(LOL!) IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!

Proverbs 17:22
"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Amplified Bible) 

"A rejoicing heart does good as a cure, Yet a despondent spirit dries up the ribs" (Concordant Literal Version)

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." (The Message)

"A joy-filled heart is curative balm, but a broken spirit hurts all the way to the bone." (The Voice)

"LOL"...those of us who communicate through texting use the acronym a lot these days...also "LMBO" (or if you're a little more R-rated, "LMAO" or "LM#AO")...if something's really funny you might even respond with a "ROTFL"...it's unlikely that you're actually rolling on the floor, laughing at a text, but the point in using any of these is to let the other person know that their message was received with the humorous intention in which it was sent...communication is important...it's everything, really, and laughter is something that we all want to share, even if it's through a text or an e-mail...bottom line "LOL", or "laughing out loud" is a good thing, and can even make and keep you healthy...

The above passage from the Scriptures is a famous one...usually we hear it quoted from the KJV, which says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine"... in these other translations we read beautiful phrases like "A rejoicing heart does good as a cure"..."A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing"..."A cheerful disposition is good for your health"..."A joy-filled heart is a curative balm"...good stuff...we've all heard that laughter is the best medicine...not just from the Bible...it's a Universally known fact and scientifically proven theory that emotions that come from humor and laughter help people cope better with the stress of daily life...many medical studies have shown that people who laugh often live longer, and are much healthier compared to those who find it difficult to laugh due to their perceptions of life's circumstances, and/or their personality types...the common reflex of laughter affects the body by activating the cardiovascular system, helps lower blood pressure and even exercises the muscles of the body...the ancients who wrote the Scriptures just knew about the laughter-health connection by Spiritual revelation, but now this truth is confirmed through science...advanced research has also shown that parts of the limbic system (a primitive part of the brain which is involved in emotions and helps us with basic functions necessary for survival) are involved in laughter, as well...

Experts in the medical field have studied various groups of adults and have found that laughter also stimulates the endocrine system and the pituitary gland...this is what activates the release of endorphins (a subject which we have been discussing a lot at METRON, particularly as it pertains to Karma) and enkephalins, which are natural painkillers that are chemical cousins to opiates such as morphine and heroin...wow(!)...doctors have discovered that both sides of the immune system get a boost out of laughter...I've even read about other studies which have shown that laughter improves functioning in those with breast cancer, relationship stress, and also, not surprisingly, those who are in the grieving process...

I just read a really interesting article by Robert Provine about the Science of Laughter from Psychology Today (I tried to link it here but couldn't, but it's easy to find on Google or other search engines)...anyway, this article discusses how the Universally recognized syllables "ha-ha", "he-he" and "ho-ho" have been studied...it's OK to laugh at that...it sounds funny, and it is...and that's a good thing...here's a quote from the article: "Indeed, laughter is a "speaking in tongues" in which we're moved not by religious fervor but by an unconscious response to social and linguistic cues. Stripped of its variation and nuance, laughter is a regular series of short vowel-like syllables usually transcribed as "ha-ha," "ho-ho" or "hee-hee." These syllables are part of the universal human vocabulary, produced and recognized by people of all cultures."...very interesting aspect...the Universality of laughter...

Even more interesting is this confirming quote by Silvia Cardoso, a behavioral biologist, who says "Repeated short, strong contractions of the chest muscles, diaphragm and abdomen increase blood flow into our internal organs, and forced respiration - the ha! ha! - makes sure that this blood is well oxygenated. Muscle tension decreases, and indeed we may temporarily lose control of our limbs, as in the expression "weak with laughter". It may also release brain endorphins, reducing sensitivity to pain and boosting endurance and pleasurable sensations. Some studies suggest that laughter affects the immune system by reducing the production of hormones associated with stress, and that when you laugh the immune system produces more T-cells."...again, wow(!)...in the mouth of two or three witnesses is every word established...

Provine actually wrote a book on the subject, entitled "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation", in which he says "...laughter is the oil in the social machine, helping human interactions run more smoothly"...surveys in this area of study have indicated that laughter can enhance the quality of our conversations, our productivity, and our social interactions...laughing with someone is no doubt an extremely bonding experience...it simply makes people feel closer to each other...we all connect to it, which is part of the reason that it affects our health...

Researchers from the Acoustic Society of America have concluded that the sounds of laughter have a definite emotional impact on listeners...in some of their recent studies it was said that they "support the notion that one important function of laugh acoustics is to influence the emotional responses of listeners"...haven't you noticed that laughter, just like yawning, is totally contagious?...when you hear someone else really laughing, it's a natural response to also start laughing, even if you don't have a clue as to what the other person is laughing at or about...the connection is about the laughter, not the subject matter...this is an amazing phenomenon...when you hold someone's hand for any length of time, your heartbeat and their heartbeat naturally sync up...amazing...women who work together and/or spend a lot of uninterrupted time together start having the exact same menstrual cycle...again, amazing...and, as I said, when you see someone yawning, your instinct is to yawn, as well, even if you're not tired...all of these things demonstrate how connected we all are, and nothing manifests this kind of awareness of Oneness and commonality more than unified laughter...

We've talked so much lately about vibrational energy, particularly the vibrations of thoughts and words, but there's no doubt that genuine laughter has some of the strongest vibrational energy that can be experienced...and it makes you healthy!...in vibratory physics, the principles that make sound into harmonious music are the same principles that govern all associating vibrations throughout the Universe...even the very word "Universe" can be transliterated and defined as "One Verse" or "One Song"...the Universe is One...everything is connected...everyone is connected...vibrations are dynamic things not unlike "living" things, since they are in a mutual state of "harmony"...laughing with other people brings us into harmony with them...in much the same way, laughter brings your body into harmony with itself, as well...this harmony is what fights "dis-ease", the dis-connect that manifests in our bodies as sickness and disease...

This is important information, and is some of the subject matter that we will be discussing in October at METRON Community...

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (English Standard Version)

"A merry heart improves the body and a depressed spirit dries the bones." (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

It is written, "A joyful heart is good medicine"..."A merry heart improves the body"...good, good stuff! I can't wait to dig a little deeper into all of this...it's going to be a very good month!

In the meantime, be happy and be well...

Be well and be happy...

Life is good!

LOL!!!

PERCEPTION, REALITY, AND COOKIE THIEVES

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.” 
― William Blake

"The light for your earthly life is perception. Therefore, if your perception is without fault, your whole life shall be enlightened. If your perception be evil, your whole life shall be darkened by it; if the light for you is darkness, how deep will your darkness become?"
(Matthew 6:22, 23 - Khaboris Manuscript)

First let me say that the meeting/event yesterday at METRON Community was really, really good...extraordinary, actually...thanks so much to all of you who were there, and especially to those of you who sent me such great reviews of our time together, and of the teaching...the series that we just finished up on 'Karma and the Christ-Ethic' has been one of my all time favorites, and it really brought about some positive change in my own personal life, and in my understanding of ONENESS...thanks for having an ear to hear!

I love the above William Blake quote about perception...perception is, no doubt, reality, and the things that we're all learning about it together right now are awesome...I love this journey...look at the phrases in the above Scripture...as I'm sure you know, the Khaboris Manuscript is written in aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke..."the light for your earthly life is perception"..."if your perception is without fault, your whole life shall be enlightened"...think about it...your WHOLE LIFE will be enlightened, simply by your perception of it...amazing stuff...

Last week when we went to see Dr. Wayne Dyer, he read this very funny poem, which captures and conveys a very powerful concept about perception as reality...I wanted to share it here with you...enjoy!

The Cookie Thief by Valerie Cox

A woman was waiting at an airport one night
With several long hours before her flight

She hunted for a book in the airport shop
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see
That the man beside her as bold as could be

Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene

She munched cookies and watched the clock
As this gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock

She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by
Thinking "If I wasn't so nice I'd blacken his eye"

With each cookie she took he took one too
And when only one was left she wondered what he'd do

With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh
He took the last cookie and broke it in half

He offered her half as he ate the other
She snatched it from him and thought "Oh brother

This guy has some nerve and he's also rude
Why he didn't even show any gratitude"

She had never known when she had been so galled
And sighed with relief when her flight was called

She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat
Then sought her book which was almost complete

As she reached in her baggage she gasped with surprise
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes

"If mine are here" she moaned with despair
"Then the others were his and he tried to share"

"Too late to apologize she realized with grief"
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.   

TODAY AT METRON - 9/28/14

     "Karma and the Christ-Ethic"....Awesome...Awesome word!!!!!! - PW

"Clearly the best service yet! So awesome!" - CW

"It was good; no it was more than good. It was great!" - BC

"WHOA!! Totally dig swimming in the deep end!! OMG!" - JL

"Wow! Best one yet Bish!" - CW

"Streaming here too. Great word!" - RR

"LOVED IT!!!" - JM

"Boy do i miss u guys!! Havent seen you since you left Covington  ... are you here every Sunday?? You will never know how your teachings have changed my life! Truly a gift from GOD. I need to get there!" - DT

Thanks, everyone! What a beautiful day!

POWER WORDS, Part II

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, 
sweet to the mind and healing to the body." (Proverbs 16:24 - Amplified Bible)

Here are some more of my favorite comments that have been posted on the blog under different articles over the last couple of months...as I said in Part I of this post, I already have them permanently placed on the side column of the blog because they continue to encourage me, but I wanted to use them once again because they carry such a strong vibrational energy for me, and I draw a great deal of strength from them...as I said before, when you're born to be a communicator, the most important thing in the world is knowing that someone, somewhere is hearing what you say, and getting what you do...to the beautiful people who wrote these powerful comments, again I just want to say thank you...your affirmation, confirmation and inspiration are invaluable to me... I LOVE YOU!...and, again I say, I love all of you who are a part of the METRON Community, especially those of you who have transitioned with me from my previous place of influence...those of you who don't live in the Midtown Atlanta area who still believe that my messages are worth the drive are particularly special to me...I can't thank you enough...I am so grateful for you!

I continue to be totally amazed by the power of words, and yours mean the world to me! Here are some more of them that continue to energize me...your agreement with them is again appreciated!  

"Thank you Bish for all that you do to teach, preach, enlighten, and empower. You have been a true blessing in my family's and my life. I love being a part of Metron and hearing the message/word you are giving, which is exactly what is needed in this day and time. It is so Now! I love and appreciate you. You inspire me!"

- CFA

"...I've had so many changes of beliefs, opinions and have questioned just about everything I've ever thought and believed. I find peace in knowing that, that is okay. And that there will be a reconciliation of it all so that the past and present can live in harmony within me. You have so many times had the word in season for me, and for so many others. Once again, I find myself reminded of truth and encouraged to keep searching for it within. Thank you, Bishop."

- AH

"...although I haven't seen you in person since you were a child at Faith Memorial, I must say that virtually everything you post on here speaks directly to my heart. I'm really interested in the blending together of traditional religious thought and more modern spiritual ideas. As for me I am still trying to somehow recover from the sudden death of my younger sister in May. Every day has been a challenge. What you say on your posts has really helped me in my recovery. Keep up the wonderful work you do. You are helping more people than you know..."

- CSA

"It is just AMAZING to see the person you have evolved to. I have been under your leadership since late 90's early 2000's and I am amazed at your change in paradigm. What I get from it most is freedom. Freedom to be who you want to be and not living the rest of your life how others expect you to be. It encourages me that I don't have to wait until my 50's to have that freedom. I am also amazed at how my outlook on what I have been taught all my life has changed but my faith is stronger than ever and my love for my creator is stronger than ever. I'm just amazed at who you have become and are becoming."

- AG

"You don't always have to "have a message" for us. You're always real so just do you! We (well, I) always get a message, confirmation and/or clarification from the things you post. Me, personally, I like your ramblings.......LOL. I 'get it' and enjoy your train of thought. #It'sAllGood"

- CWS

Thanks again...hope to see many of you TOMORROW!

Don't forget to do your KARMA homework!

LOVE YOU ALL!

WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW

It's early Friday evening, and I'm sitting in a Starbuck's trying to think of something to write for a post here on METRON-SPEAK...my partner, Ken, is on call with his job tonight, as he has been all week, so I've spent a lot of time alone with my thoughts over the last few days...you'd think that I would have been more prolific this week with all of the spare time that I've had, and that I would have posted more here than I have posted, but that's not the way that creativity works, at least not for me...I generally find that the more free time I have on my hands, the less that I tend tend to get done (if you want something done, ask a busy person, I always say)...there's been some business to attend to this week, and some pastoral duties that I have fulfilled, and I started working out with a trainer again, but basically I have just spent a good deal of quality down-time with myself, and it's been good...I like accomplishing a lot in a day, but at this point in my life I'm also OK with just being...I've worked hard over the last 30 years, and have enjoyed some of the benefits of success, but these days I don't mind some seasons of guilt-free relaxation now and then...but I do like to write, and I aspire to put something out there every day, even when I don't make that goal...I've said and written a lot over the course of my professional life (thousands of sermons and 16 books so far), so sometimes I think it's just good for me to be quiet...but I do enjoy this blog and want to keep it alive and vital...I'm going to see a movie in a little while, but I've been sitting here in Starbucks drinking iced coffee for a minute, trying to think of what I want to talk about here, and so far tonight I just don't have that much to say...

Well, here's something I can talk about...on Tuesday of this week I went to the hospital to visit the brother of someone who attends METRON...he (Richard) has been quite ill for several months with a life-threatening condition, and when I got to his room in ICU on Tuesday morning, I found that he was not conscious...but I prayed with him, anyway, and spoke to his spirit as if he could hear me (because I believe that he could) and told him that his sister and his mom (who I met up with in the hallway right after) loved him very much and wanted him to get well, but that if he was tired of fighting and wanted to rest, that he could and should do that...I told his family afterward what I had said to him, and they were in agreement and at peace with whatever happened, and then I left...about an hour later his sister called to tell me that Richard had crossed over...I'm doing his funeral on Tuesday of next week...

Being a pastor my entire adult life, and growing up as the son of a pastor, I've been around death and dying for as long as I can remember...pastors spend a lot of time in hospitals and convalescent homes and hospice facilities, as well as in prisons and jails and courtrooms and other places where people are in distress, but especially in hospitals...these days I don't feel obligated to respond to every request for hospital visitation that I receive, and I make no apology for that...some people are angry at me for it, and I've gotten my fair share of rebukes and reprimands for it recently, but I honestly feel that I only have influence in the area of healing with people who are currently a part of my life and who really hear my voice...I didn't know Richard, but his family is very supportive of what I do and are quite connected to who I am now, so going to see him was obviously the right thing to do...but, as a rule, if I don't feel like I can really help a situation, I'd just rather not show up in person, and simply be in agreement with whomever for the best case scenario for them or their loved one...I hope that the people who are upset with me for what they perceive as my lack of interest in their suffering can understand my paradigm on this...anyway, I've seen many people literally and miraculously raised up from a death bed over the years, but I've also seen many people cross over to the other side...the mystery of it all (death, dying, healing, health, longevity, etc.) still intrigues me, and I understand a lot about the whole thing, but I also have many unanswered questions about it all...that's why I am studying things like cell memory and energy healing, in addition to what I know from the Scriptures, because I want to really help those who are a part of my present "Metron" (my current sphere of influence)...

Dr. Wayne Dyer at Unity North - 9/23/14

That evening a sweet couple who attend METRON took Ken and me as their guests (he was able to get away from being on call for a couple of hours) to see Dr. Wayne Dyer who was in Atlanta for one night only...it was an extraordinary experience...I have to say that I have seen Dr. Dyer many times on TV and have read a couple of his books, and I quote him quite frequently in my teaching, but seeing him in person was a completely different experience for me...he really is something special...he lectured for nearly two hours and never lost my attention once...he also spoke to several things that I was thinking about in relation to my time in the hospital earlier that day, and about life and death, and gave me some insight on some of the questions and observations that I have about it all...it was an interesting day, to say the least...

Most importantly, he gave me some profound food for thought about how to better reconcile some of my historical beliefs with my present understanding of things...I truly believe that a major part of my calling is the reconciling of belief systems...I plan on talking about the things that his message inspired within me this coming Sunday at METRON...I think it's going to be a very important day for me and for the people who are connected to me...in a word, he was awesome, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to hear him in person, and I really believe that his message was a catalyst for my upcoming message, and for where that message will take us...

OK, that's all I have to say tonight...just sort of thinking out loud and writing about what I know...

I am very grateful to those of you who consider the things that I say, and especially for those of you who respond to them...you're all awesome and beautiful, and I love you...I even love those of you who are angry at me for whatever reason...I hope that we can all better understand one another in the future...

Well, my movie is about to start, so I'm going to close it here...

Peace and love to all...

EMBRACE ONENESS

"...wherein (or: in which place) there is no Greek [figure of the multitudes who are non-Jews, and of those who are cultured and civilized] and Jew [figure of a covenant people of God], circumcision and uncircumcision [figure for religious in-groups and out-groups; there is no longer a covenant people versus non-covenant people], barbarian [foreigner who speaks a different language], Scythian [figure or example of wild, uncivilized groups],slave, freeman, but to the contrary, Christ [is] all, and within all (or: Christ [is] all humanity, and within all mankind; or: Christ [is] everything or all things, and within everything and all things; [note: the Greek is plural, and is either masculine, signifying “mankind,” or neuter, signifying all creation, in these phrases])."
(Colossians 3:11 - JMNT)

"[Love] continuously covers all mankind; it is habitually loyal to all humanity; it constantly has an expectation for all mankind; it is continuously remaining under and giving support to all people. (or, since “all” can also be neuter: It progressively puts a protecting roof over all things; it is habitually trusting in, and believing for, all things; it is continually hoping in or for all things; it keeps on patiently enduring all things.)"
(I Corinthians 13:7 - JMNT)

“The Self says ‘I AM’–as in the very grand sayings of Christ, especially in the Gospel of John, in which he says in the state of onenenss with Yahweh (which in Hebrew means ‘I AM’), I AM is the way and the truth and the life–but the ego says ‘I am this’ or ‘I am that,’ thus attaching itself only to a small portion of the Vastness. ” 
― Ravi Ravindra

TUESDAY TALK: SIR ISAAC NEWTON AND UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD THROUGH PARALLEL REALITIES

The study of Newtonian Physics as we know it began around 1665, when Sir Isaac Newton, who was then a university student, was sitting in an apple orchard near his home, watching an apple fall from a tree and hit the ground...this observation of "what goes up must come down" started a whole chain of thinking...a revelation that resulted in Newton formulating his ideas about the nature of gravity and motion...ultimately, it led to him providing a mathematical formula for them...he neither invented gravity, nor discovered it, but he described it and the way it functions so clearly and so effectively, that for centuries afterward the scientific world unquestioningly relied on his theories about gravity as an undisputed fact..almost anyone who has ever taken a science class in school has heard this story in one form or another, and it makes sense to our natural minds, and the way that we perceive reality in the physical world...

Fast forward 250 years, to around 1905...somewhere in that window of time, scientists began to notice that physical matter can behave very differently when you observe it on a microscopic level...as they explored that world which is invisible to the naked eye, they discovered that the dependable, sensible laws of physics that were described by Newton and his colleagues just simply did not apply on a sub-atomic level...this newer science that they embraced, as we have already discussed in previous posts, became known as Quantum Physics or Quantum Mechanics... 

In the realm of Quantum Physics, scientists made the amazing discovery that light can simultaneously be both a particle and a wave...that may not seem like a big deal to you if you're not from that community, but this finding really kind of changed everything...Newton’s calculations could never have allowed for such a realization..the groundbreaking work done by accomplished men like Max Planck and Niels Bohr, which led to breakthroughs in Quantum Physics, moved the world's understanding of science and physical reality to a whole new level...they opened up an unprecedented way of studying and understanding the unpredictable way that things behave in the sub-atomic world...and it wasn't just about particles and waves...that was sort of just the beginning of the way that QP turned the scientific world upside down...from there, the more that they observed and uncovered through the microscope, the clearer it became that Mr. Newton's logic simply didn't compute in that world...the more that they tried to understand it, however, the more mysterious it became...

But even though these men proved their theories over and over again, it did not mean that Newton’s theories of gravity were wrong...and it most certainly did not mean that gravity ceased to exist...somehow, the parallel realities of Newtonian Physics and Quantum Physics continue to be true at the same time, even though they seem to contradict one another in many ways...

As we've discussed before, Jesus said, "You have heard it said, but I say..."...the logos and the rhema continue to co-exist in parallel realities...as you evolve, you are the new you, but you are still the recognizable you...Jesus said that He didn't come to destroy the law, but that He actually came to fulfill it...on one level that seems like a contradiction in terms, because everything He said and did seemed so blatantly destructive to the law...again, parallel realities...on more than one occasion He told His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to be crucified, and that He would be raised from the dead after three days, and yet He rebuked and tried to avoid those who were trying to take His life...the man whose son was plagued with seizures said to Jesus, "I do believe, but help my unbelief"...Jesus told the sisters of Lazarus that He was, in fact, the Resurrection, and yet He wept when He saw the tomb of His dead friend...on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and accused his audience of crucifying an innocent man, but in the very same breath he said that the event had happened exactly as God had planned it...parallel realities...

The point in all this, and the connection of it to Newtonian Physics and Quantum Physics both being true, while at the same time refuting each other is this...the world is complex...your thoughts are not always neatly compartmentalized into logical categories...it's possible to say with Charles Dickens that it's "the best of times and the worst of times", and totally be telling the truth about your life and current circumstances...the glass IS half full, but it's still half empty, and that's a reality, regardless of how anyone observes or perceives the glass...

In the sub-atomic world, Newton's Law of Gravity is basically obsolete and irrelevant, and that's been proven, but I promise you that if you go up on the roof of the building where you now are and jump off, you're going to find that Mr. Newton made a valid point about gravity that is just as true as it was in 1665...

In a word, stop overthinking everything...if you're having a bad day, it doesn't mean that you're not having a good day...things aren't that black and white and clearly defined...you may be going through something that you know on some level is the right thing for you, maybe even a blessing in disguise, but you still hate that it's happening...when a loved one who has been ill for a long time, and has suffered terribly finally transitions, you're relieved that they are out of their pain and suffering, but are still broken-hearted that they're gone...you're not crazy...you're not schizophrenic...you don't have multiple personalities...you're not even "double-minded", necessarily...everything doesn't always have to make sense...

Everything is everything...

It just is what it is...

I have my own reasons for writing this today...my own catharsis, if you will...but I hope that it also resonates with you...I feel sure that it probably does, because we're all connected...

Light exists as particles, but it still exists as waves...

And what goes up still must come down...

TODAY AT METRON - 9/21/14

SATURDAY-SPEAK

“Happiness is being the creator of your experience, choosing to take pleasure in what you have, right now, regardless of the circumstances, while being the best you that you can be.”

- Alex Shalman

Be happy...make the decision to create your day today, and choose for it to be a memorable one...bend the Universe toward your vision and declaration of who you want to be today, and what you want this day to be...

You create your experience...you decide the quality of your life...you have the power to choose, and your choices today are attractive and magnetic...

Abundance is all around you, but it's up to you to see it...to perceive it and observe it...it's not just about having what you want, it's about wanting what you have...it's about recognizing the good and celebrating it...

You don't have to wait for inspiration...all the inspiration that you need is already inside you...you don't have to hope for motivation...you are your own best motivator...you already have the information...you already know the words to your song...simply speak them out, and the music will come...

Take pleasure in what you have right now, knowing that there is so much more out there, and that when you really want more you will have more...embrace who you are right now, knowing that a better version of yourself is being downloaded, even at this very moment...

Don't try to be the best that you can be, just be it...right now...

Yes, you can...