A new chapter has just been opened with the publication 

of the second book on this topic, The Joy of 

Spiritual Living, by Bob Maginel and Frank Rose. 

This book and the one before it, The Joy of Spiritual 

Growth (also by Bob and Frank) all began 

right here at Sunrise Chapel along with the birth of 

the spiritual growth groups. For over twenty years 

people have been “practicing” the principles put 

forth in the program. Lives have changed, happiness 

has been found, and people have entered 

into a new, active relationship with God because 

of it. 

 

It is not a difficult small group program. There is 

no prerequisite or formal training required. It is for 

everyone wherever you are on your journey. The 

program is based on the idea that our mind is like a 

house with several floors in it. We choose where we 

live in our house, or mind. We can dwell in the Upper 

Chamber where there is light and love, and 

where we see the world as God might see it. Or we 

may reside in the Basement where there is fear, 

anxiety, sadness, resentment, etc. 

 

The eight week course helps us learn to walk 

up the stairs to the higher part of our mind while 

dealing with everyday life. This is done through a 

series of “tasks” given each week. They are simple, 

clear, and easily applied. An example might be: 

“Observe what happens when you lose something.”

Do you immediate blame yourself or others? Do 

you calmly move forward to find the object or do 

you find yourself in the Basement of your mind becoming 

agitated or fearful? Another example might 

be: “Observe your critical thoughts of yourself or 

others.” How often we find a perfectly beautiful 

moment ruined because of a critical random 

thought that passes through our mind. Is there a 

pattern? Is the thought true? Does it block the love 

we feel for another or ourselves? Does it take us 

out of the sunshine into the “Basement?”

 

By taking a spiritual principle and applying it to 

our life, we become aware of how far along we are 

on our spiritual path.