About the Ministry of Happiness

Welcome to the Church of Abnormal Acceptance & The Ministry of Happiness!

I am not your standard minister, hell, I’m not your standard anything.  I became ordained through the Universal Life Church.  Yes, that means I was ordained on the internet through a non-denominational church in California.  I became a minister to have the legal ability to perform sacred ceremonies for the people I love and care about and for those who are/were looking for an alternative to the traditional ceremonial officiates.  It was through this process that I began to revisit an idea that I have had floating around in my head for some time, the idea of an auxiliary faith.

What I mean by this is that we all have a faith we were born into be it Evangelical Christian, Judaism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Atheism or Agnosticism.  Yet, for many of us we have spent much of our lives searching for a life philosophy that allows us to incorporate simple action into our daily lives, a simple philosophy to think and meditate upon.

In my searching I found an affinity to Taoism in my life, and not surprising for me, it is one of the least known and practiced philosophies on earth.  However I was also fortunate to find an author Deng Ming-Dao and his book 365 Tao: Daily Meditations, which I have now read nearly daily for almost twenty years.  The book offers a simple idea in the form of a poem and a small discussion following that idea to meditate upon.  This daily reading has provided me with much over the years and it is my hope that this Ministry of Happiness will provide you with the same.

What this ministry will not provide you with is absolution, condemnation or judgment.   The ministry will not tell you how to live your life or tell you what waits in the next.  Quite simply it will provide you with ideas and thoughts on responsibility and happiness, meditations on how things in your life can add or detract from your happiness.  There are no physical structures or walls to this ministry, it will not solicit you for money, its existence is solely about helping others.  This ministry does not belong to any denomination or hold that any faith has better answers than another.  We do not wish to take the place of any faith or life philosophy you adhere to but to enhance the beliefs that you have, and help you live a responsible and happy life.  You can be part of this by simply reading along or click on how to join, to get posts sent to your email.

Have a happy day my friends ~ Reverend Kane

The Ministry of Happiness

All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words.   Deng Ming-Dao

I think the words above are the most profound that will ever show up on this blog and in this ministry.  Essentially in order to be happy you must live your life, to fulfill your dreams you must attempt to fulfill your dreams.  Life and happiness are together as one and neither is a spectator sport.  If you get nothing else from this ministry, get this, go out and live your life, try, if you fail, figure out why and try again.

Recently I took eight months off of work and spent that time mostly walking, I walked across Scotland, I walked the hills of Southern Utah and finally I spent a month walking in the Himalayas.  It took a year and a half to plan but the execution of that plan created some of the happiest times of my life.  What is important is the beginning, so today we begin this ministry and hopefully today you begin your happiness. (written 2010)

The Church of Abnormal Acceptance

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Most ministries are housed within a larger institution, a church if you will.  So we’ve made a small change on the site to reflect the same type of alignment and structure around the The Ministry of Happiness.  So here is the first and formal public announcement for the Church of Abnormal Acceptance.  The church is so named for the very basic philosophy of its existence, anyone is accepted here, save those who purposefully do anything to harm another.

So if you are considered different, weird, abnormal, a freak or god forbid normal, as long as you don’t hurt others you are welcome here, welcome to join the church, participate in the Ministry of Happiness, ask for my ear or my counsel.

So we welcome you all with abnormally accepting arms to the Church of Abnormal Acceptance and the Ministry of happiness and as always have a happy day.

Our Philosophy