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JAMES' PERSONAL WRITINGS: SLOVING
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Showing posts with label Christlike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christlike. Show all posts

2.24.2020

The prophet is always the predestined advance agent of the Kingdom of God. His religion flings him as a fighter and protester against the Kingdom of Evil. His sense of justice, compassion, and solidarity sends him into tasks which would be too perilous for others. It connects him with oppressed social classes as their leader. He bears their

The prophet is always the predestined advance agent of the Kingdom of God. His religion flings him as a fighter and protester against the Kingdom of Evil. His sense of justice, compassion, and solidarity sends him into tasks which would be too perilous for others. It connects him with oppressed social classes as their leader. He bears their..... risk and contempt. As he tries to rally the moral and religious forces of society, he encounters derelict and frozen religion, and the selfish and conservative interest of the classes which exploit religion. He tries to arouse institutional religion from the inside, or he pounds it from the outside. This puts him in the position of a heretic, a free thinker, an enemy of religion, an atheist. Probably no prophet escaped without bearing some such name. His opposition to social injustice arouses the same kind of antagonism from those who profit by it. How far these interests will go in their methods of suppressing the prophets depends on their power and their needs. I have been impressed with the fact that though Christianity began in a renascence, of [prophetism, scarcely any personality who bears the marks / of the prophet can be found in Church History between

10.09.2017

I know of no one alive today that so sees, speaks, lives the essential truths, as I. Hence I will end in obscurity,  like Jesus. Jesus not obscure? Jesus changed the world? I totally disagree. His name is known, the religion of fear of the scribes and Pharisees was rebranded in his name. We know them, their religion, no, we do not know Jesus that man is obscure. The one in a million exception proves the rule. Gandhi for example who said, I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ. Earth is less christ-like than the day that Jesus lived.

I know of no one alive today that so sees, speaks, lives the essential truths, as I. Hence I will end in obscurity,  like Jesus. Jesus not obscure? Jesus changed the world?  I totally disagree. His name is known, the religion of fear of the scribes and Pharisees was rebranded in his name. We know them, their religion, no, we do not know Jesus that man is obscure. The one in a million exception proves the rule. Gandhi for example who said, I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ. Earth is less christ-like than the day that Jesus lived.

10.04.2017

No one without a sheathing rage at what we are doing to the Childrens planet, country, to all of creation, can understand me and this mission. I'm quite sure this is in line with Gandhi who said that someone unable to do violence is incapable of waging nonviolence, paraphrase.

No one without a sheathing rage at what we are doing to the Childrens planet, country, to all of creation, can understand me and this mission. I'm quite sure this is in line with Gandhi who said that someone unable to do violence is incapable of waging nonviolence, paraphrase. This seems to be why, as much or more than anything, conservatives relate positively to me face to face, and liberals slink away in this pain. As Chris Hedges observes, liberals have lost the capacity to feel anything. The exception that proves the rule.

10.03.2017

I will seem even more harsh, more remote, less available, less kind, if that's possible, you may Wonder. If I fail you, if I fail anyone, it is in allowing myself even momentarily, psychologically, to come off the field of battle. I don't like......

If I fail you, if I fail anyone, it is in allowing myself even momentarily, psychologically, to come off the field of battle. I don't like...... tension, even creative tension, at least my body doesn't. I don't like being harsh, at least part of me doesn't. Believe it or not I like being Pleasant, I like being comfortable to be around. So to a degree  on Facebook, and to a degree in face-to-face encounters those pressures move me even slightly off the field of battle to being a more gentle presence. I fail you in that. Let alone I fail my clients, the world's neediest born and who will be born in the future. None of us should come off the field of battle for the future even for a moment. So am I doing so among other things is a terrible failure of leadership. I think I have it within me to stop failing you in this way. I will seem even more harsh, more remote, less available, less kind, if that's possible, you may Wonder. James

4.10.2017

A very dear, Christward-looking fellow posted today directing his followers to a beautiful nature scene and suggesting they look for the beautiful around them. My reply: Friend, I share this.....

A very dear, Christward-looking fellow  posted today  directing his followers  to a beautiful nature scene  and suggesting they look for the beautiful around them. My reply: Friend, I share this as a duty as a brother. I will unfollow you because I find posts like, that beautiful nature scene, it's so important to find the good things around us, so dissonant with My Soul. I don't have the energy for the distraction, not that you should care, and absolutely I mean no offense. The Jesus that I know never would have written such a thing, never thought such a thing. The Jesus that I know realized that life, Joy, is in looking in the opposite direction. Yes, the ultimate counterintuitive. Life is found in seeing, in looking for, in finding, the most in pain, the most suffering, and serving in solidarity from the soul to improve their situation or die trying. Joy is in the exact opposite direction of pleasure. Does Someone Like Jesus not find positive experience in a beautiful sunset? Of course. It comes with the territory. Do they look at it? Do they look for it? Do they direct others there? As you do unto the least of these you do unto me. I am not trying to reopen a dialogue. We've discussed this many times. Your brother forever, no matter what, James

1.19.2015

Qur'an: Piety does not lie in turning your face to East or West: Piety lies in believing in God, the Last Day and the angels, the Scriptures and the prophets, and disbursing your wealth out of love for God among your kin and the orphans, the wayfarers and mendicants, freeing the slaves, observing your devotional obligations, and in paying the zakat and fulfilling a pledge you have given, and being patient in hardship, adversity, and times of peril. These are the men who affirm the truth, and they are those who follow the straight path.

Qur'an:  Piety does not lie in turning your face to East or West: Piety lies in believing in God, the Last Day and the angels, the Scriptures and the prophets, and disbursing your wealth out of love for God among your kin and the orphans, the wayfarers and mendicants, freeing the slaves, observing your devotional obligations, and in paying the zakat and fulfilling a pledge you have given, and being patient in hardship, adversity, and times of peril. These are the men who affirm the truth, and they are those who follow the straight path.

Qur'an: They say: "Become Jews or become Christians, and find the right way." Say: "No. We follow the way of Abraham the upright, who was not an idolater." Say: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us, and what had been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their progeny, and that which was given to Moses and Christ, and to all other prophets by the Lord. We make no distinction among them, and we submit to Him."

Qur'an: They say: "Become Jews or become Christians, and find the right way." Say: "No. We follow the way of Abraham the upright, who was not an idolater."
Say: "We believe in God and what has been sent down to us, and what had been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and  Isaac and Jacob and their progeny, and that which was given to Moses and Christ, and to all other prophets by the Lord. We make no distinction among them, and we submit to Him."

***** nd. From the Qur'an, which I am beginning to read, with periodic advice and consultation from a Muslim friend who I respect: "Surely the believers and the Jews, Nazareans and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and whosoever does right, shall have his reward with his Lord and will neither have fear nor regret." She tells me that nowhere else in the Qur'an is this contradicted. To which I told her: "That is the God, Good, that I know, more than the 'christian' god that I was taught, and much more than the Zionist god, the Right Wing god, that is really Satan." This is the God of Jesus, who I Revere above all, and try to follow.

***** From the Qur'an, which I am beginning to read, with periodic advice and consultation from a Muslim friend who I respect:   "Surely the believers and the Jews, Nazareans and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and whosoever does right, shall have his reward with his Lord and will neither have fear nor regret."  She tells me that nowhere else in the Qur'an is this contradicted.  To which I told her: "That is the God, Good, that I know, more than the 'christian' god that I was taught, and much more than the Zionist god, the Right Wing god, that is really Satan."  This is the God of Jesus, who I Revere above all, and try to follow.

5.21.2014

***** FB Dialog. detail. "James, I met you about 3 1/2 years ago on my senior trip to DC... You are still an inspiration to me..." (detail)

C May 17:  James, I met you about 3 1/2 years ago on my senior trip to DC. I doubt you remember me, because undoubtedly you meet countless number of youths. I have tagged a picture of you from all those years ago. I am wearing a white button down shirt. But I just wanted to say that I've been keeping up with your cause and posts on Facebook. You are still an inspiration to me. 
I am going to a city not far from you soon, leading a group of students from my Southern state to run a sports camp in a refugee center and volunteer. I believe my group of students and I will be in DC the following Saturday. I would love a chance to introduce you to my students. I hope that you will be as much of an inspiration to them as you have been to me. Do you think this is at all possible? I know you are busy, but if I merit a reply I would be very grateful.

Loving May 20:  C, I am grateful and humbled by your kind note. All of my activism is now indoors, on computer. If you have not carefully followed my recent posts I strongly advise that you do so here http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com and if, after doing so, you still feel that meeting with me would be beneficial for your group, I'd be only too honored and glad to do so.

C: Ok i'll do that and let you know! Thanks for the response!

Loving:  Heart

C:  Some might say (professors and pastors), that you are devoted to a life that is, perhaps, the modern equivalent to a monastic life of the early Christian church. Would you say that A) you are explicitly? and B) you consciously accept a life of poverty to aid and raise awareness to "the least of these" ?
(Sorry if I am being 'pushy.' I am merely attempting to better gage the possible merits that would stem from a conversation.

Loving: In no way do I see you being pushy. I am nothing, explicitly. A life-long skier of the rockies described me as the greatest skier he had ever seen - me a guy from NJ. I was basically self taught by the mountains, surrendering my very being to learn the Truth of what was needed of me. What I do now is the same, to try and surrender my very Being to become of as much service to humanity, to the destitute in our family, as possible. You are right to look to the parallels as you did, but they, like me, could often times find no path to follow... and let Truth teach them the path... and so it is with me. I am certainly of they same type as some of them, and they of mine.  There is only one Truth... be it in the external sciences... or the 'science' of our Souls, our psychology, our nervous systems... and the Divine.  So those that are so drawn to the Truth that they'd pay any and all personal price to get near it... find the same Truth, the same Path... and look pretty similar to each other, and to onlookers.


"As to poverty, I've always thought it a horrible, mistaken fetish to seek poverty, no disrespect to anyone. I still feel that. BUT IF ONE SEEKS TO MAKE OF ONE'S VERY BEING - LOVING - WELL, THEN, POVERTY WILL BE THE RESULT, for a host of reasons... just as anyone that seeks to be great at skiing will become extremely supple of body, subservient to the mechanics, the needs of the hill, and the skis....

http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2014/05/loving-update.html

C:  That is a very wise incite; poverty for the sake of poverty being a vice. But poverty as a necessary result of ultimate love, a merit.

Loving:  ... and a devoted skier will suffer much cold, and be subject to extreme risk.. but not because they necessarily seek out or desire either.

... a consequence, a natural and near certain consequence.... and a profound boon. In fact, I think the one and only possible human Revolution is 100% solidarity with the destitute... and my last 8 months study of the most objective Jesus scholarship shows me that this is EXACTLY what his Religion was - 100% solidarity with the destitute, against Elysianism - think of the movie.  And 100% Solidarity means participating 100% in and of the same life - Poverty.  The good Captain, Brother, Mother, Father, Sister... does not abandon their 'family' under any circumstances... ever.  Yes, they may 'run for help,' but only to personally return and race into the disaster.  Right?

C:  Exactly.

Loving:  One can only become a master at serving the needs of the skis and mountain ONLY if one totally, 100%, immerses. One can only master serving our destitute family of creation by total immersion - not by reaching occasionally, when safe and convenient... through the bars of the cage.

 
... as we've been tragically taught.  Charity is the deadliest of sins, because it always displaces that which is Virtue - Solidarity - Serving, from the Soul, in Solidarity - Universal Family, Immediate Universal Family... by whatever name, or no name at all.


C:  I do admire your devotion to Jesus and not simply to the religion. I believe there are far too many nominal "christians." I know this because I've worked in youth ministry all over the country, SC, TN, CA... The biggest thing I have noticed with my students in my city (who come from what is called "old city" or "old money") is that their materialistic tendencies often drive them, not their love of Jesus and appreciation to his cause. Is it their fault that they were born into a materialistic, wealthy, achievement based society? No. But sticking to it, unyielding to the mere mention of possibility that they are making idols of their affluence, frightens them.

Loving:  Been there. Done that. Took me 45 years to learn that it was all a lie... and the last 15 years to claw my way back to the Life, the Loving, the 100% Solidarity... into which we are all born.

http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2014/05/loving-update.html

C:  I do believe my students would benefit from meeting with you.


Are you still living in DC?

Loving:  If the Creator took mercy on me and asked me the one thing I would have Her/Him/It do...it could well be that I would have every nominal christian realize that it was not "a Christian" that they wanted to be, but rather to BE CHRISTLIKE, CHRISTLIKENESS... WAS WHAT 100% OF THEIR BEING WOULD BE DEVOTED TO. I will never be a Christian... it has proven by scholarship and 2000 years of failure to NOT be Jesus religion. Jesus Religion by whatever name was Christlikeness, BEING LOVING, UNIVERSAL FAMILY, by whatever name, or no name at all. This is our only prayer now. These are objectively the end times. Unless we bring His culture, His ECONOMY of 100% LIVED DEVOTION, SOLIDARTY, TO AND WITH THE LEAST OF THESE - WELL, I'D RATHER NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN, THAN TO BE YOUR YOUNG STUDENTS, OR THEIR CHILDREN - with the planet in final death writhings that are the certain consequence of paying lip service to Jesus economy for so long.

Jesus' Economy

... one final link - http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2014/05/loving-update.html

C:  Amen. The trouble is, it is not only the least of these that need Jesus. The affluent and pious and arrogant and materialist need him just as badly. I am having the trouble of "becoming all things to all people" so that they might be saved. I am having trouble discerning what it looks like to, like the apostle paul, when he says in 1 corinthians 9: 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."

Loving: 
Solidarity a way of life.

Brother, I profoundly disagree, yet I take no offense at what you've said, and you must take no offense from what I say, and you must not think I'm telling you what to think or say... I'm sharing what has become clear to me. My Religion by whatever name is Christlikeness, NOT Christianity. There are many great physicists.... but only one Einstein, so far. Paul had much good to say, and much profound error written in his name by others. No, Jesus words - that 40% subset of the words and teachings and actions in the bible that the most objective scholarship says He Actually said... not the 60% put in his mouth by others, for whatever good reasons, no matter how wise. 



Jesus life and example are the best Teachings of the Truth I've found... AND HIS BEST SERVICE TO THE POWERFUL, THE WEALTY, THE EMPORERS, THE PRINCES OF THE SYNAGOGUE... WAS TO IGNORE THEM... AND TO LEAD THEM TO THE ONLY REASON ANY OF US ARE HERE... TO 100% SOLIDARITY WITH THE MOST DESTITUTE... THAT WE ALL MIGHT FIND AS MUCH JOY, AND REDUCTION OF SUFFERING, AS POSSIBLE... AND MOST OF ALL - LOVING.
You made my way of life a hobby.

C:  I don't find that offensive at all. I welcome discussion and opposing/different views. It is how we grow as human: conflict.
That being said, would you be willing to meet with them if I deem it wise? If, either you or myself, think it would be prudent to avoid the meeting with the students, I would still love to see you when I can.

Loving: If I were a master Medical Doctor.. and I had a multi background team of interns, a variety of motivations among them... how do I best 'teach,' lead them? Maybe by leading them to the neediest cases... so powerful, that it cries out to their very soul... and that experience becomes their teacher? THIS is what Jesus did. Historically he probably NEVER ministered to anyone but the destitute.  Doing so was Paul's lack of faith, vision, wisdom... error.

And what then of those med students that shied away from the blood, carnage, pain, suffering...?  Jesus did NOT follow after the Rich Young Man.  Nor would the med doctor go and coddle the reticent med students.  Any such student would show then and there that at that moment, they really didn't want the life of the MD as much as they thought they would... and any further coddling of them would be a profound disservice to them... and to their prospective patients.  "The gate is narrow, and few shall enter in, [EVER].'  For the MD, for the person of Christ, to stand and coddle the reticent student... while the destitute are writhing in need... IS TO DAMN THE STUDENT... because it communicates from the teacher to the student a TOTAL REVERSAL, PERVERSION, OF THE CREATOR'S PRIORITIES... it confirms the mistaken notion of the "Rich Young Men" of the world that lif is for their pleasure, rather than the Truth - that the Only Heaven is the Heaven of Living the Family Emergency Response - Loving, with each breath, in Service... the most destitute we can possibly reach, and serve... in each and every moment.  Is this not exactly what Jesus did?  Did He not say, "Love as I have loved?"  Did He stutter?  Did he leave off - 'when it suits your fancy, convenience...?  No.

This has been a Godly dialog. I leave it to you. If based on what we've said, what you've seen at my site... the future... you wish to meet, I'm sure I would find it a great Joy, and if not, your brother I will always be, unconditionally.

C:  That means a great deal. Really. Unconditional, agape, hessed love is truly glorious to behold.


Loving:  Loving is the only Blessing, the Only Reward, the Only Heaven... all else is worthless rags, in my Heart... how long I was in the desert, and did not see.

 
Yes, Agape.

C:  Before I leave, may I ask your thoughts on Jesus' encounter with "the rich, young ruler"? In regards to your last statement, it seems at least once Jesus did attempt to show is way of life to the wealthy.


Loving:  I could almost weep that you brought that up. It was much on my mind just a day or so ago; and it has been over the last 15 on and off. About 14 years ago I was still in a $500,000 house in a wealthy Phila suburb, but moving out of my $300k per year exec position in industry into serving my needy 'family,' and in a masters of counseling program. I saw announcement of a weekend seminar at a bapist church in town, "Grace and Addiction," David Hilficker, and living saint, conducting it. Quite the scholar this MD to the homeless in DC... He emphatically made the point that that scripture is the most written of in all history of the NT... to make known absolutely that JESUS DID NOT MEAN THAT TO APPLY TO ALL OF US. To answer your question, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY TO ME, BASED ON WHAT LIFE, ERROR, SUCCESS AND STUDY HAVE TAUGHT ME - THAT STORY IS EXACTLY WHAT JESUS MEANT FOR US TO DO. IT IS EXACTLY AND PRECISELY WHAT JESUS MEANT AS THE ENCAPSULATION OF WHAT LOVING IS - WHAT BEING LOVING IS, DOES, WITH CERTAINTY. Agape can do no less. Agape can STAND DOING NO LESS. Agape is UNIVERSAL FAMILY - when part of your family is destitute... you sell everything and give it to them!!!!!!!!!! This is what Loving does! If it does NOT do that, it is NOT LOVING. Objectively, JESUS 'SOLD' EVERYTHING THAT HE WAS, EVERY BREATH... AND GAVE IT TO THE DESTITUTE, NOT THE POOR, NOT THE MIDDLE CLASS (REALLY WASN'T ANY), NOT THE 1%... TO THE DESTITUTE BECAUSE A. That is what the destitute needed from him; and B. THAT IS WHAT THE RICH NEEDED FROM HIM!!!!!! "Example is not the major thing in influencing people... it is the only thing;" Albert Schweitzer.   The scholarship I find serious... indicates that Jesus, unlike Paul and others... 100% of His ministry, and that of those directed by Him, was to the destitute little 8-20 person hamlets of the area - not the towns, or cities, where those of any wealth lived.  So to me it is clear that His encounter with the Rich Young Ruler was not sought out by Jesus, a chance encounter on a local trade route maybe... AND, JESUS DID NOT PURSUE THE RULER UPON REJECTION.  He may have wept, probably did... but He did NOT pursue Him.  He continued his ministry to the poor, and thereby, His CLEAR LEADERSHIP TO ALL OF US... THAT WE WERE TO DO LIKEWISE; anything else by a Christlike being a deadly miscommunication, deadly disservice... to the wealthy; and with that, we have the last 2000 years of failure, abomination - a Christianity that is the exact opposite of what Jesus died to give us.

... one caveat... to an earlier point - as it is a fetish, error, sin... to pursue poverty for oneself in life... it is an error, sin, mistake... to 'sell all you have and give it to the poor,' with that being the cerebral, follow the instructions... goal.  In skiing it is an evil to pursue dangerous falls. However, dangerous falls are a marker - if you are not having some... YOU ARE NOT ON THE PATH TO BECOMING A GREAT SKIIER. IF you find that you are not moving in the direction of, and finally completing, ultimately giving all that you have and all that you are to the most destitute you can reach, it is an absolute marker that you are not Christlike, not becoming Christlike... not following, not JOINING.... Jesus. It is what Jesus did.  IT IS WHAT ALL OF HIS IMMEDIATE APPOSTLES DID.   It is what Loving does. 'LOVE AS I HAVE LOVED,' He said.

I hope you scan this - https://www.facebook.com/BeingChristlikeness?ref=hl

C:  You raise great points and have undoubtedly given many years to pondering what it means to be a true imitator of Jesus. Thank you for all you are. Little things like taking time to message me back are very large indicators that you live what you preach. I thank you for that.

Loving:  The Joy is all mine. I've found you to be Truth-seeking. "Truth is God," Gandhi rightly said... and I pursue God, the Creator, Loving... with every breath, for the ultimate Greedy Joy of it - the Heaven of it - there is none other.

C:  Also, where are you residing now, so that I can determine if I will be able to say hello.

Loving: Everything I've shared with you, and the only things I EVER share, are some of the steps on the path from Hell on earth to Heaven in this life... that I've had to learn, teach myself, discover... to do so. It is my joy, my mission, my purpose, my reason for being to share this, and my agony that with it I make so little difference, and reach so few.

I reside in the 750 person CCNV homeless shelter at 2nd and D NW in DC, but they allow no visitors there... we could meet any number of places near or far at your convenience or mine.

C: OK I would very much like that. I will write you later in the week to discuss when and where. I do know that I will have half a day off in DC on Saturday, the 31st.
and you your last statement about reaching few people, well if my meager praises can be of any encouragement, I have told many people of you, both the impact you've had on my life by following some of your work, and the impact and cause that you so bodily stand for. If one man, any number of "one man," Ghandi, MLK, Jesus, can leaving lasting, impactful legacy, I believe you will. Flattery is not my strong suit. I am not "blowing sunshine up your skirt," as they say. But I am simply letting you know that I believe you have, can, are, and will impact many more people than you can know.
I know that does not sound like much coming from someone as insignificant as me, but I felt as though I should express some of my gratitude, even in so minuscule a dose as that.

Loving: Well, you've made me cry - a mixture of sadness that I reach almost no one, joy, that I've reached maybe one, a little. ZERO CREDIT TO ME, I'VE BEEN SHOWN THE PATH, NOT MY PATH, THE PATH... THE ONE JESUS TRIED TO GET US ON. NO CREDIT TO ME. BUT I SEE FEW, FEWER THAN 10... THAT ALSO HAVE FOUND IT, AND PROBABLY FEWER THAN THAT... NO DISCREDIT TO ANYONE. (Hard to type here through these stinging tears). And we're out of time. This is what I feel. This is what Jesus felt - the same. All I can do is Try, with EVERY BREATH... and that I shall continue to do, with every breath I'm given of this Life Sentence I am serving in this Hell of Godlessness, Lovelessness, we've made. My personal wish was that the Creator let last years cancer take me, but it was not Her wish, it seems, so here I am, serving out my time. I was given the choice, and I chose service over my personal wish to be relieved of duty. I'd have it no other way. Your note means a great deal to me.

This has been a Divine exchange. I will post it soon and make it anonymous... but we covered many important points. Your identity will be entirely disguised... I'll post it on FB and my blog, and provide you the links... Creator willing.


C: Well, then you truly do manifest what it means to "live is christ and die is gain." I was unaware of the cancer that had plagued you. If you wouldn't mind, I would your blessing in praying for you.
As I also wish that you, too, will keep me in your prayers, that the creator will guide me and that I may find strength enough to live as Jesus, not only by what I say, but also by what I do.
I would love you to do so. I would love to read of it.

Loving:  I am honored and blest by your desire, but sort of, you are asking what I want - I want you to BE a Prayer for me to be as full an instrument of the Creator's Will as Possible, and I will endeavor to Be such a Prayer for you.

C:  Thank you again for clarifying and discerning wisdom. I look forward to reading your posts, and further still to a hopeful meeting in person.


Loving:  This exchange was an immense Blessing for me.

 


 






























5.06.2014

Loving, update. I may be back living on the streets within the week. (detail)

I heard this story years ago:

A convent of long ago had been broken into several times, so the Mother Superior gathered all the sisters and told them, 'From now on the gate to the convent is to be bolted from midnight until 6am, without fail.  No one is to be allowed to enter when the gate is bolted, no matter what, no matter who.'  Some months later the Mother Superior was called out one afternoon on an urgent errand of mercy.  She was kept very, very late.  On her way back to the convent it began to storm, a horrible storm.  She arrived after midnight, and dutifully, she was not allowed in.  So she circled the walls of this convent hoping to find an open window or side door.  The storm got worse, the rain poured, the wind howled, a branch knocked her over flat on her back in a huge puddle, she was dreanched, covered in mud....  She looked up into the sky and said, "Lord, now I understand.  You are sooooooo harsh on those who truly try to serve Your Will, it is no wonder that you have so few true followers."

Not inappropriately all the 250 men over 50 on my floor were called to a meeting yesterday on the floor: "Unless you have a plan to get out of here, case worker, housing plan being pursued... that you show us in writing, within the month, you will be put out of here, immediately."

I have no plan, nor will I, because I refuse to play this game of western culture Musical Chairs / Hunger Games... any longer.  For 7 years or so now I've lived my vow of donating EVERY breath, EVERY dollar, to the neediest of my human family, as I could reach... and that is not going to change.  I've just come back from an attempt to inform the social worker of this, to find out how quickly he wants me out.  He was not in.

Back to work.

5.01.2014

The only Revolution: Lived, total, solidarity with the Global Neediest. I strongly suspect that there is only one true Revolution possible for the human species - past, present, future. And the only time it ever has been tried to my knowledge, is for several decades during and after the life of Jesus. That Revolution? Lived, total, solidarity with the Global Neediest. "The Golden Rule is to steadfastly have what millions cannot have," is how Gandhi said it. "Do unto others ALL that you would have them do unto you," is how Jesus Lived it, and how He or his followers, said it.

The only Revolution: Lived, total, solidarity with the Global Neediest. I strongly suspect that there is only one true Revolution possible for the human species - past, present, future.  And the only time it ever has been tried to my knowledge, is for several decades during and after the life of Jesus.  That Revolution?  Lived, total, solidarity with the Global Neediest.  "The Golden Rule is to steadfastly have what millions cannot have," is how Gandhi said it.  "Do unto others ALL that you would have them do unto you," is how Jesus Lived it, and how He or his followers, said it.

4.23.2014

***** FB Dialog: "We totally waste the better part of our lives on sex." (details)

PPT:  I have wasted the better part of my life waiting for sex.

R:  James, surely you did not expect this one to fly. Sex is far from a waste of time. It restores us.

K:  I have wasted time on sex... But never wasted one second on making love with someone I truly love! Huge difference ! Sex is a meaningless act. Making love a gift of ones body and soul to another whom is giving the same in return .

R:  K, thank you. You put into words what my mind was thinking but never articulated.




 
PPT:  Yes. I don't have sex. I only make love.

WC:  The learning part of life.

JJ:  It's Obama's fault.🗽

JM:  Love is good, and so is making love; pointless sex is a distracting, and many waste years of energy chasing it.. I think that's the point here. Not sure though

Loving:  Wow, I've just lost (FB ate it) a long and detailed reply to your comments, above. Oh well. I'll leave you with your shallow, glib, dismissal of what I tried to share. If in the future, you find yourself wanting to explore what I tried to share, spend some time at my blog, and let me know how we can take it from there. Very disappointing.

R:   I guess you should have elaborated on your original statement? Always like exploring your thoughts and way of looking at life. Sorry if my response was shallow, glib or dismissive, it wasn't meant to be.

Loving:  Of course the following proves nothing (nothing is absolute proof of anything) but the/a premier scholar of the man, the human, Jesus, is Dominik Crossen, who I've been studying for much of the last 9 months. I am interested in Crossan because thru him I believe I am able to see the pre-eminent scholarship on the man Jesus, of the last 200 years. I am drawn to understand that man Jesus, and not what was made up in his name quickly afterward, because I think if there was anyone in history that might have been able to lead us away from ecocide, fascism... in 2014, only Jesus was that person, in my experience, and probably even He could not have.... Crossan has done nothing but study, publish on, the scrolls, history, archeology, writings, scholarship, anthropology... that pertains, for about 30 years, his entire adulthood. The following is pretty central and fundamental to what he, and I, understand was utterly central to Jesus vision, understanding, diagnosis, prescription..... I'm not sure it can speak to you all by itself, but it is what I could quickly get for you, from his book to scholars, "The Historical Jesus," 1994 or so: "Jesus’ Kingdom of nobodies and undesirables in the here and now of this world was surely a radically egalitarian one, and, as such, it rendered sexual and social, politi­cal and religious distinctions completely irrelevant and anachronistic." Celibacy, of body and mind, EXACTLY like that of a very young child, except for the moments of procreation, was a given. PRETTY HORRIBLE IDEA, NO? WHAT A HORRIBLE WORLD THAT WOULD BE - EMPTY, BORING, PLEASURELESS, MEANINGLESS!!!! WHAT A HORRIBLE LIFE THAT WOULD BE!!! Remember how horrible your life was before your sexual urges and abilities developed?!?!?!? Right??? Think about how horrible life will be for you, how empty, dead... when your urges subside in old age?!?!?!?! HORRIBLE!!!!! I let society and my hormones strip away the understanding Jesus had, that I naturally had. No more. I've returned to my sanity, to Loving (which has NOTHING to do with sex, but maybe, .00000001% of the time it can be something that Loving does). The Possible Heaven, on earth, is a Loving (Serving the Neediest from the Soul in Solidarity) centric, Loving filled, Lusting/Sex devoid world (the opposite of our world today). Does anyone really think we can eliminate wars, greed, inequality, poverty, suffering, lust for stuff... without relegating sex of any sort to the insignificant, irrelevant, uninteresting... margins? (Hint, it can't be done). Well, enough for now. (If the above is significantly in error, than I know NOTHING that is any value, for anyone, regarding ANYTHING, which of course, may be the case, and may be fine, I suppose).

WC:  Like Gandhi says about his wife: you stop lusting after them and learn to develop a partnership and equal relationship. Sex is meant for procreation.

Loving:   Wayne, all my days I've had the most total admiration for Gandhi; and I got him, I get him. As a young man, and not so young, I knew of his views and practices you've just cited. I couldn't believe he meant it. I couldn't believe he was correct. I didn't understand Loving - I thought that and sex (making Love) were closely intertwined, and I could hardly have been more incorrect. The point to me, to Gandhi, to Jesus ... is not that sex, or truly making love, are bad. It is that they are profoundly inferior to Loving (Serving the neediest from the Soul in Solidarity). Anyone, everyone, is welcome to disagree with Gandhi, me, Jesus (maybe Gloria Steinem later in life now, LOL).... I DID disagree for most of my years. What a horrible, tragic, waste, including near all of the Making Love. What a waste. (Isn't it interesting? If my post above, and comments herein, had somehow been near the reverse - that Making Love, sex, is the epitome of human experience, and how fortunate those for whom it is central in their lives - virtually no one would be threatened, upset... by that. But to suggest the reverse? HORRIFYING!!!!!) What Hell to be a Gandhi, Jesus, Teresa of Calcutta, Malala.... SOOOO MUCH they 'Sacrificed,' 'Gave up....'

Loving:  Sincere, warm ((((HUGS)))) to all.

R:  Not so HORRIFYING when explained as you have done very well. I get it and believe it but not so sure I would have 40 years ago ...

Loving:  R, you are amazing. You and others were disturbed by my post, and I was disturbed by many of the comments. And how else could it be? This is just the very epicenter, the very fault line, that has prevented, and probably always will prevent heaven on earth. Please get ready for this: equally central is its near cousin, nuclear family. It is inconceivable to us in 2014 Western culture, that nuclear family is not the supremely natural noble good. But objectively, the most peaceful, most joyful, most heaven like cultures to have ever been, are the indigenous tribes throughout history. And within these tribes the notion of nuclear family is literally incomprehensible, as is anything resembling our sex centric culture. Hugs.            

R:  I wasn't disturbed so much as confused as to where you were coming from. Should have known there was reasoning behind your statement .... could you also, when you find time, or have the inclination, please explain what you mean by nuclear family? I understand about the indigenous tribes and agree with your thoughts on them and their sereneness.

Loving:  Nuclear family, the notion that our Supreme responsibility is mom and dad to biological offspring. Jesus was nothing, if not an existential scream against such ideas. Love is not love, family is not family, if it has any boundaries whatsoever. Are there practical issues, issues of proximity? Of course! For most of my years I totally revered Dr King. But I couldn't understand how he continued his work that so endangered the very lives of his biological family! And then it hit me. He realized that every child was his child. Everyone was his family. And that's what Jesus died to teach us, to give us. Besides sex, there is nothing more than nuclear family that we use to justify our barbaric cruelty, neglect, abuse of those outside its borders.

R:  Thank you ... Your reference to Dr. King putting his family in danger made it very clear as to what you mean, what you are saying. I am afraid there are not enough of us (like you and your ilk) willing or I should say, able to bring ourselves to that level. While I know this is the only way to world peace and true Love of all mankind, I fear it is only a dream that wise men envision. Yes, Jesus died to teach us that and you can see how well we learned that lesson. Thank you, James, you give me so much to think about ....