To or From Within? Where's God?

Shall we pray to God’s Presence and Power in the cosmos, opening ourselves to the infilling of Spirit? or Shall we center on the Spirit within allowing it to emerge?
Week of Oct. 16-22
Both appear as easy fits for me and why not? How can I not as an open and loving being here and now in the presence of so much beauty in this world that we have created not find myself stopping to pray to, give thanks to, and notice the out-picturing wonders that surround me. I didn’t do this alone- You are there too! It’s a joint effort. Do I see God in everything? It’s a learning edge, that I thankfully have shifted in my life to “ so much more” than a time of “less than or not at all.”
I do and will I pray to a God and an infinite power source? Yes, of course and there’s no languaging involved that I need to be concerned with personally, unless there is a particular course or audience in which I am speaking to with an intended purpose to remove a distant and a “separateness.”
There is a difference, however in the “to” part. The God- power of my youth was completely separate; one of a distance and far removed. Now, in my reference to a God- power in the cosmos and opening to an infilling of Spirit, it is more of a reminder that God is here and now and works amazingly through me and each person. This statement comes more as a reminder point and a “filling station,” also a place where I can stand in awe and see the magnificence of creation.
Centering on the Spirit within and allowing it to emerge- this is how I live and breathe.

I am a child of God and I am also the parent and we are One.

When I experience the recognition of this which is so much more than an old thought, it is easier for me to see through my own eyes the emerging Spirit that comes from within me- the very vessel of God. I am the papa and the baby, learning and growing from both sides and within.  I am the body and the action in which God works and dwells and so is everyone. Our actions, although sometimes clouded by the circumstances and our knee jerk reaction to our physical world can be startling at times, but it’s an easy reminder to look around and find God outside or inside.

The Bible: Sacred Text or Just a Good Book?

In just a few thoughts that come up for me as we discuss the many, many variations of this library of books.
I guess it depends on the reader and the frame and lenses with all the experiences that one comes up with or is exposed to over the course of time. One thing for certain, I am grateful that the Doug of six years old, eleven, eighteen, twenty-six, forty and even more today has not been stuck into an exact way of seeing, reading and interpreting this amazing work of texts.
Is it a sacred text? Yes, of course, as are many books. This compilation or anthology by the many various inspired writers have brought their current state of consciousness, environment and life experiences to date to the text (and even then it has been interpreted, edited and re-written more) But, let's not forget the various interpretations that have been edited and mulled over and the times and circumstances in which they were passed down, reviewed and used to "inspire" or "provoke" a way of thinking to the readers of each particular time and agenda.
We too, are doing this work and study now. It provides us a way to not be closed to a literal text, yet open to view the words and appreciate how they may have been for the authors, and how we can apply and use them in our lives today.
A good book? Absolutely! It is filled with an amazing amount of richness and thought. In our work in this session, I feel that we have so much ground to cover and also carefully remember that our view is our view and not to lead others by saying "What they meant or  Jesus meant to say..." rather "here's what I noticed, here's what showed up for me"or "here's a way in which to take the text and look a little further for yourself." This is key as our purpose becomes a way to continue to invite people to open their thoughts and go on a path of their own discovery and find the meaning for their life.
Perhaps my own work and journal may be dissected, reviewed and study one day to expand conscious awareness and the times we live (at least my view) today.

Notes from Session 5: Thoughts to Ponder

Religion as binding people together is so very true at the immediate view. It is a common ground many, if not all, find comforting and familiar in ritual, song, chant, prayer, but above all in community. It has brought many together that may normally be separate in a crisis, yet has also been the very crisis that has caused great separation among a whole.
I appreciate the inter faith ministries and the purpose of bringing about all we have to offer and finding the common ground and the common link.
This brought me to take a look further at the model that technology must change immediately. Until taking a look at Dr. Marvin Harris Universal Social System and the story of the Serene Sea coasters: Environment, Technology, Division of Labor, Human Groups. I had not given it a deeper reflection, until review of this model for explanation and societal development.
These may be random thoughts from notes, but they are interconnected in the work in which I am uncovering and providing additional tools for my theological tool box.
In this story, which is our story, does behavior cause belief or belief cause behavior. As Dr. Shepherd posed: “A theological Chicken and the Egg”
A great and clear, perfect Yes! and No! :) One of those dynamic answers that can be argued for both.
Clearly it comes from their belief they must survive and they begin a behavior of the whole process as in the story and it is also clear by their behavior and the instinct to survive they develop a belief system around that and thus comes the rituals and “religions” around that practice.

“Of course, we do not have to approve customs which seem foreign and unnatural to us in order to use cultural relativism as a working hypothesis.
    We merely have to accept that others see the world quite differently than we do.”
 -Dr. Shepherd, Session 5 Christianity and Culture: A Social Science Model

I get very excited about a good meal, sometimes even do a “happy dance” and hum happily as I enjoy the taste and contentment in my tummy.
I do not go out naked and dance around a fire, although it sounds like fun. However, doing so may be considered the norm, folkway, more or taboo depending on where the fire is and where I’m dancing! But a good meal is always a joyful celebration clothed or not.