“Two thousand years ago God started a revolt against the religion he started. So don’t ever put it past God to cause a groundswell movement against churches and Christian institutions that bear his name”
- Erwin McManus
Continuing from my previous post….. When I heard Vanessa Williams’ song "The Very Best for Last", the words stopped me and brought to my mind something which I had been told some time ago. A relative of mine told me, "You have to see ‘What the Bleep do We Know’." Now this fine lady, my aunt incidentally, said that the movie would test my range of thinking. Boy, she wasn’t kidding! Without ruining it for you, the movie deals with quantum physics. Now I have been reading Braden’s books recently and have been awstruck by some of the propositions and theories contained within quantum theory. I’m no scientist. Math is NOT my forte. No, it is not even in my realm of thinking. But, that’s OK. It’s not a requirement to be dumbfounded by the quantum world of subatomic particles and waves.
Braden’s "Divine Matrix" is a good starting place to be introduced to the quantum world. I’ll bet if you read it, others will follow. I figure if you are attracted to science and to what I have already said here, you will follow Braden with many others as I have done. The movie will test your boundaries of belief, which I think is OK. God gave us the ability to think and decide, so branch out. Don’t be stagnant. That’s where I was for 59 years. You don’t have to accept quantum theory. But, I have found that it seems to offer answers to many things which I questioned as I have made my journey. First, I think you need to understand, in case this is your first trip into the quantum world, that I found God in the quantum world. Perhaps even more so than in our own reality (world).
As Chappy, Geo, and I sat together, watching the movie on Saturday, we would, from time to time, look at each other an say, "I can believe that", "that makes sense". We could even give examples of how that made sense. You won’t agree with all you see in the movie (or maybe you will), but you will come away a different person, with a different perspective on your reality. Maybe you will decide that you do have an influence on the reality that you call your life. God created all this. Why should we limit the way He did, does, and is doing it. Open your mind and see if this explanation of reality has meaning for you. Take a look at this. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!………………………..How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?………………………..
“Sometimes the very thing you’re looking for is the thing that you can’t see.”
I was driving home yesterday when this song came on the radio. These above words jumped out at me and almost stopped me in my tracks. I began to think about them in relation to some reading I have been doing. The longer I thought about the words, the deeper I delved into their possible meaning…………………
Perhaps God saved the best for last………
How open are you to new things? When I began this journey, I said I would be willing to go anywhere in pursuit of Truth. I said I would be willing to question everything I had learned over nearly 60 years of existence. Over the last two months, I have been challenged to do exactly that. What if reality as we perceive it is not all there is? What if the immutable laws of physics aren’t really that immutable? ……………………More later.
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. Albert Einstein
“When a good man is hurt all who would be called good must suffer with him.” Euripides
We are never more like Jesus than when we are choked with compassion for others.–Unknown
In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. –Jesus Christ
Strange how people who suffer together have stronger connections than those who are most content. –Bob Dylan
Dreams and anguish bring us together. — Eugene Ionesco
It is highly significant, and indeed almost a rule, that moral courage has its source in identification through one’s own sensitivity with the suffering of one’s fellow human beings. –Rollo May
Pain is never permanent. –Teresa of Avila
May we be vessels of compassion and hope for those who have suffered this week in Blacksburg…….
This is a post I don’t want to write, but I feel compelled to write. I grew up in a family that was taught about how to use firearms and to respect the danger of misuse. As a kid, I grew up hunting birds, rabbits, etc; I no longer hunt anything. It is my choice. I don’t have the desire to. But, I support hunting and the lawful use and carrying of firearms for defense. I have a concealed carry license and have my firearm with me 99% of the time. My first thought when I heard the horrible news about the shootings on the VT campus was, "if only one person was lawfully carrying a firearm on campus today, it might have been stopped or the deaths and injuries reduced. The problem is that the state of Virginia has refused to pass a concealed carry law several times. There will be debates in the coming days on the issue of firearms. We will hear from both sides, those who support more laws to control access to weapons and those who will defend the right of individuals to own and carry them. Both sides strongly support their positions and feel they are right. We as people have to live in the world as it is now. Unfortunately, it is a violent, cruel, world far more often than it should be. I hope that it can be changed for the better; that we can eliminate much of that violence and cruelty. That is a long way off in the future, however, if at all. I cannot stand by and say, "it won’t happen to me or my family". I feel a responsibility to them and to my fellow humans to be prepared to face that violent and cruel world if necessary. I remember the massacre that occurred at Luby’s Restaurant here in Texas, where a deranged man drove his truck into the restaurant and then began shooting people. Many people died about an hour from my home. One particular lady was radically affected by that incident. Her Mom and Dad died in the gunfire sitting right next to her. She always carried a pistol in her car (which was legal in Texas), but left it in the car to go into the Luby’s Restaurant (there was no concealed carry law at that time). She was able to do nothing to save the lives of her parents. This lady later led the effort to get the CCL passed in Texas and won the battle. It is now legal for Texans to carry a concealed firearm in public after taking firearms training, passing the exam and obtaining a license from the state. I know some of my blog friends will disagree with me on this issue. Some will say I could never take a human life. I could never use a firearm, even in defense of my family or myself. I don’t know if I could myself. I say that I could. But until the occasion presents itself, one can’t say for sure what would happen. I at least want to have the tools to make that defense possible. If you disagree with me, that’s fine. I respect your decision. I simply refuse to become a victim of a senseless crime without a fight. All that was needed today, was one concealed carrying license holder on the Virginia Tech campus, and things might have been very different…..
Bruce’s latest post is a keeper. Read it here
I have been listening to Gregg Braden’s cd-audio book, “The Gift of the Blessing”. It aligns with several of his books dealing with prayer. As far as I know, he is not associated with any particular religion (which makes me like him the more, knowing the definition of religion). The book deals with the issue of “successful prayer” That idea intrigued me immediately. I have in the past heard sermons, programs, and read books about, why prayer is unsuccessful or why prayers go unanswered. The most common response I had found was, “God answers all prayers, sometimes the answer is no.” My own response to that answer is that we’re also told, “I will give you the desires of your heart.” I am not saying that we will have anything we want. I am saying that if a desire is truly from the heart, it is an unselfish desire. If we can open a channel from an unselfish heart to the heart of God, we will find our desires realized. Braden talks about several kinds of prayers that people pray: colloqial prayers; “God let me get through this awful traffic and I’ll never come this way again”, ritual prayers; “Now I lay me down to sleep”, and prayers of supplication; “God, I am asking you to heal my child”. He says theses prayers are as old as mankind. Gregg then presents an idea that comes close to a Christian idea of preparation for prayer, but says it is not just Christian, but one that transcends all religions, and is worldwide in its scope and use. It is the gift of the blessing. He says to prepare us for successful prayer of any type, we must be able to give the gift of blessing. What does this mean? It is heart preparation for communing with God. In today’s world, we have no further to look than the nightly news for terrible , awful events which are going on daily in the world around us. The events in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, and right here in the U.S., just to name a few. First, what many times happens for us as human beings is we see the awful events and become heartbroken (sometimes we shut off our emotions to literally protect our own hearts from breaking). Next, we may become enraged, asking for retribution upon those who caused the terrible event. Finally, whether we like it or not, we become ”witnesses” to theses events, and suffer greatly because we are just witnesses, with no power to change outcomes or events. This is where the “Gift of the Blessing” comes in. To prepare ourselves for successful prayer, whatever kind it may be, supplication comes to mind; when we are truly asking from a loving heart, Braden says we bless three things and repeat that blessing as many times as is natural for us. Upon which we will find, after a time, a change in ourselves that will come from deep inside (where the spirit resides) that allows us to realize our prayers and see them as already successful.
What is the gift of the blessing? A threefold blessing. When we see or hear something which deeply disturbs us we: 1) bless those who are suffering. Be specific. (for most this is the easy part). 2) bless those who caused the suffering. Again, be specific. Make no judgement. (THIS is the hard one!). 3) ask blessing on yourself as a witness to the event. We certainly are affected by events, yet many times, we don’t acknowledge the fact that we too are suffering because we feel helpless to do anything. So ask for blessing on yourself. This should be repeated in a contemplative or meditative situation.
What events or situations call for the gift of the blessing? Any event or situation that occurs that has a particular effect on you. The loss of a loved one, loss of a friend (human or otherwise), a catastrophic event (tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc;), something as simple as an automobile accident you pass, an animal on the side of the road that was hit and killed. Any event or situation that engages your heart certainly qualifies.
Over time you will begin to see a change take place in youself. The blessing will become more natural and easy for you. Your heart will find easier communion with God because a channel has been opened where communication flows. I believe you will find positive results to your prayers when this happens. Things may not always turn out exactly as we hoped, but it will be positive. Remember all this comes from the heart, the spirit of God that resides in you. You will see a change in attitude and heart as a result of learning the give the “Gift of the Blessing”.
Today as I was reading a post from my friend JP’s blog, I wanted to be an encouragement to him in his quest, his journey to find truth. I told him how he had been a blessing to me just reading about his search, how he had encouraged me to keep going in my quest as well. One of the last things I said in the comment was, “Press On”. I couldn’t tell you why I chose those words at that particular moment, but immediately I was reminded of the beautiful song of the same name. It is one of my “top ten” favorite uplifting, encouraging pieces of music. The words are very special to me.
As I thought about my current situation, having just gone through a third surgery on my head, having had to put my wife in the hospital for several days, and my life situation as a whole, this song just poured out of me. I know that my situation is of little consequence compared to some faced by my friends here in Blogland. I have read enough to know many of them suffer on a daily basis. It humbles me to see how they “press on” in spite of these challenges. I appreciate and love them for their attitudes. They are such an encouragement to me. I want to remind them how special they are, how God loves them and is always with them. So, for all of you who are facing tough challenges, in health, in your family, at work, and in every phase of your journey, here are the words to that beautiful song, PRESS ON:
When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall
When the choices are hard
When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources
When we’ve given our all.
In Jesus name we press on
In Jesus name we press on
Dear Lord with the prize
clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on.
The third from the last line mentions “the prize”. I have given some thought to what the author had in mind here. To me, “the prize” is our salvation, not redemption, we’ve ALL been redeemed, but our salvation. The ongoing working out of what it truly means to have been redeemed by Christ in His completed work on the cross; how that finished work changes us as we realize the depth of it. I don’t think it is something that can be fully appreciated, even though we think we know just what He did for us. So, “the prize” is out there before us every day of our lives for us to joy in, to praise God for, and to continue to try to fathom it’s depths. Never take it for granted. Live your life in peace, joy, and love shared with those fellow human beings around you, especially your family.
My wife and I are both back at work. I am doing half days only right now. It will be a while (about six weeks) before I know if the surgery was successful. The wife got her a breathing machine (nebulizer) to help heal her lung. She seems to be doing much better. I thank God for my family. My youngest son, Josh, took care of us for four days. I told him this was a preview of what he would be doing a few years from now!! He didn’t think it was funny! My Mom (86 years old) drove up and cared for us for another 3 days. What a trooper! She is amazing! I have now managed to contract a cold….Whoopeee…. Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers…
Stumble it!
