Time for Truth: A New Beginning [Paperback]

I have been following Nick Bunick since THE MESSENGERS. With the release of IN GOD'S TRUTH came a volume that showed me the way to rid myself of the deeply ingrained fear and guilt of my early religious upbringing. As the title of Nick's newest book states, now is the TIME FOR TRUTH as it is this very truth that shall herald A NEW BEGINNING for all.

There is a passage in the book (page 101) that struck me deeply ...

There are no evil spirits or fictitious devils vying for our souls and minds. Rather, there are only the deliberate acts of individuals who, by virtue of free will, choose to put their wants above those of others, and, in so doing, find themselves in disharmony with their own spirituality - that part of God that is inside them.

... for these words comprise my own personal understanding as well, and yet there can be no greater love than this ... the gift of free will.

The natural laws of the Universe are those of universal love and universal compassion. Anything demonstrated outside of these laws goes against God/dess, and, yet, if it were not for the polarity (duality) of this human experiences, how else might we come to know what we wanted? To know what is wanted also means that one must also know that which they do not want. Once again, this is why the gift of free will was bestowed upon us.

Clearly, love is the answer to everything that seems to elude the magnitude. The simplest of acts, imbued with love and compassion - be they the look in one's eyes, the smile on one's face and/or the words that one chooses to speak -can do so much more than one can ever fully realize.

In reading the passage from Nick's unpublished manuscript, THE COMMITMENT, I found myself resonating with these words ...

Everything that you need ... lies within (page 139).

The kingdom of heaven lies within you (page 141).

God is within you ... residing within your own soul (page 141).

Live in peace (page 141).

Live in love (page 141).

Be aware of the presence of God at all times (page 141).

Love is the motivating force for the world, for love is God (page 141).

The power of God through love transcends everything and can bring peace and tranquility to the troubled world (page 141).

Embrace love and compassion for all and live your lives in truth (page 141).

You are the temple of God (page 142).

... because they exemplify the way that I attempt to live my life each day.

In essence, we are all messengers of light, of love, of truth, of unity, of oneness, of respect, of compassion ... are we not?

The reading of TIME FOR TRUTH: A NEW BEGINNING will allow you to feel the love and peace that we have been asked to embrace, by Jeshua (Yeshua), throughout these earthly lives. May you, too, welcome this new beginning.

Michele Doucette

Author of A Travel in Time to Grand Pré, The Ultimate Enlightenment For 2012: All We Need Is Ourselves, Turn Off The TV: Turn On Your Mind, and Veracity At Its Best

I'm generally OK with books on reincarnation, past lives and bogus teachings by the church. But this wasn't one of those books.
I bought the book because the author claimed to have lived a past life as Saul/Paul and because he was going to tell what really happened 2000 years ago.
But the first half was all about the author and some of his marvelous experiences - nothing about Paul.
Then we finally get to events of long ago. But they are very, very hard to accept:
- Paul knew Jesus and was a personal friend.
- At Jesus' trial he argued with Pilate and that was why he was crucified.
- Jesus dies on the cross and that is the last we hear of him.
- nothing really happened on the road to Damascus.
- Paul never persecuted Christians.
- The first council of Nicea had nothing to do with Arius and Athanasius, but only about changing historical records.

Sorry, but I don't buy this.

Nothing scary here. This is typical New Age utopian pablum, or good and basic nourishment for the spiritual infants and toddlers. Also, liberal theologians and revisionists will find some tidbits and morsels confirming their own findings. This book was just published. Bunick has long foreseen great things for the new millennium and by 2010 he expected social transformation to a new tolerant, loving world filled with universal compassion to have occurred. What happened to that? He offers no explanation. This is mostly a rewritten, revised, lighter version of the previous book, IN GOD'S TRUTH, published in 1998. In this new book he appeals to his followers to save Christianity by introducing (his) God's Truth into the churches. Bunick claims legitimacy for his revised version of scripture by the fact that the apostle Paul speaks through him. (Personally I find the Sylvia Moss version of Paul more credible.)

I haven't done any research on Bunick, but based on these two books his intentions seem genuinely benign. So, I could say "the more Bunicks in this world, the better." As far as the hope for future change goes, fundamentalism is entrenched, alive and well: the Christian variety mostly in the Americas and Africa, the Hindu variety in India, the Zionist variety in Israel and the Islam (Jihadist) variety just about anywhere. Liberal theology, progressive spirituality, religious humanism and interfaith/ecumenical tolerance flourish mostly behind the scenes, lacking media attention. No doubt New Age, New Thought and Oprah Winfrey can take credit for contributing to greater spiritual curiosity and openmindedness, at least in North America. Europe seems entrenched in atheistic humanism and scepticism towards anything supernatural.

So, Bunick and many other New Age "gurus" (at least those who avoid becoming cult icons) CAN contribute to defusing extremism and fostering brotherhood. Their teachings CAN provide personal guidance and comfort. However, by us pressing forward with alternate scriptures and gospels (e.g. A Course in Miracles, The Urantia Book, God Speaks, In God's Truth, Conversations with God, Dianetics) there is a fragmentation in the effort to reform the old, traditional--dare I say legitimate?--religions. What I like about the old religions--at least within each denomination--is that "what you see is what you get" (including warts and all). With New Age there are innumerable major conflicts and contradictions from one proponent and teaching to the other. As a movement there is a lack of united effort. There is a concentration on personal spiritual advancement and illumination but a lack of concern with charity, benevolence, good works and selfless sacrifice. My guiding principle regarding prophets and where GOD'S TRUTH can best be found is Matthew 7:20, as attributed to Jesus: "After all then, by their fruits, shall ye find them out." (EBR) or "Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits." (DBY) Or, as some say "The proof is in the pudding." It is not so much exactly how we get there (by which methods or beliefs), it's what good we accomplish that counts.