Unity of Farmers Branch (Formerly The Church Of One Love)

Compassion is defined as recognizing another person's suffering, combined with an authentic desire to help alleviate that pain.  Yet, when we cannot actually do anything to alleviate the pain—when there is nothing to be done-- does compassion still matter?  My answer is yes, and I’ll tell you why.

Is Prosperity about Money and more money? Is it luck? Is it Divine Providence? Can you see it before you believe it? We will see what Rev. Eric Butterworth has to teach us from his book, “Spiritual Economics".

Prosperity According to Eric Butterworth, Part One Is Prosperity about Money and more money? Is it luck? Is it Divine Providence? Can you see it before you believe it? We will see what Rev. Eric Butterworth has to teach us from his book, “Spiritual Economics".

Curiosity may be our most important tool on the spiritual path.  It is the mark of Beginner’s Mind, allowing us to open to new information, insight and guidance. When we are curious about ourselves, the world, and our relationship to it, we begin to pay attention and to live a life of intention.  Curiosity helps open us to more loving and intimate relationships, as when we are truly interested and...

One big block to the spiritual path is expertise.  When we think or assume we know, we unconsciously close our minds to new information, points of view, and potentially helpful tools.  Sometimes “maybe” could be just what is called for in the moment, while we wait for the Divine to reveal more.

Likewise we are always saying no in ways we may not be aware of, and may even be saying “yes” when we mean “no,”  adding undue stress and complication to our lives. This is a world where “no” needs to be said, but we don’t have to arm ourselves to do it.  With practice and awareness, we can learn to keep our hearts open, stay loving and do what we are called to do (and not do what we are not) with...

To live each day is to say yes over and over again to events, people and unasked questions as they unfold in time, as we cooperate the universe in conscious and unconscious ways.  “Yes”  can be a way of adding to life instead of subtracting. And yet, we may be saying “no” to our good sometimes without being aware of it? Let’s learn to use “yes” as an intentional spiritual practice.

The earth is our mother.  She “birthed” us and we are dependent on her generous bounty for our very breath and food and LIFE.   And we have a tendency to live as if that were not true.  How can we in 21st century America respect Mother Earth and continue to live in the modern world? 

In Buddhism, happiness is considered not only the goal, but the duty of spiritual practitioners.  In the West, where we observe our culture to pursue pleasure and prosperity at almost any price, spiritual people can be somewhat suspicious of happiness as a goal.  What does happiness actually mean, in the Eastern concept, and how can we find and pursue it as a real spiritual good?

I believe all religions started from real mystical experience—a time when a person or group of people had a true encounter with the Divine, and wanted to share it. Then, in trying to translate experience into language, the essence inevitably gets lost.  Eventually a priestly caste is created of those who “know” teaching those who “don’t” by creating rules and codes of conduct and setting themselve...

"The final challenge, "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Goods," reminds us to concentrate our attention on appreciating what is ours to have, do, and be; then we give our whole selves to our purpose in life and find ultimate fulfillment.

The prohibitions against stealing and lying –taken to a deeper level-- challenge us to live life in a deeply honest way, and to understand that what we do has an effect on the whole of humanity.  Our task is to refrain from taking anything that is not rightfully ours, to own up to what is ours, allow others what is theirs, and to school our thoughts and words so we use them in ways that do not hur...

One of the greatest fallacy’s of the “Christian” religion is that there is “final” judgment.  Where there is life there is hope. Life IS change, by its very nature. The story of Easter is one of new life—from its pagan origins in fertility celebrations to the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus, this time is meant for contemplating the outworn, the stale, the no longer, and make room for...

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  We are challenged to elevate all our close relationships to sacredness & fulfillment.

“Thou shalt not kill” seems obvious to those of us who don’t have murder in our hearts, but when we learn to truly honor life in all its forms, physical, emotional, spiritual, our lives are made fuller, richer, freer; our love complete.

“Thou shalt honor thy father & mother” does not mean allow abuse, or even follow life paths that are not your own.  It could mean find out how to be your own person and honor yourself within the (sometimes difficult) context of where you came from.

“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”  This reminder to include rest in our lives and to honor our need for wholeness , mind, body, soul is a vital message in modern times of speed, technology, and the race for accomplishment.

“I am the Lord thy God…  Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… Thou shalt not take the name of the Lordthy God in vain.”  These are about the importance of keeping the Divine uppermost in our thoughts and lives.

In our personal evolution, it’s not helpful to deny or judge past stages of life, places we’ve been, the person we once were.  Even if they no longer serve, we acknowledge that they were necessary to bring us to where we are today.  Can we instead learn to include and integrate every stage and state, even as we strive to grow and transcend our former selves?   And if so, what does this mean for th...

It is said that when we refuse to forgive someone it’s like we are taking poison every day and somehow expecting them to die. Unforgiveness only hurts us, not the person or institution against whom we hold a grudge.  We all know this at some level, and yet to truly forgive is a tall order—especially when we have been legitimately hurt or wronged.  How can we learn to master this spiritual tool whi...

In our culture there’s a prevalent message that it is better to give than to receive.  The truth is that giving cannot exist without receiving.  One is not better than the other, and we are not better people by giving more than we receive.  Balance is the key.  Becoming a “good” receiver allows us to enjoy the gifts of life, and allows the universe in all its expressions to give freely to- and thr...