1999 Vol 1, March by Inner Light Ministries

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES NEWSLETTER VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1

MARCH, 1999

H EALTHY SKEPTICISM by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

n 1981 I attended a weekend conference in Michigan. I was surprised when the conference leader invited me to meet with him after dinner—to discuss something which he felt I would find interesting. This got my curiosity up, so I agreed. That evening we met in the dining room and sat down to talk. He began by explaining that he was putting together a trip to Egypt for about 100 people. They would be traveling through Egypt for two weeks, seeing all the major sights of ancient Egypt. He wanted to know if I would like to go along, all expenses paid, and be a part of the facilitation team. He felt that I would have a lot to offer the tour in the way of information about Ancient Egypt. In talking further with him I realized that he thought I had been to Egypt before and would have a lot of information to share about pyramid power, curses on tombs, past life information about myself and others in the group concerning Egypt, etc. I was surprised by this and said, “Thank you, but I have to be honest here and let you know that I have never been to Egypt, and therefore I do not think I would have much to offer the group.” He seemed ready for this response and said that was fine, that they would just like me to come and share whatever experiences I might have while on the trip with them—whatever I had to share would be just fine. I told him I would like to have time to consider the offer before giving my answer. After the conference I traveled home, and while on the plane I began to give the matter some serious thought. I decided to use a “tool” in my life that I have found works for me in getting to “the bottom line”—to a decision. This tool is to write out the pros and cons of a situation, and then, with an attitude of “openness combined with healthy skepticism,” to write out my thoughts and feelings about the matter. In this way I can move the energy, ideas, and beliefs I have about something into a more

complete picture upon which to make a decision. The story line that unfolded for me as I worked this technique/tool was that I was very skeptical about a lot of what had been said about ancient Egypt, pyramid power, curses, etc., and that therefore I would probably not be the best one to have along sharing on the trip. “Bottom line:” my skeptical attitude would probably not be what they would want on the trip; I would let him know that for this reason I was turning him down. When I called the conference leader and let him know that I was not going and why, he said very quickly that he felt my skepticism was a “plus”— and he urged me to reconsider. I heard him out, then went back and added to my list of pros and cons, and I did reconsider. Well, I thought, I was being offered a free trip to go and see for MYSELF whether there was truth to the things that were being said about Egypt. And thus, my conclusion to turn down his invitation changed—I decided to go and check out Egypt for myself. I have found that an attitude of “healthy skepticism” is a valuable tool in my life. A “healthyskeptical” approach to something is very beneficial for me, because it can create an environment for investigation—to find out the truth of something for myself. This attitude includes being open and willing to look at all the different sides of something, and allows for something which may be true for someone else to not be true or workable for myself. At the same time, this attitude allows me to be receptive to new information as it comes in , thereby staying open to new possibilities in my life. I also have created within me a “bookshelf high in my mind” such that, when I am given something that I cannot understand or that sounds unbelievable, I will not discard the idea; rather, I will place it on my “shelf high up in my mind” so if I ever want to take another look at it or refer to the idea in the future, I can. I have found that, many times, things that I look at seem at first not to fit into my belief structure, but given some time and some growth I Healthy Skepticism continues on page 6

YOU DO OR by Laura Kesten-Beaver, ILM Minister

YOU DON’T...

“But I love chocolate?” I protested. My higher self retorted, “And so a captain loves his ship, but he isn’t going down with it once it begins to plummet into the ocean ... make a plan with rewards and stick to it. Start Today.” Argumentively, I wrote, “But I have chocolate in my kitchen right now!” “Offer it to the garbage can when you leave this morning—Start Today!!!” “Okay,” I reluctantly replied. “But I’m scared that I will once again be lured into ecstasy with Godiva. How will I have the strength to resist?” My higher self replied, “You once told your daughter that when a person continuously chooses into behaviors which do not serve her positively, it becomes harder and harder to turn back and remember what the truth is. You’ve had years and years of hiding your truth regarding chocolate and so it’s not necessarily going to be easy to give it up. But as you told your daughter, once you begin—once you say your first “No” to the temptation—you will have begun to win again and your strength will lead you to freedom.” I wasn’t sure what “hiding my truth regarding chocolate” meant, so I did an exercise I remembered learning from a personal growth training I once took. It goes something like this: When I A, then B. When B, then C. And when C, then D ... Z. You keep on going until you reach a bottom line which is indicated by the letter Z, and then you complete the following statement: When I A, then Z. I’d rather do A, than Z. My process looked like this: When I eat chocolate, I become moody, distant, quick to anger. When I’m moody, distant, and quick to anger, then people keep their distance from me. When people keep their distance from me, then my ideas and feelings won’t be judged and ridiculed. When I feel judged and ridiculed, then I don’t feel safe. So ... I would rather eat chocolate than not feel safe. I realized that this “safety” (actually isolation) was my “positive” outcome, but at the expense of the “side effects” of chocolate: becoming moody, distant, quick to anger, keeping people at bay. These side effects also cause me to feel separated, rejected, and like I’m a terrible person—is it worth it? What Do or Don’t continues on page 6

recently had a dream wherein Jim Gordon and I were flying together. We were soaring above a neighborhood, and Jim was talking to a stranger who was in one of the houses below. I was not allowed to hear their conversation prior to Jim saying to the man, “Well, those are the changes you’ll need to make in your life to find personal freedom.” The man said, “Oh, gee. That sounds really hard.” I could see him running his fingers through his hair, as if worried. And then he said, “I’m just not sure I can do that.” Jim quickly responded by saying, “If you want to know what hard is—try being ripped out of your bed in an angry storm, washed away with a torrent of rain and mud with all your belongings, and left with nothing—no money, no clothes, no I.D. Now, that’s hard.” The man again ran his fingers through his hair, thinking ... then he shook his head. “Naw, naw. That doesn’t seem very hard.” As I was still dreaming, I tried to make sense of it all. I chuckled inside and thought about the two scenarios that Jim had given the man—personal life changes he would need to voluntarily choose to make, or the involuntary changes brought about— without choice— by a raging storm. I woke up and began to write in my journal about the dream, and about the choices I needed to make in my life in order to find personal freedom. I jotted down the question, “What keeps me from a higher level of personal freedom?” And I quickly wrote back, “Your anger.” So then I asked, “What changes do I need to make to rid myself of this anger?” And with much resistance, I scribbled back, (thus beginning a dialogue between myself and my higher self), “Begin with eliminating chocolate from your diet—it doesn’t suit you. Chocolate, for you, is a mood-altering drug. Your own daughter calls you ‘the wicked step-mom’ when you eat chocolate. You can’t really move on until you eliminate it completely.” 2

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES

Calendar

CLASSES & PROGRAMS: MARCH 1999 - JUNE 1999 PRESENTED BY JIM GORDON: For additional information, call Laura Kesten at 512-894-0992

EEKLY

CLASSES: Jim’s weekly Austin class is held Tuesdays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm,

ILM Center, Franklin Sq. Bldg., 3724 Jefferson, Ste. 100, Austin, TX.

Each class includes spiritual teaching, practical exercises, group discussion, and meditation. Jim helps participants to become more deeply in touch with the Spirit within.

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES presents:

CREATIVITY EXPRESSING YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL WITH ILM MINISTERS Jim Gordon, Laura Kesten, and Steven McAfee and special guest artist Arthur Douet 1

IN ANGOLA, INDIANA 2

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

DATE: Friday, March 26 - Sunday, March 28, 1999

DATE: Friday, May 14 - Sunday, May 16, 1999

TIME: 7:30 pm Friday - 1:00 pm Sunday (Times may change slightly.)

LOCATION: ILM Center, Austin, TX

LOCATION: Pokagon State Park (In retreat.)

COST: $50 For further information call Laura at 512-894-0992

COST: $150 For further information call Steven at 219-485-2167

A RT !

M USIC !

S TORY -T ELLING !

C REATIVE P LAY !

M EDITATION !

Join us for this unique weekend of joyful exploration and discover how each of these powerful tools can help you to connect with your own creative resources within. Learn to tap into these resources more freely, at home, at work, and in your families, and watch how much richer life can become. Jim, Laura, and Steven will present experientially oriented, creative approaches to self-discovery and offer new directions for creating a more rewarding personal life. Our special guest, Arthur Douet (whose well-known “soul portraits” have inspired many), will use his artistic gifts to gently guide us toward the healing realization of our true identity through the medium of art.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

ILM Registration Form: Please send check (payable to ILM) along with this registration form to: FOR A USTIN, TX: I NNER LIGHT MINISTRIES, P.O. Box 1086, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 OR FOR A NGOLA, IN: STEVEN M CA FEE, 6228 LOMBARD PLACE, F ORT W AYNE, IN 46815

Please Check For Which Location You Are Registering:

Austin, TX

Angola, IN

(Please print)

NAME(S): ADDRESS & ZIP CODE: DAYTIME PHONE:

EVENING PHONE: 3

This pullout ILM Calendar continues on pages 4, 5 and 6.

ILM CLASSES & PROGRAMS CALENDAR (CONTINUED): PRESENTED BY LAURA KESTEN: For additional information, call Laura at 512-894-0992

A IRCLE OF W OMEN: Monthly gathering. This evening is specially dedicated in the celebration of ancient woman spirit, where women join together to experience the support of an uplifting, nurturing, and self-empowering circle. There is no charge. March 12, April 9, May 7

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

ILM Center

Austin, TX

edicine Wheel: Join us as we build a 36-rock Native American Medicine Wheel in cereMmony. You won’t want to miss this experience. Potluck following. There is no charge.

The

Saturday, March 20

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, MI

OUPLES : Join us for this weekly series as we view and discuss John Gray’s videos, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: Understanding Martians & Venusians, Improving Communication, Giving and Receiving Love; Emotional Needs, and Lasting Intimacy & Fulfillment. Dr. Gray is insightful, comprehensive and delightfully humorous as he shares his wisdom on how men and women are equal but different. You and your partner will be surprisingly entertained, and inspired to bring more awareness, understanding, and love into your relationship. Singles are welcome. There is no charge.

Thursdays, April 1 - April 29

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

ILM Center

Austin, TX

•

I N R ETREAT : We will view and discuss John Gray’s Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus videos (as listed above). You and your partner will be given many opportunities throughout the weekend to apply this information in practical exercises. OUPLES

July 23-25

Kellogg Biological Station

Gull Lake, MI

$225 /couple

THE RITER W ITHIN: The Writer Within workshop is designed to engage us, The Writers, in communicating more naturally between emotion-and-thought and pen-and-paper, thereby unfolding more of who we are. The emphasis is on the process, not on form, technique, or product. A safe environment is created for both the writer and sharer. We will meet at Texpresso in The Village on Anderson Lane. April 17

THE

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

RITER W ITHIN - IN

June 25-27

•

Austin, TX

No charge

RETREAT II: The registration fee includes lodging, meals, and materials. The Croft Retreat Center

Otsego, MI

$100

M : The Iroquois legend of the PeaceMaker, dating back to AD 1200, is a historicallyPnoted influence on the forming of our American nation. We offer this workshop as an opportunity to EACE

AKER

journey through the rich Iroquois story of the PeaceMaker, reliving its teachings and participating in transformational processes, thus bringing us closer to the heart of our own PeaceMaker within. Come and experience this very powerful workshop. The registration fee includes lodging, meals, all materials, and Jean Houston’s book, A Manual for the PeaceMaker. June 11-13

Still Meadows Community

Portland, OR

$125

: Kellogg Forest is one of the most beautiful places on earth—rich in Native trees and D plants, peaceful trails, gentle stream waters, and wildlife. Share with us a day in this calming, healing, RUMMING

and rejuvenating environment—drumming, meditating, journaling, walking, and resting. It is not necessary to bring a drum, however you are welcome to bring one if you wish. No charge. June 19

1:00 pm - 7:00 pm 4

Kellogg Forest

Gull Lake, MI

ILM CLASSES & PROGRAMS CALENDAR (CONTINUED):

PRESENTED BY STEVEN MCAFEE: For additional information, call Steven at 219-485-2167

C LASSES : Classes are held from 7:30-9:00 pm at Unity Church, 3232 Crescent Ave., Ft. Wayne, IN. Classes includes spiritual teaching, music, meditation, practical application, and group sharing. Donation.

UESDAY

UNDAY

MYSTICAL BIBLE STUDY: Discover the mystical teachings in the Bible and

how to apply them in your life. Every Sunday 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6228 Lombard Place, Ft. Wayne, IN (Please note that Sunday meetings are not held on the weekends when ILM workshops or retreats are scheduled; call Steven for up-to-date information.) Refreshments and fellowship follow. Families are welcome. Donation.

SERVICES: Steven conducts worship services as a guest minister for various churches and spiritual groups in the Ft. Wayne area. All the presently scheduled worship services will be held at the: Brigade of Light, 11:00 am, YWCA Villa in Ft. Wayne, IN. March 21 — April 11 — May 9 — June 27 Please call for additional programs scheduled after we went to press with this issue.

UNDAY

S C

NIGHTS: The Ft. Wayne ILM “community” periodically gets together to share in potlucks, music nights, video nights, and outings. Most of these events are also suitable for children. Please call Steven for current information.

URTURING

OMMUNITY

This workshop will be presented by Steven McAfee and Mike Wunderlin, the owner of Natural Health Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In his unique, relaxed, and enthusiastic manner, Mike will share ideas on improving the quality of your health, and Steven will offer insights into caring for your soul to improve the quality of your life.

BODY AND SOUL March 13

Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm Vicksburg, MI (We will go out for lunch together—please bring lunch money.)

$25

FRIDAY AND EASTER: Join us for a meditation and prayer service on Good Friday and an Easter morning worship service in Ft. Wayne. Families are welcome. No charge.

OOD

April 2 April 4

Friday 7:00-8:30 pm, and Sunday 9:00-11:00 am

}

6228 Lombard Place, Ft. Wayne, IN.

RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS (Continues on page 6)

HRISTIAN & JEWISH MYSTICAL TRADITIONS:

Explore the rich mystical heritage in early Jewish and Christian traditions. Hear their stories, learn their rituals, and discover more about the Messianic consciousness within you. Our day together will be time of what they might have called “raising holy sparks.” The workshop will take place at Seasons - A Center for Renewal at the Fetzer Institute, and lunch will be provided. Saturday, April 17

10:00 am - 4:00 pm 5

Kalamazoo, MI

$25

Steven’s Calendar continues on next page

ILM CLASSES & PROGRAMS CALENDAR (CONTINUED):

PRESENTED BY STEVEN MCAFEE: For additional information, call Steven at 219-485-2167 RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS

M YSTICAL CHRIST #3 - ENTERING THE MYSTERY:

M T H E

Y S T I C A L

C H R I S

In this retreat we will focus on the mysteries of the Holy Spirit. We will provide a list of Biblical references about the sound and light of God and experience some of the prayers, contemplative practices, and rituals used by the early followers of Jesus. “The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but the are not revealed to them...for them there are only parables.” (Matt. 13:11 and Luke 8:10) (Registration fee includes cabin, workshop supplies, Sat. eve dinner and Sun. lunch).

Friday, April 23-25, 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:00 pm

GilChrist,Three Rivers, MI

$100

SERIES

M YSTICAL CHRIST #2 - EMBRACING THE TEACHINGS:

This program will focus on the mystical teachings in the Old and New Testaments, highlighting key teachings of Melchizedek, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jesus. Biblical references, as well as oral traditions, will be presented. Areas for further study, application, and contemplation will also be recommended. “They will all be taught by God, and to hear the teaching of the Father, and to learn from it, is to come to me.” (John 6:45) Saturday, May 1

INDING

YOUR TRUE SELF

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Ft. Wayne, IN

$25

This experiential workshop will focus on connecting with your inner self and revealing it more fully in your life. You will have the opportunity to find your inspiration, set your intention, and commit to act in accordance with it. The location for this workshop will be announced shortly. Box lunches will be provided. Registration is limited, so register early! Saturday, June 12

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kalamazoo, MI

$25

(Note: please be aware that new programs are often scheduled after the newsletter goes to press, and, in rare instances, published schedules may have to be altered. For current information on any event or series, please call the presenter or contact person listed with the program. Thank you.) by Jim Gordon

by Laura Kesten-Beaver

Healthy Skepticism continued

Do Or Don’t continued

find I can incorporate these ideas and use them to my advancement. I have heard a statement for many years, “When in doubt; check it out.” In other words, “try on” new ideas, beliefs, techniques, or ways of doing life and see if they work for you. If they do, use them; and if they don’t, let them go—and find out what does work for you. So, I did go to Egypt and I had a great time—and with my “skeptical but open-minded” approach I had many wonderful experiences and awakenings about ancient Egypt. I had even greater awakenings about myself—and about how useful it is to be an “open-minded skeptic” in life.

if the reasons I once needed to “hide” no longer exist? In fact, these days I am surrounded by people who are encouraging, and even approving. Well, guess what? As I am writing this, I’ve been “off chocolate” for eight weeks—and I feel great, physically and emotionally. And do you know what? I agree with my “dream person:” one of the greatest challenges in life IS to choose away from old ways that no longer serve us, and to choose into new ways that lead us forward in life. There’s no such thing as trying . . . you either do or you don’t. —Yoda, STAR WARS 6

THE C I R C LE

GAME

cause this year I have been focusing my attention on bringing my outer life into greater harmony with my inner self, and one of the keys I am discovering is the power of attention. When I receive an inspiration from within, an inspiration to do or to be something, whatever its nature—to begin a new set of disciplines, to be more forgiving, to write a song, to develop a new retreat, to pay attention and enjoy my life—I become so enthused about the idea that I genuinely intend to fulfill it. And yet, often I fail to do so. Why? I watch the “bean bag” coming around the circle at me, get flustered, and run out of time. That is, instead of holding my attention on what I intend to do, I allow myself to become distracted— by obstacles or setbacks (“this is difficult to do...”), by changing feelings or moods (“I don’t feel like it anymore...”), by other people’s opinions or reactions (“you’re doing what?”...), in other words, by the pressure I feel to respond to everything but my original inspiration. When the inspiration comes, the creative power of the soul to fulfill the inspiration is carried within it. My attention is like a “beam” of light I send out, down which my soul releases its energy into my life. If my attention becomes scattered and fragmented, my “soul energy” is dissipated, and it becomes too weak to accomplish its original purpose, the manifestation of the inspiration. But when my attention is concentrated, the power of my soul and its lifeenergy is concentrated into it. The difference is like that between a laser beam and a flashlight. Focused attention is like a laser, providing both increased clarity and directed power. Scattering the attention scatters the light, like a weak flashlight, so that its clarity and power are diminished. That is why it’s hard to “name six” if you keep “watching the bean bag going around.” If I am committed to making my outer life a true reflection of my inner self, then I must let go of the habitual tendency to distraction; I must develop the practice of staying focused. The ability to hold focus —to hold the attention upon what we intend and refuse to yield it to anything that would pull us away from it— this is to be faithful to our inner self. The inspiration to be who I am, to let my life reveal my soul, all begins with this simple act—paying attention.

by Steven McAfee, ILM Midwest Coordinator

here is a game we used to play in college theater that we called “Name Six.” The acting class members stood in a circle around one person in the center who was “ I T . ” The “IT” person tossed a small bean bag to someone in the circle and named a letter of the alphabet. The person in the circle who caught the bean bag then had to immediately pass the bean bag to the person on the left, who in turn passed it to the one on their left, and so on, until the bean bag came all the way back around the circle. The person who first caught the bag had to “name six” nouns that began with the specified letter of the alphabet before the bean bag came back around to him. If he was successful, he stayed in the circle, the “IT” person remained the “IT” person, and the game started over again. If he was unsuccessful in naming six nouns in the time allotted, he went into the center of the circle and became the new “IT,” while the former “IT” came out to take his place in the circle. Then the game began again. Get the picture? Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? It wasn’t. Very few were successful in naming the six nouns before the bean bag returned to them. Now, oddly enough, those who were not on the spot to “Name Six” could always think of at least six nouns by the time the bean bag made its circuit; but as soon as they were the one who caught the bag and HAD to name them, they just couldn’t seem to do it. Here’s the secret: the point of this exercise was to teach actors about the value and power of attention. When a person had to “Name Six,” instead of concentrating their attention upon the simple task at hand, they began to watch the bean bag make its way around the circle, and the closer it came to them, the more pressure they felt and the more flustered they became, until they couldn’t think of anything at all. The few people who learned to keep their attention on the naming and not on the bean bag almost always accomplished their task with time to spare. I can tell you from experience that the temptation to watch the bean bag was enormous! So, why am I telling you this story now? Be7

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES NEWSLETTER ABOUT ILM INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES (ILM) is a nonprofit outreach organization founded in the fundamental principles of ancient esoteric Christianity. It is dedicated to the development and balancing of the fourfold nature of the individual. Towards this goal, it provides education and services concerned with the integration of the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of the self, and also provides publications and materials that aid in this process. Among its fundamental tenets is that we really are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” As we seek and express this presence within, we find the peace, love, power, and wisdom we all so earnestly desire. The many services of ILM are geared towards this path of individual unfoldment—such as meditation, study, and prayer on an individual and group basis.

ILM:

JIM

GORDON

ABUNDANCE I and ABUNDANCE II $15.00 for both tapes (OurChristmas SALE was so popular we decided to continueitthruEaster,April4th,‘99)

To Order: Checks may be made payable to “Inner Light Ministries” and sent to:Inner Light Ministries, P.O. Box 164332, Austin, Texas 78716-4332. Please include your name, address and phone number. Allow 4 weeks for delivery.

Service to humanity and the planet is ILM’s second major emphasis, and ILM encourages individual service, in any of a wide variety of possible forms, as a vital aspect of our daily experience. Please write or phone for more information.

Executive Office: Jim Gordon, 203 Buckeye Trail, Austin, TX 78746; Business Office: Tom Beaver, P.O. Box 1086, Dripping Springs, TX 78620; Midwest Office: Steven McAfee, 6228 Lombard Place, Fort Wayne, IN 46815

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TWO TAPES

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