tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70563634446296833892024-03-12T19:14:41.207-07:00Life, Abundantly!Posts circle around spiritual life, ‘religion’, relationships - because that is what I enjoy playing with! I invest a good deal of my energy in deepening my own spiritual walk & relationship with God. In my ministry, I encourage all to do the same - each in our unique way…Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-41791575505818353952017-12-07T08:53:00.000-08:002017-12-08T13:24:26.206-08:00Light in the Darkness Starting 2013,<br />
I have been doing less posting on this blog,<br />
and more at <a href="http://thelightovercomesdarkness.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Light in the Darkness.</a><br />
<br />
Please come check it out.<br />
<br />
in Life, Wendy<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67sh4ifg-OrHIKmB6D97M3WMj7Q98WdMwv56imbIrz1Qk75qGGBL-aC1sUPYv5yA3y7EJj_7UM7W-MT2hQpVj9WFDK-uXo7cXMQQSN87hu8SKkhtBlm05pnBIhd7anVwulGpXw2LlJTM/s1600/tunnel+illusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67sh4ifg-OrHIKmB6D97M3WMj7Q98WdMwv56imbIrz1Qk75qGGBL-aC1sUPYv5yA3y7EJj_7UM7W-MT2hQpVj9WFDK-uXo7cXMQQSN87hu8SKkhtBlm05pnBIhd7anVwulGpXw2LlJTM/s320/tunnel+illusion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-31289353101299149862017-10-03T14:37:00.004-07:002020-11-29T14:28:59.032-08:00We don't fit-in the world system - this is a blessing, though it sometimes feels like a curse<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY6O0JPgFr2orsQW2ekhETLDMW23wDsi2b367uypqDbk8MlRmAv3oYorXdw2RDp5AHrC7nvJXqudMlE30_3ZVJ4rFuLXMR6j8txh7DPyGXHhBrLxgVfc7_J8xDarAMz-AsJlD5C511UM/s1600/SquarePeg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY6O0JPgFr2orsQW2ekhETLDMW23wDsi2b367uypqDbk8MlRmAv3oYorXdw2RDp5AHrC7nvJXqudMlE30_3ZVJ4rFuLXMR6j8txh7DPyGXHhBrLxgVfc7_J8xDarAMz-AsJlD5C511UM/s320/SquarePeg.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0" style="text-align: center;">
<span data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">thanks for the cartoon www.nakedpastor.com</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0"><br /></span>
<span data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="2es3t-0-0">I got inspired by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedLetterChristianFellowship/videos/1758227061170885/" target="_blank">Nadia Bolz-Weber's </a></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedLetterChristianFellowship/videos/1758227061170885/" target="_blank">5 minute share</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedLetterChristianFellowship/videos/1758227061170885/" target="_blank"> = Uncategorizable</a></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="aghev-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aghev-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="aghev-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">here is my riff on it:</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="d09v0-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d09v0-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="d09v0-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span>
<span data-offset-key="d09v0-0-0"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5t6st-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5t6st-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5t6st-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">The historical Jesus as God And man, doesn’t fit in the categories </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="crei6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="crei6-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="crei6-0-0">- he doesn’t FIT, </span>like a round peg in square hole.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="f3b16-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f3b16-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f3b16-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="e8gl4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e8gl4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e8gl4-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Jesus is fish AND fowl, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="dln0f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dln0f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dln0f-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and I can relate! </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fka8m-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fka8m-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fka8m-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Maybe you can too.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1rgjc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1rgjc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1rgjc-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="euvh9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="euvh9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="euvh9-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Many of us feel like we don’t fit.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">And many of us feel alone in that.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<div data-block="true" data-editor="dkkk9" data-offset-key="p4se-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="p4se-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="p4se-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">I am blessed to be in a position to have deeply shared with hundreds of people in the last dozen years </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="dkkk9" data-offset-key="e411u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e411u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e411u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- hearing their pain, struggle, and challenges</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="dkkk9" data-offset-key="bcvab-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcvab-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bcvab-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- and let me tell you...</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">if you feel like you don't fit-in, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and you feel alone in that, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">you are actually in very good company! </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">; )</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ff8aj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2ullp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ullp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2ullp-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">For good reason:</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="519q7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="519q7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="519q7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Our society pushes us to want to fit in a box… </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="eql43-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eql43-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eql43-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">of belief, of fitting-in, of looking-good, of being cool, of success…</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eql43-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eql43-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">according to some ideal.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="cr947-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cr947-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cr947-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6gvua-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6gvua-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6gvua-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">But, just like the historical Jesus, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="c88nm-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c88nm-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c88nm-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we don’t fit into some model of how we should be.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c88nm-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c88nm-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are not a cog.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7v0ed-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v0ed-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v0ed-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">For many of us, it can feel so hard, scary, painful, shameful, lonely - to not fit in…</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">in our family, in our neighborhood, in our work, in our church, even in our clubs and micro-identities...</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6rlv7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="8eo2r-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8eo2r-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="8eo2r-0-0">Whether it seems like we are </span>trying and failing, or trying and succeeding, in this world's game;</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8eo2r-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8eo2r-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">most of us find this game to be uncomfortable, at best.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="54bkg-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="54bkg-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="54bkg-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2svo0-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2svo0-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2svo0-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">But, this is not the end of the story.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="f1b77-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f1b77-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f1b77-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Meanwhile…</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="32abd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="32abd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="32abd-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="f2lts-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f2lts-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f2lts-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are the temple of the holy spirit, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0">We are God's breath of life enlivening</span> the dust of the ground.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are the light, salt, glory, power, truth, love of God… in these earthen vessels.</span></div>
<div>
<span data-offset-key="bp5kb-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="dcm93-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dcm93-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dcm93-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fd4c6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fd4c6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fd4c6-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">And, each of us is completely unique in all the world.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="etl9s-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="etl9s-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="etl9s-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">There is no one else who is, was, or ever will be You </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1hrk2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1hrk2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1hrk2-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and no one with the same calling as Yours.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="46f3d-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="46f3d-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="46f3d-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6gaf6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6gaf6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6gaf6-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are beyond categorization.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6gaf6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6gaf6-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="353sn-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="353sn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="353sn-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">And because of our precious uniqueness, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="bvdon-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bvdon-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bvdon-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we can make a difference in this world, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bvdon-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bvdon-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">that no one else can.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5m4ha-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5m4ha-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5m4ha-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5m4ha-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5m4ha-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="69caf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Jesus did as he spiritually saw Abba do, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="69caf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and said as he spiritually heard Abba say, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="69caf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">in his own unique way,</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="69caf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="69caf-0-0">And w</span>e also can learn to step-by-step dance with the Living God, in our own unique way.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="cbu1j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cbu1j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cbu1j-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Inch-by-inch bringing the reign/kingdom of God to earth, as in Heaven.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cbu1j-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="cbu1j-0-0">Not by striving, rather b</span>y resting in God as who we ARE.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7g0qj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7g0qj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7g0qj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1k5ev-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1k5ev-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1k5ev-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fsc06-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fsc06-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fsc06-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">So, when we look to the world for the way;</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We meet the cookie cutter expectations of our culture </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- and whether we comply or resist - </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4s50u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we are playing the world's game.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="79lej-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79lej-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="79lej-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79lej-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="79lej-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">When we play the world's game, instead of our own, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79lej-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="79lej-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">at Best, we we not comfortable</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79lej-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="79lej-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"> - something is missing, something doesn't fit, something is wrong…</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="56se-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="56se-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="56se-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="d43la-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d43la-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d43la-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">I believe this is a pervasive experience, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Until we allow ourselves to rest in God, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">resting in who we really (already) are spiritually.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6n6kj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">And from there playing our own game:</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Learning to BE who we are, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and then to DO who we are (organically, with ease and grace), </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d4kep-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">in concert with God's orchestra.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">So this is the good news </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- God, the reign/kingdom of heaven, spiritual reality, is right here spiritually, now coexistent with his physical reality</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- and every moment, we have the chance, the choice to play our part in God's amazing orchestra (or not ;)</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We can make a soul choice </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to play with God,</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"> to rest in God, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dcjl7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to turn-around;</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fq559-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fq559-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fq559-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to look at God, not the world, for our leading, for our feeding, for our blessings, for our fitting-in, for our life…</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fq559-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fq559-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Hooray!! Hooray!! </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9aihe-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2ck4k-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ck4k-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="2ck4k-0-0">… and if we really want this - not just dabbling - </span>stopping there doesn't serve.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ck4k-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2ck4k-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">One soul choice - no matter how large that choice may be, doesn't shift our conscious experience.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="42ron-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="42ron-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="42ron-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We have too much momentum going the other way.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="42ron-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="42ron-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">We are called to walk-out </span>in the world, what we already spiritually own.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
One soul choice is wonderful, and makes a spiritual difference. </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
But, if we don't let God transform all of us, that choice will not change our life, or our world.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">I believe, and experience that </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">it serves to practice being who we already spiritually are </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">out into the world.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7p5rl-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7p5rl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7p5rl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">In our conscious experience, body, soul, life </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7atd6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7atd6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7atd6-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- this takes TIME and SPACE, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2blk2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2blk2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2blk2-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- this takes INTENTION and ATTENTION</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to make Real.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bqch8-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is a Process of Maturity, <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a> </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="bsri7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bsri7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bsri7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6fmhp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6fmhp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6fmhp-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This isn’t a matter of intellectual belief (that is a society lie).</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This isn’t just taking a pill, it isn’t a silver bullet (that is a society lie).</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
These lies lead to sitting-around waiting for the heaven-train, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
instead of doing our calling: </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="61bjv-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
bringing to earth what is in heaven - in our experience of life and in the world around us.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="6isd3-0-0">We are called to walk-out </span>in the world, what we already spiritually own.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="av2qf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="av2qf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is not an intellectual process.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is not about rules, or a set-pathway.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is not about pleasing somebody - even if its our mother, or our pastor.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5t9kf-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Going from eyes on society, on the world, trying to please the world (including our family, our neighbors, our religion...)</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6jkte-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6jkte-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6jkte-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="57l2s-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="57l2s-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="57l2s-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Eyes on the Living God - who is active and dances with us in present time, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5at65-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5at65-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5at65-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">allowing God to help us mature into who we really are, and what we can do in this world…</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="av2qf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="av2qf-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5ao7a-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ao7a-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5ao7a-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This isn’t trivial.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="8rd7n-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8rd7n-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8rd7n-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is a process in itself.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="eu62v-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eu62v-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eu62v-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is a body, soul, mind, spirit, life transition.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1211t-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1211t-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1211t-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="bnpa2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bnpa2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bnpa2-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, we are already in God, spiritually.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="e2cuv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e2cuv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e2cuv-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are already seated with Christ Jesus in Heavenly places.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="btk1u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="btk1u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="btk1u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="3gc0d-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3gc0d-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3gc0d-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">But, we are called to make this REAL in our body, soul, life… </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fpb8j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fpb8j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fpb8j-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">continually diving deeper in God, consciously in this reality </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5rt8o-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5rt8o-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5rt8o-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- bringing on Earth, what is in Heaven.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fnkc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fnkc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fnkc-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="agsni-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="agsni-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="agsni-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Although there are great and amazing blessings inside ourselves and in our world, every step of the way;</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6qgbe-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6qgbe-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6qgbe-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is not an easy or pain-free process.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="8jjhp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jjhp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8jjhp-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="6n6nt-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n6nt-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6n6nt-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Paul called it dying daily.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="ar4ut-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ar4ut-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ar4ut-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2tlf5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2tlf5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2tlf5-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">But at the same time, the fruit of this process is SO, SO good.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="d9rsu-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d9rsu-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d9rsu-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Life, Abundantly.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fhh8o-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fhh8o-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fhh8o-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="es8o4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="es8o4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="es8o4-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">As we deepen in this process,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2f4sa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2f4sa-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2f4sa-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we start to experience that we are whole and complete,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="3uph9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3uph9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3uph9-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we are love, and we are One,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="5mflv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5mflv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5mflv-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we are precious, and we are gifted,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="2amnj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2amnj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2amnj-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and we completely fit-in… in God</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="85pm4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="85pm4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="85pm4-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="aufni-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aufni-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="aufni-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We start to experience, And others start to experience, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="cnvld-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cnvld-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cnvld-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">that we are light, salt, glory, power, truth, love of God… in these earthen vessels.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="8nimd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8nimd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8nimd-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and life is SO, SO good.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="e0kc8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e0kc8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e0kc8-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="41o1f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="41o1f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="41o1f-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This is a huge blessing to us, and our world </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="edhah-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="edhah-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="edhah-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- if we let it be….</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="161vn-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="161vn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="161vn-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">The Living, present-time Jesus can show us the way.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1488h-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1488h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1488h-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="9e30s-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9e30s-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9e30s-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Like Jesus, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="39de4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="39de4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="39de4-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we can hold being fish and fowl,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="1s41u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1s41u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1s41u-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we can transcend the world's categories,</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7evft-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7evft-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7evft-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">we can BE ourselves, and DO our thing:</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="4uss9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4uss9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4uss9-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="p9eq-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="p9eq-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="p9eq-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to our own Joy, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="fi3nr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fi3nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fi3nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to the Blessing of those around us, </span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7o33q-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7o33q-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7o33q-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to the transformation of our world, and</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="acun7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="acun7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="acun7-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">to the Glory of God.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="7doe9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7doe9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7doe9-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="14ted-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="14ted-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="14ted-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">The Living, present-time Jesus can show us the way.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span><div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="35v81-0-0">
</div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
I have some additions and addendum here, if interested: <a href="https://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2017/10/lets-stop-pretending-we-are-focused-on.html">Let's stop pretending we are focused on God, when we just want to fit-into our little corner of the WORLD</a><br />
<br />
.<br />
</span><div data-block="true" data-editor="2tsuo" data-offset-key="dlavn-0-0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dlavn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dlavn-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-31984030450095590422017-10-03T13:54:00.003-07:002020-11-29T14:29:30.546-08:00Let's stop pretending we are focused on God, when we just want to fit-into our little corner of the WORLD<span style="font-family: georgia;">additions and addendum to: <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2017/10/we-dont-fit-in-world-system-this-is.html">We don't fit-in the world system - this is a blessing, though it sometimes feels like a curse</a><br />
</span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
1)</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">It is very challenging to say al this without starting to sound like 'works'.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">'works' is world-focused, i am speaking of spiritual focus.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">What I am speaking-to has nothing to do with:</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- striving to 'do-good',</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- whether or not we are 'saved', </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- whether we are loved by God or going to Heaven.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are already IN God, and IN Heaven, spiritually.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">The question is:</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">do we want to bring this spiritual reality into this earth reality?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">do we want to actively and consciously participate in bringing the reign/kingdom of God, on earth as it is is Heaven?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Do we choose to bring the love we are already IN spiritually, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">the reign/kingdom of Heaven we are already IN spiritually, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">into our everyday consciousness?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">into our everyday experience?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">into our everyday life?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">into </span>this reality, powerfully and transformatively?</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">Yes or No is great on this, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">whatever.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">We are all one spiritually.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
In the end, we all go to the seashore :)</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
2)</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">But I would prefer we stop pretending we are focused on God, and bringing in the Kingdom,</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">when we just want to fit-into our little corner of the WORLD:</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- our little church community, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- our little bible-study, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- our little behavior-modification group, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- our little judgment society...</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">This gives God, Jesus, the Bible, Christianity... </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">a bad name.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">More importantly, it gives most people a distraction </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- a dabbling, an idol - </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">when they are desperately seeking and needing a true and loving and transformative connection with God, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">experientially healed and whole in the presence of the living God.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">People get BS when they are looking for something spirutally Real, </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">and they then believe spiritual reality is BS.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">People come to church or some kind of spiritual belief-structure, they try it out...</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">then along the way they realize - oh, this is the same shit, dressed up in holy robes.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">No, life IN God is SO NOT the same old shit.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">I believe this is why Jesus spoke to the religious leaders so vociferously:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span face=""arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, </span></span><span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span face=""arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; </span></span><span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span face=""arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;">for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;">The good news is</span><br />
</span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- God, the reign/kingdom of heaven, spiritual reality, is right here spiritually, now coexistent with his physical reality</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;">
<span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;">- and every moment, we have the chance, the choice to play our part in God's amazing orchestra (or not ;)</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">We can engage the Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
When we Really want Life, Abundantly - living out this good news.<br />
The Living, present-time Jesus can show us the way.<br />
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
.<br />
</span><div>
<span data-offset-key="5g8nr-0-0"><span style="background-color: #e0e0e0; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-52106503597833525832017-08-19T15:29:00.001-07:002017-08-21T21:41:24.037-07:00“Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible” :Salon: Gender, the Bible and Us, Sept 9th, 2017: 6:30-9pm, Freehold, NJ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYzhdHHxgYIOFmO95ZrmvX19EoG0Ihdd-0MiXpQ63xXqirljWOrOOBtc_ru3OuCwyoSJFWAvrM-NmVr0wtHNVaqsOyUNZ6W51sV0orLfNcHF9mt974-AKdI4bo5lcPX8Sdq_INf52wNM/s1600/transfigurations+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYzhdHHxgYIOFmO95ZrmvX19EoG0Ihdd-0MiXpQ63xXqirljWOrOOBtc_ru3OuCwyoSJFWAvrM-NmVr0wtHNVaqsOyUNZ6W51sV0orLfNcHF9mt974-AKdI4bo5lcPX8Sdq_INf52wNM/s320/transfigurations+cover.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3eral-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3eral-0-0"><b>Salon: Gender, the Bible and Us</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2jqhs" data-offset-key="b24l5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b24l5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b24l5-0-0">Saturday evening, <b>September 9th</b>: 6:30-9pm, Joanie and Loni’s House in <b>Freehold, NJ</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2jqhs" data-offset-key="fsc4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fsc4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fsc4-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="duoj6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="duoj6-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2jqhs" data-offset-key="5tad7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5tad7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5tad7-0-0">Come enjoy this one-person performance and lecture DVD, </span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2jqhs" data-offset-key="j4of-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="j4of-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="j4of-0-0">hang out together, have a nosh, chat about this subject…</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e9qa3-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c0b3j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c0b3j-0-0">Peterson Toscano in his one-person play: “<a href="https://petersontoscano.com/portfolio/transfigurations/" target="_blank">Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible</a>”:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span data-offset-key="e0fju-0-0">I asked: who in the text is transgressing and transcending gender? </span><span data-offset-key="e0fju-0-0">I was shocked to discover some of the most important people, in the most important Bible stories, are gender non-conforming.</span></blockquote>
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<span data-offset-key="e0fju-0-0"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dge6g-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dge6g-0-0">I believe this is an important, and potentially useful conversation;</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="127v5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="127v5-0-0">and I hope you find it interesting!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f0shc-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="35s55-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4qelc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4qelc-0-0">The DVD is focused on Gender, in a Judeo-Christian biblical context. </span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7bpad-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7bpad-0-0">Meanwhile, I believe this underlying conversation effects all of us. </span><br />
<span data-offset-key="7bpad-0-0">Would you like to talk about these kinds of issues:</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="etabv-0-0">
<ul>
<li>How we do or do not fit comfortably into our Society’s gender roles; and</li>
<li>How do we deal with that, for ourselves? with others?</li>
</ul>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="92no-0-0">
<ul>
<li>How has/does our Culture bend, influence our Gender experience and expression?</li>
<li>How does/can our Gender experience and expression bend, influence our Culture?</li>
</ul>
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<span data-offset-key="3olt5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4hhmb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4hhmb-0-0">SO, regardless if you</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4tj4k-0-0">
<ul>
<li>identify as Queer or Trans</li>
<li>see the Bible as relevant to your life, or not.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1oufi-0-0">
Please come, invite your friends.</div>
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<span data-offset-key="92thp-0-0">Let us know you plan to come, so we can plan, and update you on any changes of plan: Say you are coming on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1466990046720538&set=a.306576759428545.73333.100002286700528" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and/or contact me via email: <a href="mailto:WendyRWolf@att.net" target="_blank">Wendy</a></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="92thp-0-0"><a href="mailto:Wendy@LifeAbundantly.us" target="_blank">(If you need the address, let me know ; )</a></span></div>
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Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-16657475055701001652017-07-25T22:59:00.000-07:002017-07-26T23:13:46.905-07:00{Guest Post} Just because someone considers them to be weeds, doesn't make them worthless<div data-contents="true">
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<span data-offset-key="8ec78-0-0">{Guest Post} Michael R. Wolf</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="84th1-0-0">Originally written to "SLUG (St. Luke's Urban Garden)" list</span></div>
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.</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3kaga-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3kaga-0-0">Last night, 4 fires were set at accumulations of stuff along the Burke-Gilman trail. They appear to (to most people's eyes) to have been piles of trash, including parts of chop-shopped (purportedly stolen) bikes. To other eyes, they were the accumulated belongings of unsheltered (FKA homeless) people.</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fll24-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fll24-0-0">As I biked home from Wallingford about an hour ago, I chatted with </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9krsj-0-0">* a news crew from KOMO 4 preparing to do a live news report, and </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="40t9j-0-0">* 2 members of the Seattle Police Bomb Squad doing a fire investigation.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7no63-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="909kl-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="909kl-0-0">I get both sides of the issue. (Well, there are more than 2 sides, but these are 2 of them):</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="35h4v-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4hhr2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4hhr2-0-0">[Here's where it starts getting long. You can stop here if all you want is the "what".]</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="48tk5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="584ji-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="584ji-0-0">- People (of the unsheltered variety), by definition, have no shelter to store their "junk", and even if it appears as junk to us, if we were honest with ourselves, we have *many* times that amount. It's just hidden from view so it doesn't occur to us (or our neighbors) as "trash".</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8qhb5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e6ec4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e6ec4-0-0">- People (of the sheltered variety), are frustrated at the increasing ugliness of the trash (NOT in double quotes) that overpowers the treasures inside, and a feeling of helplessness to make a difference as these accumulations grew over weeks and weeks.</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6lqr7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6lqr7-0-0">(Notice that I started both of these points with the noun "People", not the adjectives "sheltered" or "unsheltered". That was deliberate.)</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7gftu-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1l426-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1l426-0-0">Since I don't have a crystal ball, I'm must speculatin'. Jus' sayin'. But I've also got some insights into both sides.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7l3dm-0-0">When I shared this news with Cannon Britt, her first words were "That's evil". And I agree. And.... after some discussion, she also acknowledged that she, too, feels frustrated at many of the activities that happen on (or near) St Luke's property. And.... she also *welcomes* these unsheltered people. Her feelings are both frustration AND welcoming.</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2c8n8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2c8n8-0-0">To wit, I was sitting on the floor with the (very cute) little kids on Sunday when her "Children's talk" when she asked me (as the purported expert gardener) the (trick) question of "Which of these plants are weeds?", and I replied "Well... that depends on context. Some people would call of the plants, but they are pretty, too, so depending on the context they may not be considered weeds". That was, in fact the point of the "kid sermon" -- Just because someone considers them to be weeds, doesn't make them worthless. They're just out of place, or out of context. Her summary -- It's not wrong that people are camping on St Luke's property. It's wrong that there are not enough beds." That's a message (or reframing) the kids could get.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7qado-0-0">What's this got to do with SLUG, you may ask? Well, we're a COMMUNITY garden, and the COMMUNITY is learning how to coexist with itself. And the garden is part of that learning experiment. As frustrations flare up (pun intended), let's be a model for a good balance.</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dpsco-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dpsco-0-0">Canon Britt is good at being able to both welcome folks, but also to draw boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. I am not so great at that (yet), but I'm sure glad that she's around to model that kind of balance in her role as vicar (meaning "bishop's assistant in charge of a church or mission' - http://www.dictionary.com/browse/vicar) She's got a tough job straddling the roles of spiritual head of a mission church, and of the physical steward of the church's property. Tough job -- heart and head! (BTW... She's doing a great job!!!).</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="d26or-0-0">See you in the garden, along the Burke-Gilman trail (including the soon-to-be-completed "Missing Link"), and in the neighborhood....</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2ri2v-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehvha-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ehvha-0-0">Michael</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="d5lfb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dqqpg-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dqqpg-0-0">P.S. As you might expect, I welcome a discussion. This is not a simple issue, so I don't expect that everyone will see it identically to me. And... I respect a respectful discussion (even if it's heated, passionate, or) as we live and learn.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6fjh3-0-0">-- </span><br />
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2c08a-0-0" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
{Guest Post} Michael R. Wolf</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d8n6o-0-0" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span data-offset-key="d8n6o-0-0">MichaelRWolf@att.net - LinkedIn.com/in/MRWolf </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span data-offset-key="bkpjr-0-0">"All mammals learn by playing"</span></div>
<span data-offset-key="bkpjr-0-0"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-77384212917177923242017-06-09T15:22:00.001-07:002017-06-09T15:52:08.136-07:00Rest in God - a Meditation Workshop with Jesus - Wednesday, June 14, 2017; NJ Shore<br />
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In this Meditation Workshop, we will offer the opportunity to:</div>
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<br /></div>
<b>Say Hello to Jesus</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Clear other's opinions about Jesus, get to know him deeper, in present time, for yourself.</li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Learn from Jesus spiritually, to shift into more Harmony with Jesus.</span> - <a href="http://www.masterjesus.rocks/about-jesus.html" target="_blank">some thoughts about Jesus here</a></li>
</ul>
<b>Let Jesus lead you to Rest More Deeply in God </b><br />
<ul>
<li>We will practice letting go of striving, trying, effort, willpower - <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2016/01/willpower-or-will-power-choose.html" target="_blank">some thoughts about willpower here</a></li>
<li>Let Jesus show you how to more easily Let Go, and Let God!</li>
</ul>
<b>Overall:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Learn and practice some basic meditation techniques.</li>
<li>Share your experience, if you choose, a couple times during this session.</li>
<li>Mostly, quietly enjoy sitting in a chair, letting go and experiencing your inner world. </li>
</ul>
<b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">Details</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">7:15 - 9:15pm </b></li>
<li><b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">Trinity Episcopal Church</b><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">: 503 Asbury Avenue,</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;"> </span><b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">Asbury Park</b><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">, NJ 07712</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">Is this workshop for you?</b><br />
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">Jesus is available to you, regardless of your spiritual or religious background.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">This workshop is targeted to folks from a Christian foundation, and ALL are welcome.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">Whether this is your first or your millionth meditation, you can profit from this workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;" />
<b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">Logistics</b><br />
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">Space is limited. <span style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: small;">Please </span><a href="mailto:wendyrwolf@att.net" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" target="_blank">e-mail me</a><span style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: small;"> that you are coming.</span></li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;"><b>Freewill Donation</b> - this workshop is usually $35, please give as you are led. Half of all donations will to go to <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/3soupkitchen.html" style="color: #6c82b5;" target="_blank">Trinity's Saturday Soup Program</a>. </li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">Bring a <b>snack </b>to share if you would like - we will enjoy a break about half-way through the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;" />
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;"></ul>
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">You can <b>come at 7:15</b> for workshop - come through parking lot, and enter silver and glass doors. Come into hallway, turn left, room is on left. I will arrive when Mass is over.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;"><b>OR You can come at 6:30 </b>for <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/1worshipservices.html" style="color: #6c82b5;" target="_blank">Worship/Mass</a> (all are welcome) - come in main church (red) doors, to the chapel in the front right of church. </li>
</ul>
<br style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;" />
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;"></ul>
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;"><b>Can’t make this?</b> Please join my <a href="http://healgrowshine.us9.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=c917725d97502a529d2bfc6b3&id=5b06603049" style="color: #6c82b5;" target="_blank">infrequent newsletter</a>, and I will invite you to future workshops in NJ and online.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;">Please <b>invite your friends</b> for this sweet and nourishing opportunity.</li>
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;"><b>Plan ahead </b>- check address, if you have questions or need assistance, contact me ASAP - I am not available after 6pm on Wednesday, I will be in church and then in the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;" />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">in Life, Wendy</span><br />
<br />
<br style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;" />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">If you are not familiar with </span><b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">my ministry</b><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px;">, here is a little info:</span><br />
<ul style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17.290000915527344px; list-style: none; margin-left: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="background-image: url(https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/tictac_blue/tictac_blue.gif); background-position: left 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 14px;"></li>
<li></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Click on any of these to see feedback about Jesus Meditation, from friends who are from a Christian background:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-post-i-cant-get-enough.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">I can't get enough!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-post-living-successfully.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Living successfully</a></li>
<li><a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-post-courage-for-my-path-of.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Courage for my path of service</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Click on any of these to see feedback about Jesus Meditation, from friends who aren't from a Christian background: </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-post-jessica-basista-not.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Not superficial change</a></li>
<li><a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/guest-post-beautiful-spiritual.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A beautiful spiritual relationship</a></li>
</ul>
<li>some <a href="http://soultechwendyrwolf.blogspot.com/2014/05/testimonials-deepening-in-path-of-jesus.html" target="_blank">testimonials</a> from folks whom I have worked-with, together with Jesus.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<i>Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest, <span class="reftext"></span>take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls, <span class="reftext"></span>for my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.’ - <a href="http://biblehub.com/ylt/matthew/11.htm" target="_blank">Matthew 11:28-30</a></i><br />
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Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-42404352114076319182017-04-18T07:39:00.000-07:002017-04-18T08:22:03.162-07:00Let It BE: Powerfully Being-with What IS, with Mother Mary - NJ Shore Meditation Workshop<br />
<b>Meditation Workshop - Wednesday, April 19th - 7:15 - 9:15pm</b><br />
at <b>Trinity Episcopal Church</b>: 503 Asbury Avenue, <b>Asbury Park</b>, NJ 07712<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY6HPVi4jdOaRr2yBHGcwBOQhEqHvzDAbk-Fle-7lkQhMRnsdOxCSmDzyqoXfOPa0v8JQy_NT7jUbgHtfjSuoV3P_CIJ01T-8E0xcvQEgC-0oKZ_YIRQaaBiERn_XxtLnnhb1nsyDG98/s1600/mary+blue+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY6HPVi4jdOaRr2yBHGcwBOQhEqHvzDAbk-Fle-7lkQhMRnsdOxCSmDzyqoXfOPa0v8JQy_NT7jUbgHtfjSuoV3P_CIJ01T-8E0xcvQEgC-0oKZ_YIRQaaBiERn_XxtLnnhb1nsyDG98/s320/mary+blue+water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>Say Hello to Mother Mary</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Clear your own and other’s opinions; <b>get to know Mary deeper, in present time, for yourself</b> - as a friend, a guide, a model.</li>
<li><b>Learn from Mary spiritually</b>: to REST and organically SHIFT into more Harmony with God, and who we are IN God.</li>
<li>Let Mary spiritually show us how to more easily Let Go, Let God, and BE with what IS:</li>
<ul>
<li><b>* Experiencing</b> the Reality of the <b>Wholeness</b> that we Are in God (which is a deep healing for us).</li>
<li><b>* Inviting blessings</b>/gifts/fruit such as: Truth/Validation, Trust, Gratefulness, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Faith, True Certainty.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
In this Meditation, <b>you will have the opportunity to:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Learn and practice some basic meditation techniques.</li>
<li>Share your experience, if you choose, a couple times during this session.</li>
<li>Mostly, quietly enjoy letting go and experiencing your inner world.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHxu7jb_LDP0j5hp0JvcBWVL0UARKHCSsk1bzEIH_i6O1gVtF1fUCfRzvxXIgdofIxeMAaiP7CV95d1mTI4MDlny4qSjCoKE90lcpG0hen83-teFFBsUhy87uwsd4hctdU00V7k4Hp1U/s1600/Light-blue-ppt-background20130812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHxu7jb_LDP0j5hp0JvcBWVL0UARKHCSsk1bzEIH_i6O1gVtF1fUCfRzvxXIgdofIxeMAaiP7CV95d1mTI4MDlny4qSjCoKE90lcpG0hen83-teFFBsUhy87uwsd4hctdU00V7k4Hp1U/s320/Light-blue-ppt-background20130812.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Is this workshop for you?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>This workshop is targeted to folks from a Christian foundation, and ALL are welcome.</li>
<li>Whether this is your first or your millionth meditation, you can profit from this workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Logistics</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Space is limited. Please <b>register </b>on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1283512318411915/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a href="mailto:WendyRWolf@att.net" target="_blank">PM</a> me that you are coming.</li>
<li><b>Freewill Donation</b> - this workshop is usually $35, please give as you are led. All donations will to go to <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/3soupkitchen.html" target="_blank">Trinity's Saturday Soup Program</a>. (Cash or a check made out to Trinity Church) </li>
<li>Bring a <b>snack </b>to share if you would like - we will enjoy a break about half-way through the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You can <b>come at 7:15</b> for workshop - come through parking lot, and enter silver and glass doors. Come into hallway, turn left, room is on left. I will arrive when Mass is over.</li>
<li><b>OR You can come at 6:30 </b>for <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/1worshipservices.html" target="_blank">Worship/Mass</a> (all are welcome) - come in main church (red) doors, to the chapel in the front right of church. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Can’t make this?</b> Please join my <a href="http://healgrowshine.us9.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=c917725d97502a529d2bfc6b3&id=5b06603049" target="_blank">infrequent newsletter</a>, and I will invite you to future workshops in NJ and online.</li>
<li>Please <b>invite your friends</b> for this sweet and nourishing opportunity.</li>
<li><b>Plan ahead </b>- check address, if you have questions or need assistance, contact me ASAP - I am not available after 6pm on Wednesday, I will be in church and then in the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<br />
in Life, Wendy<br />
<br />
If you are not familiar with <b>me and my ministry</b>, here is a little info:<br />
<ul>
<li>After a similar workshop: <i>"This was my first real encounter with Mary and it was encouraging. I’m amazed and delighted that I can actually visit with her.” - Lisa Agard, Seattle</i></li>
<li>Many years ago, I wrote this in my Christian-focused blog, a similar theme to this coming workshop: Forgiveness: <a href="http://thelightovercomesdarkness.blogspot.com/2013/11/forgiveness-not-by-might-nor-by-power.html" target="_blank">Not by might nor by power, but by Spirit</a></li>
<li>Today, before I knew the theme for this workshop, I wrote in my blog for the general public: <a href="http://soultechwendyrwolf.blogspot.com/2017/04/true-certainty-and-humility-as-friends.html" target="_blank">True Certainty and Humility as Friends</a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmUmLkeXQvXn6M_20oxRp4rgddSGPT64A2PNhG3GREXZFFe39gdvaPYPrmwFlTVw-I1bSD0RNMT3y-IPL4Em9NMyjv-KC1GCVuhDkeVvMk-Xojvscoh-VATpQ86p0HMAGfOWLsorZ_ds/s1600/bluemountainsuse+with+mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmUmLkeXQvXn6M_20oxRp4rgddSGPT64A2PNhG3GREXZFFe39gdvaPYPrmwFlTVw-I1bSD0RNMT3y-IPL4Em9NMyjv-KC1GCVuhDkeVvMk-Xojvscoh-VATpQ86p0HMAGfOWLsorZ_ds/s320/bluemountainsuse+with+mary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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.Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-56451439869794382382016-09-02T11:28:00.002-07:002020-11-29T13:02:44.065-08:00Powerful theme of the Gospel of John: Jesus Sees Father doing and he does, Jesus Hears Father saying and he says<span class="st"></span><br />
Jesus says to them, My food is that I should do the will of him that has sent me, and that I should finish his work.<span class="p"><br /><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/4-34.htm" target="_blank"> John 4:34</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you,
The Son can do nothing of himself save whatever he <b>sees the Father
doing</b>: for whatever things he does, <b>these things also the Son does in
like manner</b>. <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-19.htm" target="_blank">John 5:19</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I am able to do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment
is just, because I do not seek My will, but the will of the <i>One</i> having sent Me.<span class="p"> <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-30.htm" target="_blank">John 5:30</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
because I have come down out of the heaven, not that I may do my will, but the will of Him who sent me. <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/6-38.htm" target="_blank">John 6:38</a><br />
<br />
<br />
So Jesus told them, "My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me..." <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/7-16.htm" target="_blank">John 7:16</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="body1">
<span class="reftext"></span><span class="red"></span>I
have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but he that has
sent me is true, and I, <b>what I have heard from him, these things I say
to the world</b>. <span class="reftext"></span>They knew not that he spoke to them of the Father. <span class="reftext"><b></b></span>Jesus
therefore said to them, When ye shall have lifted up the Son of man,
then ye shall know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself,
but as the Father has taught me I speak these things.<b> </b><span class="reftext"></span>And he that has sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to him. <span class="red"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/8-26.htm" target="_blank">John 8:26-29</a></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span class="reftext"></span><span class="red">I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.</span> <span class="reftext"></span><span class="red">And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/12-49.htm" target="_blank">John12:49-50</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="body1">
<span class="reftext"></span>Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”</div>
<div class="body1">
<span class="reftext"></span>Jesus replied, <span class="red">“Have
I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who
I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking
me to show him to you?</span> <span class="reftext"></span><span class="red">Don’t
you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I
speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work
through me.</span> <span class="reftext"></span><span class="red">Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.</span></div>
<span class="reftext"></span><span class="red">“I
tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I
have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the
Father..." <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/14-8.htm" target="_blank">John 14:8-12</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="red">He that loves me not does not keep my words; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but [that] of the Father who has sent me.<span class="p"> <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/14-24.htm" target="_blank">John 14:24</a></span> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="red">"... But that the world may know that I love my Father, and just as my Father
has taught me, so I have done. Rise up, let us depart from here.” <span class="p"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/14-31.htm" target="_blank">John 14:31</a></span> </span><br />
<span class="red"><br /></span>
<span class="red"><br /></span>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-53292452249644905312016-06-06T11:47:00.006-07:002022-01-29T16:54:31.657-08:00This is love: we lay down our lives for our friends<div data-contents="true">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jqoV8aiDnR0kJtY9SlvMZnJzCrgE66ZRQNZvQhmfOweo3hPwMYxAkkiCbQRB74h-EWD3mmmtxOrzWt52tvZlj3xr887imMlI2JdYQ-4NJE26_59X5kGvGFPPFuN5GXIUCPkXn1K6PDw/s1600/love+what+is+it.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jqoV8aiDnR0kJtY9SlvMZnJzCrgE66ZRQNZvQhmfOweo3hPwMYxAkkiCbQRB74h-EWD3mmmtxOrzWt52tvZlj3xr887imMlI2JdYQ-4NJE26_59X5kGvGFPPFuN5GXIUCPkXn1K6PDw/s1600/love+what+is+it.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span data-offset-key="2oe7q-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />From my perspective, <br />Jesus said the highest practice of, <br />how we are IN and we Share </span></span></div><div data-contents="true"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="2oe7q-0-0"><span data-text="true">Real Love:<br /><br />We Lay Down our Lives for our Friends... <br />and for God, for ourselves, and for the well-being and coming-to-fruition of All our Relations...</span></span><br />
</span><div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="c3870-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c3870-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c3870-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">We lay down our lives.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br />We lay down our ego, our habits, and our identifications.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true">We lay down all of God's promises and blessings.<br />We lay down all the ways we want to impress people, and be a success.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br />We lay down our lives.</span></span></span></span><br /><br />We lay down everything we rationally believe. </span></span><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="3em0h-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br />We lay down everything that makes us, us - in our own concept of ourselves.<br />We lay down our understanding of ourselves, of this world, of God, and of what we think God wants </span></span>for us.</span></span><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /><br />We lay down our lives.</span></span><br />
<br />
We lay down our health and our illness, our wealth and our poverty, our wisdom and our folly, our worth and our worthlessness, our rightness and our humility. <br />
We lay down our relationships - our loves and our hates.<br />
We lay down how we wish the world was, how we think things should be, and the difference we want to make.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="3em0h-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aaeuk-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="3em0h-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span><span data-offset-key="3em0h-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true">We lay down our lives.</span></span><br />Everything past, present and future - on and on I could list it all - we are called to lay it Down...</span></span><br />
</span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8oqm6-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />We lay down our lives.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="25v9u-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="25v9u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="25v9u-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">And from here:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="c98ea-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c98ea-0-0">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we can more and more see what The Progenitor (Father) is Doing spiritually (in Heaven) - and we can begin to DO that on Earth.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="4jmo4-0-0"><span data-text="true">we can more and more hear what </span></span><span data-offset-key="4jmo4-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Progenitor is Saying spiritually (in Heaven) - </span></span><span data-offset-key="4jmo4-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="c98ea-0-0"><span data-text="true">and we can begin to </span></span>Say that here on Earth.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="6k6ee-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6k6ee-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6k6ee-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">(All this, <b>just as Jesus did</b>... <b>but, in our own unique way</b>, with our own unique call)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="fgrfp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fgrfp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fgrfp-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />.</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="6upfp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6upfp-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="6upfp-0-0"><span data-text="true">And from here,</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="6upfp-0-0"><span data-text="true">sooner or later...</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0"><span data-text="true">we run cross-ways to the powers and principalities of this World, </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0"><span data-text="true">This is always the way.</span></span><span data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Progenitor does not bow-to to the petty beliefs and limits of the 'Authorities', the rule-makers and enforcers</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="6qo04-0-0"><span data-text="true">- whether they be Religious, Political, Martial, Economic, Cultural, Familial, etc.<br /><br />Matter of fact, Jesus seems to be doing an inordinate amount of healing On the Sabbath; </span></span><br />
neener-neener to religious sensibilities.<br />
<br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="don75-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="don75-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="don75-0-0"><span data-text="true">And like Jesus, eventually, as we do as God calls us to do, </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="don75-0-0"><span data-text="true">we also end up doing/ being the unpopular, unacceptable, unsuccessful, verboten...</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="bcutc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcutc-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="bcutc-0-0">And, like Jesus, we take the consequences - both the enjoyable ones, and those that are not.</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="bcutc-0-0">.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="7706j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7706j-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="7706j-0-0"><span data-text="true">And from here,</span></span><span data-offset-key="3md03-0-0"><span data-text="true"> we keep going, until we go round again...</span></span><span data-offset-key="7706j-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><span data-offset-key="7706j-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="a9ov6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a9ov6-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="a9ov6-0-0"><span data-text="true">When we follow Jesus, we pick up our cross.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a9ov6-0-0"><span data-text="true">We die daily - on a soul level.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="80tor-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="80tor-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="80tor-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="4o55q-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4o55q-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4o55q-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">And (praise God) we also rise (on a soul level) in the Glory of God, </span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span data-text="true">to love and serve God and our neighbor<br />...</span></span><span data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span data-text="true">There is no end to this practice.<br /><br />.<br />This is love:<br />we lay down our lives for our friends.<br /><br />It took me a long time to realize:</span></span><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">it doesn't mean to please my friends, be nice to my friends, do what my friends want me to do.</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">it doesn't mean to be a happy-little-martyr, putting up with BS, letting people treat me like a doormat.</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">it doesn't mean to try to save them from themselves, from their lessons, from the pain of their challenges or from the pain of their Glory.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Laying down our lives for our friends;<br />
Means:<br />
- Dying to flesh - to our physically-focused self; and<br />
- Rising in spirit - to our spiritually-focused self; and<br />
- Being constantly born again into:</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">I AM Love - fed and led Directly by God, more and more, in who we Be and what we Do</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Way, Truth, Light, Life, Love... which shines through us more and more clearly into the world</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">beholding and reflecting as a mirror the Glory of God, more and more into this world, from Glory to Glory...</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
.<br />
Our friends may like this, or they may not.<br />
Our friends may judge and resist this, or they may not.<br />
Our friends may recognize and support us, or they may not.<br />
<br />
<b>It doesn't matter whether our friends experience this as Love!</b><br />
- As we BE and DO Love - <i>they are blessed.</i><br />
- As we follow the Living God in each step, and become who we Really Are in God -<i> they are blessed.</i><br />
- As the world shifts, and more and more of us come to our maturity spiritually -<i> they are blessed.</i><br />
<br />
Our friends:<br />
our intimates, our play-friends, our families, our co-workers, our church-friends, our neighbors... <br />
may not recognize Love when they see it, or enjoy it when they experience it.<br />
might think we are crazy, or mean, or (OMG! ;) inappropriate.<br />
<br />
And you know what, we can become ok with that.<br />
Fortunately, we are getting into the habit of dying-daily<br />
- so we can get unstuck from needing-to, having-to please them, to live-into their expectations...<br />
<br />
.<br />
And, of course we do not have to do any of this!<br />
We have a choice.<br />
<br />
We can follow The Progenitor <br />
or not.<br />
<br />
We can live as Jesus lived, in our own unique way,<br />
or not.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6cer1-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>We can engage our unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a>,<br /><span>or not. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span><br /></span></span>
<br />
We can do any other thing, follow any other way, and miss the mark, or not.<br />
We can follow the World, the Flesh, the Devil... or not.<br />
<br />
.<br />
We have a choice:<br />
<br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">We can follow Spirit and Actually Love our Neighbor, truly, deeply, spiritually.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
OR<br />
<br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">We can have a shadow of Love, a pretense of Love, a striving to Love; a purely human, limited kind of love.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<br />
.<br />
It may seem strange, but culturally we are not clear about what Love is, spiritually.<br />
We don't always rationally or emotionally or relationally grok Love.<br />
That's ok, spirit is not flesh, and the carnal cannot Know God.<br />
<br />
But spiritually, as we lay down our lives, we start to expereince the wild ride of Love.<br />
And no one and nothing will ever be the same, again.<br />
Jesus did this, let us follow his lead.<br />
<br />
.<br />
this post has a similar theme, if interested: <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2015/04/when-we-follow-god-everything-must-go.html" target="_blank">When we Follow God: Everything Must Go!<br /><br />.</a><br />
<br />
<i>BTW this post is my response, to this useful post by Michael Green: </i><br />
<i><a href="http://brazenchurch.com/orthodoxy-vs-orthopraxy/" target="_blank">How Orthodoxy Wages War Against Orthopraxy (And Causes Us All To Miss The Point)</a> </i><br />
</span><div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="1rgad-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1rgad-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1rgad-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="csfos-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="csfos-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="csfos-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">Personally,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="d7cdo-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d7cdo-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d7cdo-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">I do not care at all about orthodoxy, or about 'right' rational beliefs </span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="30r29-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cusj7-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="cusj7-0-0"><span data-text="true">... Except how they affect </span></span>things that matter spiritually,<br />
i.e. our Practice and Experience of:</span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="blf7e-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="blf7e-0-0">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Presence and Love of God,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Reign-Kingdom of Heaven,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">our direct communication and relationship... healing, filling, maturing, dancing, co-creating with the Living God.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="ebbrg-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ebbrg-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ebbrg-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="3sneg-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3sneg-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3sneg-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">I'm not a fan of "attaching" to doing-thinking anything 'Right',</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="mtma-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="mtma-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="mtma-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">rather</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="h3e8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="h3e8-0-0">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">going in a direction that is useful to catch the scent of the direct, present-time leading of of the Living God, and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">walking in the way I am led, best I can.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
>>></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
With this in mind </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
From my perspective</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
love, laying down our lives, dancing with the Divine in our soul and into the world - in real-time...</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
leaves right-belief in the dust.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
My perspective is </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
our calling to love may look different than we humanly think believe, feel, usually see modeled. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
our calling to lay down our lives for our friends, </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
includes laying everything down,</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
including our ego, beliefs, religion...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
and doing/saying as we perceive the Divine doing/saying </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
- I would call this doing the will of God, bringing heaven to earth </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
- the CORE of the Lord's Prayer, IMO. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
This is love, the way of Jesus, from my perspective </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
way beyond being nice, following rules, or any traditional ideas of orthodoxy</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
thanks for playing! </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
your feedback appreciated </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
: ) Wendy</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7ukff" data-offset-key="fji4p-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fji4p-0-0">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="fji4p-0-0"><br /></span>
<span data-offset-key="fji4p-0-0">.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-36336446838122166512016-05-24T11:47:00.000-07:002016-06-08T14:47:29.353-07:00Reading and hearing about spiritual reality is only a hint of the Real Thing<div data-contents="true">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="d16f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d16f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d16f-0-0"><span data-text="true">I go on and on, talking about spiritual reality.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="2jjpi-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2jjpi-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2jjpi-0-0"><span data-text="true">Most of the time, folks don't know what I am talking about.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="8pchr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8pchr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8pchr-0-0"><span data-text="true">We don't know, what we don't know.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="fls2t-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fls2t-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fls2t-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="b7g8c-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b7g8c-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b7g8c-0-0"><span data-text="true">What is it like to not access spiritual reality?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="dfk1e-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dfk1e-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dfk1e-0-0"><span data-text="true">I just got this picture, which gives a small taste of it:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="5ig8h-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ig8h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5ig8h-0-0"><span data-text="true">It is like hearing about a great band, how sweet and powerful the music, how magnetic the musicians, how fun the concerts...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="er6gh-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="er6gh-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="er6gh-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="7gpv9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7gpv9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7gpv9-0-0"><span data-text="true">What would it be like to hear from your friends about this amazing music </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="1icm8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1icm8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1icm8-0-0"><span data-text="true">- but never hear it yourself, because you can't hear music - any music.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="6hcq9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6hcq9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6hcq9-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="2prkd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2prkd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2prkd-0-0"><span data-text="true">How would it feel to see the materials, read the song lyrics, immerse in the pictures, etc </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="ep82r-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ep82r-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ep82r-0-0"><span data-text="true">- but never be able to expereince the band - any band.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="vv58-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="vv58-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="vv58-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="97es6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="97es6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="97es6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Reading and hearing about spirit and spiritual reality is only a hint of the Real Thing, <br />a finger pointing to the moon.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="2ad37-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ad37-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2ad37-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="fubnc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fubnc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fubnc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Let us all more and more, intend, play, practice, learn to enjoy the Music, Dance and be moved at the Concerts!!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="9alsa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9alsa-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9alsa-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="7dqph-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7dqph-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7dqph-0-0"><span data-text="true">Let's Hear, See, Touch, Savor the Delicious, Nutritious, Glorious music... of Spirit.</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7dqph-0-0">
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="ir1n-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ir1n-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ir1n-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ba8ee" data-offset-key="vuoe-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="vuoe-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="vuoe-0-0">.</span></div>
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Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-52212124898016268592016-01-05T20:46:00.000-08:002016-01-06T13:28:14.415-08:00Rest in God: with Master Jesus: Freewill Donation Meditation Workshop, January 10th, 6:30-9pm - private residence in Freehold, NJ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC4EPMEYE1Kz-yJlBmQzWSffkLbSU0JH5s5xuBnPnHC2Lae4jaI78BY9zfiHJ5D_uS4_eEQ6S8VBXkhz6_1bBREy6QWqOd_akg5-XRkAMpTPOY3qyN_GOWJjSNWjQGRGgqhaPeKbpgDk/s1600/sabbath+rest+rose+float.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC4EPMEYE1Kz-yJlBmQzWSffkLbSU0JH5s5xuBnPnHC2Lae4jaI78BY9zfiHJ5D_uS4_eEQ6S8VBXkhz6_1bBREy6QWqOd_akg5-XRkAMpTPOY3qyN_GOWJjSNWjQGRGgqhaPeKbpgDk/s400/sabbath+rest+rose+float.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this Meditation Workshop, we will offer the opportunity to:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Say Hello to <a href="http://thelightovercomesdarkness.blogspot.com/2014/04/meet-real-jesus-directly-in-present-time.html" target="_blank">Master Jesus</a></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Clear other's opinions about Jesus, get to know him deeper, in present time,
for yourself.</li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Learn from Jesus spiritually, to shift into more Harmony with Jesus.</span> </li>
</ul>
<b>Let Jesus lead you to Rest in God </b><br />
<ul>
<li>We will practice letting go of striving, trying, effort, willpower - <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2016/01/willpower-or-will-power-choose.html" target="_blank">I just wrote some thoughts about this here</a></li>
<li>Let Jesus show you how to more easily Let Go, and Let God! </li>
</ul>
<b>Overall:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Learn and practice some basic meditation techniques.</li>
<li>Share your experience, if you choose, a couple times during this session.</li>
<li>Mostly, quietly enjoy sitting in a chair, letting go and experiencing your inner world. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Details:</div>
<ul>
<li>Bring a snack to share if you would like.</li>
<li>Please tell your Friends.</li>
<li><b>Freewill Donation </b>- this workshop is usually $35, please give as you are led. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/960825433954807/" target="_blank">Please register on Facebook</a>, or <a href="mailto:wendyrwolf@att.net" target="_blank">e-mail me</a> that you are coming. We will get you the address.<br />
</li>
</ul>
in Life, Wendy<br />
<br />
<i>Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest, <span class="reftext"></span>take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls, <span class="reftext"></span>for my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.’ - <a href="http://biblehub.com/ylt/matthew/11.htm" target="_blank">Matthew 11:28-30</a></i><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pIfsevnxBJeAyJM0s0tDzpD7jGGmKRgVcQm-KZFydOaOOoxNX0F3Nqu6gq5cWgvxz2sVeGUAjAzjWBDiYMjySRS3pVWCck-vRjOShKJNWTVcrA9dnFkPTpUu60IZSBmSw3YkrMJnHJ8/s1600/Rest+in+God+woman+floating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pIfsevnxBJeAyJM0s0tDzpD7jGGmKRgVcQm-KZFydOaOOoxNX0F3Nqu6gq5cWgvxz2sVeGUAjAzjWBDiYMjySRS3pVWCck-vRjOShKJNWTVcrA9dnFkPTpUu60IZSBmSw3YkrMJnHJ8/s400/Rest+in+God+woman+floating.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-35522138485030471682016-01-05T20:31:00.005-08:002020-11-29T14:30:30.722-08:00Willpower (flesh) OR Free Will & True Power (spirit) - choose<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Willpower is the best the world has to offer <br />
regarding how to get from here to there.<br />
<br />
Folks say they are blessed, healthy, wealthy, wise, fulfilled, successful... <br />
because of their willpower.<br />
But, I see willpower as a fool’s errand.<br />
<br />
From my perspective, all the hype about willpower leads to a dead end.<br />
We cannot run on willpower, forever - it runs out!<br />
WE wear out, we come to the end of our rope…<br />
<br />
Ultimately, running on willpower is <br />
running in the wrong direction, <br />
and using the wrong fuel.<br />
<br />
If we truly want to be love, joy, peace… in the world.<br />
If we truly want to be free, <br />
If we truly want to be true to ourselves, to our God, to our calling, <br />
If we truly want to be IN the world, but not OF the world…<br />
<br />
Then willpower has our eyes on the wrong prize.<br />
And the fruit will not be delicious or long-lasting.<br />
<br />
I could go on and on - because the world has us hypnotized about this.<br />
Most of us are totally programmed to Strive under our own power - even in our spiritual lives…<br />
But there is hope <br />
<br />
2 blessings from God really help us get back on track, I believe: <br />
our Spiritual Free Will and our True Spiritual Power.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Instead of willpower, we Must get our Spiritual Free Will back</b><br />
<br />
We must get our free will back;<br />
back from where we squandered it, lost it, gave it away.<br />
<br />
We can get our spiritual authority back, from others, from religion, from social conventions, from media’s programming…<br />
<br />
We can establish spiritual dominion in our own space, taking our own choice back from our lovers, friends, parents, children, family, teachers…<br />
<br />
We can be spiritually the captain of our ship, no longer tossed around by our thoughts, our emotions, our impulses of survival, sexuality, control…<br />
<br />
We can get back our free will, to spiritually be ourselves, do our thing, <br />
and as we choose, to BE in alignment with our Source <br />
- our God, our Gifts, our Blessings, our Path…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2015/05/until-we-get-our-free-will-back-we-can.html" target="_blank">Before we get our free will back, spiritually we cannot follow God</a>, we cannot consciously do God’s will - <i>we do not have choice</i> - we are victims to someone else, something else.<br />
<br />
Spiritually, we Must get our Free will back, if we are to get free of the lie of willpower.<br />
Of course all this, by God's Grace, and our soul choice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Instead of willpower, we Must get our True Spiritual Power back</b><br />
<br />
We must get our Spiritual Power back;<br />
back from where we squandered it, lost it, gave it away.<br />
<br />
We can get our True Spiritual Power back, from others from religion, social conventions, media’s programming…<br />
<br />
We can be empowered in our own space, taking our energy back from our lovers, friends, parents, children, family, teachers…<br />
<br />
We can allow the spiritual force of the Universe, the River of Life, to flow through us, enliven and empower us, Truly.<br />
<br />
We can get back our True Spiritual Power to be ourselves, do our thing, <br />
and as we choose to ACT in alignment with our Source<br />
- our God, our Gifts, our Blessings, our Path…<br />
<br />
Before we get our True Spiritual Power back, we cannot spiritually follow God - we can only pretend,<br />
we cannot consciously spiritually do God’s will - we can only act like it.<br />
<br />
We can only use force, striving, trying, effort <br />
until we line-up with God in our flow of True Spiritual Power <br />
<br />
Spiritually, we Must get our True Power back, if we are to get free of the lie of willpower.<br />
Of course all this, by God's Grace, and our soul choice.<br /><br />.<br /><span></span><br />
</span><div data-contents="true">
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="9rtto-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9rtto-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9rtto-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">so to re-cap </span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="81lfa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="81lfa-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="81lfa-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="bhu0g-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bhu0g-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bhu0g-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">Ultimately, running on willpower is</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="u77t-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="u77t-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="u77t-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">running in the wrong direction,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="c8v7o-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c8v7o-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c8v7o-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">and using the wrong fuel.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="3jio4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3jio4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3jio4-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="t23j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="t23j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="t23j-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">The world has us hypnotized about this.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="ankca-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ankca-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ankca-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">Most of us are totally programmed <br />to Strive under our own power - even in our spiritual lives…</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="fa2mn-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fa2mn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fa2mn-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="fhhad-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fhhad-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fhhad-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">But there is hope</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="1v6u6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1v6u6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1v6u6-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="eamff-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eamff-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eamff-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">These 2 blessings from God:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="b929c-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b929c-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b929c-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">our Spiritual Free Will and </span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="4d9kp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4d9kp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4d9kp-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">our True Spiritual Power</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="a571f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a571f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a571f-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">really help us get back on track.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a571f-0-0"><span data-offset-key="a571f-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a571f-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="a571f-0-0"><span data-text="true">From here we can </span></span><span>engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="csrfa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="csrfa-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="csrfa-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="dhpgj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dhpgj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dhpgj-0-0"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: georgia;">This is my expereince, what is yours?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="e8nek" data-offset-key="1461k-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1461k-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1461k-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Blessings on your Unique Path!<br />
Wendy<br />
<br />
<i>I just noticed, back in the Spring, I wrote about <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2015/05/until-we-get-our-free-will-back-we-can.html" target="_blank">the necessity of getting out Free Will back</a>, I hope you check it out! </i></span>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-47860203429486387632015-10-02T15:50:00.002-07:002017-07-26T23:11:30.557-07:00{Guest Post) Where do we turn to get our needs met? to allay our fears?<h5 class="_5pbw" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}">
<span class="fwb fcg" data-ft="{"tn":";"}">Guest Post: Jo Hilder</span></h5>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QNz9FT1TezoFXpd0RC7Uqui5IFcfHOua4N0IsFwDc8X48tyA8UgzRvOgs3v8eiQtt4vznPeFP0TvpvB-asq6YVuQ5SrSkOsFHH2d95idR2Kl5dDtVbTwmRb8q0xPAxkAPDdrfxicIjg/s1600/what+does+it+take%253F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QNz9FT1TezoFXpd0RC7Uqui5IFcfHOua4N0IsFwDc8X48tyA8UgzRvOgs3v8eiQtt4vznPeFP0TvpvB-asq6YVuQ5SrSkOsFHH2d95idR2Kl5dDtVbTwmRb8q0xPAxkAPDdrfxicIjg/s320/what+does+it+take%253F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The
most compelling part of scripture for me is when Jesus is tempted in
the wilderness by the devil in the gospel of <a href="http://biblehub.com/nasb/matthew/4.htm" target="_blank">Matthew, 4:1-11</a>.<br />
<br />
<b> Jesus addresses perhaps the most common fear responses of humanity.</b><br />
<ul>
<li> I will starve. I need to feed myself.</li>
<li> I will get hurt. I need to stay safe.</li>
<li> I will be a nobody. I need to be somebody.</li>
</ul>
We humans fear these three things - and work to contrive responses to these fears - at times to the point of obsession.<br />
All our resources are turned towards having these three basic needs met.<br />
<br />
Jesus was no different. He was human. <br />
<br />
The difference is Jesus was aware
of His God-ness. <br />
And so the temptation came in the form of a seduction
by darkness for Christ to use his God-ness to relieve his human fears,
rather than simply trusting in God-source to take care of him.<br />
<br />
And likewise, I find myself misusing my own God-ness to allay my fears
and meet my screaming, visceral needs, to feed my pride and self-esteem,
to bed down my worry about being nobody and having nothing.<br />
<br />
<b>
Where God would have me trust in him to give provision, peace and
community, </b><br />
I would rather strive for them, build them, grapple for them
and say I worked for them. <br />
Trusting seems too easy. <br />
<br />
Although we all
know, in a society where "basic needs" includes a house worth several
hundred thousand dollars and groceries worth hundreds of dollars a week,
when many live on a dollar a day, it can be much harder to trust God
than it sounds.<br />
<br />
<b> Our darkness still pulls us towards listening to
the fears of our soul. </b><br />
I do not have enough. <br />
I am unsafe and vulnerable.
<br />
I am no one, and nothing. <br />
<br />
<b>But the light calls us away from our fears.
</b><br />
What we have or don't have, where we are or are not, who we are or are
not, is no measure of our worth or value.<br />
<br />
<b> Darkness says when we
have all our needs met, our fears will leave us. </b><br />
It will be a kind of
sign of our power, or of God's favor. <br />
But this isn't true. The
wilderness is the wilderness. The wilds are the wilds.<br />
<br />
Jesus was
forty days hungry. <br />
Jesus was exposed in the wilderness. <br />
Jesus was a
nobody out there, in the wilds with nothing. <br />
<br />
<b>The darkness left him when
he answered his fears with truth. </b><br />
"I'm hungry, but I can't live just on
bread, I need more than that to be truly fed.<br />
I'm unsafe, I can be hurt,
I can even be killed out here, but testing God to save my life won't
prove he exists to me.<br />
Nobody knows I'm here, yes, I am no one with
nothing, but owning all the kingdoms and dominion over them won't make
me their king."<br />
<br />
<b> What do you need to truly fill your hunger? </b><br />
What
would it take for you <b>to feel completely secure and safe? </b><br />
What needs to
happen before you<b> feel like you're a someone who matters?</b><br />
<br />
There are
two sets of answers for you. <br />
The answers of darkness, which our Jesus
turned away from, <br />
and the answers of light, which he embraced.<br />
<br />
Which will you choose, and what does this mean for you?<br />
<br />
Selah, friends.<br />
Jo<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oxj7gGMMaFWeyNvypT7OAGvjk2kmbcTq-55MlJ745d1Oph2V26cXNJBHJX7EyJ0jnqc8PMw8VPd-1n_hPaFf7OFWj1JouS2Om-SABCWNv_6PDPJa-5rpQ0hobGMsbicxXljO95Nnzs4/s1600/jo+hilder+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oxj7gGMMaFWeyNvypT7OAGvjk2kmbcTq-55MlJ745d1Oph2V26cXNJBHJX7EyJ0jnqc8PMw8VPd-1n_hPaFf7OFWj1JouS2Om-SABCWNv_6PDPJa-5rpQ0hobGMsbicxXljO95Nnzs4/s200/jo+hilder+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span class="fwb fcg" data-ft="{"tn":";"}">Guest Post: <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1134951409&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22nf%22%2C%22directed_target_id%22%3A289549491252170%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jo.hilder?fref=nf">Jo Hilder</a></span>
<br />
Jo is an Australian writer, coach and speaker: <a href="http://www.johilder.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
She shepherds a highly-interactive & nourishing FB group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/freerangechristiansaustralia/" target="_blank"><span class="entity _586o" data-fulltext="Free-range Christians" data-group="all" data-icon="null" data-select="group" data-si="true" data-text="Free-range Christians" data-type="ent:group" data-uid="218858694983869">Free-range Christians</span></a><span class="entity _586o" data-fulltext="Free-range Christians" data-group="all" data-icon="null" data-select="group" data-si="true" data-text="Free-range Christians" data-type="ent:group" data-uid="218858694983869">. </span>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-32550823023978993402015-08-27T07:19:00.001-07:002016-01-14T22:03:00.762-08:00Align with God: with Master Jesus: Meditation Workshop in Asbury Park, NJ, September 9, 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
Align with God: with Master Jesus: Meditation Workshop<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday, September 9th</b>, 7:15 - 9:15pm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at Trinity Episcopal Church, <b>Asbury Park</b>, NJ<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRGvaugsLSUVvVwPmuf4Jl59Vt4JHIa9mDEtc9QcuvTissL22ZL7I6fwKr2-3fFW-szCVU87pQpK8PLWfPMF5vzLeoArfVhDHERVMEin0nf6uZv7ugqR1CWZJaS9S5uyrj4VYT6QJaVY/s1600/gold-mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRGvaugsLSUVvVwPmuf4Jl59Vt4JHIa9mDEtc9QcuvTissL22ZL7I6fwKr2-3fFW-szCVU87pQpK8PLWfPMF5vzLeoArfVhDHERVMEin0nf6uZv7ugqR1CWZJaS9S5uyrj4VYT6QJaVY/s320/gold-mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Say Hello to <a href="http://thelightovercomesdarkness.blogspot.com/2014/04/meet-real-jesus-directly-in-present-time.html" target="_blank">Master Jesus</a></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Clear other's opinions about Jesus, get to know him deeper, in present time,
for yourself.</li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Learn from Jesus spiritually, to shift into more Harmony with Jesus.</span> </li>
<li>Let Jesus show you how to more easily Let Go, and Let Spirit Shine! </li>
</ul>
<b>Let Jesus lead you, Come into more Alignment with God </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Open to more Blessings: your Light, your Truth, your Wisdom, your Unique Way.</li>
<li>Come more into Alignment with God. </li>
<li>Say YES to more Spiritual Cleansing, Communication and Blessings.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<b>In this Meditation, you will have the opportunity to:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Learn and practice some basic meditation techniques.</li>
<li>Share your experience, if you choose, a couple times during this session.</li>
<li>Mostly, quietly enjoy letting go and experiencing your inner world.</li>
</ul>
<b>Details:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Bring a snack to share if you would like.</li>
<li>Please tell your Friends.</li>
<li><b>Freewill Donation </b>- this workshop is usually $35, please give as you are led. All donations will to go to Trinity's<b> <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/3soupkitchen.html" target="_blank">Saturday Soup Program</a>. </b>(Cash or a check made out to Trinity Church) </li>
</ul>
<br />
in Life, Wendy<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1491494467815692/" target="_blank">Please register on Facebook</a>, or <a href="mailto:wendyrwolf@att.net" target="_blank">e-mail me</a> that you are coming.<br />
then Come to: <br />
Trinity Church<br />
503 Asbury Avenue <br />
Asbury Park, NJ 07712<br />
<ul>
<li><b>You can come at 7:15 </b>for workshop - come through parking lot, and enter silver and glass doors. Come into hallway, turn left, room is on left.</li>
<li><b>OR You can come at 6:30</b> for <a href="http://www.trinitynj.com/1worshipservices.html" target="_blank">Worship/Mass </a>(all are welcome) - come in main church (red) doors, to the chapel in the front right of church. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Can't make this?</b> Maybe you can come previous Tuesday:<a href="http://soultechwendyrwolf.blogspot.com/2015/08/relationship-with-your-source.html"><br />Relationship with Your Source: Meditation Workshop in East Windsor NJ, Sept 8, 2015</a><br />
<br />
<br />Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-4353099119413568122015-07-14T14:45:00.005-07:002020-11-29T13:06:57.532-08:00Permission to Co-create: Being Pregnant with the Seed of God<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0"> </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text3:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text4:0">Watchman Nee was an amazing Chinese Evangelist.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text4:0"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2n8FFWKUN6bDaymwyCvWFAOBFFC2ASDhnzYtO3UMu0udJ85hry4kYa0oJNGMCYeUPR92qUoBuQLHwjQsn__eDMZoZflaeq-1m0hLfAhaMEMm2-By-_J87AMP3NA-j5fPkZjZLrzJIlw/s1600/WatchmanNee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2n8FFWKUN6bDaymwyCvWFAOBFFC2ASDhnzYtO3UMu0udJ85hry4kYa0oJNGMCYeUPR92qUoBuQLHwjQsn__eDMZoZflaeq-1m0hLfAhaMEMm2-By-_J87AMP3NA-j5fPkZjZLrzJIlw/s1600/WatchmanNee.jpg" /></a></div>
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text4:0"></span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text4:0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text0:0"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text4:0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text0:0">According to my favorite Christian teacher, Dr Bruce Morgan:</span></span></span></span></span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text5:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text6:0">Nee spoke of being pregnant with the vision - with what he co-created with God.</span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text7:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text10:0"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text10:0">Nee was in rural China, early-middle of last century - it was a big
deal: <br />he wanted a bicycle, it would help him a lot in ministry. </span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text11:0" /><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text13:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text14:0">He told the local boys: I am pregnant with a bicycle.</span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text15:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text16:0">Of course they laughed and joked - the pastor is pregnant!</span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text17:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text18:0">And of course the bicycle came ; )</span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text19:0" /><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text21:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text22:0">I like this picture of co-creation: </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text22:0">We are pregnant </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text22:0">with the possibilities </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text22:0">that God seeds within us...</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text22:0"> </span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text23:0" />When we allow ourselves, to open to Life, to open to God's invitation/allowance: </span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">we HAVE Permission!<br /> We can now say YES to Life, to God, and to our Dreams!<br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">We can now, boldy and powerfully: <br />- ask and so we receive</span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">- seek and so we find</span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">- knock and so the door is opened to us.</span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><br />Together with God, we can bring these seeds of possibility into the world, we:<br />- carry them to term </span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">- birth them into the world, </span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0">- support them and watch them grow!</span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMClpJHXLpahlf1273DJVLqZMTJoN9n9EYc66lxIuftAJtruN7qcf2eq3zj7nO8kuj7USYP6SSuJwJ9Xa4L69d_03uDdrqKRfott-V_kiX7WdLUb9aFtwPx-jpEUEOX6IoGy9PgKk9aJc/s1600/Pregnant+with+possibilities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMClpJHXLpahlf1273DJVLqZMTJoN9n9EYc66lxIuftAJtruN7qcf2eq3zj7nO8kuj7USYP6SSuJwJ9Xa4L69d_03uDdrqKRfott-V_kiX7WdLUb9aFtwPx-jpEUEOX6IoGy9PgKk9aJc/s320/Pregnant+with+possibilities.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text25:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text26:0">FYI - I am a big fan of Nee, the way he followed God directly, his elephant-sized faith... even though I don't agree with him about many thought-beliefs ; )</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text30:0"><br />.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text30:0">About Watchman Nee:</span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text31:0" /><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text33:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text34:0">From a ministry that shares his work:<a href="http://www.watchmannee.org/life-ministry.html" target="_blank"> Nee's Life and Ministry</a> </span><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text0:0:$text35:0" /><br data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text1:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text1:0:$text4:0"><a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2009/09/changed-into-his-likeness.html">A short thing I wrote about Nee</a> and one of his books (from years ago ; )</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text1:0:$text4:0"><br /> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".50.1:4:1:$comment386942248179560_387136688160116:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$text1:0:$text4:0">.<br /> </span></span></span></span>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-12637630443025418192015-07-08T11:41:00.003-07:002020-11-29T13:07:37.130-08:00ALL have sinned and fall-short of the Glory of GodPlease read this first: <br />
<a href="http://johnpavlovitz.com/2015/07/08/funeral-for-a-friend-the-fall-of-bill-cosby/" target="_blank">Funeral For A Friend (The Death of Bill Cosby)</a><br />
<br />
<br />
My comment:<br />
<br />
Thanks for another amazing post, John.<br />
This is very sad, all round.<br />
<br />
While I was reading, I just keep hearing <br />
"ALL have sinned and fall-short of the Glory of God."<br />
<br />
ALL of us have things we hide, <br />
and if these things were shared with all the world, <br />
there would be consternation all 'round.<br />
<br />
I am reminded how Jesus hung out a lot with the 'sinners';<br />
the 'low', the 'outcast', the obvious law-breakers of our society have less to hide, and less-far to fall. They can be more Real.<br />
<br />
The "good" folks, the "religious" folks, the "squeaky-clean" folks, the "successful" folks <br />
- <b>we have more to hide, and much farther to fall</b>.<br />
<b>Which holds us in pretense, in hiding, in continuing to spiral down in to darkness and sin.</b><br />
<br />
When OUR sins - where we fall short, where we miss the mark <br />
- when our mis-steps are seen to the world, it is ugly, always. <br />
<br />
If not the things we have done and failed to do - then, certainly what has been in our hearts and minds.<br />
As bodies/flesh, in our every-day consciousness, none of us are clean, and none of the works of our hands are pure.<br />
<br />
Yes, as we allow the Light to grow in us, <br />
and we start to operate from spiritual consciousness (putting on the mind of Christ), <br />
instead of physically (influenced by the world, the flesh, and the devil). <br />
<br />
Yes, then the fruit of spirit becomes more overt. <br />
But, we still all miss the mark, regularly.<br />
<br />
SO, I think we must "hold the opposites" regarding our brethren who fall spectacularly from the 'heights': <br />
<ul>
<li>the wonderful beauty of art, music, culture, comedy, inspiration that they produce and we enjoy </li>
<li>AND at the same time being-with the broken and struggling real-people that we play the earth-game-with... We are all just humans, together.</li>
</ul>
<br />
We are ALL always falling down and, by grace, getting up, <br />
hopefully always letting God help us back up; <br />
hopefully always helping each other back up. <br />
(Here is a useful application of the often misapplied 'love the sinner, hate the sin')<br />
<br />
Because Mr. Cosby, like us all, has done good and evil, <br />
and he will continue to do so...<br />
and so will we. <br />
<br />
May God bless his soul - and all of us. <br />
<br />
Mr. Cosby has been given a terrible blessing, a dark gift <br />
- one that none of us ever ask-for:<br />
his deepest secrets are coming out for ALL to see - horrendous for any of us.<br />
<br />
AND Now he can stop running and hiding - which only makes things worse and worse;<br />
and start reconciling and healing.<br />
I hope and pray he does this with humility, grace, and (yes, even) humor. <br />
<br />
IMO, Mr. Cosby has a lesson for us all, may we learn from him.<br />
May we confess our shortfalls and where we are hiding our darkness, ASAP!<br />
Tell our TRUSTED and LOVING and SAFE brethren the truth that we have been hiding about our lives <br />- there is so much power in saying the Truth!<br />
<br />
May we make amends, as best we can, where and when we can.<br />
May we, with as much ease and amusement as possible, get back into alignment with God, with ourselves, with our fellow travelers.<br />
<br />
When Jesus helped people heal, <br />he helped them back into Alignment with themselves and with God<br />
and he said something like this after:<br />
<br />
1) Your faith has made you whole, <br />
(you co-created this healing with God - you can keep doing so, even when I am not right here with you to help you...)<br />
<br />
2) Go and sin no more <br />
(Stay in Alignment with who you are in God, Stay in Alignment with your path in God, Stay in Alignment the Light, with God - let go of your old habits that had you miss the mark: STAY in the Light..)<br />
<br />
May we be always in this process ourselves, <br />
and give each other this Mercy and Grace as well... including Mr Cosby.<br />
<br />
Blessings, WendyLife Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-35684704081832639252015-05-21T11:50:00.003-07:002020-11-29T14:31:26.678-08:00Until we get our free-will back, we CAN NOT FOLLOW GOD.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88L_Tvk2En4V7HeqkJPvWtfe-dQJtbvPk2jdEvysAkYmhWOO0PugEfL_J3Nc7DdIJBRgxvZ8axMhH2eMD5f_dnTQrFeSu7Pc-vGfKFnZjQ9AIMSGb_KDEiq2oS6XvIcj8ebMK4yptezk/s1600/addtext_com_MTQxODMyMTE1OTY1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88L_Tvk2En4V7HeqkJPvWtfe-dQJtbvPk2jdEvysAkYmhWOO0PugEfL_J3Nc7DdIJBRgxvZ8axMhH2eMD5f_dnTQrFeSu7Pc-vGfKFnZjQ9AIMSGb_KDEiq2oS6XvIcj8ebMK4yptezk/s1600/addtext_com_MTQxODMyMTE1OTY1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<br />
When we get our free-will back... Everything is Possible!<br />
But, until then, we are in bondage.<br />
<br />
Our free-will is our birthright,<br />
our Authority to choose in our own space, <br />
and to act - within (inside our skin) and in our world.<br />
<br />
Our free-will is, was, and always will be ours -<br />
but <b>most of us don't own and utilize our most precious gift</b>. <br />
<br />
We are all given free-will,<br />
we are all given dominion in our space and in our world...<br />
<br />
But <br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we lost it, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we squandered it, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we traded it for something else, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we forgot about it, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">we didn't value it, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">it was ripped from us...</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
We can all get our volition back!<br />
I encourage you to do whatever it takes (spiritually), to get your free-will back; <br />
back from our own and others:<br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">religion, understanding of the bible, religious defaults, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, doubt...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">body impulses, survival instincts, control pictures, habits, patterns of thought, feelings, fear, pain...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">expectations, limits, lies, programming, invalidation, control, competition, judgment...</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: georgia;">
A different way to say it, in old-time religious terminology, is this:<br />
Spiritually, we must take our free-will back from the world, the flesh, and the devil.<br />
<br />
And when we get our free-will back, as spirit;<br />
Then, and only then can we Begin to Consciously Choose to: <br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">align with our Source - our Light, our Life, our Truth, our Way in God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">behold and reflect, as in a mirror, the glory of God</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">pay attention to - utilize - our soul senses... so we can see, hear, know God - and the leading of God, for us, today.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">actually follow, when we hear a word behind us, saying, 'This is the way, go ye in it'</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: georgia;">
Until we get our free-will back, we CAN NOT consciously FOLLOW GOD.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">From this place, </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">We are blessed to engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REALizing who we are in God, into our body, life, world...</span></div></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>.<br />
May God lead you to the freedom that is yours!<br />
Wendy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2015/05/from-silly-human-rules-to-wild-freedom.html" target="_blank">For more see previous post </a><br />
<br />
<br /></span>
<br /></div>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-2510563898183932962015-05-21T11:44:00.004-07:002020-11-29T14:32:11.111-08:00From the silly human rules to the Wild Freedom of God<div data-contents="true" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJMJpL7F4ir3U7yGw3G9Eb2oMtjkUSNNuTSeU9EAcZ7HlmaBKxbggmugwSdc_IBLytMyFvt3EZZYgeQzEs32o87riZLiYgPpvLUy5qzC5KDWOB83Rdiy0VXWukjLpI-xAjyCuSUkBpKI/s1600/westboro+picket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJMJpL7F4ir3U7yGw3G9Eb2oMtjkUSNNuTSeU9EAcZ7HlmaBKxbggmugwSdc_IBLytMyFvt3EZZYgeQzEs32o87riZLiYgPpvLUy5qzC5KDWOB83Rdiy0VXWukjLpI-xAjyCuSUkBpKI/s320/westboro+picket.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos">
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos">
<span data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos.0:$b3kos-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos.0:$b3kos-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">Waaa-hoo!</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos">
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos">
<span data-offset-key="b3kos-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos.0:$b3kos-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b3kos.0:$b3kos-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">And of course, the POINT </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d4ik6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$d4ik6">
<span data-offset-key="d4ik6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$d4ik6.0:$d4ik6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$d4ik6.0:$d4ik6-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">is not to Resist the Resisters (bless their hearts)</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dkgb7-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dkgb7">
<span data-offset-key="dkgb7-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dkgb7.0:$dkgb7-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dkgb7.0:$dkgb7-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">It is to <br /><br />BE <br />FREE </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="95up3-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$95up3">
<span data-offset-key="95up3-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$95up3.0:$95up3-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$95up3.0:$95up3-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="estgm-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$estgm">
<span data-offset-key="estgm-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$estgm.0:$estgm-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$estgm.0:$estgm-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">IMO, the point is to do what Paul encouraged:</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9vv29-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9vv29">
<span data-offset-key="9vv29-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9vv29.0:$9vv29-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9vv29.0:$9vv29-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">(this is perhaps my favorite bible verse since my teens)</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="engrm-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$engrm">
<span data-offset-key="engrm-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$engrm.0:$engrm-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$engrm.0:$engrm-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">It was for freedom that Christ set us free; </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5c8l5-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5c8l5">
<span data-offset-key="5c8l5-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5c8l5.0:$5c8l5-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5c8l5.0:$5c8l5-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">therefore keep standing firm and </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2cq3k-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2cq3k">
<span data-offset-key="2cq3k-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2cq3k.0:$2cq3k-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2cq3k.0:$2cq3k-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (bondage, servitude)</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4hkuv-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4hkuv">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="4hkuv-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4hkuv.0:$4hkuv-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4hkuv.0:$4hkuv-0-0.0">Christian Culture has gotten so far off the track on this!<br />(yup, there I said it ; )</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="4hkuv-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4hkuv.0:$4hkuv-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4hkuv.0:$4hkuv-0-0.0"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4">
<span data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">From my perspective, most of us have been infected... </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0.0">we are so infected by the law, the legalists, the religious bullys. </span></span><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">some of us in compliance, dominated</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">some of us in resistance, fighting </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">many of us waffling back and forth, not Really Clear about who we really Are...</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span data-offset-key="9f88h-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9f88h.0:$9f88h-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="f2cc4-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$f2cc4.0:$f2cc4-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="acaqn-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$acaqn">
<span data-offset-key="acaqn-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$acaqn.0:$acaqn-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$acaqn.0:$acaqn-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">But, we really are <br />FREE, <br />now! </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bi3da-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bi3da">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<span data-offset-key="bi3da-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bi3da.0:$bi3da-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bi3da.0:$bi3da-0-0.0">So, let's BE that!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="esa1r-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$esa1r">
<span data-offset-key="esa1r-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$esa1r.0:$esa1r-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$esa1r.0:$esa1r-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dmu4e-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dmu4e">
<span data-offset-key="dmu4e-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dmu4e.0:$dmu4e-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dmu4e.0:$dmu4e-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">If this resonates for you at all, </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="3i0t5-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3i0t5">
<span data-offset-key="3i0t5-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3i0t5.0:$3i0t5-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3i0t5.0:$3i0t5-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">and you want to help clear your body, mind, heart, soul of all the religious rules and regs... </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cluj1-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cluj1">
<span data-offset-key="cluj1-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cluj1.0:$cluj1-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cluj1.0:$cluj1-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">You may want to go see and meditate through these many different translations of this one verse </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8u465-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8u465">
<span data-offset-key="8u465-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8u465.0:$8u465-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8u465.0:$8u465-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">- I get encouraged by just looking through this: <a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/5-1.htm" target="_blank">Galatians 5:1</a></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dp6gt-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt">
<span data-offset-key="dp6gt-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt.0:$dp6gt-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt.0:$dp6gt-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="dp6gt-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt">
<span data-offset-key="dp6gt-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt.0:$dp6gt-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$dp6gt.0:$dp6gt-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="706t-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$706t">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="706t-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$706t.0:$706t-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$706t.0:$706t-0-0.0">Most importantly, I ask you to ask Jesus to help you </span></span><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span data-offset-key="706t-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$706t.0:$706t-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$706t.0:$706t-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">to heal, </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="62jcr-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$62jcr.0:$62jcr-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$62jcr.0:$62jcr-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">to let-in a waterfall of the blessings of God, asking for the vibration of Freedom, that will fill you up with the fruit of Liberty - in your body, in your life, in your world.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fe6ps-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fe6ps">
<span data-offset-key="fe6ps-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fe6ps.0:$fe6ps-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fe6ps.0:$fe6ps-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a10mf-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a10mf">
<span data-offset-key="a10mf-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a10mf.0:$a10mf-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a10mf.0:$a10mf-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">When we allow the spiritual freedom that is already ours:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span data-offset-key="6td83-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$6td83.0:$6td83-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$6td83.0:$6td83-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">then we can BE the us - that only we can be.</span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="4mipc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4mipc.0:$4mipc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4mipc.0:$4mipc-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">then we can DO what we are called to do - that only we can do!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7fn6f-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7fn6f">
<span data-offset-key="7fn6f-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7fn6f.0:$7fn6f-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7fn6f.0:$7fn6f-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0.0">Until we are free, we are only RE-acting.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0.0">Until we are free, we are only following and/or resisting some one else's agenda.</span></span><span data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0.0"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6">
<span data-offset-key="a1vt6-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a1vt6.0:$a1vt6-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">Until we get our free-will back, we CAN NOT consciously FOLLOW GOD. <br />(<a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2015/05/until-we-get-our-free-will-back-we-can.html" target="_blank">for more on this, see next post</a>)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-contents="true" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0">
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bdo6u-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bdo6u">
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bdo6u-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bdo6u">
<span data-offset-key="bdo6u-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bdo6u.0:$bdo6u-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bdo6u.0:$bdo6u-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Of course this is a life-time process, deepening in God, maturing spiritually.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4b63g-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4b63g">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="4b63g-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4b63g.0:$4b63g-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4b63g.0:$4b63g-0-0.0"><b>So let us choose each day to Let-go of what holds us hostage</b>, </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="4b63g-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4b63g.0:$4b63g-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4b63g.0:$4b63g-0-0.0">and to LET IN these blessings from God.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cnihr-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cnihr">
<span data-offset-key="cnihr-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cnihr.0:$cnihr-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><br data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$cnihr.0:$cnihr-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="80uhc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="80uhc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0.0">We can choose each day to <br /><b>ask Jesus to help us to heal and grow into who we really are</b>,</span></span><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span data-offset-key="80uhc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">from law to Grace, </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="80uhc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">from bondage to Liberty, </span></span></li>
<li><span data-offset-key="80uhc-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$80uhc.0:$80uhc-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">from the silly human rules to the Wild Freedom of God. </span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bqr6g-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bqr6g">
<span data-offset-key="bqr6g-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bqr6g.0:$bqr6g-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">From this place, we can engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0">Realizing who we are in God, into our body, life, world...</div><div><br /></div><div>.</div></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5soc7-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5soc7">
<span data-offset-key="5soc7-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5soc7.0:$5soc7-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$5soc7.0:$5soc7-0-0.0" style="font-family: georgia;">Blessings on your Unique Journey in God, <br />Wendy</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="599nj-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$599nj">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="599nj-0-0" data-reactid=".3.1:5.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$599nj.0:$599nj-0-0"><br />If you have not seen it, here is a similar theme written half a year later:</span><br />
<a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2016/01/willpower-or-will-power-choose.html" target="_blank">Willpower (flesh) OR Free Will and True Power (spirit) - choose</a></span></div>
</div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-3296577265850843482015-05-18T12:19:00.005-07:002020-11-29T13:10:21.721-08:00God plays with who shows up, today! I have been thinking lately about this scripture <br />
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A2-10&version=KJV" target="_blank">Matthew 22:2-10</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. <br />
3“And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. <br />
4“Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ <br />
5“But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, <br />
6and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. <br />
7“But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. <br />
8“Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. <br />
9‘Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ <br />
10“Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjhzUpzRSCO6I9Iuop0XbplPy7hk3xTnGJuiTwPThHFDXdBCkA3zfxiK4HSvtJ9SgExuMyOxxFA9DGMoS4x-TTRr97g5GNM0HNNfUJU3deF-jDAtKHQzECYEwPbSYP4osQyDVbbLuPdY/s1600/want+to+be+part+of+the+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjhzUpzRSCO6I9Iuop0XbplPy7hk3xTnGJuiTwPThHFDXdBCkA3zfxiK4HSvtJ9SgExuMyOxxFA9DGMoS4x-TTRr97g5GNM0HNNfUJU3deF-jDAtKHQzECYEwPbSYP4osQyDVbbLuPdY/s320/want+to+be+part+of+the+wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And I have been thinking, along these lines...<br />
<br />
In Jesus day, the rules and culture of those who believed they were following God - but were not - got in the way of the enjoyment of God's banquet; in that case, perhaps specifically the Jewish-identified people invited. The invitation went out to a wider circle - and here we are.<br />
<br />
In our day, the rules and culture of those who believe they are following God - but are not - are getting in the way of the enjoyment of God's banquet; in this case, perhaps specifically the Christian-identified people invited. The invitation goes out to a wider circle - where will God lead next?<br />
<br />
Many who purport to follow God, will not come to enjoy the goodness of God!<br />
Many who purport to follow God, will not listen to the invitation of God, today!<br />
Many who purport to follow God, will not let go of everyday concerns, old habits and beliefs.<br />
<br />
It is Hard to BE WITH the WEDDING - so we fight against the invitation.<br />
The beautiful, delicious, present-time joining of spirit and body, of God and us...<br />
Is intense, and it takes our whole self and our whole life, showing up TODAY. <br />
<br />
We can't just send a card ; )<br />
We have to Show Up<br />
<br />
We can't wear our old clothes, our work clothes.<br />
We have to ALLOW NEW!<br />
<br />
You who can hear; hear...<br />
It matters not who you are, what you believe, what you have done, where you come from, if you believe you are good or bad, worthy or unworthy...<br />
Come eat, drink, be merry.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcFjIAn03EBa-6vIu5bZCSkQE0TFXwbOyz2kX0gcEKYErJXRk0RLGsE6rLvzvcWfGo7yU_WGMcrKilRMgOhEgwe8p7eo3J-q_V6Ar84fXBUOKoTct0Ykuw3hij4qzz7gk3iveTVTRtgs/s1600/God+plays+with+who+shows+up+today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcFjIAn03EBa-6vIu5bZCSkQE0TFXwbOyz2kX0gcEKYErJXRk0RLGsE6rLvzvcWfGo7yU_WGMcrKilRMgOhEgwe8p7eo3J-q_V6Ar84fXBUOKoTct0Ykuw3hij4qzz7gk3iveTVTRtgs/s320/God+plays+with+who+shows+up+today.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Perhaps it is so; and has always been so, and will always be so:<br />
<b>God plays with who shows up, today! </b><br />
<br />
Are you willing to drop everything, now, and come to the banquet?<br />
Can you BE WITH THE WEDDING<br />
Then please put on your new clothes, and come!<br />
<br />
The banquet is set,<br />
<b>Do You Want to be part of the Wedding?<br />Then show up in your wedding clothes, ready to party!</b><br />
<br />
<b>. </b>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-78692653092369245542015-04-28T13:12:00.003-07:002020-11-29T14:32:48.303-08:00Here I am, Lord<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
I read <span data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0"><a class="UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1566390985&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeff.robinson.921?fref=ufi" id="js_f"><span data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0.0.0">Jeff Robinson</span></a></span><span data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0">'s </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".3y.1:3:1:$comment10206959002644656_10206969565828729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span></span>wonderful FB post: we are <br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
mere Kindergartners <br />in the much larger world of grace-filled, Spirit-led, Christ-following. <br />Many of us remain Pharisees wrapped in costumes of grace.<br />
<br />
How will we ever find our way out...our way forward...<br />into the Light and Freedom of Jesus? <br />Who will lead us? <br />Who among us is even willing to admit how cozy we are in our small and narrow, exclusive cocoon?</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
And I had to play!!<br />
so this I wrote:<br />
<br />
I believe and expereince that Jesus will lead us <br />
- as he did when he walked the earth, and ever since. <br />
<b>Jesus himself will disciple us </b><br />
- <b>IF IF IF WHEN WHEN WHEN we let him!</b><br />
<br />
I believe the question is: who will follow Jesus?<br />
Who will say YES! to experiencing him spiritually, and follow him spiritually?<br />
<br />
Who being last, is willing for God to put us up front? <br />
Who as followers, are willing for God to have us lead?<br />
<br />
I pray to God, the answer for every single person who reads this is: <br />
ME, YES! <br />
<b>Each one of us who Really loves God, who really wants to follow Jesus: </b><br />
<b>Let's Actually DO it!</b><br />
<br />
.<br />
From my perspective, the tripping point is: <br />
we have been lost in doctrine and ritual and tradition and ethics and physical-focus and... <br />
We have been led astray by our bodies, our culture, our thoughts, our beliefs, our habits, our feelings, our survival impulses, our control issues... <br />
<br />
Mostly we have been led astray by the LIE (of the flesh/physical)<br />
that we must learn from a book <br />
about a Jesus who physically died 2,000 years ago!<br />
<br />
Instead of the TRUTH (of the spiritual, available in our soul)<br />
that the Risen and Ascended Christ is right here, right now.<br />
<b>Jesus is just as much available to us as he was to Saul/Paul, for example</b>.<br />
<br />
And like Saul/Paul:<br />
- our inner lives, our outer lives, our companions, our world can be completely Transformed;<br />
- when we let go of our Concepts and Traditions and allegedly-biblical Barriers; and <br />
- instead choose to say YES! to our unique Spiritual Adventure with the Living God!<br />
<br />.<br /><span>From this place, we can engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span> </span></span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Realizing who we are in God, into our body, life, world...</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
.<br />
So <br />
1 - <i>How will we ever find our way out... our way forward... into the Light and Freedom of Jesus?</i><br />
2 - <i>Who will lead us?</i><br />
3 - <i>Who among us is even willing to admit how cozy we are in our small and narrow, exclusive cocoon?</i><br />
<br />
MY specific answer to each of these questions, is below <br />-> what are your answers? <br />
<br />
.<br />
1)<i> How will we ever find our way out... our way forward... into the Light and Freedom of Jesus?</i><br />
<br />
I am in that process of letting the Light and Freedom that Jesus IS, <br />
BE more and more IN, AS, Through me. <br />
It has been an expletive-filled process <br />- becasue I fight Every Single Step. <br />
<br />This dying daily business Really Sucks. <br />
<br />
But when I am not screaming so loud, <br />
I am Grateful beyond measure! <br />
This Way, Light, Life, Love, Truth expereince is worth Everything, Anything!<br />
<br />
.<br />
2) <i>Who will lead us?</i><br />
<br />
Jesus leads me, God leads me, Spirit leads me, God sends Angels and Spiritual Masters to lead me -<br />
there is NO lack of spiritual leading, filling, healing, wisdom...<br />
<br />
<b>WHEN and only when I am Willing </b><br />
<b>to Open my spiritual senses </b><br />to see, hear, know, touch, taste, smell, feel, expereince oneness with spirit;<br />
then Act spiritually and physically in alignment with that spiritual leading.<br />
<br />
This process of opening, <br />
I only utilize <br />
(and eventually was called to share) <br />
because it was and is my call. <br />
<br />
.<br />
Like Jonah, I tried to run! <br />
and I suffered terribly for many, many years <br />
- until I let go, and became willing to follow my call.<br />
<br />
That was over a dozen years ago.<br />
Since then, I slowly became willing to learn <br />HOW to operate, to listen and to follow - spiritually, instead of physically. <br />
<br />I am Still learning, of course! <br />
But, I am not overtly running any more. (The war is won, but the battles Rage-on ; )<br />
<br />
.<br />
3) <i>Who among us is even willing to admit how cozy we are in our small and narrow, exclusive cocoon?</i><br />
<br />
I have only enjoyed a cozy cocoon a few times in my life - and then, not SO cozy, for not so long...<br />
But, I have had times where I wish to God I could stay and play and at least kinda FIT-in... longer. <br />
<br />
For the last several years, though, I have experienced more True community and acceptance than I ever have, amoung others doing their spiritual work. <br />
<br />
Although, I can now own, there has been a tear right down the middle of my being-ness in the world, and in my ministry - that God is NOW healing.<br />
<br />
This is getting long - <a href="http://masterjesus-rocks.blogspot.com/2015/04/note-to-self-show-up-follow-jesus-stop.html" target="_blank">I am putting the rest in another post</a><br />
<br />
in LIFE! Wendy<br />
<br />
I have been singing lately, like we did when I was a teen in house church... way back in the day ; ) <br />
<span class="watch-title" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Here I Am Lord, composed and sung by Dan Schutte - Saint Louis Jesuits"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0790nftbBc" target="_blank">Here I Am Lord</a>, by Dan Schutte and the Saint Louis Jesuits
<br /><br />.</span></span>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-82531513388051946002015-04-27T09:12:00.004-07:002020-11-29T14:33:22.626-08:00When we Follow God: Everything Must Go! <span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Many Religious folks want us to believe, <br />
that following God means being Good and staying out of Trouble<br />
- but really it is the opposite!<br />
<br />
story:<br />
One
class-series many years ago, I was blessed to teach a group of very powerful Jewish women how to use basic soul
tools - not to work with Jesus, just to Open to Spiritual information
and action.<br />
<br />
They all enjoyed the class,
and did well. One particular woman, I will call her Ruth, was really
lapping it up, she opened-up a whole new relationship with God.<br />
<br />
SO class series over, Ruth says I don't know what I am going to do <br />- how can I practice this spiritual way,<br />
AND do my religion?<br /><br />
- she was some kind of Jewish Orthodox, a combination of strictness and freedom that wasn’t completely comprehensible to me <br />
- but this is her Life, it is her Family, it is her Culture, it is her Religion, it is her Identity…<br />
<br />
I told Ruth, in this practice, you are following God, loving God, connecting to God.<br />
You are letting in the blessings of God, and more overtly co-creating with God in your world...<br />
this is all good, right? yes<br />
<br />
Ok,
now in your religion, in your way of life, you do good, you love your
family, you serve people. You have rules, and it is normal for you to
follow them; <br />
there is no necessary contradiction, right? yes<br />
<br />
SO, I say to Ruth:<br />
Ok, you are good for now: <br />
Listen, Deepen, Heal, Love, Follow God, Do good works - all is well - FOR NOW.<br />
For awhile everything will be fine…<br />
<br />
But, eventually, sooner or later... <br />
God will lead you Out.<br />
<br />
I don't know how or what, but I can promise you, <br />
that you will be led in a way that is not aligned with your religion, family, traditions, community...<br /><br />
I don’t know How, What, Where, When, Who... <br />
But I do know God’s leading will cross the lines of the life you have.<br />
<br />
And THEN you will have to choose.<br />
Follow God or follow your traditions...<br />
Until then, enjoy yourself ; )<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>How can I possibly say this??</b><br />
<br />
Because <br />
God doesn’t play by our rules, or any rules. <br />
So, following God’s leading sends us on a collision course with the tyrants of our inner and our outer world. <br />
<br />
Therefore, as Jesus said:<br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
If any one doth will to come after me, let him
disown himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me - Luke 9 YLT</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Because here is the thing:<br />
I have been watching life, <br />
I have been learning from lots of other people’s challenges - and my own.<br />
<br />
I have noticed many kinds of spiritual literature, <br />
as well as what is written about Jesus, and in the Bible, <br />
and watching how Spirit leads me, and many others...<br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW18_l-nxd0hHuSY1GXOJvwWpadEZlWObmZ4KJ6mXimkymnznYZQS-eaOjEuYXNtdHJgvcZQ-shhZln3k2dWygQFzgfBB6aE6mA58hlPWUokszwF_jR0nYO5hygIdnCJa-ZFJh8sUzS4/s1600/God+Doesn't+play+by+our+rules.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW18_l-nxd0hHuSY1GXOJvwWpadEZlWObmZ4KJ6mXimkymnznYZQS-eaOjEuYXNtdHJgvcZQ-shhZln3k2dWygQFzgfBB6aE6mA58hlPWUokszwF_jR0nYO5hygIdnCJa-ZFJh8sUzS4/s1600/God+Doesn't%2Bplay%2Bby%2Bour%2Brules.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
<br />
So, <b>I can say for sure</b>:<br />
<br />
God doesn’t play by our rules.<br />
God doesn’t care about the little fiefdoms we set-up.<br />
God doesn’t care about our culture or the leader/follower game.<br />
<br />
God doesn’t care about gender roles or what day of the week it is.<br />
God does not care about our little games we set-up about how life is, and how everyone should do it.<br />
God doesn’t take politics or economics or religion seriously.<br />
<br />
God is not limited by our beliefs about Life, the Universe, and Everything.<br />
God is not stopped by our beliefs about the Bible. <br />
God is not controlled by the traditions of our church.<br />
<br />
All the Domination systems of this world, are meaningless to God.<br />
All the games we think we have to play to survive, to fit-in, to get love, to be successful...<br />
All the Lines we draw in the sand, and then think we or God can not cross.<br />
<br />
God does not honor or pay heed to any of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Isn’t it interesting</b>: <br />
<br />
Jesus always seemed to be healing on the Sabbath - which was against the rules.<br />
Jesus didn’t care if his disciples followed this rule or that - it drove the religious people batty.<br />
<br />
Jesus Being himself, <br />
saying what Abba was saying, <br />
doing what Abba was doing: <br />
<br />
Jesus Undermined the Religious Authorities <br />
and the Political/Economic Authorities <br />
and the Cultural/Family Authorities.<br />
<br />
So of course, he Had to Go <br />- he had to be put-down. <br />
<br />Jesus
crossed all their lines <br />of right and wrong, <br />of good and bad, <br />of religious and profane, <br />of oppressor and oppressed <br />- willy nilly.<br />
<br />
And so will we.<br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREpCJ0yVqiOQjEw_jvf-qc4bRyTdz6X5dsXmI_r4PVKaZN4XqC2ElpxJZ2Oz3hvQI5XEEvveeoDyx8xMeTus3zs_kUZB9L2COjVDFwc5OOzbhkoY689cfgdwaW-BcnS7utpU_5jBZ2AY/s1600/follow+god+everything+must+go.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREpCJ0yVqiOQjEw_jvf-qc4bRyTdz6X5dsXmI_r4PVKaZN4XqC2ElpxJZ2Oz3hvQI5XEEvveeoDyx8xMeTus3zs_kUZB9L2COjVDFwc5OOzbhkoY689cfgdwaW-BcnS7utpU_5jBZ2AY/s1600/follow+god+everything+must+go.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Fortunately, we don’t have it so bad.<br />
The age of the martyrs is pretty much over - thank God - we have had enough of that!<br />
<br />
So, <br />
Usually it is merely spiritual, not physical death that we sign-up for when we follow Jesus.<br />
<br />
Usually
it is some mix of emotional, rational, religious, relational, social,
familial, financial, vocational, wellness, ego-identity death that we sign-up for <br />
- and that is WAY more than enough!<br />
<br />
As we grow-up spiritually...<br />
As we get-beyond the honeymoon phase in our relationship with God...<br /><br />
Spirit
WILL likely lead us to cross the wrong people, authorities,
structures, belief-systems outside us. <br />
AS WELL AS inevitably lead us to
stand-up to the limiting beliefs, limits, structures and energies…
within us.<br />
<br />
And <b>THEN we will have to choose </b><br />
- the old way OR the new way...<br />
- the way of the body, ego, world... OR the way of the spiritual warrior/death…<br />
-
following OUR current thoughts,
beliefs, feelings, habits, religion, culture About God, Life, Truth,
Love, Light, Way... <br />*OR* <br />ACTUALLY Following our God, Life, Truth, Love,
Light, Way...<br />
<br />
When we follow God: <br />
We are gonna Change, <br />
our Life is Gonna Change, <br />
eventually the World around us is gonna Change!<br />
<br /></span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">From this place, we can engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Realizing who we are in God, into our body, life, world...</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
We are gonna die... daily. <br />
Anything and Everything that we hold on to, except God, is on it's way out.<br />
Until then, enjoy yourself ; )</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />: ) Wendy<br />
<br />
My favorite Christian Teacher, Dr Bruce Morgan, used to say this often:<br />
</span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;">
Our God is a <a href="http://biblehub.net/search.php?q=%22consuming+fire%22" target="_blank">consuming fire</a>, <br />
who burns up everything that is not God</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
This is in NO way a downer, BTW.<br />
This is the greatest gift we can receive <br />- there is sooo much blessing on this road, this narrow way: <br />
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="reftext"></span>And
having called near the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them,
‘Whoever doth will to come after me — let him disown himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me;<b> </b><span class="reftext"></span>for
whoever may will to save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose
his life for my sake and for the good news’ sake, he shall save it;<b> </b><span class="reftext"></span>for what shall it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? - Mark 8 YLT</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;">
. <br />
this post has a similar theme, if interested: <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2016/06/this-is-love-we-lay-down-our-lives-for.html" target="_blank">This is love: we lay down our lives for our friends<br /><br />.</a></span></div>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-23905433488117901062015-04-26T12:10:00.001-07:002020-11-29T10:21:24.549-08:00Let's stop worshiping the Bible, and instead worship God!<br />
The bible is not meant to be the Final Word.<br />
The bible is not the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light, the Love of God. <br />
<br />
The bible shows us, over and over, folks who walked with God, who heard from God, who followed God. And calls us to do the same!<br />
The bible encourages the people of God to have a real-time relationship, with the Living God! <br />
The bible is a finger pointing at the moon - it isn't About the Finger, it is ALL about the Moon!<br />
<br />
God did not get laryngitis 2,000 years ago.<br />
IMO, if we want answers, fellowship, healing, filling, leading - we Must go to our SOURCE.<br />
<br />
I agree with Marcus Borg (whom I greatly respect, but who sadly misses the whole picture, now and then, IMO)<br />
when he says "When there is a conflict between Jesus and the Bible, Jesus trumps the Bible."<br />
<br />
But this is what I mean by that: GO TO JESUS - right here, right now. <div>NOT the bible. Jesus who is available to us Spiritually, right NOW.<br />
<br />
Jesus will show us the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light, the Love of God - as he has done for those who open to him, for over 2,000 years.<br />
<br />
Christianity has fallen down horribly and constantly, by focusing on intellectualizing about the bible. By focusing on doctrine and thought-beliefs - as if that were some kind of spiritual practice. <br />
As if the bible could give us answers, fellowship, healing, filling, leading...<br />
<br />
The Bible Can Not Do This...<br />
only God can do this!<br />
<br />
I pray, that instead of worshiping the bible, fighting about the bible, wasting time and energy focusing on the bible... <br />
Instead that Christians will begin to do for ourselves (and for All) what is most important:<br />
<br />
To Actually Open to Communication and Blessings, to the ONEness-with and Leading-of the Living God, with Jesus, with Spirit.<br />
This is what set the world on fire in biblical times, and that is what does it every time!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnReluIKVe0Sa1wr3o5rI_2QaS6Q8Q4g_gP9PCAsJy6_GX3d8qXjftnceB71WVIh8IDZLyTuS8S0VzfgTRdFd4_gIaCHi7rxJ0wlZADgdmWgdzEzzAqUUAp0wvfry78oe-4OY6sqBKudU/s1600/follow+jesus+not+bible.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnReluIKVe0Sa1wr3o5rI_2QaS6Q8Q4g_gP9PCAsJy6_GX3d8qXjftnceB71WVIh8IDZLyTuS8S0VzfgTRdFd4_gIaCHi7rxJ0wlZADgdmWgdzEzzAqUUAp0wvfry78oe-4OY6sqBKudU/s1600/follow+jesus+not+bible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
WE want GOD! <br />
People want GOD!<br />
<br />
Let's set the table and enjoy the presence of God, on our own, and with All!<br />
Let's be disciples of Jesus, not disciples of the bible. Let's follow Jesus, right HERE, right NOW, WHEREVER we are explicitly led - this is World Changing!<br />
Let's enjoy the fruit of the Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, the Comforting of the Spirit - in All ways, alone and with All people!<br />
<br />
If you don't know how, then find out.<br />
If you do know how, then let's DO IT!<br />
<br />
From my perspective, this is what the bible tells us to do.<br />
So let's just do it: focus on the Moon, not the finger pointing.<br />
<br />
Let's stop worshiping the Bible, and instead worship God!<br />
<br />
in life, w</div>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-12248896229301130462015-03-11T11:10:00.003-07:002020-11-29T14:52:18.165-08:00We can't pin-down the Way, any more than we can pin-down Love, Truth, Life...<span style="font-family: georgia;">Ethics, Ideals are not the Way.<br />
No good thing is the Way.<br />
Not friendship, honor, sacrifice…<br />
<br />
Sometimes we are called to let-down, fall-short, betray; <br />
and other times we are called to die for our friend.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
Jesus let his friends down </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">at the very moment he was laying down his life for them - penultimately.<br />
<br />
Our unique leading in God is our ultimate Way <br />
- not physically-driven, theory-laden, feeling-good: doing-right, loving, etc<br />
<br />
But in this process, we must be willing to let-go of our attachment to or resistance to 'good' or 'bad', </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">to doing ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in our own or in other’s cultural estimation.<br />
<br />
This seems backward, crazy, and scary, <br />
and it IS the Way.<br />
<br />
.<br />
A whole lot started with Abraham, so let’s start with him.<br />
Abraham is the Father of 3 great religions, the dominating religious paradigms of the West.<br />
Abram was called out from his family, his home, his tradition, his life…<br />
<br />
Did his family, his tradition appreciate this?<br />
Did Abram appreciate this?<br />
probably not… <br />
And we see he followed his call slowly, jerkily </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">- most of us do the same, if we follow at all.<br />
<br />
Following God is about following the Living God, in Real-time.<br />
<br />
It is not about following rules.<br />
It is not about complying with physically-perceived 'good'.<br />
Rather it is about following God. Period.<br />
<br />
A more extreme example:<br />
Abraham was called to sacrifice his son, <br />
not just a person, <br />
not just his child, <br />
not just his long-awaited heir... <br />
<br />
Abraham was called to sacrifice all this<br />
AND the representation-of, the container-for All Abraham’s (and Sarah's) dreams <br />
and the perceived channel for ALL God’s promises to Abraham.<br />
<br />
Abraham was called to sacrifice Everything, <br />
Abraham was called to sacrifice far, far more than it would have been to sacrifice himself.<br />
And he did it - well, he was willing and acting - it totally counts, from my perspective.<br />
<br />
Abraham was Hard Core. <br />
Who among us would do such a thing? <br />
To follow God’s leading right against the tide of all that seems Good, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and all God’s Blessings to us…<br />
Letting Go of Everything.<br />
<br />
.<br />
The bible stories tell us this same story over and over and over.<br />
Then there is the obvious - Jesus.<br />
<br />
Jesus tells his disciples, I am going to Jerusalem to suffer and die, <br />
and Peter says - oh no you are not; <br />
and Jesus says - get behind me Satan.<br />
<br />
We can all relate to Peter here, even Jesus can relate to Peter. <br />
I believe this is why Jesus replies so strongly against this temptation dangled by Peter. <br />
<br />
Peter is not (in this moment) just physically-focused and therefore missing the mark, sinning; <br />
he is trying to block God’s will in the world, <br />
tempting Jesus from his unique calling. <br />
<br />
But, Jesus is not swayed, <br />
Jesus will follow his Father right into the jaws of ignominy, of torture, of death, of hell.<br />
<br />
Jesus was Hard Core. <br />
Who among us would do such a thing? <br />
To follow God’s leading right against the tide of all that seems Good, all God’s Blessings… <br />
Letting Go of Everything.<br />
<br />
.<br />
I was tempted to say Jesus was the end of the story, but no, he is just the end of an age, and the beginning of our age. <br />
In our age we have so much permission to inhabit the Kingdom of Heaven, the Reign of God, Christ Consciousness, spiritual reality…<br />
We have: <br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">So much modeling about what it is to follow God, to build our lives on the Rock of Divine Revelation, spiritual senses…</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">So much freedom to choose spiritual-focus or physical-focus, Grace or Law, Spirit or Flesh. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">So much support and modeling in the bible and in so many ‘witnesses’, we have tradition and ritual, we have the leading of the Holy Spirit.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: georgia;">
But, we also have a Lot of Resistance, <br />
a lot of Push-back, <br />
a lot of Powers and Principalities of this world adding friction to our path...<br />
<br />
We have a lot of justifications and alternate accommodations to hide-behind, <br />
excuses to not follow God’s leading of us<br />
through the Light and the Darkness, through birth and death.<br />
<br />
Because that is where we will inevitably go:<br />
Jesus says: If you will be my disciple, pick up your cross and follow.<br />
<br />
Being a disciple of Jesus is no walk in the park.<br />
We are called to be Hard Core<br />
- this is not just for the Giants of Faith, the Matriarchs and Patriarchs... every one of us is called to be Hard Core... becoming Spiritual Heroes in our own right, in our own life, right where we are, Today.<br />
<br />
Who among us would do such a thing? <br />
To follow God’s leading right against the tide of all that seems Good, all God’s Blessings…<br />
Letting Go of Everything. <br />
<br />
.<br />
But, that is not the whole story, it is still not done.<br />
The point of this post is - we cannot do any of these things willy nilly or by theory.<br />
<br />
We can't pin-down the Way, any more than we can pin-down Love, Light, Truth. Life.<br />
The best and highest good in our thoughts and actions - in our minds, in our culture, in our religion - are not enough...<br />
Not. Nearly. Enough!<br />
<br />
We cannot just die whenever we feel like it, just let go and Give Up;<br />
because sometimes we are called to live, to fight for life - for our own and others:<br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes we are called to lead; and other times to follow.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes we are called to be empowered, to shine our Light and shift our world; and other times to have humility, to accept, submit and quietly wait in our prayer closet until…</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes we are called to be playful and open, receptive, trusting as children, gentle as doves; and other times wise as serpents, acting strategically.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: georgia;">
Ecclesiastes pointed out there is a time for all things,<br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">but in Following God it is not a structured thing - like accommodating ourselves to the earthly seasons. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is a spiritual thing - accommodating ourselves step by step to our Unique Divine Dance.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
This is the narrow way - the narrowest of ways!<br />
Far Far beyond any moralizing, ethics, ideals - beyond any external obedience, even of the strictest order.<br />
<br />
We are not just called to die, <br />
or to live what we think love is, <br />
or to follow any rule we may devise.<br />
<br /><b>
Laws, rules, systems are Not the Way.<br />
We Dance with a Living God - up and down, all the way, and all around. </b><br />
<br />
There is no structured, outside-us, formalized, idealized way to do it. <br />
As much as we wish this were so, act like this is so, are told by ministers and moralizers that it is so </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">- but, this is just not so. <br />
<br />
Therefore, we cannot just Give Up, die, submit, obey... outside authorities.<br />
We cannot coast in any trajectory, inertia ruling us. (As much as I would wish this were so!!)<br /><br />
We cannot do something just because something is a Good Idea, <br />
or it looks like service or like love, <br />
or we think the bible says it, <br />
or it suits our personal ethics,<br />
or even because God led us that way yesterday…<br />
<br />
Because each day anew;<br />
TODAY, if you hear God's voice, harden not your hearts.<br />
<br />
Rules are for children, and we are called to be adults <br />
- and to Say and DO WITH the Progenitor, as Jesus did, every moment.<br />
<br />
In this Way we will go where we never imagined. <br />
<br />
We will experience highs and lows, <br />
we will expand and contract, <br />
we will let go and we will fight, <br />
we will die and we will rise.<br />
<br />
To paraphrase Paul: <br />
we learn to be in Joy with both little and much, <br />
with seeming success and seeming failure, <br />
with social derision and general acclaim…<br />
<br />
We die to All our own and other people’s ethics, trajectories, hopes, dreams, visions, beliefs, expectations, ideals. <br />
And we do it daily.<br />
<br />
Who among us would do such a thing? <br />
To follow God’s leading right against the tide of all that seems Good, all God’s Blessings… <br />
Letting Go of Everything.<br />
<br />
.<br />
We will.<br />
We will rise to Life, Abundant.<br />
We will choose to live in Alignment with our Source - our God, our Truth, our Light, our Love, our Life, our Way.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We will <span style="color: black;">engage our Unique Process of Soul Maturity, </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm" target="_blank">Teleios</a><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7v7bl-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REALizing who we are in God, into our body, life, world...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
So, let’s do it Now. <br />
<br />
Blessings in your Unique Journey, <br />
Wendy</span></div>Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-80715798012153191082015-03-10T11:38:00.003-07:002022-01-29T16:58:20.356-08:00Is Love the Way to Live?<div data-contents="true" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0">
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fdk5u-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fdk5u">
<span data-offset-key="fdk5u-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fdk5u.0:$fdk5u-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fdk5u.0:$fdk5u-0-0.0">I am ALL for Love of God and others, unequivocally, as the practice of followers of Jesus.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="46j61-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$46j61">
<span data-offset-key="46j61-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$46j61.0:$46j61-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$46j61.0:$46j61-0-0.0">And, I think that is Just the Beginning of the practice of following Jesus.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8vkf1-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8vkf1">
<span data-offset-key="8vkf1-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8vkf1.0:$8vkf1-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8vkf1.0:$8vkf1-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="clsqb-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$clsqb">
<span data-offset-key="clsqb-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$clsqb.0:$clsqb-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$clsqb.0:$clsqb-0-0.0">From my perspective, Love is where we Start, as spiritual children.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9kl3i-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9kl3i">
<span data-offset-key="9kl3i-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9kl3i.0:$9kl3i-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9kl3i.0:$9kl3i-0-0.0">And
from there, we learn to follow where God leads us, hear the voice
behind us saying: this is the way, walk ye in it; see God moving in the
world and we move too...</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="frhlv-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$frhlv">
<span data-offset-key="frhlv-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$frhlv.0:$frhlv-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$frhlv.0:$frhlv-0-0.0">As disciples of Jesus, we learn to follow the Father in each step, as Jesus did.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="3lgmf-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3lgmf">
<span data-offset-key="3lgmf-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3lgmf.0:$3lgmf-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3lgmf.0:$3lgmf-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="3dn2l-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3dn2l">
<span data-offset-key="3dn2l-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3dn2l.0:$3dn2l-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$3dn2l.0:$3dn2l-0-0.0">The early church, as we do, had lots of churning about this.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fq7pm-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fq7pm">
<span data-offset-key="fq7pm-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fq7pm.0:$fq7pm-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fq7pm.0:$fq7pm-0-0.0">Grace great! Love, great! Leading of Spirit, great!</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1fnh0-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1fnh0">
<span data-offset-key="1fnh0-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1fnh0.0:$1fnh0-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1fnh0.0:$1fnh0-0-0.0">...but what about the Law? How do we Live?</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="62k18-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$62k18">
<span data-offset-key="62k18-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$62k18.0:$62k18-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$62k18.0:$62k18-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="86hh-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$86hh">
<span data-offset-key="86hh-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$86hh.0:$86hh-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$86hh.0:$86hh-0-0.0">Well, they pretty much decided to chuck the law, almost completely (see Acts 15). </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4spml-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4spml">
<span data-offset-key="4spml-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4spml.0:$4spml-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$4spml.0:$4spml-0-0.0">But
then in Practice, they kept running into real-life expectations, social
norms, general human drama - predictably - and things got muddy. <br />Even
the Pauline letters, which were constantly ringing the bell that we are
beyond sin and no longer under law, have been known to throw some lists
of do's and don't's around - just to try to get things in line.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e1et8-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$e1et8">
<span data-offset-key="e1et8-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$e1et8.0:$e1et8-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$e1et8.0:$e1et8-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a7pmu-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7pmu">
<span data-offset-key="a7pmu-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7pmu.0:$a7pmu-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7pmu.0:$a7pmu-0-0.0">What went awry? </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="588p7-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$588p7">
<span data-offset-key="588p7-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$588p7.0:$588p7-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$588p7.0:$588p7-0-0.0">Well, from my perspective Paul himself tells us - Rules are for Children.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="beu-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$beu">
<span data-offset-key="beu-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$beu.0:$beu-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$beu.0:$beu-0-0.0">It is spiritual Adults who have the spiritual ears and the spiritual muscle to Perceive the individual leading of God, and Do it. </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="eru2m-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$eru2m">
<span data-offset-key="eru2m-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$eru2m.0:$eru2m-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$eru2m.0:$eru2m-0-0.0">Spiritual adults can have spiritual perspective and can generally follow spiritual leading.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ca6vf-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ca6vf">
<span data-offset-key="ca6vf-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ca6vf.0:$ca6vf-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ca6vf.0:$ca6vf-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fhja6-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fhja6">
<span data-offset-key="fhja6-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fhja6.0:$fhja6-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$fhja6.0:$fhja6-0-0.0">But, before that, the body/flesh physical perspective tends to hold sway. Because that is how the world operates.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="98k05-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$98k05">
<span data-offset-key="98k05-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$98k05.0:$98k05-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$98k05.0:$98k05-0-0.0">Therefore, spiritual kids still need the general guidelines - which boil down to:</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9fcks-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9fcks">
<span data-offset-key="9fcks-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9fcks.0:$9fcks-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$9fcks.0:$9fcks-0-0.0">Love God with all you got </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8fq0-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8fq0">
<span data-offset-key="8fq0-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8fq0.0:$8fq0-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$8fq0.0:$8fq0-0-0.0">Love your neighbor as yourself. <br />.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="263kr-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$263kr">
<span data-offset-key="263kr-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$263kr.0:$263kr-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$263kr.0:$263kr-0-0.0"> </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7v97d-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7v97d">
<span data-offset-key="7v97d-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7v97d.0:$7v97d-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$7v97d.0:$7v97d-0-0.0">My
point though is - figuring out what is and what isn't sin, is really
not our calling. This is for spiritual beginners - think kindergarten.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1ist8-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1ist8">
<span data-offset-key="1ist8-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1ist8.0:$1ist8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1ist8.0:$1ist8-0-0.0">Our
calling is to Grow Up in God: Deepen spiritually, open to our soul
senses, practice following (as we practiced learning to walk, by falling
down ; ) ...</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2sel4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2sel4">
<span data-offset-key="2sel4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2sel4.0:$2sel4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$2sel4.0:$2sel4-0-0.0">so we can be led in our own unique Way - our ministry to the world - as Jesus was.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="b7rbb-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b7rbb">
<span data-offset-key="b7rbb-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b7rbb.0:$b7rbb-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$b7rbb.0:$b7rbb-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bvnov-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bvnov">
<span data-offset-key="bvnov-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bvnov.0:$bvnov-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bvnov.0:$bvnov-0-0.0">Sometimes, when we see the bigger picture, when we start playing the bigger game, we get new perspective on the old challenges.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bpq5p-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bpq5p">
<span data-offset-key="bpq5p-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bpq5p.0:$bpq5p-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$bpq5p.0:$bpq5p-0-0.0">From
my perspective, as many say - Love people, and trust Jesus
to lead them where they need to go.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1osnk-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1osnk">
<span data-offset-key="1osnk-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1osnk.0:$1osnk-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$1osnk.0:$1osnk-0-0.0">Meanwhile,
let's each of us say hello, ourselves, to Jesus, and deepen our
real-time soul-relationship with Jesus, today. Let's let him
spiritually lead us, uniquely in each step, now. </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ftvml-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ftvml">
<span data-offset-key="ftvml-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ftvml.0:$ftvml-0-0"><br data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$ftvml.0:$ftvml-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a7lnc-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7lnc">
<span data-offset-key="a7lnc-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7lnc.0:$a7lnc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$a7lnc.0:$a7lnc-0-0.0">Thanks for reading,</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4">
<span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"> Wendy<br /><br />Want to read more about <a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2012/02/law-of-spirit-life-grace.html">How do we Live? Jesus, Paul, </a></span></span><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><a href="http://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2012/02/law-of-spirit-life-grace.html">and the early church</a></span></span></span></span></div><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0">Much better convo in this same neighborhood: </span></span></span></div><ul class="posts" style="border-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 51, 102); color: #003366; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.696499824523926px; list-style: none none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -15px;"><li style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding-left: 1.3em;"><a href="https://lifeabundantly1.blogspot.com/2016/06/this-is-love-we-lay-down-our-lives-for.html" style="color: #6c82b5;">This is love: we lay down our lives for our friends</a></li></ul><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="76ho4-0-0" data-reactid=".bv.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.$76ho4.0:$76ho4-0-0"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Life Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056363444629683389.post-13315219000724662062015-03-01T07:58:00.000-08:002019-03-26T16:39:40.265-07:00Neutrality: spiritually focused, in this physical worldWhat do I mean by Neutrality?<br />
<br />
<br />
Neutrality is <br />
a Practice, <br />
a way of BEing, <br />
a Blessing of God.<br />
<br />
Neutrality is<br />
being in the world, <br />
but not of the world.<br />
<br />
Neutrality
is <br />
not being carried-away-by our own (or others) survival instincts,
emotions, sexual impulses, controlling tendencies, thoughts,
expectations, judgments, ego… <br />
<br />
Neutrality is <br />
Not being run-by the body/flesh and it’s agenda.<br />
Rather, it is being spiritually focused, in this physical world.<br />
<br />
Neutrality
is <br />
a way of being that makes it easier to Be:<br />
<ul>
<li>here, now, </li>
<li>in present-time, </li>
<li>experiencing God and spiritual reality; </li>
<li>staying-with the challenges, the intensity
of bodies and life.</li>
</ul>
Neutrality is<br />
a choice, to let go of
attachment and resistance, <br />
as well as the “buttons” in our system that
have us re-act instead of act.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk08kraOFGUWz2OPdnXwpUX4RAtSjB1XZQxP8UJUkoHb1Yh-Pk6OCU63cphI5k5U3KMSV9mZevWDSg2_qwVieaLUX_hsuPbZdrGtODIktKe1JiUMv-ehfVdFktu0HZCgTAh9TplcJ91OE/s1600/Neutrality+spiritual+focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk08kraOFGUWz2OPdnXwpUX4RAtSjB1XZQxP8UJUkoHb1Yh-Pk6OCU63cphI5k5U3KMSV9mZevWDSg2_qwVieaLUX_hsuPbZdrGtODIktKe1JiUMv-ehfVdFktu0HZCgTAh9TplcJ91OE/s1600/Neutrality+spiritual+focus.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>I believe one of the essential
distinctions </b><br />that can help us understand ourselves, each other, the
world, the bible, the message of Jesus, and the leading of God for each
of us…<br />
<b>is the difference between Body/Physical and Spirit.</b><br />
<br />
Although
Paul spoke of this a lot, as did Jesus,<br />
generally, it is not an
essential part of our Christian mindset or our spiritual practice.<br />
<br />
For
most folks that I know, the practice of Neutrality<br />
is the beginning of
experiencing / distinguishing: <br />- beyond the cacophony of the physical/body -
senses, thoughts, expectations, actions... <br />
- into the experience of spiritual reality - soul senses, mystical experiences, divine leading, spiritual shift.<br />
<br />
.<br />
Before Neutrality, <br />
we are tugged all over by all the stuff I listed above, and much more!<br />
<br />
Neutrality is a safe place for active soul-opening, <br />
a whole new WORLD of spiritual Amazing-ness:<br />
<ul>
<li>the Fruit of the spirit that Paul lists is just the beginning of our blessings.</li>
<li>the Adventure of communing with God and being led by God, makes the excitement of this world pale in comparison.</li>
<li>the enjoyment of Life, Abundantly! that Jesus promised us is here for the taking.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Neutrality is Completely not Apathy</b> - far from it.<br />
It is the beginning of getting our free-will back, <br />
and from this place our ability to choose to follow God begins. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, <br />I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth</blockquote>
So, is Neutrality being lukewarm?<br />
I hope you can see that they are SO not the same, in my language.<br />
<br />
When I read the Message to Laodicea, <a href="http://biblehub.com/nasb/revelation/3.htm" target="_blank">in Revelation 3</a>, <br />what I hear is a church that is <b>lost in physical-focus, pretending to be spiritual</b>, but not:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
‘Because
you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and
poor and blind and naked</blockquote>
IMO, this is a physical vs spiritual sentence.<br />
<br />
<b>From physical focus/identification, we can get ground-down:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>“life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone”</li>
<li>“life sucks and then you die”</li>
</ul>
<b>But, in spiritual focus/identification, we are in Life, Abundantly!</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Walking with Jesus, in alignment with God…</li>
<li>Operating in the Kingdom of Heaven / the Reign of God</li>
</ul>
This is ANYTHING but boring… one gets nowhere near lukewarm - tepid.<br />
(And to get here, I believe Neutrality is KEY.)<br />
<br />
Each week I watch dozens of folks play the spiritual game; <br />
Over time, I have watched hundreds of folks do it.<br />
It is an EXCITING way to live! <br />
(if anything, a bit Too exciting at times ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUevljIjvFmAg31L2a6RLhJRJBzwKtR4IJP_RK8kEBWVjQJ_LF_iSwT84ppiBIANkv17y8vs8mUz4paUdxBVcAmXyfutdh-Z5cyrrKMwrdjSFiKwEHY6JXtEG8RmUKQesveyeroxWs0o/s1600/IN+body+not+of+Body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUevljIjvFmAg31L2a6RLhJRJBzwKtR4IJP_RK8kEBWVjQJ_LF_iSwT84ppiBIANkv17y8vs8mUz4paUdxBVcAmXyfutdh-Z5cyrrKMwrdjSFiKwEHY6JXtEG8RmUKQesveyeroxWs0o/s1600/IN+body+not+of+Body.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I hope this helps understanding about what I mean by Neutrality.<br />
<br />
And that there is spiritual passion which is different from physical passion<br />
BOTH ARE GREAT - But, which do we chose to follow?<br />
<br />
From my perspective, <br />
we can savor life IN the body/world, <br />
but not OF the body/world, <br />
with Neutrality as our practice.<br /><br /><b>All we gotta do is CHOOSE</b>:<br />then Ask and Receive...<br />
<br />
Blessings on your path!<br />
; ) WendyLife Abundantly!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06923363515677101279noreply@blogger.com0