This Grand Life

This Grand Life Theological Collective is a Fellowship based on the belief that there are many paths to God. Life is an adventure that we all learn from. We hope that we can experience it and learn from it together. find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com To often do we strive to find peace and happieness from the wrong places. We seek it from everywhere and this is part of human nature, to seek pleasure. Money, power, professional success. Things that we think will impress others and convince them that we are happy. But that doesn't actually make us happy. To find true happieness we need to look inside ourselves. Because true power and true happieness can only come from within ourselves, from understanding who we are, understanding why we feel that way we do and practicing self love and self care. In this era of stress and always running, political division, and mass media it is very important for us to learn to love ourselves. But the truth is loving yourself is a hard thing to do. We beat ourselves up constantly. Whether we are complaining about our looks, our intelligence, our mental state…many of us put ourselves down daily. I know I'm guilty of it. “You're so fat, that was so dumb, you are messing up as a father as a husband, You. Do. Not. Matter….” So what can be done? Where do we go or who do we go to? What is the saving grace when we find ourselves down in the valley and about to deal ourselves that final blow with our negative thoughts and words? Well first we remember that we are at the starting point for the rest of our lives, we have created the foundation and will continue to build the wonder that is us. Self-love also goes beyond treating yourself with kind words. Find time to do and enjoy the things you love. Do not force yourself to do things you do not want to (unless it is necessary of course). Get rid of toxic people and surround yourselves with positive ones. Read that book, go on that vacation, watch that movie…whatever you have been putting off because you are either too busy or do not have the will to do, do these things for yourself.

To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com With everything going on in the news right now, in our backyard and around the world it makes we wonder. Wonder if we have any hope, wonder if there is a reason for everything we do. Our neighbors to the north and the east right now are dealing with large fires. Both the Dixi Fire and the Caldor Fire are currently growing in size with little containment as neighborhoods and entire towns are evacuated. Our neighbors throughout California dealing with evacutations and fires need to stay in our prayers. We need to do more than pray though we also need to offer a hand to those that are currently affected by the fires. We need to let us neighbors know that we are there to assist as they need. I have done so and will continue to do so as long as our friends and neighbors are affected. On the east coast we see our fellow Americans facing tropical storm henri with flooding and destructive winds. In Afghanistan we are finally pulling out and while I'm happy we are leaving the war zone, I find myself disheartened to see the Taliban take the country back so quickly. It makes me wonder what the last 20 years and the thousands of Americans and countless Afghani lives were lost for. As a veteran myself I find myself torn between being happy that our Service Members are leaving the area and upset that the country is going back to how it was 20 years ago. It's definitely enough to discourage and anger many. That is when I have to remember that Problems, large and small, will always present themselves to us throughout our whole existence. Regardless of how sharp, clever, or happy-go-lucky we are, we will encounter struggle, challenges, difficulties and at times, heart wrenching moments. That is one of the greatest reasons that we have religion. Think for a second what is the essence of religion? “Religion is people telling stories of hope.” When we are discouraged about personal concerns, health issues, or national and world events. When you face difficult challenges, when your heart is broken, what gets you through it?

There is no doubt that life can be challenging. This is because life is not something that comes with an instruction manual. Instead it is a puzzle to solve. It is something to work through, something that will give you challenge after challenge to solve. But when you finish if you do it right you end with a beautiful picture of a life well lived. Life would be very boring without it's challenges. The question is, are you up for it? I believe we all are. The first step though is to accept life as it is. Accept life's challenges as they are and prepare yourself to go ahead in life by solving them one by one.

To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com Win Arn, a church consultant, surveyed members of nearly a thousand churches asking this exact question: "Why does the church exist?" Of the members surveyed, 89 percent said, "The church's purpose is to take care of my family's and my needs." For many, the role of the pastor is simply to keep the sheep that are already in the "pen" happy and not lose too many of them. Then, the pastors of the same churches were asked why the church exists. Amazingly, the results were exactly the opposite. Of the pastors surveyed, 90 percent said the purpose of the church was to win the world and 10 percent said it was to care for the needs of the members. Is it any wonder we have conflict, confusion, and stagnation in many churches today? If the church members believe that the role of the church is to look after them but the pastor sees the members as already won and they need to only worry about building the church is it any wonder why many feel that the church is failing.

This Grand Life Theological is based on the belief that there are many paths to God; God is the creator of the universe and intelligent enough to speak to all his people in diverse ways, and there are lessons from all Religions that we can all learn. To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com We all want to be welcoming, we all want to bring others in to our Church Family because that is what a church is it is a family. A family that works together and one that supports each other. I like to see it as a family where we can sit down and discuss things and learn from each other. We all want to be welcoming. But, what does it mean to be welcoming?

Happy fourth

Visit our Facebook at www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com. Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?” Like the professor that claimed to be seeking enlightment from Nan-in only to be to full of opinions and speculations to learn from someone else many of us find that we claim to want to learn and are willing to change as needed but find that we are our own barrier to learning, to changing. How can we open up to others?

As we did with Mothers Day today I would like to speak about the orgins of Fathers Day. Unlike mothers day there is not a lot of controversy over how it was started. It all began when in 1906, in Spokane Washington, a woman listening to a Mothers Day sermon felt it was incomplete to honor only one parent. She had been one of six children raised by their widowed father. And so she resolved to honour fathers, also. In time, the third Sunday of June became Fathers Day around the world. Let us be mindful of all fathers this day—the fathers we have, the fathers we wished we'd had, and the fathers we found along the way.

Thank you for joining us. To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com If we would be successful followers of his then we must be servants as well. The foundation of Christian life is service to God that is lived out in service to others. The focus of ministry is love of God that is fleshed out in love for others. There is simply no way around this and we ought to be ashamed if we try to find one. Being a disciple means being a servant. Being what God regards as a great disciple means being what God regards as a great servant.

Thanks for joining us again. To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com How shall the garden grow in our congregations? What will we plant? What will we do with the parts that are rocky ground or where the thistles grow thick? Are you willing to get some dirt under your fingernails so that we can enjoy the Great Feast together? This is our little patch of ground East of Eden. It is our hopeful sign of Paradise. It will soon be time to plant and harvest follows close behind.

Hello and thank you for joining us on this very important day as a combat veteran I take today extremely serious. It is a day of reflection, a day to get together with family and friends, a day to be thankful for being born in a nation where our brothers and sisters are willing to answer the call and possibly lay down their lives, and a day to remember those brave heros that paid the ultimate sacrafice for us and for their brothers and sister in arms. Todays service will be slightly different from our traditional service. We will begin with our opening prayer, move to a blessing for our Soldiers, and then a short history. I am glad you have joined us today as we pay respect to our nations heros. To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com

Happy Mothers, join us as we discuss the origins of today's holiday.

. Our environments play a great role in our lives both the good and the bad. I'm not just talking about the environment that many of us think about, garbage, air and water quality but the entire space that we live in. Though our environment in both senses play a huge role in our lives. If we do not care for the earth than we will suffer. I have no doubt of this. But I’m talking about more than just pying it lip service, I’m speaking about really putting the work in and the commonsense work. Not protesting because people are driving or eating meat or whatever you don’t like but looking at your environment starting in your own back yard and working out. Psalms 104: 25-30 "There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth." What does this verse tell us? It tells us to care for the earth. To send you spirit, to create and to renew the face of the earth. To care well for the earth, we must immerse ourselves in the world we find ourselves in. A world of mountains, trees, and waterfalls. We must fall in love with nature. Once you fall in love with nature whatever cares you have been lighten. Therefore, it’s important to bring nature to you, to your back yard, to your front yard, to your patio, porch, or stoop, and into your house. By accepting and bringing nature to you become one with it.

More now than ever before, our world, our nation, and we are stressed. It seems like one thing after another is working to knock us down. We can only get through this if we begin to work together. Please join us for this week's sermon.

There's hope in every situation. You need to have the right mindset and continue to move forward to get through any obstacle. Join me as I discuss finding hope in any case.

What are you going to be when you grow up. A question we all have either been asked by others or both. So what are you going to be when you grow up? I'm talking about spiritual growth today and its importance in all of our lives. Please join us

We can all improve our lives by adding systems into them. Today we look at how.

Happy Easter today's sermon is about faith, hope, and resurection

Today we talk about the types of courage and their importance in our world. Only through the actions of courageous people can we make our world better.

Spring represents an awakening. Its many images and symbols speak of our rejuvenation, our coming out of winter’s hibernation with energy and enthusiasm for what comes next. The song of the birds in the park, the grass already in need of mowing, and the first shoots of color bursting forth from the dormant winter soil in our gardens. Life, with all its challenges, is seldom easy. In the face of those discouragements and difficulties, we need those things that can lift up our spirits: families and friends, the greening of our neighborhoods, and the burst of new life that comes each spring. This spring is extra special though after the winter that was 2020 with COVID 19 and what seemed one disaster after another this year has sprung forward with hope, hope for ourselves, our family, and our nation.

Proverbs 17:22  tells us, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." There are numerous ways to find joy in your everyday life, through looking for meaning, enjoying the small wins in life, and chasing your goals.  But one of the most incredible ways to bring joy into your life is by bringing it into the life of someone else.

In many Norse Paganism branches, including but not limited to Asatru, adherents follow a set of guidelines known as the Nine Noble Virtues. This set of moral and ethical standards is drawn from several sources, both historical and literary. Sources include the Havamal, the Poetic and Prose Eddas, and many of the Icelandic sagas. Although various Asatruar branches interpret these nine virtues in slightly different ways, there seems to be some universality as to what the virtues are and what they stand for. With the understanding that we can learn something from all religions today, I would like to speak to you about the benefits of living a life by the nine noble truths. Following the nine noble truths will benefit your personal life, your family, and your community. But first, what are the 9 Noble Virtues. The Nine Noble Virtues is a set of moral and situational ethical guidelines within specific groupings of Odinism. They are supposedly based on virtues found in historical Norse paganism, gleaned from various sources including the Poetic Edda (particularly the Hávamál and the Sigrdrífumál), and as evident in the Icelandic Sagas). Regardless of whether this is true or something that was put together recently, they are valuable rules to live our lives by. The Nine Noble Virtues of Norse Paganism include moral and ethical standards drawn from several historical and literary sources.

Luke 10:30 tells us Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii [e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Now many of us will recognize this as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is one of the most beloved gospel stories for young and old alike. The story is told in Luke 10:29– 37. The story continues to be a popular one for sermons, and it has been interpreted in numerous diverse ways—ranging from a tale about ritual purity to lessons about personal safety and even freedom fighters or universal healthcare. But who were the Samaritans, really? They were not simply outcasts: They were the despised enemies of the Jews. Yet where listeners would have expected a Jew to be the hero of this story, instead he made the hero a Samaritan. Only when we understand this reality does the powerful message of the parable come through: The parable offers … a vision of life rather than death. It evokes 2 Chronicles 28, which recounts how the prophet Oded convinced the Samaritans to aid their Judean captives. It insists that enemies can prove to be neighbors, that compassion has no boundaries, and that judging people based on their religion or ethnicity will leave us dying in a ditch. But with this parable being so beloved and repeatedly used as the focus points of numerous sermons why is that we miss the lesson. We do not seem to understand the importance of charity. It is a story about a man who allowed his day to be interrupted to help his fellow man and in this case someone he did not like. He did not see someone he did not like though he saw someone who needed help. He did not permit the inconvenience or expense to stop him. Whatever others may say about his investment in a troubled person did not matter. He gave compassionately and comprehensively. No trite pat on the back here. He gave time, energy, and resources over an extended period for a man he may never see again. Giving people are both simple and alert. This story could look a little heroic, but it is only common courtesy. If you cannot be stopped in your tracks, you will never be able to give compassionately.

Volunteers are needed in our communities its crucial that we take on this role.

The Golden Rule, as it is often called is a simple approximation of a complex idea that has woven itself into the moral edicts of most religions. A message a life lesson of treating others equitably, and with Love. Buddhism also has its incarnation, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” ( Udana-Varga 5,1) “All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One.” The Medicine Man Black Elk has said, and further, “Respect for all Life is the foundation” from The Great law of Peace, comes the wisdom of the Native Americans. These concepts are not foreign to any religion though from time to time most of us have been guilty of violating this simple rule that we all hope and even claim to live by

Every small act matters to someone so go out and help

Today marks the last day of the second month of 2021 and I for one believe that it has already started to be a better year than 2020. We have had numerous blessings already this year to include a vaccine for COVID-19 being rolled out and while this country still needs help and prayer we are moving back toward new normalcy. It’s not perfect but it’s improving and that’s what we need. As we move through the beginning of this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about what our faith tradition means to me and what this community means to our little corner of the world. I have also thought about what direction to move in as things continue to change. Change is sometimes hard but it is what happens as we continue to grow, grow as individuals and grow as a community. Growing can be hard, but we need to continue. We don’t need to find perfection non-stop, but we need to continue to grow. Some times aiming for fine as we grow can be life-saving when you’re navigating the big challenges in life. Think for a second who has ever had to deal with “growing up?” It’s incredible, how we all go through it – for our whole lives – and each one of us secretly looks back and thinks that we could have done it better somewhere along the way. It’s the sin of perfectionism. We pretend there’s this ideal goal that we can reach, and every inch short from it is a mark against our character, and even worse against our value as a person.

Today many seem to be worried about things that they can’t control and neglect the things that they can. While those things that we can influence our jobs, kids, finances, and other things will build a better life for us worrying about those things that we can’t simply causes stress and other issues. While a Circle of Concern encompasses the concerns we have, including the amount of government borrowing, or the threat of war there is not much that we as individuals can do about them. In contrast our Circle of Influence encompasses those concerns that we do control.

Self-worth is crucial to our happiness. If we do not feel good about ourselves, we cannot feel right about anything else. If we live by other rules, we will never feel good about ourselves. That is why today, I am discussing living a value-driven self-designed life.

To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com. ————————————————————— What can you accept on faith? What do you believe in? Religion is as much about faith in humanity as it is about belief in a deity. Religion at its best calls us to honor that which is sacred in each person. Each person, holy. Each person, worthy. Accepting this, on faith, changes how we live. Join us, as we discuss Faith and Trust

We all know that it takes time and effort to develop habits. To succeed, you need a strategy, accountability, commitment, grit, patience, and other qualities, and you'll even face obstacles such as laziness, procrastination, and overwhelm. Therefore, it's no surprise that many people give up too early while the rest don't even notice their habits at all. Today we discuss the 14 Habits to build to live a Wonderful Life --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The choice to reject fear and choose love can feel like something that only applies to moments of crisis, when we’re starting a new business, just saw a vehicle accident, or preparing to climb Mount Everest. But in truth, the opportunity to choose love and reject fear presents itself in the smallest moments of life, and specifically, in relationships with those closest to us. Love over fear is a choice every time someone tells us something about ourselves or has an experience of us that we don’t want to hear. f you feel fear, you have a choice HOW you respond to it. In that moment you can ask yourself several powerful questions • Is this thought helping or hindering? • What is the worst thing that can happen if my fears come true? • Who or what is benefiting from this feeling right now? • How can I embody the energy of love? To live from love not fear, on a practical level, is to shift from a goal of protecting our ego, being right, winning the argument, being not to blame, and move into actually being kind, being loving—in our actions. It is to be willing to stop proving that we’re a good person and actually be that good person—to be courageous enough to open our heart and be love even when our ego is screaming in fear. n the end, the goal of this church life is love for our community and those that make up this community. The measure of our maturity is our love for others. To support each other through this adventure that we call life, to watch out for one another, and to work through love instead of reacting in fear.

Sometimes we all face struggles in our lives, but we can have the life we want with a little perseverance. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

when things change inside you and you find the peace you deserve in your life a true unmatching peace, things can and will also change around you. Your peace will be felt, sought and discovered by others close to you. They will want it, they will ask about it, they will seek it, and with any luck they too will find it. If we can all find inner peace then this world truly will be a better place. This Grand Life Theological Collective is a church based on the belief belief that there are many paths to God, God is the creator of the universe and smart enough to speak to all of his people in different ways, and there are truths to all religions that we can all learn from. Life is an adventure that we must all experience and learn from and we hope that we can experience it and learn from it together. To find out more about us please visit us at our face book page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at Thisgrandlifetheology@gmail.com

Before we address the question of a member of our church or any listener taking any drugs to include the COVID Vaccine, we must reiterate that our ministry's mission is to offer instruction on our faith, we are not qualified to provide medical advice, nor do we advise anyone to act contrary to a doctor's instructions. Today, I want to take a minute to speak about something that I have seen in the media and recently skipped personally. With the COVID Vaccine becoming more readily available, I have been asked if I would recommend people take it and if I will take it when given the opportunity. If you should take this vaccine, it is a decision we all must personally make. While I can't answer this from a medical standpoint since I am not a doctor, that is not my place. Instead, I wanted to explain what faith tells us since, as a minister, that is my role.

We all have a compass; sometimes we stray, and sometimes it gets stuck, but by following your compass and being a beacon for others, you can find true happiness

You can reach any goal you want, and you can have the successful life you deserve begin by writing out your plan

Join me as we build a highway through the mountain range of diversity and over the mountain of inequality to help get everyone through.

Our lives story has great control over who we are and for that reason we should be the one that tells the story. Today we discuss becoming the author of your life --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Since our nations and even state politicians and leaders have not exactly shown an excellent track record for bettering our state and country, it is crucial to move away from the idea that there is only one solution. There are many levels in between, with a change in our lifestyle being just one of them. We have a joint responsibility, and if we sit here and twiddle our thumbs and wait for the politicians to take action, it will continue to be painfully slow. It is time we no longer have. Humans possess this extraordinary capacity to picture how their future can be both good and bad and how it can be harmed if they don't change. This change can ensure communities benefit. It is crucial, however, that we know others will act as well. If we decide to work with our emotion of love we will be able to build those teams that will benefit our community, making our state and nation stronger. It’s not up to anyone but us but we have to turn from fear of the otherwise to do it.

Use this year to build your foundation of organization, daily routines and physical health to ensure you can accomplish your goals --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

I’ve never quite found a winter holiday that speaks to me on such a deep, spiritual level as New Year’s. It is such as special time because it lets us start over for the year. Some things will follow us into this new year that too is fine because we have hope. The hope of a fresh start the hope of a better year. Part of my New Year’s tradition is reflecting on the past year. And really, how much do any of us want to look back and reflect on the year that was 2020? Just like when we clean our house so we don’t bring that mess into the new year we also need to clean our minds and our souls from the mess that last year has placed on us. We need to be thankful for the lessons we learned, connections to loved ones that were made or strengthened and any progress that was made in our lives. At the same time though we need to release all things from the past year that has caused any negative attachment and move into the new year refreshed. I’m prepared to welcome new changes, new lessons, and new adventures into my life and I’m sure you are as well. We need to be ready to welcome the new opportunities to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually as we move into 2021. Every year I like to pick a word that sets how I will approach the new year. So what’s my word for 2021? This year I have two the first is change because we all need a little change after 2020 my second word is foundation. I will continue to work at building the foundation for my new life, for my business, for this church, for this podcast and community. It’s time for me to set down a strong foundation to build from. 2021 is going to be a great building year for myself, for my family, and I hope for you. I hope you too decide to use 2021 as the year to build the strong foundation that will support your life and that you can build upon. What’s your word for 2021? What’s the one word you hope will define your upcoming year?

As we look to the new year, we need to be thankful for the lessons we learned in 2020 and be ready for the blessings and lessons of 2021. We need to face the new year with love, not fear in our hearts

Very short Christmas Sermon this year. Point is to go out and show the love that god showed us

Top 10 ideas on celebrating the 2021 New Year and making it a great one even if we are quarantined --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Hope is what life is about, God gave us hope and it is up to us to share it with the world.

The holidays bring hope and that hope will get us through anything to a better year and a better life in 2021 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We all have family traditions for the holidays but what is important is the lessons we learn from them. Join us today as we discuss some of those lessons.

Short episode from this Grand Life talking about 5 ways you can embrace the season of giving. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today we take a look at uncertainty

No matter how tough things get remember that there are those out there that need our help. Please help your community