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Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Connection
Today I was watching the documentary "Human Experience". It is an amazing story of how this group of young men take a trip around the world to live the human experience. They spend some time with the homeless in New York City, they work with orphan children in Peru, they go to Africa and spend time with people living with HIV/AIDS and they visit a leaper colony.
The love, joy, pain, tears that are shared are amazing. This is what life is, This is what true religion is....connecting with people, our neighbors. I read a quote the other day that with technology we communicate and are connected via internet with more people than any other generation and yet in real life we are less connected than any generation. We may follow each other on Twitter, Facebook, or talk across the world on Skype, but do we connect heart to heart, spirit to spirit. Do you share each other's pain, joy. Do we dance and celebrate each other's life. Do we share a meal, listen or offer real presence to each other. This is our real purpose, this is the real way to connect with God and live an abundant life.
We don't have to travel across the globe, because we can start with our neighbors.....
I RECOMMEND THIS DOCUMENTARY.....
Peace to you in Christ!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Be not conformed.....but be transformed by the renewing of your mind....
"We get so distracted by the way things seem that we lose sight of what really is".
The pressures of life can press us into a mold and form that we don't want. It can create a life that we are not happy with. These same pressures when surrendered and submitted to God can bring about God's perspective which when applied will renew our mind and enable us to break out of the ego's pattern and the world's status quo of conformity to live a transformed life of God's design. A life far greater than what we could have thought up or imagined on our own.
The pressures of life can press us into a mold and form that we don't want. It can create a life that we are not happy with. These same pressures when surrendered and submitted to God can bring about God's perspective which when applied will renew our mind and enable us to break out of the ego's pattern and the world's status quo of conformity to live a transformed life of God's design. A life far greater than what we could have thought up or imagined on our own.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Knowing God (part 2 )
In the post part One of " Knowing God" I set about the idea that knowing God was possible, and even easy.
However, there is more to be said of this that needs to be clarified. When I say knowing , I mean that we can connect with God in a real way and get to know God as one gets to know anybody in a relationship. We learn to relate with God, and learn of who God is. We will never know the fullness of God. In fact we never really know all there is about any person we are in relationship with. I love the idea of a "divine romance" to define this relationship with God.
Here are a few thoughts to support what I am saying:
*God is bigger than any idea of who God is....whether that be a religion, creed, sacred book, or theology.
*God cannot be defined, many of the ideas we have of God are only a starting place, and sometimes we outgrow these concepts or they become obsolete. (however, let's never judge those who still hold to them, as less than us. For we are all one and share in this journey.
*God does not change but Our understandings do, so a person's faith or religion that is not flexible is fallible.
- Posted by a fellow sojourner from his mobile office
However, there is more to be said of this that needs to be clarified. When I say knowing , I mean that we can connect with God in a real way and get to know God as one gets to know anybody in a relationship. We learn to relate with God, and learn of who God is. We will never know the fullness of God. In fact we never really know all there is about any person we are in relationship with. I love the idea of a "divine romance" to define this relationship with God.
Here are a few thoughts to support what I am saying:
*God is bigger than any idea of who God is....whether that be a religion, creed, sacred book, or theology.
*God cannot be defined, many of the ideas we have of God are only a starting place, and sometimes we outgrow these concepts or they become obsolete. (however, let's never judge those who still hold to them, as less than us. For we are all one and share in this journey.
*God does not change but Our understandings do, so a person's faith or religion that is not flexible is fallible.
- Posted by a fellow sojourner from his mobile office
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Death of Osama and/or Evil
I wanted to clarify a few thoughts I shared yesterday. I want to be clear that I know that the crimes against humanity committed by Bin Laden were horrific. I also am thankful for the Men and women who risked their lives to bring him to justice. This kind of evil either personified in a person or group, should not be tolerated in any way. However, I think that any kind of situation that forces men and women to have to risk their lives and or forces them to have to take the life of another, no matter how justified or noble is a sad and I look forward to a day when humankind will evolve to the place where we will not commit such horrific crimes against each-other like Bin Laden is guilty of.
With that said, I do not celebrate death but rather I rejoice when a life is saved. I do rejoice for the lives he can no longer destroy. I hope those who have been victims of his evil have some closure, and a sense of justice.
What I think would be a more appropriate response is a sense of justice tempered with a prayer for peace and unity for all of humankind. A recognition that anyone's cause or ideals can cross the line and begin to serve evil. We are all able to justify and believe we are on the side of right. When our actions may prove to be a lot less noble to those we hurt and victimize. No religion, nation or race is exempt. Only God is pure Love, and we must recognize that we are a "little lower" than God because we are human and Spirit. May we allow our Spirit/heart which is united in the divine to direct us, instead of our humanness which is easily mislead by our ego or baser nature.
Great Evil, like Bin Laden, Hitler and the like are a result of those lives that are surrendered completely over to the ego. They gave themselves fully over to such deluded beliefs that resulted in the collimation of great evil. But many times great evil begins with simple benign thoughts, which seem justified in certain circumstances. If these thoughts are not surrendered to God and corrected by truth they become malignant.
If such evil is possible from lives surrendered to pure ego, how much greater can Love impact this world when a life is regularly surrendered to Spirit.
Peace to you in Christ
With that said, I do not celebrate death but rather I rejoice when a life is saved. I do rejoice for the lives he can no longer destroy. I hope those who have been victims of his evil have some closure, and a sense of justice.
What I think would be a more appropriate response is a sense of justice tempered with a prayer for peace and unity for all of humankind. A recognition that anyone's cause or ideals can cross the line and begin to serve evil. We are all able to justify and believe we are on the side of right. When our actions may prove to be a lot less noble to those we hurt and victimize. No religion, nation or race is exempt. Only God is pure Love, and we must recognize that we are a "little lower" than God because we are human and Spirit. May we allow our Spirit/heart which is united in the divine to direct us, instead of our humanness which is easily mislead by our ego or baser nature.
Great Evil, like Bin Laden, Hitler and the like are a result of those lives that are surrendered completely over to the ego. They gave themselves fully over to such deluded beliefs that resulted in the collimation of great evil. But many times great evil begins with simple benign thoughts, which seem justified in certain circumstances. If these thoughts are not surrendered to God and corrected by truth they become malignant.
If such evil is possible from lives surrendered to pure ego, how much greater can Love impact this world when a life is regularly surrendered to Spirit.
Peace to you in Christ
Monday, May 2, 2011
thoughts for today
Last night when the news was released about Osama's death, I had mixed emotions. I understand that he was a enemy of the US. Someone that we have been after since 9/11 and a major focus of both the military and the Intelligence Community. He was a terrorist, murderer and mastermind or at least a leader of an extremely violent group.
However, when I saw the celebrations on the street, my heart was grieved. Grieved just like when I saw terrorist celebrate the deaths of people they killed. Grieved that we acted just like the evil we condemn. We have given those who hate America, the propaganda they need to promote more of the same.
I know that Osama's death brings closure to 9/11 for many. A day where our nation was attacked and innocence was lost. I would have rather seen a prayer vigil last night for peace in the world. A time of reflection, we either are part of the problem or solution.
Jesus said to pray for our enemies, do good to them that hate you....I know not very popular, but true none the less....
Dear Loving God,
I pray for this world
may we find your peace
may we understand our brotherhood, our commonness, our sameness
may we give up an us versus them mentality
and truly understand we are on the same journey of life
that we want the same things in life
may we respect each-other's differences
may we reach out in Love and compassion
may we put on money in helping each-other instead of killing each0other.
I know this is a big prayer
But you are a big God
Amen
However, when I saw the celebrations on the street, my heart was grieved. Grieved just like when I saw terrorist celebrate the deaths of people they killed. Grieved that we acted just like the evil we condemn. We have given those who hate America, the propaganda they need to promote more of the same.
I know that Osama's death brings closure to 9/11 for many. A day where our nation was attacked and innocence was lost. I would have rather seen a prayer vigil last night for peace in the world. A time of reflection, we either are part of the problem or solution.
Jesus said to pray for our enemies, do good to them that hate you....I know not very popular, but true none the less....
Dear Loving God,
I pray for this world
may we find your peace
may we understand our brotherhood, our commonness, our sameness
may we give up an us versus them mentality
and truly understand we are on the same journey of life
that we want the same things in life
may we respect each-other's differences
may we reach out in Love and compassion
may we put on money in helping each-other instead of killing each0other.
I know this is a big prayer
But you are a big God
Amen
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Knowing God...Knowing vs. Believing (Part 1)
Many Christians confuse "knowing things about God" in place of "knowing God". We know creeds, theology, facts, scripture and a lot of other details about God. We follow teachings but we are called to follow Christ. We are called to walk with God and know God.
This is one of the hardest and easiest things to do. How is that for a confusing statement. The reason it is the hardest thing to do, is because we make it so. Religion has placed all kinds of burdens on us which in turn places guilt, and sets us up to fail. What if God had already made the way simple? What if there was nothing we had to do? What if God had already done the hard work? Wait God did, through Jesus and has offered us this Grace which is our salvation not based on our works least we should boast.
Jesus simply says, "Come to me Lay all your burdens down, find rest and comfort in me." (paraphrased). Simply get into the "Secret Place" ( the place of stillness, of spirit...see last two post) there you will not only find God but you will get to know God as well.
Nothing wrong with beliefs, but they are of the mind....God dwells and reveals God's self in the heart. A person who submits mind and heart to God is able to live abundant life of Joy Unspeakable and full of glory!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This is one of the hardest and easiest things to do. How is that for a confusing statement. The reason it is the hardest thing to do, is because we make it so. Religion has placed all kinds of burdens on us which in turn places guilt, and sets us up to fail. What if God had already made the way simple? What if there was nothing we had to do? What if God had already done the hard work? Wait God did, through Jesus and has offered us this Grace which is our salvation not based on our works least we should boast.
Jesus simply says, "Come to me Lay all your burdens down, find rest and comfort in me." (paraphrased). Simply get into the "Secret Place" ( the place of stillness, of spirit...see last two post) there you will not only find God but you will get to know God as well.
Nothing wrong with beliefs, but they are of the mind....God dwells and reveals God's self in the heart. A person who submits mind and heart to God is able to live abundant life of Joy Unspeakable and full of glory!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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