URfriendly Reflections

The Key to Understanding Jesus and the Apostles

2011-04-26T20:49:00.075-06:00

This unique Gospel message is Freely given for the sake of the church.

Seemingly hidden for many centuries, but now revealed, the recent discovery of a "key of knowledge" has yielded a practical and very useful cross reference tool to understand the epistles.

This cross shaped key is found hidden within many early manuscripts and most prominently within the controversial Gospel of Thomas. This mysterious key unlocks a treasure chest allowing the disciple to discover hidden connections both within Thomas, and within the canonical letters.

There are convincing sequential similarities in thought, word, and rhetoric between The Gospel of Thomas and several canonical writings that become plainly visible. Providing an invaluable contribution to the study of the New Testament, these connections appear to reveal the original thought processes behind the apostolic writings.

Aligning and combining the sayings of Jesus together with these apostolic writings, we "make the two into one." It's almost like Jesus and the apostles left us a cross reference study bible.

Take a look at these Key Word Connections:

View The Thomas - Corinthian Connection

See The Thomas - Galatians Connection

See The Thomas - James Connection

See The Thomas - 1 Peter Connection

See The Thomas - 1 John Connection

See The Thomas - Revelations Connection

These new insights suggest that The Gospel of Thomas squares more neatly into the framework of early Christianity than is commonly assumed. Such similarities, connections, and cross references could revolutionize our understanding of the epistles, the gospel, the tapestry of the early church, and even of Christ.

I think the implications of these revelations stretch the imagination beyond belief. What do you think? Being the only known document with simultaneously extensive, sequential, and unique connections to all these early canonical writings does not suggest a later date for Thomas, but rather a very, very early date.

What does all this mean?

Why are these texts interconnected in such an extensive manner?
What do these connections teach us about the meaning of the canonical letters and about Thomas?

Let's dare to ask the difficult question:
Did Paul, James, Peter, and John construct their letters using "The Gospel of Thomas?" If so, why?

Thomas claims to be the Gospel authored by Christ himself, and penned by Thomas. Could apostolic acceptance of this proposition explain the connections, and explain why the apostles used this gospel so extensively. (See the Thomas prologue)

Given the apparent apostolic reliance upon the Gospel of Thomas, could this gospel be The Original Gospel Of Christ?

This would be revolutionary. As a unique gospel, apparently intended primarily for those within the church, this key of knowledge teaches those who would follow Jesus, as one of his disciples, how to live life as a wandering radical. It then reveals to these solitary and elect the complete reunification and oneness of the all through the teachings of the bridal chamber. This gospel, if sent and received, could be a significant challenge to the current religious world.

May we be granted wisdom and grace.

URfriend,
Dean Johnson

P.S. Perhaps The Gospel of Thomas was even used by non-canonical authors:

See The Gospel of Thomas - The Gospel of Mary Connection

The Gospel Of Christ: Complete Reunification

2011-01-10T01:48:00.011-06:00

The Message of Ultimate Reconciliation is Hidden in the Gospel of Thomas.

It was the Message of Paul. It is the Gospel of Jesus.

The Gospel of Thomas is a Step by Step
Initiation into This Great Mystery.

Disclosed are hidden structures within Thomas revealing the foundational teachings of Jesus used by the apostles as the basis their New Testament writings and ministry.

Concealed or previously unnoticed chiastic structures within Thomas are revealed. They are presented as a step by step initiation to gradually unfold and teach the complete reunification of all things to the disciples of Christ. These same structures also divulge the path the disciples needed to take and did take to see and experience this reality for themselves.

The similarities and the relationship between the teachings of the chiastic structures in the Canonical Gospels, The Gospel of Thomas, and Paul's Letters will be examined. The possibility that Thomas could be a source document for the New Testament is examined.

Check out the possibilities, the evidence, and the implications of
The Gospel of Christ

The Key of Knowledge

2010-05-12T08:24:00.048-06:00

Many ancient texts, including much of the New Testament, appear to have a chiastic structure: an ABCDCBA organizational pattern.

Chiastic structures in Thomas can be used by the seeker to connect the corresponding sayings of Jesus so that they can be properly interpreted. The implications of these structures within the Gospel of Thomas are astonishing. "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death," Thomas 1.

This article suggests a chiastic structure built around Saying 55. "Whoever does not... take up his cross in my way will not be worthy of me."

This arrangement suggests that the message of “the cross” can be the center and climax of the gospel of Thomas.

This gospel structure may be like a progessive catechism for an early church encouraging the carnal believers to a deeper walk. Uniting the two sides of this palindrome together into one bodily structure may uncover the meaning of many of the more obscure sayings of Jesus.

Also presented is an alternate chiastic pattern built around Saying 51: "What you look forward to has already come, but you do not recognize it." Perhaps, this chiasm may have been adapted for a more spiritually minded audience. In this pattern a Realized Eschatology of the Kingdom would be emphasized as the heart of Jesus' message.

These two patterns do not have to be mutually exclusive, but perhaps mutually supportive.

For personal devotionals and scriptural meditations I offer the charts found at the bottom of the article. They focus on the cross and the words of Christ.

Blessings on your Journey,

URfriend,

Dean Johnson

Discover The Key of Knowledge

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The first step is to recognize the Key Of Knowledge and to study the Chiasm it reveals.

After studying this initial chiastic structure it may be interesting to examine the kingdom now chiasm revealing Christ's message of Realized Eschatology.

Then combining the two Chiasm's into into One Body, the Joint Body structure can be the next step in unravelling the mystery as revealed in this amazing gospel.

The next step can be "Renunciation and Ministry:
The Eye, Hand, Foot and Likeness Teachings." This page discusses the path toward ministry and the deeper walk of a Wandering Radical .

The next step is "The Bridal Chamber" This page introduces the 26 alignments of the Bridal Chamber preparing the reader for the joining of heaven and earth.

Next is "A Closer Look At The Bridal Chamber" This page considers the teaching of those alignments that specifically mention the Bridal Chamber.

Then it may be interesting to view "The Holy Grail Mystery And The Gospel Of Thomas Chiastic Pyramid Structure." This page uses popular religious imagery to illustrate the great mystery as it is revealed within Thomas.

"Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All," Thomas 2.

The Bridal Chamber - Becoming One

2009-06-28T00:22:00.034-06:00

The Dream: The Quest of the Natural Man

The other night I had a disturbing dream. It was a reminder of the frustration experienced when operating out of the duality of an unrenewed mind.

An unknown companion and I, after being upstairs, found ourselves in a dark basement, beside a double bed. Over the bed was a "ceiling," a barrier with an extremely well hidden trap door. I was sure off it. Several times I had seen a caretaker climb up onto the bed and somehow go up through this trap door. I tried to follow, but every time I climbed up onto the bed, reaching up to the trap door to pull it open, filthy grime and dirt would fall on the bed. And the dark passage way eluded me.

Frustrated, I apologized to my companion for dirtying the bed. Politely, she told me not to worry. She had already made plans to get new pillow covers. And she headed off another way. This seemed odd for I had no intension of sleeping in such a filthy bed. I became obsessed with this hidden passage way back upstairs. I even thought of moving the bed, and tearing down and ripping open the ceiling, but if I moved the bed how would I reach the ceiling? Was I trapped in the basement?

_____________

Unenlightened, man lies in what seems like a dark place, a body of death. Like a dark basement, hell and the grave are hidden underground in this dark watery earth. Like an outer darkness, with the appearance of an inner death, this body can sometimes seem like a “whitewashed tomb” full of dead men's bones, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 23:27, Romans 7:24.

But there is a way of escape. Liberation is not the coming out of one realm into another, but a realization that the middle wall of partition has been torn asunder. If we ask the rhetorical question, "Is Christ divided?" We may realize that he is not the divider. Rather, He is the all, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Corinthians 1:13, Colossians 3:11, Thomas 72.

When there is no division and separation between the above and below, the inner and the outer,the male and the female, and the right and the left then liberation is an amalgamation of the two, and a re-creation. It is not a choice between two dichotomies. This is not the replacing of the old with the new. But rather it is the consummation of the old by the new. The old passes away, is destroyed, and is consumed and transformed into a new creation. All things are made new, Thomas 7.

Some spiritual mysteries can be seen mirrored in the natural realm. However, when the secret and hidden realities are seen only by comparing, and combining and joining together spiritual with spiritual, they are not readily discerned by the natural man, 1 Corinthians 2:13.

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:51.

The life of Christ is our story. “The sun was darkened, but the veil of the temple was rent in the midst,” Again, “The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,” Luke 23:45, Matthew 27:51-52.

The Vision:

When knowledge (gnosis) is pleasant unto your soul, you will experience a death, the sun will be darkened, and you will behold only a corpse, and the veil of the temple will be rent in twain, and the earth will quake, and the rocks will be rent, and the grave will open, and there will be a bright light, and the body of a saint, a holy one which slept shall arise and shine, a reunited Perfect Man, clothed in an armor of light, conquering all with the love of a bridegroom, Luke 23:45, Matthew 27:51-52, Thomas 2, 56, 77, 24.

The bridal chamber is the holy of holies hidden within the veil, where two become one, Hebrews 6:19,9:3, Philip, Hebrew 10:20.

Love conquers all, and it never fails. There is a marriage in the hidden place that expands through all creation. This is a great mystery hidden with Christ in God. In Paul’s message this marriage happens in every level of reality.

Though not explicitly explained in Paul’s letters, the mythology of Christ and Sophia seems to have formed the underlying foundation for much of his thought. In the mythology, Christ is the Bridegroom and Sophia (or Wisdom) is the Bride. Recognizing Sophia as the personification of Wisdom clarifies much of Paul’s mystery teaching. Christ gives us light revealing the hidden things of darkness. Arising with enlightened eyes we behold instead a joining together within the bridal chamber. The dichotomies and divisions are reunited. There is nothing hidden that shall not be made manifest.

God commands the light to shine out of darkness, and enlightened we behold two become One, creating the ONE new man, who is become a living spirit. This is the new and a living way. This is our liberation.

When we make the two into one, when the male and the female, and the inner and the outer are joined together you enter the kingdom. This bridal chamber is where two become one. Through marriage, we are made complete.

What is this marriage in the secret place? “Behold, thou desirest Truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know Wisdom. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all Sophia (Wisdom),” Colossians 3:16 NASB, Psalms 51:6, Hebrews 6:19, 9:3, Philip, Hebrew 10:20.

“Behold I show you a great mystery.”
See the whole article:

The Bridal Chamber

Proclaiming The Perfect Man

2008-11-09T23:28:00.010-06:00

Asleep in the Light
The other night I had a dream. There was a house in the sky, and another on the earth. A friend of mine, using a square, was struggling to build a corridor or a partition to connect the two, to bring them together. Unsuccessful, he was requesting my assistance, but strangely enough, I was using a bowl of fruit to explain that we did not need to build a bridge.

This dream inspired an article about the ignorance that blinds the old humanity and about the perspective of the new and perfect man, Ephesians 4:18.

For we all come into the… "the knowledge of the Son of God, to a Perfect Man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ", Ephesians 4:13.

The article considers what it might mean to wake up with a new "fulfilled" perspective.

Knowing that hope does not disappoint, we move from faith to knowledge to perfect love, being filled with all the fullness of God proclaiming the Perfect Man.

Click here to see the whole article

Christ is Everything: The "Door" That No One Can Close

2007-05-31T01:29:00.006-06:00

Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. This is often understood very exclusively.

The message of “Christ is all” reconciling Jews, and Gentiles, and all things, into the one body of Christ back to the Father transforms the seemingly “exclusive” words, “I am the way”, into an absolutely inclusive and liberating message. [Colossians 3:11]. Through this One Body, through the Christ who is all, we all [Jews, Gentiles and all things] have access to the Father by one Spirit. [Ephesians 2:14,18].

“I am the way” is no longer seen as a narrow door excluding entrance to the Father now that we have the Pauline revelation that “Christ is all, and in all”. If Christ is everything, then everything is the Door. [John 10:9] Everything leads to God. Truth and Life are in everything. All things work together for the good bringing us to God.

Since there are no exceptions, this is absolutely inclusive.

Christ is all in all. All things are united in this one body, bringing us to God.

Yes, this Christ is revealed as the only way to God.

However, everything is included in Christ, who returns to the Father.

All is reconciled in this one body, bringing all back to God in Christ?

Given this revelation of the “Christ as all”, as the body who is filled with all things, who fills all things, and who is all things,… Given this revelation of Christ who is the only way,… now everything and anything is the path to God.

This is the one body [Ephesians 4:6].

Christ is all, and in all, and God is all in all, that we may be all… one.

Magnifying the Christ,
URfriend,
Dean Johnson

A Comparative Anthology Of Sacred Texts

2006-10-09T15:11:00.005-06:00

World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology Of Sacred Texts is an interesting site compiling scriptures from the world religions on a variety of subjects. It is already a 914 pages text, but I would love to see a work like this expanded. Check out the anthologies limited compilation of texts on the subject of
Universal Salvation

I am grateful for salvation in every sense of the word. It seems that the desire of the universe is to see all reunited. As we agree on earth surely it shall be done.

How Christ Unites Christians and Universalists

2006-08-27T15:13:00.000-06:00

Christ is the light that lightens everyone that comes into the world (John 1:9)

How Christ the Inward Light Unites Universalism and Christianity?
An insight from Samuel D. Caldwell.

Though written by a Quaker to The Religious Society of Friends, I thought some of the insights might be helpful for the larger Christian Universalist Community. We may not agree with every detail, but it is interesting food for thought.

Where are we going?
URfriend, Dean Johnson

The Resurrection of All in All in The Spiritual Body of Christ

2006-07-10T02:13:00.000-06:00

The Eternal Vantage Point
Click your cursor on the above link for some thoughts on
"The Resurrection of All in All within the Spiritual Body of Christ."

An old Quaker confession of faith by Robert Barclay got me thinking about the Coming of Christ, the Resurrection, and the Consummation and how waiting for these events in time differs from the eternal realities.

Does God, Outside of Time, existing in an Eternal Present, allow chronological time-lines for the benefit of our human minds?

In the twinkling of an eye, the Resurrection of Everything. Changing the way we see reality. How do you see it? What do you think?

This article is a springboard for a very practical discussion about the extent of Christ’s indwelling spirit, and our Father’s view of his creation. Join the discussion if you have insights to share. Together we are sure to discover the truth. The Danger and Potential of An Eternal Perspective: An Email Discussion

URfriend, Dean Johnson

A Letter From a Friend about Meditation

2006-06-10T02:09:00.000-06:00

Recently, my friend sent me an interesting email with some of his lecture notes. He has started a new faith endeavour since his retirement that I found quite interesting. Faith endeavours in retirement: What a great idea! I hope this catches on.

He has created a camp called Camp Everest: Beyond Achievement to teach Seraphim Meditation, and to promote harmony and Oneness. What makes his lecture notes so interesting is that we see a Western Canadian Christ-centered Outlook merging with the “Eastern” experience of Oneness and Infinity.

I found his writing and story very intriguing,
and thought it was timely given my most recent posting:
Oneness Within Christianity and Eastern Religion.
The condensed version of this article is Enlightenment and Oneness.

Enlightenment and Oneness: Click here

2006-05-24T22:20:00.000-06:00

(We are One. Speaking the Truth. Fostering Love.)

Spiritual realities are eternal, beyond time, wherever they are found. The Judeo-Christian Bible is firmly grounded within history, and the characters within scripture are generation upon generation moving toward a fuller understanding of these eternal realities. Grounded as they are in history, the eternal perspective is not often out in the open, and is usually only hinted at. Each generation seems caught in its own present truth and human experience, holding onto a surface level of spiritual understanding, often rejecting the new insights of those who would take them one step deeper...

Though I have a Christian background, and have made most of my spiritual discovery through the Bible, the study of world religions is a personal interest of mine. Insights perceived by those outside our own traditions are very often valid. Christ is the light that enlightens every person everywhere. Many spiritual realities hidden deep and often unseen within the Christian scriptures are often discussed openly, plain for all to see within other religions, and other cultures. For this reason, rather than restricting study only to the Bible, it is often easier to present and then apprehend some insights using the language of other traditions. Truth is truth whatever the language...

Coming from a Christ centered perspective I see Christ in all things. When I read about the Hindu concept of the Atman I think about the Christ who lightens every person, (John 1:1,9). I can see the eternal Christ as the divine spark in everyone. When I read of the Hindu understanding of the Brahman I am reminded of the universal, cosmic and spiritual body of Christ, (Colossians 3:11, Ephesians 1:10). The Christ within, the eternal divine spark within all people, is one and the same Spirit as the cosmic universal Christ. As it is written, Christ is all, and in all. Christ is all there is. Realizing this is the essence of "enlightenment ”...

In Hinduism this realization of oneness and interconnectedness is often discovered during the various practices of yoga. Various types of yoga provide various paths to perfect union with the divine. There are 4 common styles of yoga: meditation, study, work and love. Individual circumstances and personality type will often determine the most suitable yoga to practice. There is a tolerant recognition in Hinduism that different sorts of people need and are most comfortable with different spiritual paths toward enlightenment...

In a similar way, the Buddhist notion of skillful means is the idea that enlightenment can come in a variety of ways. Mahayana Buddhism, for example, invites many philosophical and practical approaches toward enlightenment and the discovery of cosmic unity. Some people need to hear a message, others need the connection of a community, and others still need only silence and emptiness, while some focus on the divine nature to see the deeper reality. For Zen Buddhists enlightenment comes as a flash of insight and the sudden realization that nothing is separate from oneself. There is the Buddha (or Christ) nature within and also the Cosmic Buddha. Everything is a part of everything else, and all people and things exist together. I have even heard of some coming to this realization from the study of physics, chemistry, and science.

For me, Christ is the way, but since Christ is all there is, I find truth everywhere I look. I am glad to see the graciousness of God in revealing these realities to people everywhere.

Indeed, we all are able to see beyond a limited human cultural viewpoint, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened to the eternal or divine perspective. We all have the mind of Christ.

Whatever the language, Christ is all and in all. The cosmic Christ is the Christ within. Whether Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or not each moment is and can be an experience of completeness. With enlightened eyes we behold with wisdom and compassion, the completed and ultimate unity. We are all interconnected and one.

God is all, Christ is all, and We are all… One.

Celebrating our Oneness,
In Christ, URfriend,
Dean Johnson

Christ is all, and in all, that God may be all in all.

See The Whole Article

What is Religion To You?

2006-02-20T11:17:00.000-06:00

What is Religion?

Lately, I have been thinking about religion generally from an academic perspective.

Defining religion is not easy. Religion can be looked at materialistically, functionally and theologically, and probably many other ways too.

Religion, from a materialistic perspective, is a human attempt to deal with fear of the unknown and the unexplainable (i.e. death). Such human-made religion is an attempt to influence the powers that apparently determine destiny toward a positive outcome or response.

Religion, from a functional perspective, is the action, practice, and organization that encourages and brings a faith community together with a common culture and worldview through mythology and ritual, mystical experience, or morality. It is the focused attempt to join a community together to reconnect with the divine or sacred.

Religion, from a theological perspective, is the human expression, whether corporate or individual, acknowledging a divine or sacred reality. It is a response to revelation of and from the Eternal, often recognized in nature, gnosis, or spiritual practices. It is also the gathering together in community, for encouragement and common purpose in accord with the expressly revealed intension, often to transform or unite the profane to the sacred.

Different folk approach religion from different perspectives. How do you approach it?

Is it an attempt to deal with the unknown? Is it a practical approach to creating community? Or is it the acknowledgement of a fundamental spiritual reality discovered by peoples around the world?

Personally, I approach most of life as a discovery of the divine. This might be called a theological approach. But also seeing the oneness of all reality with the divine, I can see how such academic distinctions break down, and are not sufficient. As one with the divine, and co-workers together in creation, I can see validity in all three views, materialistic, functional, and theological. I figure that we both discover and create our own world. What do you think?

Curious about humankind’s search for the center,
URfriend, Dean Johnson

Tomorrow's God

2005-11-10T21:48:00.000-06:00

Our Greatest Spiritual Challenge

Recently, I finished reading a thought-provoking book by Neale Donald Walsch, author of the “Conversations with God” series, called “Tomorrow’s God”.

In it he encourages us to honor those religious traditions that serve a worthwhile purpose, and to let go of those beliefs that are empty, or even harmful.

“Seek, on a regular basis, spiritual inspiration and sustenance for your soul… honor that which is divine… Do this in whatever way feels fitting to you. Go to church, temple, mosque or synagogue regularly if that is where you find inspiration. Yet do not be afraid to ask questions there. Do not be afraid to contradict there, if a contradiction appears in your heart. Do not swallow anything whole, and do not accept anything on someone else’s word, and do not “go along with the crowd” because it is the easiest thing to do…"

He continues, “Educate yourself … If you haven’t ever understood what happens at a Quaker meeting of the Society of Friends, go to one. See what goes on there”, (page 228-229). As one who has experienced the wonder and beauty of a meeting of “Friends”, I could relate to this.

Simply put, the message of the book seems to be “We are all One”.

“There is no God separate from (us)”, and “ALL OF (US) WILL AWAKEN”, (page 31, 155, 168).

On page 386, Walsch summarizes the message of “Tomorrow’s God” in 9 simple points:

1. Tomorrow’s God does not require anyone to believe in God.
2. Tomorrow’s God is without gender, size, shape, color, or any of the characteristics of an individual being.
3. Tomorrow’s God talks with everyone all the time.
4. Tomorrow’s God is separate from nothing, but is everywhere present, the All in All, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Sum Total of Everything that ever was, is now, and ever shall be.
5. Tomorrow’s God is not a singular Super Being, but the extraordinary process called Life.
6. Tomorrow’s God is ever changing.
7. Tomorrow’s God is needless.
8. Tomorrow’s God does not ask to be served, but is the servant of all Life.
9. Tomorrow’s God will be unconditionally loving, nonjudgmental, noncondemning, and nonpunishing.

It is a well written, thought provoking, and an interesting read suitable for the masses.

Up for a challenge,
URfriend, Dean Johnson

P.S. Some related sites
http://www.newspirituality.org/
http://www.cwg.org/
http://www.humanitysteam.org/index.htm

We Are All - One

2005-08-14T23:18:00.000-06:00

After a recent meeting for worship it was suggested that three succinct quotes are often effective to express and summarize a personal perspective, outlook, or belief. Here are three of my favorite quotes.

Christ is all, and in all, (Colossians 3:11).
That God may be All in All, (1 Corinthians 15:28).
He that is joined unto the Lord is One Spirit, (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Together they say to me that the Christ is all, and that God is all, and that We are all… One.

URfriend, Dean Johnson

P.S. Love is revealed to “gather together in One all things in Christ” showing us that nothing could separate us from God, or one another, (Ephesians 1:10, Romans 5:8, 8:39).

Love reconciles everything, making peace with everything and everyone in heaven and on earth, (Colossians 1:20).

The alienation and separation people experience in a darkened mind are just temporal lies, deceptions, and misperceptions, (Ephesians 4:18).

For Christ is all. God is all. And We are all ….One.

With the mind of the Christ we can see beyond a limited individual human viewpoint to the divine perspective revealed at the consummation, to Eternity where "God is all".

Seeing everyone as joined to the Lord, and as One Spirit.
URfriend, Dean Johnson

Looking to the Divine Light Within to Guide & Direct.

2005-06-19T09:12:00.000-06:00

Anyone remember the game where everyone sits in a circle, and you whisper a message to the person beside you, and they pass it on to the person beside them, and so on, and by the time it gets to the last person, it is not the same message. As the murmur travels from one person to another it becomes harder and harder to understand the original message, and its intent. As with all communication, what is said is not always what is heard, and what is intended by the speaker, is not always what is understood. The Gospel, prophecy, and scripture is a bit like that too.

Just a couple of words about prophecy, and scripture. Holy people of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, ( Peter 1:21).

Many of our fellow travelers would agree that the scriptures are are a sure word of prophecy. They are safe. The path of the message is simple: God - Prophet - Scripture - Us. Not a lot of chance of the message getting distorted, especially with the Spirit within helping us.

However, Peter makes some interesting comments in 2 Peter 1:16-19.

He says "We have a more sure word of prophecy."

Apparently speaking of the transfiguration, he says, "we were eyewitnesses"... and "this voice which came from heaven we heard"...and so "We have a more sure word of prophecy". It did not come second hand. God spoke to us directly.

Peter heard God's voice personally, and then he says....YOU also "will do well to take heed". Listen to God's voice to your own heart. It is direct, applicable to your own heart, for your own situation, straight from heaven. You don't have to interpret, what another man has said. You can hear God's voice directly. Listen to it like you would pay attention to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns.

You don't have to listen to false prophets, interpreting the scriptures for you, telling you how to live, or what to believe, (2 Peter 2 :1). You have an anointing that abides within you. You don't need anyone to teach you, (1 John 2:20, 27). You don't need someone teaching you their private interpretations. You have access to God yourself. Pay attention to The Light that shines within you, and you will be lead by the Spirit, and will know that you are his Child.

He spoke to holy ones in ancient times, and he speaks to holy (made whole) people today. Yes, God still speaks directly to his children.

We look to the Divine Light within to guide and direct.

Today, if you will hear his voice,
URfriend Dean Johnson

Values to Practice and Cherish

2005-06-05T15:55:00.000-06:00

This Blog is built upon the values and practices I treasure most.
So today, I discuss personal faith perspectives. They will come up again and again in our discussions.

The Belief-O-Matic Personality Quiz says that I fit the
Liberal Unprogrammed Quaker Faith.
No surprise to me. It is great having a place to belong.

In The Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers)
I find the same principles that I love. Check them out.

1. We are peacemakers. Actively promoting harmony, peace and non-violence.

2. We cleave to honesty. So we are often not even comfortable making promises or swearing oaths.

3. We hold to simplicity: a socially conscious lifestyle that allows spiritual devotion and service without distraction.

4. We involve ourselves in social action, and humanitarian service, after carefully discerning divine direction. This is done through corporate prayer and listening in silence, rather than through decisions of clergy, or hierarchies.

5. We are radically inclusive, even Universalist. We are all One, regardless, without exception. Perhaps, the most well known Quaker phrase is "There is that of God in everyone." This has led to a deep respect for others, even for those who do not share our views. We hold forth our peculiar perspective without denying the legitimacy of another's journey.

6. We unceasingly promote equality for all people.

7. We emphasize spiritual reality, without any emphasis on outward sacraments or ordinances.

8. We are non-creedal. We understand the Bible as a revelation of God, but not the only revelation, for God continues to reveal truth.

9. We tend to have no salaried ministry, but we do encourage traveling "friends" who visit the meetings. We look to the Divine Light within to guide and direct.

10. Our meetings are open and participatory, often with times of silence until someone is moved to share or contribute.

Lived out, these ideals develop into a radical egalitarian counterculture, a society of friends, powerfully working with divine guidance for the common good, defying oppression, and changing the very fabric of society. This is revolutionary.

Who are you? Take the Belief-O-Matic Quiz for yourself http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html?rnd=28

Discovering my own personal treasure,
URfriend, Dean Johnson

My First Blog

2005-05-29T22:05:00.000-06:00

I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you.
I hope to hear from you all.