A.R.E. Meeting for 11/9/09

Leader: Eric
Reader: Sylvia

We read the first two sections in "The Cross and the Crown" chapter. We will start on the section "Why was it necessary that He, the Maker of heaven and earth, should bear the cross?"

For our experiment we have a choice of two. Cindi recommends reading the experiments book to decide which one you want to do:

"Select a person with whom you feel you share a common ideal or a common spiritual perspective of life. Let this also be someone with whom you occasionally experience a difficulty in your relationship. Work on (1) accepting what you perceive as the shortcomings of that person, and (2) truly meeting that person as a soul. Keep a record of your experiences."

Or

"Select one area of your life in which you are suffering (physically, emotionally, or mentally). Write down the inner resources which might be available to you which would aid in overcoming this condition. Consider each day the possibility that you are suffering so that you will become obedient to the Christ's awareness that these qualities are within you. Affirm each day in prayer and meditation that the needed inner resources are becoming available to you."

A.R.E. Meeting for 11/2/09

Leader: Greg (for Eric)
Reader: Greg

We finished the chapter "In His Presence." Next week we will start the chapter "The Cross and the Crown."

For our experiment:

Whenever you find yourself talking about another person, speak as if God and the soul of that person were present in that place at that moment.

Your Personal Mission Statement

Here is a short five-minute video from Mark Thurston and the A.R.E. on writing a mission statement for your life. They mention three steps:

1. Clarify the core value in your life (your spiritual ideal).
2. Identify your four or five most prominent talents, abilities, and strengths.
3. Choose how to word your mission statement. This gives you focus, not only for an occupation, but for the way you meet any new situation.

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/26/09

Leader: Sylvia
Reader: John

We started the chapter "In His Presence," and read two sections. Next week, we will start the section "The Preparation of Self."

For our experiment:

Each day make an effort to listen and feel God's presence (within and without) in the ordinary and the commonplace of life. Keep a record of your experiences of recognizing it in these situations.

Fruits of the Spirit

Some readings related to the experiment this week on qualities of the Christ Consciousness.

Reading 1662-1:
25. First - patience, love, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness; speaking not of anyone in a resenting manner. For know, as He hath given, all power that is in the influence of an individual, a nation, a country, is only lent of the Lord as an opportunity for the individual according to that it has once purposed - or to carry forward that He hath willed respecting each soul!

Reading 5752-3:
19. Do that which is good, for there has been given in the consciousness of all the fruits of the spirit: Fellowship, kindness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, love; these be the fruits of the spirit. Against such there is no law.

Reading 281-16:
24. (Q) In what form does the anti-Christ come, spoken of in Revelation?

(A) In the spirit of that opposed to the spirit of truth. The fruits of the spirit of the Christ are love, joy, obedience, long-suffering, brotherly love, kindness. Against such there is no law. The spirit of hate, the anti-Christ, is contention strife, fault-finding, lovers of self, lovers of praise. Those are the anti-Christ, and take possession of groups, masses, and show themselves even in the lives of men.

A.R.E. Meeting for 10/19/09

Leader: Sylvia
Reader: Eric

We read about a page and a half to close out the chapter on "The Open Door." Next week we start on "In His Presence."

For our experiment:

To your mind, what are the qualities of the Christ Consciousness? Write them down. Select one from your list to focus on for a week. Then choose and write down one area of your life in which there is special need to manifest that quality. Keep a record of situations in which you are successful in your attempts to express it in that part of your life.

Affirmation for Obtaining Desires

From Reading 462-8

(Q) What affirmation should I use to help coordinate myself and the Forces to obtain my desire?

(A) LET MY DESIRE AND MY NEEDS BE IN THY HANDS, THOU MAKER, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL THE FORCES AND POWERS THEREIN! AND MAY I CONFORM MY ATTITUDE, MY PURPOSE, MY DESIRE, TO THAT THOU HAST AS AN ACTIVITY FOR ME. And leave it with Him, and go to work!