Happy Holidays to one and all! Enjoy the season! Do something relaxing...do something wild...do something for someone else!
As for me, I travel to see family and friends this time of year, so I will be out of pocket until the 4th of January. Until then...be safe and be good to one another!
True
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Reason for the Season
I love this time of year. That could be because I get most of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. That means that the typical annoyances of long shopping lines, limited gift selection, etc, never really come into view. Sure I have to deal with the crazy traffic and crowded malls, but in the grand scheme that is not a big deal. More often than not, I can kick back and enjoy the spirit of the season.
I was at a work-related Christmas party this week. When I wished a friend a hearty, "Happy Holidays" when he quickly quipped back, "It's 'Merry Christmas' to me--I'm not Jewish or Buddhist or any of that non-sense."
Admittedly, I was a little taken aback. The reason for the season, this person would most certainly point out is about: Jesus and a celebration of his birth. I would extend that to include a celebration of his life, encompassing his teachings of radical wisdom, compassion and an embracing acceptance of all. With that in mind, I do not think for a moment that Jesus would discount the spiritual paths of others in their own journeys of connecting to the Sacred, God. Nor do I think he would insist upon discounting their enjoyment of the holiday season in their own way.
I realize that John's language in his gospel points to Jesus claiming one path--one way in which only he can serve as the human-divine bridge. However, I agree with the numerous scholars who point to John's gospel as being greatly impacted by the reflections of the early Christian movement. As such, I think we should return to those radical wisdom teachings that are far more likely to mirror genuine Jesus and point toward compassion. Such a compassion leads me to respect all spiritual paths and to embrace people of all faiths. It allows me to learn from their faiths as well as the Christian faith of my youth. It gives me the true reason for the season: Love and compassion toward all.
Happy Holidays!
I was at a work-related Christmas party this week. When I wished a friend a hearty, "Happy Holidays" when he quickly quipped back, "It's 'Merry Christmas' to me--I'm not Jewish or Buddhist or any of that non-sense."
Admittedly, I was a little taken aback. The reason for the season, this person would most certainly point out is about: Jesus and a celebration of his birth. I would extend that to include a celebration of his life, encompassing his teachings of radical wisdom, compassion and an embracing acceptance of all. With that in mind, I do not think for a moment that Jesus would discount the spiritual paths of others in their own journeys of connecting to the Sacred, God. Nor do I think he would insist upon discounting their enjoyment of the holiday season in their own way.
I realize that John's language in his gospel points to Jesus claiming one path--one way in which only he can serve as the human-divine bridge. However, I agree with the numerous scholars who point to John's gospel as being greatly impacted by the reflections of the early Christian movement. As such, I think we should return to those radical wisdom teachings that are far more likely to mirror genuine Jesus and point toward compassion. Such a compassion leads me to respect all spiritual paths and to embrace people of all faiths. It allows me to learn from their faiths as well as the Christian faith of my youth. It gives me the true reason for the season: Love and compassion toward all.
Happy Holidays!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Survey is off and running...
Thanks to all of you who have taken time from your online Christmas Shopping to fill out the Religion and You survey from The Compassion Revolution. We're off and running to a good start in the first weekend for the survey.
I am very curious to see what kind of results we yield. We're really just trying to gauge America's spiritual temperature. Hopefully, we'll discover the value of spirituality in the lives of the average American while learning more about their chosen spiritual path and how they came to be on that specific path.
I do not want the results to be skewed. I am not posting news of the survey on conservative or liberal blogs or social network sites. The only promotion is through the media. Hopefully, this will give us a balanced sample to analyze.
Thanks again and Happy Holidays to all!
I am very curious to see what kind of results we yield. We're really just trying to gauge America's spiritual temperature. Hopefully, we'll discover the value of spirituality in the lives of the average American while learning more about their chosen spiritual path and how they came to be on that specific path.
I do not want the results to be skewed. I am not posting news of the survey on conservative or liberal blogs or social network sites. The only promotion is through the media. Hopefully, this will give us a balanced sample to analyze.
Thanks again and Happy Holidays to all!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Survey Religion & You is now available
The first annual survey on the state of religion in the US is now available! It takes about 5-7 minutes to complete and responses are completely confidential. The results will be released in February of 2010. Thank you for taking the survey! Just click the link below!
http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx?id=7902a100-5dd5-45f9-8f8f-349628d00225
http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx?id=7902a100-5dd5-45f9-8f8f-349628d00225
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Religion & You Survey coming soon...
New Survey entitled, "Religion & You" will be introduced this month from the Compassion Revolution. The purpose of the survey will be to uncover where America stands on the religious front as of 2009. Stay tuned to facebook and our blog for more information!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Church: Go or No Go...part two!
Hello!
It was pointed out that I really didn't answer the question posed in the headline: "Church: Go or No Go". Good point.
Again, I have no problem with church or someone going to church. My thoughts that speak against the direction the church has gone stand. I don't think churches should be spending thousands and thousands on high-tech facilities while more modest means while simultaneously more help to others could be sought. I don't think churches should become consumed by legalism that they thrust law (or their interpretation of it) in front of compassion and love.
With that being said...if you find a spiritual connection to God through church...GREAT! If so, then I would actually suggest that you go whenever the doors are open and camp out in the parking lot the night before. There is nothing like that connection. If you don't experience God through orthodox faith...GREAT! Find whatever works for you to enhance your own intimate relationship with the Sacred. Whether it be a walk in the park or random acts of compassion, find it and much will find you.
Keep the E's comin'...
True
It was pointed out that I really didn't answer the question posed in the headline: "Church: Go or No Go". Good point.
Again, I have no problem with church or someone going to church. My thoughts that speak against the direction the church has gone stand. I don't think churches should be spending thousands and thousands on high-tech facilities while more modest means while simultaneously more help to others could be sought. I don't think churches should become consumed by legalism that they thrust law (or their interpretation of it) in front of compassion and love.
With that being said...if you find a spiritual connection to God through church...GREAT! If so, then I would actually suggest that you go whenever the doors are open and camp out in the parking lot the night before. There is nothing like that connection. If you don't experience God through orthodox faith...GREAT! Find whatever works for you to enhance your own intimate relationship with the Sacred. Whether it be a walk in the park or random acts of compassion, find it and much will find you.
Keep the E's comin'...
True
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Church: Go or No Go
First of all, thanks for the e-mails of both support and criticism. All are certainly appreciated. Support affirms. Criticism challenges. Both bring growth. This is an initiative that cuts against the grain to a great extent so I certainly expect nothing less. Keep it coming and I will, as always, try to respond to as many questions as is possible. The more common inquiries I will blog about...
One of the questions that get routinely is: Are you opposed to organized religion?
The answer: No, not at all. I think churches have a wonderful role to play in our world. However, I am very troubled by what I see from much of organized religion today.
Churches seem more preoccupied with self-preservation and competing in the religious marketplace than living Jesus' message of love and compassion. This creates an uncanny resemblance with the Temple System that Jesus so adamantly opposed. To him, such a system was spiritually dysfunctional. It had created a group of haughty, self-righteous hypocrites more so than a people poised to lead as the Salt and Light.
I see the same thing today as churches spend thousands, even millions on new facilities in order to compete with the Church of the Jone's across the street. What could be done with that money if Jesus' message was wholeheartedly lived? Health care and health insurance programs could be established to aid those with little or none. Food to the hungry. Mentoring and job programs that could help families reach self-sufficiency. Programs that could keep kids active in healthier pursuits and off the streets. The list could go on and on.
My bottom line is simple: churches should begin to see a renewed mission that helps people connect with God while helping the community it serves. That mission does not involve bringing in more and more "believers" to guarantee self-preservation while being able to spend $X on a nicer this or that. After all, if people are in it to be surrounded by the best and most luxurious that man has to offer, they've probably missed the point altogether.
One of the questions that get routinely is: Are you opposed to organized religion?
The answer: No, not at all. I think churches have a wonderful role to play in our world. However, I am very troubled by what I see from much of organized religion today.
Churches seem more preoccupied with self-preservation and competing in the religious marketplace than living Jesus' message of love and compassion. This creates an uncanny resemblance with the Temple System that Jesus so adamantly opposed. To him, such a system was spiritually dysfunctional. It had created a group of haughty, self-righteous hypocrites more so than a people poised to lead as the Salt and Light.
I see the same thing today as churches spend thousands, even millions on new facilities in order to compete with the Church of the Jone's across the street. What could be done with that money if Jesus' message was wholeheartedly lived? Health care and health insurance programs could be established to aid those with little or none. Food to the hungry. Mentoring and job programs that could help families reach self-sufficiency. Programs that could keep kids active in healthier pursuits and off the streets. The list could go on and on.
My bottom line is simple: churches should begin to see a renewed mission that helps people connect with God while helping the community it serves. That mission does not involve bringing in more and more "believers" to guarantee self-preservation while being able to spend $X on a nicer this or that. After all, if people are in it to be surrounded by the best and most luxurious that man has to offer, they've probably missed the point altogether.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Superman vs. Batman
"Do you think that Jesus is the Son of God?" That is one of the questions that I am asked through the Compassion Revolution and especially because of Revolution II The Parables. It is a valid question and one that serves as a foundation to the Christian Faith. To answer that question I turn to two super heroes: Superman and Batman.
I grew up a big fan of both. From the ages of four to seven, I could routinely be found with a towel safety-pinned around my neck as I would take on the role of either hero. They were my clear-cut super favorites! A comparison of the two also helps me answer that lead question.
Growing up I was essentially taught that, like Superman, Jesus came from a distant realm to save us while possessing super-human qualities and super-natural abilities. However, the more I studied the life of Jesus of Nazareth, I began to realize that perhaps, Jesus was more like Batman.
In the DC Comic, Batman was a man, like any other (bank account withstanding) who became a man like no other. He had a vision that was greatly impacted by the injustice that he experienced and witnessed in the brutal world around him. With that motivation, he went to work to make that vision a reality. In the process, he developed super-human abilities that served that vision. It's easy to see how one could swap out Jesus' name in the statement above and have a very accurate and telling description. I believe that Jesus, as a man...like many others, developed a unique bond to God that accelerated him to a point of being a man like no other.
So, Yes...I believe Jesus to be the Son of God in a special sense that exceeds most, if not all mankind. Not necessarily in that Superman sense that I was taught as a fundamentalist, but in a sense that is far more meaningful to me.
I grew up a big fan of both. From the ages of four to seven, I could routinely be found with a towel safety-pinned around my neck as I would take on the role of either hero. They were my clear-cut super favorites! A comparison of the two also helps me answer that lead question.
Growing up I was essentially taught that, like Superman, Jesus came from a distant realm to save us while possessing super-human qualities and super-natural abilities. However, the more I studied the life of Jesus of Nazareth, I began to realize that perhaps, Jesus was more like Batman.
In the DC Comic, Batman was a man, like any other (bank account withstanding) who became a man like no other. He had a vision that was greatly impacted by the injustice that he experienced and witnessed in the brutal world around him. With that motivation, he went to work to make that vision a reality. In the process, he developed super-human abilities that served that vision. It's easy to see how one could swap out Jesus' name in the statement above and have a very accurate and telling description. I believe that Jesus, as a man...like many others, developed a unique bond to God that accelerated him to a point of being a man like no other.
So, Yes...I believe Jesus to be the Son of God in a special sense that exceeds most, if not all mankind. Not necessarily in that Superman sense that I was taught as a fundamentalist, but in a sense that is far more meaningful to me.
Monday, October 26, 2009
This group gets it!
In studying the healthcare crisis and proposed reform that is being bantered around in Congress, we have heard from a variety of political voices. Many of those voices have agendas attached that create very subjective opinions on the matter.
The New American Foundation, however, gets it. They seem to have identified the issues facing this crisis and present an unbiased plan of action aimed at correcting the problems. I encourage everyone to check out their site at: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/health_policy#
The Compassion Revolution has detailed its stance on the issue on at: www.thecompassionrevolution.net/action.htm or on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Compassion-Revolution/122544667347
The New American Foundation, however, gets it. They seem to have identified the issues facing this crisis and present an unbiased plan of action aimed at correcting the problems. I encourage everyone to check out their site at: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/health_policy#
The Compassion Revolution has detailed its stance on the issue on at: www.thecompassionrevolution.net/action.htm or on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Compassion-Revolution/122544667347
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Healthcare post updated on Facebook, website and blog
Healthcare Crisis
According to the 2004 Census Study, 45.8 million Americans are without health insurance. Further, paying medical expenses is not only a struggle for the uninsured. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Study, 62 percent of those struggling to pay medical bills have health insurance. The study showed premiums to have risen 57 percent since 2000, which highlights how increasing premiums, deductibles and gaps in coverage are affecting all of us. Such statistics showcase how healthcare costs have skyrocketed to the point of unfairly turning medical treatment into a luxury item.
Reasons are numerous: Pricing established by healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.) and pharmaceutical companies and technological advancements which have caused cost spikes are two of the biggest issues.
Let's address these:
PRICING--healthcare as an industry is emerging as a monopoly in which costs defy reason and consumers (and at times their insurance companies) have no choice but to pay such outlandish costs. People are shuttled from test to test--amassing outrageous bills, many of which are unnecessary. With healthcare prices out of control, the healthcare industry needs to be held accountable for its outrageous pricing and be severely scrutinized for such strategies. Further, industry pricing standards should be adopted "across-the-board" for tests and procedures (with possible slight variances market-to-market to account for different cost-of-living indexes). Also, consumers need cost-control measures with better understanding of the need for various tests and procedures versus the resulting costs.
TECHNOLOGY--"Would you be willing to go back and pay 1976 prices for 1976 medicine?" asks Robert Helms, a resident scholar in health policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Helms' point, as quoted from USA Today, is well taken. However, business strategies that create unreasonable prices and mesh with technological advancements that do the same while making healthcare exclusive to the wealthy is not consistent to principles of the age-old medical industry, nor is it consistent with a compassionate humanity. The answer, Mr. Helms, is simple: "No, I'm not willing to '76 prices for '76...nor am I willing to give a blank check to a used car salesman for the purchase of my next car"--which is what we often do with our healthcare providers.
The first step is to call for a limited-price freeze on all medical and health related services and products. The price freeze would last for a period of 2-3 years while proper adjustments are made in the industry. Yes, I realize this would mean a potential wage-freeze across the board, thus, the “Limited”. Wages would continue to meet national increase averages with pricing adjustments made to match such an increase.
Hopefully, Congress will address this issue with more than the pharmaceutical, healthcare and insurance companies in mind. A government run option is a solid start…and NO…such an option is not socialism. I’m baffled by those who oppose such an option for such reasoning. After all, Medicare and Social Security are also government run programs that people would not want to give up. We need to think through this issue with an eye toward responsibility and fairness that transcends greed. As always…any feedback is welcome!
According to the 2004 Census Study, 45.8 million Americans are without health insurance. Further, paying medical expenses is not only a struggle for the uninsured. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Study, 62 percent of those struggling to pay medical bills have health insurance. The study showed premiums to have risen 57 percent since 2000, which highlights how increasing premiums, deductibles and gaps in coverage are affecting all of us. Such statistics showcase how healthcare costs have skyrocketed to the point of unfairly turning medical treatment into a luxury item.
Reasons are numerous: Pricing established by healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.) and pharmaceutical companies and technological advancements which have caused cost spikes are two of the biggest issues.
Let's address these:
PRICING--healthcare as an industry is emerging as a monopoly in which costs defy reason and consumers (and at times their insurance companies) have no choice but to pay such outlandish costs. People are shuttled from test to test--amassing outrageous bills, many of which are unnecessary. With healthcare prices out of control, the healthcare industry needs to be held accountable for its outrageous pricing and be severely scrutinized for such strategies. Further, industry pricing standards should be adopted "across-the-board" for tests and procedures (with possible slight variances market-to-market to account for different cost-of-living indexes). Also, consumers need cost-control measures with better understanding of the need for various tests and procedures versus the resulting costs.
TECHNOLOGY--"Would you be willing to go back and pay 1976 prices for 1976 medicine?" asks Robert Helms, a resident scholar in health policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Helms' point, as quoted from USA Today, is well taken. However, business strategies that create unreasonable prices and mesh with technological advancements that do the same while making healthcare exclusive to the wealthy is not consistent to principles of the age-old medical industry, nor is it consistent with a compassionate humanity. The answer, Mr. Helms, is simple: "No, I'm not willing to '76 prices for '76...nor am I willing to give a blank check to a used car salesman for the purchase of my next car"--which is what we often do with our healthcare providers.
The first step is to call for a limited-price freeze on all medical and health related services and products. The price freeze would last for a period of 2-3 years while proper adjustments are made in the industry. Yes, I realize this would mean a potential wage-freeze across the board, thus, the “Limited”. Wages would continue to meet national increase averages with pricing adjustments made to match such an increase.
Hopefully, Congress will address this issue with more than the pharmaceutical, healthcare and insurance companies in mind. A government run option is a solid start…and NO…such an option is not socialism. I’m baffled by those who oppose such an option for such reasoning. After all, Medicare and Social Security are also government run programs that people would not want to give up. We need to think through this issue with an eye toward responsibility and fairness that transcends greed. As always…any feedback is welcome!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Getting ready...
Hey!
Just getting everything ready to launch the website and officially kick everything off! Hopefully, by the end of the month all systems will be go! Stay tuned and thanks for your patience and support!
One thing that I've been getting e-mails on is this horrible situation in Florida where five kids (ages 13-15) set a classmate (15-year old Michael Brewer) on fire in retaliation for reporting that they had tried to steal his father's bike.
This is an unspeakably sad situation. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Michael and his family. There are no words to describe the pain that they are feeling--if I'm hurting this much just reading about it and watching the interviews--wow...I simply can't imagine. I feel a painful combination of helplessness and anger. Feelings I am sure they are constantly engrossed in as well.
Whenever these types of feelings emerge, I draw on three stories told by Eckhart Tolle in his book A New Earth. Each has a moral that poses an ultimate question to help one maintain a sense of peaceful perspective. One story promotes non-resistance that, regardless of the nature of the "life situation", the question of "Is that so?" is posed. It encourages us to see things for what they are--to stop creating emotional pain by railing against what is. Another story promotes non-judgment by posing the simple thought of "maybe"--encouraging us to see each event as neither an ultimately positive nor negative experience, but rather one that is full of the promise that we put forth into it. Finally, the third story promotes non-attachment to a negative life situation by posing the thought of "This, too, will pass."
All are comforting in their own way and applicable for all involved in this terrible ordeal. I would be happy to e-mail the stories to anyone so just ask...or pick up that book--it's very inspiring.
As for the boys who did this to Michael--I've been asked for a compassionate stance on their punishment, should they be found guilty. People are seemingly under the impression that a compassionate mindset is a soft mindset. Not at all, a compassionate mindset is a Just and Loving mindset for all involved. The kids charged with this crime: Matthew Bent, Denver Jarvis, Steven Shelton and Jesus Mendez and Jeremy Jarvis need to be handled with love as well, to insure that they come closer to realizing a love and compassion that was evidently missing in their lives prior to this horrific incident. This, however, does not mean that such a violent act is swept under the rug with a boy's will be boys mentality. On the contrary, this is a horrific and inexcusable act of violence.
Usually, I'm not a fan of the prison system. Typically, my simple stance on prison is that you are taking a person with 2-3 problems and putting them in a system that will create 4-5 more problems before they return to society. What ultimate good does this serve?
Prison is far more understandable in cases of violence--especially extreme violence such as this case with Michael. With American society, however, prison has been iconicized. Our society seems to love the idea of someone going to prison as payment of a crime. It seems to feed a collective ego. However, I don't see the rationale, especially from the victim's point of view. A victim should be the one receiving tangible benefits for someone's wrong-doing. There are few tangible benefits for the victim under a prison scenario. For the victim, it merely fosters a sense of justified revenge, which only feeds negative emotion and prompts them to rail against more healthy ideas such as forgiveness.
All things considered, I think it is far more logical to force the perpetrator to provide a type of compensation for damages suffered, while, and especially in this case, being forced to stay away from their victim--we certainly have the technology for that. As for compensation, yes, I realize this is what civil suits are for, however, I think the two should begin to merge in certain situations in one legal swoop. Therefore, whatever the punishment a guilty verdict would yield for these boys, (and in other cases) I hope that a sentence would also include a provision for lifelong restitution to be paid (directly from their wages when they enter the workforce perhaps?) to Michael.
It's a sad situation with few easy answers. My best and most heartfelt wishes go out to the entire Brewer family and all involved...
True
Just getting everything ready to launch the website and officially kick everything off! Hopefully, by the end of the month all systems will be go! Stay tuned and thanks for your patience and support!
One thing that I've been getting e-mails on is this horrible situation in Florida where five kids (ages 13-15) set a classmate (15-year old Michael Brewer) on fire in retaliation for reporting that they had tried to steal his father's bike.
This is an unspeakably sad situation. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Michael and his family. There are no words to describe the pain that they are feeling--if I'm hurting this much just reading about it and watching the interviews--wow...I simply can't imagine. I feel a painful combination of helplessness and anger. Feelings I am sure they are constantly engrossed in as well.
Whenever these types of feelings emerge, I draw on three stories told by Eckhart Tolle in his book A New Earth. Each has a moral that poses an ultimate question to help one maintain a sense of peaceful perspective. One story promotes non-resistance that, regardless of the nature of the "life situation", the question of "Is that so?" is posed. It encourages us to see things for what they are--to stop creating emotional pain by railing against what is. Another story promotes non-judgment by posing the simple thought of "maybe"--encouraging us to see each event as neither an ultimately positive nor negative experience, but rather one that is full of the promise that we put forth into it. Finally, the third story promotes non-attachment to a negative life situation by posing the thought of "This, too, will pass."
All are comforting in their own way and applicable for all involved in this terrible ordeal. I would be happy to e-mail the stories to anyone so just ask...or pick up that book--it's very inspiring.
As for the boys who did this to Michael--I've been asked for a compassionate stance on their punishment, should they be found guilty. People are seemingly under the impression that a compassionate mindset is a soft mindset. Not at all, a compassionate mindset is a Just and Loving mindset for all involved. The kids charged with this crime: Matthew Bent, Denver Jarvis, Steven Shelton and Jesus Mendez and Jeremy Jarvis need to be handled with love as well, to insure that they come closer to realizing a love and compassion that was evidently missing in their lives prior to this horrific incident. This, however, does not mean that such a violent act is swept under the rug with a boy's will be boys mentality. On the contrary, this is a horrific and inexcusable act of violence.
Usually, I'm not a fan of the prison system. Typically, my simple stance on prison is that you are taking a person with 2-3 problems and putting them in a system that will create 4-5 more problems before they return to society. What ultimate good does this serve?
Prison is far more understandable in cases of violence--especially extreme violence such as this case with Michael. With American society, however, prison has been iconicized. Our society seems to love the idea of someone going to prison as payment of a crime. It seems to feed a collective ego. However, I don't see the rationale, especially from the victim's point of view. A victim should be the one receiving tangible benefits for someone's wrong-doing. There are few tangible benefits for the victim under a prison scenario. For the victim, it merely fosters a sense of justified revenge, which only feeds negative emotion and prompts them to rail against more healthy ideas such as forgiveness.
All things considered, I think it is far more logical to force the perpetrator to provide a type of compensation for damages suffered, while, and especially in this case, being forced to stay away from their victim--we certainly have the technology for that. As for compensation, yes, I realize this is what civil suits are for, however, I think the two should begin to merge in certain situations in one legal swoop. Therefore, whatever the punishment a guilty verdict would yield for these boys, (and in other cases) I hope that a sentence would also include a provision for lifelong restitution to be paid (directly from their wages when they enter the workforce perhaps?) to Michael.
It's a sad situation with few easy answers. My best and most heartfelt wishes go out to the entire Brewer family and all involved...
True
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Hello All!
I've been told repeatedly that I need to start a blog. With that...hmm...here I am!
To start, I will relay a little information about me. Keep in mind, I don't like talking about myself. After all, I began writing and started The Compassion Revolution anonymously to essentially prove that not everyone who writes a book or tries to make a difference is doing so for fame and fortune with an ultimate eye on self-gratification. Actually, a big component of what I'm doing speaks against conventional wisdom and a big part of that is ego. Sooooo, I've never been one to talk about myself, but here goes!
I grew up in a small town in Indiana. Two wonderful parents provided an equally wonderful childhood. I own a small business and live a comfortable, but fairly average life. I grew up in a very fundamentalist Christian home and was instilled with a very rigid belief system.
As time progressed, however, that belief system, I found more and more difficult to buy. Too many aspects of the religion made too little sense. Faith seemed bound by a legalism, that Jesus himself seemed to oppose, and held expectations of blindly believing the preposterus or face the horrific consequences of lacking faith!
With those notions in mind, I started The Compassion Revolution.
I recently completed a book entitled, Revolution II The Parables. It is the second book in the Compassion Revolution series. The first (Revolution) is available free online at:
www.thecompassionrevolution.net
I don't sell the Revolution II The Parables directly but it's available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Just follow the links below:
http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-II-Parables/dp/0984066519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252861422&sr=8-1
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Revolution-Ii-The-Parables/Anonymous/e/9780984066513/?itm=1
So, that's a little about me...future posts will, I'm sure, be centered on various social and spiritual issues. This, however, provides a good starting point.
To start, I will relay a little information about me. Keep in mind, I don't like talking about myself. After all, I began writing and started The Compassion Revolution anonymously to essentially prove that not everyone who writes a book or tries to make a difference is doing so for fame and fortune with an ultimate eye on self-gratification. Actually, a big component of what I'm doing speaks against conventional wisdom and a big part of that is ego. Sooooo, I've never been one to talk about myself, but here goes!
I grew up in a small town in Indiana. Two wonderful parents provided an equally wonderful childhood. I own a small business and live a comfortable, but fairly average life. I grew up in a very fundamentalist Christian home and was instilled with a very rigid belief system.
As time progressed, however, that belief system, I found more and more difficult to buy. Too many aspects of the religion made too little sense. Faith seemed bound by a legalism, that Jesus himself seemed to oppose, and held expectations of blindly believing the preposterus or face the horrific consequences of lacking faith!
With those notions in mind, I started The Compassion Revolution.
I recently completed a book entitled, Revolution II The Parables. It is the second book in the Compassion Revolution series. The first (Revolution) is available free online at:
www.thecompassionrevolution.net
I don't sell the Revolution II The Parables directly but it's available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Just follow the links below:
http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-II-Parables/dp/0984066519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252861422&sr=8-1
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Revolution-Ii-The-Parables/Anonymous/e/9780984066513/?itm=1
So, that's a little about me...future posts will, I'm sure, be centered on various social and spiritual issues. This, however, provides a good starting point.
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