The Most Amazing Gift

God’s wireless communication that has for centuries been perceived as something we just don’t get — don’t comprehend.  And actually doesn’t make too much sense to human logic and reason.

It is interesting that our modern world of wireless-bluetooth, which has endlessly confused my mind, yet has actually helped me to finally see more clearly God’s most precious gift.  

The gift that He came in Jesus’ skin to give us — show us.  The blest power to have a two way conversation with the Almighty God Creator of all that is.  

A communication that is possible through the Advocate, The Holy Spirit.

When I read Cynthia Bourgeault’s assessment of the heart my entire body became tenderly moved.

She is discussing the difference between our intellectual minds and our preceptive heart. 

“The egoic operating system is particularly related to the mind, to the ‘binary operator’ built right into the human brain. The heart has a different way of perceiving.  Rather than dividing and conquering, it connects with a seamless and indivisible reality through a whole different way of organizing the informational field….In wisdom, the heart is primarily an organ of spiritual perception, a highly sensitive instrument for keeping us aligned, as we journey along the horizontal axis of our life in time, with the vertical axis of timeless reality; the realm of meaning, value, and conscience.  The heart picks up reality in a much deeper, more integral way than our poor Cartesian minds even begin to imagine…..The heart picks up from the emotions, from our sense of proportion, from  intuition, from images and archetypes;..…and keeps us aliened with our innermost, with what we truly know. (p. 35-36

And my mind went WOW.

⁹ With you is wisdom, she who knows your works

and was present when you made the world;

she understands what is pleasing in your sight

and what is right according to your commandments. 

¹⁰ Send her forth from the holy heavens,

and from the throne of your glory send her,

that she may labour at my side,

and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. 

¹¹ For she knows and understands all things,

and she will guide me wisely in my actions

and guard me with her glory. 

¹² Then my works will be acceptable,

and I shall judge your people justly,

and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. 

¹³ For who can learn the counsel of God?

Or who can discern what the Lord wills? 

¹⁴ For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,

and our designs are likely to fail; 

¹⁵ for a perishable body weighs down the soul,

and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. 

¹⁶ We can hardly guess at what is on earth,

and what is at hand we find with labour;

but who has traced out what is in the heavens? 

¹⁷ Who has learned your counsel,

unless you have given wisdom

and sent your holy spirit from on high? 

¹⁸ And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,

and people were taught what pleases you,

and were saved by wisdom.’ (Wisdom of Solomon 9)

Thanks be to God

I would be remiss if I didn’t end this incredible gift, I have been so recently been given, in the works, God enabled Cynthia Bourgeault and Bruno Barnhart to express in their writings.  

I am most grateful to God for the way He works in all of us.

More On God's Flowing Engery

 

This new excitement in me all began when I was given a book, titled Jesus Wisdom written by, Cynthia Bourgeault.  Her book talks about the part of Jesus that has never been tapped — not really — in the Western World.  She parallels Jesus true character to the Old Testament wisdom Sophia.

In her book, Bourgeault introduced me to the relationship between faith, quantum physic’s and God.  The theory is called  “Planck’s Constant.” (p.107)    If you are interested in what “Planck’s Constant” is you are free to research it for yourself. 

Then I bought a book she referenced, by Bruno Barnhart, who put into my brain something that I have known for a long time; but had not fully formulated or named: the “fourth.” The fourth that belongs to the Trinity of God. The human part of the circle in relationship to the three.

The fourth completes the circle to make a whole relationship.

Barnhart writes:  “The trinitarian image opens to gather into itself the Fourth, which we are.  In Jesus we are invited to enter into the communion of the Three.  As we do so, we compete the quaternary. The New Testament speaks of our divination, and its revelation is both unitive and quaternary.  These two aspects are inseparable; wholeness is one and four.” (p.149 Second Simplicity)

'Inseparable."

Then Barnhart used a term  — in relation to the Fourth —that went bing-bong, ding-dong, knock-knock in my mind.  

The term was “resonance”

“Resonance itself, imagined is participation in a field of energy…”(p.149)

Reading that little line sent my mind into a million directions.  

Of course first I looked up the word resonance; which gave me all kinds of terms to look up and think about.  

I’ll give you the second beginning to my thinking:  A resonance — vibration — is seemingly silent communication going on in the air, in space.

Resonance, going on between our body workings.

     Going on in nature. 

   Going on in electricity,     

               Going on in the sounds we hear,

                     Going on in the play of lights we see.

I called it the invisible miracle.  

Truly a God given miracle for all who believe — or even who want to believe.

We have all been given a precious gift -- The Holy Spirit.   

We know, about this gift, but somehow we can’t comprehend how it all works for us in this very physical and logically intellectual world.

However, now that I have been given a name for something I have had faith in for so long.  The name is resonance, energy, a flow of silence waves that move about, and within us; that unless we stop and listen evades our cognitive mind.

More to come.

God's Energy Flows

 

In the last week I have been reminded, twice now, about a series of blogs I did in 2021; that talk about God's energy that moves in and about us every minute of our lives.  So I want to share there with your one more time.

We live in a world that has invented the amazing technology called “wireless” transmission.

No more messy cords,

No more telephone poles lining our highways,

Now we count on this thing called “bluetooth.”   A magical little device that move the sound from our wireless smart phones, tablets and computers with sounds that fill our car, and homes and ears with music, news, sports and anything we want to listen to.

Well guess what, God has the copywriter on wireless communication.

It is true!

And yes you know where I am going don’t you?

It is the transmission, energy, vibrations, electrical currents,  entrainment (the rhythms of our bodies’ environment), synchronization, magnetic fields-- resonance of the Holy Spirit.

I am thinking that God uses all of those avenues to communicate with us every minute of our lives.

This I believe with my entire being.

Now let me tell you what I learned this last month and half, about the word resonance, that sent me on this extraordinary journey. 

First a caution, what I am about to write is totally left brain stuff.  But I understood enough to get me pretty excited.

Resonance occurs when the amplitude of an object’s oscillations are increases by the matching vibrations of another object.

Resonance is a condition that exists when the inductive reactance and the capacitive reactance are of equal magnitude causing electrical energy to oscillate between the magnetic field of the indicator and the electrical field of the capacitor.

Resonance is used for tuning and filtering, because resonance occurs at a particular frequency for given values for inductance  and capacitance.

The Holy Spirit is the conduit,  channel of transmission — a currant that flows from God to us.

More tomorrow 

Wondering About Wisdom's Call

 I am sitting here this morning, my mind a bit haunted by this Call to listen to Lady Wisdom.

Haunted because it is clear that our world is moving in a completely opposite direction. Listening to a totally opposing mind-set.

It seems we have lost our ears all these many centuries later.

Some might say that we humans have progressed far beyond this ancient way of thinking. 

However, I am wondering if our worldview has simply wandered off course. Lost our way?

Lost our faith and trust in a seemingly unbelievable God who teaches kindness, humbleness, tenderness and forgiveness. 

Just think about her suggestion: “silver and gold” is far less important to our well-being.   

¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
   and knowledge rather than choice gold; 
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
   and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.Does not wisdom call,
   and does not understanding raise her voice? 

Where do we stand with Wisdom on this one particular point?

I have to wonder. 

In his commentary Richard Boyce writes:

“Wisdom calls out to “all that live,” not so much from the heart of all the world’s revealed religions, as from those public spaces available and accessible to all: the heights, beside the way, beside the gates….public places set aside for public functions,…..those who would be found by this wisdom need not separate themselves from the world or mistrust any voice that can be heard in public places….wisdom is one that cries out to all Homo sapiens — especially from those places open to all…. (Feasting on. the Word, page 28, Year C volume 3)

Where in this world is there a place ”open to all who live?"

Only in the expanse of nature itself do we find the boundless presence of God’s silent word.

Does not wisdom call,
   and does not understanding raise her voice?
² On the heights, beside the way,
   at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³ beside the gates in front of the town,
   at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
⁴ ‘To you, O people, I call,
   and my cry is to all that live.
⁵ O simple ones, learn prudence;
   acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
⁶ Hear, for I will speak noble things,
   and from my lips will come what is right;
⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;
   wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
   there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹ They are all straight to one who understands
   and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
   and knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
   and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.Does not wisdom call,
   and does not understanding raise her voice?
² On the heights, beside the way,
   at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³ beside the gates in front of the town,
   at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
⁴ ‘To you, O people, I call,
   and my cry is to all that live.
⁵ O simple ones, learn prudence;
   acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
⁶ Hear, for I will speak noble things,
   and from my lips will come what is right;
⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;
   wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
   there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹ They are all straight to one who understands
   and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
   and knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
   and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
¹² I, wisdom, live with prudence,
   and I attain knowledge and discretion.
¹³ The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
   and perverted speech I hate.
¹⁴ I have good advice and sound wisdom;
   I have insight, I have strength.
¹⁵ By me kings reign,
   and rulers decree what is just;
¹⁶ by me rulers rule,
   and nobles, all who govern rightly.
¹⁷ I love those who love me,
   and those who seek me diligently find me.
¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me,
   enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
   and my yield than choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
   along the paths of justice,
²¹ endowing with wealth those who love me,
   and filling their treasuries.
²² The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
   the first of his acts of long ago.
²³ Ages ago I was set up,
   at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth,
   when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains had been shaped,
   before the hills, I was brought forth—
²⁶ when he had not yet made earth and fields,
   or the world’s first bits of soil.
²⁷ When he established the heavens, I was there,
   when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he made firm the skies above,
   when he established the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he assigned to the sea its limit,
   so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰   then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
   rejoicing before him always,
³¹ rejoicing in his inhabited world
   and delighting in the human race. 

³² ‘And now, my children, listen to me:
   happy are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
   and do not neglect it.
³⁴ Happy is the one who listens to me,
   watching daily at my gates,
   waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
   and obtains favor from the Lord;
³⁶ but those who miss me injure themselves;
   all who hate me love death.’ (Proverb 8) 

Lady Wisdom Continues

 4 "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. ... 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 

Lady Wisdom is wise beyond our knowing. She was at the beginning of creation.  She knows the workings of God inside and out.  And she offers us just a peek at the depth of her treasures.  

All she asks is that we take her words to heart. To believe that she knows what she is talking about.  That she can help us to live a rich and full live without all the trappings of the silver and gold we think we need.  

Actually, she offers us all that we could ever want or need.  All that is truly important, and extremely helpful, for our living in a world that offers the opposite advice.

She offers strength!

     She gives us insight!  

                And she delivers justice!

                       She promises pure wealth! 

The wealth of peace of mind and the joy provided by her presence.  

Her wisdom out weighs anything that this world has to offer. 

Wisdom is on the side of those who want to live according to God’s will. 

She is here to walk with each one of us though all the arrogance and prideful behavior that surrounds us daily as we move about on this earth.  

I don’t know about you, but it seems a whole lot easier to listen to Lady Wisdom than the bullies that roam our world.  The bullies in our personal lives and those we don’t know, but affect our environment. 

Listen to her invitation!

4 "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right; 7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9 They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 12 I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.(Proverbs 8:4-21)

Lady Wisdoms Speaks

A bit of introduction to Wisdom

 The Book Wisdom of Solomon (see passage below) is not often found in common three year lectionary, used by most main stream denominations. The  Book of Wisdom belongs to what is called the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books.  These twelve books where not considered for inclusion in the first official Cannon.  However since the early years, the Roman Catholic Bible included them.  They were also in the first Bible that Luther printed in German.  In more recent years they have begun to be included in newer publication of some translations. The Apocryphal Books are found between the Old and New Testament. 

For some reason I have been drawn to those books.  I don't know if it is because they, were for so long, not apart of the normal reading resources. Or not! 

I am particularly drawn to the Book of Wisdom.  It has much the same message as the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament Cannon.  Lady Wisdom's identity has been the source of much debate.  I am not sure if that is because of the female identification or not.  But I don't think so.  Because some would have you believe that Lady Wisdom is a reference to Jesus. That interpretation comes because Lady Wisdom was with God "at beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago......"(Prov. 8:22f).  

However, I challenge that interpretation!  I identify Lady Wisdom with the Holy Spirit.  "...the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said....." (Gen.1:2-3a).

I am convinced that Lady Wisdom was God's first of creations. The one who would be left with us, by Jesus, to "lead us in to all truth."  Jesus was "The Word" spoken by God in the beginning.  The Spirit was the wind that blew over the formless void that created order out of the chaos of nothingness.  

God, Wind, Word!  The three of the Almighty!  At the beginning! 

Now, I will always admit that I could be wrong!  But this time I would need a strong argument to convince me otherwise(;

I invite you to read Lady Wisdom's invitation to listen to her.  

This invitation is so clear and logical.  If you can use the word logical when speaking theologically.  

In this passage she speak first to the attitudes and habits of the powerful leaders.  Then she begins to speak to all:

1 Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed. 

 

12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. 

 

13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.

1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. 

 

2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations. 

 

3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans. 

 

4 Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God, 

 

5 he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places. 

 

6 For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested. 

 

7 For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, nor show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike. 

8 But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty. 

 

9 To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, that you may learn wisdom and not transgress. 

 

10 For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense. 

 

11 Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed. 

 

12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. 

13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.

 

14 He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates. 

 

 15 To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, 

 

16 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought. 

 

17 The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her,(Wisdom of Solomon 6:1-17) 

Lady Wisdom Calls

 1 Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 She stands on the hilltop and at the crossroads. 3 At the entrance to the city, at the city gates, she cries aloud, 4 "I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. 5 How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding. 6 Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you.

Wisdom is an ever-present quality, of the larger -- unlimited -- universes, that somehow seems to elude our intelligence.  From the beginning this quality has instructed Creator and creation.  

It was not found in The Garden’s tree of good and evil. 

It is not something gained by reading, nor study, of human thoughts and ideas.  

Rather, it is something given through the listening heart, and mind,  to the motion and movement of God’s third-self.  

A Wind -- Spirit -- that blows in and out of our thoughts to correct and instruct.

It is in the air we breathe that fills us with an understanding beyond all knowing.  A knowing that cannot be assessed by proof, nor measured by experimental result.  

Jesus lived and taught by this powerful quality of wisdom.  It was his one and only source of information.  It was what instructed his every word, his every action, his very nature.  

And when it was time to leave this earth it was his source of strength in the terrible leaving.  

The best news, for we human being, is that when Jesus left the earthly body he didn’t take that quality with him.  He left it for all to experience in a very personal way.  Within our skin!  

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.(John 14:16-17)

1 Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 She stands on the hilltop and at the crossroads. 3 At the entrance to the city, at the city gates, she cries aloud, 4 "I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. 5 How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding. 6 Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you. Everything I say is right, 7 for I speak the truth and hate every kind of deception. 8 My advice is wholesome and good. There is nothing crooked or twisted in it. 9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn." 10 "Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. 11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it." 12 "I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. 13 All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. 14 Good advice and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. 15 Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just laws. 16 Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments." 17 "I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me. 18 Unending riches, honor, wealth, and justice are mine to distribute. 19 My gifts are better than the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! 20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. 21 Those who love me inherit wealth, for I fill their treasuries." 22 "The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. 23 I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. 24 I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. 25 Before the mountains and the hills were formed, I was born -- 26 before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil." 27 "I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. 28 I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established the deep fountains of the earth. 29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations, 30 I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. 31 And how happy I was with what he created -- his wide world and all the human family!" 32 "And so, my children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. 33 Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don't ignore it." 34 "Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! 35 For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval from the LORD. 36 But those who miss me have injured themselves. All who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8: 1-36 New Living Translation)

What Do People See/precieve about Christians?

 “An old man leaned on his cane and with tears in his eyes said, ‘I have seen too much pain in my life between people who call themselves people of faith.  Jacob taught me that people of all faiths are of one faith if their religion is kindness.’” (We Are All Jacob’s Children, p.174)

Jesus left his disciples with this powerful prayer (John 17) before his trial.  He offers them a vision — a vision of how ministry works.  

Live in unity with the Creator so other my see and believe.  A unity that needs just one crucial ingredients for changing the world view  

The only ingredient is belief in Jesus — God came in his flesh to model a love that surpasses all divisive suggestions.

Stay together in this one truth — Jesus' way of living, speaking and acceptance for all people regardless of their Biblical interpretation.

The theme of this great prayer is for something, seemingly, impossible — unity/cohesiveness a oneness of mind.

E. Belton Yoyner Jr.  writes:

“The importance of unity among believer is that such oneness leads the world to believe (v. 23).  The counterpoint of that truth is that the world sees partitions among the followers of Jesus….there is to be no second-class citizenship among the people of faith…...Ecumenism — the economy of God by which God organizes the whole world — becomes the single effort to express the unity to which Christians are called.  The ultimate unity of the church is not in human maneuvering but in the oneness of God (v. 21). We find our unity in our common acceptance of Christ. (Feasting son the Word, vol. 2 p.543 )

So, what exactly is Jesus asking for here?

The simple answer would be: Unity of belief.  

Recognizing that Jesus has been created by God.  That Jesus and God are one in being.

This one thing is — main thing — connects all who call themselves followers of Jesus.

Jesus who came to change human egocentric attitudes.

However that message, of oneness of mind, gets all messed up by all the other human rules — interpretations  — that have created many divisions among Jesus believers over the years.

Think about this: if the witness of all people, who claim to follow Jesus, adhered to the command to love; there would be much less infighting and confusion.

So what people would see would be a group of people who truly witnessed Jesus kind of being. 

They would witness a way of living that was all encompassing acceptance and harmony.  

A welcoming people who actually wanted to know you for who you are.  Not some fake set of values created by society.

Imagine the world filled with the offering of peaceful existence for all.

I know, I know, a totally unrealistic notion. Right?

How ever, it is what Jesus was/is asking of those who believed in him. 

20 ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 ‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’ (Jn. 17)