Addendum

Yesterday I spoke of "alchemy" and employing it so don't we become nihilistic. Here is an example of what I meant.

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north
wind lays waste your garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

~Kahlil Gibran The Prophet

To insist on a predetermined outcome lies outside our province. So we develop abilities to meet, react and integrate our experiences. We learn to say yes knowing all the while it may mean heartbreak. We say yes to our inherent right to say no---I don't wish to participate, despite appearing uncharitable or anti-social. We say yes to our heart, our instinct, our intuition, our dream. We say yes to Life on its terms. We say yes to loving ourselves so that our love for others becomes authentic. We say yes to honoring ourselves so that we understand what it means to respect others. We say yes to honesty because we've experienced the pain and confusion of being lied to. We say yes to being gentle because we have learned clarity through patience with our errant self. We say yes so that we are transformed from what we are to what we wish to be.

Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Some religious scholar's can't embrace the image of Jesus (God) being in such extremity. They suggest that Jesus is quoting Psalm 22 with the entire Psalm in mind rather than (just) the first verse. I don't agree. Be it Mark relating "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death," as Jesus reaction in the Garden of Gethsemane or Luke having an angel come to strengthen him because, "being in agony.. his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground," the picture drawn is "if it be your will, remove this cup from me." Jesus is in crisis.

Are we to take these events "literally?" What difference does it make? What is important is whether or not you can relate to it on a personal level. Have you ever been tested to the point you have declared that there is no God? That if there were, this couldn't possibly be happening to you? That the senseless loss, tragedy, anguish or death is empirical truth that there couldn't possibly be a God? Then I say, fine. How you feel and where it takes you is where you need to go. What I would ask of you is this; don't stop there. Don't quit in the middle of the dynamic. Because there is one element I haven't discussed with you yet---"not MY will but YOURS be done."

Think on this: every culture in recorded history has resurrection stories. Every single one! Why is it that this is intrinsic to the human experience? Do we simply dismiss it as wishful thinking? Or does it suggest something more profound? Do we sink into nihilism and declare that "nothing that then existed found favor in their (our) eyes?" ("Nihilism" Douglas Harper Online Etymology Dictionary) Or can we imagine a response of embracing Life as it is, and not what we insist it be? ("A nihilist is a man who judges of the world as it is that it ought not to be, and of the world as it ought to be that it does not exist." Nietzsche)

The are a number of links on this site that speak of "tragedy turned to triumph." There are countless stories in our everyday life that demonstrate the same. What is the "alchemy" that one employs that avoids Blaise Pascal's dread? (When I see the blind and wretched state of men, when I survey the whole universe in its deadness and man left to himself with no light, as though lost in this corner of the universe without knowing who put him there, what he has to do, what will become of him when he dies, incapable of knowing anything, I am moved to terror...) The answer is apparent, we choose a different course. We trust Life. We accept events. We define ourselves by that which moves us, compels us, demands of us a reaction, and we demonstrate our values. I am _____. Pascal was terrified. I on the other hand, I am persistent--I am fearless--I am courageous--and, I AM ETERNAL.

Ask any scientist how many atoms existed after the big bang and how many atoms in the universe now? The only answer I've found is; the same amount. How can that be? I don't know. I just know that is the scientific answer. Assuredly atoms change form. It is only when a star goes nova that other elements than hydrogen and helium (carbon and oxygen et.al.) are created. But there would be no life if not for the death of a star. Think of that...and then observe nature itself. What death doesn't promulgate life? All of existence speaks in accord.

So where does that leave us? Always and ever, you'll be the judge of that. Your experience is going to determine what you do, how you do it, and who you become. How do you see yourself? Whatever that may be, trust your vision. Despite all (apparent) evidence to the contrary, what you are going through is exactly what you need to experience to enable you to achieve that vision. Though strangely wrapped it is a gift, and once you can perceive it in gratitude, its inherent nature will start to emerge. Even death is not exempt.

http://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/video/reincarnation_boy_pilot_wwii

As A Muslim

This happened Friday July 26th, 2013 on a MAJOR news station.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/27/reza-aslan-fox-zealot_n_3665211.html

The show was Spirited Debate and the host was Lauren Green. This is the level of "debate" that goes on from the conservative right in America. If you like, pick it up at the 8:02 mark where Lauren says; "...you are quoting yourself as a scholar" and winds up (8:18) by declaring he (Reza) is "not being honest."

As the Irish would say: Jaysus, Mary and Joseph! I guess he can quote himself as a scholar. He has BA in Religion from Santa Clara University; a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity; and a Doctorate in Sociology of Religions from UC Santa Barbara. (He also holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University Iowa but what the hell does that have to do with religion, right?) This took me ALL of 10 seconds to google on Wikipedia. It (Wikipedia) also states he is a Muslim (Shia) but looking into this fellow I found he resonates more with Sufism.

I tried with all my might to find the quote(s) attributed to William Craig Lane but could not. Here though, is the Op Ed piece by John Dickerson that Ms. Green referred to.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/07/22/liberal-media-love-new-jesus-book-zealot-fail-to-mention-author-is-muslim/

Both Mr. Dickerson and Ms. Green seem to have a problem that Reza Aslan is being disingenuous and hiding his Islamic background. They keep hammering the point home. Apparently in their mind this invalidates any "scholarly" work done by Mr. Aslan (at least regarding Christianity and Jesus). The next link is from March 26th, 2011; two years and four months before the interview.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxConejo-Reza-Aslan-Unity-in

Reza sure goes out of his way to hide his religious affiliation, doesn't he?

Update 7-31

http://www.today.com/books/jesus-book-best-seller-wake-viral-fox-news-interview-6C10805955

Note, beginning at the 2:57 mark, that a "conservative" (unknown) wants to shift the conversation to Reza not being a "historian." An insightful example of cognitive dissonance.

Sacred Feminine

                   BEK

There's a nova in her eyes
Ageless suns in an infant sky
Penetrating innocence on her two lips
Clarifications that literally rip
The cosmic dust off life-worn hearts
Shattering heavens while epiphanies start
To cascade lovingly on all around
Till you're enveloped in her sweet sound

O Goddess of passion and purity
Dual zenith of the mysteries maturity
On my horizon you ever loom
My heart and soul you have consumed

Split-tailed comet of Divine intercession
The galaxies march behind your procession
Of fiery head and tail of pure snow
In awed adoration of your perfect halo
Lady in passing, Queen of the Dawn
Ever forward I find myself drawn
Lady in waiting, Queen of the Night
Frozen, suspended; I worship your light 

~WPG

Advanced Studies

David Bohm received his doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of California at Berkeley under the direction of Robert Oppenheimer (no less!). I give a smidgen of his resume to establish his "scientific cred" so you don't think I am trotting out some pseudo-scientist.

"...the general tacit assumption in thought is that its (thought) just telling you the way things are and that its not doing anything--that 'you' are inside there, deciding what to do with the info. But you don't decide what to do with the info. Thought runs you. Thought, however, gives false info that you are running it, that you are the one who controls thought. Whereas actually thought is the one who controls each of us. Thought is creating divisions out of itself and then saying that they are there naturally. This is another major feature of thought. Thought doesn't know it is doing something and then struggles against what it is doing. IT DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS DOING. And thought struggles against the results, trying to avoid those unpleasant results while keeping on with that way of thinking. That is what I call sustained incoherence." (emphasis mine)

What I would now ask you to do is substitute the word 'ego' for 'thought' and reread the paragraph. This is as exact a description of ego as one could ever find. And it is the very reason I requested you bring a "dash of mindfulness" to this venture on the web sites HOME page. You need to realize that the ego "doesn't want (you) to know what it is doing," so it can continue its influence and dominance. Once you understand how the ego operates however, the paradigm (belief system) shifts. You can now begin to create the type of world your heart desires. I caution you though, with the words of Churchill; "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Niels Bohr is more a heavyweight than Bohm. Bohr won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Lets look at a couple of his insights into reality. "Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real." And this; "Isolated material particles are ABSTRACTIONS, their properties being definable and observable only through their interaction with other systems." Last but not least; "Nature likes to keep its options open, and therefore follows EVERY POSSIBLE PATH. Only when observed is nature forced to choose one path, so only one path is taken." (emphasis mine)

What I feel Bohr is saying is that "reality" is what we observe it to be. Through our perceived experiences we define our world. Once we remove (loosen) control from the ego we can consciously direct our thoughts towards any path we choose. What do you choose?

http://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/video/choose_love

Scroll IV

I am natures greatest miracle.

Since the beginning of time never has there been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my hands, my hair, my mouth. None that came before, none that live today, and none that come tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me. All men are my brothers yet I am different from each. I am a unique creature.

I am natures greatest miracle.

I am rare, and there is value in all rarity; therefore, I am valuable. I am the end product of thousands of years of evolution; therefore, I am better equipped in both mind and body than all the emperors and wise men who preceded me. But my skills, my mind, my heart, and my body will stagnate, rot, and die lest I put them to good use. I have unlimited potential. Only a small portion of my brain do I employ; only a paltry amount of my muscle do I flex. A hundredfold or more can I increase my accomplishments of yesterday and this I will do, beginning today.

I am natures greatest miracle.

Nevermore will I be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments nor will I indulge, anymore, in self-praise for deeds which in reality are too small to even acknowledge. I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will, for why should the miracle which produced me end with my birth? Why can I not extend that miracle to my deeds of today?

I am natures greatest miracle.

~excerpt from "The Greatest Salesman in the World," by Og Mandino

Year 2

As I embark on the second year of this web site, I think my biggest disappointment has been my inability to engage the reader at a one-on-one level. The failing is so pronounced I realize the term "facilitator" that I used in the About Me section is wildly inappropriate. I haven't been able to facilitate much of anything for those who visit. I have asked a friend of mine (Lance Buffington) to critique my writing style and offer suggestions how I can become more approachable. I wanted the web site to be about YOU and I have failed miserably. Whatever my writing style one thing is clear, it isn't one that generates a lot of commentary.

The most amazing thing that took place in the last year was the series of posts in February that began with Flatline and actually didn't conclude until May 23rd with Mark 8:18. Looking back I am reminded of Parsifal, the innocent fool. That I could be so naïve to think that I could help them "learn how to smile again" was beyond audacious, it was ludicrous. And yet, something took place that I am hard pressed to explain outside the context of G-G-G. Life intervened. Dramatically. I lived it and I know (who believes what a river knows). Whether I was actually able to convey the cosmic dynamic to the reader is a whole different question.

Advanced Reading: http://howellgroup.org/parsifal.html

As to my direction for the coming year: I will continue to emphasis that if there is to be a "Kingdom," it will be our responsibility to bring it about. Matthew 24:4-34 is pretty clear. No matter how the literalist's want to twist the text, Jesus said it, not me. The scam that it is THIS generation he was talking about simply perpetuates the con. Pretty effectively too---its worked for 2000 years! No, as daunting as it may be, it will be up to regular people like you and me to make it happen. If we are unable, or unwilling to embrace the "largesse" of the dynamic, it will fall to another generation to effect the inevitable. How I hope we seize the moment (carpe diem).

It is doubtful I will continue G-G-G for a third year. Some 5 to 6 weeks ago I anted up to maintain the domain name and I was excited to do so. My enthusiasm hasn't diminished so much as the realization there are only so many ways to tell you that you are God's instrument. His best and finest way of interacting with his creation. After 107 posts last year and what will be a total of 115 posts this year (Life just let me know 222 is the exact number to reach) then I will have achieved what I set out to do. The honor and the privilege is that I got to share it with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CmOw5MY0E

Update 4:56 PM Interesting this showed up today isn't it?

http://weather.aol.com/2013/07/22/look-cassini-photographs-earth-from-deep-space/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D347486