"I trust you are challenged by the reinterpretation of The Two Agreements to step beyond a limited life imposed on you by religion. With the reinterpretation, we leave the separation of saints and sinners behind and embrace inclusion of all humanity regardless of race, religion, past “crimes,” or other demographic barriers. All humans are children of God growing into maturity of oneness in the unnamable One. Our gaining spiritual maturity makes it possible to live from the Christ mind.

And living from the Christ mind, we reserve judgment. Consequently, when we believe we are being judged by others, it causes pain and suffering. It causes fear of eternal separation from God. It causes guilt for not being spiritual enough to go to heaven. It causes shame for being an imperfect human. We do not have to be controlled by fear when we perceive others are judging us. We can choose to react as Jesus did by turning the other cheek.

With Christ mindedness we would reorder our lives. Understanding and working with God’s spiritual guidance, we would no longer teach our children that they are sinners separated from a punishing God. Can you imagine a child, raised with the knowledge that he is one with a loving, kind, compassionate God, demonstrating power over the elements, sickness, and death? He would do even greater works than Jesus did during his earthly ministry. And that is where we are headed . . . "

~   S.L. Brannon, The Two Agreements: A Good News Story For Our Time

I'm sharing the news of my being among national Award Winners for accomplishments over the past year. It has been a pleasure to serve as State Director and local chapter President. And I consider it an honor to be recognized by DBSA national.

I appreciate all the wonderful support I was given by my fellow officers, Board members, and the chapter membership throughout the year. You may view the announcement on the national web site athttp://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=peer_chapter_spotlights

                    Congratulations to our 2013 Chapter Service Award Winners!
The DBSA Chapter Service Awards recognize exemplary service by DBSA 
chapters, state organizations, and their leaders. Winners will be honored at the 2014 Chapter Leadership Forum in addition to receiving a cash award.

Steve Brannon of DBSA Jackson (TN) and DBSA Tennessee - Outstanding
Leadership
Steve is an excellent role model for pursuing a wellness-focused life while living with a mood disorder. He fights stigma by openly sharing his journey in the local newspaper, on DBSA’s website, and on his weekly online newsletter. He has worked with the local police department to help educate and train police officers for crisis response teams. Steve was selected for DBSA Peer Advocacy Training and was a representative of DBSA for Hill Day in Washington, D.C.
At his local chapter, DBSA Jackson (TN), Steve gently encourages, trusts, and believes in support group participants. He instituted a monthly “share your inspiration” night in which group members report on what keeps them going, creating an environment of hope and personal growth. Steve is dedicated to further advancing DBSA’s mission into surrounding communities and across the state. The number of support groups has doubled in the past year under his direction, encompassing all major cities and some smaller cities across the state. He has traveled hundreds of miles at his own expense to conduct local chapter visitations as state director. Steve’s passion for the advancement of DBSA’s mission in Jackson and the state of Tennessee is so strong that he has diligently dedicated his time and resources for over a decade.

DBSA Tennessee - State Organization Service 
DBSA Tennessee's amazing accomplishments made 2013 a rewarding year! 
They supported chapters in their state by hosting educational presentations and training programs, giving them the tools necessary for successful chapters. With help from DBSA Tennessee, five local chapters were interviewed on television or radio to promote DBSA to the community. Leaders encouraged one chapter’s community outreach, resulting in a city-wide Mental Health Day declared by their mayor. DBSA Tennessee’s robust plan to help new chapters in the startup process helped find free meeting locations, assistance in affiliation fees and paperwork, and provided a sponsor from an already established chapter to assist the new chapter.
Five members of DBSA Tennessee attended DBSA’s Peer Advocate Training in Washington, D.C. and then created an advocacy plan for their state including a campaign against proposed budget cuts to close all 45 of Tennessee’s Peer Support Service Centers. DBSA Tennessee is a growing, thriving organization. With its advocacy for peer support and local chapter start-up, community outreach and commitment to peer education, DBSA Tennessee is one of the most energetic affiliates of DBSA.

DBSA Murfreesboro (TN) - Rookie Chapter Service
DBSA Murfreesboro began in July of 2013 with support from DBSA Tennessee. 
The chapter started out with one support group, which saw its attendance 
double in fewer than six months, becoming one of the fastest growing local 
chapters in the state. The growth of the chapter can be attributed to the forces behind it that work tirelessly to get the word out about the group. Flyers and pamphlets are distributed to agencies and health care providers, the Salvation Army, local hospitals and businesses, and more. DBSA Murfreesboro provides post-hospitalization support for those who would otherwise have none. Educational materials, resources, and wellness tools are provided to each chapter participant. They have also started a family and friends support group.

Members of DBSA Murfreesboro participated in the state chapter meetings and backing of their U.S. Representative. For a chapter that achieved all of this in six months, DBSA Murfreesboro has a fine resume of accomplishments, but they consider their greatest success to be the level of support offered to each person who walks through their doors.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=peer_chapter_spotlights

In any given year, more than 25% of Americans are diagnosed with some form of mental illness. Andof that number, 25% seek help from their church before anyone else, including psychiatrists or other medical/mental health professionals. Yet despite the clergy members’ role to provide guidance for the “members of their flock”, research shows that they refer less than 10% of those with serious mental illness to a professional that can help them. Unfortunately, this issue is only one symptom of a larger “sickness” affecting organized religion. I have written at length about the history of the Christian church, specifically that it is an institutioncreated by man, rather than by Christ. Indeed, much of The Two Agreements discusses Christ’s trueintention when he called people together to reconnect with Source. As always, I qualify this by sayingthat, regardless of their origins, churches have done much good for the world. On the other hand, they do discriminate and show prejudice toward the less fortunate, including the mentally ill. As they believein separation between humanity and the Creator, they also believe in such a hierarchy among humans.

And like many other organizations seeking to maintain a positive public image, they want only the 
beautiful, contributing, and successful people in their congregations. This is not a new story. These samechurches proclaim that imitating Christ is a person’s most important pursuit; yet, just as those in Christ’sday criticized Him for healing lepers and “consorting” with prostitutes, modern churches seek to excludeand/or marginalize those suffering from mental illness. In fact, many people are afraid to even let theirclergy or fellow congregants know about their mental illness because of the church’s view on such matter. “Christianity puts us at war with our own body and mind, and teaches us not to question church doctrine for fear of losing favor with God. To question church authority as it presently exists brings up fear of heresy.” 

The only way to change this is for each of us to truly follow Christ’s teachings; namely by adopting 
a personal faith system that is all-inclusive, regardless of one’s physical, mental, or societal 
“shortcomings”. Nothing less will work for us individually, or for society at large.

the two agree fb pg http://bit.ly/the2agree   S.L. Brannon on DBSA Life Unlimited web site
http://bot.ly/1kEBzlZ

There are many people who seem to be unable to believe in God without, also, believing in a personal enemy. In fact, most of the people I know who believe in a personal God believe there is an opposing force working against them, against their belief. In my reinterpretation of the greatest story ever told, I identify an enemy for anyone having a need of one. The enemy I point out is not an entity roaming heaven and earth. It is civilization, the world, in which we live.

        Why see the world as our enemy? The world is a perfect enemy because it is our teacher, giving lessons from the moment of birth in how to speak and how to think and what to say and what to think, etc. In fact, humanity becomes reliant on the world to teach all that one needs to know to survive and thrive. However, the opposite lessons are taught. The world teaches that we are separate from God and one another and there is a lack of the vital things necessary for life and happiness. I call this collection of untruths the Lie. Obviously, believing the Lie works against our surviving and thriving in life. In fact, belief in these teachings sets us up for failure and a life ruled by fear.

Once entangled, how can anyone get free of the enemy? Where do we start?

        Sadly, we start so often from the wrong place and easily find ourselves in places we wish not to be. You can begin by deciding to no longer live in fear and let Spirit be your teacher. As often as you can, choose to be alone with your teacher by becoming still and entering the Silence.

        Spirit teaches that you matter. Irrespective of age, sex, social status, money, personal accomplishments, ethnic or cultural background-- you matter. So, you can refuse to be controlled by guilt, shame, and fear.

        No matter what the world teaches, Life is meant to be the celebration of your individual significance, not an endless and fruitless search for the existence of your significance. It is meant for you to take the talents, interests, and passions that are you and find a way plant the seeds that give birth to the life you deserve and were destined to live. You are a valued and important part of a larger tapestry and life is your contribution to that picture.

        Celebrate your unique significance. Nurture your talents and interests. Cherish your values and passions. Know that in caring for others you find your greatest affirmation. Know that caring for yourself and caring for others are not an opposition, but a unity that takes you deeper and deeper towards a life of real meaning and completion.

Don't chase something you already have. The days are numbered for all of us. Celebrate! Celebrate the gift of you, the gift of others and the gift of life you are given. Start at the beginning. Start unlearning your feelings of fear and feelings of lack today.

People often assume that my “day job”-- peer counseling those who struggle with bipolar disorder, depression and other mental illness --is connected with my spirituality. To this I would say that they are right…and wrong. What do I mean by this? I mean that the two are connected, intimately, just not in the way others might think. 

One of the major themes I explore in The Two Agreements is that Christians must constantly prove themselves to God in order to avoid eternal damnation. Of all the many obligations and rules we must follow, the biggest is arguably the edict to “do good”. 

“Generally, anyone wanting to become a true believer must go to these buildings [church] and participate in the organized programs to get themselves “right” with God and to make Heaven their home for all eternity. Too often the motivation to be church members primarily involves feelings of guilt, shame, and fear to “avoid hell at all cost!” 

I contend that one does not need to help others in order to get to Heaven, for we are already guaranteed God’s love and salvation by our very existence. However, when we are in touch with our true selves and realize that we are at one with our Creator (and therefore each other), we will be moved to do good. Our service to humanity will not come from a place of fear or obligation, but out of the knowledge that in serving others, we are being who we really are. 

 “As the system operates at this time, we are left feeling alienated from others and our own true being, due, in large part, to our individuality. We must take it as our goal to rediscover that lost, alienated natural self and help others in doing the same. And we must call one another out by saying, “I see you. I see through your disguise. I know that you are God-in-hiding.”

Helping others elevates us to a higher spiritual level. It is not a shackle we carry as a means of proving ourselves, but an opportunity to recognize the God in ourselves and therefore recognize the God in others.