Mystical Jesus

In this episode, we hear past life regressionist and long-time A Course In Miracles teacher, Bruce Gregory, describe what Charles Lehman (the man who remembered his past life as Jesus' first Apostle, the Apostle Andrew) was like as a human being and also how Charles' feelings about his past life memories changed over time, and as he battled cancer towards the end of his life. "Future generations will make more of my death than of my life, more of my sorrows than of my joy." Jesus, as quoted in the Book of Andrew. As always, God bless you :)

In this first episode of the Book of Andrew series, we hear its editor and regressionist, Bruce Gregory, recount several stories of his clients, including the "woman at the well," who remembered past lives in which they met or experienced Jesus and were utterly transformed by the encounter. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence tell his readers about how to go from merely having faith in God to actually knowing and experiencing God. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence's recommendations for how to have regular communion with God and how to love God from the very depths of our souls. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence's own attempts to document and explain his "spiritual maxims" on how to live a truly holy and spiritual life where God is always present. God bless.

In this episode, we hear the last several letters written by Brother Lawrence to the same ill person. These letters were written towards the end of Brother Lawrence's life. Nevertheless, he remained totally committed to practicing the presence of God, exhorting the reader to practice believing and experiencing God with much faith as we "can do all things with the grace of God." God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence, towards the end of his life, recount how practicing the presence of God is the easiest method to truly know and understand God, and find him asking "how can we pray to God without [actually] being with God?" God bless.

In these two letters, we hear Brother Lawrence -- in his own words-- the importance of practicing the presence of God even as we age and how to keep from being too distracted from wandering thoughts during prayer. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence describe his concept of "holy freedom" and how one can achieve it simply by practicing being in the presence of God. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence, the 17th Century mystic, explain to a new nun how practicing the presence of God at all times is the easiest way to be truly spiritual. According to Brother Lawrence, "there is not in the world a kind of life more sweet than that of a continual conversation with God." God bless.

In this episode, we hear of Brother Lawrence's unshakable faith in God and we can learn to have God's graces flow into us like a Holy torrent. He also recounts one of his own favorite, personal prayers -- "My God, here I am all devoted to Thee: Lord, make me according to Thy heart," God bless.

In this episode about The Practice of the Presence of God and the Spiritual Maxims book by Brother Lawrence, we hear about this devout monk's spiritual advice to a wounded soldier and how that soldier can become closer to God by practicing the presence of God, by doing this "holy exercise," in degrees -- starting small and getting easier and bigger with time. Hope you enjoy. God bless.

In this episode, we hear-- in Brother Lawrence's own words-- how he had purposefully decided to abandon all prayers except for a continual devotion to feeling the presence of God around him, as if God himself was always near, and how this "Practice of the Presence of God" caused him to feel such sweet and total rapture from God, and about God, in all his daily activities. To Brother Lawrence, God delighted himself incessantly with this Carmelite monk from the 1600s "in a thousand and a thousand ways." May you find this same love and peace. God bless.

In this episode, we hear Brother Lawrence recount, from his own written hand, how to experience being "wholly God's" and "holy freedom" merely by practicing his easy spiritual method of focusing exclusively, and without worry, on feeling God's presence beside you every day. God bless.

In this discussion of the Fourth Conversation contained in the book, The Practice of the Presence of God and the Spiritual Maxims, we hear Brother Lawrence describe how easily the virtues of faith, hope, and charity can be practiced simply by perseverance in focusing on the presence of God in all things. This simple formula has transformed the lives of countless readers over the intervening centuries and was the reason that many visitors sought out this simple Carmelite monk in France in the 1600s. They wanted to experience the sublime peace and surety that he had in all his daily activities simply by remembering that God was with him always, and would not fail him. Indeed, he found this method to be a surer method of finding God than even daily prayers. God bless.

Hello, again, and God bless!In this episode of the Mystical Jesus podcast, we hear and discuss the Third Conversation by Brother Lawrence (as recounted by the Cardinal's envoy) about his complete and total devotion to the love of God and how practicing that simple devotion forever changed his life-- and is still changing lives today. One of the more interesting things that Brother Lawrence came to realize back in the 1600s was that acts of penitence were not nearly as effective as surrendering yourself to the love of God. That being bathed in the love and light of God was a surer way to remember God and follow His Will than any act of self-flagellation or penance could accomplish. To Brother Lawrence, the whole point of seeking penance was to be forgiven and find the love of God again, but it was much simpler (and more productive) to go directly to God than get stucking on some in-between (but unnecessary) step. Just the mere trust in God will bring down great and unexpected graces.

In the Second Conversation from the Practice of the Presence of God, we hear the 17th century Carmelite monk named Brother Lawrence talk about how his practice of trying to perform each and every task he performed each day completely and only for the love of God utterly transformed his life and those who witnessed the purity of his dedication. This chapter also provides practical advice about how to dispel worrisome thoughts when trying to pray and meditate on the unconditional love of God. May God bless you and keep you always.

In this inaugural episode of the Mystical Jesus podcast, we discuss why looking at Jesus' message of love and compassion from extra-canonical sources (that is, sources outside the Bible is an important and worthwhile endeavor). We begin the series in detail by quoting and discussing a short, simple book called The Practice of the Presence of God by a 17th century monk named Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence made it his life's mission to do every single act of every day dedicated to God and the power of God's love. In doing so, he transformed his own life and the lives of most everyone else who encountered him. Indeed, this abbreviated tome has been much loved and enjoyed for centuries precisely because of the purity and simplicity of its message of love and dedication. Brother Lawrence began his life in France by another name where he had stints both in the army and as a footman, but chose eventually to dedicate his life to a God who's love had changed him forever many years before simply by happening upon a barren tree in winter. He worked in the kitchen of his monastery thereafter for several decades cleaning the pots and pans where he lived simply, and always for God. In his book, Brother Lawrence writes "[m]en invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of Him?"What would our lives be like if we did the same? If we constantly acted like God was in our very presence all the time (as, indeed, He is)? How would this transform us and our world? It seems a recipe for perfect happiness.