Fear and selfishness drive out the Almighty from us.
Fear and selfishness are Sin / Error.
Fear and selfishenss destroy Life / Love / Truth.
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8.01.2007
GOD IS KINDNESS. PERIOD. YES?
I know I've described God / the Almighty differently in many other posts.
GOD IS KINDNESS.
PERIOD. YES?
!!!!! SUFFERING FOR JOY !!!!!!
Well,
that's how it is. Staring me right in the face but only now do the words come together:
Suffering for Joy is why we:
that's how it is. Staring me right in the face but only now do the words come together:
!!!!!! SUFFERING FOR JOY !!!!!!
Suffering for Joy is why we:
- Bear children
- Raise children
- Nurse loved ones through trial and sickness....
JOY'S THE REWARD FOR SUFFERING FOR LOVE
Think being Kind.
Think great parenting.
Think responding to a neighbor's emergency.
Think great parenting.
Think responding to a neighbor's emergency.
How do you know "good art?"
You do of course. And scholarly studies indicate that this is a trans human, trans global phenomenon.
How? You are wired for it. You are wired for it just as you are wired to see, hear, taste, walk....
How do you know what is right and wrong?
How? You are wired for it. You are wired for it just as you are wired to see, hear, taste, walk....
How do you know what is right and wrong?
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS
THE WILL OF THE ALMIGHTY?
THE WILL OF THE ALMIGHTY?
HEROES ARE THE ONLY HEALTHY AMONG US
Picture an American Indian tribe of the 1500's. An emergency befalls the tribe. How many would NOT behave heroically? None?
Why? Because, unlike we, had not lost their connection to the "others."
There are groups now, and always have been where the simplest, most normal people are HEROES.
Think "Forrest Gump."
Why? Because, unlike we, had not lost their connection to the "others."
There are groups now, and always have been where the simplest, most normal people are HEROES.
Think "Forrest Gump."
BEING LESS THAN A HERO IS ILLNESS
HARVESTING IS EASY. GROWING IS HARD.
Hmmm. I'll need your help, much imagination on this post because real clear examples are not coming to my mind.
I'd rather be a Steve Beko than an Nelson Mandella.
I'd rather be the soldiers of "Glory" than Martin Luther King.
I'd rather be young Gandhi in South Africa than old Gandhi in India.
Dr. King said, and I paraphrase, 'Well, don't think I am instrumental to the advances in rights that we are seeing. The time is right for them. I just happen to be here."
The time is right because of the efforts of unknown, unnamed, unheralded "growers" 5, 10, 50 years earlier.
King, an incredible Saint, was there to harvest their decades and centuries of "growing."
I want to be a "grower."
I'd rather be a Steve Beko than an Nelson Mandella.
I'd rather be the soldiers of "Glory" than Martin Luther King.
I'd rather be young Gandhi in South Africa than old Gandhi in India.
Dr. King said, and I paraphrase, 'Well, don't think I am instrumental to the advances in rights that we are seeing. The time is right for them. I just happen to be here."
The time is right because of the efforts of unknown, unnamed, unheralded "growers" 5, 10, 50 years earlier.
King, an incredible Saint, was there to harvest their decades and centuries of "growing."
I want to be a "grower."
7.30.2007
HYPOCRITE: "ACTOR;" "PLAYING A PART"
Hypocrite, and this definition from the Greek ("actor," "playing a part") are central to Tolstoy's brilliant works and analysis of the Hell of things.
Christ calls us to be true to the Almighty within us - Conscience, the still small voice within.
SOCIETY, the STATE call us to be SUPREMELY obedient to Government, Law, Convention, Norms.
These are the two choices - the polar opposites of existence.
Christ calls us to be true to the Almighty within us - Conscience, the still small voice within.
SOCIETY, the STATE call us to be SUPREMELY obedient to Government, Law, Convention, Norms.
These are the two choices - the polar opposites of existence.
Jesus was most
horrified by the Hypocrites.
horrified by the Hypocrites.
ORGANIZED RELIGION? ORGANIZED LOVE? ORGANIZED PARENTING?...
Hmmm.
We have "organized religion."
Let's have "organized parenting."
Let's have "organized marriage."
OXYMORON:
YOU CANNOT HAVE
"ORGANIZED RELIGION."
IT STOPS BEING "RELIGION"
WHEN IT BECOMES "ORGANIZED"
"CHRIST" MEANS "CONSCIOUSNESS"
From Gnostic Christianity.
The goal of Gnostic Christianity then is to raise consciousness by elevating the rational element of consciousness to the same level as the logos, again meaning the logic or reasoning of God. This goal is achieved when we understand a new theory of human nature that Jesus revealed because that theory justifies nonjudgmental rules of logic that empower us to reason in ways that are comparable to that of the logos of God. With that godlike potential for reasoning, we will expand the context in which we think and become conscious in a nonjudgmental and loving, godlike way. This is what Paul means by "we [meaning Gnostic Christians] are those who have the mind of Christ." (1Co 2:16 jbv)
The goal of Gnostic Christianity then is to raise consciousness by elevating the rational element of consciousness to the same level as the logos, again meaning the logic or reasoning of God. This goal is achieved when we understand a new theory of human nature that Jesus revealed because that theory justifies nonjudgmental rules of logic that empower us to reason in ways that are comparable to that of the logos of God. With that godlike potential for reasoning, we will expand the context in which we think and become conscious in a nonjudgmental and loving, godlike way. This is what Paul means by "we [meaning Gnostic Christians] are those who have the mind of Christ." (1Co 2:16 jbv)
King, Jesus, Gandhi... CRAZY!x?!* KNOW WHAT THEY WANT?!?!?!?
They suggest we discard all selfish thoughts and turn ourselves over totally to serving all of humanity!!!!!!
:-) :-) :-) :-)
Overwhelmed. In the hands of the Almighty.
I don't know how else to describe how I feel right now. It is Awesome. Heaven.
It is no one thing, but a product of things as I sit here today:
It is no one thing, but a product of things as I sit here today:
- A morning of listening to the Divine "This I Believe" by Leo Tolstoy
- An hour listening to quotes from the Divine Dr. ML King
- Chronic pain on my feet from all the marching for Darfur
- Chronic pain we in Darfur feel
- Beginning to "get it," what Jesus died to teach us.
- Agonizing over the UN / World / Bashir haggling over Darfur.
- Hopeful: UK, France modify UN text on new Darfur force
Mon 30 Jul 2007, 16:05 GMT [-] Text [+] By Evelyn Leopold
Oh God. It is Divine to be near Your will. Bliss. Agony.
LOVING. THE ONE, TRUE RELIGION
OK.
What was Jesus' religion?
What was Jesus "religious" about?
What was Jesus' religion?
What was Jesus "religious" about?
And Gandhi?
And Dr. King?
And Assisi?
Eleanor Roosevelt?
LOVING
The one true Religion
of all the human "greats."
The one true Religion
of all the human "greats."
THE LESS I'M "A" CHRISTIAN THE MORE CHRISTIAN I BECOME
Yes, yes I've been yammering on this topic for a long time. But I'm trying to really grasp the truth of what gnaws at me.
"A" Christian and Christian
are direct opposites.
THE CHOICE: MAN AS "COG"
OR MAN AS "SON OF GOD"
"A" Christian and Christian
are direct opposites.
THE CHOICE: MAN AS "COG"
OR MAN AS "SON OF GOD"
7.29.2007
Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel Quotes
- “In a controversy, the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for truth and have begun striving for ourselves”
- “A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.”
- “Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy”
- “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.”
- “Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.”
- “Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”
- “To be is to stand for.”
- “A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.”
- “The course of life in unpredictable. No one can write his autobiography in advance.”
- “Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.”
IGNORE THIS SITE AND READ TOLSTOY
As I march at the Sudan Embassy with an MP3 Player I can study. This week it was Tolstoy.
IGNORE THIS SITE AND READ TOLSTOY
- What I Believe, by Leo Tolstoy et al.
- The Kingdom of God Is Within You by graf Leo Tolstoy - Project ...
DO IT. NOW.
WHEN IS IT HUMANE TO NOT DO "GOOD?"
WHEN IS IT HUMANE TO NOT DO "GOOD?"
- When I don't feel like it?
- When I want to just think of my "family?"
- When it is unclear that I am "really" not doing good?
- When it is hard to tell?
- When everyone else is doing no "good?"
- When it is "normal?"
- When it is OK according to the "church?"
- When it is the same as what everyone else does?
- When it will cost my life?
- When it will cost my comfort?
- When it might cost my "family?"
- When it might cost arrest and Prison?
- When it might get me shot?
- When it might confuse or upset others?
- When I have not support or accomplices?
- When no one agrees with my actions?
- When my actions break the law?
- When property is damaged?
WHEN IS JUST A TINY, HIDDEN MURDER OK?
Murder:
- I point a gun and fire.
- I walk away from an extreme risk, extreme cost opportunity to Save(Darfur when my action might spur others to stop a Genocide - BY COVERING WITH BLOOD THE CHINESE OR SUDAN EMBASSIES, FOR EXAMPLE. Sudan officially rejects revised UN text on Darfur force)
When is it ok?
- I've been really good.
- I've served Darfur heroically.
- When I don't feel like it?
- When I want to just think of my "family?"
- When it is unclear that I am "really" not doing good?
- When it is hard to tell?
- When everyone else is doing no "good?"
- When it is "normal?"
- When it is OK according to the "church?"
- When it is the same as what everyone else does?
- When it will cost my life?
- When it will cost my comfort?
- When it might cost my "family?"
- When it might cost arrest and Prison?
- When it might get me shot?
- When it might confuse or upset others?
- When I have not support or accomplices?
- When no one agrees with my actions?
- When my actions break the law?
- When property is damaged?
MURDER IS NEVER OK.
IT IS NEVER OK TO VIOLATE: "Do unto others ALL that you would have them do unto you."
WHEN'S IT OK TO IGNORE THE ALMIGHTY?
WHEN'S IT OK TO IGNORE THE ALMIGHTY?
- 1 minute per day?
- 2 minutes per day?
- 364 days per year?
When's it OK? IT DEPENDS:
- What kind of life do you want?
- What kind of world to you want?
- What kind of world and life do you want for others?
7.28.2007
GETTING KILLED FOR PAINTING THE EMBASSY
Sudan officially rejects revised UN text on Darfur force
For days I've been praying / comtemplating / pondering over the idea of expressing my views about the Darfur situation (above article) by making the Sudan or Chinese Embassies "ugly" and "awful" like Bashir's goverment describes the UN Peacekeeping agreement wording - "ugly," "aweful."
As I envision doing the painting, it could happen that the Secret Service (the patrol the embassies) would come upon me in process, cry "Halt," and shoot me when I do not.
MY BIG CONCERN REGARDING THIS IS HURTING THE OFFICERS. IF IT TRANSPIRES THAT I AM SHOT AND KILLED, PLEASE MAKE IT KNOWN THAT I LOVE THE OFFICERS, THEY ARE MY BROTHERS, AND I HAVE GROWN TO EXTREMELY RESPECT THEIR SELFLESSNESS, PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECT, AND SENSE OF DUTY.
For days I've been praying / comtemplating / pondering over the idea of expressing my views about the Darfur situation (above article) by making the Sudan or Chinese Embassies "ugly" and "awful" like Bashir's goverment describes the UN Peacekeeping agreement wording - "ugly," "aweful."
As I envision doing the painting, it could happen that the Secret Service (the patrol the embassies) would come upon me in process, cry "Halt," and shoot me when I do not.
MY BIG CONCERN REGARDING THIS IS HURTING THE OFFICERS. IF IT TRANSPIRES THAT I AM SHOT AND KILLED, PLEASE MAKE IT KNOWN THAT I LOVE THE OFFICERS, THEY ARE MY BROTHERS, AND I HAVE GROWN TO EXTREMELY RESPECT THEIR SELFLESSNESS, PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECT, AND SENSE OF DUTY.
WHAT IF 100% SERVICE / SACRIFICE IS THE GREATEST JOY?
WHAT IF 100% SERVICE / SACRIFICE IS THE GREATEST JOY?
How would one live if one perceived this?
How would one parent?
How would one live if one perceived this?
How would one parent?
SELFISHNESS PERSISTS ONLY WITH FORCE OVER OTHERS
- Cheep US banana's require death squads.
- Cheep fast food labor requires police that would kill Americans forced to such jobs through deprivation of childhood nurture who otherwise stole for existance.
- Cheep, plentiful oil requires armies threatening to kill the poor in oil countries that otherwise would demand resources for a decent life.
- "Care Free" normal middle class lives require police and armies to keep the poor, uninsured masses in their places.
- Etc.
- Etc.
Thank you Howard Zinn, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, TOLSTOY.
THE CHOICE: MAN AS "COG" OR MAN AS "SON OF GOD"
THE CHOICE: MAN AS "COG" OR MAN AS "SON OF GOD." TOLSTOY DOES A DIVING JOB OF REVEALING THIS IN BETTER LANGUAGE THAN MINE.
What I Believe, by Leo Tolstoy et al.
The Kingdom of God Is Within You by graf Leo Tolstoy - Project ... (LAST 2 CHAPTERS FIRST AS TOLSTOY SUGGEST.)
What I Believe, by Leo Tolstoy et al.
The Kingdom of God Is Within You by graf Leo Tolstoy - Project ... (LAST 2 CHAPTERS FIRST AS TOLSTOY SUGGEST.)
SELFISHNESS, TO FLOURISH, HAD TO CO-OPT THE CHURCH
SELFISHNESS, TO FLOURISH, NEEDED TO COOPT THE CHURCH.
TOLSTOY DOES A DIVING JOB OF REVEALING THIS IN BETTER LANGUAGE THAN MINE.
TOLSTOY DOES A DIVING JOB OF REVEALING THIS IN BETTER LANGUAGE THAN MINE.
- What I Believe, by Leo Tolstoy et al.
- The Kingdom of God Is Within You by graf Leo Tolstoy - Project ... (LAST 2 CHAPTERS FIRST AS TOLSTOY SUGGEST.)
The future of... Darfur... Earth? PRICELESS.
What should a human being consider more "priceless" than the future of Darfur? Earth?
JESUS DIED TO ELIMINATE FORCE IN SOCIETY.
JESUS DIED TO ELIMINATE FORCE IN SOCIETY.
TOLSTOY DOES A DIVING JOB OF REVEALING THIS IN BETTER LANGUAGE THAN MINE.
TOLSTOY DOES A DIVING JOB OF REVEALING THIS IN BETTER LANGUAGE THAN MINE.
- What I Believe, by Leo Tolstoy et al.
- The Kingdom of God Is Within You by graf Leo Tolstoy - Project ... (LAST 2 CHAPTERS FIRST AS TOLSTOY SUGGEST.)
7.27.2007
BOTTOM LINE: WHAT KIND OF 80 YRS DO YOU WANT?
Beloved friend,
THERE IS NOTHING ELSE. NOT:
THERE IS NOTHING ELSE. NOT:
- JESUS
- CHRISTIANITY
- ISLAM
- RIGHT
- WRONG
- ETC...
BOTTOM LINE:
WHAT KIND OF 80 YRS DO YOU WANT?
THAT IS ALL THERE IS.
THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTION.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS TACTICS AND STRATEGY.
KINGDOM'S CONSTRUCTION SITE: THE MIND
It will take me years to grasp and be mastered by the implications of this:
KINGDOM'S CONSTRUCTION SITE:
THE MIND
JESUS EXTOLS FEARLESSNESS; BUSH - FEAR
JESUS EXTOLS FEARLESSNESS; BUSH, WESTERN-FREE-MARKET-CAPITALISM AND "CHRISTIAN ETHICS" - FEAR.
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