Charlois

Tuesday, July 19th, 2022

Yesterday I saw my therapist for our monthly consult.  Why is this relevant you may ask?  Because I want to make a point.  I have a severe mental illness; schizoaffective disorder.  Basically, that is the psychosis of schizophrenia mixed with the mood fluctuations of bi-polar.  Most of my life I have struggled.  In and out of hospitals, trouble keeping jobs, and difficulty with relationships.

But there have been times when I thrived.  Whenever I was managing my symptoms, things went well.  It seemed as if I were normal.  Actually, having a mental illness is normal, to a certain degree.  Statistics show that 1 in 4 people will have a mental health crisis at some point.

The point I want to make is, no matter your condition, you can still thrive and attain your potential.  It just takes work.  For me it has been finding the right care.  For others it could mean finding a life coach or mentor.  We all could use a hand in navigating our lives.

There are times when life throws us curve balls, and having someone walking with us can help in how we handle those times.  Having someone else seeing what is happening can be of great benefit.

Don’t scoff at the idea; find an appropriate resource person and be your best self.

Words from one with experience.

Robert A. Charlois III

Monday, July 18th, 2022

“Be all you can be.”  This advertising slogan from the US Army is also one of the foundational concepts of the Charlois Philosophy.  In fact, you should note that if you are not trying to be all you can be, then you are not embracing the philosophy.

When someone, or something is created by the Creator, it is perfect.  Only after it is exposed to other sources does it become less than it could be.  One of the purposes of this life is to strive to return to that initial state of perfection.  Not the same state as before, but one that has evolved into an even more perfect being.

We were created with a beginning, but our Creator wants us to join with Him as we grow into our created potential.  As our species, and the rest of creation evolves we get closer to the perfect state that the Creator intended.  In the beginning, the creative process began, maybe with a thought, word, or possibly even a big bang, but regardless of how, it was only the beginning that continues for eternity.

God laid out a blueprint for creation and we are responsible for building it to His specifications.  We are given the freedom of choice to decide how we interpret that plan, but we are to carry it out in a way that pleases Him.

Pleasing Him is easy when we quit thinking only of ourselves and focus instead on the good of all creation.  But we Sin, to use some traditions terminology, and think only of what benefits us.  That approach leads to destruction, not only of ourselves but also everything around us.  We were given dominion to care for creation, not destroy it.

So, as you are contemplating what the best you looks’ like, remember, we are just a piece of the puzzle that is this universe.  Take care in how you relate to the rest of the pieces.

Peace and joy in the name of God.

Robert A. Charlois III

Saturday, July 16th, 2022

“… and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.”  Acts 11:26b NRSV

“Agrippa said to Paul. Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”  Acts 26:28 NRSV

What is a Christian?  It depends on a lot of things.  According to the Charlois Philosophy, we go by the earliest examples.  A Christian is someone who lives like Jesus in such a way that others call them “Christian,” or little Christs’.  So, it is not what we say, but rather, it’s how others perceive us.

Move forward in time to 2022, and the story has changed.  In this day and age, it seems as if there are as many definitions as there are people; with millions calling themselves by the title.  But even with that, there are broad categories.  There are Evangelicals, Liberals, Moderates, born again, Sanctified, and the list goes on.

It would seem that the main criteria for claiming the title is to say you are a Christian.  I wonder what God thinks of that turn of events?

Let me suggest something here.  Why don’t we quit being so arrogant, by claiming to be Christian, and instead let others decide?  That way we’re not blaspheming the Holy Spirit when we stumble and do something so un-Christ like.

Reflect on these words and live in the love and power of God.

Peace to us all.

Pastor Yancy

Friday, July 15th, 2022

This week’s book review is on a book that has been very instrumental in my growth as a human being.  “How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci,” by Michael Gelb, takes this great genius and from a study of his life and work, comes up with a program of study that will enhance our extensive capacities.

This book is broken down into 3 parts.  The first part is background information: studies of our brain, a history of the renaissance, and a summation of Leonardo and his accomplishments.  The second part is the core of the book.  It contains seven principles that, if followed, will lead to a balanced life that is better than can be imagined.  Part three is resource materials: a drawing course, a project to recreate one of Leonardo’s dreams, a chronology of his life, and recommended reading and resources.

It is in part two where the major work comes in.  These seven principles are based on attitudes and practices that were employed by Leonardo in his quest for beauty and knowledge.  Things like: curiosity, experience, sensory improvement, a willingness to embrace paradox, ambiguity, and uncertainty, plus balancing art and science, physical competence, and finally, the interconnectedness of it all.

Each of these seven chapters is itself broken down even further.  The is the background section that describes the concept and also gives examples from Leonardo’s work. Next comes a short quiz to help you find how you embody the concept.  Finally, are the exercises that will lead into a fuller individual.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to reach their highest potential.  Like anything that is worth going after this course is work, but a work that is rewarded many times over.

Buy it, read it, live it, and may God bless.

Robert A. Charlois III

Thursday, July 14th, 2022

For most of my life I’ve worked at being the best I could be at whatever I was doing.  After losing my churches in 2015 I was doing anything much.  Then, after about 3 years I had a total mental breakdown.  I have since recovered and now I realize, I don’t have to have a vocation to strive at being my best at.  I can work at being the best version of who I was created to be.

Since I came to that realization, I have been working on improving myself.  Reading programs, fitness programs, habit formation, and such.  It is tough going, and I come up short more often than not.  But I am making progress.

The website and blog are a big piece of my journey.  I have been the type of person that likes to see others succeed, especially when I can help.  And that is what these mediums are intended to do.  They are expanding my abilities and hopefully helping others on their journeys.

The things we have been doing so far are amateur attempts but we fully expect to get better over time.  Anything worthwhile takes time to perfect and so it is with this project.  I hope you visit often and make suggestions on how we can improve.  Until next time.

Here is to the journey.  May god bless it and us.

Robert A. Charlois III

Wednesday, July 13^th, 2022

I’m finally getting into a routine of posting every day, except Sunday, my rest day.  I’ve noticed that my posts are shorter than a typical blog post, but there will be more content as things progress.  We’re new to this so bear with us as we learn our way.

Until another time, peace be with you on your journey.

Robert A. Charlois III

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

As I have been reflecting on my posts for the last few days, I see a pattern emerging.  The Charlois Philosophy is about becoming the best person we were created to be.  One of the best ways to do this is to mimic those that have already made it.

I take that advice seriously.  I currently have a support team of five people that are top notch examples of who I want to be.  On top of that I am studying the lives of Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Jefferson.  Then there are my mentors that have passed to the eternal life; I consult them frequently.

All of that to say, find your models and follow their lead toward the abundant, eternal life.

 Here is to the journey.  May god bless it and us.

Robert A. Charlois III

Monday, July 11th, 2022

It has been said that we are the amalgam of the five people we spend the most time with.  In his book, How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, author Michael Gelb puts forth the idea that if we want to be a certain way or possess certain skills, then we can select the models we learn from.

In the book, In His Steps, which we reviewed Friday, this concept is seen being fleshed out.  So to, in the Bible’s book of Acts, we see the early Church following the teachings of Jesus.  In fact, most of the worlds’ religions are following and learning from their founders and saints.

This is another one of our foundational points; to be the best we can be, we need to choose the best role models to choose from.  Whether it is a religious leader, political leader, or some other great person, we need to choose wisely.

Once we have chosen our models, the we must study them, spend time with them, and ask questions of them.  A good practice to follow would be to ask ourselves, when we are in a particular situation, what would _____ do in my place; hence the theme of In His Steps.

Choose wisely, spend quality time with them, and then ask, what would _____ do in this situation.  Here is to our growth, may we become the best we can be.

Peace and joy in the name of God.

Robert A. Charlois III

Saturday, July 9th, 2022

The book of Acts, in the New Testament, is the story of the early years of the church.  Starting in chapter 3, verse 41, it begins with the conversion of 3000, and then goes on through verse 47 telling how they lived.  As can be seen in verses 43-46, the church has changed considerably since those early days.

We of Charlois, believe that society needs to reclaim those early practices.  In those days, those who claimed to be followers of “The Way,” took care of one another.  “All who believed were together and had all things in common.”  Acts 2:44 NRSV.  As can be deducted from reading the bible, the righteous life is all about love, love in the self-sacrificing sense.

If we, as a species, would live this way, we would eliminate most of the problems we see in the world today.  Loving others as we love ourselves, the second greatest commandment next to love God, is the way our universe functions best.  Things in balance, having a symbiotic relationship, where the best is brought about in all of creation.

If the benefits of such a way are so positive, I have to wonder why it doesn’t happen naturally?  Could it be that we are wired to want only that which benefits us as individuals?  In the conservative evangelical church, they speak of original sin.  We were created with the power of choice and since the beginning we have been choosing to put ourselves first.  Call it our sin nature or in a more liberal sense, our self-preservation instinct.

Whatever one chooses to call it, people and religions are finding a better way is to come together and care for each other as any have need.  So, if you want to be the best person you can be then choose to view others equal to yourself.

A saying of Charlois is,

     If you treat others with dignity, honor, and respect,

     Esteeming them higher than yourself,

     They will go to their graves fighting to make you successful.

                                                    Robert A Charlois III

Reflect on these words and live in the love and power of God.

Peace to us all.

Pastor Yancy

Friday, July 8^th, 2022

In the late 1800’s, a Congregational minister by the name of Charles Sheldon disguised himself and walked the streets of Kansas City as an out of work printer.  He later produced a series of stories, based 0n his experiences, that he read at his Sunday evening church services.  Those stories were so popular that they were eventually published as the best-selling book, In His Steps.

This story is about a small town, Raymond, and one of its churches.  After an extraordinary occurrence at one of the Sunday morning services, the pastor, Rev. Henry Maxwell, challenges the members of his congregation to not do anything without first asking of themselves, what would Jesus do? then act accordingly, regardless of the outcome.

The book is broken down into two sections.  The first section tells how things unfold in Raymond itself.  This section has 20 chapters and covers one year, the length of the initial challenge.

Part two, which has 11 chapters, covers the story as it moves from Raymond to the city of Chicago.  It is here that it becomes more than just a fad in an out-of-the-way place.  And because of its popularity, it continues to spark movements to this day.

Although fictional, the characters and events in this story begin to take on a very real life that moves many people to make pledges of their own.  But don’t take my word for it; this is a book that is best experienced.  

Buy it, read it, live it, and may God bless.

Robert A. Charlois III