Weekly Newsletter Message
Check out the weekly inspirational video messages from Reverend Dieter and the weekly blog post from Reverend Laine and the CSL Practioners.
You can also view our weekly newsletter for more inspiration and to see what is happening with our Center.
A Practitioner’s Perspective
The headlines of late would have us believe that we should be very afraid of artificial intelligence. It will take over our jobs and our minds. It will make authors, artists, singers and song-writers obsolete. It will be weaponized to centralize power and resources. The doomsday list goes on and on.
On the Minister’s Mind
"Humans have bodies. During the last century technology has been distancing us from our bodies. We have been losing our ability to pay attention to what we smell and taste. Instead, we are absorbed in our smartphones and computers. In the past, humans could not afford such carelessness. Ancient foragers were always alert and attentive. Wandering in the forest in search of mushrooms, they watched the ground for any telltale bulge. They listened to the slightest movement in the grass to learn whether a snake might be lurking there. Members of today's societies don't need such keen awareness. We can wander the supermarket aisles while texting messages. Whatever we choose we might end up eating it in haste in front of a screen, checking emails or watching television, while hardly paying attention to the actual taste." - Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century
On the Minister’s Mind
On Sunday our community will hold our annual Gratitude Dinner, continuing a personal tradition I have kept in my life for nearly 20 years. It started in November of 2006 as a Thanksgiving dinner for a few friends who came together as chosen family at my house in Atlanta. Over the years it shifted to the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and the tradition grew over time. When I moved to Florida, I eventually stopped the dinner in my home and poured my heart into this appreciative meal at CSLTB.
On the Minister’s Mind
"When the inner walls to your soul are graffitied with advertisements, commercials, and the opinions of everyone who has ever known and labeled you, turning inwards requires nothing less than a major clean-up." - Dawna Markova, I Will Not Die an Unlived Life
Wake Up Call
“Guy walks into a doctor’s office for a checkup. He says ‘Doc, my arm hurts when I do this.’ The doctor says ‘then don’t do that anymore.’”- Henny Youngman
Celebrate Yourself
One of the things we teach at The Center for Spiritual Living is the old refrain, “Change your thinking, change your life.” I know you’ve heard this many times. I have personally spent a long time trying to observe what my thinking is telling me, and it has been a journey. For me, it hasn’t been that easy to change.
On the Minister’s Mind
I am in the middle of some big changes unfolding on my life path. Where I currently stand, my perspective does not allow me to see what is beyond the curve of the next few months. I have moments of uncertainty, followed by moments of great resolve and courage. My human personality grabs control of the steering wheel and I want a map to read, then I surrender to the wisdom of my soul and the depth of my faith that all will be revealed in divine timing. With my soul in charge, I can simply move forward.
On the Minister’s Mind
Many years ago, I proclaimed myself a “lifelong learner” because I was determined to continue to grow and expand throughout my whole life. Since I have turned the corner of age 59 and am headed to the big 6-0, I am more steadfast in my decision than ever.
On the Minister's Mind
"There is no pain quite like that of a broken heart, but a broken heart is an open heart. And, when this happens, a transformation can take place. In the midst of the pain, we feel a softness and vulnerability that are truly beautiful. We become more accepting and open. Judgment and criticism are replaced by a compassion for others and an acceptance of life." - Douglas Bloch, Healing From Depression
On the Minister's Mind
Thoughts held in mind reproduce after their kind. We increase what we praise. We get more of what we pay attention to. Intention dictates experience. Prayer doesn’t start with what you say, it starts with what you see. We talk about this kind of thing all the time. I bet you’ve heard at least some of those statements before. If you’re reading this, you’ve talked, and thought, and lived through this principle. You’re an expert.
On the Minister's Mind
"There is no pain quite like that of a broken heart, but a broken heart is an open heart. And, when this happens, a transformation can take place. In the midst of the pain, we feel a softness and vulnerability that are truly beautiful. We become more accepting and open. Judgment and criticism are replaced by a compassion for others and an acceptance of life." - Douglas Bloch, Healing From Depression
How We Make God and Life Divine
The high school baseball team was on a winning streak and that was a big deal. It was a small town where high school sports were a big deal, with the inspired passion and the sort of devotion that could only be found in a small rural community.
On the Minister's Mind
Where do you draw the line? When we use that phrase, we are usually being asked to clarify our boundary, so let me be more specific. Where do you draw the line between your love and the rest of the world?
Return to Sender
Whenever there is a catastrophe, big or small, you can count on sweet, kind, well-intentioned people to send their love. Social media is full of “I am sending you love” posts. I am touched and inspired by the spirit of that desire. But I want us to stop doing it. Please. It doesn’t actually make sense, and may in fact be doing more harm than good.
On the Minister's Mind
In the book Magic of the Soul, Patrick Harbula said “Each individual has a unique role through which they support the evolution of the planet and of the human species. The expression of purpose through one’s life is possibly the highest aspect of the magic of the soul.”
On the Minister's Mind
The universe doesn’t speak English. It speaks passion and intention. Let me try that again. A lonely person can take a dozen classes on how to attract the perfect mate. They can read every book, attend every workshop, practice every technique. But unless and until they stop coming from a place of loneliness, they either won’t meet anybody or the people they DO attract will make them wish they hadn’t. Sound familiar? This is a universal truth.
On the Minister's Mind
Having a passion for life happens when we get in touch with the eternal flame burning within, illuminating the path of our existence with purpose, enthusiasm, and zest. Our passion is our profound and deeply personal connection to the world around us, in its wholeness. It is driven by an unwavering commitment to embrace every moment with joy and determination. Passion infuses even the most mundane tasks with a sense of meaning, turning ordinary experiences into extraordinary opportunities. It ignites a spark that propels us forward, encouraging us to pursue our dreams and release our fears.
On the Minister's Mind
Are you living your life more as a human being dipping your toes into spirituality, or as a spiritual being immersed in the experience of being human? The latter is our deepest longing, the former our likeliest reality.
When the Saints Go Marching On
Many years ago, my wife Jenny and I started a storefront church. We’d gotten married, moved into our first apartment, and were expecting our first child, so it seemed like a natural next step. I’m sure that sounds like a joke, but what’s really funny to me is how natural the whole thing felt to us. We had no money, no time, and no idea what we were doing.
From a Practitioner’s Perspective
Two things I’ve learned through experience to never attempt are taming the tresses of an overgrown bougainvillea and trying to mediate a fight between two girls over a boy. Both often result in scratches that could have been avoided by letting nature take its own course.