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.

Straddling Two Worlds

When going through and reading about the various three paradoxes in the text: Asceticism/Activism, Pessimism/Idealism, Human/Divine it opened up me to an awareness in my reading to take a look at various situations in life and the roads in which I've traveled, lived and walked in and on. How precious is a text, especially if you have not stopped to take a look at the meaning behind a word and how it may define two worlds or points of view.
This whole move, relocating and beginning course work, while remaining “present” while taking care of home, mortgage, bills and life in Houston which is the paradox in itself can create a very physical feeling of being in two worlds, but always in the knowing and clear assurance - this is where I am to be.
Often, according to various places and times we may find ourselves with “straddling two worlds” this can create a time of a multitude of feelings around the subject matter and lead to an overwhelming feeling. We are never alone in a process or in a given situation although it is very individual there is a universal thread that is common ground and familiar to many.
It is in the recognition that when we are in this place that we can shift either to one side or the other...or simply be happy to rest in one. But, Hooray! We have the tools and are gaining more tools to discern where we may be in an area and recognize it.
Remembering the lenses that we see bring in a view that can only by seen by what we bring from the collected life experience we have had. I like to see it as not clouded by an intense formal dialog of subject matter for the sake of using big words, but a place to do an examination of where you stand in any area throughout a subject and see where you land. A Good exercise. Then, take a look. However, it is obvious that most of us live in primarily in one or the other. When Dr. Tom asked "How shall we live in an imperfect world of imperfect people?" I thought this as a good place to be in examination mode within ourselves and to work our skills to see where we and others may be coming from at a given time and "adjust" along the way. A teacher many years ago said to a class I was in "adjust your lenses to a wider view and take it all in." Our lenses change over time as do our experiences and life and I can appreciate a wider view.
As theologians, we are in the state at this time of interpreting from our understanding point, correlating what  affects one has on the other and assessing the value of each lesson and experience along the way.

Theological Snapshot

I’ve arrived at a point that feels more comfortable than I have ever been in my life. Now that comfort seems to be disrupted as change occurs again. This is Good. In this place, I feel comforted and have arrived at place that appreciates the embedded theology of my life; the God of Childhood; the Bible and religion as a basis of early understanding with so much more to uncover. I am much like a child again learning to walk, except this time I get to bring along many experiences from the years before.
I have been able to prove time and again for myself that an effort to dig in as fiercely as I rest with the unearthing has brought about so much more peace than the world of living with a puppet master.
So much ability in the outcome of my own destiny has given me both feelings of great accomplishment and also brought up at times, levels of fear. Occasionally, the association of “God” can give me brief glimpses of a ruler, a cloudy heaven and sometimes an authoritative figure that passes judgement. Depending on where I may be coming from at that moment, it is brief and thankfully fleeding, but the appreciation of the old remains as I can relate to where so many come from in their current level of consciousness. I believe it is a gift to be able to relate, and speak to a shift in consciousness and thought provoking evolution. I have come to realize and acknowledge the embedded theology and grow from it. It is like a reoccurring dream of the past except I now know what to do with it.
Although, so much of the embedded theology that many live from comes from an early example of Church, Sunday school, preachers, ministers, teachers, parents and grandparents, I grew up with a conflicting view from the leaders and examples.
The church was preaching the “fear of God” and “joy to the Lord” just as the text How to Think Theologically mentions. I had this going on while the actions of my mother and father were distressed and grandparents were either laid back or judgmental. I am grateful for it all! It, for me, helped to develop a true cross section of the metaphysical way in which we all can be in our own lives and within ourselves everyday. 
Today is new day. What will I discover today? I am continuing the exploration of my own beliefs and look forward to questioning. I fall in love with the discovery. I smile as I find hidden treasures uncovered every time I pass upon a portion, a scripture or assigned text that gives me pause. Just when I think the work seems so challenging and I dig into it (usually in “over thinking it”) I then say to myself...Ahhhh. It’s like the proverbial “light bulb” comes on and the thoughts of how perfectly aligned and clear everything becomes.  God as redefined for me as Source and Absolute Good, has re-framed the old theology to a current and more precise word for me.
The Source is revealed everyday and I am grateful.

...and the Journey continues in Peace

 In the theology of my youth and even young adulthood, doing work was just that- Doing work!
Taking a nice run was simply cardiovascular exercise.
So much has changed! When we see, truly see the gifts in front of us we can create magical experiences at every turn. The choice is yours. What will you create today?
Today in this most sacred place Unity Village, Missouri, I unboxed my final few arrivals to settle into my new one room home. What a difference it is when you realize how much you really "don't need."
It is a process though and coming to terms with various attachments it is so easy to release some things while others, well, will take more work.
So, I worked on a class assignment, distracted by the Peaceful surroundings. Not a TV, a freeway, cars running up and down the street, children playing at the school...No, none of that from my home. I was distracted by the sheer peace. The still silence. The amazing silence. This distracted from my reading. So, I bargained. "One more chapter, get your essay in rough from and you can go and run into the fields and embrace the peace and joy around the campus!
Just before dark. I put on my running shoes and left. I love giving myself a target and a reward, and what a reward it was!
No less than two blocks out a large stag met me center of the road. You know this is not in the norm of my usual Houston, TX run path. I smiled and kept moving toward him. He looked surprised and waited. He eventually huffed and bounced away a few feet and stopped again to look at this funny human running. The rest of the herd had the same reaction. The look of surprise and stillness with a wonder of "what is he running to or from?" I laughed and smiled as I went by. How blessed to be here at this time in my life embracing all that is around me. Deepening my study and also the interactions with wildlife which also serve me and my joy and laughter at the thought of where I am and what this path will bring.
I returned home after a two mile run and rested as I walked the labyrinth. Darkness came and still the peace within my soul was lifted. This space is a physical manifestation perception of heaven that one coud easily relate too. Heaven is upon us. I think so. For me, Yes.
Upon returning, I sat a while to reflect on this expereince and picked up a little book a dear frend gave to me as a going away gift.
The opening text was this "May you go out in joy and be led forth with peace; may the mountains ad the hills burst in song before you. and may all the tress of the field clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12
How beautful and fitting. That, my friend was my experience this day. May you also find the laughter, joy and peace in your day too. Blessings and Love - Iter Nostrum

Douglas