Life | Love | Freedom

identity is everything

2008-06-24T05:41:00.002-05:00

You are an expression of God (love, peace, freedom, life, compassion).

You are NOT the summation of your actions and attitudes.

Experiment:

For one day look past yours and others looks, actions and attitudes and identify yourself and all others as expressions of God (love, peace, freedom, life, compassion).

then...

For one day identify yourself and others solely by their looks, actions and attitudes.

Then ask yourself which reality would you rather live in?

peace

2008-06-17T08:34:00.010-05:00

Peace is the part of us which is conscious of (knows) who we are (an expression of God/all) whether we are living out of that reality or not.

Peace isn't something we need or don't have nor is is an experience we have, it is part of our being/identity.

Humanity pursues peace as though it exist separately, found in quiet places apart from the daily chaos of life (by a stream out in the woods, on a deserted beach looking out at the ocean, on a cliff high in the mountains). People go on holiday to 'experience' peace. Folks go to therapy to find peace. Some even commit suicide to escape the chaos and find peace.

Going to quiet places is helpful...not to 'find' peace but to train your consciousness to focus on the reality you are an expression of peace.

repeat after me (amended)

2008-05-02T05:55:00.002-05:00

All is. Life, Love, Freedom, Peace are eternal values - part of all but not the totality of all.

"I" (the ego or flesh) is a expression of All with the capability to choose an existence of Truth (I am an expression of All) or error (I am separate from All). Choosing Truth brings Life, choosing error suffering.

No matter the choice, All is. "I" didn't change a thing.

Repeat after me

2008-04-30T05:24:00.003-05:00

I am Love, Life, Freedom, Peace so in putting those things first (being who I am), I will not labor under undue anxiety about anything no matter my state of being or circumstances.

who am I?

2008-04-22T05:43:00.002-05:00

Society would say I am mom & dad's son, my wife's husband, my kids father, a coworker, neighbor, friend, citizen of the U.S.A., human on planet earth.

Religion would say I am freewill, a descendant of Adam and a child of God, a sinner or saint, a creation of God, a servant or slave, a co-heir with Christ, a branch of the vine, the light of the world.

Spirituality would say I am an expression of all (i.e. God)...perfect love, peace that passes understanding, perfect freedom and Life.

but...

Who do I say I am?

Am I the sum of my actions and attitudes?
Am I defined by my occupation, sport, talent or gift?
Am I the combination of my physical and mental capabilities...a product of DNA?

Who or What defines you? How can you know without it coming from 'outside of ' or 'apart' from you?

Is it possible to define yourself?...isn't that what we do?...we pick and choose different pieces and parts from the above and knit them together like a quilt?

Is there an alternative?

What drives or initiates peoples attitudes and actions?

2008-04-15T09:37:00.008-05:00

In this video Bill Strickland describes the motivating factor behind the building of the Bidwell Training Center in the high crime and economically depressed area of Pittsburg..."You have to change the way people see themselves before they will change their behavior" (minute 18 of the video) and "It's all in the way you think about people that often determines their behavior" (minute 11ish).

How Bill changed the way people see themselves with the Bidwell Training Center is ONE WAY it happens. It also happens in our everyday seemingly insignificant attitudes and actions in the check out line, interstate, office, family, marriage, neighborhood, etc. I'm not specifically advocating more Bidwell Training Centers, I don't think you 'need' a building or program to demonstrate your seeing other people as perfect Love, Freedom & Peace. When we see ourselves as Love, Peace & Freedom (of most valuable worth), we'll begin to see other people that same way. Our seeing others that way wakes them up to the Truth about themselves (i.e. that they are Love, Peace & Freedom) and the process continues as they wake others up, and on and on. The Bidwell Training Center is but 'one' expression of that reality.

If the embedded video doesn't work click the title link.

What is our nature?

2008-04-11T11:48:00.003-05:00

Driving the original question is a sense mankind focuses on the nature of "God" as opposed to our own nature. We want to know who/what God is and what God wants with us. The question in and of itself perpetuates a dualistic framework (i.e. God is separate from us or me). Religions step in and define who God is and what God wants with us and how we are to satisfy those wantings.

Here's my dilemma. If God is the originator of all. If nothing exists apart from God. Then all is an expression of God. Err...humph...well then what about bad stuff like hate, prejudice, etc? Where does that come from, certainly God didn't originate a system in which hate exists as a choice. One pseudo explanation is that 'bad' stuff is a result of the absence of God, like darkness is the result of the absence of light. I don't know if that works for me or not. If God is all, then how can there be the absence of all? Another way to say it is that God is Truth and bad stuff happens when someone depends on error rather than Truth...but doesn't that beg the question where did error come from if God is all? Some people explain error/bad stuffs existence away using our ability to choose (i.e. it's not that God 'created' error/bad stuff but that when he created choice, it became possible). So, then my question becomes "Why would perfect love (i.e. God) who is all powerful create a system knowing mankind would choose something other than God? Couldn't an all powerful all knowing God create a system in which choice exists but doesn't lead to error or the absence of God? If so, why didn't God do that? If not, God must not be all powerful because surely perfect love would not create a system in which hate, prejudice, etc exists.

So, what are the alternatives?...and please don't tell me that's where faith comes in or we can't know the mind of God.

Go with me here...

What if there is no separate supreme consciousness, big kahuna huna or personality called "God" rather the only things that are real (i.e. eternal) are perfect love, perfect freedom and transcendent peace (i.e. peace that passes understanding)? What if those attributes are eternal, permanent, unchanging and they manifest as all that is (i.e. all on earth, solar system, universe and beyond)?

A few questions from here are...

What causes love, freedom and peace to manifest in 'seemingly' separate forms (i.e. tree, person, star, air, etc)? Why would those attributes manifest in forms which seem to perpetuate the illusion of separation?

and more importantly THE BIG QUESTION for me is...

How would my, our and all's existence change if we really believed (changed/transformed our mind) that ONLY perfect love, freedom and transcendent peace exists and as a result 'lived' AS perfect love, perfect freedom and transcendent peace?

More digging on 'who we (mankind) are'

2008-04-08T20:51:00.002-05:00

Is mankind attributes expressed as attitudes and actions?

Is at the eternal core or essence of mankind inherent (permanent and inseparable) attributes which mankind expresses through attitudes and actions?

What are those attributes? How do we know for sure what they are? Can we know?

continuing on...

2008-04-01T05:55:00.003-05:00

Is a relationship with God the end game? What about an end game of where all experience & enjoy perfect freedom, transcendent peace and unconditional love & acceptance every moment? Could part of, or the totality of, a relationship with God be all experiencing & enjoying perfect freedom, transcendent peace and unconditional love & acceptance?

What do you include in your definition of 'all'? Do you include every single human who ever was and ever will be? Do you include every plant, animal, earth, water, space, matter, solar systems, universes and beyond? Do you exclude anything?

Is it helpful to focus on differences and divisions...to identify or give them life with language? Is it useful to point out error? (i.e. Black men and white men came together desiring equality and justice) Doesn't 'black', 'white', 'men' and 'came together' give life to differences and division? Can the end game be realized by solely focusing on unity and Truth? What if the news showed video of the same gathering and reported "Equality & justice manifested here today". Does that lack something? Is it less/more powerful or helpful?

more to come...

a splinter in your mind xxi

2008-03-17T05:33:00.003-05:00

If a team of the best doctors assembled around you in an operating room with the best equipment with the objective of finding 'you'...where would they find 'you'? What part of your body would they need to open up to find you? If they cut open the heart muscle would they find you there? If they dissected the brain organ would they find you?

If a team of the best psychologist and psychiatrist assembled with the same objective, where would they find 'you'?

Where, what, who are 'you'?

Can 'you' be killed?

Were 'you' born or have 'you' always existed?

What are 'you' made of?

Chasing after the wind

2008-03-14T06:14:00.002-05:00

Ever find yourself chasing after some particular circumstance or set of circumstances? Why do we do that? Do circumstances produce what we're all seeking? Will the American, African, Christian dream satisfy your true desires?

What are you truly seeking? What do you really desire?

When visiting the cereal aisle, you're seeking fuel for your body or container. What are the cereal companies selling?

Fun, Excitement, Incredible taste, Pleasure, Safety, Ease, Time, Health.

The same thing happens in every aspect of life and it's easy to forget about or distracted from why we are in the cereal aisle.

allness

2008-03-12T05:11:00.004-05:00

If God is all, all is a manifestation or expression of God. So...the below aren't individually the totality of God but they are cells of the body of God, expressions of the totality of God....so...

I eat God.
I breath God.
I poop God.
Snot is God.
Eye poop is God.
Light is God.
Darkness is God.
Spiders are God.
Rhinoceros' are God.
The bug on the blade of grass growing out the rock outcropping high in the Himalaya's is God.
Fungus is God.
Lantern fish are God.
Sharks are God.
Polar bears are God.
Bats are God.
Fire is God.
Cold is God.
Volcano's are God.
Earthquakes are God.
All that is natural is God...that begs the question...what of the unnatural?

Are pencils (any creation of mankind) manifestations of God or are they manifestations of the absence of God? Do mankind's creations seek to fill mankind's perceived lack?

What would our existence be like if none of mankind's creations existed?

What of evil? Is it a manifestation of God or is it a manifestation of mankind? Is it a manifestation of God or the absence of God?

2008-02-27T05:10:00.003-06:00

There are people (cells of the body of Life | Love | Freedom - God) living as who they are.

There are people (cells of the body of Life | Love | Freedom - God) not living as who they are.

The reward for living as who you are is enjoying Love | Life | Freedom - God, that is how God (i.e. Life | Love | Freedom) recognizes those living as they are.

Some folks living as who they are (cells of the body of Life | Love | Freedom - God) don't know they living as expressions of God, they just know it feels good to live that way.

Recognition and Acceptance

2008-02-25T05:56:00.002-06:00

A good visual for me is seeing myself as recognized and accepted as part of God...the branch not the tree, a hand, leg, shoulder, etc. Seeing the truth of that I realized I wrapped my worth up in being a big branch, leg, hand rather than a small leaf or hair. The I realized I'm not branch or feet or hands but one 'cell' of the tree/body which took away any pride I was tapping into see myself as a big branch or hand while other folks were parts of lessor importance. Somehow seeing myself as one cell among many helped diminish my grading myself as a better body part. Others might be doing the opposite...seeing themselves as lowly toe nails or something. Then i realized the mental image of a body I was using was humanistic or physical. I changed my image of 'the body' or 'the whole' from a human physical body to the totality of love, freedom, peace, life, etc. Accepting and recognizing myself and others as part of that whole or all makes me see all on the same 'level' where I can rest in being, rather than trying.

This is really raw at present

The affects of seeing Truth vs Error

2008-02-18T05:47:00.004-06:00

The idea every person is branch of the same vine brings deep feelings of peace, satisfaction and well-being. Think about the folks you encounter physically and mentally (thoughts) the past 24 hours as branch (expressions) of the same vine (God)...how does that affect you?

A splinter in your mind

2007-12-14T10:06:00.000-06:00

Ok. I'm back with a few questions. Indulge me :)

In your 'relationship with God' is God a separate person, entity or being? If so, how so? If not, how is the reality of God present in your relationship?

A question from Jane

2007-11-21T11:12:00.000-06:00

Being thankful or Giving thanks

2007-11-20T05:52:00.000-06:00

I say 'thank you' many times each day. After a purchase to the cashier. After a server sets my plate of food down. At the end of receiving an order from a customer. Have those words become filler, just something you tack on to end the transaction or situation? Are we really thankful or do we expect the cashier, server and customer to do because they're getting something for it (i.e. paycheck/product).

Struck a nerve with me. Becoming conscious of what I'm really thankful for feels good...really good.

Maybe I'll lay off saying 'thanks' just to say something because it seems like doing that turns down my being consciousness of being thankful.

Choosing to change your mind

2007-11-12T12:23:00.000-06:00

The choice is whether you determine your state of being or you allow life situations and circumstances to determine your state of being.

For example...

A. What are you looking for in life?

B. Freedom, acceptance, peace, contentment, security, well-being, joy
and love. (Folks might say money, fame, easy life, etc but what those
things boil down to are the former)

A. What's keeping you from experience all those things?

B. My circumstances and life situations.

A. So your circumstances control whether or not you experience
freedom, peace, contentment, etc?

B. Yes, for example, when I walk into a room and nobody gives me the
time of day I feel insecure.

A. Can you decide if "people giving you the time of day" determines
your feeling/being secure?

B. What do you mean?

A. Can you decide not to allow how other people treat you to affect
your being/feeling secure?

B. How could I do that? I care about how other people treat me.

A. Can you care about how others treat you but not depend on it for
being/feeling secure?

B. Let's see. I want folks to like me but I choose not to depend on
their liking me to be/feel secure. Hmmm. I guess it is possible.

A. Then being secure is your choice right?

B. Yeah. I can choose to value something without depending on it. I
just have to remind myself I can be/feel secure without it.

A. Is there a circumstance where you couldn't choose to be/feel secure?

B. Yeah, I'm pretty insecure about dying and what does/doesn't happen
after that.

A. Why not decide life after death is far better than this present
life? If you decided that about death, could you choose to be/feel
secure about it?

B. Yes, but that's a big gamble isn't it? I mean, what if you're wrong?

A. If your decision brings about true freedom, peace, contentment,
well-being and joy, how could it be wrong?

B. I guess if it brings about True freedom, well being, contentment,
peace and joy it couldn't be wrong. Hmph...I can choose to live in
those realities and when I choose them I'm living in the kingdom of
god because that is the 'end game' God wants for me...to live the
abundant life.

A. Yep, that's it. You can choose to live in those realities despite your
circumstances. You can choose to determine your state of being rather than
allow your circumstances, life situation or anything else determine your state of being.

Changing your mind

2007-10-22T05:26:00.001-05:00

Identifying the goal (call it purpose, end game, what God desire for everyone) of life helps me. Previously, I've seen the goal as:

1. Getting myself & others saved and going to heaven
2. Eliminating suffering, hardship & pain on earth
3. Promoting love, peace, freedom & acceptance on earth

The problems I see with my previous life goals are:

1. The kingdom of God is now, not in the future (i.e. heaven is a present reality).
2. The elimination of suffering and/or the promotion of love are outcomes of the goal not the goal itself.

The goal as I see it now is:

Experiencing the kingdom of God within my being every moment of my existence independent of circumstances.

Where I'm coming from...

Is it possible for us to experience the kingdom of God ( i.e. perfect peace, freedom and love) in the midst of adverse/good circumstances? Was Jesus experiencing perfect peace, freedom and love while being whipped, spit on and crucified? How about when Jesus was eating a meal with his disciples and others?

What is experiencing the kingdom of god dependent upon? What stops us from being at peace, being free, being accepted, loved, content, etc? Do our circumstances control our ability to experience those things or is there some outside force or power that controls whether or not we experience those things?

Or...do we control whether we experience the kingdom of god? Is it our choice? I'm realizing the answer is YES!

What keeps us from experiencing the kingdom of god is depending on something other than the present reality of god within as everything we need for life and godliness. And fear is an indication we have such a misplaced dependency. For example...

If we depend on our physical appearance for self-worth/identity then we would fear circumstances that alter our physical appearance in some way that we see as less desirable or of less worth.

However, if we decide we have perfect self worth/identity no matter our physical appearance, we've changed our mind about depending on our physical appearance as a source of identity (that's real repentance). Changing our mind about what to depend on is the key to the kingdom. Try it.

To experience the kingdom of god (perfect love, acceptance, peace freedom, etc) every moment of our existence we depend solely on the reality that we already have everything we need for life & godliness, the perfect life of God as our life, Christ as our life. When we become aware of and dependent upon that reality... that we lack nothing, the kingdom becomes our reality.

So, let's choose to live in that reality :)

Life | Love | Freedom

Rick

Big wisdom, little book

2007-04-18T11:07:00.000-05:00

My friend Jim compiled a book of quotes that I keep on my desk to answer the inevitable question "So...what do ya know?".

Today's answer... "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."

Helen Keller

reality

2007-04-03T05:31:00.001-05:00

For me, every moment is a sacred encounter, a holy communion, a joyful celebration. I am either conscious of that reality or I miss it and experience the moment as meaningless.

Being conscious of love IS communion. :)

a splinter in your mind xx

2007-04-02T05:44:00.000-05:00

I desire love because love values me.

I am valuable because I am love.

As love, I am valued by all and I value all.

Is there a greater source of value?
Is there a greater medium of value?

a splinter in my mind xix

2007-03-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

Self-fulfilling ~~prophecy~~ reality?

Do we engage, react and respond to circumstances, situations, events, people, things and places based on who we believe we are in that moment?

If God IS love and Christ (God) IS our life, then is love who we are (our identity).

What would life be like if we adopted and depended upon 'love' as our only identity?

What other identities do we adopt and why do we adopt them?

Did Jesus see himself as love, and live out of that identity?

a splinter in your mind xviii

2007-03-16T08:16:00.001-05:00

Man wrongly identifies himself with the physical body, calling it 'myself.' And when the physical body is in pain he says, 'I am ill,' because he identifies himself with something which belongs to him but which is not himself. The first thing to learn is to recognize the physical body not as one's self, but as an instrument, a vehicle, through which to experience life. -unknown.

What are your 'eternal' or 'spiritual' characteristics, qualities or identities?

Are they 'real' for your present experience or only for some future 'heaven' experience?