Made In China begins a few years after Lie Merchants ends and takes the reader on a cross-continental ride from the Supermax prison in Colorado, to South Texas, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the mysterious Gobi Desert of China. It's a faster and tighter read (i.e., shorter) than Lie Merchants, but action-packed with enough twists, turns and deceptions to keep you guessing until the very end.
Also, now that two books are out, I've revealed that both novels are part of the America First Trilogy. I write political fiction, but with a spiritual twist and a desire to blow the lid off the corruption of the political and globalist classes. I'm in the process of writing the third installment now, which brings Tom Worth to an inconceivable finale in a showdown between good and evil.
Buy it now and start reading today!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
New! MADE IN CHINA Now Available on Kindle and NOOK!
Made In China, the sequel to Lie Merchants, is now available on both Kindle and Nook!
Friday, March 16, 2012
New 5-Star Reviews for LIE MERCHANTS!
I am making this post at the risk of sounding promotional, but that's the deal with self-publishing, there's no one else to promote you other than your self. It is always encouraging to receive positive feedback, because many of us writers do what we do for various reasons - to entertain, educate or simple self-expression. I write because I have to get the ideas in my head out on paper (or Word file). There is no other choice and other writers will know what I am talking about.
That said, I want to thank the readers who were gracious enough to post their favorable opinion of my first novel, LIE MERCHANTS. Here are two recent comments that readers were kind enough to share with others:
"Gets your attention with the first chapter...It is very timely - would make a great movie."
"I hated putting this book down. It was gripping and entertaining."
"Viser took a relevant and frightening topic, and created a storyline which encompassed all of the terror, emotion, heartbreak, intrigue, desperation, and hope, which would surely surround it, and did it in a manner both compelling and enjoyable to read."
I am humbled by your feedback, you are who I write for.
Thank you.
Right now, I am preparing to launch the second ebook in the AMERICA FIRST series - MADE IN CHINA. Look for it and a new website in the weeks ahead!
That said, I want to thank the readers who were gracious enough to post their favorable opinion of my first novel, LIE MERCHANTS. Here are two recent comments that readers were kind enough to share with others:
"Gets your attention with the first chapter...It is very timely - would make a great movie."
"I hated putting this book down. It was gripping and entertaining."
"Viser took a relevant and frightening topic, and created a storyline which encompassed all of the terror, emotion, heartbreak, intrigue, desperation, and hope, which would surely surround it, and did it in a manner both compelling and enjoyable to read."
I am humbled by your feedback, you are who I write for.
Thank you.
Right now, I am preparing to launch the second ebook in the AMERICA FIRST series - MADE IN CHINA. Look for it and a new website in the weeks ahead!
Monday, October 31, 2011
govern thy self...
As part of the Second American Revolution (or "2AR"), it is heartening to see the robust debate between Americans of differing political sensibilities center on the Constitution. Given that the presidential election cycle is gearing-up, we are sure to hear more about the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
However, in the debates so far and even going back over my entire voting life - something has been missing in our political, social and cultural discussions. Something so essential to the notion of self government that although it is so obvious, the lack of discussion about it creates a gap so big you could drive a truck through it. Yet, no national leader or candidate that I can think of is truly talking about it.
Before I reveal the missing link, let's go back in time. Specifically, let's go back about four months to the summer. My son and I went to our local shooting range to get in some target practice one bright sunny morning, an exercise of our Second Amendment rights. As we checked-in with the front office, the man behind the counter offered my son a pocket-sized version of the Constitution. I decided to take one too, since I couldn't remember the last time I read it (maybe grade school?). If I was going to set a good example for my son, I reckoned I better read it too, so I stuffed a copy into my makeshift range bag, took it home and promptly forgot about it.
Only a virtuous people can be free
This weekend I found myself cleaning-out my range bag and re-discovered the pocket Constitution. I flipped it over and looked at the picture of George Washington on the cover holding a quill pen, looking very stately as if he had just signed the document into the law. What was truly valuable about the pocket Constitution is that it included key quotes from some of the Founding Fathers on what was necessary for it to remain the law of the land.
And, it were these quotes that hit me between the eyes:
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Benjamin Franklin
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
"The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be abject slaves." - Samuel Adams
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
Govern thy self...with thy Self
I would hazard a guess that most of us would consider our society more vicious, more selfish and more materialistic than in recent memory. We're dissatisfied with our political and business leaders because they are products of a culture that we created, one that today that looks and increasingly feels like the one our Founding Fathers warned us about.
The notion of freedom has become distorted and for many the Constitution is no more than a license for rationalizing the indulgence of our most selfish desires, appetites, habits and compulsions (the attributes of our ego and lower self) instead of a sacred compact between each other for living a life of creativity and prosperity.
Over the past several decades, the ideal of the American Dream has been perverted by an objectivist "greed is good" philosophy that we now see has led us to the edge of disaster. The understandable reaction has been to create even more unenforceable laws and stifling regulations to suppress the worst of those who are unable, or unwilling, to govern themselves.
Partisans on the left and right yell an awful lot about what is un-Constitutional, yet none of them talk about the need to govern your self (or them selves!). The lower self filled with its desires, appetites and habits has run amuck and created a society that we are all dissatisfied with.
A society can only be free if its citizens govern the worst of their lower selves to be harmless to others and enable a harmonious life for all. Why don't we hear more about this requirement for a free society from our leadership in politics, business, media and elsewhere? Easy, it's not a message that opens the wallets of wealthy campaign donors, but look to the place where they have led us.
If this trend towards a more vicious society continues, then we will lose our right to live free.
The Second American Revolution (a more perfect union) is at hand!
The Second American Revolution is indeed calling! That revolution starts inside you and me, not in Washington. The highest aspiration of the American Dream is to form a more perfect union between the heart and mind. From that union comes the wellspring of wisdom and prosperity. And, if you are reading this, then you are one step closer to joining a new generation of patriots.
And, since we're talking about virtues - universal standards of good common to all religions, faiths, creeds and even none at all - the Founding Fathers were not promoting any specific one. Generosity, honesty, justice, beauty, truth and freedom are all great living virtues that we can bring into this world right now with our daily thoughts, actions, words and votes. We used to call that the American Way, and we certainly don't have to wait until the next election to start. Look closely and you can find these virtues in every belief system aligned with the Creator.
The good news is we can take back back our culture from the LIE MERCHANTS on both the right and the left who have poisoned it with their illusions, biases, ideologies and distortions that obscure or blind us to the truth that we are One. We can do this by developing the eternal virtues of the soul, the true Self - the image of God in which we were minted before we came into this life. This achievement will produce more lasting, positive change than the election of any particular party or person.
However, in the debates so far and even going back over my entire voting life - something has been missing in our political, social and cultural discussions. Something so essential to the notion of self government that although it is so obvious, the lack of discussion about it creates a gap so big you could drive a truck through it. Yet, no national leader or candidate that I can think of is truly talking about it.
Before I reveal the missing link, let's go back in time. Specifically, let's go back about four months to the summer. My son and I went to our local shooting range to get in some target practice one bright sunny morning, an exercise of our Second Amendment rights. As we checked-in with the front office, the man behind the counter offered my son a pocket-sized version of the Constitution. I decided to take one too, since I couldn't remember the last time I read it (maybe grade school?). If I was going to set a good example for my son, I reckoned I better read it too, so I stuffed a copy into my makeshift range bag, took it home and promptly forgot about it.
Only a virtuous people can be free
This weekend I found myself cleaning-out my range bag and re-discovered the pocket Constitution. I flipped it over and looked at the picture of George Washington on the cover holding a quill pen, looking very stately as if he had just signed the document into the law. What was truly valuable about the pocket Constitution is that it included key quotes from some of the Founding Fathers on what was necessary for it to remain the law of the land.
And, it were these quotes that hit me between the eyes:
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Benjamin Franklin
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
"The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be abject slaves." - Samuel Adams
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
Govern thy self...with thy Self
I would hazard a guess that most of us would consider our society more vicious, more selfish and more materialistic than in recent memory. We're dissatisfied with our political and business leaders because they are products of a culture that we created, one that today that looks and increasingly feels like the one our Founding Fathers warned us about.
The notion of freedom has become distorted and for many the Constitution is no more than a license for rationalizing the indulgence of our most selfish desires, appetites, habits and compulsions (the attributes of our ego and lower self) instead of a sacred compact between each other for living a life of creativity and prosperity.
Over the past several decades, the ideal of the American Dream has been perverted by an objectivist "greed is good" philosophy that we now see has led us to the edge of disaster. The understandable reaction has been to create even more unenforceable laws and stifling regulations to suppress the worst of those who are unable, or unwilling, to govern themselves.
Partisans on the left and right yell an awful lot about what is un-Constitutional, yet none of them talk about the need to govern your self (or them selves!). The lower self filled with its desires, appetites and habits has run amuck and created a society that we are all dissatisfied with.
A society can only be free if its citizens govern the worst of their lower selves to be harmless to others and enable a harmonious life for all. Why don't we hear more about this requirement for a free society from our leadership in politics, business, media and elsewhere? Easy, it's not a message that opens the wallets of wealthy campaign donors, but look to the place where they have led us.
If this trend towards a more vicious society continues, then we will lose our right to live free.
The Second American Revolution (a more perfect union) is at hand!
The Second American Revolution is indeed calling! That revolution starts inside you and me, not in Washington. The highest aspiration of the American Dream is to form a more perfect union between the heart and mind. From that union comes the wellspring of wisdom and prosperity. And, if you are reading this, then you are one step closer to joining a new generation of patriots.
And, since we're talking about virtues - universal standards of good common to all religions, faiths, creeds and even none at all - the Founding Fathers were not promoting any specific one. Generosity, honesty, justice, beauty, truth and freedom are all great living virtues that we can bring into this world right now with our daily thoughts, actions, words and votes. We used to call that the American Way, and we certainly don't have to wait until the next election to start. Look closely and you can find these virtues in every belief system aligned with the Creator.
The good news is we can take back back our culture from the LIE MERCHANTS on both the right and the left who have poisoned it with their illusions, biases, ideologies and distortions that obscure or blind us to the truth that we are One. We can do this by developing the eternal virtues of the soul, the true Self - the image of God in which we were minted before we came into this life. This achievement will produce more lasting, positive change than the election of any particular party or person.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
line one is open...the Second American Revolution is calling...
Like many commuters, I often listen to talk radio as I pilot my car on the ribbon of highway connecting home to work and back. Along the way, I "spin" the digital dial in search of interesting dialogue, not unlike Tom Worth did on his fateful drive to the office one late summer morning. Based on what I've been hearing and if talk show callers are any guide, there is a growing sentiment along the entire political and social spectrum that a revolution is at hand.
And, I tend to agree.
The American experiment in self-government is at a crossroads. Our history traveling the path of freedom leading us towards a more perfect union has been often difficult, rife with disagreement and at times outright combat. Now, we find ourselves standing at yet another moment in history ripe with the potential to define who we are as a people.
Past crises often served to bring us together. This time around the rapid succession of one crisis after another combined with our present sense of priorities has driven us apart. With commonsense, cooperation and compromise thrown away as quaint parts of civil society, our leadership and institutions are paralyzed to do what needs to be done.
And, it seems like just about nothing is getting done these days. It is no wonder that the calls for change are growing from all quarters. But, since most of us think of political revolutions as violent affairs, the word instills fear — fear of the unknown and worse, fear of each other. When asked, most talk show callers agreed that not only will there be revolution in the not too distant future, but it will also involve violence or breakdown in the rule of law. Okay, that does sound a bit frightening. Unfortunately, all that fear blinds us from seeing the full potential of this moment.
Appearances can be deceiving
I believe that there's a different kind of revolution brewing, unlike anything we've seen before and it has the potential to lead us to a better place.
Although many people of different political sensibilities genuinely want to make things better, I find their so-called "revolutions" nothing more than imposing old ways of thinking or promoting ideologies that have already failed us. Passionate voices wanting genuine improvement call for their own brand of political solution, depending on their self (selfish?) interest — a step back to laissez-faire capitalism, more socialism, communism or some yet unknown utopian "ism." Heck, even anarchists are making a comeback.
If we pretend we're doctors examining our nation's economic, political and social health, our first rule should be to do no harm. As we look at our situation like a physician, we have to ask the question — it is "the system" that ills or is it us and the way that we think and feel? That's a key diagnosis we have to make before we can prescribe the right solution. Of course, there is no lack of partisans shouting over themselves trying to tell us what their "solution" is, which is of course to vote for them.
If you see today's problems in the pre-packaged binary terms of left versus right, red versus blue or rich versus poor, then that's because this war of words plays straight into the hands of those seeking to preserve the status quo. The current crop of politicos has neatly defined the problem as the "other guy" with their labels and fiery rhetoric. Too many of us believe it, which empowers our leaders (or followers as the case may be) to distract us from the real issues, enabling them to divide us and conquer. It is how they preserve the closed-loop system from which they derive their supply of cash flow and power. By casting Americans with different political sensibilities as having evil intent, they inflame emotions, which open checkbooks. It's a fear-anger-money and repeat business model that talk radio personality Bill Charles perfected and made him fantastically rich at the expense of national unity.
The truth is the politicians, executives and media commentators are so wrapped-up in their own symbiotic world of money, power and influence that they can't begin to see what needs to be done. Worse, they would never admit how powerless they truly are, because if they did you would close your checkbook and the game would be over.
While partisans bicker about "taking back" America from each and paralyze our institutions in the process, the growing forces of chaos on the outside are banging on the rusting gates of the empire. Indeed, a revolution is at hand, but of what kind?
The Second American Revolution is here!
Indeed, the Second American Revolution is at hand! But are you ready for it? If like the talk show callers you define revolution as a political solution, then I fear that you are not. The Second American Revolution starts in a very unlikely place and probably where you least expect it — it resides in you.
The Second American Revolution (2AR) is not one of ideology or politics. Instead, it is one of character and spirit. I believe the second American Revolution will be a spiritual one — not merely a change in the hearts and minds of the people, but a greater integration — a more perfect union — between them.
Adventurous personalities must be feeling let down at this point. A "spiritual" revolution, are you kidding me? Where's the guns!? Where's the risk, the fight!? We want to rise-up as the Founding Fathers did as modern patriots! We want to be heroes! We want glory!
If glory is what you seek, then unchain the glory of your true Self — the image of God in which you were minted before you came into this life. The ego and lower appetites have been running loose for too long. Stop worrying about what is wrong with everyone else and begin the revolution today where you have control — with you.
The more perfect union begins by integrating the heart with the mind to use the complementary strengths of both in harmony to develop new ideas, innovations and ways of thinking and living that can solve humanity's great many problems. Too many of us suffer from the spiritual illness of either the heart or the mind dominating the other, which creates conflict not only in ourselves, but in our families, politics, businesses and societies.
The mind is a powerful tool for analyzing and solving problems, but de-coupled from the heart, it can turn into a monster driven by its own self-importance and ego. Left to its own devices, the mind has the capacity to rationalize almost anything to justify the thoughts it created or those to which it is attracted. How many horrors and injustices have been committed for a so-called "logical" purpose? There are many highly intelligent and educated people on Wall Street, in board rooms, unions, schools, houses of worship, the halls of government and just sitting around the dinner table with very hard hearts. The place to where they have led us today is far from ideal. Our nation has plenty of smart people sorely lacking in wisdom.
An inclusive and open heart tells us where to go, how to act and what to say and do in harmony with the divine Plan, because it recognizes the supreme law from which all others are derived — the law of Love and unity. How many times must we learn this lesson? The heart is a pre-programmed spiritual gyroscope leading us back to the common destination that is our Father, but the heart alone lacks the mental horsepower to create a course to get us to our destination. The heart is a compass, but not the map.
And having a heart does not mean being a bleeding heart. A just society does not take a greedy share from those who have earned to give to the undeserved, ungrateful or self-destructive. Heartfelt people recognize the inherent unity of all Americans and the common destiny of all people. They want to build a culture, laws and systems that support the self-motivated development of individual potential for the benefit of us all, not just for exploitation. They are willing to be generous, to give and sacrifice some of their hard-earned gains — whether it is their time, prayer, expertise or money — from the society and system from which they have benefitted from so handsomely.
Without a heart, the mind is like a rider less horse running through the woods and without the mind the heart is a static bundle of good intentions. The Second American Revolution is about restoring balance between the two and eventually bringing them under the influence of the true Self.
If we honestly looked at the biggest problems confounding us today, I suspect we would attribute a good many of them to an imbalance, or even complete lack of union, between heart and mind. Just look around, I bet it won't take you too long to see where the lack of governing the lower self, the rider less horse, filled with its ego, appetites and selfish interests has run wild created our most pressing problems.
Declare Your Independence
Thomas Jefferson took the first step in the American Revolution by penning the Declaration of Independence. As the first step in the Second American Revolution, you and I have a declaration to make too and once we do this, then the fight really begins.
The Declaration of Independence for the Second American Revolution:
In 2AR we declare ourselves free from the lower self and slowly, patiently and persistently cleanse the personality of its ambitions, selfish desires and appetites to bring it under the will of the higher, true Self. We will strive to make our decisions, thoughts, words and actions represent the best of both our hearts and mind and we will bring them under the influence of our true Self — the image of God in which we were created before we came into this life.
In 2AR, the law of Love and unity will be recognized as the supreme law from which all other laws are derived. Humanity is One and we are all children of the same God. We will reject fundamentalist approaches, because any doctrine based on exclusivity can never be the answer to the problems that plague a diverse human race. We will let humility rule the day and leave final Judgment to the Almighty. In the meantime, we have work to do.
In 2AR, we will work to create, preserve and expand prosperity by investing in the development of our talents, abilities, skills and character through continuous education, training, observation and striving. We will invest in ourselves with our time, effort, money and make it easier for others to do the same. We will restore balance between human, financial and physical capital, the combination from which all real wealth and prosperity is generated.
In 2AR, we will use our freedom to strive for abundance and balance in all areas — spirit, mind, heart, economics, beauty wisdom and education. Innovation and prosperity is not a function of one's desire to accumulate wealth, but instead the result of our innate need to develop our gifts and express our creativity.
In 2AR, we will establish a culture based on the universal values of the soul — generosity, unity, justice, truth, freedom, goodwill and beauty — and leave behind worship of celebrity and money as parts of our national adolescence.
In 2AR, we seek not to throw out what has worked for so long, but instead preserve our individual liberties as outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights to guarantee that all Americans can choose their faith and destiny.
In 2AR, we will defend this new culture with all means necessary, including diplomacy, values and the powerful application of authorized military force.
Practically speaking...
Well, that all sounds pretty good, but what does it mean? As a practical matter, in a 2AR world where our business practices, votes, actions, words and relationships are governed by the virtues of the higher, true Self:
- Bankers wouldn't want to make loans that they knew could never be repaid.
- People wouldn't buy things they knew they couldn't afford.
- Investors wouldn't fund companies that prey on human weakness.
- Political leaders would serve the public interest and work to unite people through common values and interests. They would protect people's liberties, health and prosperity, instead of placating the narrow selfish interests of those who fund their campaigns.
- Business leaders would work to identify talent and invest in their employees to ensure they have the skills needed to make them more valuable and earn a wage greater than subsistence.
- Employees would be the best customers for their employers' offerings.
- People would find joy and satisfaction in achievement of overcoming their limitations and unfolding their talents, skills and abilities in their chosen field of endeavor. They would invest time and money in developing their divinely endowed talents and abilities and they would find a culture and system that supported their efforts.
- Religious leaders would educate their followers on how to develop the divine parts of their nature and emphasize the universal values at the core of all faiths, instead of sowing the seeds of fear, hate and division.
If we and our leadership (since we become the leaders of tomorrow) had integrated hearts and minds operating in the light of our higher Selves — then what kind of world would we have? If the purpose of life was defined as a process for creatively unfolding your divinely endowed talents to serve your part of God's Plan, instead of such intense focus on the accumulation of material wealth, then what kind of world would we live in?
A better one.
In that Spirit, we true patriots declare ourselves independent of the lower nature, pledge to form a more perfect union between our hearts and minds and begin the revolution of the soul!
And, I tend to agree.
The American experiment in self-government is at a crossroads. Our history traveling the path of freedom leading us towards a more perfect union has been often difficult, rife with disagreement and at times outright combat. Now, we find ourselves standing at yet another moment in history ripe with the potential to define who we are as a people.
Past crises often served to bring us together. This time around the rapid succession of one crisis after another combined with our present sense of priorities has driven us apart. With commonsense, cooperation and compromise thrown away as quaint parts of civil society, our leadership and institutions are paralyzed to do what needs to be done.
And, it seems like just about nothing is getting done these days. It is no wonder that the calls for change are growing from all quarters. But, since most of us think of political revolutions as violent affairs, the word instills fear — fear of the unknown and worse, fear of each other. When asked, most talk show callers agreed that not only will there be revolution in the not too distant future, but it will also involve violence or breakdown in the rule of law. Okay, that does sound a bit frightening. Unfortunately, all that fear blinds us from seeing the full potential of this moment.
Appearances can be deceiving
I believe that there's a different kind of revolution brewing, unlike anything we've seen before and it has the potential to lead us to a better place.
Although many people of different political sensibilities genuinely want to make things better, I find their so-called "revolutions" nothing more than imposing old ways of thinking or promoting ideologies that have already failed us. Passionate voices wanting genuine improvement call for their own brand of political solution, depending on their self (selfish?) interest — a step back to laissez-faire capitalism, more socialism, communism or some yet unknown utopian "ism." Heck, even anarchists are making a comeback.
If we pretend we're doctors examining our nation's economic, political and social health, our first rule should be to do no harm. As we look at our situation like a physician, we have to ask the question — it is "the system" that ills or is it us and the way that we think and feel? That's a key diagnosis we have to make before we can prescribe the right solution. Of course, there is no lack of partisans shouting over themselves trying to tell us what their "solution" is, which is of course to vote for them.
If you see today's problems in the pre-packaged binary terms of left versus right, red versus blue or rich versus poor, then that's because this war of words plays straight into the hands of those seeking to preserve the status quo. The current crop of politicos has neatly defined the problem as the "other guy" with their labels and fiery rhetoric. Too many of us believe it, which empowers our leaders (or followers as the case may be) to distract us from the real issues, enabling them to divide us and conquer. It is how they preserve the closed-loop system from which they derive their supply of cash flow and power. By casting Americans with different political sensibilities as having evil intent, they inflame emotions, which open checkbooks. It's a fear-anger-money and repeat business model that talk radio personality Bill Charles perfected and made him fantastically rich at the expense of national unity.
The truth is the politicians, executives and media commentators are so wrapped-up in their own symbiotic world of money, power and influence that they can't begin to see what needs to be done. Worse, they would never admit how powerless they truly are, because if they did you would close your checkbook and the game would be over.
While partisans bicker about "taking back" America from each and paralyze our institutions in the process, the growing forces of chaos on the outside are banging on the rusting gates of the empire. Indeed, a revolution is at hand, but of what kind?
The Second American Revolution is here!
Indeed, the Second American Revolution is at hand! But are you ready for it? If like the talk show callers you define revolution as a political solution, then I fear that you are not. The Second American Revolution starts in a very unlikely place and probably where you least expect it — it resides in you.
The Second American Revolution (2AR) is not one of ideology or politics. Instead, it is one of character and spirit. I believe the second American Revolution will be a spiritual one — not merely a change in the hearts and minds of the people, but a greater integration — a more perfect union — between them.
Adventurous personalities must be feeling let down at this point. A "spiritual" revolution, are you kidding me? Where's the guns!? Where's the risk, the fight!? We want to rise-up as the Founding Fathers did as modern patriots! We want to be heroes! We want glory!
If glory is what you seek, then unchain the glory of your true Self — the image of God in which you were minted before you came into this life. The ego and lower appetites have been running loose for too long. Stop worrying about what is wrong with everyone else and begin the revolution today where you have control — with you.
The more perfect union begins by integrating the heart with the mind to use the complementary strengths of both in harmony to develop new ideas, innovations and ways of thinking and living that can solve humanity's great many problems. Too many of us suffer from the spiritual illness of either the heart or the mind dominating the other, which creates conflict not only in ourselves, but in our families, politics, businesses and societies.
The mind is a powerful tool for analyzing and solving problems, but de-coupled from the heart, it can turn into a monster driven by its own self-importance and ego. Left to its own devices, the mind has the capacity to rationalize almost anything to justify the thoughts it created or those to which it is attracted. How many horrors and injustices have been committed for a so-called "logical" purpose? There are many highly intelligent and educated people on Wall Street, in board rooms, unions, schools, houses of worship, the halls of government and just sitting around the dinner table with very hard hearts. The place to where they have led us today is far from ideal. Our nation has plenty of smart people sorely lacking in wisdom.
An inclusive and open heart tells us where to go, how to act and what to say and do in harmony with the divine Plan, because it recognizes the supreme law from which all others are derived — the law of Love and unity. How many times must we learn this lesson? The heart is a pre-programmed spiritual gyroscope leading us back to the common destination that is our Father, but the heart alone lacks the mental horsepower to create a course to get us to our destination. The heart is a compass, but not the map.
And having a heart does not mean being a bleeding heart. A just society does not take a greedy share from those who have earned to give to the undeserved, ungrateful or self-destructive. Heartfelt people recognize the inherent unity of all Americans and the common destiny of all people. They want to build a culture, laws and systems that support the self-motivated development of individual potential for the benefit of us all, not just for exploitation. They are willing to be generous, to give and sacrifice some of their hard-earned gains — whether it is their time, prayer, expertise or money — from the society and system from which they have benefitted from so handsomely.
Without a heart, the mind is like a rider less horse running through the woods and without the mind the heart is a static bundle of good intentions. The Second American Revolution is about restoring balance between the two and eventually bringing them under the influence of the true Self.
If we honestly looked at the biggest problems confounding us today, I suspect we would attribute a good many of them to an imbalance, or even complete lack of union, between heart and mind. Just look around, I bet it won't take you too long to see where the lack of governing the lower self, the rider less horse, filled with its ego, appetites and selfish interests has run wild created our most pressing problems.
Declare Your Independence
Thomas Jefferson took the first step in the American Revolution by penning the Declaration of Independence. As the first step in the Second American Revolution, you and I have a declaration to make too and once we do this, then the fight really begins.
The Declaration of Independence for the Second American Revolution:
In 2AR we declare ourselves free from the lower self and slowly, patiently and persistently cleanse the personality of its ambitions, selfish desires and appetites to bring it under the will of the higher, true Self. We will strive to make our decisions, thoughts, words and actions represent the best of both our hearts and mind and we will bring them under the influence of our true Self — the image of God in which we were created before we came into this life.
In 2AR, the law of Love and unity will be recognized as the supreme law from which all other laws are derived. Humanity is One and we are all children of the same God. We will reject fundamentalist approaches, because any doctrine based on exclusivity can never be the answer to the problems that plague a diverse human race. We will let humility rule the day and leave final Judgment to the Almighty. In the meantime, we have work to do.
In 2AR, we will work to create, preserve and expand prosperity by investing in the development of our talents, abilities, skills and character through continuous education, training, observation and striving. We will invest in ourselves with our time, effort, money and make it easier for others to do the same. We will restore balance between human, financial and physical capital, the combination from which all real wealth and prosperity is generated.
In 2AR, we will use our freedom to strive for abundance and balance in all areas — spirit, mind, heart, economics, beauty wisdom and education. Innovation and prosperity is not a function of one's desire to accumulate wealth, but instead the result of our innate need to develop our gifts and express our creativity.
In 2AR, we will establish a culture based on the universal values of the soul — generosity, unity, justice, truth, freedom, goodwill and beauty — and leave behind worship of celebrity and money as parts of our national adolescence.
In 2AR, we seek not to throw out what has worked for so long, but instead preserve our individual liberties as outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights to guarantee that all Americans can choose their faith and destiny.
In 2AR, we will defend this new culture with all means necessary, including diplomacy, values and the powerful application of authorized military force.
Practically speaking...
Well, that all sounds pretty good, but what does it mean? As a practical matter, in a 2AR world where our business practices, votes, actions, words and relationships are governed by the virtues of the higher, true Self:
- Bankers wouldn't want to make loans that they knew could never be repaid.
- People wouldn't buy things they knew they couldn't afford.
- Investors wouldn't fund companies that prey on human weakness.
- Political leaders would serve the public interest and work to unite people through common values and interests. They would protect people's liberties, health and prosperity, instead of placating the narrow selfish interests of those who fund their campaigns.
- Business leaders would work to identify talent and invest in their employees to ensure they have the skills needed to make them more valuable and earn a wage greater than subsistence.
- Employees would be the best customers for their employers' offerings.
- People would find joy and satisfaction in achievement of overcoming their limitations and unfolding their talents, skills and abilities in their chosen field of endeavor. They would invest time and money in developing their divinely endowed talents and abilities and they would find a culture and system that supported their efforts.
- Religious leaders would educate their followers on how to develop the divine parts of their nature and emphasize the universal values at the core of all faiths, instead of sowing the seeds of fear, hate and division.
If we and our leadership (since we become the leaders of tomorrow) had integrated hearts and minds operating in the light of our higher Selves — then what kind of world would we have? If the purpose of life was defined as a process for creatively unfolding your divinely endowed talents to serve your part of God's Plan, instead of such intense focus on the accumulation of material wealth, then what kind of world would we live in?
A better one.
In that Spirit, we true patriots declare ourselves independent of the lower nature, pledge to form a more perfect union between our hearts and minds and begin the revolution of the soul!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
"Hope they make this book into a movie,....loads of action..." - Review for LIE MERCHANTS
I don't normally like to tout reviews by "anonymous," but this new review on BarnesandNoble.com in the NOOK store caught my eye.
On September 30, 2011, anonymous wrote on Barnes & Noble, "Great action. Hope they make this book into a movie,....loads of action. Great characters."
When I write, I typically think in scenes of a movie. Maybe that's not the best way to create a literary work of art, but as a visual thinker/learner, it works for me.
Thank you anonymous! If you like action, then all I can say is stay tuned for the sequel, Made In China!
On September 30, 2011, anonymous wrote on Barnes & Noble, "Great action. Hope they make this book into a movie,....loads of action. Great characters."
When I write, I typically think in scenes of a movie. Maybe that's not the best way to create a literary work of art, but as a visual thinker/learner, it works for me.
Thank you anonymous! If you like action, then all I can say is stay tuned for the sequel, Made In China!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
"...a believable, fast-paced thriller." - Review for LIE MERCHANTS
Andrew Long at Goodreads.com gave LIE MERCHANTS a new review.
What I appreciated most is that Long described LIE MERCHANTS as "...a believable, fast-paced thriller."
It is key that the story is perceived as believable, because LIE MERCHANTS is indeed meant to serve as a warning of how the various threads of the 2008 credit crisis, ensuing Great Recession, unrestrained corporate greed and the toxic mix of narcotics and militant Islam weave together to form a most unholy tapestry. The consequences of which have yet to fully play out in the "real world" and could be devastating.
The ebook is also intended to be the first in a trilogy illustrating Tom Worth's development from ordinary American to an extraordinary sacrificial hero by casting off the illusions the Lie Merchants have spun.
Thank you Andrew Long and stay tuned for the sequel!
What I appreciated most is that Long described LIE MERCHANTS as "...a believable, fast-paced thriller."
It is key that the story is perceived as believable, because LIE MERCHANTS is indeed meant to serve as a warning of how the various threads of the 2008 credit crisis, ensuing Great Recession, unrestrained corporate greed and the toxic mix of narcotics and militant Islam weave together to form a most unholy tapestry. The consequences of which have yet to fully play out in the "real world" and could be devastating.
The ebook is also intended to be the first in a trilogy illustrating Tom Worth's development from ordinary American to an extraordinary sacrificial hero by casting off the illusions the Lie Merchants have spun.
Thank you Andrew Long and stay tuned for the sequel!
Monday, September 5, 2011
mirror of joy...
I wish I was a child again. Not the innocent, weak and ignorant newborn, but the blank canvas uncluttered by a life of past wins, losses, regrets, failures and successes.
Sometimes, my emotions get the better of me. When they do, I find myself embarrassed or left feeling like a failure. It shouldn't be so surprising that letting negative emotions take over makes me feel less than human, but why does negativity even exist? Why do we feel "bad" sometimes? After thinking about it with the perspective that only time and experience can provide, it seems that some of the mystery was at least partially handed to me in an earlier time.
As a boy, my family would take vacations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known for their dramatic contrasts in elevation, terrain and unique plant, animal and mineral life. The Sierra Nevada range is home to Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes, both extraordinarily beautiful places.
I recall hikes we took to TJ Lake, located near tree line and sitting below the majestic Crystal Crag peak. Crystal Crag stood defiantly above the nearby landscape, brushing up against the sky at 10,300 feet above sea level, unscathed by the ancient glaciers that scraped away much of the surrounding terrain, which in their wake left beautiful valleys filled with trees, streams and wildlife. The waters of TJ Lake were so clear that I could see trout swimming deep below the surface. Small, slow moving, streams gently fed the lake from one end, sourced from the melting pure snowpack above. On the opposite end of the lake, another stream flowed out and down the hill, feeding other lakes below and creating a vibrant habitat for abundant ferns, pines, spruce, small animals and brightly colored birds. To me, TJ Lake was everything I had imagined of what the forest primeval would be like.
On one of our hikes to TJ Lake, we were having such a good time fishing, searching for frogs and drinking in the beauty, we didn't notice the sun set behind the rim above the lake. Darkness would be approaching soon and my parents decided it was time to head back to the trailhead on the opposite side. The alpine bowl in which the lake sat got darker by the minute as my father, mother, brother and I made our way back.
Just before heading into the trees and down the trail, something tugged at us, compelling us to turn around and get one last look at the lake and the rocky outpost of the towering crag. Our presence of mind to obey the call was rewarded by a striking view of the full Moon arcing across the indigo sky towards Crystal Crag. The Moon was reflected so perfectly in the still waters that I almost thought I was looking at two; as if I was standing on a distant planet orbited by dual satellites. Looking closer, the still and perfect waters formed a perfectly flat surface on which the Moon, emerging Milky Way and the entire cosmos were reflected, creating an image of infinite beauty here on Earth.
Over 30 years have passed since my feet tread the path at TJ Lake, but it is only now that I realize the full significance of that experience and how it illustrated the nature of our emotions. Our emotional body behaves very much like a mountain lake. When it is still and purified from negativity, the emotional body can reflect the beauty of the creation that surrounds us back into the world - to our families, friends, colleagues, spouses and children.
But, just like the lake, if the algae of greed and jealousy grow unfettered, they will clog the nourishing streams of joy from the Most High. Too much want and desire sucks the oxygen out of the water, killing the little fish of goodwill and positive relationships - things like smiles, handshakes and embraces. If I allow my emotional paradise to be polluted with toxic hate and revenge, then I poison the downstream environment, killing the budding aspirations, hopes and dreams of others. When I disturb the surface with ripples of irritation, waves of frustration and tides of anger and regret, my emotional lake is a poor reflecting pool for the Divinity that is all around us.
Fortunately, there's good news. We don't have to feel bad all the time!
When it is calm, my emotional mirror is free to reflect beauty and joy back into the world. By being detached, I can observe my emotions in a way that even though I still feel them, I am not controlled by them. When they do control me, it is like someone dropped a boulder into the waters, distorting the view and creating disharmony in my relationships. Every time I learn something new about what triggers a negative response, I grow stronger and each insight acts like a new, sturdy spruce tree on the lake's edge, protecting the surface from the sometimes violent winds of the mundane world.
Now, the legs of my soul are stronger, and I stand more confidently above my emotional lake as an observer, much like I once did as a boy at the real TJ Lake. As that boy, I will plant more trees to guard it against the powerful winds of materialism, desire, greed and ego. I will cleanse it from accumulated impurities and the trash that others have left on the trail.
With persistence, day after day, week after week, year after year, life after life, then indeed I will have purified my emotional lake, giving God a worthy reflecting pool here on Earth - a mirror of joy. And, if I look close enough into a purified nature, I can see my true self (and yours too!) - The Image of the Almighty in which I was created looking back at me.
Sometimes, my emotions get the better of me. When they do, I find myself embarrassed or left feeling like a failure. It shouldn't be so surprising that letting negative emotions take over makes me feel less than human, but why does negativity even exist? Why do we feel "bad" sometimes? After thinking about it with the perspective that only time and experience can provide, it seems that some of the mystery was at least partially handed to me in an earlier time.
As a boy, my family would take vacations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known for their dramatic contrasts in elevation, terrain and unique plant, animal and mineral life. The Sierra Nevada range is home to Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes, both extraordinarily beautiful places.
I recall hikes we took to TJ Lake, located near tree line and sitting below the majestic Crystal Crag peak. Crystal Crag stood defiantly above the nearby landscape, brushing up against the sky at 10,300 feet above sea level, unscathed by the ancient glaciers that scraped away much of the surrounding terrain, which in their wake left beautiful valleys filled with trees, streams and wildlife. The waters of TJ Lake were so clear that I could see trout swimming deep below the surface. Small, slow moving, streams gently fed the lake from one end, sourced from the melting pure snowpack above. On the opposite end of the lake, another stream flowed out and down the hill, feeding other lakes below and creating a vibrant habitat for abundant ferns, pines, spruce, small animals and brightly colored birds. To me, TJ Lake was everything I had imagined of what the forest primeval would be like.
On one of our hikes to TJ Lake, we were having such a good time fishing, searching for frogs and drinking in the beauty, we didn't notice the sun set behind the rim above the lake. Darkness would be approaching soon and my parents decided it was time to head back to the trailhead on the opposite side. The alpine bowl in which the lake sat got darker by the minute as my father, mother, brother and I made our way back.
Just before heading into the trees and down the trail, something tugged at us, compelling us to turn around and get one last look at the lake and the rocky outpost of the towering crag. Our presence of mind to obey the call was rewarded by a striking view of the full Moon arcing across the indigo sky towards Crystal Crag. The Moon was reflected so perfectly in the still waters that I almost thought I was looking at two; as if I was standing on a distant planet orbited by dual satellites. Looking closer, the still and perfect waters formed a perfectly flat surface on which the Moon, emerging Milky Way and the entire cosmos were reflected, creating an image of infinite beauty here on Earth.
Over 30 years have passed since my feet tread the path at TJ Lake, but it is only now that I realize the full significance of that experience and how it illustrated the nature of our emotions. Our emotional body behaves very much like a mountain lake. When it is still and purified from negativity, the emotional body can reflect the beauty of the creation that surrounds us back into the world - to our families, friends, colleagues, spouses and children.
But, just like the lake, if the algae of greed and jealousy grow unfettered, they will clog the nourishing streams of joy from the Most High. Too much want and desire sucks the oxygen out of the water, killing the little fish of goodwill and positive relationships - things like smiles, handshakes and embraces. If I allow my emotional paradise to be polluted with toxic hate and revenge, then I poison the downstream environment, killing the budding aspirations, hopes and dreams of others. When I disturb the surface with ripples of irritation, waves of frustration and tides of anger and regret, my emotional lake is a poor reflecting pool for the Divinity that is all around us.
Fortunately, there's good news. We don't have to feel bad all the time!
When it is calm, my emotional mirror is free to reflect beauty and joy back into the world. By being detached, I can observe my emotions in a way that even though I still feel them, I am not controlled by them. When they do control me, it is like someone dropped a boulder into the waters, distorting the view and creating disharmony in my relationships. Every time I learn something new about what triggers a negative response, I grow stronger and each insight acts like a new, sturdy spruce tree on the lake's edge, protecting the surface from the sometimes violent winds of the mundane world.
Now, the legs of my soul are stronger, and I stand more confidently above my emotional lake as an observer, much like I once did as a boy at the real TJ Lake. As that boy, I will plant more trees to guard it against the powerful winds of materialism, desire, greed and ego. I will cleanse it from accumulated impurities and the trash that others have left on the trail.
With persistence, day after day, week after week, year after year, life after life, then indeed I will have purified my emotional lake, giving God a worthy reflecting pool here on Earth - a mirror of joy. And, if I look close enough into a purified nature, I can see my true self (and yours too!) - The Image of the Almighty in which I was created looking back at me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)