tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post4751319837917736283..comments2024-03-28T20:04:20.286-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: The Secrets of Unlimited Power!Gagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-89062570862296077322007-03-08T05:49:00.000-08:002007-03-08T05:49:00.000-08:00By the way, just as another asnide, I've found tha...By the way, just as another asnide, I've found that Prince and his compatriots have an issue with teachings regarding the occult. Their approach to dealing with it is extremely ham-fisted and tends to unintentionally create a spirit of fear regarding it more than create clarity about it.<BR/><BR/>My thought is this-- for quite awhile many supposedly devout Christians didn't drink, didn't smoke, etc, but were involved in activities which lets face it, were definitely occult. For Prince and co what revealed this fact (which ought to have been obvious) was the presence of spirits associated with them. (recall the 'python spirit'/spirit of divination from Acts) <BR/><BR/>It seems to me reading the teaching many of them offer regarding the occult that what is going on is an over-reaction. In other words, they don't want to be taken advantage of regarding the occult any more so they reject anything that has any trappings of it. <BR/><BR/>Instead of saying, 'By what principle is this occult?' most explanations given are vague at best - such as, 'They come from a culture which was involved in the occult'... and <I>our</I> culture wasn't? <BR/><BR/>Anyhow, Prince does identify one important aspect of it (though he kind of does not develop the line of reasoning) and it is this: Real Occult is con game. In other words, something true or trueish is offered to entice, and then at some point there is the <I>con</I>, where you are required to give up something of value. His experience with it was that for the most part a prediction of the future was offered (usually ill.) <BR/><BR/>The principle here, I think, is that whatever this occult thing is, whether it be a person or spirit, attempts to 'replace' God in the center of our lives via lies, obscenity, wickedness, etc. One has to have a guarded attitude, like reading some modern science books wherein the author is trying to make you disbelieve in God through their research. When, like with the spirit, you accept the wisdom that they are offering (it may be real) but refuse to be baited into submitting your will, your virtue, truth, etc, they become enraged. <BR/><BR/>I Recall Dobson using 'research' about men and women to prove one of his points, but since the wisdom was 'false' in the sense that the motivation behind its gathering was false, its 'owners' reacted violently (in words) to Dobson's use of their work. Especially since he did not allow himself to be baited and switched. (Its kind of a perversion of how a physical trap works.)<BR/><BR/>In this sense I think there is a similar pattern with all kinds of deception. And at any rate, I think it is never out of the question to call a liar a liar. <BR/><BR/>I say this because while I found a lot of teaching regarding things like envy, pride, bitterness to have a very 'centering' effect, that is, to focus on the true, the good, and so forth, the teaching regarding the occult always struck me as reactive, fearful and scattering; one author goes on a rant about, of all things, Pokemon. <BR/><BR/>Anyhow, what <I>occults</I> for one person may not for another. There can yet still even be deceptive philosophies even among Christian teachers.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Ricky, God for those purposes tasks us with things; and the things he intends for us to do he will not do for us.<BR/><BR/>But He's still with us.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61809933157044453462007-03-08T04:18:00.000-08:002007-03-08T04:18:00.000-08:00River,"Lady Argghh!" is sufficient.:)River,<BR/><BR/>"Lady Argghh!" is sufficient.<BR/>:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-12735276514591661642007-03-07T21:50:00.000-08:002007-03-07T21:50:00.000-08:00The unfortunate degradation of great words:What an...The unfortunate degradation of great words:<BR/><BR/>What an "awesome" cheesburger!<BR/><BR/>It's a "miracle" I found my keys!<BR/><BR/>Oh...my..."God"!<BR/><BR/>And the word "gay" is lost forever.<BR/><BR/>Etc.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-81259498871966784492007-03-07T21:01:00.000-08:002007-03-07T21:01:00.000-08:00Can I just say, that waking up each day is a mirac...Can I just say, that waking up each day is a miracle!<BR/><BR/>"I got a feeling and it wont go away, oh no<BR/>Just one thing then Ill be ok<BR/>I need a miracle every day."<BR/>GDLisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969685296436358865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72057489177866803142007-03-07T19:40:00.001-08:002007-03-07T19:40:00.001-08:00... I mean a freedom bikini...... I mean a freedom bikini...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-56984521586569508592007-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:002007-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00... in a French bikini by a palm tree in the sand....... in a French bikini by a palm tree in the sand...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7781757934604377342007-03-07T19:36:00.000-08:002007-03-07T19:36:00.000-08:00And hot chicks on Hawaiian beaches. ;)And hot chicks on Hawaiian beaches. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-11931091144878978112007-03-07T19:04:00.000-08:002007-03-07T19:04:00.000-08:00and raspberry Duff.and raspberry Duff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-37079216241725032112007-03-07T18:30:00.000-08:002007-03-07T18:30:00.000-08:00and Guinessand GuinessVan Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33110627884200624322007-03-07T18:26:00.000-08:002007-03-07T18:26:00.000-08:00Just to speak out of the center of my usual deliri...Just to speak out of the center of my usual delirium - <BR/><BR/>To me, a miracle is anything that induces wonder and awe. Like my own consciousness. Like canned goods. Like everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-21205932771353783902007-03-07T14:24:00.000-08:002007-03-07T14:24:00.000-08:00Van said:"...only Galahad found the Holy Grail, be...Van said:<BR/>"...only Galahad found the Holy Grail, because Galahad alone was Good for goodness sake - not in order to win a tournament. He was the best Knight because he was Good, not good in order to be the best knight. His power came from a goodness within which opened him to a truer power than the powers without, and only he escaped the fall of Camelot."<BR/><BR/>And:<BR/>"The tale of Galahad leads you to discover that the miraculous powers do wonders in the world only, it takes goodness within to attain to the truly miraculous."<BR/><BR/>Outstanding! <BR/>I loved those stories, and at the end, it was Galahad I wanted to be like. He reminds me of John.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-23592294338879583282007-03-07T14:17:00.000-08:002007-03-07T14:17:00.000-08:00RC's reference to Derek Prince, and by extension t...RC's reference to Derek Prince, and by extension to some of his spiritual kin, raises the whole question of the relation of miracles to sacraments, recitals/speech acts (scripture as holy grimoire), and other iterations of the kind of focus that religion engages to affect the conditions of human life and transformation of souls. <BR/><BR/>As James points out regarding the harmony of the Catholic core with much of what is available here at OC, <I>Meditations on the Tarot</I>, with its insistence on faithfulness to the tradition, addresses this about as clearly as it can be addressed; it is a realm that really doesn't function effectively without corruption outside of the protection of a Vertically-revealed tradition, and indeed can't be plucked cleanly out of the tradition. to carry away for idiosyncratic power. <BR/><BR/>As Joan says, miracles are often only semi-conscious side effects of a fervent consistent illuminated devotion to the Good, the willing citizenship in what Jesus calls the kingdom of God. The explication of these things IMO is close to the edge of what is transmissable in this worded medium.<BR/><BR/>If anybody can do it, OurGagGuy can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-51536111349011832092007-03-07T14:13:00.000-08:002007-03-07T14:13:00.000-08:00Karrde said:"Would it be equally simplistic to say...Karrde said:<BR/>"Would it be equally simplistic to say that the possession of riches precluded knowledge of the truth? Jesus himself had harsh words for people who were wealthy, but I seem to come to the same conclusion: it would be simplistic (and erroneous) to assume that wealth precludes belief."<BR/><BR/>I concur with what The Bunnies said, irt wealth.<BR/><BR/>I only add that Jesus did have friends and followers that were wealthy. <BR/>Zacchaes comes to mind, and Lazuras.<BR/><BR/>But, it is how we view wealth and what we do with it that makes a difference .<BR/>If we love wealth more than Gog then obviously that's who Jesus addresses when he talks about the trappings of wealth.<BR/><BR/>The wealthy that worship God over wealth, are on the right path.<BR/><BR/>Poverty also has trappings. <BR/>The biggest one being envy, of course, but those who see poverty as an end in itself (we all know the type: false piety oozing from their puffed up pride), the "look at me! I'm poor! I'm special! I'm more holy than that rich guy over there", who love poverty and treat it as a badge of honor, even going as far as to impose it on themselves and use it as a spiritual litmus test, are just as lost as the wealthy who worship their wealth. <BR/><BR/>In fact, Proverbs, and other scripture, encourages financial wisdom and gives good financial advice.<BR/><BR/>Nowhere in scriptures is poverty encouraged, so we po' folk must be careful not to see poverty as some kind of goal in our journey to align ourselves with the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-3047369110079408612007-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:002007-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:00"...there is something critical about the nature a...<I>"...there is something critical about the nature and structure of the biblical miracles that we need to understand." In other words, as I hope to show, the miracles do not speak for themselves, but are intended to convey specific lessons about the miraculous."</I><BR/><BR/>I may be missing the target a bit still, but see what you think of coming at the point from a different angle, from the myths of King Arthur (heavily influenced by the Bible as well as local Celtic myths). As a kid, I wanted to be like King Arthur, to have a magical talisman like Excalibur to defeat the bad guys and do impressive things... sit at the Round Table and be... King! Impressive! Powerful! The Knights of the Round Table did splendid things and feats... Lancelot! Gawain! Parcival! Galah... well, actually Galahad was a bit odd..., but Bedivere! Even Merlin!<BR/><BR/>But it slowly dawned on me, what if such a fantasy were to come true? What of it? If the source of my Power were talismans and spells or even just massive muscles & fighting skills, then in my idle, none dragon slaying moments, what would that do for me? Would I be anything more than someone who needed a 'thing' to be proved worthy? And of course the whole Mordred, Guinevere, Lancelot situation seemed a bit bothersome as well. Even Merlin's with his magical powers, wouldn't you still be stuck being YOU when not brandishing the magic wand? Not to mention getting imprisioned in the trunk of an Oak for all time by a younger backstabbing witch chick... not real enticing. Even my adolescent mind picked up on the idea that worldly power could be horribly undone by a worldly focus.<BR/><BR/>The Arthurian tales seem to come to that conclusion as well, as all the impressive deeds are done, they are all stuck just being themselves, and begin to waste away with no impressive quests to pursue or dragons to slay - without those, what use were their powers? And then the quest for the Holy Grail comes upon them, a quest which they all shall seek, but of all of Arthurs Knights of the Round Table with their magic scabbards and swords and rings and things, only Galahad found the Holy Grail, because Galahad alone was Good for goodness sake - not in order to win a tournament. He was the best Knight because he was Good, not good in order to be the best knight. His power came from a goodness within which opened him to a truer power than the powers without, and only he escaped the fall of Camelot.<BR/><BR/>With the Grail found, not through gaudy magic tricks, but the miraculous goodness within, Camelot came to a swift ending. The time of Merlin and Excalibur and magic was at an end, and the miracle of being and doing good for goodness sake was at hand.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to be distracted by powers and talismans and riches without, that lead you into a sealed darkness within, cut off from the power without. The tale of Galahad leads you to discover that the miraculous powers do wonders in the world only, it takes goodness within to attain to the truly miraculous.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-15863488812527728472007-03-07T13:57:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:57:00.000-08:00When I’ve faced my own trials, the miracle apparen...When I’ve faced my own trials, the miracle apparently was how God showed me, in no other way I could have ‘seen’ it, that He had faith in me. If He had stepped in with a parting sea every so often where would my faith go?<BR/>Back to Phase II, apparently.<BR/><BR/>Lately, thinking on what some would say were perfect opportunities for some Divine intervention – the Holocaust comes to mind… The un-believer asks, ‘If there is a God, then why didn’t he stop this or that…' I say, perhaps, there were plenty of capable enough people around that could have stopped it.<BR/><BR/>Your child needs training wheels and a guiding hand, but eventually you need to let go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-58373534651048379802007-03-07T13:20:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:20:00.000-08:00To avoid misunderstanding and to clarify where I'm...To avoid misunderstanding and to clarify where I'm going with this, I changed a couple of sentences at the end to read "there is something about the biblical miracles that ironically intends them to be, if not the last miracles, then the last word on miracles," and "there is something critical about the nature and structure of the biblical miracles that we need to understand." In other words, as I hope to show, the miracles do not speak for themselves, but are intended to convey specific lessons about the miraculous.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-37474708545969418442007-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:00Bob got me going on the question of the importance...Bob got me going on the question of the importance of miracles. Would early Christians have believed the Truth without the confirmation of miracles? A couple of examples from scripture may provide an answer. “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:3-4). “People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22).<BR/><BR/>To me, it is pretty simple (surprise!). Any supernatural event (miracle) that glorifies God is of God. Any that does not, comes from somewhere else.<BR/><BR/>Just because I love reading the Bible, doesn’t mean I worship it. Nearly every time I pick it up, I discover validation of the Truth it conveys. Even the most seemingly mundane passage can do so. Here is one that struck me last night. “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos.” (Acts 20:36 – 21:1) How real, how human, how genuine, how authentic.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-70021728382400497992007-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:002007-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:00Joan of Argghh! said said "I can only attest to re...Joan of Argghh! said said "I can only attest to results: you only get good results when you center on the Good. Center on the wanted results and you get bupkis."<BR/><BR/>I think that's it - respect reality, which afterall is the One Cosmos, and reality will not <I>withold</I> wealth from you. The universe is not set against us, it is what it is, and it plays by the rules of the Is that IS. <BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that, as with Job, occasionally events out of your direct control may go against you - those that opened up a new beach front property outside New Orleans last year come to mind - but that is incidental, not directed at you. Persist in respecting reality (which includes yourself, your neighbor and the stuff of your neighborhood in the One Cosmos) and thinking & acting sensibly, and you should do fine. If you develop above average skills in producing/arranging what others want or need, and/or the patience of investing wisely, you will acquire riches. <BR/><BR/>Riches don't do anything on their own, other than surface a different "skin" of distractions and mind parasites for your viewing pleasure. I think above all, keep in mind that it is up to your true central focus whether or not your riches (or lack of them) translate into wealth.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-44374658856278873082007-03-07T12:04:00.000-08:002007-03-07T12:04:00.000-08:00Er, sorry about the mrs. I don't know your marital...Er, sorry about the mrs. I don't know your marital status... Lady Arrgh?Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-71324062633049933072007-03-07T12:03:00.000-08:002007-03-07T12:03:00.000-08:00mrs. Arrggh, I too have experienced them firsthand...mrs. Arrggh, I too have experienced them firsthand. Some of them happen so quickly and subtly that you may question their miraculous nature (this is okay, what often matters most is the result...) <BR/><BR/>We should however, not be predisposed to doubt that something is indeed a miracle (which is nothing less that acknowledging the mystery of what happened?)<BR/><BR/>In particular, miracles are ripe for abuse -- they can lead others away from God or lead the person who was the conduit away from him as well. <BR/><BR/>The fact that we see so few 'real' miracles (hocus-pocus like) should honor us; at least only insofar as it reveals that we have believed even though we have not seen.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-46581172825736533742007-03-07T10:46:00.000-08:002007-03-07T10:46:00.000-08:00I've never liked the whole, "seeking after miracle...I've never liked the whole, "seeking after miracles" obsession, but I have seen and experienced them. I've never sought to have power over demons, but have found, on occasion when pushed, to actually <I>have</I> power over them. Sorry, 'coons. My experience, my reality. <BR/><BR/>I don't dwell on this topic as central to my faith, but as a Raccoon who devoted many, many years to being a conduit of jazzy Grace, I can only attest to results: you only get good results when you center on the Good. Center on the wanted results and you get bupkis.<BR/><BR/>Like Simon the Magician, we would be cursed, indeed, to go whoring after real Power when we see what it can do. Better to be quiet, and be ready, when the Cosmos wishes to focus a unique beam of light through the prism that is you.<BR/><BR/>Then go back to weeding your garden.<BR/><BR/>****<BR/><BR/>Just a thought: people in the third world don't have insurance, clean hospital beds, warm and nutritious food and vitamins, or morphine for the pain of cancerous death. Miracles are sometimes an expression of the Cosmic nature of Mercy. <BR/><BR/>Like the importunate widow, I have nothing of myself to offer my neighbor in need. I see prayers and miracles in their rightful place: for others' comfort, and for the humbling of my ego, seeing my helplessness.<BR/><BR/>I hope, when in pain and distress, to find Mercy. In whatever form, it is miraculous. <BR/><BR/>Did Jesus really weep? If so, can we say, "as above, so below?" What a wide-open invitation to our cries for mercy, to think our pathos can move the Eternal.<BR/><BR/>I just dare ya.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33941641660231811962007-03-07T10:38:00.000-08:002007-03-07T10:38:00.000-08:00Kaarde: There is some truth to what the prosperity...Kaarde: There is some truth to what the prosperity preachers tech in that true religion can help us overcome our mind parasites which can lead to poverty inducing behavior in the horizontal world.<BR/><BR/>Matt 15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, much of what is taught by these people only serves to enhance and support our mind parasites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-63483047946447883602007-03-07T09:57:00.000-08:002007-03-07T09:57:00.000-08:00Hi Bob,I want to preface my post by saying how muc...Hi Bob,<BR/><BR/>I want to preface my post by saying how much I adore your blog. Dr. Michael Liccione turned me on to it about six months ago and I've haven't missed a day since. I've elected to stay primarily in "lurk-mode" so as to get a general idea of the blog's ethos and message before putting in my $00.02. <BR/><BR/>>>Now, the "spirit" of this joke is not insulting, but merely an ironic way of pointing out that Catholicism is a "full service" religion that addresses every level of man's being.>><BR/><BR/>Personal Question; Why aren't you Catholic? As a Catholic I read you as exceedingly Catholic in worldview, metaphysics, theology and philosophy. Doesn't your heart long to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of the Lord in Eucharist within the context of the Catholic Church? The Church would be so blessed to have you aboard and you would have to give up none of your theological and metaphysical genius in the process. <BR/><BR/>>>No proper religious person could fall for this kind of sting.>><BR/><BR/>You're right! When I was 18 and quite lost, I fell for it and it lead me down a solipsistic path of navel-gazing. I read my way into the Catholic Church by age 33 and since then (I turn 40 in June) my life has been pregnant with meaning and beauty. <BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/><BR/>James:>)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-15108000831479759822007-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:002007-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00secrets of the idcarbon credits of the soulblue-gr...secrets of the id<BR/>carbon credits of the soul<BR/>blue-green dragonflyrobinstarfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665546554663005609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-8374558399763673202007-03-07T09:25:00.000-08:002007-03-07T09:25:00.000-08:00Bob--I think cocytus has beat me to the point.Simp...Bob--I think cocytus has beat me to the point.<BR/><BR/>Simply put, this follower of Christ has met a few quasi-spiritual teachers who claim that the blessings of Christ always include health, wealth, worldly power, etc.<BR/><BR/>It would be simplistic to thereby ignore all Christian teaching (as self-centered); it would be simplistic to assume that God's primary purpose is personal comfort and success for His believers.<BR/><BR/>Would it be equally simplistic to say that the possession of riches precluded knowledge of the truth? Jesus himself had harsh words for people who were wealthy, but I seem to come to the same conclusion: it would be simplistic (and erroneous) to assume that wealth precludes belief.<BR/><BR/>Any thoughts?karrdehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00205160745963596856noreply@blogger.com