Random thoughts by Will
Two thoughts I had recently, my typical fare:
1) If you could meet yourself, today, the same age, same person, just another body, what would you talk about?
2) If angels are not physical beings, can you be in the same physical space as an angel or do the laws of physics apply to spiritual beings?
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Liam has a habit of occasionally waking up and screaming like a caged beast if we try to put him back to bed. We are considering the possibility this might coincide with a heightened sensitivity to things spiritual seeing as tonight is a full moon. And, just for posterity, it's a green light night.
Lunar phases
Lunar phases
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Last week's lunar eclipse reminded me of something I used to consider often. I explred astrology partly because I wanted to see what, if any, basis is real and partly because I know for everything counterfeit their is something real God created which the enemy is trying to replicate. Anyhow, I noticed there was a lot of dream activity in our house. I had something like 6 dreams the night before the eclipse. But, on a more regular basis, where full lunar eclipses aren't happening, there are forces exerted by the lunar cycles we have overlooked in our "scientific" Westernized worldview.
The Hebraic world worked on the lunar cycles. It still does. Indeed, their calendar is lunar whereas ours is based on the solar calendar. That being true, I wonder why we, as Christians in our scientific worldview, don't ditch the science. God hasn't changed his mind about the way the universe ran since Jesus' day. Many modern day Christians have simply never been shown that the solar model of time is not the real first-century model Christ and the apostles used. I just wonder, what are we missing because we are not paying attention to this? What sort of signs are being ignored because we have the wrong focal point?
The basic issues are well-known. High and low tide are directly related to lunar movements. Dream cycles work in conjunction with lunar patterns, as do planting and harvesting patterns. What else have I just not noticed. Even though it is anecdotal, as far as I know, many hospitals see increased frequency of activity around full moons as well as, though there's no real standard for weirdness, an increase in the bizarre factor around those times as well. In other words, there are lots of obvious indicators the lunar cycle is something that is real and its effects are powerful, albeit a discounted element of the forces being exerted on people.
On another note, I know that the "planetary" influences in astrology are more about the "spirits" or the "energies" of the planets than about astronomical or physical influences. Nonetheless, I often wonder, speaking in terms of macrocosmic patterns and gravitational influences, what sort of patterns can be attributed to the constantly changing interactions of planets upon each other. Most people don't follow the astronomical positioning of different planetary cycles enough to try and track the different patterns that might reveal themselves. Again, I often wonder what we're missing as a result.
Certainly, our call as Christians is primarily theocentric, first and foremost, but, anthropocentric next. We are to focus on the Kingdom of God and upon people. Beyond that, Christians are not really directed to pay too much attention to these Old Testament types of realities. In spite of this, I suspect there are dimensions of the spiritual walk of Christians that could benefit from being more aware of the heavens above. Perhaps God will make it a bit more clear to me what these influences are supposed to be and how they matter in our everyday lives.
The Hebraic world worked on the lunar cycles. It still does. Indeed, their calendar is lunar whereas ours is based on the solar calendar. That being true, I wonder why we, as Christians in our scientific worldview, don't ditch the science. God hasn't changed his mind about the way the universe ran since Jesus' day. Many modern day Christians have simply never been shown that the solar model of time is not the real first-century model Christ and the apostles used. I just wonder, what are we missing because we are not paying attention to this? What sort of signs are being ignored because we have the wrong focal point?
The basic issues are well-known. High and low tide are directly related to lunar movements. Dream cycles work in conjunction with lunar patterns, as do planting and harvesting patterns. What else have I just not noticed. Even though it is anecdotal, as far as I know, many hospitals see increased frequency of activity around full moons as well as, though there's no real standard for weirdness, an increase in the bizarre factor around those times as well. In other words, there are lots of obvious indicators the lunar cycle is something that is real and its effects are powerful, albeit a discounted element of the forces being exerted on people.
On another note, I know that the "planetary" influences in astrology are more about the "spirits" or the "energies" of the planets than about astronomical or physical influences. Nonetheless, I often wonder, speaking in terms of macrocosmic patterns and gravitational influences, what sort of patterns can be attributed to the constantly changing interactions of planets upon each other. Most people don't follow the astronomical positioning of different planetary cycles enough to try and track the different patterns that might reveal themselves. Again, I often wonder what we're missing as a result.
Certainly, our call as Christians is primarily theocentric, first and foremost, but, anthropocentric next. We are to focus on the Kingdom of God and upon people. Beyond that, Christians are not really directed to pay too much attention to these Old Testament types of realities. In spite of this, I suspect there are dimensions of the spiritual walk of Christians that could benefit from being more aware of the heavens above. Perhaps God will make it a bit more clear to me what these influences are supposed to be and how they matter in our everyday lives.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Ruminations on princess toothpaste
My girls have princess toothpaste to help them get used to using adult toothpaste. Since we are remodeling and I couldn't find ours anywhere I used the pink goop. While I was brushing my teeth and looking around I noticed three princesses (we have princesses everyone) on the toothpaste tube. Around them were all sorts of glimmers of light and sparkles. Seeing as the toothpaste was named "Bubble gum magic", it made me think of Page's most requested movie, Cindarella. Those sparkling likes and magic are everywhere. Now, this isn't a magic is evil and we should ban kids from seeing it type thread. Rather, I had the notion come to me that, while fantasy is a dimension kids in particular find more meaningful than adults, the spiritual experiences I have been having and reading more about, in particlar orbs, lights, heavenly hosts, etc, are things kids might inherently be drawn to because of increased sensitivity. Kids are typically far more spiritually aware than adults and it makes sense that kids would see this "magic"--translated into this prophetic Chrsitianese as orbs, lights, angels, etc.--as a part of every day life. In other words, kids relate to these movies moreso than anything else because it is how they really experience things. We often dismiss their fondness for these movies as youthful fantasy and regard it as nothing more. My "bubble gum magic" moment was the realization that this "magic" kids see is probably something real, something signficant and something not to be dismissed. I want to talk to the girls and see if I can ferret out some confirmation of this insight, but, I think He showed me something with why "princesses" are so enamored with their movies and all that is royal.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Curious TV
The past few weeks Kerri and I have been watching, when we have time, the new ABC show "Eli Stone". We both think the show was a concept shelved a while back, pulled out while the writer's strike waged on. However, it is interesting that the prophetic, even though it is distorted rather liberally, has risen to the level of national attention, or at least consciousness. Sure, there are some seriously frightening implications people might draw about the prophetic from watching this show. Nonetheless, the fact that a major broadcasting network put a show whose main subject matter is how a prophetic person would operate in today's society seems like a remarkably strong move. Perhaps the whole strike was run just so this show could air. I sincerely doubt it, but, He has been known to do stranger things.
When all's said and done, I think it will be phased out at the end of the season. If it lasts two, I'd be shocked. One big question we have is whether the show's writers will dabble in those ever-dangerous waters of underlining the good versus evil theme. A few years ago a show we both watched with increasing interest, "Joan of Arcadia", began get progressively closer to making a thematic statement in line with the Christian message. When they introduced the character of satan, the show abruptly ended a few weeks later. It's seems things were getting a little too real and people starting barking. Were Eli to start tapping into this type of theme, it would definitely get yanked. We're hoping, as intentionally non-religious yet spiritual as the show is, it won't get canned just yet so God can do whatever it is he needs to do with this one.
Watching with eager curiosity to see what happens...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
While driving a few days ago I had a nice little realization. As I passed and accident I had to physically force myself not to look. It was the strangest thing. Then, it dawned on me that many of the habits we fall into becomes forceful. The phrase, force of habit, it took on a new dimension. Having to literally force myself to not look. It was amazing to think, so many of the walls we construct are just a result of choices repeated over time. After enough repetitions, they become so engrained they seem real. It was as if a force was drawing me to look at that accident. Like someone was physically turning my head.
Then, I thought about the energy that could be freed by breaking these bonds...these habits. Being bound by habit prevents us from a great many things. A freedom found by the deliberate resistance to imaginary forces, powers. How much of our lives do we live simply obeying these forces? I didn't know I was following a habit. Only by a brief glimpse of did I realize I could turn my head, not look, start making new, different choices. I want to start applying this to my life, start looking at larger aspects, deeper habits, start seeing the forces for what they are and make new decisions. I am curious to see how unraveling these forces could transform my life. It is interesting to say the least.
Then, I thought about the energy that could be freed by breaking these bonds...these habits. Being bound by habit prevents us from a great many things. A freedom found by the deliberate resistance to imaginary forces, powers. How much of our lives do we live simply obeying these forces? I didn't know I was following a habit. Only by a brief glimpse of did I realize I could turn my head, not look, start making new, different choices. I want to start applying this to my life, start looking at larger aspects, deeper habits, start seeing the forces for what they are and make new decisions. I am curious to see how unraveling these forces could transform my life. It is interesting to say the least.
You ever seen those commercials where the beagle has it's skin pulled back, wind blowing full tilt, slobber flying backwards? That's my family right now. We're busy beyond definition. Seems like this promotion God's got us absorbing than we think (or seem to think) we are able to handle without screaming, alcohol or some combination of both! Anyhow, a new car, new job, new PC (my old one died), renovations and the hope to move in the next 3-4 months. Lots on our plates. But, it seems like things will be good when we're all done. We've got some pictures on Kerri's site. As we make progress I'll post some just to show what in the world is going on.
Monday, January 28, 2008
We are reading Ephesians for our community group. While recapping 2:8-10 I noticed a new way to think about the concept that salvation can be achieved by works, but by faith alone. Never before had I seen a connection between the process of salvation-sanctification-glorification and works. Finally, it became, for me, at least, that works do have a place, as James 2 suggests, but, in the proper context, works have no value.
Salvation is received by faith and faith alone. We cannot earn salvation through acts of righteousness. The path to salvation has but on door and that is through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. No work can be involved in receiving this gift of grace. Now, back to that three part process: salvation-sanctifiation-glorification. Salvation is spiritual birth, a singular event with eternal and life-long consequences. Sanctification, however, is a much more expansive, enduring state, covering everything that occurs between birth and transcendence into the heavenly realms.
Though works have no part in that first stage of the process, works are the necessary, external evidence of one's faith in the second part of the process, sanctification. As James notes, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." If you look at the two scriptures without the three-part theological perspective I hinted at, they do not reconcile. How can works be valueless and necessary at the same time? They can't. Each truth has its place in the proper perspective and do not contradict or invalidate the other. For me, it took a while to realize this process was the perspective that cleared the confusion up on this matter.
Praise God.
Salvation is received by faith and faith alone. We cannot earn salvation through acts of righteousness. The path to salvation has but on door and that is through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. No work can be involved in receiving this gift of grace. Now, back to that three part process: salvation-sanctifiation-glorification. Salvation is spiritual birth, a singular event with eternal and life-long consequences. Sanctification, however, is a much more expansive, enduring state, covering everything that occurs between birth and transcendence into the heavenly realms.
Though works have no part in that first stage of the process, works are the necessary, external evidence of one's faith in the second part of the process, sanctification. As James notes, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." If you look at the two scriptures without the three-part theological perspective I hinted at, they do not reconcile. How can works be valueless and necessary at the same time? They can't. Each truth has its place in the proper perspective and do not contradict or invalidate the other. For me, it took a while to realize this process was the perspective that cleared the confusion up on this matter.
Praise God.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
China (again)
While considering how to deal with the issue of praying against an entire national assault it came to mind that it would really fall under the category of an Ephesians 6:13 type prayer. Praying against an entire national intent is hardly a wise idea. That pretty directly aligns with trying to individually overthow a high level spirit that stands over 1/6th of the earth's population. So, that leaves me with the question. If I have revelation that an assault of that scale and of that nature is happening against our country, how do I pray for it? How do I begin trying raise up my spirit in a way that would stop this gap? Lord, raise up prayers of intercession, prayers or protection for our country. May the praise of American people screaming your name with power, with passion and with hope be the shield raised to protect our country. Lord, be our shield.
While considering how to deal with the issue of praying against an entire national assault it came to mind that it would really fall under the category of an Ephesians 6:13 type prayer. Praying against an entire national intent is hardly a wise idea. That pretty directly aligns with trying to individually overthow a high level spirit that stands over 1/6th of the earth's population. So, that leaves me with the question. If I have revelation that an assault of that scale and of that nature is happening against our country, how do I pray for it? How do I begin trying raise up my spirit in a way that would stop this gap? Lord, raise up prayers of intercession, prayers or protection for our country. May the praise of American people screaming your name with power, with passion and with hope be the shield raised to protect our country. Lord, be our shield.
Random thoughts:
Genius (again). This one keeps coming up because I think of the saints as spiritual geniuses. That being said, I keep seeing this image of geniuses as being tuned into a things that are always there, things we normally dismiss or are too engrossed in our normal lives to perceive. They have a higher sensitivity to these things. Take Elijah for instance. The passage where the servant goes out and sees the armies surrounding them. Elijah perceived something that was there while the servant didn't. Elijah did not change the circumstances for the servant to see. he did not make the Lord's army come. He merely gave the servant eyes to see (allowed him to possess higher sensitivity). Fasting has really been on my mind ever since I heard John Paul talk last August. One side effect of fasting is it increase one's sensitivity in all areas. I've never done any significant fasting and I am praying for people to support me in this effort through prayer, but I truly believe that fasting will begin to help me get in touch with this higher order of sensitivity.
Another variation on that theme, something that popped into my mind as I considered what I wrote about above, was the concept of memory. Many geniuses have memories that far surpass what normal people can even think of. I can't recall his name, but a mathematician who worked on the Manhattan project was tested in his 20's by being given phone books. He read them and memorized entire phone books and could recite sections of them. Some 30 or 40 years later he was able to perform the same feat without having looked at them ever again. In a way, this is superhuman. There are countless stories of this kind of astounding recollection, but, what I saw was that most people inefficiently use their memories. Most people are not truly engrossed enough in the things they are experiencing to truly recollect things in this manner. Sure, there are some abilities, not matter how much normal people practice, train and develop their memories, they will never possess or even come close to. That's why the people who have those rare gifts are one in a billion. Once in a lifetime type minds. Nonetheless, if people truly engaged themselves more completely in the life they are living instead of a conversation they had or hope to have, their moods, their obsessions, their distractions, then, memory, or the energy that could be channeled into more fully remembering things, could be of a different order. There's something about people not tuning in, being here now that I see as being a major impediment to the full use of their ability to remember things.
Good books
A few months ago our church was getting rid of its library in preparation for our upcoming move as well as a garage sale to try and raise funds for the new children's playground. Among the books I found two that are really speaking to me: Warren Wiersbe's Be Mature, about James, and a compilation called Disciplines for the Inner Life by Bob and Michael Benson. Wiersbe's book takes a no non-sense, meaty look at the letter. I have yet to see what other titles he's done, but, I love his style and writing. Perhaps I am just at a place where meaty is satisfying in ways I have never been able to appreciate until now. Nonetheless, a terrific resource. The Benson and Benson book, however, is a much larger object for me. It is a 52-chapter (one year) book discussing several areas of the spiritual life. The writing is a collection of various authors, church fathers etc. It seems to be filling my void for good writing (I miss Kierkegaard) and meaningful reflection (did I say I missed Kierkegaard). Anyway, they've been speaking to me of late and are some good books. I recommend checking them out...or, if you live near me, borrowing them.
Genius (again). This one keeps coming up because I think of the saints as spiritual geniuses. That being said, I keep seeing this image of geniuses as being tuned into a things that are always there, things we normally dismiss or are too engrossed in our normal lives to perceive. They have a higher sensitivity to these things. Take Elijah for instance. The passage where the servant goes out and sees the armies surrounding them. Elijah perceived something that was there while the servant didn't. Elijah did not change the circumstances for the servant to see. he did not make the Lord's army come. He merely gave the servant eyes to see (allowed him to possess higher sensitivity). Fasting has really been on my mind ever since I heard John Paul talk last August. One side effect of fasting is it increase one's sensitivity in all areas. I've never done any significant fasting and I am praying for people to support me in this effort through prayer, but I truly believe that fasting will begin to help me get in touch with this higher order of sensitivity.
Another variation on that theme, something that popped into my mind as I considered what I wrote about above, was the concept of memory. Many geniuses have memories that far surpass what normal people can even think of. I can't recall his name, but a mathematician who worked on the Manhattan project was tested in his 20's by being given phone books. He read them and memorized entire phone books and could recite sections of them. Some 30 or 40 years later he was able to perform the same feat without having looked at them ever again. In a way, this is superhuman. There are countless stories of this kind of astounding recollection, but, what I saw was that most people inefficiently use their memories. Most people are not truly engrossed enough in the things they are experiencing to truly recollect things in this manner. Sure, there are some abilities, not matter how much normal people practice, train and develop their memories, they will never possess or even come close to. That's why the people who have those rare gifts are one in a billion. Once in a lifetime type minds. Nonetheless, if people truly engaged themselves more completely in the life they are living instead of a conversation they had or hope to have, their moods, their obsessions, their distractions, then, memory, or the energy that could be channeled into more fully remembering things, could be of a different order. There's something about people not tuning in, being here now that I see as being a major impediment to the full use of their ability to remember things.
Good books
A few months ago our church was getting rid of its library in preparation for our upcoming move as well as a garage sale to try and raise funds for the new children's playground. Among the books I found two that are really speaking to me: Warren Wiersbe's Be Mature, about James, and a compilation called Disciplines for the Inner Life by Bob and Michael Benson. Wiersbe's book takes a no non-sense, meaty look at the letter. I have yet to see what other titles he's done, but, I love his style and writing. Perhaps I am just at a place where meaty is satisfying in ways I have never been able to appreciate until now. Nonetheless, a terrific resource. The Benson and Benson book, however, is a much larger object for me. It is a 52-chapter (one year) book discussing several areas of the spiritual life. The writing is a collection of various authors, church fathers etc. It seems to be filling my void for good writing (I miss Kierkegaard) and meaningful reflection (did I say I missed Kierkegaard). Anyway, they've been speaking to me of late and are some good books. I recommend checking them out...or, if you live near me, borrowing them.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
A comment was posted the other day that I wanted to which I wanted to reply. After Kerri and I had a few days to discuss it I realized the response deserved its own post.
The comment was, "As I feel I do take an active role in having peace from God, I wonder how do you apply this within discernment?!?!?! I know what my spiritual gift is, but I am having a difficult time in knowing how to apply it!"
In response to the blogger, I don't mean to sound condescending with my response. If you have already considering what I am about to write, understand it's hard to know what people know and don't know in this medium. So, if I am recovering your tracks, forgive me.
In the end, I see two ways of considering the gift of discernment.
Fruit of the Spirit confirm one's walk
Looking at the fruit of the Spirit, it appears the characteristics outlined in the Galatians passage are not so much gifts since they are available to all Christians. These traits--love, joy, peace, patience, etc--do more to confirm a Christian is walking with the Holy Spirit than anything else. The presence of these gifts merely show one is truly living a holy life.
Spiritual gifts on the other hand can be possessed by people who are not in a holy, vibrant relationship with God. Jesus himself says there will come a time when some arrive in heaven to be judged and Christ himself will reject them even though the walked in power. Christ would more liekly not reject one whose life was marked by the demonstrative presence of the fruit of the Spirit.
Spiritual gifts edify the Body of Christ
All the lists of spiritual gifts I have ever seen do not include anything about any of the fruits as belonging on that list. Discernment, noted in 1 Corinthians 12:10, does fall into this list. When Paul talks about gifts in general he does mention that "to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Cor 12:7) Prior to that he outlines, what I have seen scholoars categorize, one of the the three persons of the Godhead under whose authority each gift belongs.
Discernment falls into the area of the service gifts. A good reference article I find informative is John MacArthur's The Permanent Edifying Gifts -- The Serving Gifts: Mercy, Faith, and Discernment. From this it seems reasonable to infer that serving is the basis for developing the gift of discernment. As the 12:10 verse suggests, all spiritual gifts, including discernment, are meant to edify the Church as a whole.
To me, discernment ties in very closely with the revelatory gifts and the intertwined workings of apostles and prophets. Of course, the issue of what one believes on these matters determines how applicable discernment is in today's church, but, recognizing truth from falsehood is the essence of discernment. If this recognition has no "next step", I see it as being dead in today's church. In other words, if falsehood is recognized but there is no authoritative response to this falsehood, what good is the gift of discernment? Additionally, discernment allows for powerful intercession through words of knowledge and revelation as well as an added dimension no other gift can mimic.
I know this may sound crazy, but, Googling gift of discernment offers some interesting starting points. One I liked about the true gift says,
Source: http://www.spirithome.com/letters5.html
Again, I want to be clear discernment is not one of my giftings, but, a close relationship with the Spirit is key. Remembering that the edification of the Church is key as it keeps on humble and constructive in the use of this gift, like all others. And, continued development of one's character over one's gift is a surefire way to built any gift, regardless of the existing measure of a gift.
These are my first thoughts on the matter.
Lastly, an article from Paul Keith Davis, on of the few people I have actually heard and know something about. http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=8564
The comment was, "As I feel I do take an active role in having peace from God, I wonder how do you apply this within discernment?!?!?! I know what my spiritual gift is, but I am having a difficult time in knowing how to apply it!"
In response to the blogger, I don't mean to sound condescending with my response. If you have already considering what I am about to write, understand it's hard to know what people know and don't know in this medium. So, if I am recovering your tracks, forgive me.
In the end, I see two ways of considering the gift of discernment.
Fruit of the Spirit confirm one's walk
Looking at the fruit of the Spirit, it appears the characteristics outlined in the Galatians passage are not so much gifts since they are available to all Christians. These traits--love, joy, peace, patience, etc--do more to confirm a Christian is walking with the Holy Spirit than anything else. The presence of these gifts merely show one is truly living a holy life.
Spiritual gifts on the other hand can be possessed by people who are not in a holy, vibrant relationship with God. Jesus himself says there will come a time when some arrive in heaven to be judged and Christ himself will reject them even though the walked in power. Christ would more liekly not reject one whose life was marked by the demonstrative presence of the fruit of the Spirit.
Spiritual gifts edify the Body of Christ
All the lists of spiritual gifts I have ever seen do not include anything about any of the fruits as belonging on that list. Discernment, noted in 1 Corinthians 12:10, does fall into this list. When Paul talks about gifts in general he does mention that "to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Cor 12:7) Prior to that he outlines, what I have seen scholoars categorize, one of the the three persons of the Godhead under whose authority each gift belongs.
Discernment falls into the area of the service gifts. A good reference article I find informative is John MacArthur's The Permanent Edifying Gifts -- The Serving Gifts: Mercy, Faith, and Discernment. From this it seems reasonable to infer that serving is the basis for developing the gift of discernment. As the 12:10 verse suggests, all spiritual gifts, including discernment, are meant to edify the Church as a whole.
To me, discernment ties in very closely with the revelatory gifts and the intertwined workings of apostles and prophets. Of course, the issue of what one believes on these matters determines how applicable discernment is in today's church, but, recognizing truth from falsehood is the essence of discernment. If this recognition has no "next step", I see it as being dead in today's church. In other words, if falsehood is recognized but there is no authoritative response to this falsehood, what good is the gift of discernment? Additionally, discernment allows for powerful intercession through words of knowledge and revelation as well as an added dimension no other gift can mimic.
I know this may sound crazy, but, Googling gift of discernment offers some interesting starting points. One I liked about the true gift says,
I'm guessing that you're talking about the spiritual gift of discernment (a rare thing) rather than the Spirit-led process of day-to-day discernment. A lot of people really believe that they or their pastor or a friend have been given a special gift for discerning the Godliness of the spirit of something or someone. Very few have shown this gift when they try to put it to work. It tends to break down into an internal political thing. Gift-discernment is often sent by the Spirit for situations rather than full-time, and works like a strong intuition (but more Spiritually focused, like a laser). When it's there, it's to be used, like other gifts, to build others up, and it's always to be used in a very Christ-like manner (but you have to read the Gospels a lot to catch what that is).
Gifts are a mystery, to be lived rather than understood.
Source: http://www.spirithome.com/letters5.html
Again, I want to be clear discernment is not one of my giftings, but, a close relationship with the Spirit is key. Remembering that the edification of the Church is key as it keeps on humble and constructive in the use of this gift, like all others. And, continued development of one's character over one's gift is a surefire way to built any gift, regardless of the existing measure of a gift.
These are my first thoughts on the matter.
Lastly, an article from Paul Keith Davis, on of the few people I have actually heard and know something about. http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=8564
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Yesterday Kerri had to take one of the kids to the doctor. On the way home she ran out of time and decided to do "Donald's" as Emma calls McD's. In the window of the store they had Shrek signs. Page said told Kerri the toys they were giving with Happy Meals were Strawberry Shortcake. Kerri said, "We'll see," having seen the ogre in the window. Lo and behold, Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Page quickly chimed in, "See, I was right." Immediately after that, Page started asking when uncle Chris was going to get a girl. I guess I better start saving for the wedding now. : )
Kerri's brother, Kevin, got us a one year subscription to Blockbuster's online rentals. This week we received the Last Mimsy. I had seen the preview and thought it looked interesting. It should have been obvious, from the previews alone, the movie was much more than it appeared to be. Within moments of turning it on Kerri said, "Should we be watching this?" I dismissed it because I wanted to see the movie and didn't really feel like listening. Within a few minutes it became crystal clear the movie was a ploy to push the Buddhist-New Physics movement. Now, it's not a long forgotten part of my past where I got lost in physics. But, the edge of physics I was interested in bordered more religion than it does on practical application. This movie had so much blatant propaganda it was sad. What truly concerned me, however, was the fact they are wrapping these ideas up in sheepskin. Kids could easily get roped in because of the gee-whiz factor brought up by the FX gurus. Nonetheless, the darker themes, levitation, thought control, telekinesis...these all appeal to kids who are alienated and open to wonders. Sounds like most of this gifted generation. Turn around and look at the indigo kids and we see the same movement, only for artistically inclined cultures.
These types of movements are nothing new. What really piqued my interest was an article I read the other day on one of my athlete's sites. This isn't the first time I had heard about Garrett Lisi, but, after reading his paper, it did become clear something larger might be worth keeping an eye on. Of course physicists heap praise quickly whenever something seems like it might be groundbreaking because it represents the possibility of a new era in the field and everyone starts getting excited. Nonetheless, much of the work that comes from this field these days seems a lot less like science and more like applied mysticism. My deepest concern is that the theories being proposed today are merely the science of tomorrow as it takes years to test and prove theories. In other words, I believe that the field of science has become a hotbed for closet metaphysicians and undercover spiritualist and occult practicioners. With our kids being exposed to these ideas through movies like this and the theorists coming up with the next 15-50 years of prisms through which to examine reality, I see a coup in the making and feel compelled to note it.
These types of movements are nothing new. What really piqued my interest was an article I read the other day on one of my athlete's sites. This isn't the first time I had heard about Garrett Lisi, but, after reading his paper, it did become clear something larger might be worth keeping an eye on. Of course physicists heap praise quickly whenever something seems like it might be groundbreaking because it represents the possibility of a new era in the field and everyone starts getting excited. Nonetheless, much of the work that comes from this field these days seems a lot less like science and more like applied mysticism. My deepest concern is that the theories being proposed today are merely the science of tomorrow as it takes years to test and prove theories. In other words, I believe that the field of science has become a hotbed for closet metaphysicians and undercover spiritualist and occult practicioners. With our kids being exposed to these ideas through movies like this and the theorists coming up with the next 15-50 years of prisms through which to examine reality, I see a coup in the making and feel compelled to note it.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
We went to community group tonight. During the course of the discussion I was reminded of a theme that has cropped up during a few conversations I have had with my mentor. The fruit of the Spirit are prayed for all the time. For years I have prayed, hoped and wished the Lord would give me peace, joy, patience, etc. Only in the last few months I have I realized that my role in pursuing these fruit has been one of a passive person. In essence, I have wanted God to just give me peace, joy, patience, etc. I wanted to receive them no questions asked, no strings attached, nothing sacrificed.
God has really helped me to come to a new understanding of the fruit. Like anything we truly value, the fruit are to be actively sought. Paul writes in several verses throughout the Epistles that we are to be at peace with others. In the context of those verses the people to whom Paul writes are being instructed to actively create peace. Whether by exercising self-control, choosing (or willing) to be joyful in the face of otherwise unappreciable odds or loving those who do not deserve love, Paul points to an example of the Christian life as one where we make God's invisible love known through our very visible lives.
Without some investment in our cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit, a true appreciation of how God's Spirit confirms the value of a person's walk is really just a matter of chance. And, I'm not a believer in chance...at all. It really helped me take a different perspective on "receiving" the fruit when I came to see that we must engage, participate, actively put ourselves into the labor of creating lives worthy of being blessed with God's presence.
Hannah Arendt wrote in The Human Conditon of how essential labor is for a true sense of meaning and purpose. Our spiritual walk is certainly no different. Only today, as Arendt noted, we are losing an appreciation for the value of labor and this larger erosion of character and value is manifesting in our spiritual walk as well. It might be good to note the concept of the anima/animus as a good model for outlining the active/masculine I sense many Christians lack in this arena since we demonstrate, in this respect, more of a passivity, a trait akin to the soul's feminine manifestation, the animus. It was Adam, after all, who was charged with the curse of toiling in order to survive. Christianity is a work of love, but, we must remember, not all work is bad. Indeed, working with God to create a life where He will be honored enough to reveal himself is worth more than anything I can think of.
God has really helped me to come to a new understanding of the fruit. Like anything we truly value, the fruit are to be actively sought. Paul writes in several verses throughout the Epistles that we are to be at peace with others. In the context of those verses the people to whom Paul writes are being instructed to actively create peace. Whether by exercising self-control, choosing (or willing) to be joyful in the face of otherwise unappreciable odds or loving those who do not deserve love, Paul points to an example of the Christian life as one where we make God's invisible love known through our very visible lives.
Without some investment in our cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit, a true appreciation of how God's Spirit confirms the value of a person's walk is really just a matter of chance. And, I'm not a believer in chance...at all. It really helped me take a different perspective on "receiving" the fruit when I came to see that we must engage, participate, actively put ourselves into the labor of creating lives worthy of being blessed with God's presence.
Hannah Arendt wrote in The Human Conditon of how essential labor is for a true sense of meaning and purpose. Our spiritual walk is certainly no different. Only today, as Arendt noted, we are losing an appreciation for the value of labor and this larger erosion of character and value is manifesting in our spiritual walk as well. It might be good to note the concept of the anima/animus as a good model for outlining the active/masculine I sense many Christians lack in this arena since we demonstrate, in this respect, more of a passivity, a trait akin to the soul's feminine manifestation, the animus. It was Adam, after all, who was charged with the curse of toiling in order to survive. Christianity is a work of love, but, we must remember, not all work is bad. Indeed, working with God to create a life where He will be honored enough to reveal himself is worth more than anything I can think of.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
An interesting site I stumbled across while researching Windows relics--DOS--showed me another trick that I has heard of but never delved into: alternate data streams on NTFS. Alternate Data Streams are a lesser known feature of NTFS that has been taken advantage of by occasionally less than ethical folks. Shortly after exploring ADS I began exploring the use of this and found that ADS software is hard to program. It is also being outmoded by Vista. Nonetheless, it was a cool read.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
We've had some interesting discussions around our house the past few days. With the shocking number of toy recalls coming from Chinese items--the latest being a contaminant which mimics the effects of GHB, the date rape drug. The article, as long as it is up, can be located here: Toy contaminated with 'date rape' drug pulled (link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/08/toy.recall/). One excerpt reads as outlined below:
Kerri had the idea pop into her head that this is biological warfare. Now, technically, it's not biological, but rather chemical. It completely made sense to me. Of course, American companies invest in off-shore markets because it has a double benefit to coporations by helping them bypass taxation as well as reduce the bottom line because of reduced production costs. But, I think she's onto something, there is a larger, more suspicious problem. The cold war has been dismissed as a thing of the past, but, with the competitive interests of an entire national body at hand, why wouldn't members of China with longheld interests outside of the purely financial motives poison our children? By placing toxic ingredients, so far, the most commonly known are lead, but, I'm adding GHB to the list, our children are unknowingly being exposed to life-altering chemicals in the most "innocent" of ways...via toys. What would be a better plan? American soil cannot be attacked directly. If you destroy its future, however, you can gain power in due time. The increased number of cases of autism is well-noted yet not understood. I feel that many of the things that have been happening on US soil with our kids are the result of external influences which have been flying under the radar for years now. Hopefully more things will become clear and unveiled.
U.S. safety officials have recalled about 4.2 million Chinese-made Aqua Dots bead toys that contain a chemical that has caused some children to vomit and become comatose after swallowing them.
Bindeez, which were named Australia's toy of the year, contain a chemical that converts into a "date rape" drug.
Scientists have found the popular toy's coating contains a chemical that, once metabolized, converts into the toxic "date rape" drug GHB, or gamma-hydroxy butyrate, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson told CNN.
Kerri had the idea pop into her head that this is biological warfare. Now, technically, it's not biological, but rather chemical. It completely made sense to me. Of course, American companies invest in off-shore markets because it has a double benefit to coporations by helping them bypass taxation as well as reduce the bottom line because of reduced production costs. But, I think she's onto something, there is a larger, more suspicious problem. The cold war has been dismissed as a thing of the past, but, with the competitive interests of an entire national body at hand, why wouldn't members of China with longheld interests outside of the purely financial motives poison our children? By placing toxic ingredients, so far, the most commonly known are lead, but, I'm adding GHB to the list, our children are unknowingly being exposed to life-altering chemicals in the most "innocent" of ways...via toys. What would be a better plan? American soil cannot be attacked directly. If you destroy its future, however, you can gain power in due time. The increased number of cases of autism is well-noted yet not understood. I feel that many of the things that have been happening on US soil with our kids are the result of external influences which have been flying under the radar for years now. Hopefully more things will become clear and unveiled.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
One of the most intriguing scriptures I've focused on in several years comes out of Revelation 18. While speaking of the judgement of Bablyon, verses 11-13 say the following:
This last item is what gets my attention: "and souls of men". A nice summarization of this word, psuche, can be found here. Selling one's soul is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible--see the end of Matthew 16. But, the context here is about others (the traders of the earth - v. 11) selling souls. Indeed, the phrase, at least as it is put in the NIV, "merchandise" connects souls with items and goods...things for sale and purchase. Everything in this seems an acceptable item until the last two, servants and souls of men. Even in those days, slavery was an acknowledged practice. However, the sale of souls was not accepted, not even then.
The treatments of souls as objects is a problem prevelant today in our own society, but, the danger alluded to by John, even back then, seems to be overlooked in our world. Schools have become educational institutions whose commodities provide ideas and minds capable of producing them as if they were merely goods like any other object for sale. Look at the top educational facilities in the United States. People hone their skills and shape their lives hoping to get into these schools because of the opportunity it brings. In reality, this perverse dance is a fight to get selected for sale to the highest bidder. The people who graduate from top schools are often the prize or trophy products of these systems. They are highly valuable things corporations fight to capture in order to strengthen their systems and organizations. Nowhere in there is the notion of selling souls overlooked. In fact, it is embedded at the very heart of the model!
I always go with Augustine's model of the soul: mind, will and emotions. In selling our soul we see three components. Now, at times we are all challenged to compromise some part of ourself. What I am pointing out here is blatant, complete focus on using one's soul for non-godly profit. The mind, when committed to the world, is often used as an instrument within the system and framework being discussed here. Ideas are treated as immaterial objects, the product of minds. How the will and emotions react/interact with this systematic objectification are of little concern to this system. Veils such as professionalism and high standards or ethics are used to cloud the matter because the only thing looked at is the output of the soul, the ideas, the research, the materials produced and the power and/or profitability of these things. Little note or care is given to the misery and hubris often found in the lives of the people sacrificing themselves to do this work. Unrecognized or untreated psychological issues, severe personality disorders, depression, grave behavioral disorders, fatal character flaws, simple social unacceptability. Any and sometimes all of these things can be found in the people whose works gains praise after praise, but whose lives are demolished under the weight of this conflict. Now, I won't pretend that everyone is like this. There are many well-adjusted, brilliant people who are simply in a league of their own. But, how many of them are doing Christ's work? How many of them are changing the world for the Kingdom? I see so many of these brilliant stars as simply enjoying the thrill of being the war of the world. They don't truly want to change it. They just want to experience the sense of power that makes the world work.
11 And the traders of the earth are weeping and crying over her, because no man has any more desire for their goods, 12 Gold, and silver, and stones of great price, and jewels, and delicate linen, and robes of purple and silk and red; and perfumed wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of fair wood, and of brass, and iron, and stone; 13 And sweet-smelling plants, and perfumes, and wine, and oil, and well crushed grain, and cattle and sheep; and horses and carriages and servants; and souls of men.
This last item is what gets my attention: "and souls of men". A nice summarization of this word, psuche, can be found here. Selling one's soul is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible--see the end of Matthew 16. But, the context here is about others (the traders of the earth - v. 11) selling souls. Indeed, the phrase, at least as it is put in the NIV, "merchandise" connects souls with items and goods...things for sale and purchase. Everything in this seems an acceptable item until the last two, servants and souls of men. Even in those days, slavery was an acknowledged practice. However, the sale of souls was not accepted, not even then.
The treatments of souls as objects is a problem prevelant today in our own society, but, the danger alluded to by John, even back then, seems to be overlooked in our world. Schools have become educational institutions whose commodities provide ideas and minds capable of producing them as if they were merely goods like any other object for sale. Look at the top educational facilities in the United States. People hone their skills and shape their lives hoping to get into these schools because of the opportunity it brings. In reality, this perverse dance is a fight to get selected for sale to the highest bidder. The people who graduate from top schools are often the prize or trophy products of these systems. They are highly valuable things corporations fight to capture in order to strengthen their systems and organizations. Nowhere in there is the notion of selling souls overlooked. In fact, it is embedded at the very heart of the model!
I always go with Augustine's model of the soul: mind, will and emotions. In selling our soul we see three components. Now, at times we are all challenged to compromise some part of ourself. What I am pointing out here is blatant, complete focus on using one's soul for non-godly profit. The mind, when committed to the world, is often used as an instrument within the system and framework being discussed here. Ideas are treated as immaterial objects, the product of minds. How the will and emotions react/interact with this systematic objectification are of little concern to this system. Veils such as professionalism and high standards or ethics are used to cloud the matter because the only thing looked at is the output of the soul, the ideas, the research, the materials produced and the power and/or profitability of these things. Little note or care is given to the misery and hubris often found in the lives of the people sacrificing themselves to do this work. Unrecognized or untreated psychological issues, severe personality disorders, depression, grave behavioral disorders, fatal character flaws, simple social unacceptability. Any and sometimes all of these things can be found in the people whose works gains praise after praise, but whose lives are demolished under the weight of this conflict. Now, I won't pretend that everyone is like this. There are many well-adjusted, brilliant people who are simply in a league of their own. But, how many of them are doing Christ's work? How many of them are changing the world for the Kingdom? I see so many of these brilliant stars as simply enjoying the thrill of being the war of the world. They don't truly want to change it. They just want to experience the sense of power that makes the world work.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
I can't recall whether it was two or three days ago, but I had a small idea come to mind that seemed to have potentially interesting implications. Lightning is a natural phenomenon intrinsically found to restore balance to the electrostatic environment of a region. In particular, lightning aims to equalize the ionic disproportion between disparate geoatmospheric regions. Parallel to this cycle I saw John Paul Jackson's teachings on justice possessing a supernatural reflection of this event. God seeks to restore justice in much the same way electrical storms create electrical balance in the atmosphere. After doing some research into the natural act of lightning I don't yet see a clear parallel between God in heaven transmitting his power to those who have been treated with injustice. But, I sense there is something there. Perhaps it's the idea, not so much the detailed, scientific explanation that holds the weight here. Nonetheless, I always remember the notion that the power of God often accumulates most on those who have been the most unjustly treated; to me this seems a perfect parallel to the dissipation of negative electrical energy that occurs with lightning strikes.
After further consideration the Apostles and Christ seemed to live in a state of spiritual charge. Storms come and go, so there doesn't seem to be a perfect analogy between the presence of the spirit manifesting God's power and annointing and the phenomenon of lightning. One other mythological element stood out as well. Zeus was said to throw lightning bolts. The idea being the divine sends powerful demonstrations of its majesty. Job said, "Will lightning flash at your command? (38:35) God clearly has control over this phenomenon and I am just trying to see if there is any greater truth that can be illustrated with this natural phenomenon, but the idea that the spiritual imbalance and atmosphere created by injustice can be dispelled and justice restored like the normal electrical chrages of a region.
After further consideration the Apostles and Christ seemed to live in a state of spiritual charge. Storms come and go, so there doesn't seem to be a perfect analogy between the presence of the spirit manifesting God's power and annointing and the phenomenon of lightning. One other mythological element stood out as well. Zeus was said to throw lightning bolts. The idea being the divine sends powerful demonstrations of its majesty. Job said, "Will lightning flash at your command? (38:35) God clearly has control over this phenomenon and I am just trying to see if there is any greater truth that can be illustrated with this natural phenomenon, but the idea that the spiritual imbalance and atmosphere created by injustice can be dispelled and justice restored like the normal electrical chrages of a region.
For a few years now I have had, at the very least, the root idea of writing a book on several words in English which do not carry the weight or shades of meaning they did in Greek or Hebrew. It wasn't until a few weeks ago while researching some terms for work that I found the correct terms to precisely identify this phenomenon. In document indexing, computer scientists have seen a common linguistic phenomena cause problems. That is polysemy. In short, this is where one word can have multiple meanings. In English this works both ways. For instance, C. S. Lewis' legendary work, The Four Loves, delves to the very heart of this matter. He identifies four Greek words for the one English word love. By exploring the differences between the realities refered to by these words he shows that, even though they share a common label--the English word love--Lewis shows that one word does injustice in accurately reflecting or implying what is being symbolized.
Lewis' work is by far the most popular example of the type of work I feel inclined to work towards. My biggest struggle is how to write about these things without making it too heady, academic or dry. To me, these are exciting, powerful revelations. They transform and empower my faith. I guess I just need God to give a little wisdom about how to couch this message in the right language so people see the value without getting turned off by the packaging.
At any rate, some of the words I want to really focus on are truth, power, time and being. These are words right in the heart of the philosophical community, and they have been for a long time. In spite of my hopes to escape the philosophical, talk-based method of reaching out, I find this idea still with me. Usually when something like this doesn't go away I hvae a hard time dismissing it. This one in particular has been around for about 5 or 6 years now. Hopefully the 10 words to change your faith will become a real book one day!
Lewis' work is by far the most popular example of the type of work I feel inclined to work towards. My biggest struggle is how to write about these things without making it too heady, academic or dry. To me, these are exciting, powerful revelations. They transform and empower my faith. I guess I just need God to give a little wisdom about how to couch this message in the right language so people see the value without getting turned off by the packaging.
At any rate, some of the words I want to really focus on are truth, power, time and being. These are words right in the heart of the philosophical community, and they have been for a long time. In spite of my hopes to escape the philosophical, talk-based method of reaching out, I find this idea still with me. Usually when something like this doesn't go away I hvae a hard time dismissing it. This one in particular has been around for about 5 or 6 years now. Hopefully the 10 words to change your faith will become a real book one day!
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