Leverage episodes into opportunities.
~~~~~
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Dear Daughters (12-29-2009)
Each and every EPISODE of fear that creeps into our mind and overwhelms our body can be leveraged into OPPORTUNITIES to incrementally strengthen our faith in God and our belief and trust that He will only let happen in our lives that which is for the good of our soul and others. If you believe in God in this way, then it shall be so for you and your life.
This fearlessness must always be tempered with Jesus' reminder "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Matthew 4:7).
Always maintain a healthy respect for fear. Never overcome fear with reckless abandon. The only time we should go into harm's way is when we are called to render an act of love to a person in desperate need.
An excellent illustration of this philosophy is that of Mother Teresa walking unharmed to and from across the active line of gunfire in Beirut as she tended to the needs of orphans and the handicapped trapped under rubble caused by the bombings in Lebanon.
You are not putting God to the test when you put yourself in harm's way in this manner.
~~~~~
This fearlessness must always be tempered with Jesus' reminder "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Matthew 4:7).
Always maintain a healthy respect for fear. Never overcome fear with reckless abandon. The only time we should go into harm's way is when we are called to render an act of love to a person in desperate need.
An excellent illustration of this philosophy is that of Mother Teresa walking unharmed to and from across the active line of gunfire in Beirut as she tended to the needs of orphans and the handicapped trapped under rubble caused by the bombings in Lebanon.
You are not putting God to the test when you put yourself in harm's way in this manner.
~~~~~
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Needs of Jesus
So the next time you give water to the thirsty, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick or visit the prisoner, declare to them that you have come to tend to the needs of Jesus.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Love God or Be God
The fallen nature of human beings is a manifestation of the choice of the first human being to be equal to or above God.
This choice had truly powerful (and grave) consequences when you consider that the first man was in a state of perfect existence at the time he made that unfortunate (for the rest of us) choice. Given the perfect existence in which his choice was made, it was a true exercise of free will (a spiritual act governed by spiritual laws).
The desire to be god is a truly powerful temptation of the spirit. It's power to seduce cannot be taken lightly or underestimated. The higher your are in your spiritual perfection, the greater the seduction.
I give credit to the New Age movement for helping mankind come to an awareness and higher level of understanding of mankind's spirituality. However, I have observed that the movement (and its teachers) are ultimately unable to resist the seduction to committing the same grave mistake that the first man did.
Nevertheless, all spiritual beings have this free will to exercise. There is no avoiding the choice.
Love God or be god. What is your choice? Make your declaration and declare it out loud to the universe.
~~~~~
This choice had truly powerful (and grave) consequences when you consider that the first man was in a state of perfect existence at the time he made that unfortunate (for the rest of us) choice. Given the perfect existence in which his choice was made, it was a true exercise of free will (a spiritual act governed by spiritual laws).
The desire to be god is a truly powerful temptation of the spirit. It's power to seduce cannot be taken lightly or underestimated. The higher your are in your spiritual perfection, the greater the seduction.
I give credit to the New Age movement for helping mankind come to an awareness and higher level of understanding of mankind's spirituality. However, I have observed that the movement (and its teachers) are ultimately unable to resist the seduction to committing the same grave mistake that the first man did.
Nevertheless, all spiritual beings have this free will to exercise. There is no avoiding the choice.
Love God or be god. What is your choice? Make your declaration and declare it out loud to the universe.
~~~~~
The Significance of Acts
The love that propels an act is what is important; not the act itself.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Sunday, December 20, 2009
True Freedom
True freedom is freedom from the inclinations of our imperfect human nature. True freedom is that which liberates our spirit (soul) from captivity in an imperfect body and mind.
Freedom of our spirit simply means that the love that is within us all is able to flow unimpeded.
~~~~~
Freedom of our spirit simply means that the love that is within us all is able to flow unimpeded.
~~~~~
The Why of Jesus
God can readily alter the physical laws of His creation but He never alters the spiritual laws (the laws that govern the connection of spiritual beings). This is why Jesus had to endure the human suffering that He endured as the spiritual offering for the redemption of mankind from the choice of the first man (Adam's choice to be god made while he was in a state of perfection).
Here in a nutshell is the WHY of Jesus. In understanding the WHY, perhaps we can begin to seek to know the WHO of Jesus on this Christmas Day.
~~~~~
Here in a nutshell is the WHY of Jesus. In understanding the WHY, perhaps we can begin to seek to know the WHO of Jesus on this Christmas Day.
~~~~~
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Praying for Deliverance
When we pray to the Father in light of our suffering and anguish, pray for the strength to endure the suffering (rather than to be spared the suffering) and the faith to see beneath the suffering and recognize the opportunity within that is meant for the good of our soul and others.
The anguish-filled prayer of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane is a perfect example of this.
~~~~~
The anguish-filled prayer of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane is a perfect example of this.
~~~~~
God's Calling for the Youth of Today
God calls upon all the young people of the world, whose ways are not yet set, to answer His calling to spearhead the bringing forth of the spiritual renaissance of all mankind.
God calls upon the youth generation of today. This is your calling, your calling from God. This is your time, your moment in the history of mankind.
Start with your own spiritual awakening and this will in turn awaken young people to theirs.
Rise up to your calling and fulfill your God-given role.
~~~~~
God calls upon the youth generation of today. This is your calling, your calling from God. This is your time, your moment in the history of mankind.
Start with your own spiritual awakening and this will in turn awaken young people to theirs.
Rise up to your calling and fulfill your God-given role.
~~~~~
Loving Your Religion
It is God whom you should love; not the religion that introduced you to Him.
By all means, value your religion in recognition of whatever good it has brought and continues to bring into your life...just don't fall in love with it.
~~~~~
By all means, value your religion in recognition of whatever good it has brought and continues to bring into your life...just don't fall in love with it.
~~~~~
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Loved Drowned Out
What a tragedy it is when the love of two people who truly love each other is overwhelmingly drowned out by the painful noise that completely overshadows it resulting in two sides who are able to sense only what is on the surface and thereupon react in a manner that takes the emotional noise to higher and louder levels in a continuing, vicious and destructive cycle.
People can try to intervene and enlighten (and they should) but only the grace of God can open the eyes of both sides to realize what is happening to them and break the cycle and allow the love within to surface.
This is where prayer (in particular, the prayer for such grace) would be the primary answer to this endpoint.
~~~~~
People can try to intervene and enlighten (and they should) but only the grace of God can open the eyes of both sides to realize what is happening to them and break the cycle and allow the love within to surface.
This is where prayer (in particular, the prayer for such grace) would be the primary answer to this endpoint.
~~~~~
A Call to Heed
It is not so important to establish the truthfulness of abuse (in any of its many forms) as it is to listen to and heed the agony resulting from the perception (valid or mistaken) of it.
It is only when the source of the perceived abuse tunes in to the love within themselves can they truly begin to heed the outcry of the child on the receiving end of it and thereupon start the process for finding a corrective course of action that would bring about healing and put an eventual end to the destructive and dehumanizing perception.
For those of us who are trying to help and intervene in such situations, the effective approach must always start with bringing the love that is buried within back to the surface.
Always remember that this is one intervention that must be done with great love. We cannot succeed unless we do so.
~~~~~
It is only when the source of the perceived abuse tunes in to the love within themselves can they truly begin to heed the outcry of the child on the receiving end of it and thereupon start the process for finding a corrective course of action that would bring about healing and put an eventual end to the destructive and dehumanizing perception.
For those of us who are trying to help and intervene in such situations, the effective approach must always start with bringing the love that is buried within back to the surface.
Always remember that this is one intervention that must be done with great love. We cannot succeed unless we do so.
~~~~~
Light Bulb Moment
It is only while we are in the depths of our own pain and anguish over the absence of love from those we seek it from that we have the opportunity to come to realize how we ourselves have paid no heed to the immense love that God has for us.
~~~~~
~~~~~
The Foundation of Human Love
The love of a mother and father that a child believes to be true beyond all doubts is the foundation upon which all love from others (in all its many forms) can build and rest upon.
If this foundation is not set (usually during the child's formative and development years), that child will pass through his/her lifetime completely incapable of ever truly believing the love coming from others no matter how true.
This is the most tragic form of disability of all.
~~~~~
If this foundation is not set (usually during the child's formative and development years), that child will pass through his/her lifetime completely incapable of ever truly believing the love coming from others no matter how true.
This is the most tragic form of disability of all.
~~~~~
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Church of God
This entry is dedicated to my beloved daughter who turned eighteen this month. May our Lord (our Father) shower her (and all our daughters) with His grace that will enable her to attain in her youth, the level of spirituality and unwavering faith that took me five decades to reach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each day, I increasingly perceive signs (in various forms) that give support to my belief that we are indeed at the dawn of the age of spirituality...the time of mankind's spiritual renaissance...a time that immediately precedes the final "show of hands" by all spiritual entities.
This is the age when the human race as a whole finally rises to a whole new level of spiritual consciousness...a consciousness that transcends religion and all its associated institutions (man-made social structures that are meant to bring us to know and love God fully but which, due to their man-made nature, inhibit us from moving forward beyond a certain point of realization and understanding).
Religion (and the institutions that are borne of it) is NOT the true church of God. Neither is the church of God a physical structure of any kind (a truth that any enlightened form of religion readily acknowledges). I express this perspective even as I am someone who believes in the value of going to church (religious place of worship) to spend a quiet and undistracted moment with God and one who believes in the value of attending religious services regularly.
Rather, the true church of God is the collective set of all ACTS OF LOVE by ALL human beings who chose to love Him irrespective of their religion or lack of it.
For it is with our secreted acts of true love that we truly praise God. And from these hidden acts blossom forth visible manifestations that serve as a beacon of light for others who wish to seek Him.
This is the true church...the church of love...the church that Jesus, who is the Christ, established here on Earth.
~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each day, I increasingly perceive signs (in various forms) that give support to my belief that we are indeed at the dawn of the age of spirituality...the time of mankind's spiritual renaissance...a time that immediately precedes the final "show of hands" by all spiritual entities.
This is the age when the human race as a whole finally rises to a whole new level of spiritual consciousness...a consciousness that transcends religion and all its associated institutions (man-made social structures that are meant to bring us to know and love God fully but which, due to their man-made nature, inhibit us from moving forward beyond a certain point of realization and understanding).
Religion (and the institutions that are borne of it) is NOT the true church of God. Neither is the church of God a physical structure of any kind (a truth that any enlightened form of religion readily acknowledges). I express this perspective even as I am someone who believes in the value of going to church (religious place of worship) to spend a quiet and undistracted moment with God and one who believes in the value of attending religious services regularly.
Rather, the true church of God is the collective set of all ACTS OF LOVE by ALL human beings who chose to love Him irrespective of their religion or lack of it.
For it is with our secreted acts of true love that we truly praise God. And from these hidden acts blossom forth visible manifestations that serve as a beacon of light for others who wish to seek Him.
This is the true church...the church of love...the church that Jesus, who is the Christ, established here on Earth.
~~~~~
The Gulf
The width of the gulf that grows between ourselves and others is directly proportional to the degree of fear we have for the pains that are naturally borne of human relationships in all its many forms.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Dear Daughters (12-5-2009)
Actions speak louder than words. At some point in our lives or another, we all get to realize the wisdom of that well-known saying. And more so than not, we buy into it to the detriment of our personal relationships and subsequently our spirit. This is so because one very crucial component is missing in that line of wisdom. That component is the reality of our perception...our perception of other's actions or of their words.
Our perceptions are formed and colored by a wide spectrum of factors that include social/cultural norms, our upbringing and every human relational experience we have had in our lives to date and the resulting emotions that were borne of those interactions. These perceptions can be true and they can be absolutely false. They can even have compounding effects such as in the manner when we start with a false perception (that we never realize was in error to begin with) and this, in turn, influences a subsequent perception that is also false thereby creating what I will refer to as a "reinforcement of falsehood" and so forth and so on in this ugly cycle.
What is the moral of the story? We need to develop a habit of questioning our automatic perceptions and validating as much of them as we bravely and feasibly can. A healthy amount of skepticism over our perceptions can do wonders for your personal relationships in all its forms and degrees. By this I mean your relationships with co-workers, children, parents, friends, enemies, significant others and all strangers that our life path brings us in contact with. It definitely takes a great amount of courage, skill and patience to go through the validating process and to come out with the true and correct perception. It is a worthwhile life skill to learn and develop and one that will take time to do so.
Start learning and practicing that skill now. I wish I realized this when I was in my twenties. I probably would have achieved more with my spiritual growth by this juncture in my life if I did. Nonetheless, I count myself blessed that I have even managed to arrive at this valuable realization at all. It is a source of true inner peace for me.
~~~~~
Our perceptions are formed and colored by a wide spectrum of factors that include social/cultural norms, our upbringing and every human relational experience we have had in our lives to date and the resulting emotions that were borne of those interactions. These perceptions can be true and they can be absolutely false. They can even have compounding effects such as in the manner when we start with a false perception (that we never realize was in error to begin with) and this, in turn, influences a subsequent perception that is also false thereby creating what I will refer to as a "reinforcement of falsehood" and so forth and so on in this ugly cycle.
What is the moral of the story? We need to develop a habit of questioning our automatic perceptions and validating as much of them as we bravely and feasibly can. A healthy amount of skepticism over our perceptions can do wonders for your personal relationships in all its forms and degrees. By this I mean your relationships with co-workers, children, parents, friends, enemies, significant others and all strangers that our life path brings us in contact with. It definitely takes a great amount of courage, skill and patience to go through the validating process and to come out with the true and correct perception. It is a worthwhile life skill to learn and develop and one that will take time to do so.
Start learning and practicing that skill now. I wish I realized this when I was in my twenties. I probably would have achieved more with my spiritual growth by this juncture in my life if I did. Nonetheless, I count myself blessed that I have even managed to arrive at this valuable realization at all. It is a source of true inner peace for me.
~~~~~
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Prejudice
At the very heart of prejudice is fear...fear of some aspect of the human nature of a person (that we are prejudicial to) that we intimately know from within. Fear blocks love from naturally flowing onward from our spirit unto others.
It could take an enormous amount to energy to overcome this fear completely. But if we can somehow manage to look past the physical and mental side of each person and focus our minds on attempting to sense and connect with their spiritual side, then perhaps we may succeed in connecting with the mind of that person whom we fear and allow love to slowly trickle into the relationship (however brief or momentary it may be).
It may be helpful to our efforts if we can develop a mindfulness of the truth that all souls are connected...our soul is connected with the soul of each and every human being. We CAN bring our minds to make sensing this connection with others second nature to us. We do NOT need to wait for others to get to that state of mind before we do so.
If you find this end point to be simply impossible to achieve then I invite you to reflect on a spiritual truth that Jesus taught his disciples - "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
~~~~~
It could take an enormous amount to energy to overcome this fear completely. But if we can somehow manage to look past the physical and mental side of each person and focus our minds on attempting to sense and connect with their spiritual side, then perhaps we may succeed in connecting with the mind of that person whom we fear and allow love to slowly trickle into the relationship (however brief or momentary it may be).
It may be helpful to our efforts if we can develop a mindfulness of the truth that all souls are connected...our soul is connected with the soul of each and every human being. We CAN bring our minds to make sensing this connection with others second nature to us. We do NOT need to wait for others to get to that state of mind before we do so.
If you find this end point to be simply impossible to achieve then I invite you to reflect on a spiritual truth that Jesus taught his disciples - "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
~~~~~
Friday, October 23, 2009
Moment of Joy (10-23-2009)
Every human being conceived (yes, I meant to say 'conceived' as opposed to 'born') into this world is the embodiment of a soul moving along in its spiritual journey.
Considering that all souls are connected on the spiritual realm, then every single such life event is a very special moment for celebration regardless of whether our human mind has the capacity to appreciate this or not.
It is surely a moment of joy for those who can.
~~~~~
Considering that all souls are connected on the spiritual realm, then every single such life event is a very special moment for celebration regardless of whether our human mind has the capacity to appreciate this or not.
It is surely a moment of joy for those who can.
~~~~~
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Dear Daughters (10-21-2009)
Do not allow yourselves to fall in love with a man BEFORE the man truly falls in love with you. Why? Because men (in general) are emotionally attached to a less intense degree than women are when they are in the throngs of "love". As such, men are more able to bear whatever emotional pain there is to bear from any unreciprocated love and, thus, are less likely to feel deep regret and make the other party feel completely responsible for misleading them into false expectations that get shattered down the road. Women suffer more from unreciprocated love than men do.
Having said that, be careful in your assessment of men's feelings and emotions because these are very much connected to their libido. NEVER rely on the man to make this important assessment. They are simply incapable of telling the difference between lust and love. It takes years of experience and heartache (in general) before men learn how to properly distinguish and discern when their feelings are merely lustful as opposed to being truly in love. Don't blame them completely...this is how nature intended things to be.
In order to drive home the point of this powerful human instinct, my mom gave me an enlightening point of reflection when i was young. She told me that (in general) a man would never (in his right mind) trade a few minutes of pleasure for the lifetime of sacrifices that he would have to bear in caring for and raising the potential product of that pleasurable activity (the enjoyable personal activities that he is accustomed to that he would have to give up; the heavy financial responsibility that lasts almost a lifetime; the long sleepless nights during the first years). Nature, therefore, programs men to lose their right minds momentarily in order for them to readily engage in this pleasurable activity despite the potential life-changing consequenses.
Women somehow know that in most cases (those cases where men are not maturely and emotionally invested in the relationship) men are not in their right minds when they are so intent on winning their hearts. They know that once men eventually get their right minds back, they will (most likely) lose interest in them soon enough. Yet, they chose to proceed with such a an engagement despite the heartache and emotional pain of being dumped that they instinctively know they will eventually face down the road. Why do they do so? They do so because they are also blinded (lose their minds) momentarily by their powerful emotional needs that drives them to be in denial and in perpetual hope that this time it will be different. Well, this is part of the other side of the equation that nature also effectively takes care of to ensure the higher likelihood for sexual activity and the propagation of the species.
To recap my advice to you my dear daughters:
1. do not allow yourself to fall in love with a man BEFORE he truly falls in love with you
2. never rely on the man to make the discernment of whether he is in love with you or in lust with you...make the discernment yourself.
~~~~~
Having said that, be careful in your assessment of men's feelings and emotions because these are very much connected to their libido. NEVER rely on the man to make this important assessment. They are simply incapable of telling the difference between lust and love. It takes years of experience and heartache (in general) before men learn how to properly distinguish and discern when their feelings are merely lustful as opposed to being truly in love. Don't blame them completely...this is how nature intended things to be.
In order to drive home the point of this powerful human instinct, my mom gave me an enlightening point of reflection when i was young. She told me that (in general) a man would never (in his right mind) trade a few minutes of pleasure for the lifetime of sacrifices that he would have to bear in caring for and raising the potential product of that pleasurable activity (the enjoyable personal activities that he is accustomed to that he would have to give up; the heavy financial responsibility that lasts almost a lifetime; the long sleepless nights during the first years). Nature, therefore, programs men to lose their right minds momentarily in order for them to readily engage in this pleasurable activity despite the potential life-changing consequenses.
Women somehow know that in most cases (those cases where men are not maturely and emotionally invested in the relationship) men are not in their right minds when they are so intent on winning their hearts. They know that once men eventually get their right minds back, they will (most likely) lose interest in them soon enough. Yet, they chose to proceed with such a an engagement despite the heartache and emotional pain of being dumped that they instinctively know they will eventually face down the road. Why do they do so? They do so because they are also blinded (lose their minds) momentarily by their powerful emotional needs that drives them to be in denial and in perpetual hope that this time it will be different. Well, this is part of the other side of the equation that nature also effectively takes care of to ensure the higher likelihood for sexual activity and the propagation of the species.
To recap my advice to you my dear daughters:
1. do not allow yourself to fall in love with a man BEFORE he truly falls in love with you
2. never rely on the man to make the discernment of whether he is in love with you or in lust with you...make the discernment yourself.
~~~~~
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Powerful Prayer
Before I share with you my perspective on prayers (based on what I have discerned from my own personal experience and relationship with God) and the characteristics that comprise the ones that most effectively capture God's attention, let me state at the onset that the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) is the primary example of a COMPLETE prayer.
Without further adieu, here are the characteristics:
1. passionate - a petition for that which we have strong passions for (perhaps the most important characteristic)
2. loving - a selfless petition for that which brings joy and peace to another is what ultimately brings joy and peace to ourselves
3. faithful - so often Jesus would declare how the faith of the healed is what brought about the healing
4. trusting - not specifying the exact outcome that we would want but leaving it to God to determine the best outcome according to His infinite wisdom for our good and the good of others
5. patient - does not set a timetable for God to answer the prayer; just let your petitions rise up to Him and let go.
~~~~~
Without further adieu, here are the characteristics:
1. passionate - a petition for that which we have strong passions for (perhaps the most important characteristic)
2. loving - a selfless petition for that which brings joy and peace to another is what ultimately brings joy and peace to ourselves
3. faithful - so often Jesus would declare how the faith of the healed is what brought about the healing
4. trusting - not specifying the exact outcome that we would want but leaving it to God to determine the best outcome according to His infinite wisdom for our good and the good of others
5. patient - does not set a timetable for God to answer the prayer; just let your petitions rise up to Him and let go.
~~~~~
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Questions from My Daughter
Last night, in the midst of just hanging out quietly with each other, my eldest daughter and I started conversing about this blog. It was the FIRST time that we actually engaged in a discussion of it. Although I could sense an initial amount of hesitation, little by little she bacame more comfortable sharing her probing questions concerning some of the concepts.
Among the areas where there was difficulty comprehending the meaning I was trying to convey were in the concept of "human programming", the concept of the "puppet existence" and the concept of the soul having knowledge of the truths. Then she drops the mother of all questions - why do bad things happen in this world and why does God allow these things to happen?
When I respond with the concept of this imperfect world as being the natural consequence of the first human being (who is both physical and spritual in form) exercising his free will in the manner of chosing to be God, she responds with the reasonable question - why does the entire human race have to suffer the consequences of the free will choice of one human being?
When I bring up the concept of Jesus having to come into this human existence and die on the cross to redeem all of mankind from the unfortunate choice of the first human being, her next question was - If mankind has been redeemed by the free will choice of Jesus, then why do we still remain in this imperfect world and this fallen state?
These are excellent points of reflection indeed. The same points that I had to resolve within myself during my own quest for the truths.
I will share my complete perspectives on these questions at a later time.
~~~~~
Among the areas where there was difficulty comprehending the meaning I was trying to convey were in the concept of "human programming", the concept of the "puppet existence" and the concept of the soul having knowledge of the truths. Then she drops the mother of all questions - why do bad things happen in this world and why does God allow these things to happen?
When I respond with the concept of this imperfect world as being the natural consequence of the first human being (who is both physical and spritual in form) exercising his free will in the manner of chosing to be God, she responds with the reasonable question - why does the entire human race have to suffer the consequences of the free will choice of one human being?
When I bring up the concept of Jesus having to come into this human existence and die on the cross to redeem all of mankind from the unfortunate choice of the first human being, her next question was - If mankind has been redeemed by the free will choice of Jesus, then why do we still remain in this imperfect world and this fallen state?
These are excellent points of reflection indeed. The same points that I had to resolve within myself during my own quest for the truths.
I will share my complete perspectives on these questions at a later time.
~~~~~
Monday, October 5, 2009
Dear Child (10-5-2009)
Just as it has been with my own truth discernment process, so will it most likely be with yours - that it will NOT be by the power of any man or institution that you will reach a realization of truth to the full satisfaction of your inherent doubtings and stubborn need for tangible or logical proof just as no man or institution managed to make me come to fully believe the truths about Jesus and God to the point of fully transcending all my doubtings and stubborn need for absolute proof (no matter how articulate, spirit-filled or convincing these teachers or institutions may be).
Ultimately, it is only God and His divine revelation that can make you see the whole truth and quench your eternal hunger for it.
Jesus cast light on this reality (about our process for the realization of the truth) during one moment when He asked His apostles the ultimate question – “Who do you say I am?” When Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus declared to him “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
Open your minds to God and He will lead you to the truth and believing beyond all your doubts.
~~~~~
Ultimately, it is only God and His divine revelation that can make you see the whole truth and quench your eternal hunger for it.
Jesus cast light on this reality (about our process for the realization of the truth) during one moment when He asked His apostles the ultimate question – “Who do you say I am?” When Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus declared to him “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
Open your minds to God and He will lead you to the truth and believing beyond all your doubts.
~~~~~
The Moment of Truth
Perhaps the one moment when the mind has a heightened connection with the soul is when it is staring death squarely in the face. For all but the most stubborn and rebellious minds, this is one moment when truth is fully realized (if not already beforehand)...a moment when the mind is fully aware of what is truly important in life.
It will be a moment when we will clearly sense the spiritual part of ourselves and of others...a moment when we will clearly sense our spiritual connection with God beyond all doubt.
Hopefully we each can reach a FULL realization of our physical and spiritual consistency and our connection with God before death comes knocking at our door.
Our minds may have but a few seconds to think about these things when that fateful moment arrives.
~~~~~
It will be a moment when we will clearly sense the spiritual part of ourselves and of others...a moment when we will clearly sense our spiritual connection with God beyond all doubt.
Hopefully we each can reach a FULL realization of our physical and spiritual consistency and our connection with God before death comes knocking at our door.
Our minds may have but a few seconds to think about these things when that fateful moment arrives.
~~~~~
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Primary Beneficiary
It has recently become clearly apparent to me that it is my own mind that is the primary recipient and beneficiary of the writing of this blog even though it was started in response to a burning call from God to do so for the benefit of other minds.
Joseph Joubert wisely discerned in 1842 that "To teach is to learn twice." In an article authored by Steve Wickham, he links this discernment with a passage from scripture - "For the Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrew 4:12).
Steve further explains that the term 'living' as used in this passage means that every time we read the Word of God, we see things that we were not able to see (even in the same passage) in a previous reading and in a reading previous to that.
In other words, the true Word of God is always perceived in a new light (each time we read it) just as we would perceive any other living organism.
Our mind is a continuously growing part of the body, with vast amounts of unconnected neuroconnectors slowly connecting with each other over time as we age and stretch our minds thereby giving us new realizations on a continuing basis. When we read and reflect on the Word of God, we provide our minds with the stretching it needs that will enable it to grow into its TRUE place and form - a mind that is able to feel the soul, feel God and feel our love for God in our heart.
The writing of this blog was therefore a preparatory step for the new (and heavier) cross that God is handing to me for this next phase of my life. It brings me peace to know of one mind that is the intended beneficiary of this body of work.
~~~~~
Joseph Joubert wisely discerned in 1842 that "To teach is to learn twice." In an article authored by Steve Wickham, he links this discernment with a passage from scripture - "For the Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrew 4:12).
Steve further explains that the term 'living' as used in this passage means that every time we read the Word of God, we see things that we were not able to see (even in the same passage) in a previous reading and in a reading previous to that.
In other words, the true Word of God is always perceived in a new light (each time we read it) just as we would perceive any other living organism.
Our mind is a continuously growing part of the body, with vast amounts of unconnected neuroconnectors slowly connecting with each other over time as we age and stretch our minds thereby giving us new realizations on a continuing basis. When we read and reflect on the Word of God, we provide our minds with the stretching it needs that will enable it to grow into its TRUE place and form - a mind that is able to feel the soul, feel God and feel our love for God in our heart.
The writing of this blog was therefore a preparatory step for the new (and heavier) cross that God is handing to me for this next phase of my life. It brings me peace to know of one mind that is the intended beneficiary of this body of work.
~~~~~
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Yes, Google may have "all" the answers, but the soul has even more...much, much more. :-)
Just ask Einstein how he came to conceptualize his theories about time, space and the universe. Just ask Mozart how his music simply flashed in front of his mind and all he had to do was write it all down as fast as he could see the notes.
And what about the Holy Spirit? Well, HS has infinitely more!
~~~~~
Just ask Einstein how he came to conceptualize his theories about time, space and the universe. Just ask Mozart how his music simply flashed in front of his mind and all he had to do was write it all down as fast as he could see the notes.
And what about the Holy Spirit? Well, HS has infinitely more!
~~~~~
Finding Our True Life
My sisters and brothers, awaken your consciousness (through mindfulness) to the truths within you, and in so doing, find the TRUE meaning in your life. I know of two pathways to this endpoint.
One path starts with finding your soul which leads to finding God, and subsequently, finding your TRUE life. This is the lengthier path (and the approach that would be most appropriate for those of us who have trouble with the concept of an unseen and intangible God at the onset).
The other path starts with finding God which leads to finding your soul, and thereafter, finding your TRUE life. This is the shorter path (the natural way that those who inherently feel a love for God at the onset take).
Do you recognize the common theme in both paths? Here it is - find our soul plus find God equals find our TRUE life. Our soul is in union with God (unless we freely chose to break this union), and thus, finding one will lead us to finding the other.
~~~~~
One path starts with finding your soul which leads to finding God, and subsequently, finding your TRUE life. This is the lengthier path (and the approach that would be most appropriate for those of us who have trouble with the concept of an unseen and intangible God at the onset).
The other path starts with finding God which leads to finding your soul, and thereafter, finding your TRUE life. This is the shorter path (the natural way that those who inherently feel a love for God at the onset take).
Do you recognize the common theme in both paths? Here it is - find our soul plus find God equals find our TRUE life. Our soul is in union with God (unless we freely chose to break this union), and thus, finding one will lead us to finding the other.
~~~~~
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Cup Before Us
The Lord our God had given me a relatively "light" cross to bear these past three years. It was a very nice break and it allowed me the quiet moments to put the truths (as I sincerely believe them to be so) shared in this blog into written form.
Now that I have been spiritually rested, He is getting me mentally ready for a new ADVENTURE once again. I accept and am prepared for whatever cross the Lord wants me to bear moving forward.
Jesus gave us a fine example of how we can overcome our human nature's desire to avoid any cross in life when he declared "Abba! Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want." (Mark 14:36).
I drink with peace and love from whatever cup our Lord sets in front of me. Embrace the cup that is set in front of you by the Lord...do so and you will truly find your life (and fill that ever aching void within you).
~~~~~
Now that I have been spiritually rested, He is getting me mentally ready for a new ADVENTURE once again. I accept and am prepared for whatever cross the Lord wants me to bear moving forward.
Jesus gave us a fine example of how we can overcome our human nature's desire to avoid any cross in life when he declared "Abba! Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want." (Mark 14:36).
I drink with peace and love from whatever cup our Lord sets in front of me. Embrace the cup that is set in front of you by the Lord...do so and you will truly find your life (and fill that ever aching void within you).
~~~~~
In His Infinite Wisdom
There is one way to have God FULLY in control of what happens in your life...surrender your ENTIRE life back to Him with no conditions and with the awareness that you prefer to entrust your life to His infinite wisdom rather than to your limited one.
This is one request where "Ask and you shall receive" fully applies. Trust me on this one...I know this from my own experience and relationship with Him.
~~~~~
This is one request where "Ask and you shall receive" fully applies. Trust me on this one...I know this from my own experience and relationship with Him.
~~~~~
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A Very Precious Time
A pregnant friend recently shared with me that while she was in the midst of a terrible case of nausea (during the very early period in her first trimester), she quietly asked her child to help reduce the degree of the morning sickness. Almost soon after the request was made, the nausea went away.
Coincidence? Although my curiosity would like to be satisfied with regards to this question, the more significant fruit of this reflection is the realization of a possible truth that never in my entire life crossed my mind.
Here is that realization - the only moment in the existence of a human being when the soul (spirit) is able to communicate directly with another human being (free of any hindrance or barriers) is when that human being is still an embryo without the presence of a formed and functioning brain yet (it is said that brain activity is noticeable at about the sixth week post fertilization). During this stage, it is purely that person's soul that you are in touch with.
So make the most of this gift of this precious moment whether you believe this realization to be the truth or not. After all, what do you have to lose as compared to what you stand to gain by simply communicating directly with the soul of your child?
~~~~~
Coincidence? Although my curiosity would like to be satisfied with regards to this question, the more significant fruit of this reflection is the realization of a possible truth that never in my entire life crossed my mind.
Here is that realization - the only moment in the existence of a human being when the soul (spirit) is able to communicate directly with another human being (free of any hindrance or barriers) is when that human being is still an embryo without the presence of a formed and functioning brain yet (it is said that brain activity is noticeable at about the sixth week post fertilization). During this stage, it is purely that person's soul that you are in touch with.
So make the most of this gift of this precious moment whether you believe this realization to be the truth or not. After all, what do you have to lose as compared to what you stand to gain by simply communicating directly with the soul of your child?
~~~~~
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hiatus
Dear Friends,
There is so much more that I would earnestly like to put down in writing but because of the dictates of current circumstances, I will have to go on a blog writing hiatus of several weeks or months.
I will be back soon enough.
~~~~~
There is so much more that I would earnestly like to put down in writing but because of the dictates of current circumstances, I will have to go on a blog writing hiatus of several weeks or months.
I will be back soon enough.
~~~~~
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Pearls of Faith
The more pearls you make out of the numerous irritants in your life, the stronger your faith will become in the power of Love (God).
~~~~~
~~~~~
A Very Special Pearl
Faith (in its truest and perfect form) can be likened to a very special pearl…a pearl so perfect, prized and beautiful that it is hidden in one very special oyster resting on a sea bed alongside a million other oysters scattered about.
Given the slim odds of ever finding this treasure, would you not rejoice with delirious joy upon finding it after days, weeks, months, and (perhaps) years of laborious searching? Would not the find be even sweeter if just before the moment of doing so, you were so tired and weary from the search that you practically were at the point of losing all hope of ever finding it? Finally, would you not want to share this treasure with as many in the world as you can manage to share it with?
It took decades of seeking before I found my true and unbreakable faith. I now have my treasure, and with it, the inner peace to be able to face death should it come knocking at any moment. My dear brothers and sisters, I know how hard you also seek for your own pearl of true faith. Although I am deeply aware of the reality that you and you alone must find it, I secretly wish that somehow your search might be made a bit easier by my sharing with you the foundations of my found pearl of faith.
Why is the pearl (from among all the other precious gems) the most fitting metaphor for faith? This is because the pearl is borne from a single and irritating speck of sand that lodges itself inside the oyster and which the oyster is powerless to remove but has the power to coat with layers and layers of its ‘saliva’ to seal off the irritation.
We can liken the irritating speck of sand in the oyster to those irritants in our lives that we cannot seem to get away from or get rid of. Though these irritants bring pain and discomfort to us, we have the power to respond to these by ‘coating’ these with acts of true love (we all have true love in our souls). A coat of true love is like the coat of the pearl…it breaks light to reveal the splendor of all the colors within. Through the years of our applying coats of love to the ‘irritants’ in our lives, we build upon the beautiful pearl within us as it slowly grows into the true faith that we seek.
How is this so? This is so because true love is God. The more acts of true love we do, the more we come to truly know God deep in our hearts. True love is the foundation of true faith. The only true and effective way to teach others about God and how they can develop an unwavering faith in Him is by giving them as much true love (love without conditions, requirements or expectations of reciprocity) as we can muster to give.
Jesus taught us who God is and what God is like through the unconditional love that He faithfully gives us. This despite our imperfect state, many failings and lack of faith in Him.
~~~~~
Given the slim odds of ever finding this treasure, would you not rejoice with delirious joy upon finding it after days, weeks, months, and (perhaps) years of laborious searching? Would not the find be even sweeter if just before the moment of doing so, you were so tired and weary from the search that you practically were at the point of losing all hope of ever finding it? Finally, would you not want to share this treasure with as many in the world as you can manage to share it with?
It took decades of seeking before I found my true and unbreakable faith. I now have my treasure, and with it, the inner peace to be able to face death should it come knocking at any moment. My dear brothers and sisters, I know how hard you also seek for your own pearl of true faith. Although I am deeply aware of the reality that you and you alone must find it, I secretly wish that somehow your search might be made a bit easier by my sharing with you the foundations of my found pearl of faith.
Why is the pearl (from among all the other precious gems) the most fitting metaphor for faith? This is because the pearl is borne from a single and irritating speck of sand that lodges itself inside the oyster and which the oyster is powerless to remove but has the power to coat with layers and layers of its ‘saliva’ to seal off the irritation.
We can liken the irritating speck of sand in the oyster to those irritants in our lives that we cannot seem to get away from or get rid of. Though these irritants bring pain and discomfort to us, we have the power to respond to these by ‘coating’ these with acts of true love (we all have true love in our souls). A coat of true love is like the coat of the pearl…it breaks light to reveal the splendor of all the colors within. Through the years of our applying coats of love to the ‘irritants’ in our lives, we build upon the beautiful pearl within us as it slowly grows into the true faith that we seek.
How is this so? This is so because true love is God. The more acts of true love we do, the more we come to truly know God deep in our hearts. True love is the foundation of true faith. The only true and effective way to teach others about God and how they can develop an unwavering faith in Him is by giving them as much true love (love without conditions, requirements or expectations of reciprocity) as we can muster to give.
Jesus taught us who God is and what God is like through the unconditional love that He faithfully gives us. This despite our imperfect state, many failings and lack of faith in Him.
~~~~~
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Reality
Reality can be rather overrated. More often than not, our sense of reality is nothing more than an imperfect perception on our part as influenced by our imperfect human nature.
The only true reality (from what I have managed to truthfully discern) is God.
~~~~~
The only true reality (from what I have managed to truthfully discern) is God.
~~~~~
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Afterlife
I would like to share with you here my response to a question posed to me concerning my beliefs as to what happens to "sinful" people in the "afterlife". The question stemmed from a reflection on the true meaning of the term "sin" and a passage from scripture that talks about death as being the wage of sin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friend,
Since you asked, I will share with you my personal thoughts and sincere beliefs concerning the "death" of the soul. When a soul makes a free will (willful) choice to break away from God, it is (for all intents and purposes) ultimately a choice to be God. Usually, a choice would subsequently be manifested in the form of an act by the body as controlled by the mind (the mind being influenced by the soul).
Please allow me to clarify further that not all acts committed by the body originate from the soul (a large chunk of our actions are sparked by human programming - whether it is natural programming or social programming). It is oftentimes difficult for our mind to discern which acts originate from the soul and which ones originate from human programming. Nevertheless, I would not allow this element of uncertainty to distract me from my resolve to simply live my life striving to do as much acts of love as I can manage to do in my lifetime because acts of true love are manifestations of a soul's choice to be in union with God (for God is Love and love is God).
Whenever I address any question posed to me, I first try to establish commonality in the meaning of terms used - in this case "afterlife". I will presume that we are both taking this word to mean the eternal life after the SCC (Second Coming of Christ). If that is the case, then here is the answer - the SCC (or the end times) is the final moment when a "showing of hands" occurs (as in the showing of hands in a poker game). All acts committed within all lifetimes of a soul will reveal whether a soul chose to be in union with God or if it chose to break away from God.
All souls that choose to be in union with God will live in union with God for all eternity. Now what about those souls that choose to break from God? What happens to them at the end times? Well, there are well-known passages in scripture that allude to an eternal state of existence in "fire" (note that the term "fire" as used here is not the same as fire as we know it in this world - it is a spiritual fire). There are also passages that allude to these souls being "destroyed".
Well, what clues can we use to answer this question? Let's look at the example of the fallen archangel Lucifer who was supposedly the most beautiful of all angels and of the highest form. So high in form was Lucifer that he became filled with so much PRIDE, and shortly thereafter, exalted himself to being equal to God. In so doing, he broke his union with God and immediately after he did so, his beauty withered away and he turned into the hideous and imperfect being that most refer to as Satan. In like fashion, all the legions angels entrusted by God to this archangel and who followed Lucifer (in breaking away from God) ended up with the same fate.
Humankind is in this imperfect and fallen state as well because of the choice of Adam and Eve to break from God and be like God. Fortunately for mankind, God sent Jesus to be the new Adam and make a redeeming choice to reunite ALL mankind (regardless of whether they know of Jesus or not) with God through the sacrificial surrender of Jesus' free will to God's will.
Long story short, I do not know what exactly happens in the afterlife to those souls that chose to break from God. It is really not my business to know (the truth concerning this) and it is of no relevance to me since my eternal choice is to always be in union with God and to let my life reflect this choice by always striving to do acts of true love as much as i can. Let me end by reflecting on Mother Teresa's insight (that she shared with us and as exemplified by her life) that we all cannot do great things, but we all can do little things with great love.
~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friend,
Since you asked, I will share with you my personal thoughts and sincere beliefs concerning the "death" of the soul. When a soul makes a free will (willful) choice to break away from God, it is (for all intents and purposes) ultimately a choice to be God. Usually, a choice would subsequently be manifested in the form of an act by the body as controlled by the mind (the mind being influenced by the soul).
Please allow me to clarify further that not all acts committed by the body originate from the soul (a large chunk of our actions are sparked by human programming - whether it is natural programming or social programming). It is oftentimes difficult for our mind to discern which acts originate from the soul and which ones originate from human programming. Nevertheless, I would not allow this element of uncertainty to distract me from my resolve to simply live my life striving to do as much acts of love as I can manage to do in my lifetime because acts of true love are manifestations of a soul's choice to be in union with God (for God is Love and love is God).
Whenever I address any question posed to me, I first try to establish commonality in the meaning of terms used - in this case "afterlife". I will presume that we are both taking this word to mean the eternal life after the SCC (Second Coming of Christ). If that is the case, then here is the answer - the SCC (or the end times) is the final moment when a "showing of hands" occurs (as in the showing of hands in a poker game). All acts committed within all lifetimes of a soul will reveal whether a soul chose to be in union with God or if it chose to break away from God.
All souls that choose to be in union with God will live in union with God for all eternity. Now what about those souls that choose to break from God? What happens to them at the end times? Well, there are well-known passages in scripture that allude to an eternal state of existence in "fire" (note that the term "fire" as used here is not the same as fire as we know it in this world - it is a spiritual fire). There are also passages that allude to these souls being "destroyed".
Well, what clues can we use to answer this question? Let's look at the example of the fallen archangel Lucifer who was supposedly the most beautiful of all angels and of the highest form. So high in form was Lucifer that he became filled with so much PRIDE, and shortly thereafter, exalted himself to being equal to God. In so doing, he broke his union with God and immediately after he did so, his beauty withered away and he turned into the hideous and imperfect being that most refer to as Satan. In like fashion, all the legions angels entrusted by God to this archangel and who followed Lucifer (in breaking away from God) ended up with the same fate.
Humankind is in this imperfect and fallen state as well because of the choice of Adam and Eve to break from God and be like God. Fortunately for mankind, God sent Jesus to be the new Adam and make a redeeming choice to reunite ALL mankind (regardless of whether they know of Jesus or not) with God through the sacrificial surrender of Jesus' free will to God's will.
Long story short, I do not know what exactly happens in the afterlife to those souls that chose to break from God. It is really not my business to know (the truth concerning this) and it is of no relevance to me since my eternal choice is to always be in union with God and to let my life reflect this choice by always striving to do acts of true love as much as i can. Let me end by reflecting on Mother Teresa's insight (that she shared with us and as exemplified by her life) that we all cannot do great things, but we all can do little things with great love.
~~~~~
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
2033
This is a play on a thought...nothing more, nothing less. So just enjoy (the thought process) without getting too wrapped up with the logically integrity of it all, okay? LOL.
Let's start with this passage from scripture - "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8).
Now think of the death of Jesus as a departure from this world and His resurrection as His coming back to the world. So Jesus "came back" sometime during the beginning of the third day. In similar manner will it most likely be with the SCC (Second Coming of Christ) whereby Jesus will come back again to this world sometime in the beginning of the third "thousand years" after He ascended to Heaven and departed.
If we use the year 33 AD (the approximate year when Jesus departed) as our reference point, then the beginning of the third "day" (thousand years) is 2033. The Chinese should love this year since the digits add up to the number eight. Following this thought process, we can conclude that the SCC will most likely occur shortly after this year.
Having shared that, I need to stress that this is all in good fun and that it is not our business to try to predict when the end times will be because when we put focus on this, we divert from the proper focus of our minds which is on loving God more and more.
~~~~~
Let's start with this passage from scripture - "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8).
Now think of the death of Jesus as a departure from this world and His resurrection as His coming back to the world. So Jesus "came back" sometime during the beginning of the third day. In similar manner will it most likely be with the SCC (Second Coming of Christ) whereby Jesus will come back again to this world sometime in the beginning of the third "thousand years" after He ascended to Heaven and departed.
If we use the year 33 AD (the approximate year when Jesus departed) as our reference point, then the beginning of the third "day" (thousand years) is 2033. The Chinese should love this year since the digits add up to the number eight. Following this thought process, we can conclude that the SCC will most likely occur shortly after this year.
Having shared that, I need to stress that this is all in good fun and that it is not our business to try to predict when the end times will be because when we put focus on this, we divert from the proper focus of our minds which is on loving God more and more.
~~~~~
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
In a Different Light
Have you ever felt somewhat turned off, ashamed or full of guilt whenever you read a passage from scripture that contains the term "sin"? Does the term invoke highly negative feelings borne of "traditional" religious viewpoints that defines the term sin as the "breaking" of commandments and rules? Has your mind experienced being so accustomed to this form of definition that you automatically visualize sin as some ugly and black colored stain on your soul with varying shades of blackness depending on the "severity" of the sin (such as in the case of venial vs. mortal sins).
That is how I was trained to look at the term from an early age. I can somehow sense and appreciate the probable motivations by religious leaders (and their legions of teachers who carry out their spiritual prescriptions) as they make a strong play upon our innate fears (usually the fear of a grave form of punishment or the loss of a reward) with the aim of somehow motivating us to fearfully follow prescribed rules and commandments with consistency, thereby establishing some order within society and the institution. Nonetheless, we know full well the long-term shortcomings and limitations with such approach resulting in more rebellion, disdain and suspicion for anything religious.
As we have seen in earlier essays on this blog, the better and more meaningful (thus more effective long-term) approach is to inspire people to love rather than to fear...in particular, to love God. When we look at the term "sin" from the perspective of true love for God, it becomes apparent to us that the proper meaning to associate with the word is this - sin is any act that separates us from God...an act that breaks our union with God.
So the next time you encounter the word "sin" in any of your readings, simply replace this term with the words "that which breaks our union with God" or "that which separates us from God."
Let's look at one example to illustrate the point being made here. Let's look at the passage from Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Using the "traditional" perspective, we cannot help but perceive this passage as telling us that God will bring death to us as the penalty for sinning...for breaking some religious law, rule or commandment. However, when we use the perspective of love for God as the basis for defining sin and make the suggested replacement above, then the passage now looks like this - "For the wages of that which breaks our union with God is death..." In this form, we are able to perceive the proper meaning of the passage which is that it is only when we are in union (connected) with God that we maintain staying (spiritually) alive and once we break away, our souls will eventually (and naturally) experience a spiritual death. Do you see the big difference in meaning? In the former, God brings us death whereas in the latter, we bring about our own death by our choice.
Use this principle the next time you read scripture. In doing so, you will open your eyes to a whole new meaning...the correct meaning and come to see God as the loving and faithful God that He is.
~~~~~
That is how I was trained to look at the term from an early age. I can somehow sense and appreciate the probable motivations by religious leaders (and their legions of teachers who carry out their spiritual prescriptions) as they make a strong play upon our innate fears (usually the fear of a grave form of punishment or the loss of a reward) with the aim of somehow motivating us to fearfully follow prescribed rules and commandments with consistency, thereby establishing some order within society and the institution. Nonetheless, we know full well the long-term shortcomings and limitations with such approach resulting in more rebellion, disdain and suspicion for anything religious.
As we have seen in earlier essays on this blog, the better and more meaningful (thus more effective long-term) approach is to inspire people to love rather than to fear...in particular, to love God. When we look at the term "sin" from the perspective of true love for God, it becomes apparent to us that the proper meaning to associate with the word is this - sin is any act that separates us from God...an act that breaks our union with God.
So the next time you encounter the word "sin" in any of your readings, simply replace this term with the words "that which breaks our union with God" or "that which separates us from God."
Let's look at one example to illustrate the point being made here. Let's look at the passage from Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Using the "traditional" perspective, we cannot help but perceive this passage as telling us that God will bring death to us as the penalty for sinning...for breaking some religious law, rule or commandment. However, when we use the perspective of love for God as the basis for defining sin and make the suggested replacement above, then the passage now looks like this - "For the wages of that which breaks our union with God is death..." In this form, we are able to perceive the proper meaning of the passage which is that it is only when we are in union (connected) with God that we maintain staying (spiritually) alive and once we break away, our souls will eventually (and naturally) experience a spiritual death. Do you see the big difference in meaning? In the former, God brings us death whereas in the latter, we bring about our own death by our choice.
Use this principle the next time you read scripture. In doing so, you will open your eyes to a whole new meaning...the correct meaning and come to see God as the loving and faithful God that He is.
~~~~~
Friday, August 21, 2009
Why Bother Getting to Know About God?
Tonight, as I was relaxing and listening to a beautiful trumpet rendition of the music of praise titled "Great is Thy Faithfulness", I reflected on a very difficult question posed to me several times by my friend who at the age of forty-one is only beginning to learn about God and the concept of the soul. My experiences with this friend (whom God has lead me to), has humbled me (a good thing) and my initially lofty aspirations concerning getting this friend to understand and truly know God.
The question is this - What benefit is it to know and love God for those in this world who are "successful", "happy" and "fulfilled" and who have attained such existence without the benefit of ever having heard of God or contemplated such a Being that is imaginary and difficult to even begin to sense?
It certainly is not within my mental capacity nor is it my place to make an assessment as to the whether such individuals are indeed in a state of a happy and fulfilled existence. And so, if such an existence is indeed presumed to be true for such individuals who are foreign to the concept of a loving God, what then indeed is the benefit to them to consider the truth about God and His love? For such people, I am inclined to just leave well enough alone. After all, why "fix" that which is not broken?
Well, dear brothers and sisters, our loving God has enlightened my mind as this very moment with the answer to this question. As with all things great and true the answer is quite simple. All human beings seek love...we all seek and crave for unconditional love from others. It is ultimately what drives our activities and we are in a constant state of seeking because we seek this from our fellow human beings. However, our repeated disappointments with the reliability and longevity of love from our fellow human beings teaches us the limitations inherent in such love which is imperfect and oftentimes influenced by selfish human nature.
Here therefore is the potential benefit of getting to know about God - it is only with the unconditional and ever faithful love of God for us that our spiritual hunger and cravings for true love is ultimately satisfied and fulfilled. Only when I observe the love of God and the love for God strong in a person's life can I truly to come conclude that he/she is indeed living a happy and fulfilled existence.
As we teach the love of God to others, it is helpful to be mindful of the reality that a novice in the faith will be more inspired to learn to sense an imaginary being like God only if they can sense some amount of inner peace and tranquility in our own lives that manifests the love of God for us and our love for God.
The unconditional love that we try to give them (those whom we teach) helps give them a flavor of what God's unconditional love is like. This is the best way to teach God's love to others.
~~~~~
The question is this - What benefit is it to know and love God for those in this world who are "successful", "happy" and "fulfilled" and who have attained such existence without the benefit of ever having heard of God or contemplated such a Being that is imaginary and difficult to even begin to sense?
It certainly is not within my mental capacity nor is it my place to make an assessment as to the whether such individuals are indeed in a state of a happy and fulfilled existence. And so, if such an existence is indeed presumed to be true for such individuals who are foreign to the concept of a loving God, what then indeed is the benefit to them to consider the truth about God and His love? For such people, I am inclined to just leave well enough alone. After all, why "fix" that which is not broken?
Well, dear brothers and sisters, our loving God has enlightened my mind as this very moment with the answer to this question. As with all things great and true the answer is quite simple. All human beings seek love...we all seek and crave for unconditional love from others. It is ultimately what drives our activities and we are in a constant state of seeking because we seek this from our fellow human beings. However, our repeated disappointments with the reliability and longevity of love from our fellow human beings teaches us the limitations inherent in such love which is imperfect and oftentimes influenced by selfish human nature.
Here therefore is the potential benefit of getting to know about God - it is only with the unconditional and ever faithful love of God for us that our spiritual hunger and cravings for true love is ultimately satisfied and fulfilled. Only when I observe the love of God and the love for God strong in a person's life can I truly to come conclude that he/she is indeed living a happy and fulfilled existence.
As we teach the love of God to others, it is helpful to be mindful of the reality that a novice in the faith will be more inspired to learn to sense an imaginary being like God only if they can sense some amount of inner peace and tranquility in our own lives that manifests the love of God for us and our love for God.
The unconditional love that we try to give them (those whom we teach) helps give them a flavor of what God's unconditional love is like. This is the best way to teach God's love to others.
~~~~~
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Commandments: The User Guide for Our Body
In another essay on this blog (titled "Alleluia"), I shared the truth that the act of praising God does not enhance God but rather enhances the person who is doing the praising...it enhances the connection of the person's mind with his/her soul and with God (note that the soul is the real "person" within us...not our mind).
In like manner, the commandments given to us by God are NOT intended to please God or give benefit to Him. Rather, these commandments are user guides on how to get the best functionality out of our God-given bodies.
Society (in particular, the religious and cultural aspects of it) fails (and has failed) its "children" whenever it presents and introduces commandments in a frightening and fearful manner. The temptation and tendency to wrap truths in a package of fear is borne of our own human programming...specifically our nature to be full of fear and to be controlling as a result of it. In doing so, commandments become looked upon as unpalatable and thereby needing it to be force fed into the mind of the "child", only to be eventually met with stubborn rebellion or defiance.
We all want to understand how things are designed to work (well, most males for sure do...I say this with a smile). God made us and only He knows thoroughly how our minds and bodies work. By God's infinite wisdom (and His knowledge of how our mind works), He chose not to provide an explicit and complete user manual to go along with our bodies when it was merged with our soul.
God knows the wisdom of simplicity. In this wisdom, He saw the folly of providing a complex user manual to go along with a complex creation like the body and mind. In actuality, all that we really need is a supreme guiding principle. That supreme principle was provided to us by Jesus when He laid out a new and everlasting covenant between God and man. That supreme principle by which we should live our existence is none other than the principle of LOVE. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
I share with you what is recorded in scripture - "Jesus answered him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' All of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."
Notice that these commandments are ACTIVE commandments. In other words, these implore us into action...we must do acts of true love in order to be living in accordance with this principle. This is fully in alignment with the truth concerning the nature of true love...love is active; love needs to flow (it cannot stay in one place).
In contrast, most of the Ten Commandments (the old and replaced covenant between God and man) are in "thou shall not" form (PASSIVE commandments) wherein a person can practically live a life doing nothing (no acts of love) and still be deemed to be literally in accordance with the directions.
Did Jesus gives examples of how we love God? He most certainly did! Here are the teachings of Jesus as recorded in scripture - "For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me." (Matthew 25:35-36). "...'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'" (Matthew 25:40).
So live your life with true (unselfish) love as best as you can and you will bring your mind and body to function in optimum condition.
~~~~~
In like manner, the commandments given to us by God are NOT intended to please God or give benefit to Him. Rather, these commandments are user guides on how to get the best functionality out of our God-given bodies.
Society (in particular, the religious and cultural aspects of it) fails (and has failed) its "children" whenever it presents and introduces commandments in a frightening and fearful manner. The temptation and tendency to wrap truths in a package of fear is borne of our own human programming...specifically our nature to be full of fear and to be controlling as a result of it. In doing so, commandments become looked upon as unpalatable and thereby needing it to be force fed into the mind of the "child", only to be eventually met with stubborn rebellion or defiance.
We all want to understand how things are designed to work (well, most males for sure do...I say this with a smile). God made us and only He knows thoroughly how our minds and bodies work. By God's infinite wisdom (and His knowledge of how our mind works), He chose not to provide an explicit and complete user manual to go along with our bodies when it was merged with our soul.
God knows the wisdom of simplicity. In this wisdom, He saw the folly of providing a complex user manual to go along with a complex creation like the body and mind. In actuality, all that we really need is a supreme guiding principle. That supreme principle was provided to us by Jesus when He laid out a new and everlasting covenant between God and man. That supreme principle by which we should live our existence is none other than the principle of LOVE. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
I share with you what is recorded in scripture - "Jesus answered him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' All of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."
Notice that these commandments are ACTIVE commandments. In other words, these implore us into action...we must do acts of true love in order to be living in accordance with this principle. This is fully in alignment with the truth concerning the nature of true love...love is active; love needs to flow (it cannot stay in one place).
In contrast, most of the Ten Commandments (the old and replaced covenant between God and man) are in "thou shall not" form (PASSIVE commandments) wherein a person can practically live a life doing nothing (no acts of love) and still be deemed to be literally in accordance with the directions.
Did Jesus gives examples of how we love God? He most certainly did! Here are the teachings of Jesus as recorded in scripture - "For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me." (Matthew 25:35-36). "...'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'" (Matthew 25:40).
So live your life with true (unselfish) love as best as you can and you will bring your mind and body to function in optimum condition.
~~~~~
Friday, August 7, 2009
My Teacher, My Friend
I was very touched and inspired by an email I received this morning from my high school English Literature teacher...a person who instantly became my close personal friend from the very first day of class. Her message read like a poem and so I share it here with you in the form of one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A State of Happiness
By Ilona Gervasio de Jesus
Yes ......, I am very happy.
I like who and what I have become
and feel very at ease with myself.
You are right.
What really matters is our inner self - CORE.
Happiness is not people, places nor things.
It is a state of mind.
Whoever or whatever surrounds me
can only bring me happiness
if I apply my happiness to them.
Nowadays, I focus more on making an encounter
more pleasant for the other person,
especially when I see a sadness in them.
I figured, what does it really take for me to give to another
that moment in time when I have all the rest of the day.
I look back and I know
that whatever I have been through,
the joys, the sadness, the trials;
these have chiseled my character.
I welcome whatever, grinding, chipping,
polishing and buffing that will come
because I know in my heart that it will transform me
to the diamond I hope to be.
I have been blessed
I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE HAPPY ABOUT.
GOD IS GOOD.
~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A State of Happiness
By Ilona Gervasio de Jesus
Yes ......, I am very happy.
I like who and what I have become
and feel very at ease with myself.
You are right.
What really matters is our inner self - CORE.
Happiness is not people, places nor things.
It is a state of mind.
Whoever or whatever surrounds me
can only bring me happiness
if I apply my happiness to them.
Nowadays, I focus more on making an encounter
more pleasant for the other person,
especially when I see a sadness in them.
I figured, what does it really take for me to give to another
that moment in time when I have all the rest of the day.
I look back and I know
that whatever I have been through,
the joys, the sadness, the trials;
these have chiseled my character.
I welcome whatever, grinding, chipping,
polishing and buffing that will come
because I know in my heart that it will transform me
to the diamond I hope to be.
I have been blessed
I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE HAPPY ABOUT.
GOD IS GOOD.
~~~~~
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Reincarnation
I feel rather uneasy writing about this next truth (as I believe it). The uneasiness is NOT due to my uncertainty concerning the truth but rather on the merits of writing about it and sharing it with others. This is about the concept of reincarnation.
I am uneasy with this writing because I do not want to cause a reader to overly focus on their next existence after this one. Our focus must always be on our current existence and striving to live a life of true love as best as we can manage. I recognize the potential for our human programming to motivate us to give up on a current existence (that is not going according to how we wish it to go) if we believe that there will be another existence that we (our soul) will be “transferred” to (once the current one expires) that might be “better”.
What I am about to say next, I do not say to “scare” the reader into focusing only on the current existence but rather the truth as it was revealed to me (and as I believe it to be) - giving up on this existence (whether through suicide or in living a passive existence until our natural expiration arrives) will bring us into a similar or more difficult next existence.
An even worse potential outcome of our programming's response to an awareness and focus on reincarnation is apathy (indifference or lack of concern) toward abortion, killing and any other evil. Evil is evil and it (in all its many forms) should be fought (with love).
Well, without further adieu, here is my take on reincarnation.
Immediately before the moment a human body expires, the soul (which does not die) separates itself from the body. Depending on the circumstances (that I am not privy to) surrounding a particular soul, it will either be merged by God with another body or progress to Heaven and remain in union with God until the Second Coming of Christ takes place whereupon all souls (who are in union with God) are subsequently given bodies that are perfect and eternal.
If this concept is indeed true (as I believe it is), then I do not feel as much anguish over all the unborn body-soul entities that are aborted in the world. I do not feel as much pain over the early deaths of young babies, children and young adults who have barely had a chance to live a “full” life. Do I believe in such a manner of reincarnation as a result of my strong need to find peace with such tragedies? This is certainly not the case. I am confident that I am objective enough to engage in my search for the truths without my emotions and sentiments clouding my perception of the truths.
Did our great spiritual teacher Jesus ever allude to such a concept? Allow me to share with you what is written in scripture about what He said - “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). I leave it to you to decide what to make of this statement.
A final point of reflection for me concerning reincarnation is this – what (if any) does a soul bring from all previous body-soul existences to the next? My feeling here is that we (our soul) bring to our next body-soul existence the level and degree of connection between mind and soul that we were able to establish and develop in the previous one. Following this reasoning, an “old” soul would therefore be one that has attained a rather high level of connection between the mind and soul...conversely, a "baby" or “young” soul is one that is in the infancy or earlier stages of the mind-soul connection development process.
Do I need to be absolutely sure about all this? I most certainly do not since my focus is on this present existence and this alone. Despite my belief about reincarnation (as shared here) I live my life with the attitude that this existence is my one and only existence and I am determined to make the most out of it.
Nevertheless, I will grant you that I selfishly (my human programming at work here) wish that this be my last body-soul existence before the Second Coming of Christ (I say this with a smile). I wish to be in Paradise with Jesus just as the criminal who was put on a cross next to Him who defended Jesus and to whom Jesus said "“I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
~~~~~
I am uneasy with this writing because I do not want to cause a reader to overly focus on their next existence after this one. Our focus must always be on our current existence and striving to live a life of true love as best as we can manage. I recognize the potential for our human programming to motivate us to give up on a current existence (that is not going according to how we wish it to go) if we believe that there will be another existence that we (our soul) will be “transferred” to (once the current one expires) that might be “better”.
What I am about to say next, I do not say to “scare” the reader into focusing only on the current existence but rather the truth as it was revealed to me (and as I believe it to be) - giving up on this existence (whether through suicide or in living a passive existence until our natural expiration arrives) will bring us into a similar or more difficult next existence.
An even worse potential outcome of our programming's response to an awareness and focus on reincarnation is apathy (indifference or lack of concern) toward abortion, killing and any other evil. Evil is evil and it (in all its many forms) should be fought (with love).
Well, without further adieu, here is my take on reincarnation.
Immediately before the moment a human body expires, the soul (which does not die) separates itself from the body. Depending on the circumstances (that I am not privy to) surrounding a particular soul, it will either be merged by God with another body or progress to Heaven and remain in union with God until the Second Coming of Christ takes place whereupon all souls (who are in union with God) are subsequently given bodies that are perfect and eternal.
If this concept is indeed true (as I believe it is), then I do not feel as much anguish over all the unborn body-soul entities that are aborted in the world. I do not feel as much pain over the early deaths of young babies, children and young adults who have barely had a chance to live a “full” life. Do I believe in such a manner of reincarnation as a result of my strong need to find peace with such tragedies? This is certainly not the case. I am confident that I am objective enough to engage in my search for the truths without my emotions and sentiments clouding my perception of the truths.
Did our great spiritual teacher Jesus ever allude to such a concept? Allow me to share with you what is written in scripture about what He said - “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). I leave it to you to decide what to make of this statement.
A final point of reflection for me concerning reincarnation is this – what (if any) does a soul bring from all previous body-soul existences to the next? My feeling here is that we (our soul) bring to our next body-soul existence the level and degree of connection between mind and soul that we were able to establish and develop in the previous one. Following this reasoning, an “old” soul would therefore be one that has attained a rather high level of connection between the mind and soul...conversely, a "baby" or “young” soul is one that is in the infancy or earlier stages of the mind-soul connection development process.
Do I need to be absolutely sure about all this? I most certainly do not since my focus is on this present existence and this alone. Despite my belief about reincarnation (as shared here) I live my life with the attitude that this existence is my one and only existence and I am determined to make the most out of it.
Nevertheless, I will grant you that I selfishly (my human programming at work here) wish that this be my last body-soul existence before the Second Coming of Christ (I say this with a smile). I wish to be in Paradise with Jesus just as the criminal who was put on a cross next to Him who defended Jesus and to whom Jesus said "“I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
~~~~~
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Reading with Love
It is not as important for the writer to write in a manner that can be perceived correctly as it is for the reader to read with charity toward the writer. Reading with love overcomes all inadequacies that may be inherent in any piece of writing. After all, it is our very selves that we bring into what we read.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Our Fallen State
The world as it exist today (as it existed since the fall of man), is an existence that manifests all the traits and elements that comprise the state of being broken away from God...broken away from Love. It is a world that belongs to the leading spiritual entity that made a choice to break from God and be God. It is why our existing body consist of a mind whose programming is in alignment with this imperfection. It is why our minds (for most of us, at least) are naturally prone to hate (and to harbor it in our hearts)...hate is the opposite of love...hate is a powerful element of evil.
After the Second Coming of Christ, all souls that choose to be with God will each be merged with a new body...a body with a mind that is aligned with perfection...a mind that is aligned with true love.
Every act of true love we do is an act of rising from our fallen state.
~~~~~
After the Second Coming of Christ, all souls that choose to be with God will each be merged with a new body...a body with a mind that is aligned with perfection...a mind that is aligned with true love.
Every act of true love we do is an act of rising from our fallen state.
~~~~~
Alleluia
Every time we shout out and sing our praise to God, we bring our minds and body into harmony with our soul. This is so for any soul that chooses to be in union with God. Every act that brings about this harmony, also brings about the increased connection between our mind and our soul. This is the true value and merit that comes from praising our Lord.
Though I would like to think that God is "pleased" or "happy" when we praise Him, this is actually a human thought and sentiment. All emotions are activities of the mind...these have no occurrence in the spiritual realm or with spiritual entities. We use these descriptions because these are the concepts that we (as human beings) understand...we use these to help convey a message that would motivate us to do acts that enhance our relationship with others when in fact it is our own very selves that we are enhancing.
Surely, there are all manner of the "praising" of God that happens in His kingdom. However, in that kingdom, this activity comes about naturally and requires zero effort to bring about.
To recap, we do not enhance God when we praise Him (for He does not "need" our praise)...rather, we enhance ourselves and our relationship with God. And that, my brothers and sisters, is what is truly "pleasing" to God.
So praise God whenever you manage to remember to do so. A good way to start getting into this practice and habit is to always mindfully say "thank you" to God for any and every little thing you experience and get in your life.
Alleluia!
~~~~~
Though I would like to think that God is "pleased" or "happy" when we praise Him, this is actually a human thought and sentiment. All emotions are activities of the mind...these have no occurrence in the spiritual realm or with spiritual entities. We use these descriptions because these are the concepts that we (as human beings) understand...we use these to help convey a message that would motivate us to do acts that enhance our relationship with others when in fact it is our own very selves that we are enhancing.
Surely, there are all manner of the "praising" of God that happens in His kingdom. However, in that kingdom, this activity comes about naturally and requires zero effort to bring about.
To recap, we do not enhance God when we praise Him (for He does not "need" our praise)...rather, we enhance ourselves and our relationship with God. And that, my brothers and sisters, is what is truly "pleasing" to God.
So praise God whenever you manage to remember to do so. A good way to start getting into this practice and habit is to always mindfully say "thank you" to God for any and every little thing you experience and get in your life.
Alleluia!
~~~~~
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Dear Daughters (12-13-2008)
Oftentimes, we (by nature) lock our own selves into a belief that who and what we are (or have become) is who and what we really are. In truth, there is no such thing as "who we really are" or "what we really are". Rather, there is only the truth and reality of what we can become.
Take your sights off who you are and set your sights on who you can and want to become. Always remember these well known words of wisdom – "Becoming is superior to being".
~~~~~
Take your sights off who you are and set your sights on who you can and want to become. Always remember these well known words of wisdom – "Becoming is superior to being".
~~~~~
Dear Daughters (1-1-2009)
The path where our greatest fears lie is quite likely where our greatest joy, peace and fulfillment lies as well. Be strong, be brave and be still in the face of overwhelming fear and adversity. Those times are moments that offer us the best opportunities to strengthen and grow our spirit and soul.
I leave you with a beautiful prayer from Psalm 141: “I call upon You, O Lord; come quickly to me”
As Jesus said often, “Ask and you shall receive”. Ask for Him to come to you during your darkest or most melancholy moments and He will bring you strength to overcome anything. God hears the cries of the heart…always.
~~~~~
I leave you with a beautiful prayer from Psalm 141: “I call upon You, O Lord; come quickly to me”
As Jesus said often, “Ask and you shall receive”. Ask for Him to come to you during your darkest or most melancholy moments and He will bring you strength to overcome anything. God hears the cries of the heart…always.
~~~~~
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Light and Dark Sides of HP
We have at this point (in this series of essays) hopefully come to understand the existence of two types of "choices":
1. the choice that is governed by our human programming (which I will refer to henceforth as the natural choice)
2. the choice that is made by the soul (which I refer to as the supreme choice as described in an essay titled "The Supreme Choice" )
There are two sides to the influence of human programming on the mind. I like to refer to these as the light side and the dark side of human programming. The light side are those influences of human programming that bring about joy, happiness, peace (mental peace), and all other "positive" human feelings, emotions, and experiences. The dark side include those influences that bring about the opposite of those experiences such as fear, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and other "negative" emotions and feelings.
Let's talk about the dark side of human programming since this blog is written to help the reader remove anguish, anxiety and pain from their day-to-day existence. The areas of the dark side that bring us the most troubles are those that we are not able to overcome. We may never quite overcome FOREVER some of these more troubling parts of our programming. Nonetheless, we can define, strive for and incrementally achieve for ourselves a level of capability for overcoming that brings a sense of peace to us.
There have been numerous times when I would pray to God to remove a very troubling programming from my mind. But then I later came to realize (as I matured) that this troubling programming (that I would pray about) also came with a sub-programming that helped perpetuate my failure at overcoming it. That sub-programming was none other than the strong desire to not lose this troubling programming. Are you lost yet in the jargon of all these?
In other words, I really should be focusing my overcoming efforts at overcoming the sub-programming makes me want to continue to continue being empowered by the troubling programming.
I use this personal example to somehow illustrate the dynamics of human programming and the power it has over our activities and choices and consequently the quality of our relationship with one another.
~~~~~
1. the choice that is governed by our human programming (which I will refer to henceforth as the natural choice)
2. the choice that is made by the soul (which I refer to as the supreme choice as described in an essay titled "The Supreme Choice" )
There are two sides to the influence of human programming on the mind. I like to refer to these as the light side and the dark side of human programming. The light side are those influences of human programming that bring about joy, happiness, peace (mental peace), and all other "positive" human feelings, emotions, and experiences. The dark side include those influences that bring about the opposite of those experiences such as fear, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and other "negative" emotions and feelings.
Let's talk about the dark side of human programming since this blog is written to help the reader remove anguish, anxiety and pain from their day-to-day existence. The areas of the dark side that bring us the most troubles are those that we are not able to overcome. We may never quite overcome FOREVER some of these more troubling parts of our programming. Nonetheless, we can define, strive for and incrementally achieve for ourselves a level of capability for overcoming that brings a sense of peace to us.
There have been numerous times when I would pray to God to remove a very troubling programming from my mind. But then I later came to realize (as I matured) that this troubling programming (that I would pray about) also came with a sub-programming that helped perpetuate my failure at overcoming it. That sub-programming was none other than the strong desire to not lose this troubling programming. Are you lost yet in the jargon of all these?
In other words, I really should be focusing my overcoming efforts at overcoming the sub-programming makes me want to continue to continue being empowered by the troubling programming.
I use this personal example to somehow illustrate the dynamics of human programming and the power it has over our activities and choices and consequently the quality of our relationship with one another.
~~~~~
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Laws
For the most part, we have become accustomed to looking at laws with a negative sentiment. This is due to our natural tendency to view laws as some form of control imposed on us by some controling entity that restricts our full experiencing of freedom.
The laws of nature (natural laws) keep us from taking off from the ground and naturally flying, for example. The laws of society seek to prevent us from engaging in numerous activities that our minds and bodies would wish to do. The controls defined and implemented by an establishment seeks to bring about a desired common behavior from members of that establishment in order to achieve a desired objective.
There is one set of laws the preception of which has been twisted as a result of man's teaching of these from the point of view of reward and punishment. These are the laws from God. The better perspective is to view these laws as the user manual and guide for the human body and its natural programming. These laws were not made for the pleasure of God (God is not a controlling entity).
~~~~~
The laws of nature (natural laws) keep us from taking off from the ground and naturally flying, for example. The laws of society seek to prevent us from engaging in numerous activities that our minds and bodies would wish to do. The controls defined and implemented by an establishment seeks to bring about a desired common behavior from members of that establishment in order to achieve a desired objective.
There is one set of laws the preception of which has been twisted as a result of man's teaching of these from the point of view of reward and punishment. These are the laws from God. The better perspective is to view these laws as the user manual and guide for the human body and its natural programming. These laws were not made for the pleasure of God (God is not a controlling entity).
~~~~~
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Intention of God
A friend posed this question to me after reading the essay titled "Where Non-Aborting Contraceptives Make Sense" (I rearranged his actual words) - "Isn't the rhythm method (a Catholic approved birth control method) essentially a way of preventing conception and an affront to the sovereignty of God?"
This is a very important question to address if we are to be complete in our reflection on the act and goal of preventing pregnancy (birth control) regardless of the method or device employed to achieve this desired endpoint.
This was my response - "I myself asked the same question you are asking at some point in my life. If I were to give the Pope and the College of Cardinals the benefit of the doubt, I would say that they were acquiescing to the 'hardness of the heart' of the flock concerning birth control. We can see another example of this type of acquiescing in the example cited by Jesus when He was questioned by Pharisees as to why divorce was allowed in the Law under Moses and He replied 'Because of your hardness of heart, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way...' (Matthew 19:8).
I believe that from the beginning, it was God's design and intention for creation to take part in the act of creation. However, let us keep in mind that although our act (not necessarily a choice made by the soul) of having sexual intercourse is the first step in the complex process of creating another human body, it is a but a small initial step and not the deciding factor. It is still God who makes the rest of the remaining elements of the entire process take place or not. By the remaining elements, we are talking about the fertilization of the egg by one single sperm, the subsequent initial division of this fertilized egg into two cells and the continuing division of cells into the millions of cells that build a viable human being. It is also God who binds a soul with the fertilized egg at the very moment of conception thereby creating a body-soul entity.
With this picture of the process in mind, we can see that it is all God's process beginning with the moment just after the sex act itself. Any choice by the mind (due to human programming) or, worse, a willful choice by the soul (reflecting a desire to be God) to avoid pregnancy through the use of some device or method is, plain and simple, an act that is not in alignment with the "intentions" of God.
This is the unavoidable conclusion that any person (who looks at this truthfully from this perspective) would reasonably arrive at. I am very much culpable of this transgression. How do I find my peace despite my "choosing" acts that are not in alignment with the intentions of God? I do so by focusing on the incremental successes I have managed to achieve in my continuous striving to overcome my human nature in this regard (and in all other regards). Additionally, I find my peace through my earnest efforts in applying the following principle in my daily living - in all activities and matters of choice, strive to do all things with great love (a teaching of Mother Teresa).
~~~~~
This is a very important question to address if we are to be complete in our reflection on the act and goal of preventing pregnancy (birth control) regardless of the method or device employed to achieve this desired endpoint.
This was my response - "I myself asked the same question you are asking at some point in my life. If I were to give the Pope and the College of Cardinals the benefit of the doubt, I would say that they were acquiescing to the 'hardness of the heart' of the flock concerning birth control. We can see another example of this type of acquiescing in the example cited by Jesus when He was questioned by Pharisees as to why divorce was allowed in the Law under Moses and He replied 'Because of your hardness of heart, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way...' (Matthew 19:8).
I believe that from the beginning, it was God's design and intention for creation to take part in the act of creation. However, let us keep in mind that although our act (not necessarily a choice made by the soul) of having sexual intercourse is the first step in the complex process of creating another human body, it is a but a small initial step and not the deciding factor. It is still God who makes the rest of the remaining elements of the entire process take place or not. By the remaining elements, we are talking about the fertilization of the egg by one single sperm, the subsequent initial division of this fertilized egg into two cells and the continuing division of cells into the millions of cells that build a viable human being. It is also God who binds a soul with the fertilized egg at the very moment of conception thereby creating a body-soul entity.
With this picture of the process in mind, we can see that it is all God's process beginning with the moment just after the sex act itself. Any choice by the mind (due to human programming) or, worse, a willful choice by the soul (reflecting a desire to be God) to avoid pregnancy through the use of some device or method is, plain and simple, an act that is not in alignment with the "intentions" of God.
This is the unavoidable conclusion that any person (who looks at this truthfully from this perspective) would reasonably arrive at. I am very much culpable of this transgression. How do I find my peace despite my "choosing" acts that are not in alignment with the intentions of God? I do so by focusing on the incremental successes I have managed to achieve in my continuous striving to overcome my human nature in this regard (and in all other regards). Additionally, I find my peace through my earnest efforts in applying the following principle in my daily living - in all activities and matters of choice, strive to do all things with great love (a teaching of Mother Teresa).
~~~~~
Wrinkles
If the eyes are the window to the soul, then wrinkles (facial wrinkles in particular) are the face of the soul.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Ethics
Ethics is (in essence) the principles and guidelines (not laws) by which society determines and defines what would constitutes an ethical act. In my view, I would classify as ethical any act that brings about the harmony between body, mind, and soul. It is what we actually refer to by the phrase "do the right thing". When the mind chooses to do "ethical" things, it brings itself into alignment with the nature of the soul that it is in union with...and that nature is none other than true love.
When the body and mind acts in alignment with the nature of the soul, then there exists (what I like to term) body-soul harmony. Whenever a body-soul entity is in a peaceful state of harmony, it emits an energy that reaches out to and influences other body-soul entities within its presence to be in peaceful harmony as well. The collective effect of these peaceful state is an "Utopian" society where all mankind can realize a truly uplifting co-existence.
Ethics is an area of discipline that promotes the flow of true love from one soul to another.
~~~~~
When the body and mind acts in alignment with the nature of the soul, then there exists (what I like to term) body-soul harmony. Whenever a body-soul entity is in a peaceful state of harmony, it emits an energy that reaches out to and influences other body-soul entities within its presence to be in peaceful harmony as well. The collective effect of these peaceful state is an "Utopian" society where all mankind can realize a truly uplifting co-existence.
Ethics is an area of discipline that promotes the flow of true love from one soul to another.
~~~~~
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Where Non-Aborting Contraceptives Make Sense
Today, I came across a news article from the AP on the number of abortions performed in China. According to the report "...about 13 million surgical abortions are performed in Chinese hospitals and 10 million abortion pills are sold every year..." I feel sick to my stomach when I visualize this and am moved to make a statement of belief here.
Each abortion is a sad and tragic enough reality in the modern world. To hear of about 23 million of these each year in one country alone is a staggering amount of assaults on the soul that should be a call to action to all those who are able to recognize the significance of each abortion.
In a country and culture where religion and spiritual teachings are (for the most part) unheard of, limited, controlled and censored, Christians (who feel a call to action to help drastically reduce this tragic statistic) need to open their minds to a different approach other than simply championing the merits of sexual abstinence (which would be meaningless and incomprehensible to a people that is unaware of the concepts of Christian spirituality).
As I follower of Christ, I completely see and understand the truth and merits behind the position (of the Pope, for example) against the use of any artificial contraception to prevent birth. However, I feel that we can still find peace within ourselves in advocating the use of certain forms of contraception that do not actually kill a body-soul entity. By this I mean those forms of contraceptives that prevent the sperm and egg from joining with each other (conception or fertilization) such as condoms, spermicidal creams/gels and the birth-control pill. It is only when the sperm penetrates the egg that a human being (body-soul entity) is formed. Prevent this and you prevent any possible subsequent act of abortion. I like to refer to such contraceptives as "non-aborting contraceptives".
Examples of "contraceptives" that actually abort are the IUD (prevents the body-soul entity from implantation unto the uterus) and abortifacients (substances that induce abortion like, for example, the morning-after pill). These ones I would never advocate anyone to use since these are acts of abortion themselves (however indirect they may be).
For the time being (until such time when there is a higher level of spiritual awareness among the people of China), let us seriously consider the advocating of the use of non-aborting contraceptives as part of our overall strategy and arsenal towards our PEACEFUL campaign of preventing this assault on the soul.
~~~~~
Each abortion is a sad and tragic enough reality in the modern world. To hear of about 23 million of these each year in one country alone is a staggering amount of assaults on the soul that should be a call to action to all those who are able to recognize the significance of each abortion.
In a country and culture where religion and spiritual teachings are (for the most part) unheard of, limited, controlled and censored, Christians (who feel a call to action to help drastically reduce this tragic statistic) need to open their minds to a different approach other than simply championing the merits of sexual abstinence (which would be meaningless and incomprehensible to a people that is unaware of the concepts of Christian spirituality).
As I follower of Christ, I completely see and understand the truth and merits behind the position (of the Pope, for example) against the use of any artificial contraception to prevent birth. However, I feel that we can still find peace within ourselves in advocating the use of certain forms of contraception that do not actually kill a body-soul entity. By this I mean those forms of contraceptives that prevent the sperm and egg from joining with each other (conception or fertilization) such as condoms, spermicidal creams/gels and the birth-control pill. It is only when the sperm penetrates the egg that a human being (body-soul entity) is formed. Prevent this and you prevent any possible subsequent act of abortion. I like to refer to such contraceptives as "non-aborting contraceptives".
Examples of "contraceptives" that actually abort are the IUD (prevents the body-soul entity from implantation unto the uterus) and abortifacients (substances that induce abortion like, for example, the morning-after pill). These ones I would never advocate anyone to use since these are acts of abortion themselves (however indirect they may be).
For the time being (until such time when there is a higher level of spiritual awareness among the people of China), let us seriously consider the advocating of the use of non-aborting contraceptives as part of our overall strategy and arsenal towards our PEACEFUL campaign of preventing this assault on the soul.
~~~~~
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
All I Need to Know
When I was a young man (currently I am merely young at heart...hahaha), I very much needed to know what God's (long-term) plan for my life was. I thought it was a fair trade...I offer my entire life and whole being to His service and He, in return, gives me a clear plan and purpose to follow.
Alas, it does not quite work that way and I was foolish to set conditions upon the Lord (I express this sentiment with a smile). I eventually grew wiser and now I am at peace with simply being told what my current assignment and task is for the moment. That is all I really need to know. This is very much in alignment with the concept (and wisdom) of living the moment and not having anxiety over the future.
~~~~~
Alas, it does not quite work that way and I was foolish to set conditions upon the Lord (I express this sentiment with a smile). I eventually grew wiser and now I am at peace with simply being told what my current assignment and task is for the moment. That is all I really need to know. This is very much in alignment with the concept (and wisdom) of living the moment and not having anxiety over the future.
~~~~~
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Spirit of God
The development of the connection between the mind and the soul is a gradual undertaking that (through earnest seeking) slowly materializes during one's lifetime. Even though our souls might have the ability (from God) to give our minds the strength, power and wisdom to overcome the challenges it faces in this existence, our minds are not always readily able to effectively tap into this source.
And so, during moments in our lives when we are faced with daunting challenges that overwhelm us and fill us with fear and a sense of utter helplessness, our inability to readily tap into the power within our soul leaves us feeling desperate and needing some ready resource to tap into.
Be glad and rejoice during such moments of desperation because there is a spiritual resource that is readily available to us (during these times of helplessness) that we can petition to come into our being and give us the momentary strength, power and wisdom that we need to overcome the challenge at hand. That resource is the Spirit of God. Jesus had a name for this Spirit...He referred to it as the Holy Spirit.
We can petition God to send His Holy Spirit to help us when we are overwhelmed and feeling down and out. As Jesus taught us, "ask and you shall receive". If there is any area of petitioning where this teaching aptly applies, it is in the asking for the Spirit of God. In doing so, the Spirit of God will come into our being side-by-side with our soul and give us the boost we need to get back up on our own and move forward with our journey in life.
~~~~~
And so, during moments in our lives when we are faced with daunting challenges that overwhelm us and fill us with fear and a sense of utter helplessness, our inability to readily tap into the power within our soul leaves us feeling desperate and needing some ready resource to tap into.
Be glad and rejoice during such moments of desperation because there is a spiritual resource that is readily available to us (during these times of helplessness) that we can petition to come into our being and give us the momentary strength, power and wisdom that we need to overcome the challenge at hand. That resource is the Spirit of God. Jesus had a name for this Spirit...He referred to it as the Holy Spirit.
We can petition God to send His Holy Spirit to help us when we are overwhelmed and feeling down and out. As Jesus taught us, "ask and you shall receive". If there is any area of petitioning where this teaching aptly applies, it is in the asking for the Spirit of God. In doing so, the Spirit of God will come into our being side-by-side with our soul and give us the boost we need to get back up on our own and move forward with our journey in life.
~~~~~
Monday, July 27, 2009
Forgiveness and Tolerance
When I am dealing with another human being (be it face-to-face or electronic), I have to assess whether I am dealing with that person's human programming or an activity of their soul. Likewise, I have to look at my own response to this person and make the same assessment.
By recognizing that all the perceived irritating, ugly and dark aspects of a person's personality, attitude and behavior is most likely a manifestation of their human programming (programming which I have in common), I am more likely to eventually be more understanding, forgiving and tolerant about it. By recognizing the likelihood of my own flawed perception (an aspect of the dark side of my human programming), I am more likely to have success in counteracting the negative effects of this attribute (this is easier said than done of course).
For if there is evil in the world, I do not have the ability to see or recognize it in the soul of another human being...it is not my business to do so anyway...that is the business of God and God alone. My business is to focus on the activities of my soul and to make sure it is taking a more and more prominent role over the activities of my mind and body so that I am increasingly doing more things with great love.
Always keep in mind that it is in forgiving that we ourselves are forgiven. This is what we petition for when we recite the 'Our Father" - "forgive us...AS WE forgive..." In other words, we are asking that we be forgiven in the exact same degree that we forgive others. Quite a scary petition if you stop and think about it, huh?
So there it is, even for those who do not subscribe to the teachings of Jesus...as long as you can forgive anything, you will be forgiven (by God) of anything (except the choice by the soul to be God). Alleluia!
~~~~~
By recognizing that all the perceived irritating, ugly and dark aspects of a person's personality, attitude and behavior is most likely a manifestation of their human programming (programming which I have in common), I am more likely to eventually be more understanding, forgiving and tolerant about it. By recognizing the likelihood of my own flawed perception (an aspect of the dark side of my human programming), I am more likely to have success in counteracting the negative effects of this attribute (this is easier said than done of course).
For if there is evil in the world, I do not have the ability to see or recognize it in the soul of another human being...it is not my business to do so anyway...that is the business of God and God alone. My business is to focus on the activities of my soul and to make sure it is taking a more and more prominent role over the activities of my mind and body so that I am increasingly doing more things with great love.
Always keep in mind that it is in forgiving that we ourselves are forgiven. This is what we petition for when we recite the 'Our Father" - "forgive us...AS WE forgive..." In other words, we are asking that we be forgiven in the exact same degree that we forgive others. Quite a scary petition if you stop and think about it, huh?
So there it is, even for those who do not subscribe to the teachings of Jesus...as long as you can forgive anything, you will be forgiven (by God) of anything (except the choice by the soul to be God). Alleluia!
~~~~~
HP over HP
Some aspects of human programming such a fear and greed may get you to overcome other aspects of human programming but these acts of overcoming have no meaning since these are absent of the exercise of free will...these are still robotic acts.
When true love from the soul overcomes human programming, then there is meaning to the act of overcoming since a free will choice is made in such acts.
~~~~~
When true love from the soul overcomes human programming, then there is meaning to the act of overcoming since a free will choice is made in such acts.
~~~~~
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Salvation and Hell
There is a fundamental teaching that has been passed down through the centuries from the inception of the Church that I have always struggled with (and felt a great disturbance within me) even as I earnestly tried to embrace it during my youth. It is a teaching that many Christians are taught to believe and even crusade and evangelize on. The teaching goes something like this – Unless a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will not be saved and they will burn in the fires of hell for all eternity. This supposedly applies even to those who have never ever heard of Jesus.
If I search my soul, I know that Love does not condemn a being for all eternity without that being having full awareness and understanding of whatever it is that it is being condemned for. I offer for your reflection here the truth (as I believe it to be so) that my years of earnest seeking have led me to.
When a soul exercises its free will in making a choice to be in union with God, it does so completely within the spiritual domain. The human mind does not even need to sense (much less control) how this connection and union comes about for it to occur. The mind can be completely unaware that this connection and union with God is being realized by the soul at the moment that it is happening. Eventually, the mind (through its connection with the soul) will perceive the serenity that this union brings and even reflect it in its activities.
Before the sacrificial and redemptive death of Jesus on the cross, a gap existed (created by the supreme choice of the first man to be God) between the soul and God which separated the two spiritual entities and which could not be bridged by anything else apart from that redeeming act. During this time, souls that chose to be in union with God could not cross this spiritual gap and were left in limbo waiting for the gap to be bridged.
With the redemption of mankind (paid for in full by the blood of the lamb) from the bondage of the supreme choice of the first man, this gap between God and souls was bridged and since that moment, all souls in limbo and all souls thereafter who make the supreme choice to be with God are able to fulfill that choice. In other words, ALL souls get to cross this spiritual bridge (which we can visualize as Jesus Himself) without conditions. All that is needed is the supreme choice to be in union with God.
This is all going on in the spiritual realm with no regard to what is going on in the physical realm, the realm where the mind exists and operates. The implications of that last statement are profound. It means that even if the mind has never been made aware of Jesus and who He is and what he did for mankind…even if the mind has not taken the step to “accept Jesus as their Savior” (quite likely because the mind was not able to fully fathom who Jesus is and what He did or for whatever reason)…even if the mind has not experienced any other religious rituals performed in the physical domain, the soul is “saved”…it only needs to make the supreme choice to be with God and fully benefit in this salvation.
Let me be absolutely clear with regards to one other particular truth – if there is a hell or the eternal burning of souls and other spiritual beings, it will be for those who make the supreme choice to be God. It is for this choice and this choice alone. Do not ever make this choice and you have nothing to worry about. But keep in mind that a supreme choice must be made by all spiritual beings…there is no avoiding it.
~~~~~
If I search my soul, I know that Love does not condemn a being for all eternity without that being having full awareness and understanding of whatever it is that it is being condemned for. I offer for your reflection here the truth (as I believe it to be so) that my years of earnest seeking have led me to.
When a soul exercises its free will in making a choice to be in union with God, it does so completely within the spiritual domain. The human mind does not even need to sense (much less control) how this connection and union comes about for it to occur. The mind can be completely unaware that this connection and union with God is being realized by the soul at the moment that it is happening. Eventually, the mind (through its connection with the soul) will perceive the serenity that this union brings and even reflect it in its activities.
Before the sacrificial and redemptive death of Jesus on the cross, a gap existed (created by the supreme choice of the first man to be God) between the soul and God which separated the two spiritual entities and which could not be bridged by anything else apart from that redeeming act. During this time, souls that chose to be in union with God could not cross this spiritual gap and were left in limbo waiting for the gap to be bridged.
With the redemption of mankind (paid for in full by the blood of the lamb) from the bondage of the supreme choice of the first man, this gap between God and souls was bridged and since that moment, all souls in limbo and all souls thereafter who make the supreme choice to be with God are able to fulfill that choice. In other words, ALL souls get to cross this spiritual bridge (which we can visualize as Jesus Himself) without conditions. All that is needed is the supreme choice to be in union with God.
This is all going on in the spiritual realm with no regard to what is going on in the physical realm, the realm where the mind exists and operates. The implications of that last statement are profound. It means that even if the mind has never been made aware of Jesus and who He is and what he did for mankind…even if the mind has not taken the step to “accept Jesus as their Savior” (quite likely because the mind was not able to fully fathom who Jesus is and what He did or for whatever reason)…even if the mind has not experienced any other religious rituals performed in the physical domain, the soul is “saved”…it only needs to make the supreme choice to be with God and fully benefit in this salvation.
Let me be absolutely clear with regards to one other particular truth – if there is a hell or the eternal burning of souls and other spiritual beings, it will be for those who make the supreme choice to be God. It is for this choice and this choice alone. Do not ever make this choice and you have nothing to worry about. But keep in mind that a supreme choice must be made by all spiritual beings…there is no avoiding it.
~~~~~
All That is Needed
The voluntary death of Jesus on the cross is the only spiritual act that could reverse and counteract the repercussions of the supreme choice of the first Adam to be God. So many souls since Adam have made the supreme choice to be in union with God but they could not bring this union about until after the Blood of the Lamb has been offered in sacrifice.
Here is one way to visualize this:
1. Adam (a body-soul entity) makes an act of choice to be God
2. An spiritual and eternal gulf is created between God and the soul as a result
3. Jesus comes into the form of a body-soul entity to reverse that choice
4. Jesus in the form of a body-soul entity makes a choice to surrender free will back to God
5. Jesus commits the greatest act of love by laying down His life for the sake of redeeming mankind
6. Jesus is resurrected from death in the form of a new body-soul entity
7. The eternal gulf between God and the soul is bridged by the Blood of the Lamb
8. All souls that make the choice to be with God are brought back into union with Him
ALL souls get to be in union with God (if they chose so) through Jesus. Their minds do not even have to know about Jesus to do so. They only need make the choice.
~~~~~
Here is one way to visualize this:
1. Adam (a body-soul entity) makes an act of choice to be God
2. An spiritual and eternal gulf is created between God and the soul as a result
3. Jesus comes into the form of a body-soul entity to reverse that choice
4. Jesus in the form of a body-soul entity makes a choice to surrender free will back to God
5. Jesus commits the greatest act of love by laying down His life for the sake of redeeming mankind
6. Jesus is resurrected from death in the form of a new body-soul entity
7. The eternal gulf between God and the soul is bridged by the Blood of the Lamb
8. All souls that make the choice to be with God are brought back into union with Him
ALL souls get to be in union with God (if they chose so) through Jesus. Their minds do not even have to know about Jesus to do so. They only need make the choice.
~~~~~
An Earnest Prayer
I pray that in sharing here what I have come to believe to be the universal truths concerning some of the toughest questions concerning ourselves and our existence (as I came upon them through my seeking and asking for answers), I am not misleading anyone into falsehood or deception.
I would rather be struck down by lightning than be allowed to continue putting down in writing that which causes a body-soul entity to become misguided and subsequently wander further away from God.
Matthew 18:7 - "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!"
I pray I never ever be that man.
~~~~~
I would rather be struck down by lightning than be allowed to continue putting down in writing that which causes a body-soul entity to become misguided and subsequently wander further away from God.
Matthew 18:7 - "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!"
I pray I never ever be that man.
~~~~~
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Fear
Fear is perhaps the most significant aspect of our programming. It is the most potent force that freezes us into inaction (in terms of doing acts of true love) because fear stops the flow of true love.
But there is one particular form of fear that we can use as a first step toward our own good. This is nicely described in Psalm 111:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."
It is important to clarify at this point what "fear of the Lord" means in its usage of the word "fear" - it means reverence for God. Follow God blindly first (difficult to do for most but definitely doable), then understanding will follow...just as I described in my essay "Faith First, Then Enlightenment".
~~~~~
But there is one particular form of fear that we can use as a first step toward our own good. This is nicely described in Psalm 111:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."
It is important to clarify at this point what "fear of the Lord" means in its usage of the word "fear" - it means reverence for God. Follow God blindly first (difficult to do for most but definitely doable), then understanding will follow...just as I described in my essay "Faith First, Then Enlightenment".
~~~~~
Top Ten List of Human Programming
For the most part, it is very difficult...extremely difficult...frustratingly difficult to overcome a large part of our human programming. However, one step I found that helps me in becoming more successful at (incrementally) overcoming programming is to draw up a list of my top ten "weaknesses".
The making of the list helps me in two ways:
1. it is a form of acknowledgment, an act that melts away my pride and fosters increased humility thereby opening the doorway to success
2. it gives me a focal point to direct my energy and efforts to
Let's do a little exercise together and just list things that we might consider to be forms of programming. For now, let us just list things as quickly as they come to our minds with very little thought. We can reflect on and refine these later on. I offer you the results of my doing this exercise to help illustrate and give you a better grasp of what exactly I consider as human programming.
Here is a partial list of things that I come up with when I do this exercise:
fear
fear of this
fear of that
self-preservation
desire to hoard valuable knowledge for ourselves
desire to hoard things
tit-for-tat
eye for an eye
tooth for a tooth
judge others
harshly judge others
condemn others
get discouraged easily
quick to anger when we perceive a wrong done to us
wallow in self-pity on the wrong done to us
harbor hate that last forever
envy when others have what we don't
jealousy when others get the attention that we don't
desire to be heard
desire to have our say
desire to display our intellect
desire to impress
desire to be put on a pedestal
desire for acceptance
being critical of others
control over others
control over how things are done
control over our lives
rebellion
desire to do things we are prohibited from doing
romantic love
desire to be desired
desire for sex
desire for variety in sexual partners
look at others as objects
treat others as objects
desire for variety in things and activities
boredom
losing interest in things
losing interest in people
getting tired of things
getting tired of people
inflicting violence on others
pleasure in killing
destruction of things
destruction of people
destruction of anything
condemnation of others
harboring hate
indulging in the senses
desire for pleasure
perceiving the worst interpretation
self-pity
insecurity
longing for attention
longing for love
longing for fame
longing for power
longing to possess
consumption
disregard for others
disdain for others
laziness
mistrust
the need for affirmation
need for others
need to have a baby
need need need
judging others
second guessing others
putting down others
need to feel superior
need to be acknowledged
need for acceptance in social groups
need for love
need for attention
using office resources for our personal use
need for people to pander to us
use of our power and position to gain more things for ourselves
need to dominate others
need to subjugate others
need to destroy others
pride
desire to be powerful
desire to be all-knowing
desire to have wisdom
desire to see and know the future
desire to be god
desire to do things other have not managed to do
desire to discover things
desire to figure out things others have not
desire for dominance
desire for prominence
desire to eat
desire to sleep
desire to be lazy
desire for freedom to do anything we want
What's on your list?
~~~~~
The making of the list helps me in two ways:
1. it is a form of acknowledgment, an act that melts away my pride and fosters increased humility thereby opening the doorway to success
2. it gives me a focal point to direct my energy and efforts to
Let's do a little exercise together and just list things that we might consider to be forms of programming. For now, let us just list things as quickly as they come to our minds with very little thought. We can reflect on and refine these later on. I offer you the results of my doing this exercise to help illustrate and give you a better grasp of what exactly I consider as human programming.
Here is a partial list of things that I come up with when I do this exercise:
fear
fear of this
fear of that
self-preservation
desire to hoard valuable knowledge for ourselves
desire to hoard things
tit-for-tat
eye for an eye
tooth for a tooth
judge others
harshly judge others
condemn others
get discouraged easily
quick to anger when we perceive a wrong done to us
wallow in self-pity on the wrong done to us
harbor hate that last forever
envy when others have what we don't
jealousy when others get the attention that we don't
desire to be heard
desire to have our say
desire to display our intellect
desire to impress
desire to be put on a pedestal
desire for acceptance
being critical of others
control over others
control over how things are done
control over our lives
rebellion
desire to do things we are prohibited from doing
romantic love
desire to be desired
desire for sex
desire for variety in sexual partners
look at others as objects
treat others as objects
desire for variety in things and activities
boredom
losing interest in things
losing interest in people
getting tired of things
getting tired of people
inflicting violence on others
pleasure in killing
destruction of things
destruction of people
destruction of anything
condemnation of others
harboring hate
indulging in the senses
desire for pleasure
perceiving the worst interpretation
self-pity
insecurity
longing for attention
longing for love
longing for fame
longing for power
longing to possess
consumption
disregard for others
disdain for others
laziness
mistrust
the need for affirmation
need for others
need to have a baby
need need need
judging others
second guessing others
putting down others
need to feel superior
need to be acknowledged
need for acceptance in social groups
need for love
need for attention
using office resources for our personal use
need for people to pander to us
use of our power and position to gain more things for ourselves
need to dominate others
need to subjugate others
need to destroy others
pride
desire to be powerful
desire to be all-knowing
desire to have wisdom
desire to see and know the future
desire to be god
desire to do things other have not managed to do
desire to discover things
desire to figure out things others have not
desire for dominance
desire for prominence
desire to eat
desire to sleep
desire to be lazy
desire for freedom to do anything we want
What's on your list?
~~~~~
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