in the son, the Christ, Jehovah, (and particularly in the) I Am. This makes the individual both a prophet of God and a priest of God."
Micah is a representative of the Genesis scripture that reminds us we are made in the image and likeness of God. He reminds that we possess all the spiritual powers that are contained in the Son, the Christ, the I AM - life, love wisdom, intelligence, faith, strength, etc. Micah is a prophet of God and a priest - so are you! You have the power to spread a word as well as declare a word.
Micah spreads words such as: “The kingdom is to be universal; the kingdom is to be peaceful, the kingdom is to secure universal prosperity, the Lords' past and present controversy with Israel, and the voice of the remnant in the last days.”
The Assignment: In the "Micah" paragraph you will write in your bible, write about the spiritual powers you possess and the words you have and are spreading and declaring.
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The Book of Nahum provides a special place for injustice and requires special attention for maintaining a healthy mind and a healthy heart.
Although many people prefer that Life always be a “bed of roses,” that is not the case in humanity’s perception unless the individual has decided to see only the “good” in everything. However, in order to be that disciplined -- and only see good -- is the result of a process; strong mental muscles, a powerful habit of forgiveness. The process takes time. Strengthening one’s spiritual muscles to see “only good” is essential to overcome injustice and go forth in a peaceful state of being.
How can one strengthen these muscles in the midst of looking at so much “un-good?”
One helpful tool is to acknowledge when the so-called “un-good” is observed and dump it in a receptacle designed to hold such thoughts. This is what the prophet Nahum did. He saw the city of Nineveh as so evil that all he could think about it was that it would be destroyed by “God!” According to Bible mythology, this is the city that Jonah was supposed to go to, but didn’t want to do it. God was sending him to tell the people that the city was going to be destroyed. 150 years later after Jonah, Nahum made his prophesy. One hundred years after that, the city was destroyed exactly as Nahum prophesied it would be.
Nahum spoke his word about this city that was a “problem” to him and wrote 3 short chapters of condemnation. Then, he was through with it.
The Assignment: (1) Sometimes we may be treated so shabbily in a relationship that we, too, want to prophesy the other person’s doomsday. Should this ever occur, write the insult and the punishment you would mete out upon them in your personal book of Nahum. Write all the insults you want to hurl at them, describe how you want to get back at them. Pull those condemning thoughts out of your mind -- and be through with them – as soon as possible. Internalizing them and keeping them going and growing in your mind is detrimental to your health!
At first, you may not be able to “cast them into your sea of forgetfulness,” but you can certainly “take your burdens to your book of “Nahum” and leave them there.”
(2) Then, from time to time, when you want to peak at what you’ve prophesied, take a look and see if you can forgive any of your doomsday trivia. Using a red pen, see what you can “red line” from your Nahum as a result of working the principles of forgiveness. Eventually you can “white it out” and think of it no more!
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Habakkuk -- according to the Metaphysical Bible dictionary, this name describes embracing -- with the hands or arms -- a favorite; a lover; a wrestler; a struggler; even an idler. Metaphysically, this name points to the clarity of vision in us that helps us see the results of our thoughts and holds tightly to (embracing) that which is good and true, even in the midst of wrestling or struggling with thoughts we want to purge from our consciousness.
The Assignment: Write your version of “Habakkuk by describing a time when in the face of (a) great temptation, (b) or a desire to turn back, (c) or a magnetic attraction to return evil for evil -- you triumphed and stayed in alignment with your integrity to live as an expression of the God of your understanding; the Good of your understanding.
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Zephaniah, a prophet whose main message was concerning the how the "Day of the Lord" would come upon those who had forsaken Him (God). He preached that this day would be a day of destruction, a terrible day, a day in which very few will escape. Zephaniah was continuing the effort to keep the Children of Israel focused on the God of Zephaniah’s understanding – the God of all the Old Testament’s understanding.
The Assignment: In order to personalize Zephaniah’s message and write about your own “Day of the Lord,” it will be helpful to understand a metaphysical interpretation of the word “Lord.” The easiest way to explain it is that “Lord” is synonymous with the word “law.” Consider this: Everyone has a set of personal beliefs. These beliefs comprise the laws by which they judge themselves and even others. Personal laws can be described as, “The Lord of Your Understanding.” Think about a time when, as Zephaniah prophesized, you strayed from that which you believed and contrary to your belief of what was best for you, you followed someone else’s “Lord.” (Their belief) How did that work for you? Were you empowered by following someone else’s way of beingly? Did you have a successful outcome? Or was it a terrible day? Did you wish you had followed the indwelling spirit that gave you a different path?
If not -- Maybe you had a “Day of the Lord” that, as Zephaniah said, very few will escape. Maybe you were lucky on that occasion.
But, if that experience didn’t work in your favor, that’s the message of Zephaniah on a personal level: “Stay with your Lord, your laws, until you and convinced to write new laws, have new beliefs, then follow them with all your heart, all your mind, and your entire being. In doing so, you will increase your joy and your greater good for Life.”
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Haggai, as written might leave you with the impression that God becomes angry with people for not moving fast enough, for procrastinating, for forgetting their negotiate covenant with God and building His temple, and then He (God) promises, at the end, to kill all the enemies of the Children of Israel – the Gentiles!
Why would a prophet tell such a horror story? Because Haggai believes that there are two kind of people in his world: The Children of Israel (Jews) and Gentiles (everyone else). He believes that in order for the Jews to be contented, happy, recognize goodness in their lives -- everyone else’s way of being and even everyone else has to die.
This is a sad, sad commentary Haggi puts on the Jews, suggesting that they can’t be themselves in the midst of other people being themselves. It is even a difficult pill for the Gentiles to think that God is going to kill them because of something the Jews did or did not do! Perhaps it is prophesies such as this that perpetuate the wars and wounds in the Mid East. Let’s help reverse these prophesies in your Bible by reviewing the metaphysical meaning of the name, Haggi.
Haggai, a Hebrew name meaning festive, festal, feast, festival, joyous, and rejoicing. Metaphysically it means a realization of good as taking the place of seeming evil. Being freed from oppression. An abundance of the rich substance and life for mind and body, and foresees the foretells the working out of good.
Well! That is a different story! This idea sounds like the old folks saying, “Man meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
The Assignment: In this chapter of your Bible, write about a situation that looked like it was going to be a “bad” thing in your life, but in the end it turned out to be a blessing - and in the end - you rejoiced and had a festive experience. |
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Zechariah - symbolic visions in the light of hope. As the OLD Testaments come to a close, with only one more book remaining, the prophets come forth with glowing prophecies and predictions that set in motion ideas, visual aids, thoughts and scripts that develop into the future, present and eventually the past. Same as the book of Revelations describes, which ends the New Testament, Zechariah brings into play many symbols and metaphors which eventually become pass-words in life. Visions of candlesticks, olive trees, horns, the rider on the red horse, and myrtle trees, and the last days have been poured into the fabric of our being and now stick with the bonding nature of epoxy glue. If you think the world and its inhabitants are on a collision course to destruction, you can either accept it as a fact or you can do something about it. If you choose to take action, you must become a new prophet and give forth a new prophesy.
In Zechariah we find prophesies that Jerusalem will exist under adverse possession while the “Gentile” nations are at rest - at peace. This sounds like South Central L.A. existing under adverse possessions while the suburbs are at rest about it. Similar to Gifford existing under adverse possession while Vero Beach is at rest and enjoying long paychecks, the beach, mid-day golfing, and lunch at the Ocen Grill! Not that anything is wrong with people resting and enjoying life, but if it is so because the poor keep believing that they are supposed to be poor – THAT is a vision that needs to be changed.
As long as this condition is held in mind, as long as we continue to repeat the prophesy it will continue to be a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you would change the course of the future, this is your –
Assignment: (1) Write a paragraph or story about South Central L.A., or your community, your family and yourself and your country that has a happy ending. (2) Write a story or paragraph with a successful ending. (3) Write a paragraph or story with a joyful ending. Write paragraphs about harmonious relationships and eternal health and abundant wealth. Write paragraphs about the way you want the world and its inhabitants to be and then ... watch the 11:00 television news or cut out stories from the newspaper/magazine that reflect the results for your prophesies (stories) and claim them as responses to your prophesies.
Write a paragraph or two about your prophecies for the future. |
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Malachi - the last of the major prophets in the old testament. However, that for which he is best known to modern day religious teachers can be found in his third chapter verses 7-10 regarding the threats of what will happen if you do not tithe. Malachi points the finger at people accusing them of robbing God by not bringing their tithes and offerings to the storehouse of God. But, he also gives a blessing for those who do, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” 3:10.
This book is the foundation of my books titled (1) , Money Honey, and (2) The 100% Tithe Budget. In my books I emphasize the extreme good that comes from tithing to the storehouse of God. For this
Assignment: Decide what amount you are willing to budget and commit to continuing to donate/contribute to the ongoing of your spiritual house, spiritual gathering, spiritual circle, or wherever it is from where you receive your spiritual connections. Whatever is that amount, also agree to give it to yourself, where the main storehouse of God is. And that tithe is your #1 tithe – not for paying bills, or repairing the car, or giving to the barber or manicurist – it is for whatever you want to use it for that brings you happiness, smiles, a sense of reward for working all week, a feeling of having enough. Make the “storehouse of God” happy – and create a happy ending to the Old Testament of Your Bible! |
WE are now in the New Testament Books with stories about Jesus, the anointed one, the light, the Christ. Writing stories in your Bible will be easier if you consider the metaphysical teaching that “Jesus” is a code word for your name. |
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Matthew is the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, connecting him with the lineage of kings. Matthew records (1) Jesus’ genealogy, his birth, the ministry of his forerunner and (2) predicts his second coming in power and great glory.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph about (1) your genealogy and trace it as far as you can along the matrilineal side of your family, recording the specific attributes of the women who give you and your feminine side your "Queenship." What promises did these women make to you? Secondly, write a prediction about your next coming in "power and great glory. When you are "born again," how do you want to be? What do you want to do? What do you want your ministry or purpose to be? |
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Mark is confusing in that sometimes he is called John. His mother is also one of the women named Mary, and the nephew of Barnabas. His writings are exceptional because he refers to Jesus as the Mighty Worker, rather than as the unique Teacher. Mark gives examples of Jesus’ good deeds rather than his words.
The Assignment: In your personal Bible, write your Gospel of Deeds. Write a paragraph or two about: (1) Your Mighty Deeds, (2) The 'Mighty Deeds' of your family and friends, (3) The kinds of 'Mighty Deeds' you hope, dream, and wish to perform. |
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Luke speaks of Jesus as the "Son of man" and depicts him as human rather than as God. He writes about Jesus' mother, his infancy and boyhood.
The Assignment: 1. Write a paragraph or two about yourself as a "son of man" and a "daughter of woman." (Don't be confused if you are a man or a woman and question which to choose - all the readers of this material have an "X" chromosome which came from their mother - write about this part of yourself as the daughter of woman. 2. Write about the “man” side of yourself as the son of man. (All the readers of this material have either an "x" or a "y" chromosome which either came FROM their father or from their father's mother THROUGH their father).
This can be a fascinating exercise because it opens yourself to the masculine energy and the feminine energy you possess -- the left brain and the right brain -- the self which was created according to Genesis 1:27 (...male and female created S(he) them.)
In these writings, talk about your mother, your infancy, and your childhood in a way that you can see the similarity between yourself as a divine child of God-parents and Jesus as a divine child of God-parents -- in the flesh. 3. Write a paragraph or two about the "12" you chose to be your friendship circle in life -- your support network -- your band of angels. (4) Write a few beatitudes. Complete this statement: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO .......... FOR THEY SHALL ...... 5. Write a few parables, either out of your creativity or those passed on to you from your elders and the wisdom of your friends and associates. (6) Foretell your death. How do you want it to be? What do you want to happen at your funeral services? What is your last will and testament? (Write this will and put it in a safe place!) (7) Write your "Lord's Prayer" and your "Lady's Prayer." (8) Write your plan for resurrection - new life: what do you want it to be like? Where do you want to be? What do you want to be, do, have?
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This apostle, John, writes a book that has caused many people to say that it really should be the first book in the Bible because it starts with: "In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The action word in this verse is "WORD."
John 3:16 is the best memorized verses in the Bible: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, and whosoever believeth on him shall have everlasting life." Author’s Note: It is this very verse that helped me pick up the pen and write my own Bible!
John focuses on the “Word” becoming flesh in Jesus the Christ; that God has put himself into this form which we know as Jesus the Christ, the anointed one, the enlightened one, the chosen one. John explains that this "one" is the WORD of God in the flesh. (John 1:1-14).
The Assignment: (1) Write a paragraph or two about yourself as an anointed one, an enlightened one, a chosen one. How is it that you exemplify a "WORD of God" in the flesh? If you can't write about yourself, write about an elder or ancestor of your family in this manner.
John further emphasis that he is a witness of this incarnation of God (John 1:15-34) (2) Write a paragraph or two either about (a) The witnesses of your birth, your baptismal, christening, or early birthday celebrations, or write about -- (b) How it is that you know you, too, are a "word" of God in the flesh. (3) The public ministry of Christ (1:35 - 12:50): Write a paragraph or two about your public ministry. How have you served your family? Your community? Your country? Your world? Yourself? to whom have you given assistance when they were hungry, tired, ill, hurting, distraught? Who have you "fed?" "Healed?" "Taught?" "Raised from the dead?" (4) The private ministry of Christ to his own (13:1-17 - 26.) Write a paragraph or two about your private ministry to "your own." those things which you only say and do in your private circles. Rituals. Foretelling pending betrayal. Speaking about your reincarnation. The comforting nature of your spirit - The comforter. |
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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES is written by Luke and is a continuation of the Book of Luke. In his first "book", Luke talks about Jesus' teaching, in this "book", Luke writes about what Jesus did after being filled with the Holy Spirit; the beginning of the Christian church; and the conversion and ministry of Paul – how the Holy Spirit fills the scene. In writing this book for your Bible, it, too, should be filled with what you have done, are doing, and will do with your self-filled Holy Spirit.
The Assignment: (1) Define the Holy spirit in your own words. For example, for some the Holy Spirit is symbolic of the Goddess, The Mother of God, The Divine Feminine - for others it represents the one's spirit after is being "born again," for others it represents the period after conscious awakening, for others it is the spirit of the "highest and best good that dwells with", etc. (2) Then write a paragraph or two about your definition of The Holy Spirit. What did you do differently after becoming "filled" with this Holy Spirit? (3) Record your actions after you became filled with an awareness of the Indwelling Holy Spirit, whatever that means to you, and (4) Take a look at your beliefs about re-incarnation. Whether you return to this earth plane in another body or whether your spirit dwells elsewhere, is not the topic of discussion in this exercise, but, that your soul and spirit are eternal IS essential. Here you have an opportunity to design your future the way you would have it be. Pour into concrete your hopes, dreams, and wishes. (5) Acts records Saul's experience on the Road to Damascus and how his name was changed from Saul to Paul. Describe your transformation experience(s), as does Luke describe Paul's experience on the road to Damascus. If, after you became a "changed" person, you also changed your name, write a paragraph or two about your old name and your new name. (6) Acts makes several references to "The First Church." In your "Acts", write a paragraph or two about your church, either real or imagined. Describe it the way it is, or describe it the way you would want it to be.
(7) Write a paragraph or two about what you hope to accomplish while living in your present body, during this lifetime. (8) 7. Write a paragraph or two about what you wish your life to be like after your death to this world. |
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Romans: In this letter from Paul to the people of Rome, he preaches that the Gentiles are redeemed. Paul says God has "no respect of persons" and is not "the God of the Jews only," but "of the Gentiles also" (2:11, 3:29), and that "all things work together for good..." (8:28), and then gives the promise of transformation by "the renewing of your mind...", (12:2).
In your own life, are there any people, places, or things for which you have no respect (or little respect)? As time goes on, these people, places and things may have changed, or will change and you will find a way to "redeem" them to a place of respect in your consciousness. Take an assessment right now and make sure everything you hold in "contempt" deserves to be dis-respected.
The Assignment: If you find anything has changed, write a paragraph about its "redemption." What caused the shift in consciousness? What, in your mind, was transformed and renewed? Did that thing or person finally prove to have "worked together for good" in your life? In what way? |
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1 Corinthians, the first letter from Paul to the people of Corinth by the Holy Spirit. He tells about his "Holy Indignation" caused by the Corinthians continued offering of meat to idols, acts of incest, "childish delight" in tongues and the sign gifts, rather than to sober instruction. Paul also censures "The abomination of human leadership in the things of God."
In Chapter 1, verse 18 - 25, Paul shows the progression of "the word" from the Jews, whom he said "required a sign" (22), and the Greeks, whom he said "required wisdom. Then he says, "But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. Etc.
If you are writing your own Bible, you have graduated from the need for the sign of the "Jews," the wisdom of the "Greeks," and the Christ Crucified of the "followers of Paul's teachings", commonly known as under-graduate Christians. You are now above Paul's "abomination of human leadership in the things of God." You, as a Graduate have a direct relationship to God, and as a human with this same direct relationship to God as had Paul, you can write your own letter to yourself or your ascendant.
The Assignment: IF
(1) IF you believe that you are already "saved;" and that God is no respecter of persons, religions, or man-made fellowship organizations, and that you know that you, too, are the son/daughter of God,
THEN
THEN, Write of your own position in "grace." (Chap 1, verse 1-9).
IF (2) IF you believe that (1) you are now above Paul's "abomination of human leadership in the things of God," and that (2) you have a direct relationship to God, and (3) you have as direct a relationship to God as had Paul --
THEN, THEN you have the authority to determine who should be your "leader" - your own revelation from God or the revelation of another, etc. Therefore, you are empowered to write about this authority. Write about this leadership. Even though Paul did not use wisdom, do not let that stop you from using your "God-given-wisdom" in writing this chapter.
Paul was writing to people whom he felt did not possess "God-given-wisdom" and deemed it necessary to make decisions for them. You are not under the aspect of "grace," you are no longer a "natural man,' as described in chapter 2, verse 14, you live, move, and have your being in the spirit of the INDWELLING GOD, the same as Paul believed was his authority.
IF 3. IF you know and understand principles of living at a level of "higher consciousness,” THEN, THEN you can write about what YOU deem to be moral and immoral. Your beliefs may or may not coincide with Paul's, but, they will nevertheless, be as spiritually correct as his, even more so, because these judgements will come to and through you from the God of your understanding -- for YOU!
4. Write about your revelations on the sanctity of the body and marriage. Either copy Paul's revelations or write that which is revealed to you through prayerful meditation. Know that what you write is the truth for you.
This is your Bible. |
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II Corinthians - In this second book of Corinthians, Paul writes about (1) the principles he has taught being put to action, (2) a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, and (3) His defense of his apostolic authority.
According to the Scofield researchers, "Paul was writing to the people of Corinth to protect them against the "law-teachers" and anguish of heart over the distrust felt toward him by Jews and Jewish Christians." These motives are much like some of the explanations for the nexus of my book, “I Wrote My Own Bible” and this Summary on How You Can Do It, Too. In both cases, Paul’s and this book, the intention is to help the reader graduate from the "law-teachers." In the case of this Summary and my book, the intention is also to assist me in "overcoming the anguish of heart" that might arise from any doubt that you and I have the authority to undertake this divine writing.
As stated before, the freedoms separate a "Graduate" from an "undergraduate" are that a Graduate is: One who knows they are free to design their own religion, write their own Bible, sign their name to it, and practice what they preach! In order to practice what you preach, you must "preach" something - stand for something.
The Assignment: In this Chapter of your personalized version of 2nd Corinthians, write a paragraph about: 1. Your principles of action, 2. Your principles for interacting with the poor and homeless, and 3. Your statement of authority to write your own Bible. |
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Galatians. In Paul’s letter to the people of Galatians he preaches that the gift of the Spirit is by faith, not by law-works. He says that law and grace, cannot co-exist.
The Assignment: It doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with Paul about law and grace, your assignment is to write a paragraph or two: (1) about the "laws" (rules for the sake of rules) from which you wish to graduate and (2) about the gifts of the Spirit you desire to show forth by the grace of your being. |
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Ephesus: This letter from Paul to the people of Ephesus is about the “body of Christ.”
The Assignment: For your Bible, write a paragraph or two about the "body of Christ" as being your holy temple, the original "church," the gift of grace you express as in it you live, move, and have your being. Speak of what it means to see your body as a holy, divine, temple of the "Most High!" |
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Philippians. This letter from Paul to the people of Philippa is thought to be a letter he wrote while in prison or imprisoned, a time when he contemplated beauty, truth, and the loveliness of life!
To think of one being imprisoned can conjure up images of people being in a state or government prison. But for some people it can also be a safe space. A place where they are quarantined, a place where you don't have to do anything, or think about the day to day activities that distract the mind from the joy of contemplation. Even a state institution of imprisonment can offer time for the mind to go deeper within then at other times when daily life is the priority. When one is imprisoned in a jail, in a hospital, in a monastery, under punishment in your bedroom, or any other kind of containment, the mind might bring to the surface some concentrated spiritual food which can be sustainable for long periods of time after the imprisonment concludes. Actually, that is the original hope one has for people who are sent to prison, or sent to their room.
The Assignment: (1) Think about a time when you were "imprisoned" in some form or fashion. What profound thoughts came up for you? What unusual understanding about life did you uncover? What answers surfaced? What did you commit to "never do again?" What did you commit to "do always?" What did you "make peace with?" What was the deepest "prayer of your heart?" Write a paragraph or two for your Bible’s Philippians.
(2) When Paul was incarcerated at this time, he wrote a beautiful passage which can be found in Philippians Chapter 4, verse 8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. "
Write a paragraph or two about some revelation that came to you during "Imprisonment" that you would record as something that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and/or of good report. Talk about how you would praise them . . . and think on these things! |
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Colossians is the letter from Paul to the people of Colossians. In this letter, he (1) gives his apostle’s prayer (creed), (2) his best thoughts to encourage the people to put all of their faith and only trust in Jesus, and to (3) avoid worshiping angels and other mystical teachings because, as he saw it, the perils may serve to keep one separated from the indwelling light.
The Assignment: Write (1) Your creed; (2) a paragraph encouraging yourself to believe in yourself, and (3) a paragraph on your thoughts about worshiping anything or any person outside of your indwelling light. |
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Thessalonians: In this first letter from Paul to the Thessalonians, he gives instructions to young disciples and encourages them to keep up his work – the work he started when he established his church in that city.
The Assignment: Continue in the Graduate consciousness. Write your own Bible, design your own religion, sign your name to it and practice what you preach. Your assignment for this book in your Bible is to further design your own religion. Using 1st Thessalonians as a model, (1) describe the model church. (2) describe the model "worker" or "servant" in this church. (3) describe the model relationship of one member to another. (4) describe the message of hope your church would deliver. (5) describe the "God" of your church and the conscious relationship you want the members to have with this God. |
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II Thessalonians: Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians is encouragement to the disciples of his church to inspire them not to give up, but to expect “the day of Christ,” where he says "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." "The day of Christ is upon you."
In this chapter of your Bible, you are asked to remember that the word "Christ" carries the meaning, “light.” You, too, are a light. In your world, you are THE light. The day of your light is upon you. Beloved, give thanks always to the indwelling God for yourself. Give thanks for the indwelling light of God that is always upon you. Give thanks for the knowledge that you, too, are the Christ, the light, the way and the truth to the God of Your Understanding!
The Assignment: Write those things that have come out into your light, and are now a light unto your path and a lamp unto your feet. Write about those things which you are bound to give thanks for, always. Give thanks and let your light so shine. Be the Christ for the person in the mirror! |
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1st Timothy: Paul, still imprisoned, now writes to individuals. He mentors them giving instructions on how they should proport themselves. The first letter to Timothy talks about "order in the church" and wrote in 1 timothy 3;15 "... that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God ..." Paul also covered such issues as in Chapter 1 - legalism and unsound teachings rebuked. Chapter 2 - the order of the sexes. Chapter 3 - The qualifications of elders and deacons. Chapter 4 & 5 - the walk and work of a "good minister of Jesus Christ."
Remember, Paul is writing letters to the Children of Israel of his day. He was trying to convert them to the teachings he believed in. As a Graduate, you are free to think about how you want it to be in YOUR house? What do you insist on that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in YOUR house of God ... in YOUR home? What are your rules about wearing shoes in your house? Smoking in your house? Drinking alcoholic beverages in your house? Eating pork, meat, or vegetables in your house? What are your rules about your altar(s), putting coasters under wet glasses, how your telephone is answered, how your home is blessed when you leave or return? What is the order of the sexes, the work of a good minister of your principles, and the qualifications needed to keep order in your church.
The Assignment: In your personal Bible, use 1st Timothy as an example of how to "keep order in your church" - your main church called your home and write a paragraph or two about your teachings on the topics you choose. |
Reading the next book, 2nd Timothy, at an undergraduate consciousness will leave you at the same level of consciousness. But, at the level of a graduate, it can be one of the most revolutionary assignments and awakenings you might experience as a result of writing your own Bible. |
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2nd Timothy: Paul writes things that the Holy Spirit said to him to instruct Timothy. Paul listens to God, then transmits it to Timothy because, for some reason, Paul and Timothy believe Timothy can't hear it for himself.
As a Graduate, you are authorized to hear God for yourself. You are authorized to hear the Holy Spirit for yourself. You are authorized to have discussions with the Divine directly. For those who can not accept this authority, Paul will listen for you and transmit to you, as he did to Timothy. Otherwise:
The Assignment: (1) Write about your reason to be. (2) Write about your conversations with the Holy Spirit. (3) Write about your messages from the God of Your Understanding.
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Titus – In this letter from Paul to the apostle Titus, he writes about his thoughts regarding the qualifications and tests by which true elders and deacons of the church should be known.
The Assignment: If you have ever complained about the deacons, elders, or ministers of your church, this is your time to say what you think the true qualifications should be. It is a way to pass on to your future what you think they should look for in a spiritual guide, or a spiritual leader. Write a paragraph or two about your spiritual leader or guide and what you like (or dislike) about that person. Then, write a paragraph about how it is that you, too, measure up in the same way. You find an interesting comparison of the two paragraphs! |
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Philemon – a book of love. Even the name is described in the Metaphysical bible Dictionary as meaning “love,” and that is what Paul is writing about. Many teachers say, in this letter, Paul gives the “LAW” of love.
The Assignment: Write a letter of love. Write a letter to someone least expecting it. Tell them of your love and appreciation for them, their work and their wellbeing. You will be surprised how good it will make you feel, regardless of how the letter is received. Write the letter with love, mail it with love and release it with love (or don’t mail it). Love notes are always a pleasant surprise when least expected. |
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Hebrews – According to the Encyclopedia in my childhood home, Christianity was started in the year 4 by Coptic People. I didn’t know than that the word ‘Coptic’ means Egyptian. I know that now, and I also know that the Children of Israel became the Jews, but first they were Egyptians. Later, some of them became Christians, but first they were Coptic. Therefore, Christianity did not start with Paul’s teachings, or those of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Further, these letters from Paul were not written to Christians, they were written to Jews. They were written in the same way that Moses was trying to “Un-Egyptianize” the Children of Egypt and create a new religious order, based on his understanding of God. Like Moses, like Paul!
All of this being said, this book of Hebrews is written with the intention to confirm Jewish Christians “ by showing that Judaism had come to an end, through fulfilment by Christ. That the whole purpose of the law was to keep them away from their Egyptian roots and to remind them of the danger of lapsing back into Judaism, which is what they believed in since being “rescued” by Moses. But now that they were being freed by Jesus, Paul didn’t want them to pause short of true faith in Jesus Christ.” It is a series of contrasts between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ.
This book of the Bible is the foundation of Graduate Christianity particularly as it talks about the milk and strong meat and the ability to discern both good and evil - Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12. In these verses the writer talks about the difference between a mere professor of a doctrine and one who believes, uses, applies and embodies the doctrine being taught. Paul talks about “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ and going into the perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” but rather be “persuaded to better things,” to live in your labor of love, to minister, and to enjoy life!
When you write this book in your Bible, you are really crossing the bridge from needing someone else’s testimony to be your rod and your staff, to being able to depend on yourself, trust yourself, listen to your self and write your own testimonies, testaments, and scriptures! This is big!
The Assignment: When you write your own “Hebrews,” (1) Write about those things from which you are ready and willing to graduate as a “mere professor” and graduate into as a practitioner, practicing, loving, living, being and doing. (2) Write about the “better” life you are willing to take hold of and graduate from the spirit of milk to the spirit of strong food, being able to discern both good and evil and still keeping your balance in integrity and love and happiness.
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You only have seven more books to write before you complete the first layer of your own Bible. |
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James: James presided over the “first” council of Christians who were Christian Jews, not historic Jews. The distinction is that the religion of the people was changing. Judaism we no longer the only national religion. When the “twelve tribes” were scattered abroad, they were not the so-called Jews in “Jews vs Gentiles,” but they were the Jews who had taken up Christianity as a way of life. The scattering was the moving about and away from the central point of the origin of Christianity, which was in Egypt before it was in Jerusalem. Life was moving the forces of love out from its nucleus in Africa into the rest of the world. First from Egypt, then from Jerusalem. James did not leave Jerusalem. He became a pastor for the “scattered sheep” who stayed behind. His letter, the epistle of James writes to these “scattering sheep” to remind them of the foundation of their religion, the ancestors upon whose shoulders they stand, the wisdom books of the Old Testament.
The Assignment: When you write your “letter of James”, whose name means “just”, write two paragraphs. (1) Imagine you are going to create an institution to leave as a legacy for your future, or think about one such that you have created. Write about it and what you hope it will provide for the well-being of people now and then. (2) The second paragraph is a little more complex. Pretending that someone else has created a legacy or institution and you inherit the responsibility to care for it. Write a paragraph or two about how you would take care of it and maintain it to assure it’s longevity. What would you do to see to it that it flourished? |
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1st Peter This 1st letter from Peter has a special emphasis on atonement – at-one-ment. Peter talks to the Jews, who are now Christians, about being in a place that is not their home; encouraging those who are suffering for their belief in Christ, and telling them the grace of God and how good life can be by becoming Christians.
The same is true for Graduate Christians. You may suffer for your belief in graduating Christianity, you may find yourself living in a land that is not yours, and some people may tell you that you are living outside the circle of God’s love because you feel you are equal to Jesus, that you believe you, too, are an anointed one; that you too are a light, a Christ.
The Assignment: Write a paragraph or two describing an experience which you would call “An Adventure With Atonement.” Talk about your thoughts regarding the “Circle of God’s Love.” Talk about being an anointed one – a Christ. Write a paragraph of encouragement to yourself about having the courage and valor to graduate from the your understanding of Christianity and apply it as an alumna. |
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2nd Peter. In this letter from Peter, whose name is interpreted to mean faith, he warns Christians who are being tempted to choose a different religion. He is extremely concerned that some of the followers of the Christian Church are “going astray” and following what he calls, “false teachers.”
This is as it should be. If Peter believes what he believes and thinks he is appointed to “herd the sheep,” he should write ferociously about his beliefs trying to convince all the sheep to stay in the herd.
Same with you, every time you take on a new belief, you should believe it with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul -- or you shouldn’t believe it at all.
The Assignment: Every time you take on a new belief, write it down, date it, and trace your spiritual unfoldment. Give thanks that you have not become stagnant, stuck, or senile - unable to grow. There will never be a time when you can say, “I have all the truth and there is none other,” ... because every time a door of truth opens, it presents a whole room to be explored. The Infinite is infinite and not corralled by one religion or one spiritual path or one book.
When you write your 2nd Peter, let it be the story (his-story or her-story) of your spiritual unfoldment. |
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1st John: According to Scofield’s interpretation of the next three letters from John, “First John is a family letter from the Father to His “little children” who are in the world ... the sin of a believer is treated as a child’s offense against his Father, and is dealt with as a family matter. (John 1:9 and 2:1)”
Just think about that idea for a moment. Much of the old testament is about an avenging God, a vindictive God, a God of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Then we come nearly to the end of the Bible and find a God who thinks of his people as “His little children.” As if family is restored. As if the tenderness of love is regained or released and dispensed. From the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, we find that the name “John” caries the following interpretations: Jehovah bestows mercifully; Jah is gracious; grace and mercy of the Lord; dove like; meekness; compassion; fertility; fruitfulness and love.
The Assignment: When you think about family, if your family experience is a loving memory for you, record it in your personal John. If you family experience was not a loving memory, you can re-write it with the consciousness that the book of John carries with it the energy of a God who bestows mercifully - a God who is gracious - a God which dispenses grace and mercy; a God that is dove like - a God that exemplifies the qualities of meekness - a God of compassion. Use the qualities of fertility and fruitfulness of this name “John” and write about your family life describing it in the way you wish it had been.
Write about the love, the kindness, the consideration, the adoration, the respect, the pleasure, the security, and any and everything else you wish had been a part of your family life.
This is not lying, fabricating, denying, or fleeing from any truth others may want you to wallow in ... this is just a story you are writing about love - the way you want it to be, or desired. And, remember - the name John has been metaphysically interpreted to mean, among other things - “divine love.” Write with love about your family. |
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2nd John: In this second chapter of the “beloved” John, the writer gives the essentials of the personal walk of the believer.
The Assignment: Write the revelations of truth that come to you on the many subjects of life. For example, write your revelation of truth on the subject of life after death, an eye for an eye, forgive and forget, and any other challenges that come up for you, particularly after you have contemplated the paradoxical realm of living we are in as you prepare to write your Habakkuk. |
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3rd John: There is only one chapter of this, the smallest book in the Bible. It has 14 verses. Yet, it has a significant place in Christian history. According to Scofield Reference Bible, this letter from John marks the beginning of the time when the primitive church order disappeared. It is in this letter that John wishes for those to whom he is writing that they “above all ... prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” III John 2. John further goes on to say that he has “no greater joy than to hear that my children walk I truth.” He speaks as an elder of the Christian Church and establishes that the way of the Christian church is the only way of truth. I verse 7 he acknowledges that the children of “truth” go forth having taken nothing of the Gentiles - those who believe differently than the Christians. In Verse 9 he announces that the man, Diotrephes, rejected the apostolic letters and authority, choosing to keep to the ways of old. In verse 11 John denounces the ways of old as evil and not of God.
The Assignment: In your holy Bible, your precious word of God, given directly to you, you are asked to write a letter to someone and establish your thoughts about the ways of old. If you have outgrown them and they no longer serve a useful purpose, will you denounce them as evil? Will you pronounce that only the new found ways you have graduated into are the ways of “truth.” Or, will you find a way to see God in everything, everyone, and in every path? Write a paragraph on this subject that you want to leave to your future generations. |
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Jude - the brother of James. Thank goodness people in the past have studied these books and names to help those of us in the present understand the maze and a-mazing intricacies of the Bible. This book of Jude and his name are one of the examples of amazement. In reading this scripture, one of the shortest books in the Christian Bible, we find many words to describe a simple idea. Even the definition of the name is shrouded in “secrecy.”
In Charles Fillmore’s The Twelve Powers of Man, Jude is the disciple that represents the power of elimination, but the chapter about this power is, instead, called “Renunciation.” It’s all a lot of words to describe the letter and the power to give up that which no longer serves a useful purpose. For example: I used to be THAT, and now I Am THIS; I used to be addicted to that, and now I am addicted to getting enough rest; I used to eat that and now I eat more salads; I used to make excuses and now I confidently tell the truth about what I believe. In other words, accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.
The Assignment: For this chapter you have three assignments: (1) write a paragraph or two about (a) ways in which you plan to “give up that which no longer serves a useful purpose” and (b) what you plan to do in its place and (c) what you expect to be the result of your new attitude. Simple! Then - (2) Read it every day for 30 days!!! (3) Make a few notes in your Bible about the revelations of self-discovery that come to you along the way. |
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The Book of Revelations is about time: that which is, that which is to become, and this which was. Revelation is about the world before us, the world behind us and the world below us. From an Orthodox Christian point of view, this book is about Jesus Christ. From a Graduate Christian point of view, this book is about You! One of the revelations of truth that comes clear is that Jesus the Christ is a way shower to show us the way home. He is like a place holder — holding the place for us until we figure out that we, too, are the sons and daughters of the Most High Mother, Father, Everything Goddess, God, Creator of all Life.
The name Jesus is a code name, holding the place for your name.
When we get that revelation clear in our minds, bodies and spirits, we also understand the title, Christ.
Christ is a code word for light.
When this revelation is crystal clear, the light shines through and the title is bestowed. The power of Christ is the same as the power of light — the way is made clear, obstacles no longer hide in the shadows, tripping us along the way
Confidence is expanded Knowledge is comprehended Awareness becomes keener Thought becomes more focused Breathing becomes easier Emotions and passion become more directed Health abides Wealth is surpassed by a blessed assurance One thinks a thought and it nearly immediately becomes a thing All this comes as the light within is revealed to the entire being So, when this occurs, you are ready to write the last book of the Bible - Revelations!
Since you have traversed through writing your Bible at least once, you are invited to write your revelations of time: that which is, that which was and that which is to come. This is the last book of prophecy in the Christian Bible. It uses many symbols, signs and metaphors to transmit this prophecy. You are invited to do the same. You are invited to create a NEW book of prophecies with your revelations of truths. |