Growth

'Every day in every way, I am and my world is, getting better and better'.

Years ago, Tony Robbins coined the term; 'constant and never-ending improvement'(CANI) as a philosophy for personal growth and success. At the beginning of the summer I was sitting on a park bench near my house when an elderly woman came and sat down beside me. At 84 years of age, that day she had retired from her position as 'book repairer' at a local library. She told me that while she was sad, mostly she was excited about having the time to pursue many other areas of interest for which she didn't have the time while working. For the first time since that meeting I saw her yesterday. With passion, excitement and a gleam in her eyes she related to me some of her experiences of the last few months. She has delved into the worlds of botany and zoology...two of the keen interests of her youth. She is looking forward to getting a computer and internet one day soon so that she can explore these and other interests via the web.

God's plan for us is that our growth never ceases...that our lives are a continuous upward and never-ending spiral of improvement and exploration...for eternity...as heaven descends to earth.

Timing

Back in the mid 90's my good friend and business partner wrote me the following; 'patience and everything you want will be yours'. At that time I wanted everything...and I wanted it right then and there! Patience is not simply an ability to wait...it is how we act while we are waiting. Since that time I have learned patience and that while God seldom moves as quickly as we would like, He is never late. Do your best in every minute, enjoy the process and wait on God.

With that said, God can also move at light speed. He spoke the universe into existence in six days. With our worldly eyes and minds it seems a daunting task to bring peace and equality across the world, however, with God it can(and will) happen in a heartbeat. In Desiderata, Max Ehrmann wrote; 'Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should'. Everything is in the exact, perfect place...and waiting on God.

New Jerusalem

In the bible(Revelation 21) John speaks of New Jerusalem...heaven on earth. Montreal is this New Jerusalem. It will serve as a bright and shining light in a darkened world. Great changes for society will happen first in Montreal and will be progressively duplicated across all other parts of the world until every square mile of this earth is heaven.

Glorification

When God created Adam and Eve, His original plan was for them to live as glorified beings eternally. When He banished them from the Garden of Eden, with this banishment came death, disease and the myriad of other negative attributes of our human existence today.

As we march back to the Garden of Eden (heaven on earth), God raises us up from glory to glory to glory, and in the process returns to us all that we have lost...to the point where we ultimately triumph over every negative associated with human living...even death. This process begins the day we are 'born from above' and indwelt with the spirit of Jesus Christ. As we continue in our walk with God, He progressively brings us closer and closer to living life as Jesus did 2000 years ago...sinless. When this process is complete and we are 100% cleansed of sin, we re-enter the Garden and are once again glorified and eternal.

On Abundance

Recently it was announced that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have introduced a new initiative, The Giving Pledge, whereby they are encouraging the world's wealthiest people to commit in excess of half of their riches to philanthropy. The front page of the Gates Foundation's website has the following quote; 'All lives have equal value'. Every human being on this planet is deserving of the best which life has to offer and to share equally of the bounty which is present on this earth. There is more than enough to go around...and to provide each and every one of us with the best of everything which comes from this planet and through the use of our amazing technologies. And if we ever get to the point where some resource becomes scarce, God will give us the knowledge and ability to either find more or come up with even better alternatives. I see The Giving Pledge as a very important step in bringing equality and a better life to billions of people on this earth...and yet another great step towards heaven on earth.

Saving the World

I have always been a big dreamer. When I have set out to accomplish things in the past, my targets have seldom been small and local, but, rather, large and global. These last several years I have been much quieter than in the past. My efforts have been on a spiritual front rather than anything which may be seen or measured by this world. When people I have not seen for a long time run into me and ask me what I am up to, I generally answer with; 'I am saving the world!'
I say this only half jokingly. I then follow with; 'I am saving myself first!' Mahatma Gandhi said; 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. I believe in his words with all my heart. I also believe that our actions affect many more people than we know...and that if we can put out more love, more peace and more kindness into the world, then we are doing our part to promote peace and to bringing heaven to earth.

Finding Heaven on Earth

'With every act of love, heaven moves closer to earth'.

With God's assistance, we create our own heaven. It is first a spiritual reality before it ever manifests in our physical world. 2000 years ago when Jesus walked the earth as a man, he showed us the way. We must surrender our lives to God and live as Jesus did...in love...every minute we breathe. The more we are able to completely surrender...and to live in love, the closer we come to heaven. God's plan for this world is that ultimately every person living is indwelt by the spirit of Jesus and living as He did...and as such we are all the image and likeness of God...as humans. When this time finally comes to this world, we will have peace on earth and equality for all...earth will be heaven!

Going for Best

I guess the best way to describe my life is to say that it has been a symphony of victories...and defeats. With very few exceptions I have followed my heart in making decisions...and that process has taken me to where I am presently...for which I am very thankful and grateful.

We are where we are because of all of the decision we have made.

I was never one who believed in settling. I believed I was worth more. I believe we are all worth more. We are deserving of the best life has to offer...in all areas. Our dreams are not simply fantasy. They are God's way of inspiring us to reach for our best. Albert Einstein said; 'Imagination is more important than knowledge' and I very strongly agree. In order to get the best God wants for us, we must engage our minds and use our imagination to dream of our ideal life...and then set a course for its realization.

Everything Happens for a Reason

I received a message from a young man I had employed as a cook back in the mid '90's yesterday. It was an apology of sorts...as in his opinion he had been a less than satisfactory worker. To the contrary, I remember him as a talented, hardworking and very bright guy. The gist of his message was that as a result of several failed attempts to 'find himself' in Montreal, he returned to his native Calgary...and over the course of the next several years, he found his passion and now is living a life he ever only dreamed of. The subject of his message was; 'Everything happens for a reason...you say' and as he ended his message his final comment was that working for me was a necessary element in ultimately leading him back to Calgary and to his dream life.

God's ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. It is for this reason that often/usually we don't understand why things happen to us or to those we love. God has a great plan for each and every one of our lives...and in order to effect this plan He must take us from where we are...to where He wants us. Often this means tremendous suffering. The great news is that our spirits have a tremendous capacity to overcome adversities...and in the process this takes us closer to God and closer to heaven(on earth).

John Lennon

John Lennon is to the second coming what John the Baptist was when Jesus first came...preparing the way. In his song Imagine, John spoke of a time I call 'heaven on earth'...where there is peace and equality for all of mankind. I always had a problem with one part of the lyrics...where he sang; 'Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky'. I could understand the no heaven part, because, when Jesus returns He brings heaven to earth with Him. What I couldn't figure out was the 'no hell below us' part. My dream of the other night answers this. By God's great act of love in forgiving Satan, He opens the doors of heaven to every man, woman and child who has ever lived.

My Amazing Dream

I had a dream the other night. In my dream, Satan came to God and repented for all the havoc and evil he has wrought in the earth these last 6,000 years. In an unparalleled act of love, God forgave him and opened the gates of heaven to Satan and all the fallen angels.

In the bible there is a precedent for this. Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of the prodigal son...how he left his father's house, squandered all his father had given him on excessive living...and then returned to his father in shame...where his father feted his return saying; 'my son was lost and now is found'.

Following Your Heart

In my 'seven days on the mountain with God', He told me I was the 'greatest critical decision maker in the history of the world'. I had a hard time with that. Wouldn't a great decision maker be a leader in this world? A great business talent? Bill Gates? Oprah? Obama? Nelson Mandela? In the weeks and months that followed I heeded Christs words from the Sermon on the Mount; 'ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' That has been my quest since early 2004 and progressively God has led me to understanding. I have come to understand critical decision making as listening to your heart and following it's guidance. Through our hearts we hear the still, small voice of God. By listening to and following our hearts we can never be wrong...and ultimately this will lead us to God's best for us...and to heaven on earth!

Seven Days on the Mountain

The seven days between Dec 25 and Dec 31, 2003 were the greatest days in my 50 year history. In that time God told me things which were not of this earth, but, of heaven. He told me that I am the greatest critical decision maker in the history of the world and He gave me a vision of a man (me) who is not famous and not religious, leading mankind back to the Garden of Eden (heaven on earth). My prayer is that you will find inspiration and hope in my writings and that through me God will reach out and grasp you.