Musings

8.1.15
– Imputation ~ insinuation
– 2Esdras 7:29
– Apostles as living epistles of Christ!
– If being an ethical vegetarian is the right thing according to you, then why can you not also see exclusive monogamy as the correct sexual ethic? Isn’t man a ‘natural’ omnivore &  promiscuous creature? Isn’t culture all about taking nature forward?
Yes, but promiscuity doesn’t involve bloodshed! Gen. 1:29-30 + Gen. 9:4
Plants – green life
Animals – breath + flesh + blood (soul)
Human – breath + flesh + blood + divine image!

9.1.15
– Theology of sleep & the reality of evil
– Is it possible to be steady without being slow?
– Blood > wine > water
Water >> wine >> blood
– “We are forced to live as if we were free.”
The sovereignty of GOD guarantees human responsibility. We have no choice but to exercise our freedom… Not to do so would be to blaspheme our maker & commit spiritual suicide!
– Law – I love the world, so I am going to prohibit everyone from doing anything that would either harm themselves or others, and make it compulsory to live in such a way that would benefit all concerned.
– Distinguish:
Freedom
Liberty
Independence
Autonomy
– Salvation – healing, liberation & transformation
– Just as this life is beyond the imagination of the fetus in the womb, so will the afterlife be to us!
– Why is it that the one thing we need to do to renew ourselves is the one thing that is always beyond our reach?
– Only the ones who take the leap of faith can know the Hand underneath them, in the midst of the chasm!
– In the end, when you stand before the One, you will be naked – without any covering (deeds, possessions, recommendations, etc.)!
– How can I get out of this death called life, & get into the life called death??
Caught in between life & death, stuck in the rut……
– “Even in the Jewish sacrificial system, it is highly doubtful whether the sin-offerings were meant to change God’s attitude (from justice & wrath, to love & mercy) toward his sinful people. Man has, of course, to carry out the ritual, but it is GOD himself who has provided this means of reconciliation!”
– A psychoanalytic reading of the Bible
WOW!
– Some forms of theism are more deicidal/homicidal than atheism!

11.1.15
– Grace = GOD’S greatness in my life or in my experience or in my perception
– GOD as the watcher.
YES! There is an audience.
Amen.
– Forgiving as the essence of giving.
– Travel narrative (toward the Passion)
– How are Christians to respond to the challenges facing (Indian) society today?
Entering into education outside of the limited circle of institutional religion. Dissolving like salt into the soil of the future generation!
– Consider HOW you hear His words!
What is the response desired by the speaker from the hearers?
– MY faith IS the (evidence of the) power of GOD (to me).
– Try to connect your heart with the heart of the author as you read/listen to his words.
Let the Source reach & touch you!
– What does it mean to tell (yourself or another), “Be strong!”?
– Word >> root >> fruit!
– WHICH light are you living by?
WHAT is that which gives meaning, purpose & value to your life, especially when the going gets tough/dark?
– GOD > Jesus > Scripture > Church
Church >> Scripture >> Jesus >> GOD
– Submitting & surrendering to Him, because you are captivated by His glory (beauty, wisdom & love)!
No adoration, no obedience

12.1.15
– No more feasting, & eating only half-stomach, until I get rid of this tummy and attain an ideal body structure.
The moderation rhythm is for those who have already attained a reasonable level of excellence & want to maintain it, not for those who are still striving to break out of mediocrity.
– Maybe despair and salvation are NOT that far apart! Complacency is more remote.
Just like the opposite of life is not death, but like-warmness.
– I think the Law is not about what we should not do, but all about what we CANNOT do (& still prosper as humans). It is NOT GOD trying to limit our freedom, but GOD reminding us of our own finitude, fallibility & fragility.

9.1.15

Passion – take up your cross, carry it, and finally die upon it!

The inner mystery of the divine life
Love ~ unity ~ fellowship
Trinity – nature, history & personality

Jesus Christ – each of us is also in the divine image, but not in the same sense/equal level.

Person ~ persona ~ personality

Revelation & mystery
Knowledge & faith

Love:
I am fully yours,
I belong to you, and you to me.
But I can never be completely possessed…
Nor can I comprehensively know you!

Understand ~ control

Yes, the (one) self/person is greater than its (many) identities. But the (contextual) self cannot be (fully) realized without (the aid of) these (concrete) roles!

Without death (evil), there can be no suffering (ugliness). And without suffering, there can be no passion, or compassion (beauty)!
Without good, there can be no evil,
And without evil, there can be no greatness.
Right?
Evil > suffering
Sin > immorality
Evil as spiritual deprivation

I can progress as an individual, only if I am able to stick to the plan I have made (in the past), even when my present state of mind is not conducive for it – pressing into the (envisioned) future.
“Faith is all about continuing to believe what you found reasonable (in the past), even when your (current) senses & emotions don’t agree.” – C.S. Lewis

Trinity – being, personality & action

Distinguish:
Faithfulness
&
Dogmatism
Holding on to the original faith, but open to reinterpretation.

Faith is to believe that one is free – can be free & destined for freedom – even when one is still a slave!

Allergic rhinitis & psychological depression – clear that fucking nose!

“The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim, nether regions of our personality which we cannot get at.” – Oswald Chambers

13.1.15

Taking life as it comes, one day at a time, focusing on momentary devotion, faithfulness & love – piety, role-playing & responding to needs as they arise, without any well thought out theology or futuristic plan – may also be a legitimate form of spirituality! This does not imply a lack of intentionality.
But this is not suitable for a leader/thinker.

Movies:
“Ladies and Gentlemen” (Hungarian)
The last scene is important! 😉

Be sharp, hot & bright!

Is the entire solar system revolving around something else?!

Psychology is not just about feelings, thoughts & behavior, it’s also about the heart, the conscience & the will!

I think that Liberals & Evangelicals are just two constitutionally different types of people who worship the same GOD. But this might just be a liberal opinion!

Liberal Evangelicals
Evangelical Liberals
I am one of the latter. Right?

How can one be candid & bold, without being loose & rash??
I don’t know! 😔

Is there a proper place for shame (like guilt) in (my) life, or should it be completely eliminated?
Being confident without becoming impudent…

14.1.15

Al Jazeera – this is what I call news!

Politics
Vs.
Governance

Strongman

Hobbesian

Vivekananda
Vs.
Hindutva

I am not Charlie!

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Author: Immanuel Joseph

Immanuel Joseph (Male; Born - 11.08.1979, Madurai) What am I doing?? Actually, nothing much! But I am a self-employed, part-time, freelance spiritual worker. What that means exactly, I myself don't know...... I don't have a job. But I have vocation...... Christian, medical background. Lay, maverick, eccentric thinker & spiritual friend (Insightful Facilitator) - passionately seeking to better experience, understand & enjoy life! Reclusive & contemplative autodidact. Controversial conversationalist. Life-partner - Salome Divya. Living in Hulimavu, (Bengaluru, India). Email jimmanueljoseph@gmail.com Cell Phone/WhatsApp +919840227977

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