BoldGrace

This post is a FIRST here at Bold Grace. We have never had someone who is not part of the Bold Grace Administration Team post before. But our friend and frequent commenter John T. has asked that we allow him to post some of his thoughts. After discussing it through emails with the team we have agreed to have John T. post the following. As always please remember we at Bold Grace may or may not agree with his writings but we do hope they will cause us all to explore life. With that disclaimer we give you JOHN T…………………………….

 

Thanks for considering my request. I will try to make this relatively short. I have many ideas to share but I will limit them to my "belief" in our creator and how that relates to my "view" of our existence. I will take a Christian Scriptural viewpoint, but by no means do I think the Bible is the only authority on how we connect and remain aware of the Spirit of God. So here goes

Firstly, I find it fascinating that we as Christians actually feel the need for a SAVIOUR. In fact, doesnt that automatically make us feel like there is something inherently wrong with us? I mean, like really, God created us in his image yet were so messed up that we need to be bailed out. I think when we come from this original viewpoint, there is only one way to go…….DOWN. So with that said I think the early writers of Scripture were trying there best to explain the existence of, as we see it, Good and Evil. How accurate are they? Well we’ll leave that one alone. Maybe another post lol. Personally, I feel that God is Love and that I’m actually OK in the grand scheme of things. Do I have doubts…you bet. Do I sometimes have fears…. you bet. But overall I  intuitively know that I’m OK in the universe."I will put my laws on their mind and write them on their hearts. I will be their god and they will be my people" Hebrews 8:10

So where do I go from here? I have been reading  about Christianity and scripture and there is much that I find not only enlightening but also soothing to my spirit. Many of its words feed my soul and calm me. Does it sometimes confuse the Heck out of me……..lol ain’t that the truth. But overall I see how people through the ages have and still try to connect to their essence. That in itself is wonderful. Many of the  tenets of the Bible help to form great communities. Also many of them can be a divider. I guess it depends on your perspective. Now I know in previous posts I have made mention of repenting and other aspects that the Church espouses. Does the Church really get what they mean, I’m not so sure that they do. My take on many of the practices of the Bible  is that they are actually for training our mind and our spirit to maintaining its connection to the Divine Energy. Repenting and Prayer are just some of those practices. Their purpose is not for creating Guilt and Fear but reverence to the Love energy that God is.(Oh and by the way, I do believe we are an intrinsic part of that energy). The challenge with this world is that of "duality" and some may not see it in quite as positive of a way, hence the idea of Evil.

From my viewpoint, I believe that in this period of my eternal happening, I am here to learn things. Why is that? Well your guess is as good as mine. I just sense that is the truth. Now with that said, it seems the Creator or God has set up a system that seems to have some truths or absolutes to it. Jump off a bridge and gravity takes over. Drink too much alcohol and get a hangover. Regardless of how good it feels before, there are consequences to our actions. Now maybe Sin is not so much the action but more the outcome of that action. I believe in the process of teaching ourselves and our fellow travelers on this ride called Life,  we need to understand better the outcomes of what we do. I believe God said go ahead do whatever you want, but remember the system will give you an outcome, some desirable, some not. The outcomes have nothing to do with the overall Love, but they definitely have something to do with how you experience your Life. Will that experience be Loving or something not so Loving.

As far as my brain understands this existence, it seems very temporary. Yet there is this sense that there is a continuation beyond what I see, touch, taste and experience presently. So with that said I believe that what and how I work this part of my existence will definitely have an effect on the rest of it. What I mean by that is, its important to at least attempt to work the system for outcomes of Love. If I don’t try, it wont sway Gods Love for me overall, but it will get me some outcomes that don’t necessarily make me feel Good or Loving.

I believe the purpose or intent of Jesus was one of showing us how to have community better. Remembering that we are all OK, but also remembering to strive to be more Loving.

So when Cliff made reference to doing things wrong or hurtful and being OK because he’s knows he’s Loved, in my mind, kind of misses the point. I believe the point is about community and understanding that what we do will affect others and Jesus was trying to show us how to limit or change(repent) our beliefs so we don’t continue those behaviors. He cuts us some slack(Grace), yet he still wants us to strive to do actions that have better outcomes.

Love and Best wishes

John Tattersall

 

PS…To enter the kingdom of the father you must become as a child…………………I got giddy being able to share my viewpoints with you guys…….Thanks again