posted October 16, 2004 04:44 PM         

Well, speaking for myself, I try to do anything that seems reaonable in the way of acts of love and support at any opportunity.

There are many things that, it seems to me, open my heart to God. From being woken by the Sun on my face like a Lover's breath to zikr to working with others (in any sense).

In fact, most days it's danged hard to move for opportunities to co-create or Serve or to simply marvel at the blessing of being alive in Creation.

posted October 17, 2004 01:17 AM         

I totally understand where you are coming from. But why would anyone scream at the top of the building, about their personal truths. Thats an intrusion of privacy. You know what I mean. I wish there were anonymous groups , web chats or face to face where anyone can discuss anything without disclosing identities, affiliations.
But everytime we humans come together bonding always develops.

As for my personal relationship with God, it started since I was seven and it never stopped. I would have gone astray but not for long. He called me back. I was born in a poor family. It was a blessing. I was privileged to have a very masculine dad who was in to wrestling and Reagan type concerning woman. I could feel the love of the Father God in him. My mothers tender care revealed to me the nature of the Mother-God. And of course I am full of love and trying to identify myself with Jesus. Its a continuing Journey.

There was a time when even the Sun came I would be in my bed. But now, the moment the Sun rises, I could feel a strong presense surrounding me. Nature telling me to wake up. After a deep sleep with no dreams it feels so great. Its only in the twilight zone that is the stage between wake and deep sleep that images flock my mind. I do not understand the difference between Hallucination and dream in that time.

PEACE.

posted October 17, 2004 12:15 PM         

I've been through so many beginnings and endings only to begin again it seems.
Dying and being reborn again and again (spiritually).
Experiencing life, in all of its joy and pain has been the most tranformative influence to me.
Rejection, abandonment......although painful to experience have opened me to the truth that the warmth that I seek from others cannot be relied on and so I must go within to my own source of warmth. (am I connecting to God? I dont' know. It seems that way.)

Giving when and where I can, regardless of the fear of rejection.
Not letting painful experience and disappointment harden my heart, for all the temptation to close off from others to protect myself from further hurt.
Cherishing the beautiful gifts that have been bestowed to me. Not taking any beauty that surrounds me for granted.
Living life with no expectation......is a challenge for sure.
But it seems to open oneself to suprise more.....and when beauty happens that way....it's even more splendid to behold.

posted October 19, 2004 03:14 PM         

I liked your point about God appears in a form that you desire.

That being said, why would Jesus lets say who is blue eyed appear to a group of fisherman. And after the resurrection (which is unique to Christianity too hmmm...let me think about that, I thought Buddha also dissapeared in to the nature. Anyway the point is after resurrection, why did he ask his disciples to spread the gospel to every nation, all ends of the world. Why will brown men be follow a blue eyed God? Why did he ask Thomas to go to India when India did have so many God and Godesses. Is it to awaken all the idol worshippers there??? This cannot be because Peters Rome itself worships crufifixes and statutes of the Lord. It does add to the confusion doesn't it.

Well its a seperate topic by itself.

Anyway I thougth I would share my concerns with you. Wish I had a spirit guide

posted October 19, 2004 06:03 PM         

Coldiron- I love the simple awareness - gratitude for the sun being on your face in the morning. Thanks for the thought. Gratitude works wonders.

posted October 19, 2004 06:29 PM         

You're very interesting - I like your topic initiation. I have so many internal 'feelings' I try and expose through my thoughts and actions on my idea of 'God'. It's lengthy, but the feelings expressed seem to migrate in the responses here. I'm about to make tracks for bed so won't go into it right now or you won't make head or tail of it! Now this I love too;

quote:

---

I can visualize my desired end result using all my senses - touch, sound, visual, smell... Then when I'm done, I then dance move in celebration knowing that all will be resolved.

---

Thanks for the info on Jean Houston http://www.jeanhouston.org/ I always learn new stuff on LL

posted October 19, 2004 09:57 PM         

Thanks for the reminder. Well I have to contribute something to this post now. Please let me know if this is not appropriate too. I felt the Natural way was more heart-felt that you desired.

The text mentions five rational arguments (and one scriptural) that imply the existence of God: Cosmological, Teleological, Moral, Ontological, Religious, and Scriptural. All of these, however, without God's enlightenment, will not lead to a saving and abundant knowledge of God. According to the Bible there
are really only two ways of knowing God: Natural and spiritual revelation.

A. Natural (or General) Revelation: "The heavens declare" certain facts about God, but not others. Reveals God as Creator, but not as Redeemer (Acts 14:17; 17:27, Psalm 19: 1 - 3). It especially reveals nothing about the Good News of Christ Jesus.

posted October 23, 2004 12:12 PM         

I am that-- I feel your desire to understand what I'm trying to do in this topic and congratulate you. I noticed that your a software engineer and that explains it all!
I'm trying to live my life less from any book I've read, and ABC choice or linear thinking, any rationalization but from loving actions. Trust me I'm as heady as you are. Neither your A or B relates to this path because logic, intellect or anything of that nature has no purpose. I really suggest reading THE GIFT OF THE RED BIRD BY Paula D'Arcy. Reread the line by Sheaa Olein "Love, not learning finds the way,..."
over and over daily.

posted October 23, 2004 02:30 PM         

I hope you have a beautiful time today and everything levels out for you on your new path

posted October 23, 2004 02:46 PM         

Have you read Mary's post. I haven't seen your feedback. May be it was intentional.
http://www.concentric.net/~conure/shinn.shtml

Especially the "Game of Life and how to Play it". It talks about imagining you already have what you want and then you actually get it. Would certainly would love to know, what are your thoughts on it.

Also, some of the writings are not mans thoughts they are actually divinely inspired. Especially if you know that a spark of God is also in everyone. So do not completely abandon learning.

One last thing. It is possible for some one to be filled with Gods love , and far advanced in the christ consciousness , who have not A and B as noted in last post above by me, and are neither in rapport with the Holy spirit(the great teacher and guider).

I am not saying you are that person. But you are in my point of view seeking one of the three conciousness.

Hope you achieve what you sought in your Journey.

PEACE

posted October 24, 2004 08:25 PM         

As to your question: "What moves you to a higher state of being --a deeper connection to God, your life?" For now its learning and tying things together. As I said, I am building a foundation whereby hopefully I will be supported in my evolution throughout life. I do not want to regress. So God is allowing me the lessons I need to understand Who I Am, and Who I Want to Be.

I'm so sorry if I ruined this thread

posted October 25, 2004 06:25 PM         

IAT - Yes I have read the game of life long ago and have I'll have to look at it again in order to refresh my memory.Offhand one problem with "manifestation" is that it can be used for purely ego purposes, but we convince ourselves tat it is for the higher good.

I must say that we differ on views about the bible. My take is that it was written by man and inheritantly runs the risk of being changed by humans that have their own agenda of what they feel is "right". I'm not saying that it is invalid - it holds many truths along with some other stuff which is not truth. It's like concrete it has stones of truth which are adhered together, so you have to fish out what the stones of truth are. I do not believe the bible is solid rock.God is revealed in many ways - one of which is nature and I tend to trust that more than what's written and adapted over the centuries. People say one thing, but then do otherwise. Since I firmly believe the bible has been tainted - I look for truth in creation.I also find truth from trying on a concept and seeing whether it is scientifically, psychologically, sound. Whether it comes from a place of love, or go and if it is universally or personnally consistant.

Whether I'm one of the "three" states of concsiousness doesn't matter to me. At this point in my life if I were to die; I'd have a boring funeral and hardly anyone would show up. I more concerned with turning that around.

To everyone else that is reading this:
I've recently started writing 10 things that I grateful for each day until Thanksgiving.
Join me.
1. spring blooms that show up in Autumn.
2. Deer at the side of the road.
3. Fuzzy sweaters.
4. That lady who complimented my on my hat when I was feeling down
5. Captain my sister's dog who's wild about me.
6. Chocolate.
7. Clean lakes
8. golden sunlight in the morning now that the mornings are dark.
9. the extra hour we get due to daylight savings.
10. my father because I now know he cares though he has trouble showing it.

posted October 25, 2004 07:17 PM         

I'm not feeling able to express myself lately (unless I'm angry ~ I've got to change that), but I'll add ten things I'm grateful for.

1) Hot showers/baths
2) The warm quilt on my bed, plus pillows and flannel sheets
3) My family and pets
4) Stew
5) The blazing autumn colours
6) Tea
7) Pumpkins/Halloween
8) Electricity, providing light and warmth (you could put candles and a fire in the fireplace there, but they sometimes worry me)
9) Old friends and new
10) Books

I also love to watch the birds flying south for the winter ~ that excitement and the flurry of activity makes me smile; a little sad too.

posted October 25, 2004 08:35 PM         

I'm gonna try the list:

10 things I'm Greatful (wrong spelling, but why?) for are:

1. Fridays
2. Saturdays
3. The Beach
4. The future
5. Hope
6. God
7. Life
8. Music
9. Magic
10. God

You know, that's pretty hard. I really just enjoy the Beach and thinking of the day that we get to have a house and children. I'm sort of waiting pateiently for that.

posted October 25, 2004 09:09 PM         

quote:

---

Must say that we differ on views about the Bible.

---

No we dont differ really. I like you believe in the truth after finding the right stones. My above quotes were literal interlaced with my opinion.

Your example of Forrest Gump was clear and I now know the responses you needed.

Its so funny, I am so used to this expression that someone had to wake me up to remind what it was. My father who I told you about, had the best heart in the world Just exagerrating. He was a handsome hunk in college and when he was 30 he married my mom who is a dark beauty.

I could never understand how could such a fair skinned guy marry a woman who is so dark. I knew how big my Dad's heart is.

He was 65 when he died but I swear he didn't look at any woman with Lust.

Also once he saw a 4 day old puppy at his office. My dad brought this puppy home. He was like a seventh member in the family. He would cuddle and sleep close to my sister.
He was like a second brother for them

You will not believe it, this puppy was so beautiful when he grew. Most of my neighbors envied us and went on their own and brought pets from shops. It just caught like wildfire.

Also whenever I dated, intelligence was a big turn on. But at the end of day what mattered was not agreement in mind, but harmony in heart. So I settled with a heart-centered spouse.

And the 10 things I am grateful about:

1. My brand new car
2. Beautiful falls, clear skies
3. Sunday at Church
4. Just waking upto a new day -- message of hope
5. My italian leather jacket
6. Beautiful dreams.
7. Sis's in town
8. The newly developed Philantrophy wings on my sides
9. Love for all life
10. Jesus - my role model

MORE LATER. PEACE.

posted October 25, 2004 10:20 PM         

One last thing. I'm Grateful for Pearl Jam. Keep on Rockin' Eddie!

posted October 25, 2004 10:50 PM         

2 years ago I stole MP3 songs from Web and burnt on a CD. Its a mixed popular collection. And I cherish it too.
But that was the last time I ever did that, cause I didn't wanted artists to lose money

These days, I am listening to XM. It came preinstalled in the car. Costs 10 bucks a month. But its worth it. You can go anywhere in USA and still have 200 channels including, cnn, direct from satellite.

posted October 26, 2004 12:14 AM         

I think Kat's gonna slap us when she realises what we did with her thread... But, as they say, when the Kat's away, mice will play