Experience

2.3.15

Maybe I should put only 100% original stuff out there (social networking)

“Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side…” (with me)  😉

Unplug Day!

Movies:
“Days of Heaven”
Rich & poor – 2 different species, & therefore incompatible!
“Hero”
The war to end all wars: Pacifism = martyrdom!

Commonwealth of Nations & inter-faith service

3.3.15

Game-changers

Thinking on your feet
Being on the ball

Improvisation as innovation

xoxo

Skilled ease

Intellectual virtue

Match practice

“Shake your family tree & watch the nuts fall out”

Look at all those people who are so proud of ‘denying themselves’!

Expostulation

Precepts, perceptions & concepts

“Judaism rejects Zionism” – World Jewry!

Briton

“Manasa, vacha, karmana”

We must always emphasize the importance of the overall process of education, with the ultimate goal of enlightenment, social service & total progress.
Only then, preparation for exams, presentations, interviews, etc.
So we can overcome unnecessary anxiety on the day of evaluation/performance!
SHALOM

4.3.15

If someone is not interested in your ministry, does that mean they are not spiritual? Haven’t you yourself said that there are many definitions of, & different ways to, spiritual growth?

When someone is convinced that what they believe is absolutely real, then what is wrong if they also believe that other views are false?!

Living Stream Ministry – Watchman Nee to Witness Lee:
Biblical Jesus-mysticism
Anti-intellectual
Anti-structural
Anti-activistic

Maybe it is not just structural reformation in government, business, etc., but a grassroots-movement of citizen awareness, mobilization and public engagement, that is required to take our country forward.
Next time I am driving on the roads, I should take the effort to converse with the traffic policeman instead of just complaining about his inefficiency!

Comeuppance

Hasidic Judaism
Meaning “piety” (or “loving-kindness”), is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality through the popularization and internalization of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspect of the faith. It was founded in 18th-century Eastern Europe by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov as a reaction against overly legalistic Judaism. His example began the characteristic veneration of leadership in Hasidism as embodiments and intercessors of Divinity for the followers. Contrary to this, Hasidic teachings cherished the sincerity and concealed holiness of the unlettered common folk, and their equality with the scholarly elite. The emphasis on the Immanent Divine presence in everything gave new value to prayer and deeds of kindness, alongside rabbinical supremacy of study, and replaced historical mystical (kabbalistic) and ethical (musar) asceticism and admonishment with Simcha, encouragement, and daily fervor.

Hesychasm (Greek: “stillness, rest, quiet, silence”)
A mystical tradition of prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Churchand Eastern Catholic Churches of Byzantine Rite practised. The process of retiring inward by ceasing to register the senses, in order to achieve an experiential knowledge of God (see theoria).
The story of the system of mysticism defended by the monks of Athos in the fourteenth century. An elaborate system of asceticism, detachment from earthly cares, submission to an approved master, prayer, especially perfect repose of body and will, to see a mystic light; which is none other than the uncreated light of God. The contemplation of this light is the highest end of man on earth; in this way is a man most intimately united with God. There was a regular process for seeing the uncreated light; the body was to be held immovable for a long time… The likeness of this process of auto-suggestion to that of fakirs, Sunnyasis, and such people all over the East is obvious.
Hesychasm then contains two elements, the belief that quietist contemplation is the highest occupation for men, and the assertion of real distinction between the divine essence and the divine operation.

Everyone must have at least one performing art as a regular part of their life.
E.g. Music, dance, sports, theater, writing, drawing, etc.
Mould! Create! Express!
So, what & how is it gonna be for you?

I wish >> I hope >> I want >> I will!

Pleasure/sex is a greater good than wealth/status.
Power > fame

Erotic sages – a new generation of saints!
The future of godliness is total humanity……

Can freedom & excellence go together?
Can submission really produce greatness?

The highest achievement is inward!

Maybe I must be the pioneer of Liberal Christianity in Chennai/Tamil Nadu (outside the seminaries)……!

The function of the gadfly – can it be called ‘ministry’?!
What about the prophetic/critical mode today?

Decalogue – write ten (original) sentences on this topic, that faithfully express what YOU truly know/believe/feel about it.

Maybe we can all coexist physically & even be close psychologically, but it might be better (for all concerned) if we just disconnected spiritually……
What do you say – is that the best possible solution, for now?
We must find a way to be more mutually considerate & hurt each other less, but also learn how to become tougher & deal with the pain more constructively……
Softening the thorn & sharpening the flesh!
No. Let the thorn be the thorn, & let the flesh be the flesh. Can we bleed & still survive, even thrive?

Is it possible to really understand someone whom you find disagreeable or unacceptable?

5.3.15

NWBD – “Not waving but drowning”
Hmmm……

Theopoetics:
“Before the message there must be the vision,
Before the sermon the hymn,
Before the prose, the poem!”
– Amos Wilder

Save/blog book covers, movie posters!

Be very very careful what you put into your mouth – what you eat/digest is what you are!

Jeremiads

6.3.15

Qualia

“Surgery will kill him, but without it he would die…”

Immanence is nothing but transcendence revealed,
And transcendence is nothing but immanence hidden!

Movies:
“Little Women”
I would like to know how the wild one’s marriage (to the philosopher) turns out to be……!
Are wisdom & creativity assets or liabilities, in social functioning?

8.3.15

– “Preserve my life O LORD, according to thy statutes.”

– “The church is the place where we (are enabled to) overcome the pursuit of happiness.”

– “Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law with my whole heart.”
Is understanding the Law important? Yes, but it is useful only to those seeking to observe it.

– The brightest Light blinds,
And the deepest Dark illumines!

– “I delight in thy testimonies,
Incline my heart not to gain.”
O please don’t let me be……!
The moral law as divine testimony

– How does the congregation influence the leader(s)?

– The vision of the divine glory >> love for the Law

– The beauty of the Word – move from movies & music, to novels & poetry!

– “We all are (gonna be) dead, it’s the ride that matters.”

– O save me according to Thy promise! Please don’t forget me or give me what I deserve……

How are pride & anxiety related?
How are indifference & rebellion related?

If I delight in your Law, then why do I need to ask You to turn my eyes away from vanity & my heart from gain?

I long for Thy precepts ~ I long for my salvation

How does His righteousness seem to you?

I seek Thee, BY walking at liberty!

O do not let me ever give up on doing Theology – personally & publicly!

Lent & mission

From cyclical to spiral understanding of life

The will of GOD ~ the promise of life (in Christ Jesus)

The mature man/woman is not the one who childishly depending on GOD, runs to him for everything, but he/she is like a baby who rests blissfully in the mother’s bosom!

Whenever I remember your tears, I long to meet you & rejoice in your company!
Masculine vulnerability & intimacy
WOW!  🙂

“GOD has over-ruled our weaknesses, so that we can live effectively.”
Hmmm……??  ;-l

Vocational clarity >> self-confidence & humility!

Do not be afraid of fanning into flame the gift of GOD within you – it is dangerous yes, but it is also wonderful!

Never stop believing in or preaching about the Coming Salvation (& Judgment).

What is the connection between busyness & selfishness?

Power = self-control + love

Joy through sacrifice
Peace through war
Love through suffering

Endure – actively!

Impotence & incontinence are two sides of the same coin.

It is not:
Life on my terms
Vs.
Life on His terms
It is:
The life of worldliness
Vs.
Life in the Kingdom
From a private-moral to a cultural-vocational understanding of godliness/holiness!

Movies:
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
Marriage – you reach the point where you would rather kill each other, & then if you survive (physically, psychologically & relationally), you reach the stage of real joy!

“Sex, Lies & Videotape”
The truth about love!?

“The Babadook”
Let anything fester for long enough, & it turns into a lethal monster! Sometimes prevention is the only cure……