ARC Minister

Do you hear God calling?
Is it your vocation? Avocation? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avocation
ARC © March 23, 2010 RMN
My roots are Sicilian Catholic. My parents dedicated their first born son to be a priest and first born daughter to be a nun.
Alas, first born daughter was tragically killed when intern inserted needle to break water and punctured baby’s head. First born son had rheumatic heart fever. So `the second son and daughter’ then became the first – were chosen.
I believe that there is a `divine code’ and `genetic code’ that is passed down. I was the second daughter…there isn’t a doubt in my mind that my father/mother’s `spiritual code’ is impressed upon my heart and hereditary traits. I give witness that similar attributes are in other nuclear family members.
I felt for sure I was going to be a nun in my adolescent days. My brother did enter the seminary for awhile. But both of us began to experience transformation of that initial mission.
For me, it was totally placed in limbo as I pursued marriage, raising a family, self-employment, higher education…yet, the beacon of my spiritual lighthouse would `blink’ throughout my life.
In the beginning ‘70s early college years, epiphanies were happening. I reached out beginning my `ministry’ under the canopy of ULC. The history of the Universal Life Church is mired in controversy. The history is founder without formal education simply responded to calling ala how the apostles `listened to their hearts’. They too did not have formal education. The founder’s first `church’ was out of a garage and not registered. After government conflict, all was settled and then the founder realized that there were probably `countless’ peers who too wanted to answer the call of their spiritual communion. So `all were welcomed’ to become `ministers’ and initiate their own `place of worship’. This policy was severely criticized by established religious associations and government entities.
It was wonderful for me. My ministry began. Nonprofit informally founded through them. Formal federal/state authorization was a decade later when I received technical paperwork help.
http://ulc.net/
The religion/church that inspired me the most is the Unitarian Universalist and the minister who is one of my favorite role models is Rev. Kate Braestrup. Her husband, in law enforcement, died; he was planning to be a Unitarian Universalist minister. She took up the `mantle’ – her book is phenomenal.
http://www.katebraestrup.com/
http://www.pbs.org/lifepart2/exclusives/kate-braestrup-s-personal-story-faith-and-healing
It is possible to now take religious studies on line – I recommend: http://online.sksm.edu/
and http://www.uugettysburg.org/welcome.htm
The best class I ever took was a Semantics Class in Orange Coast College in the early 1970s.
http://www.webspawner.com/users/arcliberty/LanguageInThoughtEx.html

I am a `micro’ and `tranco’ person. I have never been comfortable in the `macro’ world. When I started ARC, it was in response to a `calling for one’ and whatever God guided along the way. Interesting, a lot of what I learned was `information useful to macro thinkers’ – the ones who wanted to experience and do `big’. So, I would `collect the information’ and pass it on.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ARCLiberty/index.html
http://www.webspawner.com/users/ARCLiberty/ARCwsContents.html
http://www.webspawner.com/users/ARCLiberty/ChurchStateUnity.html
My `spiritual’ training was eclectic. I am a consummate reader. I love to learn. The basics were studied independently…religion, philosophy. A Human Services Counseling Certificate was achieved at the University Level followed by a Masters, Ph.D. Psychology sans accreditation. I took some formal classes in religious studies. For several years, I visited a different church each week to learn experientially norms and customs. I studied. I thought. I prayed. Core beliefs did not change. They were strengthened.
I believe that `religions’ pursuing the divine maxim of loving God with their whole, mind, heart soul are guided by God. I enjoyed meeting peers who would express sometimes the best compliment of all…that I resonated with their belief system.
I believe that the Bible guides the `word’ of God but that throughout history, it has been semantically misunderstood – translations and continuation have suffered as the result.
Throughout my extensive in vivo and academic studies, experiential learning, some things really struck out. The `Christians’ who really role modeled this axiom did more than they talked. Individually and or with a congregation, they had homeless outreach programs; support groups for singles, solos, and seniors, were not prejudicial to androgynous kith and kin, `walked the talk’. The ones who were most proselytizing in speech and demeanor seemed to contradict the `spirit’ of love, peace. They actually sounded like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Biblical infamy. Their EGO (edging God out) was cymbal chatter. http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=56665360%20
Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal….
If today you hear HIS voice, harden not your heart…my prayer: Here I am Lord+
http://musicministry.starcatcher.ca/index.php?type=list http://www.hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymns/here_i_am_lord.html