With the International Day of Peace coming up, I want to reflect on the idea of PEACE and how to attain and maintain it.

Last month Steve and I attended the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. This was our 4th Parliament and after the three PWR before, we looked forward to all the activities, seeing friends & meeting new people. In Chicago we were responsible for, and excited to set up, a room dedicated solely to presenting the New Thought (NT) philosophy and materials from all the denominations. We were also going to have an Interfaith Dialogue everyday. Steve and I arrived Saturday, to work all day Sunday, so everything would be ready for visitors on Monday. From the Hyatt Hotel to the McCormick Center was a long 20-minute walk! We were grateful the walk was enclosed in buildings and a bridge especially when it rained for several days.

PEACE is TAKING QUIET ACTION and doing what needs to be done.

On Sunday, the Hyatt assistant, who was to help us with our large shipped box, was not there when we arrived at the Hyatt’s Parcel Office. Luckily we were able to rent a cart from there. Once we got to the NT room the door from the hall to the room was locked. So I went to the registration desk to ask for the keys. Once inside the room we noticed the tables we ordered were not in the room. We saw extra tables outside the door so we brought them in ourselves. We could have either whined and complained, or just go about our business to take care of what was needed to be done. We did call management to let them know about the situation.We then got a call from the Hyatt letting us know ONE of the flower arrangements had arrived. (There was supposed to be two). Another trip back and forth. Later the second flower arrangement arrived and another trip back and forth.Meanwhile we went to the registration desk only to find out the computers were down so no early registration until the next day.

PEACE is a CHOICE

Monday Morning we went to finish setting up the room & learned the computers were still down. We had to stand in line with the other 7,000 attendees to register one person at a time. While waiting in line during registration we had a choice, we could either be irritated and complain or we could look at this as an opportunity to meet other people from around the world. We met people from India, Canada and Utah. I even gave one of our Interfaith stoles to a lovely gentleman from India. He loved all the symbols of faith on the stole and we had a wonderful and spiritual conversation.

PEACE OF MIND AND HIGH CONSCIOUSNESS CREATES A UNIVERSAL FLOW OF GOODNESS

What we are looking for is seeking us without impediments or restrictions.                     In New Thought, “We attract what we think about and focus on.”We were among 7,000 HIGH CONSCIOUS people attending the Parliament. Being in that Bubble of Oneness, we experienced demonstrations all the time. When we said, “I wonder if so and so is here?” the person showed up. Several of our friends (Rev. Jean Sweet, Sande Hart, Rev. Ahmondra McClendon) thought “I wonder if the Alberts are here” and then we showed up. The exhibition booths we were looking for, we found. Even though workshop rooms were being changed constantly, we eventually found the room we were looking for. We felt God’s guiding hand was there in and amongst everyone.We got lost several times and when we did, there was always a Parliament volunteer near by to steer us in the right direction.People and Things just came to us.

PEACE is RECONNECTING

The best part for us was meeting new people and reconnecting with friends we hadn’t seen in years. Soul to Soul encounters.

PEACE is FORGIVING

Peace cannot happen until there is a consciousness of FORGIVENESS .We had to forgive the Parliament organizers, the McCormick Center planners, and the computers for breaking down.In general for PEACE to happen, we all need to weed out the areas of unforgiveness in our lives. Forgive the family member, friend, co-worker/or anyone who you feel “just doesn’t get it .”We cannot harbor hate and love at the same time. Forgiveness creates a loving heart where PEACE can abide.

This Parliament was not as smooth and well run as we expected, however we were able to maintain our peace of mind, happiness of heart and love for ALL human diversity!

Peacefully,

Abigail and Steve

The Science of Mind magazine’s Daily Guides are written this month by                    Rev. Dr. David Ault, minister and musician. He said, “We may strive for dreams that do not serve our present heart… Ask yourself, ‘Am I pursuing something based on an old version of me?” What a wonderful question! We all have evolved in some way. Just by getting older we have more life experiences and stories to tell. However we know some people are stuck in their lives from years ago and we hear the same stories over and over again. We are meant to create new stories, new goals, new purposes because nothing stays the same, everything grows and changes. Perfect example is the caterpillar to butterfly.

The quote above is one to ponder everyday. “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Nothing changes unless we change our minds about things, issues,
people, old patterns, old ways of thinking and doing things. Do you remember the story of a mother cooking a ham? She always cut it in half. One day her son or daughter asked, why do you always cut the ham in half? The mother said, ‘My mother did it this way and my grandmother…” Was it really necessary to cut it in half? If her pot was small that was a good decision. If it was large and could hold the hold ham, was it a
good decision? Is it time for this mother to renew her mind and ways of cooking?

We can look at our lives and see if our old patterns and ways of doing things are really helping us now. What does an old version of you look like? Does it
serve you now? My old version was a person who always let others come first and held back my opinion and thoughts. That did not serve me for long. My life
changed with a divorce, a new faith tradition that upheld the strength and power of women and I found a new purpose in ministry and met people who were uplifting.
I knew as I was shedding my old caterpillar version of me, I was about to fly on my own and be my own person, like the butterfly.

Where are you today? Are you living the life you want to live? Are you tethered in mind to a past that no longer serves you or you it?
Where would you like to be. What would you like to do? As Steve says in his book, “IGNORE the NO.” Nothing is Impossible with God and God is all there is!

Being ME and Loving It
Abigail and Steve

September 5, 2023

Dear Friends,

I was reading Joan Borysenko’s interview in the Sept./Oct. Unity Magazine. She was asked by Katy Koontz, “Are there (other) tools that help us come back to our
Higher Selves?” Her answer was simple and profound. Joan quoted
Rick Hanson Ph.D. author of Resilient…
“Every day beautiful things happen. The sun rises. A stranger smiles at you. A bud flowers. Your pet loves on you. If you stop and mindfully take in the good with
all your senses – the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations – and savor that for 15 seconds or so, your brain makes new neural networks that counter the negativity
bias.” Joan suggests “Look for those little moments of good each day, and before bed, choose one to rerun in all its glory, savoring it with all your senses.”

Those ideas are beautiful spiritual practices that we can do anywhere and anytime. I love thinking my brain is creating new neural networks when I spend time
in the morning hearing the the birds sing and watching the sun come up. I see beautiful cloud formations and birds flying together in a V formation to some
predestined place. As much as I love my morning spiritual practices, I can take this practice with me all day long. I can pay attention to a helpful clerk at a
store, a mom hugging her child, or watching a driver be kind and let another driver into the line. There is so much good we can see all the time. It just takes
being mindful and LOOKING for the GOOD.

In New Thought we know what we focus on manifests.
What do you want in your life?
Focus on it!

The GOOD, GOD is ALWAYS HERE and EVERYWHERE! Interesting the word GOOD has the same letters as GOD. GOOD is GOD stretched out…
Let us pay attention to all the GOOD in our lives. It is GOD stretching out our good. The more GOOD we see the more GOOD we get! Live life with joy
and enthusiasm. Enjoy all the ‘small’ moments where GOOD is blossoming. Watch the flowers grow and begin to bloom. Every part of the bloom from the
seed to the small stem peeking up through the earth is God’s Good. Our life is like that small bud. Every little delight has a way of blossoming into
something glorious. Let us keep our minds and heart on all the Good God has to offer us and always give Thanks!

Seeing Good,                                                                                                             Abigail and Steve

August 29, 2023

Dear Friends,

In San Diego we had a Hurricane come close to shore a couple weekends ago. After being at the Parliament in Chicago, it felt like we hit the ground running once home. We prepared for the wind and rain by taking action. We set down umbrellas, chairs and pushed outside furniture close to the wall below our balcony. We closed down our computers, turned off the TV and used minimal light. ACTIONS are important when facing a potential crisis. I use the term potential because everything is potential until our words and thoughts are clear about the outcome we want. What did we want? We wanted to remain safe, protected with all house and property undamaged.

Before we ACTED, we PRAYED and AFFIRMED:

There is only ONE Life, ONE Power, that Life and Power is God and that life and power is perfect and that life and power is my life now! I speak my word.

There is a Divine Ring of Protection around our house, our property, the tall trees and around our neighbors, family, friends and community. I see and know we are in God’s bubble of love and light securing us, protecting us and loving us…The Hurricane is diminishing…. and my prayer went on.

We do know many people were affected by the Hurricane, however it never did hit land so the potential damage was lessened! I believe our prayers were answered. We had rain, very little wind and no damage to our house or property.

Lesson here...prayers are always answered regardless of circumstance, or potential crisis. Many times the media blows everything out of proportion and creates fear and unnecessary stress. Yes, the hurricane came, and I believe my prayer and all those praying helped to “gentle-ize” the Hurricane. As Ernest Holmes said, “Treat (Prayer treatment) and move your feet!” Prayer and Action go hand in hand.

‘Remember the story of the man who stood on top of his house during a storm where rain was flooding the streets? He prayed to God to SAVE him. A boat came along and one of the people said, “Get on!” The man refused saying God would save him. Another bigger boat came along and the man refused help saying God would save him. A third and final boat came along and the water was raging now. It was his last chance to get on a boat. He said ‘no’ again. Well, he died in the raging waters. He met God in the afterlife, and asked “Why didn’t you save me God?” God said,” I gave you three chances and you refused.”(author unknown)

GOD works THROUGH each and every one of us. We must listen to the still small voice within and to each other. We are all channels of and for God.

For any challenge you have, it is a potential for great good, or not. YOUR WORDS create the outcome.

August 1, 2023

Dear Friends,

Last week we talked about living a life of vision, mission and purpose.
This week I would like to focus on the idea of VISION.
VISIONING is aligning in consciousness with our Divine Purpose, which is
to express a greater degree of LOVE in all our activities, missions and focuses. We open ourselves to catch a sense of how that expression of love is suppose
to occur through us. (Adapted from Dr. Kathy Hearn and Dr. Michael Beckwith)

There are times when you may not have a clear idea, or any idea what you want or need, or how to go about strategizing a goal. It is time
to release what you think you know and want, and allow the Greater Spirit within you to bring forth the answers, the ideas, the new concepts of what you need.

Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith conceived the amazing Agape International Center now in Beverly Hills, with the art of Visioning. He and his supportive friends
spent time at his home Visioning what Agape would and could be. They did not even know the name of the church/center before they started. ‘Agape’ means LOVE.
Now they have over 1900 people at each Sunday Service!

VISIONING is allowing Spirit within to come forth for your highest good. I like to think of it as letting go of the little “i” (what i think i want or i need)
and allowing the greater “I” (the Mighty I AM ‘I’) to come forth with greater good for my life. You and I as emanations of God have all the power and possibilities
at our fingertips, our mind, our heart and our consciousness. We sometimes forget there is a GREATER POWER FOR GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE and WE CAN USE IT
( Dr. Ernest Holmes).

Here are adapted questions from Dr. Michael’s Visioning Process. After each question spend some quiet time with eyes closed, ready and open to receive a new idea.
Write or draw whatever comes to you, whether is seems silly, unusual, unheard of or ridiculous. Do not judge. It helps to have at least one other person there to
Vision with you. Sometimes a group of people each catch part of the Highest Vision and once shared the totality will become amazing.

Set your Purpose.
Open with Prayer, Anchor in Love.
Open up your heart ready to receive.
ASK empowering questions.
•What is seeking to emerge now?
•What is the highest and best trying to happen?
•What is it I have to become?
•Where do I have to grow to stretch?
•What attitudes need to be reshaped?
•What do I have to release? (Like stepping on the ladder, got to let go of the lower rung)
•What talents and gifts do I have which will serve this vision?
•Do I feel centered and aligned with God when I vision this ideal?

I embrace my willingness
I say the Sacred YES.
I am Grateful
I describe it as already here! I Pray it in! I Down load the vision!

I AM ONE With the ONE,
IT IS DONE and COMPLETE
I Am Serving My Highest Calling
The Vision will be GREATER than I can IMAGINE.

Not My Will , but Thy Will Be Done,
Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

I received the new August ‘Science of Mind’ magazine with the theme of        “Passion and Purpose.” The articles are excellent, informative with delightful stories
of people finding their purpose and passion when everything seemed to come to a stand still. I want to share some of the writers’ insights with you.

Rev. Sally Robbins, interviewed Cory Booker some years ago and asked him if he wanted to be President of the United States. His answer was enlightening.
He said, ” Most of us focus on a position when we say what we want. That is not a calling. When you say, ‘I want to serve children or the community ,
the country or create a better life for…., that is a calling, a VISION. That is a mission.”

“Living a life on purpose requires us to ask ourselves whether we are living the life we want.“(Sally Robbins) For instance if you decide to take a new job,
is it aligned with your vision, mission, higher purpose or just a job? Will you feel you are joyfully serving? Does it ping your heart strings?
If you have not found the ideal “job” or place of work , then you are probably in, what we call, ‘divine discontent”. It is a good place to be for it allows you to PAUSE a moment, be still, and begin listening to God within you. It is time to think about what you LOVE, what you really want to do and the gifts God has given you: talents, skills, abilities and a vision purpose before you came into this lifetime. It is all there within you, just ready
to burst forth.

Rev. Karen Russo says, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Attune deeply into what you love, what lights you up. What is your unique passion?”
Life is not about a JOB, Life is about a purposeful vision which becomes your mission. Once you are clear, the opportunities arise out of the blue.

Ernest Holmes said, “There is an irresistible potential pressing against everyone for
self-expression. If we listen, we shall hear it, not as a voice, but as a FEELING, as a divine urge to express.”

Affirm: “I confidently declare and claim that I unfold my highest potentiality and purpose. I live in the flow of my passion – everything that lights me up,
brings me joy and makes my heart sing from the rooftops!”
(Rev. Karen Fry)

Doing What Lights Us Up,
Abigail and Steve

Dear Friends,

I really look forward to my morning cup of coffee. It is the only one I have all day. Lately I have been bringing it out to our balcony to watch the sun rise
over the hills. It is so peaceful and calm. I enjoy reading spiritual material that focuses my mind on all the GOOD/GOD there is. I put on my prayer beads and
sit with my amethyst and clear crystals. I pray for our family, friends, those who are experiencing hardships or health issues and even those who have gone
on to the other side. Inspiration comes to me from multiple sources, scripture, spiritual material, whispering thought and quiet meditation. I sit there realizing
I am being infused with Spirit, with the Divine Presence. I am uplifted and energized. I am clear headed and filled with purpose for the day.
I am so happy during this time, being near, and close to God’s Presence.
One of my favorite verses to ponder is:

“Be still and know that I Am God…(Psalm 46:10)”
Ernest Holmes continues with these words:
I am still in Thy Presence.
I am quiet and peaceful, for I put my trust in Thee.
A great stillness steals over me and a great calm quiets my whole being,
as I realize Thy Presence.
My heart knows of Thee, O Most High within.
It is still in Thy Presence, and it puts its whole confidence in Thee alone.
In Thy Presence I am still.

These beautiful words remind me I am always in the Presence of God for God is always within me. All this with just a morning cup of coffee. 🙂

Take time in the mornings before the busy-ness of the day grabs you or the news on TV and the papers distract you from the truth of your being.
BE the presence of God as you journey through the day. Be confident God has the day handled! Trust, release and let go.

Enjoying my Cuppa with God,
Abigail

Steve and I have been busy creating a “History” of the Poway Interfaith Team which includes a PowerPoint, video and audio tapes of various members of POINT, past and present. We have a great professional videographer who is spending time to make this a wonderful video in order to archive our interfaith history. I have a 45 second piece and I want to share it with you. It is my story of our first “Interfaith Summer Nights” event in 2006.

“Interfaith Summer Nights was a highly successful program where a faith leader was invited to speak about his or her faith, and share cultural dances and/or music as well as food with the community attendees.

After each of the first two or three speakers, I kept nudging my husband Steve, saying, I must be Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist or Jewish.   I believe all that they are saying. What I heard and realized was the commonality of all faiths in values, virtues and the compassion for human kind. Each one was also saying how they believed in the ONENESS of humanity. I believed all that as well.

The ways in which we celebrate our faith, and belief in God, Allah, Jesus or how you wish to call the Source and Creator of all life may be different in rituals, prayers and even dress, however the Unifying golden thread of LOVE weaves into and through all religions. That is the most important virtue of all!”

After all these years working in the Interfaith World, I still come to the same conclusion. Every faith is valuable, with TRUTH at the base of each religion. Love at the core is meant to weave through each one’s life and reflect this love to others, regardless of faith belief. This idea meshes so easily with New Thought. For we believe in LOVE at the core of our being and the ONENESS of Humanity as well. We are not separate even though on this earth plane we each have a unique body in order to live here. In TRUTH we are all God Emanations and Emissaries, here to honor and respect each other and all beings.

Please remember to mark your calendar for Interfaith Awareness Week,

August 8-10. POINT’s Program which will include the History video, will be Monday, August 7 from 4:00-5:30pm.

Blessings,

Abigail and Steve

Today we are celebrating our country’s freedom! Freedom means many things, and most importantly it means each person has a right to live, love, laugh and pray
the way he or she chooses. I am grateful I live in this country, rather than in any of the war torn countries around the world. The United States has its faults,
and because I feel free, living here, I have the right to speak up when I see something wrong or actions hurting and/or harming another being. I do not have to
worry about police arresting me because I spoke against any actions our government takes. We are free to speak, use our words and write our opinions.

Freedom comes with choice and choice comes with consequences. Our laws are set up to protect the vulnerable. If we choose to hurt another person physically our
consequence may be jail. If we hurt someone verbally, the consequence may be a loss of friendship or the karma of being hurt by words from another person.

Sometimes, a person’s freedom is falsely interrupted due to hate and prejudice.
We hear of racial profiling. We hear about graffiti on churches, mosques, temples, synagogues. We hear of shootings due to hate and prejudice. T
hese actions must be stopped and those committing atrocities against another human must have his or her freedom revoked!

The Declaration of Independence was originally only meant for white people. In 1776, although we were free from British control, black and brown slaves were
not free from the early white American’s control. On July 5th, 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave a significant keynote address at an event in Rochester,
New York. In his speech, Douglass also challenged the hypocrisy of Independence Day by asking “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer;
a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

From the Perspective of Black Americans

“The Declaration of Independence is probably the most hypocritical document,” said Dr. Rick Warren, President and Founder of the Black Expo
and RW Media Enterprises. “At one point, they’re declaring freedom and, at another point, they’re enslaving people. It’s an interesting dichotomy.
So many Black people in America have always had an interesting view on the Fourth of July. In our culture, it’s become one of those holidays used more
as a family get together. It’s an opportunity for us to come together rather than a celebration of freedom.”

“The Fourth of July is a national holiday to celebrate this country’s freedom from Britain,” said Rory Kaufman, Chair of the Black American Political Association
of California, Sacramento Chapter. “But, Black people were never free or equal. We were still Three-Fifths in the Constitution of the United States. We were not
considered whole.”
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/community/race-and-culture/what-is-the-fourth-of-july-to-black-americans/103-ef8477c0-66e1-44ad-b82f-1a470cc85b87

Although this may not be enough to compensate for the cruelty done to African Americans, the USA has declared Juneteenth a federal holiday because
on June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas were told they were free. A century and a half later, people across the United States continue
to celebrate the day as Black Americans Independence Day.

From the Original People’s perspective.

“In the 1880s, the U.S. government developed what has come to be called the
Religious Crimes Code—regulations at the heart of the federal Office of Indian Affairs’ Code of Indian Offenses that prohibited American Indian ceremonial life.
Enforced on reservations, the code banned Indian dances and feasts, disrupted religious practices, and destroyed or confiscated sacred objects, under threat of
imprisonment and the withholding of treaty rations.
The Secretary of the Interior issued the regulations in 1884, 1894, and 1904, and Indian superintendents and agents implemented them until the mid-1930s. For
50 years, Indian spiritual ceremonies were held in secret or ceased to exist.”

“In response to this policy of cultural and religious suppression, some tribes saw in the 4th of July and the commemoration of American independence a chance
to continue their own important ceremonies. Indian superintendents and agents justified allowing reservations to conduct ceremonies on the 4th as way for Indians
to learn patriotism to the United States and to celebrate the country’s ideals.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2020/07/01/do-american-indians-celebrate-4th-july/

Our United States of America has come along way and has a long way to go before ALL people are free of hate, prejudice and ill will towards black and brown people, immigrants, refugees, Asians, Native Americans, people of different religions, the LGTBQ+ community and any other group that “appears” different. For in reality we are ALL different and unique in our own way. Our spiritual journey is to REALIZE our ONENESS, CELEBRATE our UNIQUENESS and UNDERSTAND our CONNECTEDNESS in and as the WEB of GOD.

In Oneness, Abgail and Steve

Dear Friends,

Summer is here! Needless to say we finally have our warm weather in the San Diego/Poway area. Summer is also the time so many people are traveling to see friends, family or on an adventure vacation. Steve and I had a whirlwind trip to Omaha to visit family a week and a half ago. We had a great time! In four days we were on 4 planes, in two states with two families. There was so much laughter and so much fun! Although our trip was great, it could have taken a very different turn of events, unplanned and scattered. Have you seen the movie, “Sliding Doors?”

It is a story about “Helen who is fired from her position in a PR company. While returning home, she does not catch the train in the subway. But in another possibility of her life, she catches the train in the subway. The story shows two parallel lives of Helen… The story ponders the idea of the near-misses and what-ifs that occur in our lives and how easily it can change the course, for better or for worse, of our own.”

I believe Steve and I had a sliding door incident while traveling.

A few days before our trip I had this nagging feeling, intuition, that we might have trouble connecting with our plane in Phoenix, going to Omaha. There wasn’t a big window of time to get from one Gate to another. We only had 45 minutes. Needless to say our gates in San Diego kept getting switched and our plane was late in taking off. I thought, “Uh Oh…” What if we don’t make the plane, who knows when the next plane will go to Omaha? What will happen to our luggage? We may not have time to spend the day with our niece and family. Everyone’s plans would definitely change, be unplanned and scattered!

I believe the preferred sliding door scenario of “catching” the connecting flight was based on several things.

1.PRAYER

Before any trip, I always sit down and write out a Prayer Treatment for exactly how I wish the trip would go from the time the Uber arrives to the time we actually get home. I write it, I vision it, then I surrender it to God for the highest good of all

2.Purchasing Seats at the front of the San Diego flight

Steve and I have decided our plane trips will be comfortable so we opted to pay more to sit close to the front of the plane. When our letter and number were called, we were able to secure the very first two seats on the plane.

Best decision ever! We arrived late in Phoenix and once we got off the plane, we had maybe 10 minutes to get to the gate before it took off. I practically ran and kept watching Steve to be sure he could keep up. Since the connecting gate was 1/4 mile away I started to go faster and told Steve I would make then hold the plane!

3.Angel in a Captains uniform came in from nowhere.

God provides help exactly when we need it! On my way a pilot asked if he could help me. I said I am looking for B5 gate. He told me to take a right and all the way down. I started to sprint and heard the speaker say, “B5 gate is closing and all are on board.” Luckily when I got to the gate, the door was still open. I told the lady taking tickets, our San Diego plane was late and we are here. I told her my husband Steve was coming and cannot run due to a stroke. She was kind and we waited still Steve got there. We both went down the ramp and the door closed behind us. Needless to say                  WE MADE THE PLANE! All the “What ifs…” no longer mattered.

Helen in one scenario did not catch her train because a child delayed her by stepping in front of her. Our late flight almost stopped us from our connecting flight. What was the difference here?

FIRST and foremost was PRAYER!!!! I truly believe the Prayer, Vision, and Faith in God made our destiny’s outcome Good, good and very good.

Without the prayer, I do not believe we would have made it. Every step along the way was guidance. I believe God helped us with the decision to purchase better tickets. I believe the front 2 seats were meant for us. I believe the angel pilot helped me know exactly where to go and not waste time looking at Gate signs. ALL was in DIVINE ORDER and TIMING due to Prayer!

On your TRIPS and VACATIONS remember to PRAY and put GOD FIRST and in charge. Visualize what you want to happen, so the energy is out there waiting to manifest for your highest good!

Abigail and Steve