![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dena on September 27, 2003, at 12:30:18
I read this meditation this morning - it touched me, & so I offer it as a blessing to all who may partake - if you choose not to partake, then may you find another blessing...
****************************
All that God has to say, in history and in our daily lives, is: "Are you willing?" Disamed & disaming: "Are you willing?""Are you willing, like the prodigal son, to rely on another image of yourself and so recover hope? Are you willing, like Zacchaeus and Mary Magdalene, to look beyond your guilt? Attuned to the Beatitudes, are you willing to take the poor man in, to suffer for righteousness, peace and mercy? Are you willing to entrust Me with your past and future? Are you willing? And lastly, are you willing to have Me? Are you willing to lead your life with Me, the real life, the life of hoping and giving, of truth and joy?"
No longer us, then, purifying our own ideas or inventing our idols, no longer us seeking God by the light of our own courage, our own notions; but God, God Himself, with Jesus' face, embodied in the concrete events of daily life, coming looking for us and asking this one question: "Are you willing, are you willing to make your life a partnership with Me? Are you willing?"
Father Bernard Bro
Posted by rayww on September 28, 2003, at 9:53:06
In reply to Are You Willing?, posted by Dena on September 27, 2003, at 12:30:18
Some of us speak a different Christian language than others, and have difficulty with the terms. I would like a greater clarification of what this actually means. Like, what part of you did this touch---your feelings, your intellect, your compassion, your spirit? I read but I'm not exactly sure what it is asking because it doesn't touch my feelings or my intellect, or my spirit. Rather to me it suggests kind of an all or nothing approach to Christianity. And that's not quite how I interpret Christianity. I would like to ask the readers how they define Christianity - - not just what it means, but what it is.
I think God accepts us exactly as we are at the moment that we accept Him, and then begins His work with us, one baby step at a time, molding, forming, staying beside as we take one baby step forward, and then 10 giant steps back. He does not expect it all at once. He accepts us where we are, but once connected, we have choice to either fly or take our time. Rather than us saying, "I accept you Lord" isn't Christianity more of a "You accept me Lord?" and then "You accept me Lord!"
I would like it if you could explain this passage more clearly in your own words. For instance, what does it mean to rely on another image of yourself?
Posted by Dena on September 30, 2003, at 21:28:27
In reply to Re: Are You Willing?, posted by rayww on September 28, 2003, at 9:53:06
Hi Rayww -
Thanks for asking for clarification - it helps me to probe my own beliefs when someone asks questions. I'll respond to what you wrote:
> Some of us speak a different Christian language than others, and have difficulty with the terms. I would like a greater clarification of what this actually means. Like, what part of you did this touch---your feelings, your intellect, your compassion, your spirit? I read but I'm not exactly sure what it is asking because it doesn't touch my feelings or my intellect, or my spirit.
I'm not sure which part of me the meditation touched - I tend to think of myself holistically - with all parts of myself intertwined. But let me probe a bit. It definitely touched my spirit - I can always tell a spirit-led word when the part of my that's most true, most pure, most internal, stands to attention & responds hungrily. This meditation "rang true" within me - it resonated through me. I experienced it's truthfulness within me.
It also touched my mind, because anything worth pondering involves my mind - & if my spirit is at attention, my mind usually wants to get in on it as well. Though there are times when my spirit is touched & my mind hasn't the foggiest idea of what's going on.
It touched my emotions as well - first, my guilt, because this meditation forced me to face my own weakness... more often than not, I must be painfully honest, I must answer God's question, "Are you willing?" with a hesitation - a sense of fear, "Can I truly trust you, God? Will you let me down the way so many humans have?" And a reluctance to let go of my own agenda in order cooperate with God's way for me. Then, I felt hope, because whenever God shows me my shortcomings, it's not because He wants to condemn me, it's because He wants me to "come up higher" & let Him do a deeper work in me - if I let Him. Condemnation comes from the enemy (satan); God calls me "home", to Him & to my better self.
> Rather to me it suggests kind of an all or nothing approach to Christianity. And that's not quite how I interpret Christianity. I would like to ask the readers how they define Christianity - - not just what it means, but what it is.
In a way, I do approach Christianity as an all or nothing proposition. I believe that Jesus is God, or I don't. I accept Him as my Savior, or I don't. I let Him have the reigns of my life, or I don't. I give Him my all (& accept His all), or I give Him nothing, & receive nothing from Him. He lets me choose. And I get the consequences of my choice, either way.
> I think God accepts us exactly as we are at the moment that we accept Him, and then begins His work with us, one baby step at a time, molding, forming, staying beside as we take one baby step forward, and then 10 giant steps back. He does not expect it all at once. He accepts us where we are, but once connected, we have choice to either fly or take our time.Yes! I agree completely! God does accept us exactly where we are. We don't have to clean up our act, or quit bad habits, or improve ourselves before He accepts us. He accepted us before we were even born, because He made us! He's crazy about us! He died for us! It's up to us to accept or reject Him. He loves us exactly as we are, but loves us too much to leave us where we are. He has this perfect plan for each of us, & knowing the future, knows exactly what step we should make each day. He knows what will bless us beyond belief, He knows exactly what will tickle us pink, & He delights to give us that which will bless us most. I agree that I can partake in this perfect plan to the degree to which I submit to His authority in my life. If I allow Him to be in charge, I reap the benefits. If I insist on having my own way, I'm limited to my own wisdom.
>Rather than us saying, "I accept you Lord" isn't Christianity more of a "You accept me Lord?" and then "You accept me Lord!"
>
Yes, & if I truly understand that the Creator of the universe, the author of life, the almighty, invincible God accepts & loves ME... then what other response could I have, but to say, "Thank you - I accept You & Your plan for me!"?
> I would like it if you could explain this passage more clearly in your own words. For instance, what does it mean to rely on another image of yourself?The author of the meditation referred to the Prodigal Son, who demanded his inheritence from his father, while his father was still alive (a huge insult to his father) & then wasted his money on prostitutes, alcohol, etc. When his fortune ran out, so did his "friends". He found himself working for a pig farmer (the worst possible job for a Jewish man), & could only eat from the scraps fed to the pigs. Here he found himself, penniless, friendless, forsaken & destitute, in the worst of living conditions. He could have given up on himself, decided that he was worthless. Instead, he decided to humble himself, & return to his father, offering his services to his father as a hired servant - he no longer saw himself as a son worthy of his father's relationship (of course, the father represents God in this parable). While he was still a long way off, his father RAN to him (most undignified for that culture) & embraced him, welcoming him home with a party.
To rely on another image of myself, I would have to be willing to lift up my vision from me with all of my shortcomings, all of my sins, all of my faults, & seek to see myself through my Father's eyes. Not limited by my own failures, but with limitless potential that God has invested in me. But I can only reach my full potential if I let Him live through me - on my own, I'm limited by my own understanding. With Him in charge, all things are possible!
I was touched by this meditation, because I want to live a willing life. I want to live saying "Yes!" to God at every turn - in forsaking myself, I will find my life.
Shalom, Dena
Posted by rayww on October 1, 2003, at 14:47:54
In reply to Re: Are You Willing? » rayww, posted by Dena on September 30, 2003, at 21:28:27
Thankyou for the clarification. I guess where you and I differ is in our understanding of who God is. Although I hold God in the highest regard, I still look to Him as "Father". I associate feelings I have for my earthly Father, with similar ones toward God, they link up somehow. I have a hard time thinking about one without thoughts of the other. They want the same good things for me. THey are both in heaven.
God to me is not an incomprehensible being, rather a personable intimate Father, ONE with whom I would feel comfortable counselling, worshipping, expressing my devotion to, or trusting. That's who God is to me, and also, the Father of Jesus Christ. They are two separate Gods. ANd, to include the Holy Ghost, would make three. Is that Trinity to you?
When I refer to the Trinity I think of three separate identities, three separate spiritual beings, each an individual, comparable to you and I as an individual, meaning they will never become someone else, just like you or I will never become someone else We have always been ourselves from the beginning. Male and Female, Woman or man. Those things do not get switched. Neither does their eternal purpose. THey are one in purpose, one in unity, but cannot physically join each other's mass in element and matter. Element and energy are eternal separate things too which cannot be destroyed.
THere are certain elements of the physical body that are inseparably connected to ourselves, and at the resurrection, will become eternally inseparably connected to our spirit. Some future day those who are worthy will be inseparably connected to God, never to be separated from him again and to our family even. This heavenly place is for those who desire to be there, more than they desire sin.
I cannot comprehend the incomprehensible theory of God. It doesn't make sense to a person who has grown up with the understanding that they have been seen and described as something different.
Perhaps the "one" God theory is a simple mininterpretation. Maybe He was trying to say there is only ONE, not three in him. I'm not trying to put down your faith in Him, just to examine our understanding of who He is. Faith can stand alone, because God knows who you have faith in, even though our misunderstandings of who we think He is.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Faith | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.