HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASMINE!

At the beach

On the way down the hill.

Coming home

Turned a miserable day into one of walking on the beach.  The sunset was beautiful and the water so calm and blue.  Everyone and their dog was out and about.  Did not do well talking pictures but it is all just experience.

 Coughing too much to go to church and coughing too much to rest and read.  It sure makes you think about all the other people around who are suffering and shut in.  Dad got me some cough medicine that is helping and I have never had much faith in it.  So I am feeling weak and tired but am getting much better.

Will go to the prayer meeting this morning because we have so few of them and we need to connect.  I will sit in the corner quietly.

FOUND

FOUND
One cute little puppy who wants a home but does not need to be walked.

Two good legs that made it down to Zellers but needed a ride home, not quite back to normal.

Found two presents but hope they are the right size. 

Found the biggest birthday party for a one year old in the basement of Cathy and Glens/
Yes, Yuri is now one.

Found a chocolate cake made just for me.  Yuri was not sharing it because he was exploring it with his hands making a big mess until he found it tasted good then the mess was on his face.

Found a good husband who takes care of me when I am under the weather, and even though we disagree about a lot of things he is a very caring and compassionate human being.  Jesus loves him and so do I.
Found in the Bible stories of a very messed up, very sinful but very human people who certainly needed a God to sort them out.  A God of thunderbolts and lightning sounded just right; someone who would help them conquer and kill in His name.

Found Jesus, compassionate but confusing; tender and yet stern; generous yet demanding; real but unreal.

Found a Jesus that tells me He loves me and will always go for a wold and a talk with me.  Often just in my big comfy chair.

PHILOSOPHY

In reading about the past struggles the ancient people went through to discover where they came from and what controlled their lives.   One man would develop a theory and his pupils would carry on and enlarge on it.  Paramenides was one such person, who viewed the world as a unitary, changeless substance.

But some of his contemporaries were doubtful about this new philosophy, fearing in seeking to know the mystery of the cosmos they were dangerously guilt of just bringing confusion.  Later a religious community would be established dedicated to math., astronomy, geometry and music.  Tools to discover their world but also spiritual exercises.

Philosophy was not a coldly rational discipline but an ardent spiritual quest that would transform the seeker.  It was a quest for wisdom and reason.  I like the idea that religion started this way as reasonable thought.  It was rooted in a search for transcendence and a dedicated practical lifestyle. 

Philosopher like to disagree even as they are searching for the meaning of life, it's purpose and it's value.  It includes epistemology, ethics,metaphysics all apart of the reasoning process.

Faith is something different.  It can contain doubt, and probably should, and defines literal definition.  Faith does believe there will be light at the end of the tunnel.  Faith helps us to see the need of prayer which is giving ourselves to God and asking Him for wisdom.

I am reminded not to get too busy and distracted bylife.  Yesterday can be an exaggeration or sometimes a regret and the future may be a worry so the best thing to do is live for the present.

I am a person who does not like conflict but am accepting this as an opportunity for growth.
Just think about this; wouldn't it be frustrating if you are playing ping pong and the other person always lets the ball drop.

THE AFTERGLOW

Raindrops falling early in the darkness of the morning.    They  reflect the Christmas lights that are on across the street.  The lights are the most beautiful part of our celebrations.  Time seems to change so slowly as we wait for daylight to burst into our mornings with a radiance and a warmth that makes us feel alive.  Now is a time of waiting.but a time also of hopefulness. 

It is like the afterglow that we carry within us, a sense of happiness and expectation.

My brian is slow this morning because when one part of our body is not well it affects everything,  The headache, the sore throat and the aching legs seem to demand my attention.  I woulf love to go for a walk but common sense says keep warm and rested.

I sit quietly waiting for inspiration and thankful that I know your presence is here with me, Lord.  I am so thankful for all the goodness in my life.  As I have been reading some of the stories in the Old Testamnet the word afterglow seems to describe the words of the prophets like Ezekial and Elizah.  We try as best we can to experience the visions, so real to them, and yet so far beyond what we know.  Different writers named P and D and JE have told the stories in different ways.

I am reminded that the word of God can be a religious discourse with many interruptations.  In Jewish terms this is called midrash which means to search and to investigate.  I know from my own experience that when I reread  the texts I discover new things each time.  What speaks to me today will be different to-morrow.

Also at the time the scriptures were being written philosophers in Greece and other parts of the world were struggling with new ideas trying to find the underlying order and law of creation. 

THE GIFT

If we truly desire to communicate with one another and I firmly believe we do; we need to express ourselves gently not to win an argument but to bring forth new ideas.  If we leave ourselves open to doubt rather than certainly only then can we learn.  We will learn to listen and appreciate each other.  But we are called to do even more than this by inhabiting the ideas being expressed so that they take on life within us.  It is not about getting angry or annoyed which I far to often find myself doing; it is seeing good in others..  So instead I will carry this picture of a beautiful box in my head and receive the thoughts of others as worth listening to.

I am reading "The Case For God" by Karen Armstrong " and am learning about the wisdom in philosophy and in people like Socrates and Plato and Aristotle.

"You expressed yourself clearly as a gift to your partner,
whose beautifully expressed argument would, in turn,
touch you at a personnel and profound level."  Karen Armstrong

We are in the process of learning from our own experiences.

If we are really and truly searching after wisdom we will find it.

Jesus, a man who carried His divinity within Himself as a light, was able to stir others to become free of human insecurity as they recognized personal shortcomings.  Jesus brought emotional
freedom and ended up being put to death.

My goal in life is to try to create healthy relationships!  When I am feeling better.

Thursday morning.
Won the world's record for loud snoring last night.  Good job dad and I are use to one another
Hope I did not wake up the neighbors..
Good news stomach is better but now,, and I can only drink so much mint tea but I have a monster headache and a slight sore throat.
Good news I do not have to take the dog for a walk.  I do not think I do because I couldn't find him,
Just kidding.
Good news I have nearly finished my chapter for our study group the book by K. Armstrong.  This is a first.
Also I have found it interesting following the reasoning behind all their philosophy.
I have a good man who loves to take care of me.  So all is well!

My word for today "Keep an open mind in all matters."  This is from "From the Heart" By H. S. Rice
I think this would be easier if we do it a day at a time but. . . .

REASON

Happy Birthday Kenny.  A busy day for Melina getting readyfor the small party last night.  But I am sure the barbie was good.

I started writing yesterday but was not feeling so great , sick to my stomach.  I threw up during the night.  Yuk!   So I am not doing much this morning, feeling weak.  Feels like flu.  Legs aching!  I am over the worst of it.  Wanted to shop for Jasmine's birthday present today.  So many birthdays.  Yuri's is on Saturday and it is a pot luck.
Going  back to bed!  Or to the couch!  It appears to be a rainy miserable day.  Snow mixed with rain.



Reason
There are always reasons for the things we do and the things we just forget to mention!

Information is often capable of multiple interpretations and some even of questionable value.  I find that in trying to understand the Bible, why bother you say, I look at many different sources because this is part of our history and part of who we are becoming. I also have friends that like to discuss and hopefully find some sense of peace and meaning in life. Life seems richer and more colorful and  mainly I need a Reason to hope.
Hope there is a reason for the difficulties and struggles we face in life.  But for now faith enriches my life with beauty and mystery and joy!

Israel was a people not because they lived in a certain place, or because they had a temple and a set of rules but because where ever they were they were called to live as if God were dwelling in their midst.  This took many years of developing.  They began to make laws and to try to think logically and be free from superstition that blamed the gods for there failures.  Even though there was a search for truth they used slavery and subjugated women.

As we travel back in time we see the love of wisdom grew as the knowledge o

 Mathematics, astronomy, geometry and music to name of few where the tools to explore the physical world.  Philosphy was not a cold rational discipline but an ardent spiritual quest that would transform the seeker.

The Greeks during the sixth century had a uniquely tragic vision of the world.  There suffering was connected to the suffering of their gods such as Zeus, Demeter and their daughter Persephone and the belief in a underworld.

NO FEAR

I finally let my brother know that we have being going back to the United Church.  His re-action was of shock and disbelief and I tried to explain that I felt a wonderful spirit of love there and I felt no fear that I was in someway disobeying God. I have written a letter but I do not know if he will understand.  Yes, I should take time to put my thoughts in order.

I have respected my brother and appreciatted his prayers for all our family.  He is outspoken about what he believes and I guess I. am more wishy-washy accept when I get preachy.

I think that we cannot hide behind the rules of what we believe the Bible teaches not what we believe our church teaches.  I like our new minister, hey he quoted Leonard Cohen, and he plays the banjoe and has a good sense of humor as well as a firm understanding of the scripture, studying both Latin and Greek.  He is also very humble and I know I could talk to him.
I have moved from being a fundamentalist, and a literalistic view to realizing that some of the Bible was written especially from a male perspective.  Women were not respected although the Bible does contain stories about very brave and godly women.

I use to believe that every word was inspired but now I believe that the inspiration can be hidden just as my returning to the United Church was hidden.  I know there is much that is wrong in this church as there is in all churches but our churches must be welcome to all.  I cannot force anyone to change, not even if I threaten, God's judgment.

 God by the power of the Holy Spirit can bread our chains that bind us if we allow him to do this.

I do not understand mental illness nor why some pick a different
life style or why some people seem to be vulnerable to addictions or violence.
but I do know that it is not always a matter of choice.

I influenced my brother to read the scriptures and he has become "Born Again" and I know that God has used him to lead others to Jesus and also he has prayed for healing for others.  He has a good heart.  He is a loving husband and father and has been good to me. 

I have dad on one side and him on my other side and I wonder if either one realizes how I feel?

Church is very important to me not because of the ornamental beauty nor the rituals and not because that is where God lives but because the spirit in me quickens because I sense a joy that comes to me like the joy I feel when my family is together.