Global Faith

2013-11-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

Major 2013 Announcement:
Light from Above: Sacred Scriptures for the 21st Century and Beyond, by Mark Ahavel, is under contract by Tate Publishing. It has been in production in 2013 preparing for this Second Edition to be published and distributed by Tate and their distributors (including Ingram) and get out into the bookstore chains as early as early 2014.
See the new cover below (PDF file).

And please follow Brother Mark on Twitter as GlobalFaith4U. He is planning on tweeting a majority of this book, verse by verse, starting today, all the way through 2014. This book is such a blessing, will be a blessing to millions. You must get a copy currently available from Amazon.com (print-on-demand order or in Kindle form) and then the Tate Publishing edition soon.

Please contact me for any questions via email: mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com.

Brother Mark

Light From Above: Sacred Scriptures for the 21st Century book

2012-11-30T16:48:00.001-08:00

Dear Fellow Friends of Faith,

The waited-for book is finally out, the book I worked on all summer 2012. God so blessed me with a rich, and shall I humbly say, amazing text! I never thought I was possible of writing such a text as this. It will bless millions of people, IF they read it. Get your copy of the book. Do not to miss out on its blessings. There is a limited supply that I have printed locally.

The book is available from Amazon.com in book form and in Kindle form.

Sacred Scriptures for the 21^st Century and Beyond, Mark Ahavel

ISBN: 978-1480047082

It is also available on CreateSpace eStore

Through Amazon, it is also available for libraries and academic institutions.

You may also request the book directly from by emailing Brother Mark:

mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com.

The author’s first book signing was in Barnes and Noble store, Tallahassee, FL, Saturday November 10, 2012.

Now for the highlights of the book. Below, you will find a description of this amazing book, and several excerpts. After getting a taste of this book, I am sure you will want to order a copy for yourself and others.

Book Description
This book is truly designed to be a complete sacred Scriptures from cover to cover, 386 pages, with the following sections: Opening Versicles, Divine Narrative, Prophecy and Prayer, Poetry and Psalms, and Wisdom and Didactic/Teaching, and concluding Exhortations. The book is abundant in highlighting universal truths from beginning to end, and yet all brought afresh to today’s world. The Narrative captures the voice of a sacred story teller. It tells the untold story before the creation of the universe, God creating the heavenly Advisers and Angels, then the story of the creation of the universe, and the natural and universal stories of humankind. The Prophecy section captures the voice of prophecy, all fresh prophecies for our age. The Poetry and Psalms section follows with all new material also written by the author. Then the largest section, Part IV, The Wisdom and Didactic section follows. The voice of this section is from a religious teacher, a gifted contemporary sage, teaching many disciples, addressed to the global audience. It contains teachings on many topics beginning with God, to faith, to the end of the world and Heaven and Hell. The Scriptures portion of this book ends with a final Exhortation section. What follows then are some postscripts and appendixes including an Overview of the Beliefs Expressed in these Scriptures, an Interpretation Guide for these Scriptures, the author’s biography, the author’s story of writing the book, additional comments on the book, and Sources Consulted. This book is truly very unique, relevant, and contemporary for today's readers, religious and those interested but not necessarily religious. One of the main purposes of this book is global peace by a new text, based on the realization that some sacred Scriptures of the past, while containing so much good, have also sowed some violence at least interpreted so by many. This book exudes with peace toward a unity of understanding among various peoples of faith. It is written from a monotheistic perspective yet with a tolerant and loving attitude for all peoples of various faith traditions. This book is a must read for all. It is inspirational, devotional, and educational.

The author is an Adjunct Professor of Religion who has been teaching the World Religions course in the Humanities department in a college the last few years. The inspiration for writing this book came years before teaching the world religions course, as he explains in his story of writing the book in an appendix.

Book Excerpts

From the Opening Versicles:

God, not merely the God of Jerusalem or Haifa, not merely the God of Mecca or Medina…and not merely the God of Rome or Rizvan, or any other sacred place on earth, but the global God…who through the ages has been enlightening millions of human souls around the world….p. 1*

The voice of these Scriptures is a burgeoning human voice of millions whose souls, hearts, and minds in whom this truth of a global God resonates and in whom have become more conscious in the 21^st century. p. 6

From the Narrative section:

God has blessed every fiber and space of His creation, and has placed within the soul of human the capacity to receive His love and blessings. p. 52

God gave humans ten fingers, and these ten are a sign of the ten gifts and faculties the God has given to humans which also make them unique and the crown of the earthly creation: intelligence, will, conscience, creativity, imagination, intuition, spirit, character, virtue, and love. Without these, a human is not a human being that God has intended. Together, the five sacred gifts and these ten faculties gifts unpack the meaning of “made in the image of God. And together, they make humans His special creatures among the earthly creation. p. 52

Moreover, God endowed humans to ascent to several virtues on their path to spiritual maturity and nobility. The five main virtues are chastity, charity, kindness, humility, and patience. p. 52

From the Prophecy and Prayer section:

The prophets of the blessed past called their peoples to meet God of their faith, each in their appointed consecrated places. These places, in time, each became sacred, each in their own homelands of origin. p. 64

My Spirit has revealed to many souls through the ages…I brought light to Moses, Zoroaster, Isaiah, Jesus, and Muhammad. I also brought light to Gautama Buddha, Laotzu and Confucius, who each received it through the filter of their culture and understanding. p. 86

From the Poems and Psalms section:
God Can Speak

God can speak through theophanies,

God can speak through philosophies.

God can speak through prophetic voices,

God can speak through human choices.

God can speak through cosmic rays,

God can speak through the Ancient of Days.

God can speak through heavens light,

God can speak through earth’s delights.

God can speak though whirlwinds,

God can speak through caves and dens.

God can speak from East to West, from North to South,

God can speak even through a donkey’s mouth! p. 116

In the Garden of God

In God’s Garden is a place of light,

In God’s garden are revelations of delight.

In God’s Garden of inspiration,

Is your truth, tranquility, and revelation.

In the garden Heaven and Earth meet,

A snippet of Paradise lays out on a sheet.

In the garden is fullness of delights,

Sun and pools, and flowing fountains,

Flowers and foliage dazzling in the light.

In the garden wafts fragrant aromas,

Of gardenias, honeysuckle, and rose… p. 117

From the Wisdom and Didactic (Teaching) section:

From the Mountain

On this mountain, you all have gathered, beloved children of God, from so many nations, tribes, races, and languages. We all have God in common. Together we hold the common belief in the eternal Sovereign Supreme God of the universe who is mysterious and powerful, to be feared, yet He loves us unimaginably.

You have come in the Spirit of truth to receive a greater understanding of the truths of Scriptures past and present. p. 129

The Oneness and Unity of Reality

From most ancient of days to the present, O learned ones, peoples’ beliefs and worldviews were profoundly marked by this fundamental understanding of the oneness of Reality. From thousands of years ago, how far back in time we know not, but human beings in most cultures perceived that somehow there was some unified invisible power that held all things in common, from Native Americans to ancient Asians, Africans, etc. And this deep perception from within the soul of humans, to all the reality around, did develop into clearer, more concrete beliefs. Philosophers would later call this belief: monism. Virtually all cultures have manifested at least some aspect of monism which sees one fundamental reality behind all things on Earth, the seas, and the heavens above. Polytheists, pantheists, monotheists, and even non-theists evidenced aspects of monism. For the non-theist religion and philosophy of Taoism, the Tao is that one fundamental reality, p. 144

*The page numbers are from the Amazon.com version. The locally printed version has a total of 318 pages instead of 386, reduced by the change of font size from 12 pt. to 11pt. But it is the same book otherwise.

Plans are to distribute this book globally, including getting it translated into many languages. But currently seeking reviewers and getting it distributed to the major bookstore chains in the U.S. If you are an editor and would like to review this book, please contact me.

And for anyone, for any questions or comments in general or specifically about this book, please contact me.

You can through this blog site or message to: mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com.

God richly bless you,

Brother Mark

Global Faith Movement, Ministry, or Org.

2012-07-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Faith around the world,

During this time, this season of my life, I am focused on the Global Faith book series to which I committed myself at the beginning of 2010 thereby completing the first book in the series and self publishing it by the end of November the same year: Global Prayers for All People: Various Occasions, Many Faith Traditions. The exciting news this week is that I finally got this book listed on Amazon.com. It is currently available immediately on Kindle, and the print version should be ready for order soon. If you would like to check the listing out on Amazon.com, click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/8xfsqum

I am currently working on the second book of the Global Faith series. I am boldly calling it "Sacred Scriptures" in the new title, not out of presumption or arrogance but out of a strong sense of faith that this book will be considered a sacred text by other people perhaps in my generation and in the generations to come. I believe God's Spirit has poured and flowed through my thoughts, and given me wonderful words to share with the world. All of it is intended in the spirit of peace. While I believe that portions of a spirit of prophecy may be found in the book (such as in the Wisdom and Prophecy section), I refrain though from lifting myself up in claiming to be a prophet to the world, and likewise, as I'll state in the Author's comments, that I don't make claim to a full inspiration in the sense of the Biblical Christian doctrine on the Bible. In the least, it will be a blessed religious read for the world, if only devotionally.

In mentioning my focus on my Global Faith book series during this season of life leads me to the next discussion of: Global Faith Movement and Ministry Verses Global Faith Organization. In 2009 and 2010, I had planned soon to create the non-profit organization to seek funding in support of my Global Prayer efforts (http://globalprayingservants.com/) and the Global Faith book series. I now see it may be another few years before the setting up a nonprofit organization. But the Global Faith Movement and Ministry continues! And I am setting up a business name to publish my books, with the exception of IF I obtain a publisher for book #2.

May you be blessed, may your needs be met, may you deeply sense the Sacred and regularly lift up your prayers to the Source, believing, and may your good dreams comes true!

Brother Mark

2012-07-18T18:23:00.003-07:00

Have you taken the Global Faith Pledge yet? You'd be surprised. Its so basic and broad, looking for the universals in humanity, such that virtually all people with faith in God could accept. I recommend you to print and sign your pledge and keep it for your own record. I encourage you to email me too to let me know you have taken the pledge. Brother Mark Email: mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com.

1. I believe in the innate dignity of every human being, regardless of race

2. I believe in the mutual respect of all human beings regardless of particular creed, faith, religion.

3. I believe in having a basic religious tolerance of all others whose faith or religion may be different from mine.

4. I believe in a freedom of faith that is foremost a spiritual freedom, and the freedom to practice one's own faith, recognizing that some peoples live in countries that restrict their religious freedom in the temporal realm, but blessed are all those who are spiritually free.

5. I believe that each person should seek truth for him or herself, to know it themselves in their own beings, and that they should be free to seek and study in their spiritual journey of life.

6. I feel each person should be guided by their own conscience and not forced to go against their own conscience.

7. I will strive to be moral in my conduct at home and in the community and public. I will strive to do the right thing, and to be an example of good living to my family, to young people, and before the community.

2012-07-18T18:15:00.004-07:00

Global Faith Ministry encourages humanity toward mutual respect and understanding among faith traditions, world religions, in the spirit of peace and the Golden Rule toward spiritual maturity globally, through blogging, writing, speaking, dialoging, gathering, and engaging in ministry.

Global Faith Work Updates

2012-03-06T07:06:00.009-08:00

The purpose of Global Faith Org is ecumenical, to build understanding among peoples of various faiths. It is a-political, NOT about trying to unite any religious groups into a political force. It is the founder's firm belief from studying historic religions that have conflicted with nations and countries, that a primary factor was because the religion became politically powerful and the existing temporal powers felt their own power threatened. True religion excels and shines where it is meant to shine: inspiring humanity to the realm of transcendent and building the spiritual nobility of humans: faith, love, hope, peace, kindness, etc. Global Faith Org works to build peace among fellow humans through faith education and must remain apolitical in temporal secular affairs. Global Faith focuses on encouraging humanity toward mutual respect and understanding among faith traditions, world religions, in the spirit of peace and the Golden Rule toward spiritual maturity globally, through blogging, writing, speaking, dialoging, gathering, and engaging in ministry, and creating a network of "Global Faith" peoples who also are "ambassadors" of Global Faith.

Dear Fellow People of Faiths Near and Far,
Though you may not find regular (e.g. weekly or monthly) posts on this blog (but you can follow my more regular Tweets on Twitter, GlobalFaith4U), it does not mean that I am not active in my work and mission of Global Faith education. My World Religions course I teach at a college keeps me fairly busy, continually studying more myself in each religion to increase my understanding, and creating new strategies to engage my students instead of just continually lecturing at them.

My number 1 goal for this year is to complete the next book in the Global Faith Series. I had it titled "Global Faith: Universal and Existential." But I am re-titling it "Sacred Scriptures for the 21st Century and Beyond," because it has been planned from the first to become a sacred text, not by sheer individual human will fiat, but by a vision of the Spirit's leading, I believe, that it will eventually become a sacred text for many of various nations and cultures. It will be a blend of many thought patterns from various previous sacred texts of the ages brought into the current age AND fresh material that has come to me, I believe by the Spirit of God. It will all be woven together in such a way as perhaps creating a beautiful sacred literary masterpiece, which in some respects I do not even feel qualified to attempt. But all wonderful thoughts that have come to me, I am compelled out of sheer goodness, out of love of God and fellow human beings, to set all this in writing and publish for the world. Few in history have undertaken the task of writing a text that became a sacred text. I am very humbled at this prospect, but all that has been given me, that which as already been written down on paper with pen (I just need to organize and type it up) I truly feel that this text will be deemed worthy of being called a "sacred" text.

My students are on spring break this week, which gives me some extra time to get back to this sacred project. But before I engaged in it, yesterday, Monday, I first wanted to write "Guiding Thoughts and Questions for Visiting Houses of Worship for the Purpose of Studying the Various Faiths/Religions. I conceived it simply as a few page handout for leading or facilitating local groups to visit and then discuss afterwards to increase their learning of the various faiths. For years I have been planning to engage the local community in this way. After I wrote up the engaging thoughts and questions, I decided to put it into a booklet format which will be easier for the participants for carrying in and out of the places they visit. Therefore then, with this format and title and copyright symbol and date, I sent it off to a local printers. And I submitted a Public Service Announcement for the local newspaper for this new local group. It is open to all: non-student life-long learners and students alike.

This should even become a model for the Global Faith Movement, an important method of engaging the communities in faith education. My model is that groups form from those who respond to the announcement(s). The visits could be once a month or more than that. I presume that more than one person will be interested, thus a "group." After the house of worship visit, the groups should meet to discuss with each other, going through the questions in the Guide, sharing some of their notes (there is space between the questions for writing notes). The discussion is also an important part of the learning process. Even if a large group of 10 people visit any particular "house," each one will have a different experience. So you learn from others as well as from your own experience too. And I recommend the group to meet and discuss soon after the visit, within the next few days. Meeting right after the visit, such as for lunch or brunch may be ideal, while the experience is most fresh.

This Guide with is group use plan, designed to be used at virtually any house of worship or sacred interior space by anyone who is studying faiths more, can become a new model for people studying faiths through visiting actual gathering places. The "Guiding Thoughts and Questions for Visitors to Houses of Worship for...Study..." is a total of 12 pages long (in this booklet format) including an introduction with pre-visit thoughts to prepare for the visit. The main portion leads the learner to reflect on all the main aspects of the experience in the interior space: the lighting/ambiance, the physical setting and design, the images/paintings/symbols (if any) to the rituals of both the leaders and people gathered for the service, to the deeper meaning, the theological and philosophical beliefs behind both the elements in the service and the surroundings. This Guide will sure be a help to many. You can request a copy or a number of copies for a small donation to cover the cost of printing and shipping, by emailing me.

Guiding Thoughts and Questions

for Visitors to Houses of Worship

for the Purpose of Studying the Beliefs of Various Faiths/ Religions©

Mark Ahavel

Global Faith Org. Tallahassee, FL

Global Faith: A Model for the 21st Century

2011-10-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Faith,
I am very pleased to announce the near completion of the next book (actually booklet) in the Global Faith book series: Global Faith: A Model for the 21st Century. You may go ahead and request your copies for a suggestion donation of $5 (US Dollars) by emailing me at: mark.globalfaith@gmail.com. It will soon be going to the printers.

This book summarizes and articulates the Global Faith I am defining, and presenting it as a model for people of faith, religion buffs, scholars, leaders, and common ordinary folks, globally.

This excerpt in an overview of the overview of this Model:

Worldview: Theistic
Belief System Category: Monotheistic, universal/global
Mutual Respect and Tolerance for all people, whatever creed, ethnicity, race, nationality, or gender
Non-Profit
Faith-based
Non-Sectarian
Not sponsored by any establish Religion or religious Institution
A-Political
International - Multicultural
Decentralized
Non-Proselytizing
Equality of all Humans of all ethnicities, races, genders, creeds, & socio-economic status
Heart for Service and Ministry
Made up Volunteers
Global Faith: A Movement
A Caring community

Each of the qualities, characteristics in the above list all contribute to the defining of this Global Faith and Global Faith Movement. Each of them are explained and expounded upon in the book. The book also includes Vision and Mission statements, and a near comprehensive list of values, highlighting some main ones are: human dignity, mutual respect, tolerance, love, and peace.

This simple and yet profound global faith booklet is a must read for all peoples of faith and those who are searching for the meaning of faith.

Global Faith: The Place of Meeting God

2011-10-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

This article is a preview from the not-yet-published book: Global Faith: Universal and Existential, the flagship book of the Global Faith Book series which is scheduled to be published in 2012. But this article is included in the new book, about to be published, the second one in the book series: Global Faith: A Model for the 21st Century.

The Place of Meeting God

The prophets of the blessed past called the peoples to meet God of their faith each in their appointed consecrated places which in time became sacred, each in their homeland of origin.

The great Hebrew prophet Isaiah prophesied, "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ' Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD'" (Isaiah 2:2-3a NKJV).

Some pious souls interpret this passage literally and look forward to its fulfillment in a literal Jerusalem. Yet other pious or faithful or scholarly souls interpret this passage spiritually-metaphorically. This latter realistically understands the sheer difficulty if not virtual impossibility of God's global people of faith traveling to Jerusalem, not just once in their lifetime, but perhaps many times as the text may suggest. Better it seems this spiritual-metaphorical interpretation of this prophecy that speaks to all God's people of faith globally, wherever they may live, even Global Faith peoples in these latter days who come to God in spirit and in truth and figuratively to His holy mountain, wherever we hear His words, His teachings, receive them into our hearts and souls, submit our wills to Him, and worship Him in all His glory and majesty.

God foresaw our day, our global age, and a growing movement of Global Faith peoples. God has brought a new age through His holy Son Jesus who proclaimed, "...neither on this mountain [Gerizim in Samaria] nor in Jerusalem [Mt. Zion] will you worship Me but in spirit and truth they shall worship Me" (John 4:21, 23 NKJV). Souls of faith, let God's Spirit inscribe these words into your precious hearts and minds. Notice that this speaks of NO CENTRAL place on earth where God's people meet God and worship Him. There is no geographic latitude nor longitude, but speaks of a spiritual Zion of longevity, where the sacred meeting place is the meeting of the Divine and the human being through his or her soul, wherever their bodies are physically, locally. In the roads of the well known Christian rock song by Petra, "the road to Zion's in my heart."

The believers of Judaism have the Wailing Wall, Christians have the Church of the Holy Sepulchre also in Jerussalem, and Muslims have Mecca, the Sikhs have Golden Temple in Amritsar, and Baha'is have the Shrine of the Bab (international Shrine, Haifa, Israel), but the prophetic scripture above from John's Gospel (claimed to have come from Jesus) looks to our day when and where people of faith are not bound to attend one specific sacred spot on earth-obligatorily-for the meeting place of God, for worship and prayer. The great Hebrew prophet Isaiah (most scholars refer to this section as Deutero-Isaiah) prophesied, "He is called God of the whole earth" (Isaiah 54:5d) and the prophetic scriptures speak through Solomon, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" (I Kings 8:27 NKJV).

Therefore, Global Faith does not seek to establish any central sacred place for the meeting of God and His people, but it is intent on remaining decentralized; and likewise it does not to establish even a central global organization or institution. Global Faith peoples do not stress over where to establish a central sacred spot on earth, where it should be, what country it should be located in, consequentially refraining from the potential engine of conflict with established religions or governments. Be let there be thousands of local assemblies of Global Faith peoples who can gather on a regular basis (for example, weekly), locally. Moreover, let it be permitted that Global Faith local communities associate with each other, but remaining decentralized. And let them even establish regional shrines that they may make pilgrimages, either peacefully securing agreement with representatives of existing shrines or establishing new shrines. Global Faith peoples may peacefully worship, pray, and/or meditate in many and various religious settings. But peacefully seek official permission if groups of Global Faith communities want to gather at shrines/houses/temples/churches/gardens or grounds of existing religious institutions or organizations.

Global Faith Org Vision and Mission Statement

2011-10-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Faith, globally,
I ended up posting a Global Faith Values Statement in a prior post before first trumpeting the Vision and Mission statement, now, here below. Not only is it fitting but indeed essential for every organization to have a vision and mission statement (currently "organization" is used in a loose sense, since the Org has not yet been formally formed).

Vision Statement:
That people as individuals and as humanity as a whole, globally, grow in mutual respect and understanding of other faith traditions, and that people individually and humanity as a whole grow more spiritually mature.

Mission Statement:
Global Faith Org encourages, inspires, educates humanity toward mutual respect and understanding among peoples of various faith traditions, world religions, in the spirit of peace, grace, and the Golden Rule and toward spiritual maturity globally, through blogging, writing, speaking, dialoging, gathering, engaging in ministry, and fellowship.

Global and Eternal Peace to you,
Brother Mark

To Be Human is to Believe

2011-08-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

To be human is to believe.

Global Faith Overview

2011-07-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of faith, spirituality, and religion (and those curious or interested but may not consider themselves spiritual or religious).
Thank you for your interest in Global Faith. Below is a quick overview of Global Faith, basic definition and main values.
Here I will give an overview of a definition and Values and highlight again the Global Faith Pledge. Look for more to come!

Global Faith Defined
Faith: In internal sense which connects all people who have alittle or much faith not in external sense like an established world religion or institution.
Faith is a connecting factor which helps to unite all people, even if the object of
their faiths differ
Global, International, but Apolitical: The emphasis is that Global Faith peoples are citizens of heaven or a universal or global spiritual kingdom that does not compete with any earthly kingdom or nation, recognizing that there is no political system or order of government on earth that is perfect. We stive to live peacefully in whatever system we find ourselves.
International Multicultural: There are no limits. Global Faith peoples are everywhere in various cultures, in all nations, and is therefore diverse and multicultural
Monotheistic: Most Global Faith poeples are monotheists, revering only the Supreme God Creator of the Heavens and Earth, but recognize other children of God who do not see God as a personal Being but have a monistic impersonal understanding, and we all strive to live in peace with each other, which also includes our polytheistic and animistic brothers and sisters of humanity.

Global Faith Values
Faith
Life
Love
Compassion
Kindness
Community
Univerality
Global Consciousness
Unity in Diversity
Tolerance
Freedom
Knowledge, Wisdom, Education, Enlightenment
Righteousness

The Global Faith Pledge (see below: November 13, 2010 post)

Global Faith Overview and Some Highlights

2011-06-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of faith and those who are seeking or those unsure, thank you for reading this article and for your interest in Global Faith. You are invited to followthis Global Faith blog.

It this article, we define "Global Faith," highlight some previous points made in earlier posts, and highlight some new points not yet stated.

So what is "Global Faith" or how do we mean it? I know it may conjure up immediate concerns among many Bible-believing Christians today, many of whom have been taught the interpretation of Bible prophecies regarding the End Times that there will be a world order, one world government, and a one world religion. These prophesies speak of such things as the rise of the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, and even cataclysmic events. These Biblical prophecies are enough to put some fear in the hearts of most people. "Global Faith" therefore may bring up such connotations to them, thinking that it sounds like it is in alignment with such End Time forces.

But fellow believers, rest assured, Global Faith is not in league with nor aligning toward any such thing as a one-world government or religion; neither does Global Faith have a goal to unite the religions of the world together as ONE, or create a one-world religion consequentially controlling the world in a certain way. No, that is far from my intent. Instead, Global Faith is both heavenly and earthly; the earthly portion is the "global" which highlights the realm and fact of internal faith in human beings living on earth; the heavenly is the heavenly or "eagles" perspective of faith, or rather, from God's vantage point. The "Faith" component of Global Faith is meant in the internal sense, faith in the human heart, mind, and soul, which is in every human being who has as least some faith in the heavenly. Global Faith operates in the spirit of spiritual understanding and peace among human beings at a spiritual level, irregardless of what one's country's form of government it possesses, in the spirit of Jesus who said, according to John's Gospel, "My kingdom is not of this world" (Jn. 18:36).

More can be read on the internal verses external aspects of faith in the earlier post June 12 post on Faith, Purpose, and Image/Design of this blog or the blog:
http://dignityworld7.worldpress.com. Regarding the June 12 post on this blog, I realized after the fact that I did not make clear about the licensing of the Global Praying Hands (trademark registered) image used also on this blog. We do have license from the maker and owner of the Global Praying Hands image(s) to use in this blog and the Global Faith Org websites.

Now one comment about the Global Faith Pledge (also posted below). I look forward to many people, thousands (millions even better!) taking this pledge as it goes out online and across the globe. If you would like to help in this endeavor, please let me know.

Now on to the next point. Here I simply want to highlight the value that faith is quintessential. Of all the good values of Global Faith: faith, respect, dignity, love, goodness, honor, peace, all important they are, I am setting faith as the first, the prima, the quintessential. Without faith, such as in a good God who cares about them, do individual human beings have any hope in this world? Do not some without faith feel that what they are left with is meaningless and non-existence when they take their last breath? And what positive motivation do they without faith have in moral living and doing good to others? These are simply thoughts to ponder.

Next I want to highlight the two main goals of Global Faith. The first goal is educational: to educate humanity on the many good and positive things about faith, spirituality, and religion, the light and benefits. Similarly, teaching of the various religions from a non-sectarian position serves the purpose of building understanding in human beings. The final goal is the spiritual goal of building peace in fellow human beings of various religions (and no religions), and therefore working on global peace in the tangible realm, even with national leaders, though we do not endorse any one religion or form of government.

This brings me to the final highlight in this article, a vital and necessary component toward understanding and peace among fellow human beings: tolerance, religious tolerance (but which spills over into social, cultural, and ethnic tolerance). I am going to define and explain tolerance in a way that should be loud and clear, but unfortunately, very few voices had made it thus clear. I connect the topic of tolerance to human dignity.

I begin with what I'm calling the "old tolerance" understanding from the dictionary, using Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary meaning 2. of tolerance (the religious use) "sympathy... for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own." Indeed, I have had a few of my religion students say, "Why should I be expected to accept or believe their (other peoples') beliefs which is not my own?!" Is this not the natural voice and cry of most humans? I assert, on the basis of human dignity, that it is indeed not of human dignity to expect any human to have to accept the religion, creed, or faith of another person or group just because that person or group is now living in our country, community, or neighborhood. Faith should never be forced nor should it be imposed against peoples wills.

So this distinction I make and thus call it "new tolerance" is that no one should be expected to accept any other persons faith, period. But there is social, cultural, and ethnic tolerance of any who are different that us who may be now living in our community, or we find as neighbors or co-workers. Moreover, we should accept them as persons. For society to be healthy, that has people of different religions, ethnic groups, etc, there does need to be tolerance for the fact of co-existing in the community and living orderly and in peace. And there should be religious tolerance to the degree that we accept the FACT that others hold to different religions and faiths than our own, but knowing that we do not have to believe what they believe. So I call this the "new toleration" since there has been plenty of confusion on this point over the years that still has not been cleared up yet.

Look forward to more insightful points to come.
Yours in blessing and peace,
Brother Mark
mark dot globalfaith at gmail.com

Global Prayers For All People New Book: Excerpts

2010-11-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Dear All, friends of faith and all who are not sure of their faith:
Below are many excerpts from the new book just released: Global Prayers for all People, the first in a Global Faith series, by Rev. Paul Wheelhouse, copyright 2010. You will be sure to want a copy of this book. So please request your copy by emailing us at mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com (in email format) for a suggested donation of $9.99 for the book and $2 for shipping). We soon hope to get the Order page on our websites updated to offer the book there too (www.globalprayinghands.com and www.globlaprayingservants.com). We are exploring other book markets too to make the book available to wider audiences.

Human beings of faith, throughout history, have come to the understanding of a universality of God, their God, in this universe we live in, more than ever before, that there is one Divine Essence, but which has been filtered down to various cultures in different names. More and more people in our times have concluded that many of these expressions are conveying the same God or Divine Essence. Introduction, p. 8

…I find more and more people are thinking and speaking with a universal understanding of God. We, humanity today, have a more global awareness than ever before, throughout human history.
Introduction, p. 8

This book does not intend to replace any religion’s prayer books nor is it trying to unite the religions of the world together. It merely has sought universal expressions in prayers and compiled them, in the name of God, as we each one understands. Introduction, p. 8

On Part III (Occupational Prayers) It makes a concerted effort to reach out to the human strata globally, from poor farmers in third world countries to executives in first world countries, from heads of states to janitors. Introduction, p. 10

On Part IV (Prayers by Religious Faith/ Tradition) This section continues to help carry the Light of universal awareness forward, for the benefit of a larger human reception. Introduction, p. 11

Combining therefore Parts I through IV in this one volume, this prayer book is therefore a blend of ancient and modern prayers, of practical individual prayers and global intercessory prayers, and of beautiful expressions of prayers from several world religions expressing universality. Introduction, p. 11

The universal ideal behind this book may be traced back to ancient sages upon whom the
concept of a universal God dawned or a single cohesive essence of the universe. This understanding, the light of this universal chord, began as a soft beat upon a drum. After millennia, the beat has grown to a melodious crescendo sound traveling around the globe. Introduction, p. 11

This concise prayer primer is great for anyone, from those brand new to the subject of prayer, to those seasoned pious practitioners. Concise Prayer Primer, p. 14

Prayer is a universal and perhaps the most fundamental spiritual language and disposition of humanity, individual souls getting in touch with the Divine. Concise Prayer Primer, p. 14

Yet, through the ages, prayer has manifest itself not merely in the form of written prayers, but framed within sacred scriptures, embedded in liturgies, trumpeted in hymns and songs, and carried on the vibrations of verbal chants and non-verbal tones. Together, a rich faith tapestry has been created historically and globally. Concise Prayer Primer, p. 14

Human beings can pray anywhere, from indoor homes to outdoor places and gardens, from sacred places to secular places, from quiet closets to noisy airports and train or bus stations, from waiting rooms in doctor’s offices or hospitals to public restrooms. Concise Prayer Primer, p. 16

The expressions of prayer are so many. There are expressions of adoration, praise, thanksgivings, joys, and expressions of hurts, pains, and sufferings, and grief from losses. There are expressions which flow out of times of abundance and there are expressions which fly out of times of needs and desperate moments. Concise Prayer Primer, p. 18

May I be quick to forgive but slow to anger. May I be respectful and patient with all others, myself included, and live today by the Golden Rule, “do unto others as I would want them to do to me. Morning Prayer, p. 20

O God of Light, illumination, and revelation, God of all knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, illumine my mind as I delve into your word. Prayer at beginning of Studying Sacred Scripture, p. 23

O God of all Glory, Majesty, Dominion, Power, Honor, and Virtue, I come before you this sacred hour to worship you. Prayer at beginning of Worship, p. 24

O God, who has created the family and knit humans into families, bless my family and children with your provisions, presence, assurance, grace, mercy, and love. For Blessing My Family and Children, p. 32

O God, Source of all things, generous Provider, I give thanks to you for your mercy, grace, compassion, and love. I also give thanks to you for all your provisions…. General Prayer of Thanksgiving A, p. 37

After thousands of years and hundreds of generations of human families and life on earth, we post-modern peoples are still discovering how important the basic family structure and life with care and emotional support is for the well being, mental wholeness, to individuals and therefore to society as a whole. Ancient sages and philosophers, even those who are not notably religious, discovered these truths. Cause the people of the world today to rediscover this truth…. Prayer for Families, p. 42

Cause a new vision of the family in the 21st century to be birthed around the world in which each family in every neighborhood and community is seen as a positive asset, and each contributes, despite the failures and “skeletons in the closets.” May a new wholeness be birthed in every land and on every island of simple, caring love for each other all through life…. Prayer for Families, p. 42-43

May love abound in this world, on every continent, in every region, in every city, town, village, hamlet, and campsite. Let every human be touched deeply by your love, and see other human beings through your loving eyes, not through the eyes of their primordial instincts…. Prayer for Love, p. 46

Pour out your blessing of faith on the people of the community. May all the young be thoroughly educated to prepare for their lives as productive citizens in schools were faith is valued along side intellect, reason, and scientific study, that faith and reason are not seen as diametrically opposed, but complementary. Prayer for Blessing Community, p. 54

We pray all the more earnest for all financial leaders in the world to seek all the wisdom from your ocean of prosperity, and guide them in their efforts and decisions…. Prayers for Prosperity, p. 54

There is no greater, O lover of our souls. None can’t stop your love and grace to humanity. Your invincible Spirit penetrates behind thick walls of oppression, having heard the souls of precious ones who cry out to you. Prayer for Personal, National, Political, and Spiritual Freedom, p. 59

Great God, Shepherd of all Souls, Giver of good gifts, we thank and praise you for the many servants who have heard your Call and have been obedient to the Call, and who dedicated their lives to serve You in and through the gatherings of believers, as clerics, shepherds, pastors, priests, religious teachers, and related vocations. Prayer for Religious Leaders, p. 62

You are the ultimate caretaker, but you have placed humans on it to be the earth’s caretakers. You knew how in the carelessness of human beings, we would mess it up, pollute it physically and spiritually. But you, O Lord, have the power to recreate and make all things new. Prayer for the World, p. 64

O God, you are the God of all knowledge, wisdom, Light, and understanding. You desire all people of every class from the lowest to the highest, to be taught the knowledge, wisdom, and ways of God. Open doors of religious and spiritual learning to all humanity, male and female, to young and old, on every continent and on every inhabited island, through all means available….
Prayers for Enlightenment and Education of Humanity, p. 65

God who desires all souls perfect peace, blessing, bliss, and even eternal life in bliss, may I know your bliss in a more intimate and real way. Prayer for Bliss, p. 67

O Eternal God, Supreme Ruler over all kingdoms of earth and heaven, look with favor upon this land, my nation, and my countrymen. Give me the strength to lead the people, and cause me to lead rightly, justly, equitably. A Prayer By Those Who Serve in Public Leadership, p. 70

(See below for the image of the cover of the book. I am pleased with Angel's [Angelina] work.)
Rev. Paul (Mark)

Global Prayers for All People New Book

2010-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Dear friends of faith around the world:
I am pleased to announce the availability in print of the first book of the Global Faith Series which I have self-published. The title is: Global Prayers for All People: Various Occasions, Many Faiths, by Rev. Paul Wheelhouse. Its 117 pages and the retail price printed on the back cover is $12.95. But I am making it available through this blog site for a suggested donation of $10. It its planned also soon to be posted on the store/order page of http://www.globalprayinghands.com/ and http://www.globalprayingservants.com but this page is not fully functional at this time, which my developer is working on to restore. To request your copy, email us at mark dot globalfaith at gmail dot com (email format) with your name and mailing address. I'll ship the book to you in the mail, and email you a confirmation. If writing a check, make it out to Global Faith Org Ministry, or if you wish, you can make it out to the author's name, Rev. Paul Wheelhouse, and we will get it to the author, and mail to:
Global Faith Org Ministry
PO Box 11055
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1055
You may also want to add $3.oo for shipping (suggested total: $13).

Peace and blessed prayers be with you all!

The Global Faith Pledge

2010-11-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters of humanity, peoples of faith, of various Faiths, I present this proposed pledge for your consideration to affirm these truths and values that many people of earth have ascented to in this Age. While some of these statements begin as "I believe," this is not submitted as a creed to be accepted. They are mainly statements of value. I ask you to voice your affirmation of these truths saying "I agree," and emailing me at mark.globalfaith@gmail.com, or emailing at the same with your comments or disagreements, if any. By saying "I agree," is not saying you perfectly live up to these values. We fail every day to be as loving to other human beings as we should. Saying "I agree" is an aspiration of this as the way things should be. It does not mean that you are making some permanent committment that you cannot live up to.

The Global Faith Proposed Pledge

1. I believe in the innate dignity of every human being, regardless of race.

2. I believe in the mutual respect of all human beings regardless of particular creed, faith, religion.

3. I believe in having a basic religious tolerance of all others whose faith or religion may be different from mine.

4. I believe in a freedom of faith that is foremost a spiritual freedom, and the freedom to practice one's own faith, recognizing that some peoples live in countries that restrict their religious freedom in the temporal realm, but blessed are all those who are spiritually free.

5. I believe that each person should seek truth for him or herself, to know it themselves in their own beings,
and that they should be free to seek and study in their spiritual journey of life.

6. I feel each person should be guided by their own conscience and not forced to go against their own conscience.

7. I will strive to be moral in my conduct at home and in the community and public. I will strive to do the
right thing, and to be an example of good living to my family, to young people, and before the community.

Global Faith Org and Movement: What About?

2010-11-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Peace, friends of faith (whatever Faith you are)!

So what is the Global Faith Org and Movement About?
Well, I should begin by saying that there are millions of religious people on this beautiful planet God made, and many desire peace and understanding, and some are actually working toward it. My effort here is therefore by no means the single hand working toward peace, understanding, and religious tolerance. But I hope that my contributions are truly helpful, encouraging to many, and perhaps even inspiring. For comments or questions, please contact me at my new email address: mark.globalfaith@gmail.com

The points I am establishing for Global Faith Org, and propose for a prospective movement, will also be found on the new website I am working on to develop and publish, on the About Us page. That domain, www.globalofaith.org, does not yet have the website published on it, but check back soon-its coming!

The main points of the Global Faith Org and proposed movement:

Faith Defined
"Faith" is used in the subjective sense, referring to the internal faith inside individual humans, not to the objective, external, for example, its typical use today as a synonym of a specific religion or religious system. I am not working toward nor propose to work toward establishing a one world religion. For reading more on this distinction, you can go to my blog http://dignityworld7.wordpress.com to read the Fifteen Articles of Human Dignity posted there.

Non-Sectarian
Global Faith Org. is not advocating for any one religion nor is it sponsored by any one religion

Non-Proselytizing
Global Faith Org is not about nor engaged in the proselytizing of any person to any particular religion

Apolitical
Global Faith Org is apolitical. It recognizes people of faith across the world in all countries and nations. It refrains from endorsing any political party or country, although it may recognize some countries or parties that are more conducive to human dignity, moral nurture, noble religious values, and freedom of faith of its citizens or party members more so than other countries or parties.

International Scope
The scope of Global Faith Org and proposed movement is international. The first major work in my global faith efforts was the launching of the interfaith prayer site www.globalprayingservants.com. All are welcome to use this site for prayer or meditation and use the prayer forum. Unfortunately, in a recent transferring of the site to a new host, the vital function of registering is not working and the prayer forum page is missing, and I am having my developer get this back. So please try back at the site soon!

Purpose of the Global Faith Org
As stated at the top of the blog page, the purpose is to nurture, encourage, educate, and illumine humanity, globally, on faith, through the resources on the website, soon to be published, www.globalofaith.org, books, CD's, and videos soon to be published on this blogsite and www.globalprayingservants.com and www.globalofaith.org.

Global Faith Org as Incubator for the Global Faith Movement?
Perhaps a movement is eventually formed, incubated by the resources of Global Faith Org.

Global Faith Org Nonprofit
Plans are to register Global Faith Org for nonprofit status in the state of Florida, USA, within the next six months.

Faith and the 21st Century

2010-06-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Faith is a living thing. It lives in human beings everywhere. We move, breath, and have our being with faith. My own faith or perspective leads me to believe that faith itself is a gift, a gift with a divine connection, and connects us to the Divine. Faith has lived in humans from ancient times all the way to the present, in various lands, nations, and tribes.

Now we are the 21st century. Faith in humans has always interplayed with local, regional, national, and global natural, political, cultural, and social events. For example, there have been plenty of natural disasters in this past year: earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes. Sometimes, it can be scary for human beings to live on this unstable planet. Now add to this prophesies of "doom," end, and judgment such as from the the Jewish-Christian Scriptures of the Bible and the Mayan Calendar "prophecies."

Its understandable why many Christians today tend toward the pessimistic view, especially with the Christian apostles prophesied of lawlessness and lovelessness in the end times before Christ's return. Some have focused on all the bad, that they would rather be raptured out of this world. And I understand why they feel that way.

But Global Faith takes a different perspective of focusing on much of the good in this time and age. One of these main good things is the fact of the great increased awareness and consciousness of FAITH! Yes, "faith." Is that understood in the objective sense such as synonymous with religious groups and their teachings or the subjective sense of belief in human minds, hearts, and souls? I would say " Both." The fact that in the last 30 to 40 years, "Faith" has come to be used synonymously for various religions (and thus "Interfaith" movement) reflects this greater awareness. Whether the awareness came after the usage change or the usage change came as a result of the increased awareness, I cannot say.

Now that we have established that "Faith" is commonly used today as a synonym for various religions, would you be surprised that some of the founders of the worlds "great" religions seldom if ever talked about faith? That's right. No world religion today is today what is was when it was first founded. The founders laid the groundwork. Later, they have all undergone much development, organization, and met various challenges along the way throughout history. Buddha Siddartha emphasized meditation and the middle way between neither extreme of strict ascetism nor over-indulgence. Lao-tzu emhasized the yin and yang and harmony with nature and all human works destruction by the eternal Tao. Confucius emphasized moral living in society with the principles of li (courtesy) and jin (goodness, kindness). And Moses, as recorded in the Torah/Penteteuch, used the term "faith" once (Deut. 32:20, based on Strong's Concordance, KJV, and the NKJV Concordance).

But we have to look further than just the founders and latter followers actually using the word "faith" to many other statements that muster, demand, or encourage faith in their followers. Faith never comes in a vacuum. It rides the magic rugs embedded in religion and cultural myths and ideologies.

When we come to Jesus of Nazareth, based on the New Testament Gospels, we find that he did place an emphasis on faith. The apostles of Jesus Christ in the 1st century placed an even greater emphasis on faith, that faith is the basis of salvation. It can be argued that Christianity's emphasis on faith greatly contributed to the increased awareness of faith in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Whereas "faith" was not even a major point of doctrine or discussion among some of the world religions 100 years ago, now in these recent years has become used synonymously with the various religions. And I think that this is a good thing. And this is the main point of this blog post.

The concept of "faith" has "grown up," matured, among human beings, and now recognized universally, globally. Yes, there are certainly differences of beliefs, understandings, concepts, and practices among the various religious peoples globally. But this concept of "faith" is one aspect that may unite us all, after the fact that we also all share human nature (or are their some hidden alien practitioners out there?) And again, here I am speaking of faith in both the objective and subjective senses here. My other thesis that I highlighted in the Fifteen Articles of Human Dignity on Faith (see link http://dignityworld7.wordpress.com/) is that the capacity to believe (now we are talking internal faith) is in all human beings, globally, past and present, like an empty gift box. And then that box gets filled by whatever we are taught from our earliest days to growing up.

In conclusion, I have a positive perspective on humanity globally with regard to faith. The walls dividing peoples of humanity over religion have shortened, so at least we can see them and sometimes talk with them. I believe this is the way to peace, and interfaith efforts are paving the way to conversations among peoples of different Faiths, dissolving some stereotypes held in the past. Working towards peace, even religious peace, does not mean each of the religions have to dissolve their differences of belief and practices. We should work toward peace because it is the way of love that most religions preach and teach, and also plan to mitigate against repeating the atrocities of past mistakes in history. Let us rekindle the positive aspects of faith and religion in the 21st century.

Faith, Purpose, Image/Design

2010-06-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your interest in Global Faith. This blog is a companion to new website I am developing: www.globalofaith.org. The site and future org's purpose is to encourage, nurture, and educate humanity on faith, spirituality, and religion.

Now there are two kinds of faith defined: objective and subjective. If this is not defined and explained, many could misunderstand the purpose of the blog and website such as to unite the religions of the world. Those who would prospectively misunderstand thinking that this is a hidden purpose would actually be assuming that "faith" in Global Faith is used in the objective sense. The objective sense is such as "faith" is commonly used synonymously with a religion, denomination, or religion in general. Not so used in Global Faith. "Faith" in Global Faith is used in the subjective sense referring to internal faith in human minds, hearts, and souls.

Therefore, Global Faith is a tribute and praise to this beautiful (most beautiful?) gift of faith in humanity of every tribe and race and continent from most ancient of times to this present time in the 21st century.

Global Faith Org uses the copyrighted Global Praying HandsTM image which was created and designed in the winter of 2009 for the purpose of branding, highlighting, and supporting the then www.globalprayingservants.com (and .org) efforts and to develop products with the image to market, set up on the www.globalprayinghands.com. Global Faith Org is now the umbrella site with its non-profit purpose of nurturing and educating about faith from a global perspective. And we are planning to officially file for the non-profit status for Global Faith Org. Any products purchased from the http://www.globalprayinghands.com/ website will be in support of the Global Faith Org efforts which is committed to the Global Prayer efforts (visit http://www.globalprayingservants.com/)

Your comments, imput, or questions are welcome. God richly bless you and come back to visit!

Faith Love Light and Life

2010-05-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

My friends, whole books can and have been written on the subjects of faith, love, light, and life. Thank you for joining with me on these important themes that I harmonize and present in a fresh way.

I write primarily about faith, spirituality, and religion in society. The word Light captures much of faith, spirituality, and religion; it implies illumination, revelation, and inspiration. Illumined souls have captured this and radiated it out to humanity, and this world has been changed for the better. There have been many enlightened teachers who have walked among us from ancient times to this modern, post-modern world. I have learned from some of the great teachers but I have much more to learn myself, and indeed, we all should be lifelong spiritual learners. I highlight, call, and encourage humanity to continue to nurture themselves in faith, faith in God, the Divine Light, and the goodness of the Light, whereever they are and whatever the limits of their resources are and nurture young ones they are responsible for. God's Light and love is limitless.

I also blog about love, pure love. Love, I believe, is the number one transforming power in the world. If each and every human being one day woke up and loved more, this planet would indeed be changed and transformed is the love was real and long-lasting.

I will also blog about peace, since this is also a cry of the human heart. I will highlight the spheres or levels, from the individual person to society and between nattions, and uniquely balance the religious/faith/spiritual and the national/political, as God has gifted me with insight.

The purposes of this blog are to nurture and educate humanity in faith, spirituality, and religion, and help us grow and abide in the Divine Light. Its purpose is also to highlight the resources available to help you grow, articles, teachings now available, and an upcoming new book series I am writing: the Global Faith series. Stay tuned!