This book proposes that a new sense of self is emerging in human beings. It is a "divine or Christ sense of self" that transcends the current "ego sense of self" as the lord of one’s being. It is a change in human nature. Unlike previous evolutionary steps this one happens in human consciousness. When this new sense of self is experienced an individual gains an unprecedented ability to create a life abundantly full of meaning, satisfaction and joy. This new life is characterized by reduced struggle and stress and increased peace of mind.

This book presents a proven way to experience this new sense of self through the principles of "Evolutionary Spirituality." They are presented as an evolved form of the twelve steps well known to the recovery community. This transformational change in human consciousness is a natural continuum of five billion years of the evolution of life on earth. This evolutionary approach to growth and change is different and more effective than others because it provides a new kind of release from self-condemnation. This release makes it possible for people to break through the denial that is the main stumbling block to authentic transformation. The reader will be able to see how this evolutionary approach makes the teachings of Jesus Christ more understandable, accessible and practical.

Barry Vennard has served as the Senior Minister of the Unity Church of the Triangle in Raleigh, North Carolina and the Spiritual Leader of the Unity Church of Ames in Ames, Iowa. He has served as a minister/spiritual leader in the Unity movement for a little over eight years.

This work is inspired by the author’s deep and profound spiritual experience, by twenty-five years of practicing the twelve steps, and by his search to integrate his spiritual awakening with the teachings of Jesus and scientific discovery about human origins through evolution. Some of this experience is described in the book’s preface. For the last five years he has successfully taught and supported others who have found transformation of their lives through the application of these principles as presented in this book. This twelve-step program along with the inspired way the author associates the teachings of Jesus with human origins through evolution makes this book a powerful and compelling tool for personal transformation.

This is not a book about self-improvement. It is not about learning to live more effectively while staying the same person you are today. There are lots of books out there that can try to help you do that. This one will not.

Instead, this book will show you how to become someone you have never been before, someone with the power to live successfully and experience life in a wholly different way. It will describe a proven process in which your sense of self evolves into a new and unprecedented state of being. In this new state, you will become consciously aware of your unity with the creative presence of love and life that is the foundation of the universe. Jesus described it as entering the Kingdom of God / Heaven. The good news is that it is available right now, in this life!

The first thing you need to know is there will be a price to pay, and it’s a big one – the sacrifice of your current sense of self. There is no way around it if you are to be reborn into a new state of awareness- a new you. This is the hallmark of evolutionary change. It’s what Jesus taught. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy^ that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matt 7:13,14)

This book is based on the premise that this evolutionary change is the destiny and salvation of humankind. This is good news because its purpose is the expansion of God’s love in ways that make life so much better here on Earth. Through this spiritual change in ourselves we bring the Kingdom of Heaven into visibility through the unfolding stories of our lives.

In Step Four, we make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

With this step, we begin the Life Review process. A complete life review is part of the ending of one life and the beginning of another. Most people in the Christian culture see this as a kind of judgment day, something that occurs in association with physical death. Here, it is a phase of our spiritual evolution, marking the birth of the Christ sense of self.

Understood from this perspective it can be seen as a normal part of life, even if not an everyday occurrence. In nature it can be likened to the conclusion of a growing cycle: Vegetation matures, serves its purpose and dies, at the same time producing seed for the next season.

For us, this is a time of harvesting the good that came from previous stages of ego development and discarding whatever would impede the future expansion of good.

One of Jesus’ parables illustrates the need to sort through ideas, beliefs and attitudes, keeping some and abandoning others.

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, "Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?" He answered, "An enemy has done this." The slaves said to him, "Then do you want us to go and gather them?" But he replied, "No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’" (Matthew 13:24-30)

The "enemy" in the parable represents the fear-inducing ego state of mind that exists in human nature. The "weeds" symbolize ideas, attitudes, and beliefs that cause trouble, drain energy, and continue to plague us into adulthood.

Weeding out harmful ideas one at a time is one of the ways people try to deal with problems. But as the parable shows, this practice is not only ineffective but can deplete even more energy. Jesus’ advice is not to worry too much about them while they’re growing, instead dealing with them all at once at harvest time.