Memory & Value

Well -- it's time to resurrect this little spot in the universe of flotsam and jetsum and move on in the world of letters. I find that inspiration comes more often, if I am looking for it, and really having something worth saying is much harder than imagined. Some how we all want to be eternal, or at least not so easily forgotten but moving beyond one generation's memory is very difficult to do. What is profound and wise in one era isn't always even necessary or important in another time.
And why do I want to be remembered beyond my grandchildren? I guess the real question "what is of true value" creates an avalanche of judgments, suppositions and choices. Do I want to be all things to all people or just of worth to a few?

It's just the way YOU see it...

...it's not the way it IS! One of the biggest hurdles for a human, and especially an American human to jump, is the idea that "the way they see things" is just that, it's their perspective, not reality! When I first heard that there are hundred's of 'realities' and as many perspectives as there are people, I was indignant and sure poetic license had exaggerated just a wee bit.

Since that indistinguishable day I have taken great comfort in knowing that my viewpoint does not constitute reality, it's just the way I see things for the moment, or maybe the way I have seen things for decades. So what is Reality? Who decides what is real, Reality? When do we move from Perspective to Truth? Truth and Reality are close kin, and so that immediately elevates this discussion beyond my pay grade...but I do have an opinion, and a perspective! [Grin]

Interestingly, people in recovery, AA, OA, NA, etc, have believed that they have peeled back "denial" and come to Reality when they quit: using, lying, buying, looking, eating, etc. For our discussion purposes, I would like to propose that God defines Reality, His view is Real, and not just a perspective, and our view is limited by time, and two or three dimensions at best. One of His favorite words is "Glory" and one of the multiple meanings is "the view and opinion, which is reality." So, "His Glory" means His view and opinion, which is reality!

The classic picture of Perspective versus Reality is seen in the guy who parks his car at the top of a hill, and as he walks away, sees it begin to roll down the hill. "Don't worry, the car is rolling away from me, I'm going to lose my car." The guy at the bottom of the hill looks up, hearing the man proclaim his view, and says "NO! The car is coming toward me, I could lose my life."

And here's the rub: Who is RIGHT? This one question is what keeps the debate raging, I think. Right and Wrong; fairness; the Law; the evaluation of "good" and "evil" has a great deal to do with what we decide/feel or see is Reality, I believe.

"Our traditions begin the moment we insist that we see." This is a fascinating statement that I found in one of Dr. Richards books. As Christians we create theology based on what we see and experience, rather than on what the Bible says is reality! We are so self-righteous that we believe what we see more than what God's Word says is truth. "All that we must do to 'see' is to honestly consider other possibilities [realities]." This quote is a wonderful jumping off point to life!

18 Inches: The difference between kids & adults-REVISED

An interesting thing has surfaced while observing my two and a half year old grandson. He is in the stage of growth where he is 'downloading' everything that he sees and hears. All of us are gaining information and experiences daily, but I think the main difference between young and old is their [the young's] willingness to APPLY everything that they see or hear. They use it, say it, repeat it and make it theirs. Sometimes it makes for some funny statements, like: "Daddy you are really useful."

That sounds a little tacky to adult ears, but coming from a child who watches Thomas the Train, and hears the value given to 'useful trains' he is using it correctly and positively. Realizing God 'hardwired' us to absorb and apply information and knowledge is encouraging to me. Gaining knowledge and forgetting to apply it describes much of my life and walk with my Abba Papa! It's good to know how natural the Lord made it -- even a little infant does it instantly.

Knowing children are continually in some degree of an hypnotic state [alpha, delta, theta, etc] until they are around 11/12 encourages me to meditate daily in Christ. The meditation brings my mind to the theta state and I am in a more child-like position to 'receive' or download what I've seen and heard into my life's operating system> my beliefs, or my HEART. It moves what I am thinking and feeling, from my mind to my heart and I begin living it, applying it effortlessly.

The bible declares only one sure way to success: MEDITATION. It also declares that we are "to become like little children", [Matt 18:3 & Luke 18:17]. I think the two are related. This addresses the age-old quest of believers: "How do I move "head knowledge" 18 inches down, to my "heart", so I can believe?

Children are some of the most successful people on earth if you quantify all that they learn and apply in 1-5 years! Language, culture, philosophy, the art of 'reading people', on and on. Some of us aren't so happy with what a child learns so quickly, or with what we learned as a child. The feeling of stuck: "I can't really change who I am" comes because we know how "hardwired" those beliefs and perspectives are that we gained in childhood.

That's the good news that I'm talkin' about!! More on this tomorrow = 8-)

See Psalms 1:3 for my favorite scripture on meditation and success promised. There are many others that connect our 'heart' with success, blessing, prosperity, etc.

Every Day's a Holiday, Every Meal's a Banquet

Only four more days and I will be celebrating a day that changed my life, my name, my home, my loyalties and my future. That June 4th date has always quickened my heart as I think of the dear man I married and joined in the stream of life. The vows we wrote have actually been a reality! Especially remembered was the crazy one of mine: "We will talk to one another and share our lives, thoughts and dreams." I so didn't want a cold war of silence and cold-shoulder treatments as my life for even one day.
We have enjoyed a companionship, camaraderie, and willingness to communicate until we did! My Chuck is a man of incredible thoughtfulness and depth and amazing absent-mindedness and inattention to things he deems unimportant. For the first quarter century I was the talker, the one with the questions who started those wonderful discussions on long trips or short jaunts. But things changed dramatically for me about 18 years ago, and Chuck picked up the baton.
Today we enjoy a freedom that trust and confidence has built, a love that consistency and kindness has forged and a life that honesty and purpose has inspired. In high school we attended church together; after Viet Nam we joined the Jesus Movement and got married by a young buck preacher just up from Mexico. In 2004 we joined a church staff together and in 2010 we started a fellowship of Believers together.
I love the adventure of life with this man AND Christ. It was something we both said we wanted when we decided to follow Jesus and get married -- a life with Christ would never be boring and a life with Chuck will always be precious! Thank you for 38 wonderful years, three wonderful children here, one more in heaven, and three of the sweetest grandchildren ever imagined and a deep abiding love filled with fun and life. Your bride, mimi

It seems like holidays come around much faster in this century than they did mid-century ago. Tomorrow is Memorial Day - always a bunch of food, often grilled, and Friday is our 38th anniversary -- and I bet we celebrate it with some special meal or two. It's crazy.

Life seems to be a free fall these days for me in other ways as well. I can no longer seem to keep track of the days of the week, the date, or sometimes even the season! It is all running together and I can only think it is due to no SCHEDULE! I have not established new routines and everyday is completely different. I remember reading Albert Camus in my existential days; he said something similar....he was describing death: "everything is new every minute, there is no past."

I have spent two days working on a design for a new 'business' card and on a brochure for the Investment Journals that I love to use, share about and promote. Tracy makes beautiful ones, and I love to use them.

Lastly I have been struggling with what to write in my blog everyday, and realized that not writing is my way of 'denying' what is happening, or not happening. I also see my lack of ideas as either overload or fear or ???? Any ideas, you writers out there?

Conundrums: Chaos, Cogs or Choice?

Why do we 'believers' seem to despise peace, abundance? I had a conversation with a friend I hadn't seen in a couple of years. At one point, as I was agreeing with her that the chaos and pain was a little too much to keep putting up with, I said: "Jesus came that we might have life and life more ABUNDANTLY".

Looking straight at me, she said "we interpret that scripture differently." She went on to add something with this essence: "That [abundance] is primarily for when we are in heaven, but here it won't be that way. We will have struggles, pain and trouble, and that helps us grow." She absolutely resisted the POSSIBILITY that God really DESIRED peace, blessing and prosperity with no sorrow added for her life on earth! "I have come to give you PEACE, my PEACE I give to you." It appears that we prefer helpless martyrdom [cog-dom?] over peace and His ability [grace], His LIFE flowing in us.

Try this on -- satan's only real tool against us WAS the law. But Jesus 'fulfilled' all the law and satan has no basis now to accuse. [see Hebrews 8:8-13] So, satan has no power over us now! He would only have a basis for accusation and condemnation IF we were trying to be made righteous by law. Galatians 2:21 says: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Many of us would 'frustrate the Grace of God', 'make Christ's death of no effect' so that we can hold God responsible for the poverty, chaos, pain and 'death' of hopes in our lives. We don't want to be responsible for our lives! The Gospel of Peace becomes the most 'personally responsible doctrine' because God has "given us everything that pertains to life and godliness"!!!!! Our only requirement to using this incredible power/grace [God's ability] is to BELIEVE-- believe we are qualified, made Right and no longer striving under the law to get right.
"If we BELIEVE we can say to this mountain..." Or, "When you pray, believe." There are so many scriptures that point to ALL that God has given us: "that they may also be one in us....and the glory which thou gave me I have given them." [John 17:21-22]

No business on earth would give the rank and file employees this kind of power and authority-- and the awesome responsibility for our lives that goes with it. So we love to pretend we are just little cogs, helpless in the swirl of life, at the mercy of everything and everyone, including satan, and even God. What happened to us BEING Sons of God? Christ said we would do all he did and MORE. Challenging! as I see where I settled in my believer-vision for so many years.

I'm not 'moving mountains' instantly, but I have accepted this sonship/responsibility and I am removing the distortions of belief that I am a cog, or responsible for my righteousness! Therefore, satan has no power over me because I am fully qualified [by Christ and His accomplishments in death, burial and resurrection]; redeemed from all the curses; "made RIGHT with God;" and am walking in greater PEACE, health, prosperity and wholeness of soul [mind, will and emotions] than ever before. [3 John 2]

His ability [grace] is truly phenomenal and makes all the difference in living life. No longer frustrating the Grace of God means I'm not trying to get righteous by keeping the law [thereby removing satan's right to my life]. I'm FREE 'to move about my life' in peace and abundance...no longer needing to create circumstantial theology to explain simple scriptures.

Yes, 'life' still happens, pain and troubles show up but I don't attribute them to God and I don't feel righteous in stoically enduring them. I address them with all the wisdom, ability and power I have operating currently in me at my level of belief: "Christ in me"& "the mind of Christ"!! What a fun adventure life is today. 'Cog-dom' is a thing of my past.

Troubles, Tulsa & Tent-making

Well I started out ranting and raving again about this .... technology. What am I doing trying to enter this "foreign land" of cyberspace without a genuine passport?? At the least it feels like I am operating under an alias and have forgotten my "name"! Or, it's like entering a five story parking garage looking for your rental, and you don't remember the color or make of the car, nor the level you parked it on, and it is freezing....[all true].
Okay, I'm a little short on patience today as I'm 28 hours into my 48 hour odyssey of clear liquids before they make a movie of my large intestine Friday afternoon! SWEET ;-)

Today Chuck and I found ourselves getting to go to Tulsa for the Jim Richards Conference - because someone very graciously purchased plane tickets for us. Wow! I had completely laid it down as not possible, and had told Tracy we were NOT coming. Oh me of little faith. Who Knew? I have been speechless and see how little I know about living by faith! Thank you, Abba and Dave T. !! There is much more to this than just a sweet blessing and I have much to ponder.

Writing out my daily life and thoughts is something very different and not a little weird -- a lot weird. I keep thinking "and who cares?" One, I see the wisdom in learning to express one's self better, if I really want to write a book, like I say I do. Second, I realize that talking is really easier than writing because it doesn't force me to connect the dots in what I am trying to say. People are more 'forgiving' than paper and ink, [although 'memory' is a queer bird]. And I am lazy about spelling everything out! Three, I've always been quite private about my inner world.

Today I also began a foray into landscape design and architecture!! Love it. I am working up a blueprint for a new backyard -- and then Chuck is going to "execute" the design plan. We have been looking for various ways to support ourselves in the coming years. "Tent-making" with creative materials in unique locations is a little intoxicating: on the front end anyway. Check back with me later 8-).

Lost on a new frontier

Well, I'm back in Tucson and it took me about 15 minutes to find my own blog! Just about used up the last of my sand for the day. I'm not sure what that says about me except: "I was lost, and now I'm found".

It was a very long day - with a 5 hour layover in Denver on my way home. Sooooo good to see my lover, my hound dog and Ben! Looking forward to seeing my Hanna, Jackson and Mari Grace tomorrow.

Our Grace and Righteousness Ministries Tuesday night Bible Study & Prayer group met tonight at our house. We are discussing "New Covenant Prayer: Everything Has Changed" and we are loving it. Realizing that Jesus didn't come to get God to do something for me, rather: "I've come that you might know God" was a great discussion point. Most of us were in agreement that our concept of prayer was "codependent on God" -- trying to get God to do for us what He had said I could already do because I am in Jesus!

It's really crazy when we begin to see that most prayer is us --trying to get God to tell us --He really did mean all that He said when Jesus died for me, and rose again. Things like: "Will you heal me?" when God had already said: "by His stripes we were healed" [I didn't believe you God, will you make an exception for me--what Christ did doesn't seem to be enough for me...please heal me as a separate act.]

I love this statement: "We [Grace & Righteousness Ministries] exist to make people whole through the love of God."

Well I think that's it for me today, and a BIG thank you to my dear sister Tracy for encouraging me to write, every day, something!