tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935880542067378012024-02-08T03:31:47.402-08:00BM Spiritual Assistancecoordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-10702973835848667702012-01-17T12:36:00.000-08:002012-01-17T13:00:53.381-08:00FEELING LONELY?A somewhat strange thought went through my mind today, that is, we tend to finish our lives in this Planet Earth much lonelier than when we arrived here. When we are born, there is a crowd waiting for us: our parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, friends of all those, and more. We then arrive and are loved by a number of people that are real close to us and prepared to love us unconditionally (or almost). We become the center of attention and care, and our arrival is announced to all and celebrated by all. <br />
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Then, we start go grow up, biologically speaking as well as an individual. And we keep growing throughout our lives in several ways. Time goes fast, and pretty soon we are the ones becoming parents, and then grandparents. At one point, we get in to the last phase of our lives. Not sure when this actually starts....but we do have a feel for when it has already started. For one thing, we start to think we have become wiser, and our questions start to run real deep, reaching the farthest part of our consciousness, and generally not finding concrete, or at least complete, answers. But it will be exactly through persistent questioning and curiosity how we will eventually become much or really wiser, and, most importantly, realize so many important things in life.<br />
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But in this long journey, though, we may also notice that we are not as loved as we used to be. Whatever happened to all those that couldn't wait to greet us upon our birth? Well, some of them are no longer in this world; others are now far away, and others we have lost along the way including those we have added at different phases of our lives. Coming close to the end of our lives, many people may (unfortunately) fell like "they are all gone, and I am alone in this world".<br />
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Humm! How sad, you might say. And it is indeed sad. The question then becomes why this all happened. Or could it be that this is the way it is designed to be?! No way, of course. In this case, whom should we blame for this misfortune?<br />
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I will leave the above questions for you to reflect about, and hopefully share your conclusions with me and others. The other day I put a statement in the Facebook hoping to get some insights, but no one dared. I posted: "If you arrive at your final stages in this life being loved by your kids, that is realization; and, if, in addition, you end your life being loved by your spouse, that's a "home run". Add this to your considerations as well.<br />
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Saludos<br />
Gilberto<br />
Jan 17, 2012. <br />
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coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-55237117253162916602011-12-31T05:16:00.000-08:002011-12-31T05:16:54.579-08:00ANOTHER YEARAnother year is gone by, and another year is ahead of us. The latter one seems to raise our optimism, renovate our hopes, an opportunity to accomplish the things we have missed in the past year, and son on. The year that's gone can only serve as a reference. We should be thankful to God, Jesus, and all their hard-workers, including our guardian angels, for everything we benefitted from this past year. That includes their invisible help to make us get through so many difficult circumstances, which were part of our lessons (yo may call it trials or expiations as well). Needless to say that 2011 was not an easy year to the majority of people. <br />
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What's ahead of us, now? Well, God only knows, but we can certainly make some well-educated guesses on a few possible perspectives for 2012:<br />
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<ul><li>Overall anxiety levels may continue high as no major improvements are foreseen for the global economy. The European markets situation seems to be headed to cause a large impact on most globalized markets. Unemployment is not projected to improve here in the USA, at least not as much as needed to provide relief (jobs) to the millions of people that are suffering, along with their families, for lack of an opportunity to make a living. </li>
<li>The lag between intelectual/techonological development level and the spiritual/moral development level will not close to a point where humans could feel better and safer. And this is just natural, as this is a slow process. Meanwhile, institutional crises may get further agravated (e.g. marriage), worldwide peace may not improve (e.g. Iran's nuke issue), etc. </li>
<li>The Mayan predictions for the end of the world by December 21st, 2012, may cause many unprepared people to "go nuts" about this possibility, particularly if new major natural disasters start to happen ahead of the December 21st.deadline. </li>
<li>For the Spiritists, the increased number of messages, lectures, and talking about the rapid approaching of the Planetary Transition time will just compound the issue of the Mayan Calendar. </li>
<li>No major or relevant changes in worldwide leadership is expected for next year, as far as I can tell, meaning no major improvements can be expected in macro policies that could ease the pain and hunger of so many around the world. </li>
<li>The Spiritist Doctrine will continue to be important to so many, as a consoler and educator, but it does not seem to have developed the power yet to trigger a pervasive new way of thinking and behaving that could significantly and positively impact moral levels. </li>
</ul>We could keep looking on other aspects of life and society, but that's not necessary at this point. What I think is important at this point is to look into this whole situation from a much higher level --- the spiritual level --- and try to make sense of it all. To start with, the desitny of humans and of the Earth is not out of control at all. The same force that keeps the whole universe in harmony is on top of our situation here on Earth. More than that, all the challenges and suffering are just the opportunity for each human to work on those areas affecting the development level of their spirits. It is also an invitation for humanity to get closer, more fraternal, develop a much stronger sense of solidarity, and, most importantly, strengthen faith in God.<br />
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It seems to me that 2012 will be a great mnoment for us to work on our evangelization, our faith, and our loyalty to God and Jesus. Let's keep in mind two basic and fundamental messages from them:<br />
<ul><li>Get to know the truth, and the truth will save you</li>
<li>Without charity there is no salvation</li>
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HAPPY NEW YEAR<br />
Gilberto<br />
Dec 31, 2011<br />
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coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-73836017471324725062011-12-31T04:02:00.000-08:002011-12-31T04:02:22.391-08:00GREEN EXERCISE<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Just 5 Minutes Of 'Green Exercise' Optimal For Good Mental Health</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
How much "green exercise" produces the greatest improvement in mood and sense of personal well-being? A new study in the American Chemical Society's semi-monthly journal <i>Environmental Science & Technology</i> has a surprising answer. <br />
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The answer is likely to please people in a society with much to do but little time to do it: Just five minutes of exercise in a park, working in a backyard garden, on a nature trail, or other green space will benefit mental health. <br />
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Jules Pretty and Jo Barton explain in the study that green exercise is physical activity in the presence of nature. Abundant scientific evidence shows that activity in natural areas decreases the risk of mental illness and improves the sense of well-being. Until now, however, nobody knew how much time people had to spend in green spaces to get those and other benefits. <br />
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"For the first time in the scientific literature, we have been able to show dose-response relationships for the positive effects of nature on human mental health," Pretty said. <br />
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From an analysis of 1,252 people (of different ages, genders and mental health status) drawn from ten existing studies in the United Kingdom, the authors were able to show that activity in the presence of nature led to mental and physical health improvements. <br />
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They analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming. The greatest health changes occurred in the young and the mentally-ill, although people of all ages and social groups benefited. All natural environments were beneficial including parks in urban settings. Green areas with water added something extra. A blue and green environment seems even better for health, Pretty noted. <br />
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From a health policy perspective, the largest positive effect on self-esteem came from a five-minute dose. <br />
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"We know from the literature that short-term mental health improvements are protective of long-term health benefits," Pretty said. "So we believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with green exercise," added Barton. <br />
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A challenge for policy makers is that policy recommendations on physical activity are easily stated but rarely adopted widely as public policy, Pretty noted, adding that the economic benefits could be substantial. <br />
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Policy frameworks that suggest active living point to the need for changes to physical, social and natural environments, and are more likely to be effective if physical activity becomes an inevitable part of life rather than a matter of daily choice. <br />
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Source: <br />
American Chemical Society<br />
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Copyright: Medical News Today</span></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-59691940009890693202011-10-03T12:11:00.000-07:002011-10-03T12:11:12.581-07:00BE HUNGRY TO HELP THE HUNGRY<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and joy”. - <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Mother Theresa of Calcutta</span></b> </span></i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where is the world headed to? There are too many answers to this question, because human beings, in general, tend to look at this issue from its own perspective which is highly influenced (or controlled) by the egocentric views of each human being, or group of. Unfortunately, most of us are all raised to believe that the world is divided into winners and losers, and to realize our “American Dream” (or something equivalent to), and that normally implies in our minds being better of, or beat, our neighbors in the material world. Immediacies are generally taken as priority over longer term goals, because we can’t lose any battles as we move on as that could be perceived as a sign of weakness. We all have, though, one thing in common: we all search for happiness. Happiness is the ultimate aspiration of humanity. The level of pride and selfishness, though, make us understand happiness in many different ways. Most people still believe that joy can bring happiness, and that most joy can be “purchased”. Actually, for these people, this is “true”. They can find happiness in a new car, dining out, titles, power, and other innumerable ways in their earthly lives. On the other hand, not enough people can see that happiness, to be stable and long lasting, must be something that needs to satisfy our spiritual aspirations, therefore it must be acquired in a way that add value to our souls. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why did I start this article with that question on where the world is headed to? Well, this question seems to be very relevant at this particular moment, where the media is so filled with bad news that makes us wonder if we are at the verge of an inconceivable situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the heels of such bad news come statistics showing a consistent and persistent growth in poverty. The census of the United States, just published, revealed that, in 2010, we had around 46 million people in this country that live before poverty line. That means an increase of about 6% versus the year before. This includes an increase of 11.5% in the number of suburban residents that lived below the poverty line. As an expected domino effect of this, the hunger issue gets magnified. Reports tell us about a substantial increase in the number of people knocking the doors of the many food pantries around the country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s now read once again the introductory quote to this article, from Mother Theresa. Based not only on the above quote, but on so many other quotes she left for us as profound messages, we can say that Mother Theresa was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“hungry” to help the hungry</b>. She was asking God’s mercy to all poor and hungry people by making us conscious that, to be “worthy” of God and true happiness, we need to have compassion and do charity with love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world would be much better if instead of being seen as divided between winners and losers, it would be seen as divided into those that need help and those that help the needy. And that would get us closer to God, as we would be complying with His first commandment: “To love God above all, and our neighbor as we love ourselves”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">St. Francis made it clear to us: “It is in giving, that we receive”. If it was the other way around, meaning that selfishness could bring happiness, than the Divine Laws would be at jeopardy. So, let’s hungry to help the hungry! The Bezerra de Menezes’s food pantry is one of the many ways we could help so many desperate people looking for so little. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gilberto </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oct 3rd, 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-2988033488946395112011-09-16T10:19:00.000-07:002011-09-16T10:19:43.843-07:00ADD A LITTLE VALUE TO YOUR SOUL... EVERY DAY.<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Add a little value to your soul... every day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">As we all have heard, "without charity, there is no salvation". </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Therefore, adding value to our soul means: do charity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">No wonder why, since the first Divine Law tells us to </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">"love our brothers like we love ourselves". </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The question 886 of the Book of the Spirits, clarify what charity means:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">-- it means "BIP", that is, benevolence, indulgence, and ("<em>Perdon</em>") forgiveness.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">These are also big virtues, though, that need to be worked on constantly.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">We all have those virtues already developed to a certain extent, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">meaning that we all can practice charity, even at the risk of failing sometimes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Moving from theory to practice, now. My ideas are derived </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">from my interpretation of the Question 919 of the Book of the Spirits. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">First, how do we better our BIP virtues? Better yet, have we been </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">working on a regular basis to improve our BIP virtues? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, paraphrasing St. Augustine, let's ask this question to ourselves: </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">- What have I read today (books, magazines, Internet, etc) that </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">made me reflect </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">on my values, my routine, my actions, </span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">and my moral improvement opportunities? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Have I spent my day wisely, as far as how I allocated my time to </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">actions and things that brought me joy while improving my BIP virtues?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Have we thought of those we know are in need of help? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Needless to say that when we decide to ask the above type of questions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">to ourselves, it indicates that we have already positively answered one basic </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">question: - Do I want to progress morally and spiritually? or, borrowing the</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">line of Leon Denis, do I want to improve the value of my soul? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now that we have gone through this exercise, we should be ready </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">to wake-up tomorrow morning with one thing in mind: do a little thing for</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">someone, our families, or our community that will add value to my soul. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then, let's make this a mindset, so everyday we wake up with such</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">an objective ingrained in our thoughts and actions, I mean, fully</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">internalized, so that we just naturally pursue this objective in everything we do. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is in giving that we receive, and that's how we will increase the value </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">of our souls.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gilberto</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">16 Sept 2011</span></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-10329377926584028362011-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:002011-09-02T06:53:10.372-07:00ONCE-IN-A-LIFE TIME EXPERIENCE<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The other day I woke up with something completely different in my little mind, maybe as a result of the <i>adventures </i>of my soul while I was sleeping. That something was the realization that we all will experience death. Hold on, it is not that. I am talking about the process of death, i.e. a transition from a state to another that only occurs once each incarnation, but that feels like a true once-in-a-lifetime experience since we would not remember (I think) our last transitional experience. Wow... how would that look like? How would that feel like? I mean... that transition that might be either short or long to different people. Have you ever experienced one of those nights when you wake up in the middle of it and can't remember where you are for a few moments? Now imagine yourself waking up and that feeling of not knowing where you are is no longer just a brief one. How will you react to that? Very calmly, or with desperation? What would you first notice when you look around? Humm... now this thing starts to get complicated, because you may wake up in a place that does not look as warm and good as your today's room. But let's say you look around and find yourself in a pleasant place, except that your mind goes crazy trying to remember how you got there. The door opens, and somebody welcomes you. You then start to ask questions like... where am I? Where is my family? Who brought me here? No answers that will satisfy you as they don't want you to have a heart attack, I mean, a breakdown followed by unnecessary reactions that won't help you. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Ok, you got the picture. Now let's look at this from a different perspective. Let's say we know enough, thank to the Spirits Doctrine, and you quickly realize that such a major "relocation" must have to do with your return to the Spiritual World. And you know that such a transition can feel like the successful ending of your long search for happiness. Magically, your body is not a big weight anymore, and that pressure in your chest (anxiety, fear, depression, and other type of feelings that made you so frustrated) is gone. You feel so light! You look through the window, and everything seems to have reached such a harmonized state that it immediately invades your body in the form of a blessing energy that makes you even lighter. Ok, you are now living those transition moments that I called a one-in-a-life-time experience, and you don't want it to be just a dream. You feel realized. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Let's now call it a different name: a Divine Moment that, in fact, may last longer that you would expect. The question then becomes "how can I ensure I will actually have that kind of Divine experience", since such a Devine Moment is not for everyone, but only for those that have earned it. All the rest will go through experiences that will range from Less-than-Devine Moments to moments of unbelievable darkness and suffering. Worse yet, the latter type may last very long. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I'll let you think about how best to answer the question from the previous paragraph. Needless to say it is a matter of preparation while still living. And the preparation should be made from the time one first decides it makes sense to do them. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I would love if you could share your thoughts with me and everyone. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Gilberto</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Aug 18, 2011</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-5423931744192577402011-08-05T13:47:00.000-07:002011-08-05T13:47:31.297-07:00A GRANDE TRANSIÇÃO E O GRANDE DESAFIONos foi dito sobre os espíritos presentemente encarnados na Terra,<br />
Que estão tendo a sua última oportunidade neste planeta ainda de provas e expiações. <br />
Nem todos esses espíritos conseguirão o progresso moral necessário para encarnar<br />
num mundo novo, para eles, o mundo de regeneração. <br />
Será que este conceito se aplica à maioria dos espiritos encarnados no momento? <br />
Os espíritos mais atrasados estão se enfrentando com o desafio de vencer maus institintos talvez<br />
ainda muito arraigados, e num ambiente (mundo) capaz de submeter as suas determinações a testes<br />
bastante fortes (como que o se avanço requerido desses espíritos fossem muito grandes para<br />
poder merecer reencarnar no novo mundo).<br />
Similarmente, os espíritos já mais evoluidos mas ainda em provas finais por aqui, também enfrentam<br />
a grande dureza dos testes de determinação de um mundo conturbado pelos desatinos dos espiritos menos evoluidos.<br />
O orador espírita Marcel Mariano nos fez uma colocação que não sei se reflete suas conclusões pessoais<br />
ou se tal informação foi trazida a nós pelo mundo espiritual. Disse ele que os espiritos que já perceberam que vão daqui para um mundo pior, já que não lograrão seu lugar no novo mundo (que vai ser aqui mesmo), estão fazendo como aqueles cujas casas foram ou estão sendo retomadas pelos financiadores ("foreclosure"). Ou seja, já que vão ser despejados, tentam destruir a casa que lhes abrigam como num<br />
ato de rebeldia que afeta aqueles que ficarão com a casa deles (exemplo meu). É o "leva, mais voce vai ter sofrer também". <br />
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Uma amiga escreveu ontem no seu mural do Facebook algo assim: "Estou tão cansada de viver no meio de gente negativa. Por que as pessoas são tão grosseiras e reclamam de tudo? Por que atualmente elas não apreciam nada na vida? Triste...". Bem, este comentário, no meu ver, tem muito a ver com o que eu estava escrevendo acima. Pense na forma como somos tratados em quase todos os lugares que passamos no nosso dia a dia. Como somos tratados pelas atendentes em consultórios médicos? E, depois, pelos médicos? Como somos tratados pelos vendedores de seguros, carros, lojas departamentais? Não é mais fácil perguntar onde que somos tratados com respeito, ou seja, as exceções?<br />
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Bem, mas não vamos nos perder na análise. Não é uma questão de pais que não souberam criar seus filhos. Tudo tem a ver com o nível espiritual da maioria. Voce já se perguntou "como ele teve coragem de fazer tal coisa?". Pois é. O caso é mais profundo. A incapacidade moral ofusca a intelectual de tal forma, que o nível educacional não se traduz nas virtudes que denotam amadurecimento espiritual.<br />
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Pelo menos, vamos ficar preparados: para os "melhorados", o esforço do exercicio da paciência, tolerância, solidariedade, empatia, caridade, e outras tantas virtudes tem que ser redobrado.<br />
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Gilberto<br />
Ago 5, 2011 coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-44310204769572661242011-08-04T14:19:00.000-07:002011-08-05T12:57:40.522-07:00A Psicologia e o Espiritismo/Psychology and Spiritism(See English Version below)<br />
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Joanna de Angelis já escreveu, através de Divaldo P. Franco, 14 livros em sua "Serie Psicológica". Não conheço nenhum outro autor espiritual de grande penetração entre os estudantes espíritas que tenha dedicado tanto tempo e trabalho para unir essas duas "pontas" tão importantes -- a psicologia e o espiritismo --. Obviamente, no mundo dos encarnados, são raros os casos de estudos sobre a psicologia humana que faz alguma menção ao lado do ser espiritual. Em um de seus livros, Joanna de Angelis exclarece o seguinte:<br />
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<div class="widget-content"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“O Ser real é constituído de corpo, mente e espírito. Dessa forma, uma abordagem psicológica para ser verdadeiramente eficaz deve ter uma visão holística do ser, tratando de seu corpo (físico e periespirítico), de sua mente (consciente, inconsciente e subconsciente) e de seu espírito imortal que traz consigo uma bagagem de experiências anteriores à presente existência e está caminhando para a perfeição Divina.” </span><br />
<strong>----------------------------------------</strong></div><div class="widget-content"></div><div class="widget-content"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joanna de Angelis has already written, through Divaldo P. Franco, 14 books of her "Psychological Series". I am not aware of any other spiritual author with high acceptance among spiritism students that has devoted so much time and effort to close the gap between these two points: psychology and spiritism. Obviously, in the incarnate world, there are only rare cases of studies that mention the spiritual side of human beings. Joanna de Angelis offered the following clarification in one of her books: </span><br />
<strong>.</strong></div><div class="widget-content"></div><div class="widget-content"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The [human] "being" is actually constituted of body, mind, and spirit. Therefore, a psychological approach to be truly efficient must take a holistic view of this "Being", considering its body (physical and perispiritual), its mind (consciousness, unconsciousness, and subconsciousness), and its eternal spirit which brings the baggage of all previous experiences to the present experience, and which is in its journey to Divine perfection". </span></div><div class="widget-content"></div><div class="widget-content"><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gilberto</span></div><div class="widget-content"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aug 4, 2011</span></div><div class="widget-content"></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-28973326316624407232011-07-23T13:48:00.000-07:002011-07-23T13:48:11.119-07:00O ARREPENDIMENTO E O REMORSO<img alt="Photo" class="img" height="234px" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/261245_2271633829732_1215220217_32811615_7723372_n.jpg" width="215px" /><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arrependimento e remorso, duas palavras que se confundem, mas que expressam sentimentos opostos. Enquanto o arrependimento leva a atitudes positivas de renovação interior, o remorso gera atitudes negativas de condenação a si próprio. Se o arrependimento ...induz à busca de mudança de atitudes e correção do próprio erro, o remorso cria na alma sentimentos de revolta, de culpa, de amargura, de anular-se interiormente. Se o arrependimento leva a um crescimento interior pela fé que o inspira, o remorso leva à negação de si próprio pela falta de fé que lhe traria força e coragem para uma busca de renovação. Pelo arrependimento,<wbr> o homem aprende a não mais cometer o mesmo erro. Pelo remorso, ele se entrega a situações de desespero, que podem levá-lo à depressão, à loucura ou até mesmo a atentar contra a própria vida. O arrependimento gera satisfação na alma ao reconhecer em si mesmo as imperfeições de que todos os seres humanos são suscetíveis, mas com a certeza de que poderá melhorar. Pelo remorso, porém, o homem nada percebe além da sua própria dor.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">(Autor desconhecido). </span></div><div> </div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-24181340479311592042011-07-15T20:35:00.000-07:002011-07-15T20:37:25.059-07:00THE THREE OF YOURSELF<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we say things like "I want to be happy", "I am not happy", "I am sad today", or "I am suffering from such pain...", who are we referring to? I know this question seems funny, but I invite you to think about it for a minute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does the spirit suffer from physical pain? If not, then, when we are "suffering from pain", it is our body that does, not our spirit. So, there is difference between "suffering" and "unhappiness". Similarly, when we feel sad we implicitly mean that that are moments when we are not sad. Could our million-year eternal self be so vulnerable to daily disappointments? Or be so enthused about eventual and short-lived moments of joy? To make things even more complicated, when we say "I want to be happy", are we thinking about our day-to-day terrestrial life, or do we want our spirit to be happy and keep this happiness throughout our lives? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe, by now, you agree that the question posed at the beginning "who are we referring to?" is not exactly funny. But the solution for this little puzzle is actually very simple. I will, however, comeback with the final part of the story a little later. First, I would like to hear your thoughts about the above. Feel free to send them in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talk to you soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gilberto</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 15, 2011 </span>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-4268712831973294612011-06-13T12:31:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:27:40.704-07:00LISTENING TO OTHERS WITH A SPIRITIST MIND<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This last Sunday (June 12th), I had the opportunity to listen to a keynote speaker who was addressing graduate students in their commencement event. This speaker was a woman with a long list of academic titles, plus a solid field experience, including scientific research. Her voice, energy, and message hit us all very strongly, and must have caught everybody's attention. I want to comment on two great elements of her speech, which I believe could well be translated into lessons spiritists could take home and think through them as we work on our own spiritual and moral transformation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We, as a group, can lit the way</span></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Each of the graduate student sitting in the room was compared to new "light" that, when close together, may have the power to illuminate the way for an entire generation. This immediately led me to think of our work at the Spiritist Center, and to think of all the others at work in so many other Centers. The outcome could be wonderful if more and more "new spiritists" are "formed" every year, and if the number of spiritists keeps multiplying indefinitely. Then, think about using the logic of that keynote speaker: each new Spiritist is a new light, and, if they march together on the spiritualization of people, their power would light up the world, eventually. I will let you figure out how we (spiritists) have been doing in terms of lighting up the road, but we can't argue against the power of group work. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The way to achieve goals in this life</span></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The speaker talked about a few steps that it might take to get things accomplished, and to meet our goals, or the goals of society: connection; determination; purpose; and action. In her example, she mentioned the need to connect with nature, because nature is a fundamental part of and plays a fundamental role in this world. And nature is also a creation of God, therefore it comes from the same source we come from. The speaker then reminded everyone that "we do have the power", as she elaborated on "determination"; we just need to leverage that power we have inside us. Under “purpose”, the idea was that we need to understand the process and have a plan that will support our way to goals. Finally, she moved on to “action” --- and this seems to be self-explanatory.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Now, let's think about "spiritual assistance", the service we offer on Wednesdays in our Spiritist Center. Here is how I would briefly translate the four steps the speaker talked about:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1. Connection: We need to empathize with the persons looking for assistance. That is, establish that heart-to-heart connection, which, <em>per se,</em> will help the needy quite substantially, as they feel heard, understood, and not alone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2. Determination: Let's try and help with one clear mindset: Yes, we can help, and more so when we think of ourselves as a group of "lights", as discussed in the prior topic. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3. Purpose: yes, we can have a meaningful purpose. In other words, we can keep studying and improving our understanding on how Spirituality provides assistance to the needy, and how we can constantly improve the way we might serve as instruments of their blessings. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">4. Action: nothing can stop us, the workers of Bezerra de Menezes, when we work along the lines of what Saint Exuperry (Overnight Flight/Voo Noturno) taught us: "Love is not looking at each other's eyes, but all looking ahead in the same direction". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Thanks for your attention. I thought I should share with you these enlightening moments at the commencement. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">God bless you all</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Gilberto</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">June 13, 2011</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><br />
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coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-24128257195326528972011-06-01T07:51:00.000-07:002011-06-01T07:52:35.315-07:00BEM AVENTURADOS OS.....<span style="font-size: large;">Caros amigos, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No nosso estudo do evangelho de ontem revisamos o item #4, Capitulo XX, que é uma mensagem do Espírito Erasto, intitulada "Missão dos espiritas". Tal mensagem incentiva e fornece sólidas razões para os espiritas não pouparem esforços na disseminação da Verdade de Deus, que Jesus nos ensinou e exemplificou, e os Espíritos nos ajudaram a melhor entende-la. Em um determinado parágrafo, Erasto diz o seguinte: "Ide, pois, e levai a palavra divina: aos poderosos, que a desdenharão; aos sábios, que dela pedirão prova; aos pequenos e simples que a aceitarão, <u>porque é principalmente entre os mártires do trabalho, esta expiação terrena, que encontrareis o fervor e a fé"</u>. E, proseguindo, Erasto esclarece: ". . . pois estes receberão, com cânticos de agradecimento e louvores a Deus, a consolação divina que lhes oferecerdes; e, baixando a fronte, agradecerão pelo quinhão de aflições que a Terra lhes reservou". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tal como quando Jesus falou "Bem aventuados os pobres de espírito....", aqui Erasto se refere aos "pequenos e simples". E nesse caso, o Espírito faz um contraste com aqueles que pensam deter o poder, ou pensam "saber tudo". Lembremos aqui dos momentos finais de Jesus, que numa dor inimaginável, nos demonstrou a verdadeira submissão aos designios de Deus. Juntando os pontos, felizes aqueles que têm a humildade de aprender, aceitar, e carregar a suas cruzes até o fim, com resignação e fé. </span><br />
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Gilberto<br />
Junho 1, 2011coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-91203827332405356352011-06-01T07:17:00.000-07:002011-06-01T07:24:29.939-07:00Wanna be happy?<em>Hi fellows, </em><br />
<em>The Time magazine of this week brings in an interesting article about optimism. On the positive side, optimists are bound to be bigger achievers than pessimists, as they might be willing to take those extra-miles that it takes to go places the pessismist won't ever go. It is all about "positive psychology", a recent theory that has been gaining some momentun in the psychology world. Below the surface, though, there might lie some risks. As the article says, optimists are, in general, not always realistic. That means that the over-optimists may distance themselves far enough from reality to fall in to major disappointments and its possible consequences. Not a major risk, just needs to be watched! Especially, those with kids need to stay put and prevent future problems. </em><br />
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<em>As I was digging into the links suggested by the article, though, I came accross another article that talkes about "20 ways to stay happy". They are all good, and you can retrieve them from </em><a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1631176_1630611,00.html?artId=1631176?contType=article?chn=specials"><strong>http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1631176_1630611,00.html?artId=1631176?contType=article?chn=specials</strong></a>. <em>One of these 20 ways has to do with spirituality level. In this regard, the article says</em>: "Survey after survey shows that people with strong religious faith — of any religion or denomination — are happier than those who are irreligious. David Myers, a social psychologist at Michigan's Hope College, says that faith provides social support, a sense of purpose and a reason to focus beyond the self, all of which help root people in their communities."<br />
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Gilberto<br />
<em>June 01, 2011 </em><br />
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</tbody></table>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-74885396319298574152011-05-21T08:41:00.000-07:002011-05-21T08:41:37.360-07:00WHAT A GREAT PARTY!Yesterday (May 20th), I participated in the annual luncheon promoted by SVS - Seniors Volunteers Service, an organization I work for as a volunteer. I want to share some information about this organization with you all, because I felt so moved yesterday listening to the accomplishments of SVS, and to some very touching testimonies that managed to bring tears to so many eyes. Some statistics presented were very scary; for example, 15,000 school-age children in Broward face the situation that one of his/her parent is presently incarcerated. Also, it may further encourage us, the volunteers of BM, to keep our hard work to the benefit of so many families and individuals. <br />
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SVS has several wonderful programs, and counted on the help of 1,004 volunteers last year. Their key programs are:<br />
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<ul><li>Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) --- under this program, SVS matches the interest of volunteers with nonprofit organizations seeking assistance. Last year, 698 volunteers provided 79,640 hours of service working with 70 organizations;</li>
<li>Foster Grandparent Program --- volunteers provide support and service to children and youth with special needs in a variety of settings (tutoring, mentoring, nurturing, and such). 205 Volunteers contributed with nearly 145,000 hours working with 3,690 children last year. </li>
<li>Dropout Prevention Program --- volunteers from the Foster Grandparent Program (above) help children in danger of academic failure in elementary and middle schools. </li>
<li>Senior Companion Program --- Volunteers provide in-home, supportive, individualized services to home bound, frail elderly and adults with disabilities. Volunteers help their clients maintain their dignity and independence. Last year, 101 volunteers helped 473 elderly and home bound adults, involving 78,067 hours of work. </li>
<li>Respite for Caregivers --- a program that provides in-home respite by senior companions to relieve caregivers of older adults. </li>
<li>Executive Senior Corps of Broward -- a program that utilizes retired executives to help nonprofit organizations improve its effectiveness and efficiency. </li>
</ul>SVS is not a religious type organization, and its budget is not as big as you might think. However, a limited number of born-to-help employees make all this happen. <br />
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Thank God, for SVS and many other organizations of this type that are there to work on the first and most important of the Divine's Laws.<br />
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Gilberto<br />
May 21th, 2011coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-53173784850195315082011-05-18T03:26:00.000-07:002011-05-18T03:26:11.669-07:00A LIÇÃO DO FOGO<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Um homem, que assiduamente comparecia às reuniões de um grupo de estudos, sem comunicar a ninguém, deixou de participar das atividades coletivas.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Depois de algumas semanas, um integrante desse grupo decidiu visitá-lo.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Era uma noite muito fria. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">O visitante foi encontrá-lo em casa. E o achou sozinho e<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sentado diante da lareira.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Onde o fogo estava brilhante e acolhedor. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Adivinhando o motivo da vinda do visitante que chegara, o dono da casa lhe deu as boas vindas,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>e aproximando-se da lareira lhe ofereceu uma cadeira grande em frente ao fogo e ficou quieto, esperando. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Os dois homens somente admiravam a dança das chamas em volta dos troncos de lenha que queimavam.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Depois de alguns minutos,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>o visitante examinou as brasas que se formaram e cuidadosamente escolheu uma delas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mais incandescente de todas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">E afastou-a para longe do fogo. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Sentando-se novamente o visitante permaneceu silencioso e imóvel. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">O anfitrião prestava atenção a tudo, fascinado e quieto. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Dentro de pouco tempo, a chama da brasa solitaria diminuiu, até que após um brilho momentâneo,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seu fogo se apagou em um instante.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Em pouco tempo, o que antes era uma festa de calor e luz, agora não passava de um preto, frio </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">e morto pedaço de carvão recoberto de espessa camada de cinza.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Nenhuma palavra tinha sido pronunciada desde a protocolar saudação inicial entre os dois amigos.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Levantando-se<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>para ir embora,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>o visitante movimentou de novo o pedaço de carvão já apagado, frio e inútil, recolocando-o no meio do fogo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Imediatamente o pedaço de carvão incendiou-se na chama alimentada pela luz e o calor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>das labaredas dos outros carvões em brasa ao redor dele.</span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Quando o visitante se aproximou da porta para ir-se embora, seu anfitrião lhe disse: </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Obrigado pela sua visita e pelo belíssimo e silencioso sermão...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Retornarei ao grupo de estudos que muito bem me fez. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Reflexão: </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Aos membros de um grupo vale lembrar-lhes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>que eles fazem parte da “chama” do grupo </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">e que longe dela perdem todo seu brilho. </span></i></b><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aos amigos de um grupo vale a pena sempre lembrar-lhes que eles também são responsáveis por manter acesa a chama da amizade entre cada um dos seus membros e de promover a união entre todos eles, para que o fogo seja sempre realmente forte, eficaz e duradouro.</span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b><i><span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Autor não identificado)</span></span></i></b></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-4524994237025274972011-05-16T03:51:00.000-07:002011-05-16T03:51:43.652-07:00EL EVANGELIO EN EL HOGAR<span><em>¿Que haces para proteger tu casa contra los ladrones? y contra los huracanes se vives en Florida?</em></span><br />
<span><em>¿Y lo que haces para proteger tu casa, principalmente a tus entes queridos que ahí viven contigo, contra las vibraciones negativas y las malas influencias espirituales?</em></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">El último domingo, en el Centro Bezerra de Menezes-Miami, hablamos al respecto de la importancia e de los beneficios del culto del evangelio en el hogar. Empezamos por recordar a todos que el primero Evangelio en el Hogar (EEH) fue implantado en la casa de Pedro por nuestro Maestro Jesús. Es decir que tal práctica no fue inventada por los hombres, pues que si vino de Jesús, entonces hay que tratarse de un acto divino. Jesús aprovecho la oportunidad para también hablar de la importancia del hogar en el desarrollo moral de los hombres, pues que es en el hogar donde se encuentra la escuela más importante para la felicidad de la humanidad. En hogar se enseña y se desarrolla las virtudes superiores, tales como el amor, la caridad, la compasión, la humildad, la solidaridad, la fe, la esperanza, y otras de igual importancia. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">El culto del EEH establece una fuerte conexión del hogar con los espíritus amigos, los cuales se quedan siempre en el aguardo de una oportunidad de ayudarnos. O sea, que nos pongamos en sintonía con la frecuencia vibratoria de las fuentes sublimes de donde recibimos las energías que necesitamos para nuestro equilibrio emocional, además de inspiraciones que nos van a servir de guía en nuestros desafíos diarios. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">Que la paz de Jesús este con nosotros siempre. </span><br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">16 Mayo 2011</span>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-79475809600844871142011-05-02T06:28:00.000-07:002011-05-08T04:12:37.938-07:00CAMP ERIN - BEREAVEMENT WEEK-ENDHello friends, <br />
It is Monday, 5/2/11. This last weekend (Friday/Sunday) I spent two and half days in Camp Erin, Homestead, FL, where about 50 kids from the Miami Dade area were offered a free program designed to help them overcome the pain of having lost someone they loved. Some have lost a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, or others in the family that they miss. The age of the kids ranged from 6 to 17 years old. This is fully packed program where the kids are able to express their feelings in several different ways, while also enjoying sports and other recreational activities. I was the "Big Buddy" of 3 kids, 11 years-old (two other kids of my group did not show up). <br />
All those kids have something in commom: they have lost someone, and for most of them it is very diffilcult to talk about that without getting emotional. Some cases involve suicides and homicides. Some of the kids will eventually overcome grieving, and some will have difficulties to do it because of the circumnstances of the loss (may have been traumatic to them, like suicide).<br />
<br />
One theme well explored in the program is our "connectedness", in the sense that we are all connected, even with those that are no longer living with us, and that we will meet our loved ones again one day. It is interesting to notice that when men come accross some situations they can't possibly handle they revert to God and surrender the issues on His hands. That is the case of "life" -- men and science have no definite control over it. But it also happens in many other cases; for exemple, with substance addicted people (alchool and other drugs). Their lives come to a point where they have to surrender themselves, and accept the fact that only a "higher power" can help them as they feel completely hopeless and helplesly unempowered. The support group programs that exist to help these addicts, like the AA (Alcoholics Anonimous), have a great deal of faith and spiritualism as the base of their programs. An "AA" meeting also ends with the Lord's Prayer. <br />
<br />
<strong><em>It would be great if most people did not have to "hit bottom" in this life to turn their eyes to God. </em></strong><br />
<br />
Gilberto<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-47769046509710047862011-04-24T19:24:00.000-07:002011-05-02T05:49:46.047-07:00WELCOME!Friends, <br />
You may have received an invitation, via Facebook or e-mail, to visit this blog. We are still in a testing phase, better yet, on a learning curve figuring out how to use this tool to convey to readers studies, messages, and other information that might be helpful to them. <br />
This Blog is an initiative of BM Spiritual Center, of Miami, of which I am a member and a worker. <br />
Thanks for visiting this site.We should be up to speed soon.<br />
Fraternally,<br />
Gilberto<br />
<br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"><br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">Amigos, </span><br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">Creo que recibiste una invitación vía Facebook para chequear este sitio de blog. Estamos todavía testando y aprendiendo como mejor utilizar esta herramienta importante de comunicación, llevando estudios, mensajes, y otras informaciones que puedan servir de ayuda. </span><br />
<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;">Este blog es una iniciativa del Centro Espirita BM, de Miami, que es un movimiento espiritualista de lo cual soy miembro y también trabajador.</span><br />
Gracias por<span lang="ES-MX" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-MX;"> visitar</span> este sitio. Esperamos estar mejor capacitados pronto.<br />
Fraternalmente.<br />
Gilberto<br />
</span>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-84373439168138147362011-04-24T17:50:00.000-07:002011-04-24T18:49:30.298-07:00Easter is behind us. Let a new life begin...Some celebrate Jesus Christ's birth on Dec 25th, and <br />
some also celebrate His Resurrection during Easter Holidays. <br />
Some think through His teachings, and some question the meaning of His parables.<br />
Some pray for and faithfully seek His assistance, and some take if for granted. <br />
Some understand His mission and help Him accomplish it, and some prefer the receiving side.<br />
Some follow His pathways hoping to meet Him one day....<br />
Some believe that the Earthly journey is all we can expect.<br />
<br />
As we all evolve spiritually, we may keep our minds open....but let us also remember: <br />
- the world has never been the same again after that Sermon; <br />
- no prophets brought new transcendental knowledge after Him; and<br />
- no one else has unveiled a new road map to the Kingdom of God after that Easter. <br />
<br />
Be in peace. Amen.coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893588054206737801.post-36529900502835139792011-04-22T08:37:00.000-07:002011-04-24T18:59:07.103-07:00Señor!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Señor, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE MI FE SEA MAS GRANDE QUE MIS PROBLEMAS</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE MI CAPACIDAD DE DISCERNIMIENTO SEA MAS PODEROSA QUE LA COMPLEXIDAD DE MIS DESAFÍOS</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE MI MENTE SEA TRANSMISORA DE VIBRACIONES POSITIVAS Y DE LAS MEDICINAS ESPIRITUALES NECESARIAS A MI PRÓJIMO</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE MI AMOR SEA LA LUZ QUE VA A TRAER LA RAZÓN QUE VENCERÁ EL ODIO</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE YO NO BUSQUE SER EL VENCEDOR, PERO NADA MAS QUE AQUELLO QUE INDICÓ EL MEJOR CAMINO...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE LA VERDAD SIEMPRE PREVALEZCA EN MIS MOMENTOS DE INCERTIDUMBRE</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE MIS OÍDOS LOGREN DISTINGUIR LOS SONIDOS DEL VERDADERO SENTIMIENTO EN CADA SENTENCIA… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">QUE EN MIS MEDITACIONES YO SOLO PENSÉ EN LOS BENEFICIOS DE LA FE Y DEL AMOR AL PRÓJIMO, Y NO EN SU JUZGAMIENTO</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Y QUE MI OJEAR INSPIRE CALMA, CONFIANZA, SEGURIDAD, FE, Y ESPERANZA PARA TODOS AQUELLOS QUE ME BUSQUEN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Psicografiado: Santa Maria (MG) 25 de marzo de 2007</span></div>coordinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07779087493380813969noreply@blogger.com0