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The World is so Full of a Number of things, I am Sure We Should All be as Happy as Kings and Queens!
Because we are part of Nature, we are evolutionary products of the Nature of which we are active participants; our minds are inseparably joined with the functioning of our brains; and as an inseparable unity of body and personhood, we can have no conscious (or “real”) survival after death. With courage, vision, and reliance on our own human resources, we can solve the problems we have created and which are imposed on us by natural circumstances or happenstance. Although most of us are conditioned by the past and even the present, we have genuine freedom of creative choice and action, withing certain objective limits. Not only is it your existential freedom, but also your responsibility in exercising that freedom. People need to engage in things that give them a chance to experience themselves as an entity separate from their environment, with the capacity to respond upon their own initiative rather than merely reacting. It is always good to address the overriding issue of racism and its concomitant effect (id est, feelings of inferiority, self-doubt, lack of self-worth, and so on). Some people possess the belief that they have to be better than the majority in order to be accepted as an equal or any progress that one has made in one’s career was due to them being marginalized rather than one’s abilities—both have an element of truth when viewed in a sociohistorical context. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20
To invalidate this experience with substitute psychospeck explanations (jargon of psychology and psychoanalysis, especially when regarded as trite or trivial, id est inferiority complex, paranoia, and so one) will only serve to mystify and do further violence to the experience. In other words, it is important for people to understand the sociohistorical precedence for the presents attitudes one feels victim to Whether one’s experience is valid in an objective sense is irrelevant. It is irrelevant because the sociohistorical context already provides for the possibility of the pervasiveness of these racist attitudes. However, it is equally important for one to realize one’s own responsibility in exercising one’s freedom to transcend the negative confines of the sociohistorical context. What one is to confront ultimately is not the inferiority and self-doubt imposed from without but inferiority that emerges from within when the choice is made to abandon, not only responsibility, but also the ability to respond. For many, the veil of inferiority and self-doubt can be lifted when one begins to experience oneself as a person apart from one’s race or gender or job; that is, as one who is free to choose, to act, and to be. While social constructions like race can be a source of identity, that which is invalid racial cultural heritage (id est, nonbeing, inferiority) and that which is valid immediate experience (id est, freedom, meaning, beings) are reconciled in an existential encounter that encompasses the sociohistorical context. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20
To dismiss the influence of either past or present social context would be delusional. However, freedom comes with the awareness that one’s persona and collective history does not determine present choice but rather acknowledges the past in order that one may fruitfully move beyond it to facilitate the cycle of freedom. One’s journey toward freedom begins with one’s recognition that the choices one made in the past could be made meaningful in the present when one recognizes one’s responsibility for those choices. Moreover, personal acknowledgment of one’s ability to respond opens one up to heretofore unrecognized potentialities. When seeking therapy, racial/ethnic heritage of your therapist is unimportant. What is important is that the therapist be grounded in a broad education that offers one the necessary sensitivity to the sociohistorical influences on the client. An existential framework can lend invaluable perspective to that understanding. Nowhere is the perception of being hyperconstricted, of being dismissed and wiped away, more acute than in the general American community today; and many people White, Black, Asian, Native American, Latino and Indian are a representative casualty. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20
The average aspirant does not find the true teachers because one would not behave oneself correctly if one did. Sooner or later one would abuse the lofty character of the relation of discipleship ad seek to force it to become a half-Worldly one. It is probably true to say that even imperfect teachers, who are all that the public is likely to know, often receive from their followers frantic appeals for this or that personal intervention or frenzied outpourings concerning this or that personal material problem for which immediate help is demanded. However, even when the aspirant has lined oneself up with an embodied master or invisible adept, a scriptural personage or one’s own higher self, one may start to assume that the higher power or person is henceforth going to settle all one’s personal troubles without one’s own higher self, one may start to assume that the higher power or person is henceforth going to settle all one’s personal troubles without one’s own exertions being called for. This is a piece of wishful thinking. The very purpose of evolution would be defeated if one were to be deprived of the opportunity of tackling one’s problems and troubles for oneself: it is only so that one’s capacities can stretch out and one’s understanding enlarge itself. We may sympathize with the need of troubled disciples, but a wrong notion of what constitutes the teacher-disciple relation would not help them. It will lead to false hopes and the anguish of subsequent disappointment. For what is it they are really trying to do? #RandolphHarris 4 of 20
From their first day in the real World, especially with lives being lost, cultures being degraded, businesses being forced to shut, people being made to stop working and stay home, land being taken away, foreclosures, evictions, and so forth, people are told to disparage themselves. Lacking their own cultural yardstick, many are squeezed into the yardstick of the majority and distance oneself from that which is dynamic in oneself. Becoming increasingly depersonalized, some may choose to drop out of college after two years, abandoning the idea of a degree. Surprisingly, however (or perhaps not so surprisingly, given one’s driven, overcompensatory needs), individuals often are then able to work their way into a management position. Yet, these positions resolve little in their lives—especially in their desolated cores. People are both attached to and reviled by their core. It keeps them safe, buffering them from the risks of success; but it also suffocates one and chokes off their developmental promise. Although many individuals are mostly depressed, therefore, they are also periodically grandiose—to counter their empty spirit. It is important to find a therapist who can help to break this debilitating cycle. It is helpful to pause over one’s expansive and constrictive fears, clarify them, and learn to become response-able toward them, turning them to one’s advantage. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20
Yet, before many can face this formidable task, one must deal with more immediate matters—such as their debts to their creditors. These can be dealt with at the social-advocacy level by finding someone to tangibly help one with one’s obligations. This kind of assistance, it should be noted, is extremely significant with the Existential-Integrative framework. Until people are both ready and capable of change, experiential inquiry is fruitless. It is highly important, therefore, to clear the space for such experiential inquiry if fruitless. It is highly important, therefore, to clear the space for such experiential inquiry by addressing the crises that prevent it. Once a person’s debts are alleviated, this will help to expand a person’s self-esteem. This can be facilitated at the cognitive-behavioural levels—reinforcing appropriate spending habits, rationally restricting one’s outlook on work, and so on. This reconditioning will help one feel more accomplished and will broaden one’s capacity for choice. The Adlerian concepts of inferiority-superiority (which refers to the practice and belief that people as individuals should be validated, connected, and made to feel significant) are helpful, but limited in their sphere of application. It must also be revealed to one how one keeps oneself from full presence and thus sets oneself up for dysfunction. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20
There are two exercises in combination—and the help from a sensitive doctor’s demystification of racism—will help one to see how one can empower one’s life and how one can productively respond to adverse conditions. They will take one out of the loop of extremism, moreover—where one was either too little or too much—and reveal to one the complexity (both freeing and limiting) of one’s liberation. In the final analysis, does one become successful? Yes, we are assured—but much in the manner of Sisyphus, who could ultimately respond to, and take responsibility for, one’s own destiny. In psychology, the Zeigarnik effect occurs when an activity that has been interrupted may be more readily recalled. It postulates that people remember unfinished or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks. There is an ingredient, the invitation to sickness or the invitation to wellness. I think it would manifest itself in a multilevel way, but as expression of a fundamental commitment. Let us take the witches first of all, those who want to send out sickness waves. They probably are operating on the following assumption: “Other people are no darn good. They are worthless, and life is not worth living anyway.” That is one way of trying to describe or infer their philosophy of life. This attitude permeates presumably all of their interpersonal transactions and their sickness-making manifests itself almost in operant conditioning in terms. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20
If every time the other person utters something that looks like joy or hope they say, “Nay,” they respond to joy or hope with negative reinforcement. And they disconfirm or punish any idiosyncratic expression from the other that reveals the other’s identity. The sick-maker is a genius for making others feel worthless, like nobody, as not worthy of attention. You see this in lots of mothers and fathers. And sometimes in those acquaintances that give you pain in the neck. The healers seem to operate on the philosophy that life is good. People are good. Individuality and self-disclosure are good. There is hope. In interpersonal transactions they welcome diversity, strength, self-confidence, groping, trying. They confirm the other. When somebody is trying to do something impossible, they do not say, “It is impossible, why waste the effort?” They say, “Good, good; try it.” If the person fails, rather than say, “I told you so,” they pick one up, and say, “Never mind. Dusty yourself off and try again, try again.” The healers and witches embody fundamental attitudes, what Dr. Freud termed Eros and Thanatos. This implies some people are destructive to health. If a person feels sick, hopeless, and worthless as long as one is involved with this person, and one feels better when the individual is away from one, what is to stop a therapist from saying, “Stay away from this person; one is a public-health menace to you”? #RandolphHarris 8 of 20
If the other person is a parent or a spouse, a neighbor, the mayor, governor, or fake news media, I do not know any magic solution. You and the individual wrestle with the dilemma. It is a conflict, but it is better to know what the conflict is and wrestle with it, than to deny it. Find out the cost of choosing this way or choosing that way. Then seek the guts to choose a way our or a way to live with the conflict. There is always the possibility, too, that somebody who lives with a lethal spouse, lethal parent, lethal fake news media, or lethal politicians may themselves have elicited this lethality. They may have invited the lethal one’s lethality. It is they themselves that changed their ways of being with that other person. For example, the individual may have repressed one’s anger and one’s strength. If one expressed them to spouse, parent, fake news media or politicians, this might have shut off the lethality of the other. I have seen it happen. A therapist can ask, “Why do you not tell your mayor or governor to go to hades?” The person says, “I could never say that.” However, one may be helped to express one’s anger and find one’s strength. One gets the message across, and the mayor and governor stops having a lethal effect on one. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20
It is a fascinating thought that just as there are bubonic-plague carries whom public-health official want to corral, and syphilis carriers, TB carries, COVID-19 carries—what about the “pain-in-the-neck-producers,” the “psychosis-producers,” the “disorganization-producers,” who are, in a sense, a public-health menace, who spread misery wherever they go? Should not these be identified and corralled? It is a possibility. What is to stop a teacher, at great risk, from saying to the parents of students who are in dysfunctional homes or apartments that, “I really believe your child is having difficulty in school because there is difficulty in the home”? I think they will get the message (if things do not improve and their health and grades keep declining, I am going to have to contact the proper authorities). Man, that is a rough problem, and you have to grope wit it. Grope that is my considered professional advice. Grope and do not give up. The main thing we can do is work with the child and hope that one can find oneself and muster up enough strength to go beyond one’s difficulties. Keep groping. That is a worthwhile motto for any person involved with the arts of counseling, therapy, or teaching—where no techniques yet invented can be guaranteed to bring about successful attainment of aims. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20
The therapist, like the artist, must continually grope for new ways to implement one’s objective, or bringing desirable human possibilities into being. Change is never easy. To pioneer is anxiety-arousing for the individual and threatening to colleagues. It seems it would be much simpler to go back to being the authority. It is hard being a person to people who depend on you. Many people have found the only way to handle the doubt of people who need them is to find ways of including them in the learning process. Individuals are finding that if they are to carry out a quiet revolution in the community and World, they definitely need a support group. This can be small, perhaps only two or three people, but a resource of persons where one does not need to defend one’s point of view, and can freely discuss the successes and failures, the problems faced, the difficulties unresolved. However, a facilitator is also taking the risk of threatening the administration. How is that dealt with? Many people are expected to write down behavioral objectives for each political representative or for each city and state, and later to give evidence that these objectives have been achieved. The anxiety that underlies these demands—sometimes encased in the law—is understandable. The public hopes that people are learning, and this has been the only way they can see of determining whether learning is taking place. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20
What is a revolution? A redefinition of the facts of life, such that the new definition and the old definition of the same facts cannot coexist. Clearly, to advance a revolution threatens the power of a conventional administration, and a consequent risk to the facilitator, who is radical in the true sense of going to the root of the problem. This risk cannot be ignored. Nature has placed humankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasures. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other the chain of cause and effects, are fastened to their throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it. In words a human may pretend to abjure their empire: but in reality one will remain subject to it all the while. The principle of utility recognizes this subjection, and assumes it for the foundation of that system, the object of which is to rear the fabric of felicity by the hands of reason and law. Systems which attempt to question it, deal in sounds instead of sense, in caprice instead of reason, in darkness instead of light. However, enough of metaphor and declamation: it is not by such means that moral science is to be improved. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20
A day-by-day parceling out of grace—and only as much as we need—may seem inconsistent with the abundant generosity of God. This is not the case at all. Rather, as we say in the past, God continually works to keep us aware of our dependence on Him. We were created for a simple, childlike dependence on Him, but since the Fall we have tended to resist that dependence. God well knew this tendency when He gave this warning through Moses to the Israelites: “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ However, remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, ad so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today,” reports Deuteronomy 8.17-18. It is noteworthy that this warning occurs shortly after the reminder in verses 2-3. “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that humans do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD,” Deuteronomy 8.2-3. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20
There the Israelites were reminded of their days of extremity and very obvious dependence on God for their daily food. However, God warned them that, even after forty years of such conscious dependence, the day would come when they would look around at their bountiful supply of food and say, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” Such a self-sufficient attitude is obviously detrimental to our relationship with God, so He works to keep that from happening. He allows our respective thorns in the flesh to remain, giving us grace sufficient to cope with them only day by day. From time to time He brings extraordinary crises into our lives, as He did when Paul was forced to say, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. However, this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead,” reports 2 Corinthians 1.8-9. Despite his ever-present thorn, Paul was brought to a crisis extremity to learn anew to rely not on himself but on God. Whether it is the continuing thorn in the flesh or the extraordinary crisis that sometimes occurs, both are intended by God to keep us conscious of our human weakness and our dependence on Him, so that we might experience the sufficiency of His grace and the adequacy of His power. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20
Paul’s attitude towards his weakness was vastly different from our usual modern response. We abhor weakness and glory in self-sufficiency and humanmade accomplishment. Even Christians flock to hear the sports superstar or the popular entertainer give one’s testimony, simply because of that person’s fame and status. How many of us would make any effort to hear a person who said, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses. I delight in weaknesses. For wen I am weak, then I am strong”? I think of how I have struggled with my own weaknesses instead of delighting in them. I think of the disappointment of failing to reach important goals, of humiliations suffered that were too painful to ever share with anyone, of somewhat minor but very annoying lifetime physical infirmities. Only in the last few years, have I realized what a significant contribution those disappointments, heartaches, and frustrations—especially in their cumulative effect—have made on my walk with God and my service for Him. I think I am only beginning to understand a little bit the validity of Paul’s statement, “when I am weak, then I am strong.” Sometimes when I am introduced as a speaker, I cringe inwardly as the person introducing me waxes eloquent about my accomplishments. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20
I sit there and think, What if they knew the other side of the story? Would they all get up and leave? Yet ironically, it is the other side of the story, the humiliations and heartaches, the failures and frustrations—not the successes and accomplishments—that have qualified me to be there to speak. Those difficult times have driven me to the Lord. I will be honest. It was not that I wanted to lean of God; I had no other choice. However, I am finally learning that in weakness I find strength—His strength. Every believer must learn that human weakness and divine grace go hand in and together. Paul had learned that lesson well. He said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ’s power may rest on me,” reports 2 Corinthians 12.9. Paul had learned that God’s grace is indeed sufficient; His divine enabling through the power of the Holy Spirit would sustain him in the midst of the torments of his thorn, and in the depths of other weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong,” reports 2 Corinthians 12.10. The anguish Paul experienced was real anguish, and the grace he received was real grace. It was not theoretical, nor make-believe, nor merely whistling in the dark to keep courage. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20
No, Paul’s experienced a very concrete expression of God’s love and power as the Holy Spirit ministered comfort and encouragement to him in the midst of affliction. Alma believers and write the words of Abinadi—Abinadi suffers death by fire—he prophesies disease and death by fire upon his murderers. About 148 Before Christ. “And now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished these sayings, that the king commanded that the priests should take him and cause that he should be put to death. However, there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the kind that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace. However, the kind was more wroth, and caused that Alma should be cast out from among them, and sent his servants after him that they might slay him. However, he fled from before them and hid himself that they found him not. And he being concealed for many days did write all the words which Abinadi had spoken. And it came to pass that the kind caused that his guards should surround Abinadi and take him; and they bound him and cast him into prison. And after three days, having counseled with his priests, he caused that he should again be brought before him. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20
“And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death. For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of humans; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people. Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands. Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you at the last day. And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him. However, the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain. And it came to pass that they took him and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots (a bundle of sticks or twigs bound together as fuel, a fascine, a torch, excreta), yea, even to death. And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them saying: #RandolphHarris 18 of 20
“Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God. And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities. Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts. And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, then pains of death by fire. Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul. And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death,” reports Mosiah 17.1-20. O Lord my Lord, this is Thy day, the Heavenly ordinance of rest, the open door of worship, the record of Jesus’ resurrection, the seal of the sabbath to come, the day when saints militant and triumphant unite in endless song. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20
I bless Thee for the throne of grace, that here free favour reigns; that open access to it is through the blood of Jesus; that they veil is torn aside and I can enter the holiest and find Thee ready to hear, waiting to be gracious, inviting me to pour out my needs, encouraging my desires, promising to give more than I ask or think. However, while I bless Thee, shame and confusion are mine: I remember my past misuse of sacred things, my irreverent worship, my base ingratitude, my cold, dull praise. Please sprinkle all my past sabbaths with the cleansing blood of Jesus, and may this day witness deep improvement in me. Give me in rich abundance the blessings the Lord’s Day was designed to impart; may my heart be fast bound against Worldly thoughts or cares; please flood my mind with peace beyond understanding’ may my meditations be sweet, my acts of worship life, liberty, joy, my drink the streams that flow from Thy throne, my food the precious word, my defence the shield of faith, and may my heart be more knit to Jesus. Almighty and merciful God, we beseech Thee to give us rest from the storm of war; for Thou wilt bestow on us all good things if Thou givest us peace both of soul and body; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20
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Popular design elements include open floor plans, large kitchen islands, and flex spaces are staples in Cresleigh homes. Additional game rooms, bedroom space and three-car garages provide other custom possibilities.
Gain the freedom of large home sites and the extra space and flexibility with Cresleigh Riverside. Homeowners will love the convenient commuter access to nearly Sacramento and Yuba City.
Best of all, each Cresleigh home comes fully equipped with an All Ready connected home! This smart home package comes included with your home and features great tools including: video door bell and digital deadbolt for the front door, connect home hub so you can set scenes and routines to make life just a little easier. Two smart switches and USB outlets are also included, plus we’ll gift you a Google Home Hub and Go. https://cresleigh.com/cresleigh-riverside-at-plumas-ranch/
Behold, O God our Defender, and please protect us from fear of the enemy; that all disturbance being removed, we may serve Thee with minds free from distraction; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #CresleighHomes
Remember that Time is Money—You Cannot Fight Against the Future for Time is on Our Side!
The only war I ever approved of was the Trojan war; it was fought over a woman and the men knew what they were fighting for. If one person is inadequate or poorly equipped in responding in a mature and authentic love relationship, the other person many find that one cannot continue giving. Mutuality, the giving-taking circle, replenishes and nourishes and assists the growth of each person in a relationship. Another aspect of a love relationship is respect. Not fear or awesome deference, but appreciation of the uniqueness and selfhood of another. In true respect there is no need to do anything to diminish or hurt the other person, to ridicule or damage another’s integrity. There is acceptance in the active, beneficial sense: “There you are. I see, take in, readily acknowledge you and what you are. I really dig you!” Respect also implies active concern. It means that if I respect you, I want the best for you: I want you to grow and become all that you are, and I do not want you to become anything for me! If you became what I wanted you to, then you would not be you; you would be come kind of me-shaped or me-coloured reflection. Then, I would not be acknowledging you as you. I would be saying I can only love the me I see in you. And this is narcissism, an exploitive form of conceit far removed from real other-love. In the Old World, people used to steam letters open to obtain tidbits of juicy information, but in the New World, we have new concerns. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20
E-mail can sometimes feel intimate in the same way a private conversation does, but the reality is that email is anything, but private. In fact, e-mails are one of the most easily intercepted and duplicated forms of communication, especially if they are unencrypted. The absolute bottom line: if you cannot post it on a bulletin board, then do not send it. Hackers are not the only threat to e-mail privacy in the workplace; employers, law enforcement officials and even internet service providers all have the ability to monitor and review e-mail communications. For businesses and organizations, this can easily become an issue, not least of all because it has the potential to violate key e-mail privacy laws, and regulations. The E-mail Privacy Act: This update to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 prevents electronic and remote communication service providers from voluntarily disclosing the contents of e-mails, requires the government to obtain a warrant to compel the disclosure of email contents and revises the process for obtaining a delayed notification order. General Data Protection Rule (GDPR): stipulates that all personal data, including personal data contained in e-mail, must be processed lawfully and in a transparent manner, must be kept up to date and must be kept in a form which permits identification of data subject for no longer than is necessary. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20
All reasonings concerning matter of fact seem to be founded on the relation of Cause and Effect. By means of that relation alone we can go beyond the evidence of our memory and senses. If you were to ask a man, why he believers any matter of fact, which is absent; for instance, that his friend is in the country, or in CANADA; he would give you a reason; and this reason would be some other fact; as a letter received from hu, or the knowledge of his former resolutions and promises. A man, finding a watch or any other machines in a desert island, would conclude, that there had once been humans on in that island. All our reasonings concerning fact are of the same nature. And here it is constantly supposed, that there is a connexion between the present fact and that which is inferred from it. Were there nothing to bind them together, the inference would be entirely precarious. The hearing of an articulate voice and rational discourse in the dark assures us the presence of some person: Why? because these are the effects of the human make and fabric, and closely connected with it. If we anatomize all the other reasonings of this nature, we shall find, that they are founded on the relation of cause and effect, and that this relation is either near or remote, direct or collateral. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20
Heat and light are collateral effect of fire, and one effect may justly be inferred from the other. If we would satisfy ourselves, therefore, concerning the nature of that evidence, which assures us of matters of fact, we must enquire how we arrive at the knowledge of cause and effect. I shall venture to affirm, as a general proposition, which admits of no exception, that the knowledge of this relation is not, in any instance, attained by reasonings a priori; but arises entirely from experience, when we find, that any particular objects are constantly conjoined with each other. Let an object be presented to a person of ever so strong natural reason and abilities; if that object be entirely new to one, one will not be able, by the most accurate examination of its sensible qualities, to discover any of its cases. ADAM, though his rational faculties be supposed, at the very first, entirely perfect could not have inferred from the fluidity, and transparency of water, that it would suffocate him, or from the light and warmth of fire, that it would consume him. No object ever discovers, by the qualities which appear to the senses, either the causes which produce it, or the effects which will arise from it; nor can our reason, unassisted by experience, ever draw any inference concerning real existence and matter of fact. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20
This proposition, that causes and effects are discoverable, not by reason, but by experience, will readily be admitted with regard to such objects, as we remember to have once been altogether unknown to us; since we must be conscious of the utter inability, which we then lay under, of foretelling, what would arise from them. Present two smooth pieces of marble to a human, who had no tincture of natural philosophy; one will never discover, that they will adhere together, in such a manner as to require great force to separate them in a direct line, while they make so small a resistance to a lateral pressure. Such events, as bear little analogy to the common course of nature, are also readily confessed to be known only by experience; nor does any human imagine that explosion of gunpowder, or the attraction of a loadstone, could ever be discovered by arguments a priori. In like manner, when an effect is supposed to depend upon an intricate machinery or secret structure of part, we make no difficulty in attributing all our knowledge of it to experience. Who will assert, that one can give the ultimate reason, why milk or bread is proper nourishment for a human, not for a lion or a tiger, bird or dog? #RandolphHarris 5 of 20
However, the same truth may not appear, at first sight, to have the same evidence with regard to events, which have become familiar to us from our first appearance in the World, which bear a close analogy to the whole course of nature, and which are supposed to depend on the simple qualities of objects, without any secret structures of parts. We are apt to imagine, that we could discover these effects by the mere operation of our reason, without experience. We fancy, that were we brought, on a sudden, into this World, we could at first have inferred, that one Billiard-ball would communicate motion to another upon impulse; and that we needed not to have waited for the event, in order to pronounce with certainty concerning it. Such is the influence of custom, that, where it is strongest, it not only covers our natural ignorance, but even conceals itself, and seems not to take place, merely because it is found in the highest degree. However, to convince us, that all the laws of nature, and all the operations of bodies without exception, are known only by experience, the following reflections may, perhaps, suffice. Were any object presented to us, and were we required to pronounce concerning the effect, which will result from it, without consulting past observation; after what manner, I beseech you, mist the mind proceed in this operation? #RandolphHarris 6 of 20
It must invent or imagine some event, which it ascribes to the object as its effect; and it is plain that this invention must be entirely arbitrary. The mind can never possibly find the effect in the supposed cause, by the most accurate scrutiny and examination. For the effect is totally different from the cause, and consequently can never be discovered in it. Motion in the second Billiard-ball is a quite distinct event from motion in the first; nor is there any thing in the one to suggest the smallest hint of the other. A stone or piece of metal raised into the air, and left without any support, immediately falls: However, to consider the mater a priori, is there anything we discover in this situation, which can beget the idea of a downward, rather than an upward, or any other motion, in the stone or metal? And as the imagination or invention of a particular effect, in all natural operations, is arbitrary, where we consult not experience; so must we also esteem the supposed bond or connexion between the cause and effect, which binds them together, and renders it impossible, that any other defect could result from the operation of that cause. When I see, for instance, a Billiard-ball moving in a straight line towards another; even supposed motion in the second ball should by accident be suggested to me, as the result of their contact or impulse; may I not conceive, that a hundred different events might as well follow from that cause? #RandolphHarris 7 of 20
May not both these balls remain at absolute rest? May not the first ball return in a straight line, or leap off from the second in any line or direction? All these suppositions are consistent and conceivable. Why then should we give the preference to me, which is no more consistent or conceivable than the rest? All our reasonings a priori will never be able to show us any foundation for this preference. In a word, then, every effect is a distinct event from its cause. It could not, therefore, be discovered in the cause, and the first invention or conception of it, a priori, must be entirely arbitrary. And even after it is suggested, the conjunction of it with the cause must appear equally arbitrary; since there are always many other effects, which, to reason, must seem fully as consistent and natural. In vain, therefore, should we pretend to determine any single even, or infer any cause or effect, without the assistance of observation and experience. Hence we may discover the reason, why no philosopher, who is rational and modest, has ever pretended to assign the ultimate cause of any natural operation, or to show distinctly the action of that power, which produces any single effect in the Universe. #RandolphHarris 8 of 20
It is confessed, that the utmost effort of human reason is, to reduce the principles, productive of natural phenomena, to a greater simplicity, and to resolve the many particular effects into a few general causes, by means of reasonings from analogy, experience, and observation. However, as to the causes of these general causes, we should in vain attempt their discovery; nor shall we ever be able to satisfy ourselves, by any particular explication of them. These ultimate springs and principles are totally shut up from human curiosity and enquiry. Elasticity, gravity, cohesion of parts, communication of motion by impulse; these are probably the ultimate causes and principles which we shall ever discover in nature; and we may esteem ourselves sufficiently happy, if, by accurate enquiry and reasoning, we can trace up the particular phenomena to, nor near to, these general principles. The most perfect philosophy of the natural kind only staves off our ignorance a little longer: As perhaps the post perfect philosophy of the moral or metaphysical kind serves only to discover larger portions of it. Thus the observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us, at every turn, in spite of our endeavours to elude or avoid it. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20
Nor is geometry, when take into the assistance of natural philosophy, ever able to remedy this effect, or lead us into the knowledge of ultimate causes, by all that accuracy of reasoning, for which it is so justly celebrated. Every part of mixed mathematics (equivalent to what would today be called “applied mathematics,” or the application of mathematics or mathematical principles to the physical World and experience, as, for instance, in astronomy, surveying, or the calculation of empirical probabilities) proceeds upon the position, that certain laws are established by nature in her operations; and abstract reasonings are employed, either to assist experience in the discovery of these laws, or to determine their influence in particular instances, where it depends upon any precise degree of distance and quantity. Thus, it is a law of motion, discovered by experience, that the moment of force of any body in motion is in the compound ratio or proportion of its solid contents and its velocity; and consequently, that a small force may remove the greatest obstacle or raise the greatest weight, if, by any contrivance or machinery, we can increase the velocity of that force, so as to make it an overmatch for its antagonist. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20
Geometry assists us in the application of this law, by giving us the just dimensions of all the parts and figures, which can enter into any species of machine; but still the discovery of the law itself is owing merely to experience, and all the abstract reasonings in the World could never lead us one step towards the knowledge of it. When we reason a priori and consider merely any object or cause, as it appears to the mind, independent of all observation, it never could suggest to us the notion of any distinct object, such as its effect; much less, show us the inseparable and inviolable connection between them. A human must be very sagacious, who could discover by reasoning, that crystal is the effect of heat, and ice of cold, without being previously acquainted with the operation of these qualities. Among all possible spirits the spirits of the parents are in practice the most important; hence the universal incidence of the ancestor cult. In its original form it served to conciliate the revenants, but on a high level of culture it became an essentially moral and educational institution, as in China. For the child, the parents are one’s closet and most influential relations. In dealing with psychoanalysis, the imago is an unconscious idealized mental image of someone, especially a parent, which influences a person’s behaviour. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20
As one grows older this influence is split off; consequently the parental imagos become increasingly shut away from consciousness, and on account of the restrictive influence they sometimes continue to exert, they easily acquire a negative aspect. In this way the parental imagos remain as alien elements somewhere “outside” the psyche. In place of the parents, woman now takes up her position as the most immediate environmental influence in the life of the adult man. She becomes his companion, she belongs to him in so far as she shares his life and is more or less of the same age. She is not of a superior order, either by virtue of age, or authority, or physical strength. She is, however, a very influence factor and, like the parents, she produces an imago of a relatively autonomous nature—not an imago to be split off like that of the parents, but one that has to be kept associated with consciousness. Woman, with her very dissimilar psychology, is and always has been a source of information about things for which a man has no eyes. She can be his inspiration; her intuitive capacity, often superior to man’s, can give him timely warning, and her feeling, always directed towards the personal, can show him ways which is own less personally accepted feeling would never be discovered. Here, without a doubt, is one of the main sources for the feminine quality of the soul. However, it does not seem to be the only source. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20
No man is so entirely masculine that he has nothing feminine in him. The fact is, rather, that very masculine men have—carefully guarded and hidden—a very soft emotion life, often incorrectly described as “feminine.” A man counts it’s a virtue to repress his feminine traits as much as possible, just as a woman, at least until recently, considered it unbecoming to be “mannish.” The repression of feminine traits and inclinations naturally causes these constresexual demand to accumulate in the unconscious. No less naturally, the imago of woman (the soul-image) becomes a receptacle for these demands, which is why a man, in his love-choice, is strongly tempted to win the woman who best corresponds to his own unconscious femininity—a woman, in short, who can unhesitatingly receive the projection of his soul. Although such a choice is often regarded and felt as altogether ideal, it may turn out that the man has manifestly married his own worse weakness. This would explain some highly remarkable conjunctions. It seems to me, therefore, that a part from the influence of woman there is also the man’s own femininity to explain the feminine nature of the soul complex. There is no question here of any linguistic “accident,” of the kind that makes the Sun feminine in German and masculine in other languages. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20
Once more we are caught in the snare of ontology. If we do not grasp the glory of the cross, life is wasted. Cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once imprudence to us—a crucified God-must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this World. We have ontologized the symbol of the Cross. The term sacrifice now means sacrifice of the individual Jesus to the ground of being in him. It is not the Father of the New Testament story that receives the sacrifice, but the power of being inside everyone of us. The God of the Old Testament is the God of Theism, a God of love and condescension who guides his people because he loves them. The God of Jesus, his Father, is likewise the God of a religion, to whom we have a relationship of reverence, adoration and even of friendship, but this is not the God of the Cross some think of. The symbol of the Cross reaches above the God for theism. For the Crucified…cried to God who remained his God after the God of confidence had left him in the darkness of doubt and meaninglessness. Taking its cut from this, the Church under the Cross, as now interpreted, raises itself in its message and its devotion to the God above the God of theism without sacrificing its concrete symbols. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20
The Church stand for the power of being-itself or for the God who transcends the God of all religions. In this view, the God of theism, the God who has been adored in all religions and who, as it was hitherto believed by Christians, revealed himself in Jesus the Christ, is only a convenient source of concrete symbols for a philosophical theory concerning the power to be. It itself is a symbol of the power to be, the fathomless abyss and ground of being on the surface of which our consciousness floats. The living God is not the God of the philosophers, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, they could not be more mistaken. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the prophets, the God of Jesus, the God of the Christian tradition, is a concrete but inadequate symbol for the God of the philosophers. That is probably because some of them were born prior to Christ and before the prophecies of him coming to be. The myth of the Cross is a convenient image for the death of the God of theism and his replacement by the power to be. Faith is simply a more or less confused awareness of being-itself, beneath all the concrete experiences of human’s existence. The Christ represents this ground of being when it is known in an intense intuition and feeling of regeneration. The Christ is thus the New Being, the New Creation. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20
The Christ is also the Word of God; for the New Being is identical with being-itself, the Ultimate, for which the word “God” provides a traditional symbol. He is the Word because he represents the ground of being in its second aspect, its life-containing capacity. He is crucified because the Cross is an adequate symbol of self-transcendence through self-sacrifice, of the subservience of conscious being to being-itself. The Christ is therefore not merely the God of Christianity; he is the Universal God for whom all have been seeking and whom all have obscurely perceived even in their ignorance and doubt. There are those who claim that truth may be held in error, light in blindness and knowledge in ignorance. While people have faith in the ground of being of philosophers above the concrete being of the Christian God we may say with them: “But it is a mockery to attribute the name of faith to pure obliviousness.” Some may take that view because they are objecting to the concept of implicit faith found in Roman Catholic theology. How much more to the point this protest is as we face the even more remotely implicit faith of some believers with their ontological transcendence of concrete symbols! Whoever knows a thing perfectly, must know all that can bad accidental to it. Now there are some good things to which corruption by evil may be accidental. Hence God would not know good things perfectly, unless He also knows evil things. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20
Now a thing is knowable in the degree in which it is; hence since this is the essence of evil that is the privation of good, by the fact that God knows good things, He knows evil things also; as by light is known darkness. God through Himself receives the vision of darkness, not otherwise seeing darkness expect through light. God redeems humans from their lost and fallen state—Those who are carnal remain as though there were no redemption—Christ brings to pass a resurrection to endless life or to endless damnation. About 148 Before Christ. “And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just. And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not. For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was he cause of all humankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20
“Thus all humankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state. However, remember that one tat persists in one’s own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in their fallen state and the devil hath all power over them. Therefore one is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. And now if Christ had not come into the World, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not come into the World, speaking of tings to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. However, there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light of life of the World; yea, a light that is endless that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20
“Even this mortal shall put on immorality, and this corruption shall be put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the car of God, to be judged of one according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—if they be god, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved? Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come—teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen,” reports Mosiah 16.1-15. God of the passing hour, another week has gone and I have been preserved in my going out, in my coming in. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20
Thine has been the vigilance that has turned threatened evils aside; thine the supplies that have nourished me; thine comforts that have indulged me; thine the relations and friends that have delighted me; thine the means of grace which have edified me; thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments has told me that his is not my rest, that in all success one thing alone is needful, to love my Saviour. Nothing can equal the number of Thy mercies but my imperfections and sins. These, O God, I will neither conceal nor palliate, but confess with a broken heart. In what condition would secret reviews of my life leave me were it not for the assurance that with Thee there is plenteous redemption, that Thou art a forgiving God, that Thou be feared! While I hope for pardon through the blood of the cross, I pray to be clothed with humility, to be quickened in Thy way, to be more devoted to Thee, to keep the end of my life in view, to be cured of the folly of delay and indecision, to know how frail I am, to number my days and apply my heart unto wisdom. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our prayers, that all we who enter this temple, (the dedication of which we celebrate on this anniversary,) may please Thee with full and perfect devotion of soul and body; that while we now render to Thee our prayers, we may by Thy help be enabled to attain Thine eternal rewards; through our Lord Jesus Christ. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20
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She Bowed Like a Madonna, but She is Not Lost in Contemplation of the One!
I live on good soup, not on fine words. An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war. The ideas that humans have about themselves both limit the and set them free. An individual can call oneself disabled and that is just what one will limits oneself to being. Or, a human can say one is a free thinker and adventurer and one can get to Neptune and beyond. Adepts not only seek the few who seek them but they also seek the fewer still who are qualified for them. The teacher does not lift the veil of Aaliayh for everyone one meets in the street but one will always lift it for those who ask aright. One cannot help all the millions of humankind. One can help only those who come into sympathetic and receptive contact with one or with one’s work. All the objects of human reason or enquiry may naturally be divided into two kinds, to wit, Relations of Ideas, and Matters of Fact. Of the first kind are the sciences of Trigonometry, Geometry, Algebra, and Arithmetic; and in short, every affirmation, which either intuitively or demonstratively certain. That the square of the hypothenuse is equal to the square of the two sides, is a proposition, which expresses a relation between these figures. That three times five is equal to the half of thirty, expresses a relation between these numbers. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20
Propositions of this kind are discoverable by the mere operation of thought, without dependence on what is any where existent in the Universe. Though there never were a circle or triangle in nature, the truths, demonstrated by EUCLID, would forever retain their certainty and evidence. Matters of fact, which are the second objects of human reason, are not ascertained in the same manner; nor is our evidence of their truth, however great, of a like nature with the foregoing. The contrary of every matter of fact is still possible; because it can never imply a contradiction, and is conceived by the mind with the same facility and distinctness, as if ever so conformable to reality. That the Sun will not rise to-morrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise. We should in vain, therefore, attempt to demonstrate its falsehood. Were in demonstratively false, it would imply a contradiction, and could never be distinctly conceived by the mind. It may, therefore, be a subject worthy of curiosity, to enquire what is the nature of that evidence, which assures us of any real existence and matter of fact, beyond the present testimony of our senses, or the records of our memory. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20
This part of philosophy, it is observable, has been little cultivated, either by the ancients or moderns; and therefore our doubts and errors, in the prosecution of so important an enquiry, may be the more excusable; while we march through such difficult paths, without any guide or direction. They may even prove useful, by exciting curiosity, and destroying that implicit faith and security, which is the bane of all reasoning and free enquiry. The discovery of defects in the common philosophy, if any such there be, will not, I presume, be a discouragement, but rather an incitement, as is usual, to attempt something more full and satisfactory, than has yet been proposed to the public. The ultimate materials of imagination must consist of the primary parts of individuals, that is, of sense images, and at least some of their components and qualities. Imaginative activity is anchored in experience and restrained by experience. Further insight into the activity of imagination maybe obtained by examining our treatment of poetry. In its style—the rhythms, cadences, and tones of its language—poetry is restrained, but in all other ways is extremely free and licensed. In all things pertaining to its subject matter, it is dependent upon the imagination, which may at pleasure make unlawful matches and divorces of things. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20
In its poetical garb, imagination brings forth feigned history, which is but an imitation of history at pleasure, nevertheless, imagination work within those rational boundaries within which humans believe nature may be enlarged and corrected. Humans want a more perfect nature than pure reason, operating alone, can discover. In perfecting nature, poetry may even take the mind close to something divine: as the sensible World is inferior in dignity to the rational soul, we bestow upon human nature those things which history denies to it; and to satisfy the mind with the shadows of things when the substance cannot be obtained. For if the matter be attentively considered, a sound argument may be drawn to show that there is agreeable to the human soul [animae humanae as “the spirit of human.”] a more ample greatness, a more perfect order, and a more beautiful variety than it can anywhere (since the Fall) find in nature. And therefore, since the acts and events which are the subjects of real history are not of sufficient grandeur to satisfy the human mind, we are at hand to feign acts more heroical; since the successes and issues of actions as related in true history are far from being agreeable to the merits of virtue and vice, we correct it, exhibiting events and fortunes as according to merit and the law of providence; since true history wearies the mind with satiety of ordinary events, like another, we refresh it, by reciting tings unexpected and various and full of vicissitudes. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20
So that this we conduce not only to delight but also to magnanimity and morality. Whence it may be fairly thought to partake somewhat of a divine nature; because it raises the mind and carries it aloft, accommodating the shows of things to the desires of the mind, not (like reason and history) buckling and bowing down the mind to the nature of things. When the imagination thus acts, it creates narrative or heroical poetry. This species of verse makes its images such as might pass for real, yet it commonly exaggerates things beyond probability. The imagination sometimes goes quite beyond reason in dreams and visions. Perhaps it is acting irrationally also when it creates images like those of centaur, unicorn, mermaid, satyr, and Pan. These species of literature represents actions as if they were present. There may also be the implied observation that the imagination of a human in an audience is more easily stimulated or responds more intensely than is the case when one is alone. And certainly it is most true, and one of the great secrets of nature, that the minds of humans are more open to impressions and affections when many are gathered together than when they are alone. Hence the stage play can be a powerful instrument in moving humans to virtue. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20
Whenever you send a written communication, whether by regular mail or email, your writing style will be on full view. If you make any mistakes, they will reflect on you, so make a point of carefully reviewing everything you write, even informal notes. Want to impress someone? Send them a note, in the mail, handwritten, on nice stationary. They will be impressed. They will remember you. And they will think, “What a nice human being.” People often ask me, “Why should I write a note? Why not send an e-mail?” The answer is easy. If it is a choice between writing an e-mail or doing nothing, write the e-mail. However, if the choice is whether to send a handwritten note or an e-mail, then the handwritten note may just be the best idea. Think of it this way: With an e-mail, you type it, press Send, hope the e-mail makes it through any spam blockers, and then hope the recipient is interested enough by the subject line to actually read it. Once read, one closes it and hits the Delete button. With the handwritten note, after it is written, you place it in an envelope, address, place the correct and official postage stamp on it, and mail it. When the note arrives, the recipient invariably opens it. (Have you ever received a personal letter and not opened it?) Once read, it is placed on a tabletop, desk, or counter, or posted on a bulletin board or on your refrigerator with a magnet. It is seen again and again and each time it is seen, the recipient thinks of you. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20
When you receive and open a gift without the giver being present, please send a hand written thank-you note. In fact, even if the giver is present and you thank the individual, send a note anyway. The human will be really impressed. When you stay at someone’s house overnight, send a thank-you note. When you go to someone’s house for dinner, send a thank-you note. Other things to consider. Send a note saying congratulations for graduating or on a promotion or new job, or when a new addition to the family had arrived or a special anniversary or birthday is being celebrated. Nonetheless, one of the hardest notes to send and one of the most appreciated notes to receive is the bereavement note. We all experience the loss of a loved one or close friend and when we do it is devastating. The notes of sympathy and remembrance are a catalyst to helping get through the pain of the loss. It seems like such a small thing from the perspective of the sender. However, for the recipient those notes are a powerful comfort to help deal with the loss. Take some time to think about something short and heartfelt to say and maybe get a friend to review it to make sure it is received well. Now, what to say in a thank-you note. It is easy. When writing a thank-you note, keep it short and sweet. Just three to five sentences is all you need. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20
To highlight how to write a nice thank-you note:
Dear Tori, and Jill,
What a great weekend! The dinner party Saturday night could not have been better, and I enjoyed meeting all your new friends in Tofino, British Columbia. Hope we can get together soon, and I really enjoyed the shepherd’s pie. Hope we can get together again soon.
Thanks for making my visit such a pleasure.
Randolph
(Maximum time to write: ten minutes. Maximum benefit to you: incalculable.)
#RandolphHarris 8 of 20
To be someone’s disciple is to go farther in relationship than to be one’s student. What is the number of the house? What do I see? A public display of fancy articles. My beautiful stranger, it may be shocking on my part, but I am following the bright path. She has forgotten what happened—ah, yes, when one is seventeen years old, when one goes shopping in this happy age, when every single large or little object picked up gives unspeakable delight, then one really forgets. As yet she has not seen me: I am standing at the other end of the counter, far off by myself. There is a mirror on the opposite wall; she is not contemplating it, but the mirror is contemplating her. How faithfully it has caught her image, like a humble slave who shows his devotion by his faithfulness, a slave for whom she certainly has significance but who has no significance for her, who indeed dares to capture her but not to hold her. Unhappy mirror, which assuredly can grasp her image but not her; unhappy mirror, which cannot secretly hide her image in itself, hide it from the whole World, but can only disclose it to others as it now does to me. What torture if a human being were fashioned that way. And yet are there not many people who are like that, who possess nothing except at the moment when they are showing it to others, who merely grasp the surface, not the essence, lose everything when this is going to show itself, just as the mirror would lose her image if she were to disclose her heart to it by a single breathe. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20
And if a person were unable to possess an image in recollection at the very moment of presence, one must ever wish to be at a distance from beauty, not so close that the mortal eyes cannot see the beauty of that which one holds in one’s embrace and which the external eyes have lost, which he, to be sure, can regain for the external vision by distancing himself from it, but which one can, in fact, have before the eye of his soul when he cannot see the object because it is to close to him, when lips are clinging to lips. How beautiful she is! Poor mirror, it must be tormenting—it is good that you do not know jealousy. The master will teach with love what the student must learn with reverence. The zeal of the Master will by slow degrees permeate the heart of the disciple. Under the Sunshine of this encouragement, inspiration, and stimulation, the inner life expands. Only those who have themselves felt it can understand how one is able to exert such drawing power and arouse such fervid devotion in disciples. There is intimacy in the fellowship between teacher and disciple which is unique. There is an impersonality in this most personal human relationship which equally unique. No other relationship, whether familial or friendly, can compare with this relationship in depth or beauty or value. There is no bound so strong, no attraction so deep as that between Master and pupil. Consequently it persists through incarnation after incarnation. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20
It is a special kind of relationship, one which is less dependent on physical conditions than any other human relationship. If they never meet again, never see each other again, it remains unchangeably the same to the end. One must be eloquent when one unveils the symbolism of the Cross. One can only admire one’s reverence for the mystery which is revealed and the depth which one sees in it. And one can hardly resist quoting one at length again and again. Yet one feels a certain embarrassment. One can sense the impression of having discovered the fullness of the symbol of the Cross. One praises the Fathers who composed the Apostles’ creed for the fact that one of its great features is that in all-embracing second article it has enumerated symbols of subjection along with symbols of victory. Credit should therefore be given to them for reading the symbolism of the Cross and confessing its relevance to Christian faith. However, I see their confession only an anticipation: they anticipated the basic structure in which the universal significance of Jesus the Christ as the bearer of the New Being must be seen. Who fulfilled the anticipation, one is left to imagine. One thing is certain. The anticipation is not fulfilled by Christianity. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20
Christianity may be great. Whenever the hardness and the crust are broken through and the substance becomes visible, it exercises a peculiar fascination; then we see what we have now lost, and a deep yearning awakens in us for the departed youth of our culture. However, Christianity is consistently heteronomous. Refusing to place itself under the judgment, it implicitly rejects the Cross. It has abandoned the prophetic spirit which says “no” together with “yes” and “yes” together with “no.” Ecclesiastically limited Christianity, petrified and mechanized in its forms, is unable to place itself on the Cross and, through repentance and self-condemnation, to give itself a new life. Just as Jesus could not have been the Christ without sacrificing himself as Jesus to himself as the Christ, so must a Church sacrifice itself. The criterion of the truth of faith is that it implies an element of self-negation. Christianity professes no such element. Driven by this criterion, Protestantism has criticized the Roman Church. This Church has been led into forms of idolatry because she did not take seriously enough the Cross of the Christ. Only in Protestantism has the Cross been given its due place. Protestantism is not only a protest, it is also—and above all—Christianity. It is also and above all the bearer and mediator of the New Being manifest in Jesus Christ. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20
Protestantism is thus found wherever—even outside of Protestant denominations, even outside of professedly Christian groups—the boundary-situation is proclaimed to be the very situation of salvation; wherever the meaning of the Cross is announced; wherever the Christian substance is preached under the shadow of the Cross. The fact that this criterion is identical with the Protestant principle and has become reality in the Cross of the Christ constitutes the superiority of Protestant Christianity. Yet not all Protestantism is thus saved. The end of the Protestant era means precisely that institutional Protestantism is no longer the standard-bearer of the Protestant principle. It is merely on the defensive. If the protest against itself on the basis of an experience of God’s majesty constitutes the Protestant principle, it is evident that the Churches are not engaged in protesting against themselves. The basic problem of Protestant institutions is to elaborate beneficial forms of life while constantly denying their sufficiency. This is so difficult that my objection to institutionalism may be turned against me. If to institutionalize salvation often entails a withdrawal of the element of self-negation, an undermining of the meaning of the Cross, is not me myself transcending self-negation when I proclaim the superiority of Protestant Christianity? #RandolphHarris 13 of 20
This pride in superiority is as arrogant as the sacramental authority of bishops and priests has ever been. If a claim to superiority is clearly justified, a moderate pride in it may be forgiven. Yet how Protestant is Protestantism? The institutional Churches being partly discarded, what remains? There remain those who are, Protestant unawares. Where are the Protestants? They are wherever Protestantism appears as the prophetic spirit which lists where it will, without ecclesiastical conditions, organizations and tradition. Thus it will operate through Christianity as well as through orthodoxy, through freedom as well as through capitalism. The question is, Are the Reformers themselves among these disciples of the ground of being? It is by fidelity to the Cross that the God of Protestantism has no sacraments which can be divorced from the prophetic message and therefore no priesthood and no genuine cult. Two comments are pertinent. In the first place, how can Christian faith involve a true relation to God if it does not inspire adoration? And adoration means cults. In the second place, it has always been the Christian understanding of the Cross that the Cross was an expression, a symbol, of worship. This is why the Church Fathers saw in it the unique sacrifice of the Son of God. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20
Christianity has embodied this in its theology of the Eucharist, which is a re-presentation of the unique sacrifice of the Cross, of the cult offered by Jesus the Christ of the Father. The Reformers strenuously maintained that, in the words of the Confession of Augsburg, “The Passion of Christ was an oblation and a satisfaction.” That is, it was an act of divine cult. How Christ is both the Father and the Son—He will make intercessions and bear the transgressions of His people—they and all the holy prophets are His seed—He brings to pass the Resurrection—little children have eternal life. About 148 Before Christ. “And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of humans, and shall redeem His people. And because He dwelleth in flesh He shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—the Father, because He was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; this becoming the Father and Son—and they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of Heaven and of Earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldth not to the temptation, but suffereth oneself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by His people. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20
“And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of humans, He shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so one opened not one’s mouth. Yea, even so one shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father. And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of humans—having ascended into Heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of humans; standing betwixt them and justice; having broke the bands of death, taken upon Himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. And now I say unto you, who shall declare one’s generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when one’s soul has been made an offering for sin one shall see one’s seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem His people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are His seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20
“For these are they whose sins He has borne; these are they for whom He has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened one’s mouth to prophesy, that has no fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the World began? I say unto you that they are his seed. And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever! And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of one that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, His people; yea, Him who has granted salvation unto His people. For were it not for the redemption which He hath made for His people, which was prepared from the foundation of the World, I say unto you, were it not for this, all humankind must have perished. However, behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, He bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20
“And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called. And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection. They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death. And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. And little children also have eternal life. However, behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the World began, that have willfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20
“Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for He cannot deny Himself; for He cannot deny justice when it has its claim. And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Yea, Lord, Thy watch-people shall lift up their voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the Earth shall see the salvation of our God,” reports Mosiah 15.1-31. O God of Love, I approach Thee with encouragement derived from Thy character, for I am not left to feel after Thee in the darkness of my nature, nor to worship Thee as the unknown God. I cannot find out Thy perfections, but I know Thou art good, ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy. Thou hast displayed Thy wisdom, power, and goodness in all Thy works, and hast revealed thy will in the Scripture of truth. Thou hast caused it to be preserved, translated, published, multiplied, so that all humans may possess it and find thee in it. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20
Here I see Thy greatness and Thy grace, Thy pity and Thy rectitude, Thy mercy and Thy truth, Thy being and human’s hearts; through it Thou hast magnified Thy name, and favoured humankind with the gospel. Please have mercy on me, for I have ungratefully received Thy benefits, little improved my privileges, made light of spiritual things, disregarded Thy messages, contended with examples of the god, rebukes of conscience, admonitions of friends, leadings of providence. I deserve that Thy kingdom be taken away from me. Lord, I confess my sin with feeling, lamentation, a broken heart, a contrite spirit, self-abhorrence, self-condemnation, self-despair. Please give me relief by Jesus my hope, faith in His name of Saviour, forgiveness by His blood, strength by His presence, holiness by His Spirit: And please let me love Thee with all my heart. O God, Who although Thou art wholly present everywhere, and containest all thing with Thine own Majesty, yet hast willed that places suitable for Thy Mysteries should be consecrated unto Thee, that the house of Prayer should themselves stir up the minds of Thy suppliants to call upon this place, and show to all who hope in Thee the gift of Thine assistance; that here they may obtain both the virtue of Thy Sacraments, and the effect of their own prayers; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20
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And We Forget Because We Must, and Not Because We Will!
Humans are human because they are capable of reflective thought. Among the animal kingdom humans alone have yet been able to demonstrate that they can cognitively consider their own existence, their own ending, their own limitations, and their own strengths. Every one will readily allow, that there is a considerable difference between the perceptions of the mind, when a human feels the pain of excessive heat, or the pleasure of moderate warmth, and when afterwards recalls to one’s memory this sensation, or anticipates it by one’s imagination. These faculties may mimic or copy the perceptions of the senses; but they never can entirely reach the force and vivacity of the original sentiment. The utmost we say of them, even when they operate with greatest vigour, is, that they represent their object in so lively a manner, that we could almost say we feel or see it: However, expect the mind be disordered by disease or madness, they never can arrive at such a pitch of vivacity, as to render these perceptions altogether undistinguishable. All the colours of poetry, however splendid, can never paint natural objects in which a manner as to make the description be taken for real landskip. The most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation. #RandolphHarris 1 of 22
We may observe a like distinction to run though all the other perceptions of the mind. A person in a fit of anger, is actuated in a very different manner from one who only thinks of that emotion. If you tell me, that any person is in love, I easily understand your meaning, and from a just conception of one’s situation; but never can mistake that conception for the real disorders and agitations of the passion. When we reflect on our past sentiments and affections, our thought is a faithful mirror, and copies its objects truly; but the colours which it employs are faint and dull, in comparisons of those in which our original perceptions were clothed. It requires no nice discernment or metaphysical head to mark the distinction between them. Here therefore we may divide all the perceptions of the mind by their different degrees of force and vivacity. The less forcible and lively are commonly denominated THOUGHTS or IDEAS. The other species want a name in our language, and in most others; I suppose, because it was not requisite for any, but philosophical purposes, to rank them under a general term or appellation. Let us, therefore, use a little freedom, and call them IMPRESSIONS; employing that word in a sense somewhat different from the usual. #RandolphHarris 2 of 22
Impression is commonly employed to refer to a copy or effect produced on the senses or mind by external causes or objects. By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are the less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned. Nothing, at first view, may seem more unbounded than the thought of human, which not only escapes all human power and authority, but is not even restrained within the limits of nature and reality. To form monsters, and join incongruous shapes and appearances, costs the imagination no more trouble than to conceive to one planet, along which it creeps with pain and difficulty; the thought can in an instant transport us into the most distant regions of the Universe; or even beyond the Universe, into the unbounded chaos, where nature is supposed to lie in total confusion. What never was seen, or heard of, may yet be conceived; nor is anything beyond the power of thought, expect what implies an absolute contradiction. #RandolphHarris 3 of 22
However, though out thought seems to possess thus unbounded liberty, we shall find, upon a nearer examination, that it is really confined within very narrow limits, and that all this creative power of the mind amounts to no more than the faculty or compounding, transposing, augmenting, or diminishing the materials afforded us by the senses and experience. When we think of a golden mountain, we only join two consistent ideas, gold, and mountain, with which we were formerly acquainted. A virtuous horse we can conceive; because, from our own feeling, we can conceive virtue; and this we may unite to the figure and shape of a horse, which is an animal familiar to us. In short, all the materials of thinking are derived either from our outward or inward sentiment: The mixture and composition of these belongs alone to the mind and will. Or, to express myself in philosophical language, all our ideas or more feeble perceptions are copies of our impressions or more lively ones. To prove this, the two following arguments will, I hope, be sufficient. First, when we analyze our thoughts or ideas, however compounded or sublime, we always find, that they resolve themselves into such simple ideas as were copied from a precedent feeling or sentiment. #RandolphHarris 4 of 22
Even those idea, which, at first view, seem the most wide of this origin, are found, upon a nearer scrutiny, to be derived from it. The idea of God, as a meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise, and good Being, arises from reflecting on the operations of our own mind, and augmenting, without limit, those qualities of goodness and wisdom. We may prosecute this enquiry to what length we please; where we shall always find, that every idea which we examine is copied from a similar impression. Those who would assert, that this position is not universally true nr without exception, have only one, and that an easy method of refuting it; by producing that idea, which, in their opinion, is not derived from this source. It will then be incumbent on us, if we would maintain our doctrine, to produce the impression or lively perception, which corresponds to it. Secondly. If it happen, from a defect of the organ, that a human is not susceptible of any species of sensation, we always find, that one is as little susceptible of the correspondent ideas. A blind man can form no notion of colours; a deaf man of sounds. Restore either of them that sense, in which one is deficient; by opening this new inlet for one’s sensations, you also open an inlet for the ideas; and one find no difficulty in conceiving these objects. #RandolphHarris 5 of 22
The case is the same, if the object, proper for exciting any sensation, has never been applied to the organ. In most cases, the less affluent has no notion of the relish of Meritage Icewine. And though there are few or no instances of a like deficiency in the mind, where a person has never felt or is wholly incapable of a sentiment or passion, that belongs to one’s species; yet we find the same observation to take place in a less degree. A person of mild manners can for no idea of inveterate revenge or cruelty; nor can a selfish heart easily conceive the heights of friendship and generosity. It is readily allowed, that other beings may possess many senses of which we can have no conception; because the ideas of them have never been introduced to us, in the only manner, by which an idea can have access to the mind, to wit, by the actual feeling and sensation. There is, however, one contradictory phenomenon, which may prove, that it is not absolutely impossible for ideas to arise, independent of their correspondent impressions. I believe it will readily be allowed, that several distinct ideas of colour, which enter the eye, or those of sound, which are conveyed by the ear, are really different from each other; though, at the same time, resembling. Now if this be true of different colours, it must be no less so of the different shades of the same colour; and each shade produces a distinct idea, independent of the rest. #RandolphHarris 6 of 22
For if this should be denied, it is possible, by the continual gradation of shades, to run a colour insensibly into what is most remote from it; and if you will not allow any of the means to be different, you cannot, without absurdity, deny the extremes to be the same. Suppose, therefore, a person to have enjoyed one’s sight for thirty years, and to have become perfectly acquainted with colours of all kinds, expect one particular shade of blue, for instance, which it never has been one’s fortune to meet with. Let all the different shades of that colour, expect that single one, be placed before one, descending gradually from the deepest to the lightest; it is plain, that one will perceive a blank, where that shade is wanting, and will be sensible, that there is a greater distance in that place between the contiguous colours than in any other. Now I ask, whether it be possible for one, from one’s own imagination, to supply this deficiency, and raise up to oneself the idea of that particular shade, though it had never been conveyed to one by one’s senses? I believe there are few but will be of opinion that one can: And this may serve as prof, that the simple ideas are not always, in every instance, derived from the correspondent impression; though this instance is so singular, that it is scarcely worth our observing, and does not merit, that for it alone we should alter or maxim. #RandolphHarris 7 of 22
Here, therefore, is a proposition, which not only seems, in itself, simple, and intelligible; but, it a proper use were made of it, might render every dispute equally intelligible, and banish all that jargon, which has so long taken possession of metaphysical reasonings, and drawn disgrace upon them. All ideas, especially abstract ones, are naturally faint and obscure: The mind has but a slender hold of them: They are apt to imagine it has a determinate idea, annexed to it. On the contrary, all impressions, that is, all sensations, either outward or inward, are strong and vivid; The limits between them are more exactly determined: Nor is it easy to fall into any error or mistake with regard to them. When we entertain, therefore, any suspicion, that a philosophical term is employed without any meaning or idea (as is but too frequent), we need but enquire, from what impression is that supposed idea derived? And if it be impossible to assign any, this will serve to confirm our suspicion. By bringing ideas into so clear a light, we may reasonably hope to remove all dispute, which may arise, concerning their nature and reality. It is probable that no more was meant by those, who denied innate ideas, than that all ideas were copies of our impressions; though it must be confessed, that the terms, which they employed, were not chosen with such caution, nor so exactly defined, as to prevent all mistakes about their doctrine. #RandolphHarris 8 of 22
For what is meant by innate? If innate be so equivalent to natural, in whatever sense we take the latter word, whether in opposition to what is uncommon, artificial, or miraculous. If by innate be meant, contemporary to our birth, the dispute seems to be frivolous; nor is it worthy while to enquire at what time thinking beings, whether before, at, or after our birth. Again, the word idea, sees to be commonly taken in a very loose sense as standing for any of our perceptions, our sensations and passions, as well as thoughts. Now in this sense, I should desire to know, what can be meant by asserting, that self-love, or resentment of injuries, or the passion between genders is not innate? However, admitting these terms, impressions and ideas, in the sense above explained, and understanding by innate, what is original or copied from no precedent perception, then may we assert, that all our impressions are innate, and our ideas not innate. It is evident, that there is a principle of connexion between the different thoughts or ideas of the mine, and that, in their appearance to the memory or imagination, they introduce each other with a certain degree of method and regularity. In our more serious thinking or discourse, this is so observable, that any particular thought, which breaks in upon the regular tract or chain of ideas, is immediately remarked and rejected. #RandolphHarris 9 of 22
And even in our wildest and most wandering reveries, nay in our very dream, we shall find, if we reflect, that the imagination ran not altogether at adventures, but that there was still a connexion upheld among the different ideas, which succeeded each other. We are the loosest and freest conversation to be transcribed, there would immediately be observed something, which connected in all its transitions. Or where this is wanting, the person, who broke the thread of discourse, might still inform you, that there has secretly revolved in one’s mind a succession of thought, which had gradually led one from the subject of conversation. Among different languages, even where we cannot suspect the least connexion or communication, it is found, that the words, expressive of idea, the most compounded, do yet nearly correspond to each other: A certain proof, that the simple ideas, comprehended in the compound ones, were bound together by some universal principle, which had an equal influence on all human. Though it be too obvious to escape observation, that different ideas are connected together; I do not find, that any philosopher has attempted to enumerate or class all these principles of association; a subject, however, that seems worthy of curiosity. To me, there appear to be only three principles of connexion among ideas, namely, Resemblance, Contiguity in time or place, and Cause or Effect. #RandolphHarris 10 of 22
That these principles serve to connect ideas will not, I believe, be much doubted. A picture naturally leads our thoughts to the original: Resemblance. The mention of one apartment in a building naturally introduces an enquiry or discourse concerning the others: Contiguity. And if we think of a wound, we can scarcely forbear reflecting on the pain which follows it—Cause and Effect. However, that this enumeration is complete, and that there are no other principles of association, except these may be difficult to prove to the satisfaction of the reader, or even to a human’s own satisfaction. All we can do, in such cases, is to run over several instances, and examine carefully the principle, which binds the different thoughts to each other, never stopping till we render the principle as general as possible. The more instances we examine, and the more care we employ, the more assurance shall we acquire, that enumeration, which we form from the whole, is complete and entire. The creative functions of the imagination are evident in two ways. First, the imagination could interpret and illustrate the work of reason and judgment. If Reason said, “This will be good for you,” Imagination could say, “Your friends will applaud this.” #RandolphHarris 11 of 22
Second, imagination could create its own products. It could do what other faculties could not do. It could make the image, the valley of tears, and the cow jumped over the moon. In linking imagination with things present, or as if they were present, we have in mind the creative function we give to imagination in poetry and literature, and in rhetorical discourse. We may also be thinking of the role of imagination in divine relation. If we interpret and illuminate experience for human’s instruction and pleasure, in doing it we bring things past to the present. Rhetoric illustrates human’s reasonings when one is thinking about one’s future, when one deliberates about what one ought to believe or do, and in so acting it brings things future into the present. That these arts can do these things is due to the special nature of the imagination. The imagination is not simply the servant and messenger of the other faculties. It is either invested with or usurps no small authority in itself, besides the simple duty of the message. In poetry its creativity is seen as a play wit or fancy and results in the images that are beyond the limits of ordinary credibility. In rhetoric its creativity involved a partnership with reason, for the duty and office of Rhetoric, if it be deeply looked into, is no other than to apply and recommend the dictates of reason to imagination, in order to excite the appetite and the will. #RandolphHarris 12 of 22
In such ways, imagination enjoyed considerable freedom; yet this Janus of imagination, wanton as it might be, is never completely free. Part of its being is anchored in experience. For of the things that have been in no part objects of the sense, there can be no imagination, not even a dream. The mind has over the body that commandment which the lord has over a bondman; but…reason has over the imagination that commandment which a magistrate has over a free citizen who may come to rule in one’s turn. Reason has over the imagination that commandment which a magistrate has over a free citizen who may come to rule in one’s turn. Reason divides and composes the items of experience in orderly ways. However, left to its own inclinations imagination often does not abet reason; quite the contrary, it combines the material of sense, memory, and intellect as it wished: the several individuals [of sense that pass into the memory whole] have something in common one with another, and again something different and manifold. Now this composition and division is either according to the pleasure of the mind, or according to the nature of things as it exists in fact. If it be according to the pleasure of the mind, and these parts are arbitrarily [ id est, by art] transposed into the likeness of some individual, it is the work of imagination; which not being bound by any law and necessity of nature or matter, may join things which are never found together in nature and separate things which are never found apart. #RandolphHarris 13 of 22
The symbol that point to the New Being as manifested in the personal life of Jesus may be misunderstood. They actually have been, whenever human’s hunger for spiritual security has led one to distort the nature of the New Being. It is especially the Christian temptation to picture the New Creation as the introduction into the New World of a new institution. Shelter-like, the Church offers protection against the disintegrating forces of the Word. She staves off false philosophies and leads the good fight for the law and the rights of God. She has assembled a whole arsenal of protective devices with powerful psychological impact. This is her tragedy. The mechanizing of her hierarchical apparatus was to be expected, for she overlooked an important aspect of Christology, which it would be the vocation of Protestantism to restore. It has been traditional in Lutheranism to present Luther’s theology as a theologia crucis, as distinguished from the theologia gloriae of Catholicism. Christianity is a theology of the Cross. The Christ did indeed appear in glory; but nowhere was his glory seen more directly than on the Cross. The proclamation of the Cross forms the essence of the Protestant principle. #RandolphHarris 14 of 22
Protestantism must proclaim the judgment that brings assurance by depriving us of all security; the judgment that declares us whole in the disintegration and cleavage of soul and community; the judgment that affirms our having truth in the very absence of truth (even of religious truth); the judgment that reveals the meaning of our life in the situation in which all the meaning of life has disappeared. The New Being that is perceived in Jesus as the Christ and of which we catch an obscure glimpse whenever, in the ecstasy of a revelatory situation, we are infinitely concerned, is new because it is old. It is old as being-itself, transcending time and space, having been before anything concrete was. It is the second principle of the Trinitarian life of God. However, it is known nowhere by humans expect in the estranged situation which is the stuff of existence; it is perceived only in the radical experience of the boundary-situation. In the story of Christ, this insight is expressed in the symbol of the Cross: the Christ, who dominates existence, yet slaves under its harsh conditions. The first relation of the Christ to existence is his subjection to it. The subjection to existence is expressed in the symbol of the Cross of the Christ. It is not complete and final, being correlated to the conquest of existence and its symbol, the Resurrection. It is nevertheless central. #RandolphHarris 15 of 22
A Christology which would not see that the manifestation of the New Being takes place nowhere but in a boundary-situation would miss the main point of Christianity. The interdependence of the Cross and the Resurrection, of defeat and victory, gives the universal relevance to the story. The Cross of the Christ is the Cross of the one who has conquered death of existential estrangement. Otherwise it would only be one more tragic event (which is also is) in the long history of the tragedy of humans. It also constitutes the unique contribution of Christianity to a philosophy of religion. In general religions have worshipped God as Lord and Father; they have adored him as Creator and Judge. Hence they have organized priestly castes for meditation, and hence they have provoked prophetic protests: The Lord who is only Lord and the Father who is only Father cannot be human’s ultimate concern. For besides reverence and sentimental love, such religions also inspire revolt and contempt. Christianity alone has conceived of the manifestation of the Lord and Father as Son and Brother under the conditions of existence. The conditions of existence mean tragedy. They make failure inseparable from effort, stumbling necessary in the search for an ideal. One who is the Christ was domed. One had to meet one’s fate on the Cross. #RandolphHarris 16 of 22
Christianity centers on the Cross, with its universal symbolic significance. The story of the Cross, is the myth of the bearer of the new eon who suffers the death of a convict and slave under the powers of that old eon which one is to conquer. The faith of Christianity expresses the meaning of this symbol: the surrender of one who is called the Christ to the ultimate consequence of existence, namely, death under the conditions of estrangement. The symbolic meaning of the Cross has many aspects. In terms of life, the Cross points to the insight that the new life cannot be superadded to the old. If it did not come from the complete end of the old life, the new life would not really be new life. Otherwise it would have to be buried again. However, if the new life has come out of the grace, then the Messiah himself has appeared. Christian theology is not a supra-naturalism whereby something is added to nature as a result of an heteronomous decision. Rather, it is self-transcending through self-sacrifice. It teaches the redemption of nature through the negation of nature. In this way the Cross becomes the pattern for faith and theology. The symbol of the Cross the Christ stands the double test of finality: uninterrupted unity with the ground of one’s being and the continuous sacrifice of himself as the Christ. #RandolphHarris 17 of 22
In terms of Godmandhood, the Cross is a symbol of the divine paradox of the appearance of the eternal God-man unity withing existential estrangement. Nowhere else should we look for the power and the glory, not in the birth of Jesus, not in the transfiguration, not in the miracles, not in the preaching of the beatitudes, not in the Resurrection—unless these are seen as leading to, or flowing from, the paradox of the Cross, that God is present in an actual human body and that it is just in suffering that his majesty is revealed. The Cross is by no means the only symbol of the manifestation of the ground of being. Yet it is the central one, the criterion of all other manifestations of God’s participation in the suffering of the World. In terms of Protestantism, the Cross is the ultimate symbol of the Protestant principle: what takes place at the Cross is the same as what happens wherever true Protestantism is to be found: In the power of the New Being, the boundary-situation is preached, its No and Yes are proclaimed. This is the acted event of justification by faith. The Christ dying is also resurrecting, thus revealing his unity with the New Being. No longer is the Universe subjected to the law of life out of birth. It is subjected to a higher law, to the law of life out of death by the death of one who represented eternal life. The Protestant principle of the justification of one who is unjust is a Yes and a No: No to oneself and Yes to oneself. #RandolphHarris 18 of 22
No alone would entail despair, and Yes alone would breed arrogance. In Christians both Yes and No are true, because when they say “Amen through Christ,” they express their ultimate certitude: There is no ultimate certitude expect the life which has conquered its death and the truth which had conquered its error, the Yes which is beyond Yes and No. The message of the Cross is that Jesus as the Christ is the only reality where there is not Yes and No, but only Yes. Isaiah speaks messianically—the Messiah’s humiliation and sufferings are set forth—He makes His soul an offering for sin and makes intercession for transgressors. About 148 Before Christ. “Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For one shall group up before one as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; one hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see one there is no beauty that we should desire one. One is despised and rejected of humans; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we his as it were out faces from one; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried out sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. However, one was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. #RandolphHarris 19 of 22
“All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to one’s own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not is mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. And he made his grace with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his souls unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors,” reports Mosiah 14.1-12. #RandolphHarris 20 of 22
My Master God, I am desired to preach today, but go weak and needy to my task; yet I long that people might be edified with divine truth, that an honest testimony might be borne for Thee; please give me assistance in preaching and prayer, with heart uplifted for grace and unction. Present to my view things pertinent to my subject, with fullness of matter and clarity of thought, proper expression, fluency, fervency, a feeling sense of things I preach, and grace to apply them to men’s consciences. Please keep me conscious all the while of my defeats, and please let me not gloat in pride over my performance. Please help me to offer a testimony for Thyself, and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting Thy mercy. Please give me freedom to open the sorrows of Thy people, and to set before them comforting consideration. Attend with power the truth preached, and awaken the attention of my slothful audience. May Thy people be refreshed, melted, convicted, comforted, and please help me to use the strongest arguments drawn from Christ’s incarnation and sufferings, that humans might be made holy. I myself need Thy support, comfort, strength, holiness, that I might be a pure channel of Thy grace, and be able to do something for Thee. #RandolphHarris 21 of 22
Please give me then refreshment among Thy people, and help me not to treat excellent matter in a defective way, or bear a broken testimony to so worthy a redeemer, or be harsh in treating of Christ’s death, its design and end, from lack of warmth and fervency. And please keep me in tune with Thee as I do this work. O God of all sanctification, Almighty Sovereign, Whose goodness is felt to be infinite; O God, Who art present throughout all things at once, in heaven and Earth, keeping Thy mercy for Thy people who walk before the presence of Thy glory; please hear the prayers of Thy servants, that Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night; graciously dedicated this church, (set apart by holy rites in honour of your children) mercifully illumine and brighten it with Thine own glory. Favourably accept every one who comes to worship in this place; graciously be pleased to loo down, and for the sake of Thy great Name, and strong hand, and high arm, readily protect, hear, and everlastingly keep and defend, those who make their prayer in this habitation; that they being always happy, and always rejoicing in Thy true religion, may constantly persevere in Christian Faith of the Holy Trinity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 22 of 22
CRESLEIGH MEADOWS AT PLUMAS RANCH
Plumas Lake, CA | from the mid $300’s
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We beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that in this place, which we, though unworthy, dedicate to Thy Name, Thou wouldest incline Thy gracious ears to all who seek Thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord. #CresleighHomes
There is a Plea, a Tear in Your Eye and Both are Equally Beautiful—I Accept them Both With Equal Right!
An individual attains the “good life” by harmoniously combining personal satisfactions and continuous self-actualization with significant activities that contribute to the welfare of one’s human community. No human is an island, nor is one just part of the mob; one is both an individual and a member of one’s society and culture and World. It is remarkable concerning the operations of the mind, that, though most intimately present to us, yet, whenever they become a reflection, they seem involved in obscurity; nor can the eye readily find those lines and boundaries, which discriminate and distinguish them. The objects are too fine to remain long in the same aspect or situation; and must be apprehended in an instant, by a superior penetration, derive from nature, and improved by habit and reflection. It becomes, therefore, no inconsiderable part of science barely to know the differ operations of the mind, to separate them from each other, to class them under their proper heads, and to correct all that seeming disorder, in which they lie involved, when made the object of reflection and enquiry. This task of ordering and distinguishing, which has no merit, when performed with regard to external bodies, the objects of our senses, rise in its value, when directed towards the operations of the mind, in proportion to the difficulty and labour, which we meet with in performing it. #RandolphHarris 1 of 22
And if we can go no further than this mental geography, or delineation of the distinct parts and powers of the mind, it is at least a satisfaction to go so far; and the more obvious this science may appear (and it is by no means obvious) the more contemptible still must the ignorance of it be esteemed, in app pretenders to leaning and philosophy. Nor can there remain any suspicion, that this science is uncertain and chimerical; unless we should entertain such a scepticism as is entirely subversive of all speculation, and even action. It cannot be doubted, that the mind is endowed with several powers and faculties, that these powers are distinct from each other, that what is really distinct to the immediate perception may be distinguished by reflection; and consequently, that there is a truth and falsehood in all propositions on this subject, and a truth and falsehood, which lie not beyond the compass of human understanding. There are many obvious distinctions of this kind, such as those between the will and understanding, the imagination and passions, which fall within the comprehension of every human creature; and the finer and more philosophical distinctions are no less real and certain, though more difficult to be comprehended. #RandolphHarris 2 of 22
Some instances, especially late ones, of success in these enquiries, may give us a juster notion of the certainty and solidity of this branch of learning. And shall we esteem it worthy the labour of a philosopher to give us a true system of the planets, and adjust the position and order of those remote bodies; while we affect to overlook those, who, with so much success, delineate the parts of the mind, in which we are so intimately concerned? But may we not hope, that philosophy, if cultivated with care, and encouraged by the attention of the public, may carry its researches still father, and discover, at least in some degree, the secret springs and principles, by which the human mind is actuated in its operations? Imagination is that motion of the soul which actual sensation generates. It is the power which out of itself produces forms, a force related to all the powers. It fashions all the likenesses of things, and it is a faculty of assimilating all other things to itself. Imagination detects the species of things. It purifies the objects of sense. It prepares for reason the inferior nature and puts it in shape to be cognized. The bridges body and soul, and is a mean between the material object and the immaterial form thereof. #RandolphHarris 3 of 22
Astronomers had long contented themselves with proving, from the phenomena, the true motions, order, and magnitude of the Heavenly bodies: Cornelius Van Till a philosopher, at last, arose, who seems, from the happiest reasoning, to have also determined the laws and forces, by which the revolutions of the planets are governed and directed. The like has been performed with regard to other parts of nature. And if prosecuted with equal capacity and caution, there is no reason to despair of equal success in our enquiries concerning the mental powers and economy. It is probable, that one operation and principle of the mind depends on another; which, again, may be resolved into one more general and universal: And how far these researches may possibly be carried, it will be difficult for us, before, or even after, a careful trial, exactly to determine. This is certain, that attempts of this kind are every day made even by those who philosophize the most negligently: And nothing can be more requisite than to enter upon the enterprise with thorough care and attention; that, if it lie within the compass of human understanding, it may at last be happily achieved; if not, it may, however, be rejected with some confidence and security. #RandolphHarris 4 of 22
This last conclusion, surely, is not desirable; nor ought it to be embraced too rashly. For how much must we diminish from the beauty and value of this species of philosophy, upon such a supposition? Moralist have hitherto been accustomed, when they considered the vast multitude and diversity of those actions that excite our approbation or dislike, to search for some common principle, on which this variety of sentiments might depend. And though they have sometimes carried the matter too far, by their passion for some one general principle; it must, however, be confessed, that they re excusable in expecting o find some general principles, into which all the vices and virtues were justly be to resolved. The like had been the endeavour of critics, logicians, and even politicians: Nor have their attempts been wholly unsuccessful; though perhaps longer time, greater accuracy, and more ardent application may bring these sciences still nearer their perfection. To throw up at once all pretensions of this kind may justly be deemed more rash, precipitate, and more strict and rigid, than even the boldest and most affirmative philosophy, that had ever attempted to impose its crude dictates and principles on humankind. #RandolphHarris 5 of 22
What though these reasonings concerning human nature seem abstract, and of difficult comprehension? This affords no presumption of their falsehood. On the contrary, it seems impossible, that what has hitherto escaped so many wise and profound philosophers can be very obvious and easy. And whatever pains these researchers may cost us, we may think ourselves sufficiently rewarded, not only in point of profit but of pleasure, if, by that means, we can make any addition to our stock of knowledge, in subjects of such unspeakable importance. However as, after all, the abstractedness of these speculations is no recommendation, but rather a disadvantage to them, and as this difficulty may perhaps be surmounted by care and art, and the avoiding of all unnecessary detail. Phantasms decay in memory, and a human is said to have remembered only when one knows one has had the experience before. Behaviour of the imagination, both in its reproductive and creative roles, can be drawn from three kinds of imagination—imaginative activity that illuminates things past, present, and future. In linking imagination with the memory and with things past, we see the imaginations role in making past experience available to reason for deliberation and judgment, and available to the will for satisfaction and action. #RandolphHarris 6 of 22
Imagination takes images directly from the senses and helps resurrect them from memory and presents them to reason whenever they have become subject to analysis and judgment. To the senses and memory it is thus agent and messenger. To reason, on the other hand, it is like a lawyer who presents needed materials for judicial decision, and like a deputy who delivers reason’s degree to the will for execution. It is true that the Imagination functions as a go-between in both provinces, the judicial and the ministerial, assisting alike messenger, agent, and deputy, and attorney. For Sense gives up all kinds of idols [the forms and images it worships] to the Imagination for Reason to judge of; and Reason again when it has made its judgment and selection, sends them over to Imagination before the decree be put in executive. For voluntary motion is ever preceded and incited by imagination; so that imagination is as common instrument to both—both reason and will. Because of its association with reason when a prudential decision was at stake, the action of imagination could reveal qualities of truth and goodness. So the faculty could be Janus-like, showing two faces as sisters should, the face toward reason having the print of truth and the face toward action have the print of goodness. #RandolphHarris 7 of 22
It its role as messenger imagination is clearly subservient to sense, memory, and reason. It helps these faculties to communicate with each other; it works with them without participating in creation, simply presenting the record of things past and done. The power of an image to incite voluntary movement is also possible. Imagination is the first internal beginning of all voluntary motion. The imagination assists and understands principally in matter of invention. It supplies a variety of objects whereon to work. It assists the will by quickening, alluring, and sharpening its desire towards some convenient object, for some plausible fancy does more prevail with tender Wills, than a severe and sullen Argument, and hath more powerful insinuations to persuade, than the peremptoriness of Reason has to command. We should unfold some interpretations of Christian symbols. Christ and the New Being are no doubt fundamental, yet they are not alone. Other aspects have to be pointed to by means of other symbols. One of these brings us to the brink of the strict and rigid doctrine and cases of to question the divinity of Christ. It is the symbol of Christ as the Logos or Word of God. Jesus as the Christ is the Logos. However, that statement is paradoxical. #RandolphHarris 8 of 22
That is, it contradicts the doxa, the opinion derived from human’s existential predicament and all expectation imaginable on the basis of the predicament. This opinion formulates the universal fact of estrangement. The paradox is that a human being, living under the conditions of estrangement, nevertheless conquered and dominated them. One should not examine this from the standpoint of logic, but from that of experience: The paradox is a new reality and not a logical riddle. Statements concerning the Christ are not therefore to be justified on the level of philosophical logic. They stand or fall on the strength of the revelatory situation which imposes them, which is all the more remarkable since “logos” and “Word” are of philosophical origin and have philosophical connotations. The doctrine of the Word of God has been obscured by various meanings which Christianity has attributed to the expression. The first meaning is the closet to its philosophical origin. The Word, or Logos, is the first of all principle of the divine self-manifestation in the ground of being itself. The ground is not only an abyss in which every form disappears; it also is the source from which every form emerges. The ground of being has the character of self-manifestation; it has logos character. This is not something added to the divine life; it is the divine life itself. #RandolphHarris 9 of 22
Other meanings of the term Word are derivative. The Word is the medium of creation, the dynamic spiritual World which mediates between the silent mystery of the abyss of being and the fullness of concrete, individualized, self-related beings; the manifestation of the divine life in the history of revelation; the manifestation of divine life in the final revelation; the documentation of the final revelation; he message of the Church as proclaimed in her preaching and teaching. The important element in this Christology is that the first, second, third, and fourth meanings of the term Word all coincide in the event of Jesus as the Christ. This is to say that the Christ is the New Bring able to conquer the situation of estrangement because e is primordially the principle of the divine self-manifestation. That which appeared in the history of humankind in the shape of Jesus and which was recognized as the New Being by the Apostles in no other than the very abyss and ground of everything that is. The symbol of the Word, in itself, can be detached from a historical manifestation. It could be the self-manifestation of God, the demonstration of being-itself to being-itself, the infinite depth and wisdom of the divine. It is all this, and also something more: the manifestation of being-itself in one concrete human being, Jesus. This is borne out by applying the symbol of “the Word of God” to the Christ. #RandolphHarris 10 of 22
At this point, the symbol of the Word interlocks with Trinitarian thinking. The Word is the Word of God, the self-manifestation of the divine life, not an added achievement of it, but the divine life as such. That God may be called, not only God, but also Word, is one of the bases of Trinitarian theology. We should therefore examine the meaning of the Trinitarian symbols. The doctrine of the Christ dovetails into a doctrine of God and, more specifically, of God as Thee. The doctrine of revelation is based on a Trinitarian interpretation f the divine life and its self-manifestation. The problem of the Trinity as the divine life prior to a knowledge of the Christ is frequently discussed. The Trinity is a symbol which ontological reflection elaborates. It points toward a basic implication of being-itself, when being-itself is understood not as a static background to the Universe, but as the live ground from which all stems. Being-itself is life. It is pregnant with all the forms that have come out in time. However, since it is being-itself, the ground, the mothers or the womb of all it cannot be dependent on what will be born of it. Being-itself is living even before concrete forms have come to be. When we say “before,” we naturally speak symbolically. However, this symbol of anteriority is necessary. #RandolphHarris 11 of 22
The symbol of anteriority expresses the natural doctrine that God is Creator even before creation. His life does not depend on his works. He is life. Thus the idea of the living God requires a distinction between the abysmal element of the divine, the form element, and their spiritual unity. Since life is not static, we may establish a symbolic distinction between the divine abyss out of which the life of God manifests itself, the self-manifestation of this life and, thirdly, the unity of the two. The abyss is a pole of ultimacy; the form a pole of concreteness. And both are one. The Trinitarian problem is the problem of the unity between ultimacy and concreteness in the living God. Each type of monotheistic religion, since it has conceived of God as living, has developed a form of Trinitarian thinking. Monarchical monotheism saw life emanating from the highest God in a multitude of incarnations and demi-gods. Mystical monotheism was Trinitarian in developing the relation of Brahman-Atman, the absolute, to the concrete gods of Hindu piety. Finally, the exclusive monotheism of the Bible made room for the element of meditation in the divine life, and there arose mediating figures. First, hypostatized divine qualities like Wisdom, Word, Glory; second, divine messengers; third, the divine-human figure through whom God works the fulfilment of history, the Messiah. #RandolphHarris 12 of 22
In the fully developed Christian thinking, the three elements of life, fathomless abyss, sprouting ground, and the unity of the two, are called Father, So, Spirit. A beautiful page of Systematic Theology I shows that interrelatedness of the three. The first principle is that which makes God, God. It is the root of his majesty, the unapproachable intensity of his being, the inexhaustible ground of being. This is God in terms of power to be. The second principle of God’s self-objectivization; it opens the divine ground, its infinity and its darkness, and it makes its fullness distinguishable, definite, finite. This is God in terms of meaning and structure. Finally, the third principle of Spirit, is the actualization of the other two. It ensures that God remains God, in that the logos-process of definite structuring returns to its infinite ground: The finite is posited as finite within the process of divine life, but it is reunited with the infinite within the same process. In the Trinity, there is a numerical problem. The trinitarian problem has nothing to do with the trick questions how one can be three and three be one. If it is treated as a matter for abstract speculation, it becomes a meaningless juggling with words and numbers. Forgotten is the fact that Trinitarian terms like Father, Son, Spirit, or in the traditional nomenclature, persone, relations, processions, generation, spiration, are symbols pointing to aspects of being-itself as living. #RandolphHarris 13 of 22
Making them objects that somehow have to be reconciled in spite of the fact that they are contradictory misses the entire meaning of Trinitarian thinking. The theology of the life of God becomes an attempt to square the circle, to make one into three and three into one. Instead, Trinitarian theology must be dialectical. As such, it is not a speculation on the incomprehensible or the absurd, but on all life. Dialectics determine all life-processes and must be applied in biology, psychology, and sociology. The description of tensions in living organism, neurotic conflicts and class struggles, is a dialectical. Life itself is dialectical. From this existential basis, Trinitarian thought applies dialectics to the life of God and makes it a symbol of life. If applied symbolically to the divine life, God, as a living God must be described in dialectical statements. He has the character of all life, namely, to go beyond himself and to return to himself. The meaning of these symbols, therefore, does not derive from logical speculation on numbers or philosophical speculation on the categories. Their meaning arises out of the revelatory situation in which all life appears as partaking of the pattern of divine life; it is inseparable from the experience of life. The Trinitarian symbols become empty if they are separated from their two experiential roots—the experience of the living God and the experience of the New Being in Christ. #RandolphHarris 14 of 22
God sees Himself in Himself, because He sees Himself through His essence; and He sees other things not in themselves, but in Himself; inasmuch as His essence contains the similitude of things other than Himself. Abinadi is protected by divine power—he teaches the Ten Commandments—salvation does not come by the law of Moses alone—God Himself will make an atonement and redeem His people. About 148 Before Christ. “And now when the king had heard these words, he said unto his priests: Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad. And they stood forth and attempted to lay their hands on him; but he withstood them, and said unto them: Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time. However, I must fulfill the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad. Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people of the king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord. #RandolphHarris 15 of 22
“And he spake with power and authority from God; and he continued his words saying: Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message. Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities. Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger. However, I finish my message; and then it matters not whiter I go, if it so be that I am saves. However, this much I tell you, what you do with me, after this, shall be as a type and a shadow of things which are to come. And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives. And now, ye remember that I said unto you: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, or any likeness of things which are in Heaven above, or which are in the water under the Earth. And again: Thou shat not bow down thyself unto them, nor severe them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me; and showing my mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the same of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold one guiltless that taketh His name in vain. #RandolphHarris 16 of 22
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor they maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shall not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not cover thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covert thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his mule, not anything that is thy neighbour’s. And it came to pass that after Abinadi had made an end of these sayings that he said unto them: Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these things for to keep these commandments? I say unto you, Nay: for if ye had, the Lord would not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy evil concerning this people. And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. #RandolphHarris 17 of 22
“I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come wen it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses. And moreover, I say unto you that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God Himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of His people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and sow to remember the Lord their God; therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty toward Him. However, behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come. And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any human be saved except it were through the redemption of God. For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem His people? #RandolphHarris 18 of 22
“Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesized ever since the World began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things? Have they not said that God Himself should come down among the children of humans, and take upon Him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the Earth? Yes, and have they not said also that He should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that He, Himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?,” reports Mosiah 13.1-35. So far, Trinitarian theology has been dealt with independently of Christology. Yet, in the history of Christianity, Christology was primary. The experience of the New Being in Christ prompted the definition of a Trinitarian doctrines. The revelatory constellation in which Jesus was know as the Christ coincided with the revelatory situation in which life is experienced as power, ground and unity. In an ecstasy which went deeper than ever into the event of the Christian revelation, Jesus as the Christ was identified with the second principle of divine life, with the pregnant womb of all forms, with the creative ground of the finite, who eternally produces the finite potentialities in Himself. Thus the experience of the New Being determined the form that Trinitarian thinking would take in Christianity. It prompted Christians to define the Christ as the Logos of Trinitarian theology. #RandolphHarris 19 of 22
The decisive element of the relation of the Christ to the Logos became part of Christology. The universal Trinitarian intuition encountered the experience of the New Being and furnished it with new symbols. The Christ was not only the Messiah, the Mediator, the Son of Humans; He was also the Son of God, the Word of God. The Trinity is a symbol of God’s life. That the Christ is one of the Trinity is a symbol. It means that the New Being which, in Christ, subjected itself to the conditions of existence without being destroyed by them, is being-itself, the ground of all. The event of Jesus as the Christ has universal significance, not because of any universal mission conferred on Him arbitrarily, but because the Christ is the rich, inexhaustible source of all life. He is Being as ever New. Beyond object and subject, beyond essence and existence, He breathes all the essences out of His infinite ground and He calls them back to Himself in their finite existential forms. Experiencing in the flesh the conditions of estrangement which are human’s daily bread, He overcomes and saves them by relating them to their eternal ground. He is the focal point of all existence and life, the Christ, the New-Being, the second principle of the divine Life. #RandolphHarris 20 of 22
O God of Truth, I thank Thee for the holy Scriptures, their precepts, promises, directions, light. In them may I learn more of Christ, be enabled to retain His truth and have grace to follow it. Please help me to lift up the gates of my soul that He may come in and show me Himself when I search the Scripture, for I have no lines to fathom its depths, no wings to soar to its heights. By his assistance my I be enabled to explore all its truth, love them with all my heart, embrace them with all my power, engraft them into my life. Bless to my soul all grains of truth garnered from Thy word; may they take deep root, be refreshed by Heavenly dew, be ripened by Heavenly rays, be harvested to my joy and Thy praise. Please help me to gain profit by what I read, as treasure beyond all treasure, a fountain which can replenish my dry heart, its waters flowing through me as a perennial river on-drawn by Thy Holy Spirit. Please enable me to distil from its pages faithful prayer that grasps the arm of Thy omnipotence, achieves wonders, obtains blessings, and draws down streams of mercy. From it please show me how my words have often been unfaithful to Thee, injurious to my fellow-humans, empty of grace, fully of folly, dishonouring to my calling. #RandolphHarris 21 of 22
The question of helping students more individually is a question of practical functioning. The teacher wishes to keep one’s own freedom and at the same time leave them free too. The aim of a teacher is not to create a philosophical elite for its own sake but for the larger sake of humankind. The starting of a cult to gain a personal following would be abhorrent to the spirit of any truly selfless spiritual guide, but the creation of a school for spiritual development and philosophical learning one might consider helpful to many earnest but bewildered students of life. The true master is to work for the few. There are several agencies who will spread their activities thinly on a wide surface but one’s will penetrate to a deeper level. Theirs will be more showy but one’s more effective. May Christ our Lord, Who is the Head of every beginning, please grant us so to pass through the coming year with faithful hearts, that we may be able in all things to please His ever loving eyes. O God, Who art the Self-same, Whose years shall not fail, please grant us to spend this year as Thy devoted servants, according to Thy pleasures. Please fill the Earth with fruit, please grant our bodies to be free from disease, or souls from offenses; please take away scandals, and please keep far from our borders all manner of calamitous events; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. #RandolphHarris 22 of 22
Making the move to a Cresleigh home? No-brainer. Deciding on the perfect spot to grab takeout for dinner? Now that is tough. Make #PlumasRanch your home, then kick back and enjoy the simpler decisions of life. 🍕🥡
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Then please write Thy own words upon my heart and inscribe them on my lips; so shall all glory be to Thee in my reading of Thy Word! Him who hath put on Christ our God, do Thou preserve, as an invincible wrestler, against the vain assaults of his adversaries and ours; and please grant that all they who are adorned with the incorruptible crown may be victorious even unto the end;–for it is Thine to pity and to save, and to Thee we render glory, with Thine unbegotten Father, and Thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. #CresleighHomes
Take Care, My Beautiful Stranger–Beauty in Distress is Much the Most Affecting Beauty!
With courage, vision and reliance on our own human resources, we can solve the problems we have created and which are imposed on us by natural circumstances or happenstance. Although most of us are conditioned by the past and even the present, we have genuine freedom of creative choice and action and within certain objective limits, are masters of our own destiny. We can, therefore, speak of an inner personality with as much justification as, on the grounds of daily experience, we speak of an outer personality. The inner personality is the way one behaves in relation to one’s inner psychic process; it is the inner attitude, the characteristic face, that is turned towards the unconscious. I call the outer attitude, the outward face, the persona; the inner attitude, the inward face, I call the anima. To the degree that an attitude is habitual, it is well-knit functional complex with which the ego can identify more or less. Common speech expresses this very graphically: when an individual has an habitual attitude to certain situations, an habitual way of doing things, we say one is quite another person when doing this or that. This is a practical demonstration of the habitual attitude: it is as though another personality had taken possession of the individual, as though “another spirit had gotten into him.” #RandolphHarris 1 of 24
The same autonomy that very often characterizes the outer attitude is also claimed by the inner attitude, the anima. It is one of the most difficult educational feats to change the persona, the outer attitude, and it is just as difficult to change the anima, since its structure is usually quite as well-knit as the persona’s. Just as the persona is an entity that often seems to constitute the whole character of humans, and may even accompany one unaltered throughout one’s entire life, the anima is a clearly defined entity with a character that, very often, is autonomous and immutable. It therefore lends itself very readily to characterization and description. As to the character of the anima, my experience confirms the rule that it is, by and large, complementary to the character of the persona. The anima usually contains all those common human qualities which the conscious attitude lacks. The tyrant tormented by bad dreams, gloomy forebodings, and inner fears is a typical figure. Outwardly ruthless, harsh, and unapproachable, one jumps inwardly at every shadow, is at the mercy of every mood, as though one were the feeblest and most impressionable of people. This one’s anima contains all those fallible human qualities one’s persona lacks. #RandolphHarris 2 of 24
If the persona is intellectual, the anima will quite certainly be sentimental. The complementary character of the anima also affects the sexual character. A very feminine woman has a masculine soul, and a very masculine man has a feminine soul. This contrast is due to the fact that a man is not in al tings wholly masculine, but also has certain feminine traits. The more masculine one’s outer attitude is, the more his feminine traits are obliterated: instead, they appear in his unconscious. This explains why it is just those very virile men who are most subject to characteristic weaknesses; their attitude to the unconscious has a womanish weakness and impressionability. Conversely, it is often just the most feminine women who, in their inner lives, display an intractability, and obstinacy, and a willfulness that are to be found with comparable intensity only in a man’s outer attitude. These are masculine traits which, excluded from the womanly outer attitude, have become qualities of her soul. If, therefore, we speak of the anima of a man, we must logically speak of the animus of a woman, if we are to give the soul of a woman its right name. Whereas logic and objectivity are usually the predominant features of a man’s out attitude, or are at least regarded as ideals, in the case of a women it is feeling. #RandolphHarris 3 of 24
However, in the soul it is the other way round: inwardly it is the man who feels, and the woman who reflects. Hence a man’s greater liability to total despair, while a woman can always find comfort and hope; accordingly a man is more likely to put an end to himself than a woman. However much a victim of social circumstances a woman may be, as a lady of the evening for instance, a man is no less a victim of impulses from the unconscious, taking the form of alcoholism and other vices. As to is common human qualities, the character of the anima can be deduced from that of the persona. Everything that should normally be in the outer attitude, but is conspicuously absent, will invariably be found in the inner attitude. This is a fundamental rule which my experience had borne out over and over again. However, as regards it individual qualities, nothing can be deduced about them in this way. We can only be certain that when a human is identical with one’s persona, one’s individual qualities will be associated with the anima. This association frequently gives rise in dreams to the symbol or psychic pregnancy, a symbol that goes back to the primordial image of the hero’s birth. The child that is to be born signifies the individuality, which, though present, is not yet conscious. #RandolphHarris 4 of 24
For in the same way as the persona, the instrument of adaptation to the environment, is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, the anima is shaped by the unconscious and its qualities. In a primitive milieu the persona necessarily takes on primitive features, and the anima similarly takes over the archaic features of the unconscious as well as its symbolic, prescient character. Hence the “pregnant,” “creative” qualities of the inner attitude. Identity with the persona automatically leads to an unconscious identity with the anima because, when the ego is not differentiated from the persona, it can have no conscious relation to the unconscious processes. Consequently, it is these processes, it is identical with them. Anyone who is oneself one’s outward role will infallibly succumb to the inner processes; one will either frustrate one’s outward role by absolute inner necessity or else reduce it to absurdity, by a process of enantiodromia. One can no loner keep to one’s individual way, and one’s life runs into one deadlock after another. Moreover, the anima is inevitably projected upon a real object, with which one gets into a relation of almost total dependence. Every reaction displayed by this object has an immediate, inwardly enervating effect on the subject. Tragic ties are often formed in this way. #RandolphHarris 5 of 24
The soul-image is a specific image among those produced by the unconscious. Just as the persona (Soul), or outer attitude, is represented in dreams by images of definite persons who possess the outstanding qualities of the persona in especially marked form, so in a human the soul, id est, anima, or inner attitude, is represented in the unconscious by definite persons with the corresponding qualities. Such an image is called a “soul-image.” Sometimes these images are of quite unknown or mythological figures. With men the anima is usually personified by the unconscious as a woman; with women the animus is personified as a man. In every case where the individuality is unconscious, and therefore associated with the soul, the soul-image has the character of the same sex. In all cases where there is an identity with the persona, and the soul accordingly is unconscious, the soul-image is transferred to a real person. This person is the object of intense love or equally intense hate (or fear). The influence of such a person is immediate and absolutely compelling, because it always provokes an affective response. The affect is due to the fact that a real, conscious adaptation to the person representing the soul-image is impossible. Because an objective relationship is non-existent and out of the question, the libido gets dammed up an explodes in an outburst of affect. #RandolphHarris 6 of 24
Affects always occur where there is a failure of adaptation. Conscious adaptation to the person representing the soul-image is impossible precisely because the subject is unconscious of the soul. Were one conscious of it, it could be distinguished from the object, whose immediate effects might then be mitigated, since the potency of the object depends on the projection of the soul image. For a man, a woman is best fitted to be the real bearer of his soul-image, because of the feminine quality of his soul; for a women it will be a man. Wherever an impassioned, almost magical, relationship exists between the sexes, it is invariably a question of a projected soul-image. Since these relationships are very common, the soul must be unconscious just as frequently—that is, vast numbers of people must be quite unaware of the way they are related to their inner psychic processes. Because this unconsciousness is always coupled with complete identification with the persona, it follows that this identification must be very frequent too. And in actual fact very many people who are wholly identified with their outer attitude and therefore have no conscious relation to their inner processes. Conversely, it may also happen that the soul-image is not projected but remains with the subject, and this results in an identification with the soul because the subject is then convinced that the way one relates to one’s inner process is one’s real character. #RandolphHarris 7 of 24
In that event the persona, being unconscious, will be projected on a person of the same gender, thus providing a foundation for many cases of open or latent homosexuality, and of father-transferences in men or mother-transferences in women. In such cases there is always a defective adaptation to external reality and a lack of relatedness, because identification with the soul produces an attitude predominately oriented to the perception of inner processes, and the object is deprived of its determining power. If the soul image-is projected, the result is an absolute affective bond to the object. If it is not projected, a relatively unadapted state develops, which Dr. Freud has described as narcissism. The projection of the soul-image offers a release from preoccupation with one’s inner processes so long as the behaviour of the object is in harmony with the soul-image. The subject is then in a position to live out one’s persona and develop it further. The object, however, will scarcely be able to meet the demands of the soul-image indefinitely, although there are many women who, by completely disregarding their own lives, succeed in representing their husband’s soul-image for a very long time. The biological feminine instinct assists them in this. A man many unconsciously do the same for his wife, though this will prompt him to deeds which finally exceed his capacities whether for good or evil. Here again the biological masculine instinct is a help. #RandolphHarris 8 of 24
If the soul-image is not projected, a thoroughly morbid relation to the unconscious gradually develops. The subject is increasingly overwhelmed by unconscious contents, which one’s inadequate relation to the object makes one powerless to assimilate or put to any kind of use, so that the whole subject-object relation only deteriorates further. Naturally these wo attitudes represent the two extremes between which the more normal attitudes lie. In a normal person the soul-image is not distinguished by any particular clarity, purity, or depth, but is apt to be rather blurred. In men with a good-natured and unaggressive persona, the soul-image has a rather malevolent character. A good literary example of this is the daemonic woman who is the companion of Zeus in Spitteler’s Olympian Spring. For an idealistic woman, a depraved man is often the bearer of the soul-image; hence the “saviour fantasy” so frequent in such cases. The same thing happens with men, when a woman of the evening is surrounded with the halo of a soul crying for succor. One should examine the implications of the symbols of Christ and of New Being as far as the formulation of faith is concerned. Certainly traditional Christology has not expressed the meaning of Christ as well as some may expect. Christ is the historical manifestation of Eternal Godmanhood, and is filled with implications. #RandolphHarris 9 of 24
All strict and rigid Christian doctrines, both in their Catholic form and in the form that was classical in Orthodox Protestantism, must be radically reinterpreted. Before we can learn the sufficiency of God’s grace, we must learn the insufficiency of ourselves. As I have said, the more we see our sinfulness, the more we appreciate the grace in its basic meaning of God’s undeserved favour. In a similar manner, the more we see our frailty, weakness, and dependence, the more we appreciate God’s grace in its dimension of His divine assistance. Just as grace shines more brilliantly against the dark background of our sin, so it also shines more brilliantly against the background of our human weakness. We have looked at Paul’s words in Romans 5.20: “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” He could have just as aptly said in 2 Corinthians 12, “But where human weakness increased, grace increased all the more.” That is essentially what he said in different words in verse 9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. My power is made perfect in weakness. #RandolphHarris 10 of 24
Indeed, the abject weakness of the human instrument serves to magnify and throw into relief the perfection of the divine power in a way that any suggestion of human adequacy could never do. The greater the servant’s weakness, the more conscious is the power of one’s Master’s all-sufficient grace. In this passage, God equates His grace with His power as specifically displayed in our weakness. This power infusing our weakness is a concrete expression of His grace: His power comes to our assistance through the ministry of His Spirit in our lives. This is the mysterious operation of the Holy Spirit on our human spirit through which He strengthens us and enables us to meet in a Godly fashion whatever circumstances we encounter. Notice I said Holy Spirit strengthens us and enables us o meet in a Godly fashion whatever circumstances cross our paths. God’s grace is not given to make us feel better, but to glorify Him. Modern society’s subtle, underlying agenda is good feelings. We want the pain to go away. We want to feel better in difficult situations, but God wants us to glorify Him in those circumstances. Good feelings may come, or they may not, but that is not the issue. This issue is whether or not we honour God by the way we respond to our circumstances. God’s grace—that is, the enabling power of the Holy Spirit—is given to help us respond in such a way. #RandolphHarris 11 of 24
God’s grace is sufficient. The Greek verb translated “is sufficient” is the same one translated “will be content” in Timothy 6.8: “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” This helps us understand what sufficient means. Food and clothing refer to the necessities of life, not the luxuries. If we have the necessities we are to be content; that is, we are to realize they are sufficient. God may give us more from time to time, but we are to be content with the necessities. So it is with God’s grace in the spiritual realm. God always gives us what we need, perhaps sometimes more, but never less. The spiritual equivalent of food and clothing is simply the strength to endure in a way that honours God. Receiving that strength, we are to be content. We would like the “luxury” of having our particular thorn removed, but God says, “Be content wit the strength to endure that thorn.” We can be confident He always gives that. So God supplies perfectly measured grace to meet the needs of the Godly. For daily needs there is daily grace; for sudden needs, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. God’s grace is given wonderfully, but not wastefully; freely but not foolishly; bountifully but not blindly. #RandolphHarris 12 of 24
There is a lesson about grace in the way God distributed the manna to the Israelites in the desert. Exodus 16.16-21 says, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as one needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, one who gathered much did not have too much, and one who gathered little did not have too little. Each other gathered as much as one needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as one needed, and when the Sun grew hot, it melted away. Three times the text mentions that each person could gather “as much as one needed.” There was ample supply of manna for everyone. No one need go hungry because everyone could gather as much as one needed. Not only was there an ample supply, God in some mysterious way saw that no one had an overabundance, regardless of how much manna he gathered: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have to little.” #RandolphHarris 13 of 24
Furthermore, the gathering was to be a day-to-day activity. They were to gather only what was needed each day–expect on the day before the Sabbath. They were not allowed to store up for the future. God’s distribution of the manna illustrates the way He distributes grace. There is always an ample supply; no one ever need go without. However, there is only as much as we need—and even that is on a day-to-day basis. God does not permit us to “store up” grace. We must look to Him anew each day for a new supply. Sometimes we must look for a new supply each hour! Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here; trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I have no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what He deems best—lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. Such a day-by-day parceling out of grace—and only as much as we need—may seem inconsistent with the abundant generosity of God. This is not the case at all. Rather, as we saw previously, God continually works to keep us aware of our dependence on Him. We are created for a simple, childlike dependence on Him, but since the Fall we have tended to resist that dependence. #RandolphHarris 14 of 24
God well knew this tendency when He gave this waning through Moses to the Israelites: You may say to yourself, “My power and strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today as noted in Deuteronomy 8.17-18. It is noteworthy that this waning occurs shortly after the reminder in verses 2.3, “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and posses the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you al the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” There the Israelites were reminded of their days of extremity and very obvious dependence on God for their daily good. However, God warned them that, even after forty years of such conscious dependence, the day would come when they would look around at their bountiful supply of food and say, “My power and the strength of my hands gave produced this wealth for me.” Such a self-sufficient attitude is obviously detrimental to our relationship with God, so He works to keep that from happening. #RandolphHarris 15 of 24
God allows our respective thorns in the flesh to remain, giving us grace sufficient to cope with them only day by day. From time to time God brings extraordinary crises into you lives, as He did when Paul was forces to say, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to ensure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. However, this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead,” reports 2 Corinthians 1.8-9. Despite his ever-present thorn, Paul was brought to a crisis extremity to learn anew way to rely not on himself but on God. Whether it is the continuing thorn in the flesh or the extraordinary crisis that sometimes occurs, both are intended by God to keep us conscious of our human weakness and our dependence on Him, so that we might experience the sufficiency of His grace and the adequacy of His power. For humans have no taste for it [God’s power] till they are convinced of their need of it and they immediately forget its values unless they are continually reminded by awareness of their own weakness. The humanist ethic or morality bases all human values in the experiences and relationship of this Earth and has as its highest goal the happiness, freedom, and progress (economic, cultural, persona and ethical) of all humankind in the World. #RandolphHarris 16 of 24
A fully appreciation of cultural values and contributions is also part of this morality. We must submit to this fatigue, in order to live at ease every after: And must cultivate true metaphysics with some care, in order to destroy the false and adulterate. Indolence, which, to some persons, affords a safeguard against deceitful philosophy, is, with others, overbalanced by curiosity; and despair, which, at some moments, prevails, may give place afterwards to sanguine hopes and expectations. Accurate and just reasoning is the only Christian remedy, fitted for all persons and all dispositions; and is alone able to subvert that abstruse philosophy and metaphysical jargon, which, being mixed up with popular superstition, renders it in a manner impenetrable to careless reasoners, and gives it the air of science and wisdom. Besides this advantage of rejecting, after deliberate enquiry, the most uncertain and disagreeable part of learning, there are many beneficial advantages, which result from an accurate scrutiny into the powers and faculties of human nature. “And it came to past that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying—Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words. #RandolphHarris 17 of 24
“They have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations. Yea, wo be unto this generation! And the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thy hand and prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be drive by humans, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yes, and the wild bests, shall devour their flesh. And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord. And it shall come to pass that I will smite this people with sore affliction, yea, with famine and with pestilence; and I will case that they shall howl all the day long. Yea, and I will cause that they have burdens lashed upon their backs; and they shall be driven before like a dumb mule. And it shall come to pass that I will send forth hail among them, and it shall smite them; and they shall also be smitten with the east wind; and insects shall pester their land also, and devour their grain. And they shall be smitten with a great pestilence—and all this will I do because of their iniquities and abomination. #RandolphHarris 18 of 24
“And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the Earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land; yea, even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this people to other nations. And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this people. And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and carried him bound before the king , and said unto the king: Behold, we have brought a man before thee who has prophesized evil concerning the people, and saith that God will destroy them. And he also prophesieth evil concerning thy life, and saith that thy life shall be as a garment in furnace of fire. And again, he saith that thou shalt be as a stalk, eve as a dry stalk of the field, which is run over by beasts and trodden under foot. And again, he saith thou shalt be as the blossoms of a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is driven forth upon the face of the land. And he pretendeth the Lord hath spoken it. And he saith all this shall come upon thee except thou repent, and this because of thine iniquities. And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man? #RandolphHarris 19 of 24
“And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; and therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain. And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper. Behold, there is the man, we deliver him into thy hands; thou mayest do with him as seemeth thee good. And it came to pass that kind Noah causes that Abinadi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the priests should gather themselves together that he might hold a council with them what he should do with him. And it came to pass that they said unto the king: Bring him hither that we may question him; and the king commanded that he should be brought before him. And it came to pass that they said unto the king: Bring him hither that we may question him; and the king commanded the he should be brought before them. And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words. #RandolphHarris 20 of 24
“And it came to pass that one of them said unto him: What meaneth the words which are written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth food tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth; thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion; Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem; the Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the Earth shall see salvation of our God? And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire o know of me what these things mean? I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have no taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord. Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye people? And they said: We teach them the law of Moses. #RandolphHarris 21 of 24
“And again he said unto them: if you teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people? Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before Go. And it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten for your iniquities, for ye have said that ye teach the law of Moses. And what ye concerning the law of Moses? Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? What say ye? And they answered and said that salvation did come by the law of Moses. But now Abinadi said unto them: I know if ye keep the commandments of God ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the commandments which the Lord delivered unto Moses in the mount of Sinai saying: I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other God before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, or any likeness of anything in Heaven above, or things which are in the Earth beneath. #RandolphHarris 22 of 24
“Now Abinadi said unto them, Have ye done all this? I say unto you, Nay, ye have not. And have ye taught this people that they should do all these things? I say unto you, Nay, ye have not,” reports Mosiah 12.1-37. O God, my exceeding joy, singing Thy praises uplifts my heart, for thou art a fountain of delight, and dost bless the soul that joys in Thee. However, because of my heart’s rebellion I cannot always praise thee as I ought; yet I will at times rest myself in Thy excellences, goodness, and loving-kindness. Thou art in Jesus the object of inexpressible joy, and I take exceeding pleasure in the thought of thee. Though Thou hast renewed me, yet evil corruptions urge me still to oppose Thee. Please help me to extol Thee with entire heart-submission, to be diligent in self-examination to ask myself whether I am truly born again, whether my spirit is the spirit of Thy children, whether my griefs are those that tear repenting hearts, whether my joys are the joys of faith, whether my confidence in Christ works by love and purifies the soul. Please give me the sweet results of faith, in my secret character, and in my public life. Cast cords of love around my heart, then hold me and never let me go. May the Saviour’s wounds sway me more than the sceptre of princes. #RandolphHarris 23 of 24
Please let me love Thee in a love that overs and swallows up all, that I may not violate my caste union with the beloved; there is so much unconquered territory in my nature, scourge out the buyers and sellers of my soul’s temple, and give me in return pure desires, and longings after perfect holiness. O Lord God Almighty, Who hast commanded Thy servants to be born again of Water and the Holy Ghost, preserve in them the holy Baptism which they have received, and be pleased to perfect it unto the hallowing of Thy Name; that Thy grace may ever increase upon them, and that what they have already received by Thy gift, they may guard by integrity of life. O God, Who hast bestowed on Thy servant by holy Baptism redemption from one’s sins, and the life of regeneration; do Thou, O Lord God, grant the brightness of Thy face to shine for ever on one’s heart. Preserve the shield of his faith safe from the lying-in-wait of the adversaries; the robe of incorruption, which he has put on, clean the unpolluted; and the spiritual seal of grace untouched and inviolate; Thou being reconciled to one as us, according to the multitude of Thy mercies;–for blessed and glorified is Thy venerable and majestic Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. #RandolphHarris 24 of 24
What is your go-to decor item? We are suckers for succulents. 🌱 They are cute, colorful, and forgive us if we forget to water them for a week (or three). Plus, with plenty of windows in this #BrightonStation Residence 3 home they get plenty of indirect light to keep them happy! https://cresleigh.com/brighton-station/residence-3/
O Lord our God, our Master, Who by the font of Baptism dost illuminate the baptized with Heavenly radiance, Who hast vouchsafed to Thy servant, (recently illuminated,) by Water and the Spirit, remission of one’s sins, voluntary and incolunatry; lay Thy mighty hand upon one, and protect one with the power of Thy goodness; please preserve one from losing the earnest of glory, and be pleased to bring one to eternal life and to Thy good pleasure;–for Thou art our sanctification, and to Thee we render glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Women Swear and Men Gossip, Yet I Shall Attempt so Justice with Mercy!

At the beginning of the World Series, I experienced a completely new emotion, when the National Anthem was played. This time, I thought, it is being played for me, as much as for anyone else. This is organized major league baseball, and I am standing here with all the others; and everything that takes place includes me. Remember that day when you moved into the first place of your own? You were the king of your castle: nobody to answer to, nobody to share chores with. You could watch the TV shows you wanted to watch, eat the foods you wanted to eat, and clean up or not. What a great setup! It is also usually a very temporary state of affairs. One day—sooner than they might have imagined—most men wake up and find themselves married or living with a significant other or roommate. And whenever living space is shared, differences of opinion inevitably arise over the care and use of those spaces. If not handled thoughtfully, these differences can turn into conflicts. Fortunately, the complexities of thoughtful home sharing can be vastly simplified by thinking of your house as a series of discrete spaces—each with its own set of issues. Keep these key issues firmly in mind, and life will be blissfully peaceful on the homes front. The two rooms that have the most potential for conflicts are the kitchen and the bathroom. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20
When we asked women to identify the leading case of conflict in the kitchen, they gave one overwhelming answer: When it comes to cleaning up, especially after themselves, men do not do their share. If you go into the kitchen to make something to eat, clean up the mess before you start eating and do not leave any dishes in the sink because the kitchen is really the soul of Cresleigh Homes. It is where the family gathers and makes meals and often eats. It is the room that requires the most cooperation to keep it clean and functioning. Sincerity matters. If you say you will clean the dishes, then do it. Forgetting sets a pattern, and it established a precedent that your words is not good. In any relationship, the trust the grows out of keeping your promises is a cornerstone of its success. The bathroom is the one place where we all truly want to be private and comfortable. In an ideal World, everyone would have a bathroom that was theirs and theirs alone. In reality, however, most of us share a bathroom with a significant other, and perhaps with others family members or roommates. This overlap of personal space is where trouble starts. Women tend to be very particular about the bathroom. They do not like the toilet seat to be left up, no urine on the toilet seat, and no water or shaving stubble left on the counter. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20
Always makes sure you flush the toilet, and put the toilet seat back down. It is not sexist because we all have to sit down at sometime. In the middle of the night no one wants to fall in the toilet. If there is a fan in the bathroom, turn in on before you use the shower or the toilet and also makes sure to clean the bathtub out when you bathe. Try not to clean the bathroom with bleach because it could ruin someone’s clothes. When it comes to bathroom behaviour, it is almost always a good idea to be accommodating of your partner’s needs and desires. This delicate area is generally not the place to make a stand on some point of personal self-expression. And a closed door is an unspoken request for privacy, and it should be honoured at all times. There is no questions that I have got to be cleaned up: shaved, combed, dressed nicely, and smelling good by the time we leave the house or sit down at the dinner table. In the Middle Ages, knights in shining armour met each other encased from head to toe in metal. Often they simply could not be identified and had no idea if the other knight was friend or foe. So they took to lifting off their helmets to reveal their identities to each other. The servers at banquets in the Middle Ages were required to remove their hats as a mark of deference to the patrons. The removing of a head covering became a custom and evolved into the removal of a hat being a mark of respect. This action had remained a custom ever since. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20
When you enter a person’s home, removing your hat is a symbol of your respect for the owner. Likewise, as you enter a restaurant, taking off your cap is the right thing to do for the people you are with and for the other diners. Anytime you enter a place of worship, your baseball cap should come off. However, when you enter a store or other public space, you can keep your cap on. Each of us is responsible for the image we project. Taking that responsibility seriously is a clear signal of your respect for others. If you choose to go on a date without cleaning up first, you are responsible when your date decides she does not want to see you again. Pass gas, spitting, or let loose with a string of expletives when you are with a group of friends, and they may forgive one episode—but make it a habit, and you could quickly find yourself without friends. These are not random examples, many people responded that these are pet peeves. Failing to bathe, passing gas, and foul languages all emerged as major issues—as did smoking, chewing gum, and spitting. Clean hair and nails are a must; a well-groomed man is very attractive! Soap and water are affordable enough for everyone to be clean. Sometimes, especially when cigars are involved, men forget that their exhaled smoke is generally viewed as obnoxious, invasive, and annoying. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20
It is worth remembering that many people often have an especially visceral reaction to cigar smoke. If you choose to light up a stogie in a private home or a public place that allow it, check with everyone in your group first to make sure no one minds—then offer cigars to anyone who wants one, including women. However, do not forget that cigar smoke can linger in your clothes. Furthermore, people also have different opinions about what constitutes swearing. That is why I always try to keep colourful language out of my presentations; I do not want to risk offending any participants, and the use of swear words is not going to enhance my message one bit. Being careful to choose our words so we do not often our listeners is a lesson we all need to relearn periodically. Even when you are with a group of friends accustomed to using profanity, if you think that someone—anyone—in the group might be bothered by it, then be considerate and hold your tongue. And if you are not sure…hold it anyway. Just like we think men are the only gender that swears, we also think that women are the only gender that gossips. Well, it is not true. Women swear and men gossip. In fact, I am amazed how much some men gossip, even when live sports were being played, one can frequently hear men talking about other men more than anything else. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20
Unfortunately, gossip is insidious. Unlike a joke, which is a momentary thing, gossip lingers. It clouds our opinion of the people being gossiped about, but it also makes one thing less of the slanderer. So, whether it is on the golf course, at the water cooler, or over lunch, make the effort to put a stop to gossip when you hear it. At the very least do not contribute to it and do not repeat what you hear. A more proactive stance would include indicating you are uncomfortable with the conversation, offering a defense of the individual, and refusing to be part of gossip and make the proactive effort, women notice their willingness to stand up for another person, and they appreciate it. Also, when in your care, consciously work to be considerate of other people in your car and the cars around you. That is how to combat road rage. If you are upset, consider pulling off the road in a safe place. The prince Lestat in Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned may have been a sadist, and he did not understand what it took to make a relationship work. Look at any relationship that is in trouble, and it is a good bet, if it is not because of money, a failure to communicate is the issue. Half of all communication is listening. So being a good listener is critical to the success of your communication with your wife, significant other, family, friends, strangers, and work colleagues. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20
Safe. That is what communication in a relationship needs to be. Out of that safety and sincerity grow trust, confidence, and a better, stronger relationship. Figure out how to focus on the other person. It is worth the effort for both of you and for your relationship. When you are trying to communicate, whether one on one or in a group setting, the skill of listening to others is just as important as your ability to express yourself. Besides paying close attention to what the other person is saying, make it clear that you are listening carefully by looking directly at the other person who is speaking. Do no interrupt until that person is done making his or her point. Then respond by asking questions and offering observations based on what is said. Make a habit of listening effectively, and you will find that your relationships will grow and deepen. Your voice communicates a lot about how you are really feeling. If your words indicate genuine interest but your voice is a monotone, what is the message you are sending? You really do not mean what you are saying: Tone. Anger, frustration, joy, concern. People react not only to your words but how they are said and the tone of your voice. When you were growing up, how often did you hear these words from your father or mother: “Do not take that tone of voice with me.” #RandolphHarris 7 of 20
Speed. Speed kills. In conversation, speed makes comprehension difficult, so slow down. The people or person you are talking with needs a little time to process what you are saying, especially if it is a serious, important subject. Speaking clearly. Mumbling, grunting—not only are you hard to understand, it sounds like you are trying not to be understood. Instead of contributing to the conversation you sound as if you are trying to avoid it. Accent. People come from different nationalities, even different areas of the United States of America. If you have an accent that is different from the person or people with whom you are talking, it may make it more difficult for them to understand you. In that case, speed is doubly problematic. And speaking clearly becomes even more important for you to be understood. Good listeners honour the person they are with by the way they focus on that person. Look them in the eyes. Eye contact is a key part of any interaction. Nod or say “Uh huh.” Simple nonverbal cues can demonstrate that your focus is squarely on the person and not somewhere else. Ask a question or repeat a point. Question and comments show you are really a part of the conversation and are hearing what the other person has to say. #RandolphHarris 8 of 20
Avoid nervous habits. Even if you are paying attention to what a person is saying, if you are playing with an object, it sends the message that you are distracted. Wait your turn. It is very annoying to be in midsentence and suddenly have the person you are talking to start talking right over you. A good listener waits for a natural break, that momentary pause before jumping in with a comment or question. The method of a philosophic teacher is not to make the decisions of the pupil for one but rather to lead one to make them for oneself. The teacher will outline the process of arriving at the correct conclusion, but one will not deprive the pupil of responsibility of trusting that process and accepting its outcome. The teacher may even make available information which will be helpful to the student in arriving at a decision, but beyond that one cannot go if the student is to arrive at a decision, but beyond that one cannot go if the student is to arrive at independence and maturity. The relationship which we find in mystical or the Old-World circles, which leaves the pupil completely or continuously dependent upon one’s guide and causes one to come constantly running hither and tither for advice as to what one should do next, will only increase the helplessness of the pupil. The philosophic way is to help one develop one’s own ability to dispose of problems and confront situations effectively. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20
The philosophic method is to lead one to a point where one requires no teacher. The mystical method is to lead one to the point where one cannot do without the teacher. The teacher who demands blind obedience from one’s pupil belongs to a vanishing age. The teacher who strives to make one’s pupil’s own mind understand each step of the way one travels belongs to the coming age. The first often ends by enslaving one’s followers, whereas the second ends by liberating them. The first is a dictator, the second a companion. The first creates nonentities, the second, humans. A wise teacher will no lecture to one’s students, will not try the superficial way of telling them every detail of truth. However, by discussion questioning and encouragement one will help them to elicit it for themselves and thus enable them to make it deeply and lastingly their own. The right way to teach humans is to propose truth, not impose it. A philosophic teacher often prefers to let the student make one’s own discoveries on the basis of clues provided rather than lead one into rigid imprisoning doctrines. The true teacher should stimulate thought and not stereotype it. If an aspirant is fortunate enough to get direct and personal guidance on this kind, one is fortunate indeed. The master gives a candidate the seeds and teaches one how to cultivate them: how to water, nourish, and tend the plants which sprout up from them. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20
The highest type of teacher does not want and will not encourage a blind unquestioning acceptance of one’s own views. The true teacher interprets the divine will for one’s disciple but does not impose it on one. Such a guidance may proffer advice and tender suggestions but one will never issue orders and dictate decisions. Instead of trying to deprive the student of one’s capacity to intuit truths for oneself, the disinterested teacher will try to create it. A genuine teacher will not seek to dominate the soul of a student, will not strive to impose one’s own will upon one. For the teacher desires to see a natural and not a forced artificial growth, to free humans and not to enslave them. The real master spiritualizes one’s disciple but does not debilitate one. The self-actualized who does not want to enslave disciples, will guide them to do what they themselves ought to be doing, but are weakly and foolishly expecting one to do for them. A prudent master prefers not to help people but to help them to help themselves. If you do not put into one’s hands the knowledge and equipment wherewith one can acquire strength, it is merely a mockery to admonish a weakling to become strong. It is the teacher’s duty to foster one’s disciple’s creativeness, not his imitativeness—to encourage the disciple to develop one’s own inspiration. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20
The average teacher takes from one’s own personal experience what helped one most or what one’s own teacher led one to, and passes it on to the student as being “the Path,” the only way to God, the sole method of arriving at truth—whether this particular way or method suits the individual type or one’s degree of development or not. One almost forces it on the student, even if it is contrary to the latter’s entire temperament or need. The poor student finds oneself imprisoned and locked up in one’s teacher’s personal opinions and practices, as if nothing good existed outside them. The wisest master lets the disciple develop in one’s own way, according to one’s own individuality. Such a teacher will be the student’s motivating influence while, paradoxically, encouraging one to preserve one’s independence. What the wise teacher does is to wait for the right situations to develop in which one’s own efforts can be most fruitful. One has waited for years, reserving the full expression of one’s powers until the crucial hour when the aspirant is ready to receive one. Until then, one must conceal one’s identity. One’s wisdom in refusing to influence the student’s decisions will not be apparent at first. Indeed it will be regarded as unwisdom—and one’s attitude will be felt as unsympathetic. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20
It is not the business of a master to save the disciple from suffering so much as to save one from the faults in oneself which create suffering. One may suggest and advise but never impose one’s will upon yours. One turns a lamp upon your problems but leaves you free to work the out for yourself. It seems that certain topics can dominate men’s conversations. The problem is some of those topics really are not particularly interesting to some people. What is inappropriate talk? Talk about pleasures of the flesh, bathroom business and finances. Jokes can be a great conversational gambit, but be careful about the kind of jokes you tell. Somewhat indecent or poor comments and jokes in poor taste may be funny when you are alone with your buddies, but they may be resented when in mixed company or in front of kids and may provoke an adverse and dangerous reaction. If you cannot be sure a joke or a question will be well received, then it is better to keep it to yourself. I was asked to give a seminar to the staff of a large ski area including the ski and snowboard instructors. One issue the company wanted to address was word choice. It turned out that some of the younger instructors were using a word that was actually costing the ski area business. Parents were writing comments indicating they were not going to purchase any more family lessons because they were fed up with hearing it. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20
The word: we cannot mention it. That word is extremely derogatory, and when said repeatedly over an hour it is awfully offensive to these parents. And that offensiveness was costing the company revenue. To the young instructors, the word was harmless—a normal part of their vocabulary and popular music—and they thought it was hip, witty, and trendy and should not elicit such a reaction. However, it did. Even though a particular word you use may be totally innocent or acceptable to you, if the person you are speaking to is offended by it, then perhaps you need to find an alternative. Also, nonverbal cues are important. When you are talking with someone face-to-face you are giving nonverbal cues that enhance what you are saying. Those cues can reinforce your words or belie them. When you are with another person, not only do the words you say matter, your image maters as well. You can roll your eyes and imply your disgust or frustration. You can purse your lips and suggest impatience or simmering anger. You can jiggle your foot or drum your fingers and communicate your nervousness. You can sit back, slouched, with your arms crossed and indicate your nonreceptiveness. When you say one thing and your body says another, you are not communicating effectively. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20
A master’s work is not to issue command which must be obeyed by enslaved disciples, but to formulate principles which must be understood by enlightened ones. It is not to create belief but to strengthen knowledge. King Laman dies—his people are wild and ferocious and believe in false traditions—Zeniff and his people prevail against them. About 187-160 Before Christ. And it came to pas that we again began to establish the kingdom and we gain began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against me people. And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my people and my flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our enemies. And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of our fathers for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years. And I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind. And I did cause that women should spin, and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land—thus we did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20
And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to stir his people up in rebellion against my people; therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come up to battle against my people. However, I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and destroy them. And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with slings; and they had their heads shaved that they were naked; and they were girded with a leathern gridle about their loins. And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age. And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20
Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of humans. They were a wild, and ferocious, and blood thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea; and again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness. And his brethren were wroth with hum because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord. And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20
And again, they were worth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them. And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi. For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yes, and we have suffered these many years in the land. And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face. And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them. And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and my people again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20
And now I, being old, did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons; therefore, I say no more. And may the Lord bless my people. Amen. The philosophic teacher leaves to the individual pupil how one shall apply these principles to one’s own life, and does not try to chalk out precise details of such a practice for one. One’s unwillingness to give specific advice on practical personal matters should not be construed as unwillingness to help, or as lack of interest in them. It is only that one wants the solution to come straight out of the student’s own being, so that the growth will be the student’s too. O God, I know that I often do Thy work without Thy power, and sin by my cold, heartless, blind service, my lack of inward light, love, delight, my mind, heart, tongue moving without Thy help. I see sin in my heart in seeking the approbation of others; this is my vileness, to make human’s opinion my rule, whereas I should see what good I have done, and give Thee glory, consider what sin I have committed and mourn for that. It is my deceit to preach, and pray, and to stir up others’ spiritual affections in order to beget commendations, whereas my rule should be daily to consider myself more vile than any human in my own eyes. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20
However, Thou does show Thy power by my frailty, so that the more feeble I am, the more fit to be used, for Thou does pitch a tent of grace in my weakness. Please help me to rejoice in my infirmities and give Thee praise, to acknowledge my deficiencies before others and not be discouraged by them, that they may see Thy glory more clearly. Please teach me that I must act by a power supernatural, whereby I can attempt things above my strength, and bear evils beyond my strength, acting for Christ in all, and having His superior power to help me. Let me learn of Paul whose presence was mean, his weakness great, his utterance contemptible, yet Thou did account him faithful and blessed. Lord, let me lean on Thee as he did, and find my ministry thine. Almighty and everlasting God, please bring us to the fellowship of Heavenly joys; that Thou mayest vouchsafe an entrance into Thy kingdom to those that are born again of the Holy Ghost, and that the lowly flock may reach that place whither the mighty Shepherd had gone before; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Please hear us, O Almighty God; and as Thou hast bestowed on Thy family the perfect grace of Baptism, so do Thou dispose their hearts to the attainment of eternal bliss; though Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20
In the #DIY mood? Learn how to create your own raised vegetable planters in this week’s blog post up now! Link in bio. 🍅🌽🥦 https://www.instagram.com/p/CB6fAsOpl1v/O God, Who by the Baptism of Thine Only-streams of water; grant that we who are born again of Water and the Spirit may attain an entrance into eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. #CresleighHomes
Love is Not Cancelled–Human Nature is so Well Disposed Toward those Who are in Interesting Situations!
We have learned that we cannot live alone, in peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations, far away…We have learned to be citizens of the World, members of the human community. We need greater virtues to bear good fortune than bad. Getting past the “E” word is important. Etiquette is the conductive or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social official life. There are a lot of specific guidelines that dictate how people should react in a given situation. However, these guidelines exist for a purpose: to help smooth the way for beneficial interactions between people by prescribing the ways in which we are expected to act and react to people around us. When we use the manners that are expected us of, the Heavens do not part, and crowds do not applaud us; life just goes on smoothly, the way it should. Only when we do not use them does the importance of good manners becomes obvious. For example, one manner states that if you say “Hi” or “Good morning” to a person at work, that person should respond in a like manner, since this is the considerate thing to do. So far, so good. However, if you say “Hi,” and your coworker did not say anything in return, what happens? How would that make you feel? You would probably wonder something like this, “Did I do something to annoy him?” or “Does not anybody ever notice that I exist?” or even “Do I look too attractive?” #RandolphHarris 1 of 21
Manner matter. Use them, and you will make the best impression possible. Still, no one can possibly know all the manners there are or remember precisely how to apply them in every situation. Etiquette is governed by three principles: consideration, respect, and honesty. These provide the framework for defining every manner that has ever been formulated. Each of these principles is timeless. These principles transcend cultural boundaries, cross socioeconomic boundaries, and apply equally to all ages. Consideration is understanding how other people and entities are affected by whatever is taking place. Consideration is empathy. It helps us to assess how a situation affects everyone involved, and then act accordingly. Respect is recognizing that how you interact with another person will affect your relationship with that person, and then choosing to take actions that will build relationships rather than injure them. Respect helps us decide how to choose to act toward others. Honesty is being truthful, not deceptive. There is a critical difference, too, between benevolent and brutal honesty: “I have a problem with that” verses “That is a stupid thing to say.” Honesty ensures that we act sincerely. Etiquette is a code of treating people—and making choices based on—consideration, respect and honesty. #RandolphHarris 2 of 21
When you apply the principles of consideration, respect, and honesty consistently, etiquette becomes a tool that lets you build better relationships and be more successful in every aspect of your life. Etiquette is not about doing what is correct. Etiquette is about doing what is right. To be fair, most men’s inconsiderate or disrespectful behaviour is not intentional. Men frequently get lost in their thoughts and go to far-off places in their minds without even realizing the journey has started or considering the consequences. That is when they get in trouble. Men get it right some of the time, but they do not generally spend enough effort really thinking through how their actions will affect the people around them. And that is what good etiquette really is: thinking about what the considerate, respectful things to do would be, and then doing it. By thinking about our behaviour, we turn each action into a conscious choice. The more we practice making those choices, the more often we will make good choices—and the better our lives and the lives of our loved ones will be. And that is what makes etiquette worth the effort. Consideration for the rights and feelings of others is not merely a rule for behaviour in public but the very foundation upon which social life is built. #RandolphHarris 3 of 21
The first rule of etiquette—which hundreds of others merely paraphrase or explain or elaborate—is: Never do anything that is unpleasant to others. The art of etiquette really comes down to being thoughtful of the people you encounter in your everyday life. We all tend to associate “proper behaviour” with formal social events—but true etiquette involves behaving with consideration and respect for others in everything that you do, from attending a high-society soiree to simply hanging around the house. Seven key behaviours that are considered bad habits are adjusting, nose picking, swearing, spitting, smoking and chewing tobacco, sloppy dressing, wearing a hat where they should not. The smell of smoke and the health implications of secondhand smoke are bad enough. And the casual way smokers toss their cigarette filters on the ground causes fires that ravage the forests. One cigarette filter carelessly tossed out a car window could do immense damage and cost lives. Please, if you have just got to smoke, dispose of the filter appropriately and safely. Also, dominating the communication makes one look as if one does not listen well. The underlying goal of being respectful and responsible is to treat your significant other like an equal but not like one of the guys. #RandolphHarris 4 of 21
You love your significant other, you care for her, you share your life with her. So focus on the qualities that engender those emotions in you and then let her know by talking optimistically about her. The fact is, however, etiquette is not about momentous acts. It is about smoothing the way through life for ourselves and the people around us. Burping and passing gas: It is remarkable how often these came up. While both are bodily functions that sometimes escape without warning, for the most part, it is possible to delay the inevitable until you move away or retire to a restroom. The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian. Preserving conversation is a discernment and delicacy which arises from polite letters. Humans are reasonable beings; and as such, receives from their science proper food and nourishment: However, so narrow are the bounds of human understanding, that little satisfaction can be hoped for in this particular, either from the extent or security of one’s acquisitions. Humans are a sociable, no less than reasonable being: However, neither can one always enjoy company agreeable and amusing, or preserve the proper relish for them. #RandolphHarris 5 of 21
Humans are also active beings; and from that disposition, as well as from the various necessities of human life, must submit to business and occupation: However, the mind requires some relaxation, and cannot always support its bent to care and industry. It seems, then, that nature has pointed out a mixed kind of life as most suitable to human race, and secretly admonished them to allow none of these biases to draw too much, so as to incapacitate them for other occupations and entertainments. Indulge your passion for science, but let your science be human, and such as may have a direct reference to action and society. The political implications of person-centered education are clear: the student retains one’s own power and the control over oneself; one shares in the responsible choices and decisions; the facilitator provides the climate for these aims. The growing, seeking person is the politically powerful force. This process of learning represents a revolutionary about-face from the politics of traditional education. What is it that causes a teacher to reverse the politics of the classroom? The reasons are multiple. First I cite my own experience. As my point of view in therapy became more and more trusting of the capacity of the individual, I could not help but question the approach. #RandolphHarris 6 of 21
If I saw clients as trustworthy and basically capable of discovering themselves and guiding their lives in an ambience I was able to create, why could I not create the same kind of climate with graduate students and foster a self-guided process of learning? So, at the University of Chicago, I began to try. I ran into far more resistance and hostility than I did with my clients. I believe this had the result of making me more defensively rigid, putting all the responsibility on the class rather than recognizing myself as a part of the learning group. I made many mistakes, and sometimes doubted the wisdom of the whole approach. Yet with all my initial clumsiness the result were astonishing. Students worked harder, earned more, did more creative thinking than in any of my previous classes. So I preserved, and improved, I believed, in my ability as a facilitator. Although I began to talk and write about my experience, and some of my students worked in similar ways with classes they were conducting, there was always the nagging doubt that perhaps this procedure worked simply because of something in me, or some peculiar attitudes we had developed in Counseling Center at Chicago. Consequently it was enormously supportive to find that others had gone through similar struggles, were adopting the principles we had outlined, and were having parallel—indeed almost identical—experiences. #RandolphHarris 7 of 21
However, sometimes the students who have been clamoring for freedom are definitely frightened when they realize that it also means responsibility. There is also a healthy skepticism as to the reality of the change. Let one not think the teacher brutal for pouncing on one’s faults. One of the first duties of a spiritual guide is to correct the beginner, show where one has mistaken one’s way, and expose one’s fallacies of thought, and conduct. A competent guide will be quick to perceive and fearless to point out these matters however unpleasant a duty it be and however unpalatable to the pupil. It is part of the task of a spiritual director to point out tactfully but firmly the faults and deficiencies of one’s disciples, to make them more aware of what is needed in their moral self-correction. The spiritual director who is over-sever in one’s correction of the aspirant’s faults, needs correcting oneself. The paternal spiritual guide who coddles one’s bleating disciples renders than a disservice. It is a common experience with abbots of monasteries in the West and with self-actualized beings in the East that attention given to one disciple may rouse the ego’s conceit in one and the ego’s envy in others. The guide who refuses to appease the ego of those who approached one, may nevertheless be eager to help them. Yet they will resent one’s counsel and feel rebuffed! #RandolphHarris 8 of 21
They do not see that one is trying to help them in a wiser way by showing them how to help themselves. Only longer time and further experience may bring them to their sense and show them the logic of one’s advice and the prudence of one’s attitude. Sometimes placing the power of choice in the hands of the student brings a totally different sense of responsibility, and much greater effort. There may be an increase in self-insight, and a growing sense of maturity. When there is a person-centered approach in the classroom, all of these are typical outcomes. “Because I disliked school, I was surprised to find out how well I can study and learn when I am not forced to do it.” “I have never read so much in my life.” “Various ‘free’ discussions have helped me a lot to understand myself.” “It was like I was an adult—not supervised and guided all the time.” Not everyone has been so fortunate in attempting a person-centered approach. Joann Lipshires took over the teaching of three high school seminars in Human Relationships. She had great difficulty working through the problem of negative feelings—her own and those of the students. She thought one of the seminars was “a disaster.” However, her department chair-person encouraged her to continue, and gradually she could say that “I believe that my efforts finally have been successful in providing young people with something they desperately need.” #RandolphHarris 9 of 21
When she restricted her seminars to fifteen students, provided a more relaxed and comfortable environment, and made a rule that put-downs or killer comments would not be tolerated, her seminars began to follow the patterns that have become familiar. Students were almost unanimously favourable. Her report adds two other aspects that are not always so well documented. She shows how the changes in the school atmosphere, including a greater self-respect, and an improved ability to listen to others affects the politics of the family. Here is one student’s report: “By listening to my mother at home I learned to care about her as well as the things she has to say. I no longer classify her ‘mother’ or ‘parent’ (which to me is a sign of authority which I would defy under any circumstances) but as another human being who deserves just as much love and attention as I or anyone else does. We do not try to change each other’s thoughts on life anymore but we try to change each other’s thoughts on life anymore but we try to understand them first.” A parent of a sophomore who had taken Human Relations had this comment to make: “As a parent of a child who has taken the course Human Relations I would like to recommend it for other students. This course gave my children a chance to think about herself in many ways. #RandolphHarris 10 of 21
“It made her realize why she said things and how she felt about others. Her sense of values seems to have taken on a more optimistic form. The honesty in dealing with one’s feelings makes for a better person. I believe this is the type of course that could be taught in grade school.” In addition Ms. Lipshires has the report of two observers—student teachers assigned by the Education Department of a nearby college—on the discipline in her seminars. The reports have a similar tone: “Not only do they enjoy the class, but the trust the teacher places in them is returned by the students’ efforts to keep the class going and orderly.” “Discipline is a problem for most teachers. It is always viewed as the students walking al over the teacher’s authority—‘these kids have no respect!’ In Human Relations there never seems to be any serious discipline problems or even any smaller troubles, like getting everyone’s attention in class. The teacher is the key: she always expresses herself in terms of honest and real feelings and had enormous respect for the feelings of her students.” There could scarcely be a clearer statement of the way discipline by external authority is changed to self-discipline. The spiritual leader who is always soft and sentimental may help some of one’s pupils but one would help them more if, at the same time, one were also hard and firm. #RandolphHarris 11 of 21
The first attitude will attract more to a teacher, but without the second to balance it, neither one nor they will get the proper view of life. A true teacher must warn one’s followers against false expectations and irredeemable promises. One of the first tasks of a philosophy teacher is to restrain the missionary fervour of one’s younger pupils and to impress upon them the need of caution, great discernment, and even secrecy in this matter. It is not enough that one has the penetration to perceive the truth; one must also have the courage to tell it to one’s disciples, even though one knows it will shock them. The self-actualizes whose ego still harbours vanity will find it flattered by every new disciple, will be endangered afresh by every widening of one’s personal influence. One finds that the disciples come to one for their emotional comfort, they do not come for their ego’s emotional quietus. They want to remain enclosed in its little circle, not to be taken completely out of it. The kind of master needed and sought after by those who are on the religio-mystic-occult path is one who will take a keen interest in their personal life as well as spiritual welfare, one who is always willing to help them with any and every problem, one who by virtue of residence or correspondence is always and quickly available to them. The philosophic master is not like this but of a different kind. #RandolphHarris 12 of 21
One is not a missionary telling others that they must follow the Quest but an educator telling them that they may follow it if they so choose. The title “leader” implies its corollary “follower.” However, a spiritual leader of the kind here described does not want a mass of followers trailing behind one in a partisan spirit. It is enough for one to give others a few inspirations, ideas, insights, and yet leave them free to work on the material as they wish, unobligated to join any movement. It is needful for you to understand that a philosophic teacher never really wants anyone to follow one but only to follow Truth. Sokrates humorously described himself as practising the same vocation as one’s mother who was a midwife—the only difference between them being that whereas she helped women to deliver themselves of infants, he helped people to deliver themselves of the true ideas with which their minds were in labour. His business, like that of all genuine teachers, was not to impart truth as something new and foreign but to assist the student to elicit it from within oneself. Every genuine teacher tries in one’s work to lead the student’s mind in such a way that one’s thinking gradually changes without one’s becoming conscious of the fact at the time, although one will recognize it in retrospect. #RandolphHarris 13 of 21
Sokrates makes students think for themselves; stimulates them to solve their own metaphysical, personal, and emotional problems; periodically gives an inner mystical impetus to their meditation practice; and points out the pitfalls and fallacies which lie in their life-path. Because his outlook is so disinterested, because his primary purpose is to liberate and not limit them, to give and not get, such a teacher’s services can never be bought by anyone—although they may be claimed by those who are prepared to cast off the shoes of conventional prejudice at one’s door and who are willing to refrain loyally from imposing upon one their preconceived notions of what characteristics the teaching, the teacher, and the quest should possess. Thus if one will not shackle them, they are in their turn must not shackle one. Such would-be disciples are rare, but such teachers who practise what they preach are rarer still. Jesus as the Christ is the bearer of the New Being in the totality of his being, not in any special expression of it. Various Christologies have concentrated on his words, and his deeds or his suffering. These are enlightening if not cut off from he being of Christ. However, rationalism separated his words, pietism his deeds, and orthodoxy his suffering from his being; these systems forgot that the being of Christ is his work and that his work is his being, namely, the New Being which is his being. #RandolphHarris 14 of 21
When theologians overlook the being of Christ they cannot place the New Bring at the center of their thought. Concentrating on one’s acts, they unavoidably distort their meaning and relevance. They then no longer relate the Christ to the universal quest for a conquest of estrangement. This makes the Christ himself a stranger in humankind. On the contrary, we should remember that the traditional symbols of “salvation,” “redemption,” “grace,” “atonement,” “meditation” as applied to the function of the Christ, emphasize the universality of his role. The New Being in the Christ has universal significance. It is universally expected. On account of this, “Jesus as the Christ is the Saviour through the universal significance of his being as the New Being. What is his significance? Simply that the revelatory correlation in which Peter acknowledged his Messiahship remains revelatory for every human. While Peter was directly thrown into it, being face to face with the Christ in the flesh, we are in a different position. It is the same situation, but the participants in it are removed from it in time and space. The original miracle, together with its original reception, is the permanent point of reference, while the spiritual reception by following generations changes continuously. A whole ecclesiology is evidently implied in this statement. #RandolphHarris 15 of 21
The Church will be the community in which one experiences the original revelatory correlation in which Jesus was acknowledged as the Christ. The main point here is that this revelatory constellation has universal score. In this sense it is final, not that no more revelations may take place, but that all other revelations will be subordinated to it. The revelatory event in Jesus as the Christ. He is the miracle of the final revelation, and his reception is the ecstasy of the final revelation. His appearance is the decisive constellation of historical (and by participation, natural) forces. It is the ecstatic moment of human history and, therefore, its center, giving meaning to all possible and actual history…But it is only for those who received him as the final revelation, namely as the Messiah, the Christ, the Man-from-above, the Son of God, the Spirit, the Logos-who-became-flesh, the New Being. “I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out of their forces, that our army might come upon them and destroy them—but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed. #RandolphHarris 16 of 21
“Therefore, I contented with my brethren in the wilderness, for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an austere and a blood-thirsty man commanded that I should be slain; but I was rescued by the shedding of much blood; for father fought against father, and brother against brother, until greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness and we returned, those of us that were spared, to the land of Zarahemla, to relate that tale to their wives and their children. And yet, I being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God. Nevertheless, after many days’ wandering in the wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was near to the land of our fathers. And it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the city, in unto the king, that I might know of the disposition of the king, and that I might know if I might go in with my people and possess the land in peace. And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me that I might possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom. #RandolphHarris 17 of 21
“And he also commanded that his people should depart out of the land, and I and my people went into the land that we might possess it. And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom. And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barely, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land. Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it. Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into bondage. Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labours of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields. Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land. #RandolphHarris 18 of 21
“For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them, and to take off their flocks, and the corn of their fields. Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that were not overtaken, even into the city of Nephi, and did call upon me for protection. And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows, and with arrows, and swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with slings, and with all manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth against the Lamanites to battle. Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers. And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did play three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land. #RandolphHarris 19 of 21
“And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead. And behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, two hundred and seventy-none of our brethren were slain,” reports Mosiah 9.1-19. O my Lord, let not my ministry be approved only by humans, or merely win the esteem and affections of my people; but do the work of grace in their hearts, call in Thy elect, seal and edify the regenerate ones, and command eternal blessings on their souls. Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking; water the hearts of those who hear Thy word, that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power; cause me and those that hear me to behold Thee here in the light of special faith, and hereafter in the blaze of endless glory; please make my every sermon a means of grace to myself, and please help me to experience the power of Thy dying love, for Thy blood is balm, Thy presence bliss, Thy smile Heaven, Thy cross the place where truth and mercy meet. Look upon the doubts and discouragements of my ministry and keep me from self-importance; I beg pardon for my many sins, omissions, infirmities, as a man, as a minister; please command Thy blessing on my weak, unworthy labours, and on the message of salvation given; please stay with Thy people, and may Thy presence be their portion and mine. #RandolphHarris 20 of 21
When I preach to others please let not my word be merely elegant and masterly, my reasoning polished and refined, my performance powerless and tasteless, but may I exalt Thee and humble sinners. O Lord of power and grace, all hearts are in Thy hands, all events at Thy disposal, set the seal of Thy almighty will upon my ministry. The Apostles’ Creed, scholars believe, dates from After Death 250 and is the oldest creedal affirmation to attain universal acceptance. The purpose of the Creed is to make a Trinitarian confession and to affirm our solidarity with the universal Church of the ages. To do this properly the Creed must never be recited, but confessed. That is, one’s heart and mind must work together to genuinely affirm authentic belief. The “Gloria Parti” (Doxology) is mean to draw us upward in music for the purpose for which we have come—to give glory to God. It should be sung with our whole heart. O God, Who restores us unto eternal life by Christ’s Resurrection, fulfill the ineffable mystery of Thy loving-kindness; that when our Saviour shall come in His majesty, as Thou hast made us to be regenerated in Baptism, so Thou mayest make us to be clothed with a blessed immortality; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. #RandolphHarris 21 of 21
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Nature is Subject to Vanity by the Curse that God Uttered–Make Sure You Get Control of Your Students the Very First Day!
Our senses do not always play fair, or so often it seems. Sometimes the strangest phenomena occur which cause us to doubt our sanity or the effectiveness of our sensory apparatus. When we consider how intricate our nervous system is and how complex our sensory equipment, it is small wonder that these is not a lot more confusion than there actual is. The educational system is probably the most influential of all institutions—outranking the family, the church, the police, and the government—in shaping the interpersonal politics of the growing person. Here is how the politics of the traditional school is experienced: The teacher is the possessor of knowledge, the student the recipient. There is a great difference in status between instructor and student. The lecture, as the means of pouring knowledge into the recipient, and the examination as the measure of the extent to which one has received it, are the central elements of this education. The teacher is the possessor of power, the student the one who obeys. The administrator is also the possessor of power, and both the teacher and the student are the ones who obey. Control is always exercised downward. Authoritarian rule is the accepted policy in the classroom. New teachers are often advised, “Make sure you get control of your students the very first day.” #RandolphHarris 1 of 23
Sometimes it is difficult for students to realize the joy and excitement that can found through learning. People will discover how many unnecessary limits they place on themselves by saying “I do not know.” Individuals must commit themselves to never again placing limits on the things they are willing to learn about their World or the people in it. Trust is at a minimum. Most notable is the teacher’s distrust of the student. The student cannot be expected to work satisfactorily without the teacher constantly supervising and checking on one. The student’s distrust of the teacher is more diffuse—a lack of trust in teacher’s motives, honesty, fairness, competence. There may be a real rapport between an entertaining lecturer and those who are being entertained. There may be admiration for the instructor, but mutual trust is not a noticeable ingredient. The subjects (the students) are best governed by being kept in an intermittent or constant state of fear. There is today not much physical punishment, but public criticism and ridicule, and a constant fear of failure, are even more potent. This state of fear appears it increase as we go up the hierarchy of the educational scheme, because the students have more to lose. In elementary school the individual may be an object of scorn, or scolded as stupid or bad. #RandolphHarris 2 of 23
In high school there is added to this fear the fear of failure to graduate, with its vocational, economic and educational disadvantages. In college all these consequences are magnified and intensified. In graduate school, sponsorship by one professor offer even greater opportunities for extreme punishment due to some autocratic whim. Many graduate students have failed to receive their degrees because they have refused to obey every wish of their major professor. They are like slaves, subject to the life and death power of a despot from the Old World. Democracy and its values are ignored and scorned in practice. The student does not participate in choosing one’s goals, one’s curriculum, one’s manner of working. They are chosen for one. One has no part in the choice of teaching personnel or in educational policy. Likewise the teachers have no choice in choosing their principal or other administrative officers. Often they, too, have no participation in forming educational policy. The political practices of the school are in striking contrast to what is taught about the virtues of democracy and the importance of freedom and responsibility. There is no place for the whole person in the educational system, only for the intellect. #RandolphHarris 3 of 23
In elementary school the bursting curiosity of the normal child and one’s excess of physical energy are curbed and, if possible, stifled. In secondary school the one overriding interest of all students—gender and the relationships between the genders—is almost totally ignored and certainly not regarded as a major area for learning. In college the situation is the same—it is only the mind that is welcomed. We believe there is knowledge that exists separate and apar from how a person feels…and that accumulated knowledge of humankind is cognitive. It can be transmitted, it can be taught and learned, and the pursuit of that kind of knowledge is academic research. It appears to us that some would like to abandon cognitive learning, or at least reduce its importance to a level unacceptable to scholars. However, I also believe that the affective, the emotional component is terribly important. Cognitive skills should be combined with better knowledge of self and of interpersonal behaviour. A leader or a person who is perceived as an authority figure in the situation is sufficiently secure within oneself and in one’s relationship to others that one experiences an essential trust in the capacity of others to think for themselves, to learn for themselves. If this precondition exists, then the following aspects become possible. #RandolphHarris 4 of 23
The facilitative person shares with the other—students and possibly also parents or community members—the responsibility for the learning process. Curricular planning, the mode of administration and operation, the funding, and the policy making are all the responsibility of the particular group involved. Thus a class may be responsible for its own curriculum, but the total group may be responsible for overall policy. The facilitator provides learning resources—from within oneself and one’s own experience, from books or materials or community experiences. One encourages the leaders to add resources of which they have knowledge, or in which they have experience. One opens doors to resources outside the experience of the group. The student develops one’s own program of learning, alone or in cooperation with others. Exploring one’s own interests, facing the wealth of resources, one makes choices as to one’s own learning direction and carries the responsibility for the consequences of those choices. A facilitative learning climate is provided. In meetings of the class or of the school as a whole, an atmosphere of realness, of caring, and of understanding listening is evident. This climate may spring initially from the person who is he perceived leader. As the learning process continues, it is more and more often provided by the learners for one another. #RandolphHarris 5 of 23
Learning from one another becomes as important as learning from books or films or community experiences, of from the facilitator. It can be seen that the focus is primarily on fostering the continuing process of learning. The content of the learning, while significant, falls into a secondary place. Thus a course of learning is successfully ended not when the student has “learned all one needs to know,” but when the student has made significant process in learning how to learn what one wants to know. The discipline necessary to reach the student’s goals is a self-discipline and is recognized and accepted by the learner as being one’s own responsibility. The evaluation of the extent and significance of the student’s learning is made primarily by the learner oneself, though one’s self-evaluation may be influenced and enriched by caring feedback from other members of the group and from the facilitator. In this growth-promoting climate, the learning is deeper, proceeds at a more rapid rate, and is more pervasive in life and behaviour of the student than learning acquired in the traditional classroom. This comes about because the direction is self-chosen, the learning is self-initiated, and the whole person, with feelings and passions as well as intellect, is invested in the process. #RandolphHarris 6 of 23
Spiritual education is also another form or learning we are supposed to partake in while on Earth. The kind of spiritual guide that most people want is one who pats them encouragingly on the shoulder, flatters them constantly in speech or writing, and habituates them to refer all their personal problems to one for solution. The kind of guide they really need is one who will critically point out their faults and weaknesses and who will unhesitatingly throw them back on their own resources. It is better to encourage humans in conduct than to pamper their neurotic religiosity. The aspirant comes to the philosophic teacher with a mind filled by error and ignorance. One comes to the philosophic life with a character filled by egoism and prejudice. Thus one is the largest stumbling block in one’s own path. One oneself prevents the spiritual consciousness from approaching one. So the firs duty of a teacher is to show one all this error, ignorance, egoism, and prejudice for the unbeautiful things they are and make them aware and ashamed of them. One must cast aside much of one’s carefully heaped-up pile of knowledge and begin afresh. To make a person teachable, one must first convince one of one’s own ignorance. And the master will show one that one really knows little of one’s own self. #RandolphHarris 7 of 23
It is an important part of one’s task to how humans what their personal lives look like from an impersonal standpoint. Hence one points out the fallacy of their egotistic actions and the foolishness of their egotistic purposes. Whatever one says or suggests to one’s disciples is said or suggested with a view to their ultimate good. Therefore one may sometimes recommend a course of action which brings immediate pain or self-denial or self-discipline. One may gently chide one person of errors of shortcomings, or firmly warn another person against sins and lapses. It is hard to bring a person from a wrong point of view to a right one, not only because one may not be intellectually or intuitively capable of making the transition, but also because one can make it only by losing some of one’s emotional egoistic self-esteem. This is true of general propaganda among the masses as it is of the preliminary correction of pupils by a master. “The voice of the Lord is powerful,” sings the poet of the 29th Psalm. “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars…the voice of the Lord cleaves with flames of fire, the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness…and strips the forests bare.” In the book of Job, we find a description of the terrible power of nature in the mythological symbols of Behemoth and Leviathan. #RandolphHarris 8 of 23
And a great recent poet, Rilke says: “For Beauty’s nothing but beginning of Terror we are still just able to bear, and why we adore it so is because it serenely disdains to destroy us. Each single Angel is terrible. The glory of nature is not shallow beauty.” And now let us listen once more to the words of the apostle about the tragedy of nature in their precise meaning.” Even the creation waits with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. For creation was not rendered futile by its own choice, but by the will of Him Who thus made it subject, the hope being that creation as well as humans would one day be freed from its thralldom to decay and gain the glorious freedom of God’s children. To this say, we know, the entire creation sighs and throbs with pain,” reports Romans 8.19-22. Nature is not only glorious; it is also tragic. It is subjected to the laws of finitude and destruction. It is suffering and sighing with us. No one who has ever listened to the sounds of nature with sympathy can forget their tragic melodies. The Greek word in Paul’s letter which we have translated as “creation” is especially used for the non-animate section of nature as Paul is alluding to the words of God to Adam after the Fall: “Cursed is the land for thy sake.” The sighing sound of the wind and the ever-restless, futile breaking of the waves may have inspired the poetic, melancholic verse about nature’s vanity. #RandolphHarris 9 of 23
However, the words of Paul refer also, and in a more direct way, to the sphere of living things. The melancholy of the leaves falling in Autumn, the end of the jubilant life of Spring and Summer, the quiet death of innumerable beings in the cold air of the approaching Winter—all this has grasped and always will grasp the hearts, not only of poets, but of every feeling man and woman. The song of transitoriness sounds through all the nations. Isaiah’s words, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of the Lord bloweth upon it,” describe the shortness of the lives of individuals and nations. However, they could not have been written without a profound sympathy with the life of nature. And then Jesus speaks, praising the lilies of the field: “Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” In these two sayings about the flowers of the field we perceive both the glory and the tragedy of nature. Sympathy with nature in its tragedy is not a sentimental emotion; it is a true feeling of the reality of nature. Schelling justly says: “A veil of sadness is spread over all nature, a deep, unappeasable melancholy over all of life.” According to him this is “manifest through the traces of suffering in the face of all nature, especially in the faces of animals.” #RandolphHarris 10 of 23
The doctrine of suffering as the character of all life, taught by Buddha, has conquered in the ground of one’s own being with the ground of nature is able to see into its tragedy; as Schelling says, “The darkest and deepest ground in human nature is ‘Longing’…is melancholy. This, mainly, creates the sympathy of humans with nature. For in nature too the deepest ground is melancholy. Nature, also, urns for a lost good.” Can we still understand the meaning of such half-poetic, half-philosophic words? Or have we too much secluded ourselves in human superiority, in intellectual arrogance, in a domineering attitude toward nature? We have become incapable of perceiving the harmonious sounds of nature. Have we also become insensitive to the tragic sounds? Why is nature tragic? Who is responsible for the suffering of animals, for the ugliness of death and decay, for the universal dread of death? Many years ago I stood on a jetty with a well-known psychologist looking at the ocean. We saw innumerable small fish hurrying toward the beach. They were pursued by bigger ones, who, in turn, were chased by still bigger ones. Aggression, flight, and anxiety—a perfect illustration of the old, often used story of the big fish devouring the small ones, in nature as in history. #RandolphHarris 11 of 23
The scholar, who, in many discussions, had defended the harmonious structure of reality, burst into tears, saying, “Why are these beings created if they exist only to be swallowed by others?” In this moment the tragedy of nature forced itself upon his optimistic mind, and he asked, “Why?” Paul tries o penetrate the mystery of this question. And his surprising answer is: nature is subjected to vanity by the curse that God uttered because of the fall of Adam. The tragedy of nature is bound to the tragedy of humans, as the salvation of nature is dependent on the salvation of humans. What does this mean? Always humankind has dreamed of a time when harmony and joy filled all nature, and peace reigned between nature and human—Paradise, the Golden Age. However, humans, by violating the divine law, destroyed the harmony, and now here is enmity between humans and nature, between nature and nature. In Paul’s melancholic words this dream resounds. It is a dream, but it contains a profound truth: humans and nature belong together in their created glory, in their tragedy, and in their salvation. As nature, represented by the “Serpent,” leads humans into temptation, so humans, by their trespassing of the divine law, leads nature into tragedy. This did not happen once upon a time, as the story says; it happens within every time and space so long as there is time and space. #RandolphHarris 12 of 23
So long as there are the Old Heaven and the Old Earth, humans and nature will be subjected together to the law of vanity. Many profound thinkers within and without Christianity agree that humans are determined to fulfill the longing of nature. In so far as one has failed and still fails to come to one’s own fulfillment, one is unable to fulfill nature—one’s own bodily being and nature around one. Therefore, Jesus I called the Son of Man, the man from above, the true man, in whom the forces of separation and tragedy are overcome, not only in humankind but also in the Universe. For there is no salvation of humans if there is no salvation of nature, for humans are in nature and nature are in humans. Let us listen once more to the words of the prophet about salvation of nature. “Then I saw the new Heaven and the new Earth. For the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away; and the sea was no more. Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal on both sides of the river grew the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, each month having its own fruit; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations,” reports Revelations 21.1, 22.2. In powerful images the last book of the Bible describes the salvation of humans and nature from the bondage of corruption: the city of God is built with the most precious materials of non-animated nature. #RandolphHarris 13 of 23
The ocean, the symbol of formless chaos, is excluded. The river is not polluted by any rot. The trees bear fruit without change and decay; the animals, together with the saints, adore the throne of glory. The daemonic forces are thrown into nothingness. There is no suffering nor death. Needless to say, this is not the description of a future state of our World. Like the Golden Age of the past, the Golden Age of the future is a symbol, pointing to something mysterious within our present World—namely, the forces of salvation. And one thing is made very clear in the visions of the prophet, that salvation means salvation of the World, and not of human beings alone. Lions and sheep, little children and snakes, will lie together in peace, says Isaiah. Angels and stars, humans and animals, adore the Children of Christmas legend. The Earth shakes when the Christ dies, and it shakes again when He is resurrected. The Sun loses its light when He closes His eyes, and it rises when He raises from the tomb. The resurrection of the body—not an immortal soul—is the symbol of the victory over death. The bodiless spirit (and this is the meaning of all these images) is not the aim of creation; the purpose of salvation is not the abstract intellect or a natureless moral personality. #RandolphHarris 14 of 23
Do we not see everywhere the estrangement of people from nature, from their own natural forces and from nature around them? And so they not become dry and uncreative in their mental life, hard and arrogant in their moral attitude, suppressed and poisoned in their vitality? They certainly are not the images of salvation. As one theologian has justly said, “Corporal being is the end of the ways of God.” This has always been known to creative painters and sculptors. A great picture or statue is an anticipation of the new Earth, a revelation of the mystery of nature. A picture of a statue is a plant or a stone transformed into a bearer of spiritual meaning It is nature elevated above itself, revealing its tragedy and, at the same tie, is victory over its tragedy. The picture of Jesus and the apostles and saints throughout the centuries of Christian art, in colour and stone—portraits of humans in whom humanity discovered its power and dignity—the incomparable expression of personality in the face of even the simplest individual, show that spirit becomes body, and that nature is not strange to personality. The system of cells functions, which we call “body,” is able to express the finest change of our spiritual being. Artists have often understood the eternal significance of nature, even when theologians have emphasized a bodiless spirituality, forgetting that the first thing by which Jesus revealed His Messianic vocation was His power to heal bodily and mental sickness. #RandolphHarris 15 of 23
Let me ask you a question: are we still able to understands what a sacrament means? The more we are estranged from nature, the less we can answer affirmatively. That is why, in our time, the sacraments have lost so much of their significance for individuals and Churches. For in the sacraments nature participates in the process of salvation. Bread and wine, water and light, and all the great elements of nature become the bearers of spiritual meaning and saving power. Natural and spiritual powers are united—reunited—in the sacrament. The word appeals to our intellect and may move our will. The sacrament, if its meaning is alive, grasps our unconscious as well as our conscious being. In grasps the creative ground of our being. It is the symbol of nature, and spirit, united in salvation. Therefore, commune with nature! Become reconciled with nature after your estrangement from it. Listen to nature in quietness, and you will find its heart. It will sound forth the glory of its divine ground. It will sign with us in the bondage of tragedy. It will speak of the indestructible hope of salvation! This is also justified because a relationship with God is a matter of the heart, not the head. To have faith in a statement means to let yourself be convinced of and, therefore, accept the statement me as true. To have faith in God means to firmly rely on Him. Either way, faith is relying on what you have reason to believe is true and trustworthy. #RandolphHarris 16 of 23
Faith involves the readiness to act as if something were so. Throughout church history, theologians have expressed three different aspects of biblical faith: notitia (knowledge), fiducia (trust), and assensus (assent). Notitia refers to the data or doctrinal content of the Christian faith. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 1.3. Assensus denotes the assent of the intellect to the truth of the content of Christian teaching. Note that each of these aspects of faith requires a careful exercise of reason, both in understanding what the teachings of Christianity are and in judging their truthfulness. In this way, reason is indispensable for the third aspect of faith—fiducia—which captures the personal application or trust involved in faith, an act that primarily involves the will but includes the affections and intellect too. What about being like a little child and the importance of the heart over the head in Christian life? In the context, Jesus’ teaching about becoming like a little child had nothing to do with the intellect. It was directed against being stiffnecked, self-sufficient and arrogant. To be a child in this sense is to be humble and willing to trust in or rely on others, especially God. #RandolphHarris 17 of 23
The opposite of the child is a proud stiffnecked person, not an intelligent, reasonable one. Further, the distinction between the head and the heart is very misleading. In Scripture, the term heart has several meanings. Most of the time it simply refers to the seat or center of the entire person, the total self, including, emotional, and will. Sometimes it simply refers to the emotions or affections. “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to impurity of pleasures of the flesh for the degrading of their bodies with one another,” reports Romans 1.24. “For God is y record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ,” reports Philippians 1.8. However, the term heart often actually refers to the mind itself. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to hum, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened,” reports Romans 1.24. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ,” reports 2 Corinthians 4.6. “Each human should give what one has decided in one’s heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” reports 2 Corinthians 9.7. #RandolphHarris 18 of 23
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy power, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength,” reports Ephesians 1.18-19. Therefore, it is safe to say that when the term heart is used in a verse, it most likely includes or explicitly refers to our mental faculty unless the context shows otherwise. Let us not allow false teaching to distort our understanding of the critical nature of the heart and move on in our development of a Christian mind. A grotesque distortion: Our response to God’s way should be ignorance. Finally, I sometimes hear two claims that express the idea that it is futile to use your reason or to emphasize its important when it comes to the Christian way: God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. “As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” reports Isaiah 55.9. And knowledge puffs people up and makes them arrogant. “Now about food sacrifices to idols: We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ However, knowledge puffs up while love builds,” reports 1 Corinthians 8.1. It should be clear what is wrong with these claims. #RandolphHarris 19 of 23
The fact that God’s thoughts are higher than ours means that we will never be able to fully grasp God’s motives, purposes, or providential guidance in the World. Regarding the arrogance that comes from knowledge, we need to keep two things in mind. First, Paul’s statement is not against knowledge per se, but against a certain attitude toward it. The proper response to his warning is humility, not ignorance! Second, for every knowledgeable person who is arrogant, there is an unknowledgeable person who is defensive and proud as a cover-up for one’s lack of knowledge. Arrogance is not possessed solely by people who have developed their reasoning abilities. We Christians have a desire deep within us to be like God and to bring honour to His name. However, what are we to look like if we are o fulfill these desires? A growing, vibrant disciple will be someone who values one’s intellectual life and works at developing one’s mind clearly. We must dedicate our lives to a deep commitment to reason and the intellectual life. It bothers God that so many evangelicals seem to be theologically illiterate. It bothers God terribly, as much as anything he can think of. Do not neglect your critical faculties. Remember that God is a rational God, who has made us in His own image. #RandolphHarris 20 of 23
God invites and expects us to explore His double revelation, in nature and Scripture, with the minds He has given us, and to go on in the development of a Christian mind to apply His marvelous revealed truth to every aspect of the modern and post-modern World. We neglect these admonitions to our own peril. King Benjamin records the names of the people and appoints priests to teach them—Mosiah reigns as a righteous king. About 124-121 Before Christ. “And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after having finished speaking to the people, that he would take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments. And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ. And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and have given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses. And Mosiah began to reign in his father’s stead. And he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. #RandolphHarris 21 of 23
“And king Benjamin lived three years and he died. And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded him. And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should till the Earth. And he also, himself, did till the Earth, that thereby he might not become burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which his father had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his people for the space of three years,” reports Mosiah 6.1-7. I beseech Thee, O Lord, that his Holy Communion may be my guide, and my food for the journey, unto the Heaven of eternal salvation. May it be to me a consolation while I am harassed in thoughts, a source of sweetest love in the time of good purposes, patience in tribulation and distress, medicine in sickness. By these most sacred Mysteries which I have received, grant me right faith, firm hope, and perfect love, strength to renounce the world, purification of desires, inward sweetness, ardent love for Thee, a recollection and tender sympathy for the Passion of Thy beloved Son, and grace to keep my life full of virtue in the praise of Thee and in sincere faith. #RandolphHarris 22 of 23
And please grant me in the hour of my departure to receive the gif of so great a Mystery with true faith, certain hope, and sincere love, that I may see Thee without end. My dear Lord, I depend wholly upon Thee, please wean me from all other dependences. Thou art my all, Thou dost overrule all and delight in me. Thou art the foundation of goodness, how can I distrust Thee? how be anxious about what happens to me? In the light of Thy preciousness the World and all its enjoyments are infinitely poor: I value the favour of humans no more than pebbles. Amid the blessings I receive from Thee may I never lose the heart of a stranger. May I love Thee, my benefactor, in all my benefits, not forgetting that my greatest danger arises from my advantages. Produce in me self-despair that will make Jesus precious to me, delightful in all his offices, pleasurable in all his ways., and may I love His commands as well as his promises. Please help me to discern between true and false love, the one consisting of supreme love to Thee, the other not, the former uniting Thy glory and human’s happiness that they may become one common interest, the latter disjointing and separating them both, seeking the latter with neglect of the former. Please teach me that genuine love is different in kind from that wrought by rational arguments or the motive of self-interest, that such love is pleasing passion affording joy to the mind where it is. Please grant me grace to distinguish between the genuine and the false, and to rest in Thee who are all love. #RandolphHarris 23 of 23
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You Do Not Love Me, You Do Not Care What Happens to Me! Give the Heaven’s Above More than Just a Passing Glance!
For some people it is difficult to find peace. They can forgive from their heart of hearts, but find no rest, for then the doubt awakens; they are the one who caused the problem; they are the occasion of the calamity; it was their pride that craved the unusual. Then they repent, but one will find no rest, for then the accusing thoughts acquits one of the charges: the aggressor was the one who with their cunning instilled this plan into their souls. Then the individual hates; one’s heart finds relief in curses, but one still finds no repose. Once again one reproaches oneself—reproaches oneself because one has hated, one who oneself is a sinner, reproaches oneself because regardless of how cunning the aggressor was one’s self always remains guilty. It is oppressive for the individual that someone has decided to deceive them, but still more oppressive, one is almost tempted to say, that one is no longer listens humbly to one’s voice but is able to hear the many voices at the same time. Then recollection awakens in one’s soul, and one forgets blame and guilt; able to recollect the beautiful moments, and is dazed in an unnatural exaltation. With an indescribable but cryptic, blissful, unnamable anxiety, one is able to listen to music the one’s self evoked and yet did not evoke; always there was harmony. Yet, it is terrible that one can scarcely control the anxiety that grips one. #RandolphHarris 1 of 25
One is carried along into that kingdom of mist, into that dreamland where one is frightened by one’s own shadow at every moment. Often, futilely trying to tear away from it; following along like an ominous shape, like an accuser who cannot speak. How strange! One has allowed someone else to spread the deepest secrecy over everything, and yet there is an even deeper secrecy, that one’s self is in on the secret and that one came to know I in an unlawful way. To forget the whole thing is not possible. Some Black women are comfortable with the many different ingredients of their identity, and they are women committed to freedom from oppression. They find themselves constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of themselves, and present that as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or deny the other parts of themselves. They do not want to isolate themselves from their White, Hispanic, or Asian counterparts, but would like the ability to be included in the discussion. The need for multiple consciousness in feminist movement—a social movement encompassing law, literature, and everything in between—has long been apparent. Since the beginning of the feminist movement in the United States of America, Black women have been discussing the fact that their experience calls into question the notion of a unitary “women’s experience.” #RandolphHarris 2 of 25
In the first wave of the feminist moment, Black women’s realization that White leaders of the suffrage may have not been aware of what women of colour have to suffer with, especially when they do not adhere to typical gender status. However, through conversations, publications of a diverse voice of authors, and television shows and movies, the second wave of Black women are again speaking loudly and persistently, and at many levels their voices have begun to be heard. Feminist have adopted the notion of multiple consciousness as appropriate to describe a World in which people are not oppressed only or primarily on the basis of gender, but also on the basis of race, class, sexual orientation, and other categories in inextricable webs. Moreover, multiple consciousness is implicit in the precepts of the feminism itself. Feminist method starts with the very radical act of taking women seriously, believing that what they say about themselves and their experience is important and valid, even when (or perhaps especially when) it had little or no relationship to what has been or is being said about them. In feminist legal theory, however, the move away from univocal toward multivocal theories of women’s experience and feminism has been slower than other areas. #RandolphHarris 3 of 25
In feminist legal theory, the pull of the second voice, the voice of abstract categorization, is still powerfully strong: “We the People” seems in danger of being replaced by “We the women.” And in feminist legal theory, as in the dominant culture, it is mostly White, heterosexual, and socioeconomically privileged people who speak for all women. Not surprisingly, because of the cries of the unheard are becoming so strong, the story they tell about “women,” despite its claim to universality, seems to actually be becoming more inclusive. Some of the best examples have been in the film in TV industry. Little Fires Everywhere, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington examines the roles of women of different ethnic backgrounds, classes, and socioeconomic backgrounds. How to Get Away With Murder, starring Viola Davis was extremely powerful, especially final episode where she has to defend herself and her lifestyle. The Family That Prey’s Together, Good Deeds, Why Did I Get Married, Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, by Tyler Perry are also good film the help others to understand the plight of women of colour, as well as Losing Isaiah starring Halle Berry. So even if feminist theories are still catching up to modern times, art is imitating life. And White middle-class women, as well as the rest of the World are becoming more aware of what their sisters have to endure. #RandolphHarris 4 of 25
The notion that there is a monolithic “women’s experience” that can be described independent of other facets of experience like race, class, and sexual orientation is called gender essentialism. Gender essentialism is no longer reducing the lives of people who experience multiple forms of oppression because racism, sexism, and homophobia are being discussed and are now better understood by different people all over the World. Those who produce the “story of woman” are making sure they appear in it. They are ensuring that they are storytellers and, in a position, to decide which of all the many facts about women’s lives are going into the story, and which ought to be left out. Women want to make sure that none of their voiced are at the bottom of a hierarchy of oppression. Middle-class American women, tradition suggest, feel emotion more than men do. The definitions of “emotional” and “cogitation” in the Random House Dictionary of the English Language reflect a deeply rooted cultural idea. Yet women are also thought to command “feminine wiles,” to have the capacity to premeditate a sigh, an outburst of tears, or a flight of joy. In general, they are thought to manage expression and feeling not only better but more often than men do. How much the conscious feelings of women and men differ is an issue I leave aside here. #RandolphHarris 5 of 25
However, women are, in fac, more likely to have access to their emotions. Early in childhood boys but no girls must relinquish their primary identification with the mother. To achieve this difficult task, the boy (but not the girl) must repress feelings associated with the other in the difficult effort to establish himself as “not like mother,” as a boy. The consequence is a repression of feeling generally. The girl, on the other hand, because she enters a social and sexual category the same as that as her mother, does not have to relinquish identification with her or sacrifice her access to feelings through repression. If this interpretation is valid (and I find it plausible), we might expect women to be more in touch with their feelings, which are, as a consequence, more available for conscious management. Men may manage feelings more by subconscious repressing, women more by conscious suppressing. Therefore, the evidence seems clear that most women do more emotion managing than men. And because the well-managed feeling has an outside resemblance to spontaneous feeling, it is possible to confuse the condition of being more “easily affected by emotion” with the action of willfully managing emotion when the occasion calls for it. #Randolphharris 6 of 25
Especially in the American middle class, women tend to manage feeling more because in general they depend on men for a level of support, and one of the various ways of repaying their debt is to do extra emotion work—especially emotion work that affairs, enhances, and celebrates the well-being and status of others. When the emotional skills that children learn and practice at home move into the marketplace, the emotional labour of women becomes more prominent because men in general have not been trained to make their emotions a resource and are therefore less likely to develop their capacity for managing feeling. There is also a difference in the kind of emotion work that men and women tend to do. Many studies have also told us that women adapt more to the needs of others and cooperate more than men do. These studied often imply the existence of gender-specific characteristics simply exist passively in women? Or are they signs of a social work that women do—the work of affirming, enhancing, and celebrating the well-being and status of others? I believe that much of time, the adaptive, cooperative women is actively working showing difference. This deference requires her to make an outward display called the “seriously” good girl in her and to support this effort by evoking feelings that make the “nice” display seem more natural. #RandolphHarris 7 of 25
Girls are generally trained to be “seriously” good and to be ashamed of being bad whereas boys are asked to be good in formalistic ways but covertly invited to be ashamed of being “too” good. Oversocialization into “sugar-and-spice” demeanor produces feminine skills in delivering deference. Women who want to put their own feelings less at the service of other must still confront the idea that if they do so, they will be considered less “feminine.” What it takes to be more “adaptive” is suggested in a study of college students. Students were asked “If a boy or girl had all the other qualities you desire, would you marry this person if you were not in live with him or her?” In response, 64 percent of men, but only 24 percent of the women said No. Most of the women answered that they “did not know.” As one put it: “I do not know, if he were that good, may I could bring myself around to loving him.” Other research indicates that men have a more romantic orientation to love, women a more realistic orientation. That is, males may find cultural support for a passive construction of love, for seeing themselves as falling head over heels, or walking on air. The female is not pushed hither and yon by her romantic compulsions. On the contrary, she seems to have a greater measure of rational control over her romantic inclinations than the male. #RandolphHarris 8 of 25
Women are more often than men describing themselves as “trying to make myself love,” “talking myself into not caring,” or “trying to convince myself.” A content analysis of 260 protocols showed that more women than men (33 percent versus 18 percent) spontaneously used the language of emotion work to describe their emotions. The image of women as “more emotional,” more subject to uncontrolled feelings, has also been challenged by a study of 250 students at UCLA, in which only 20 percent of the men but 45 percent of the women said that they deliberately show emotion to get their way. This pattern is also socially reinforced. When women sent direct messages (persuading by logic, reason, or an onslaught of information), they were later rated as more aggressive than men who did the same thing. As one woman put it: “I pout, frown, and say something to make the other person feel bad, such as ‘You do not love me, you do not care what happens to me.’ I am not the type to come right out with what I want; I will usually hint around. It is all hope and a lot of beating around the bush.” The emotional arts that women have cultivated are analogous to the art of feigning among those whose wishes outdistance their opportunities for class advancement. As for many others who are less affluent, it has been in the woman’s interest to be the better actor. #RandolphHarris 9 of 25
The use of feminine wiles (including flattery) is felt to be a psychopolitical style of the subordinate; it is therefore disapproved of by women who have gained a foothold in the man’s World and can afford to disparage what they do no need to use. As the psychologist would say, the techniques of deep acting have usually high “secondary gains.” Yet these skills have long been mislabeled “natural,” a part of woman’s “being” rather than something of her own making. The intensity of devotion rather than the value of offerings must always govern the master’s response. The self-actualized has an official position, which is accompanied by appropriate duties. They include: taking a personal interest in the disciples’ inner welfare and growth; instructing them in the truth, and in the way to its attainment; inspiring them telepathically with glimpses of the higher states; encouraging them to persevere in traveling along the way; warning them against the pitfalls and obstacles. The teacher’s duty is to give direction, provide knowledge, warn against pitfalls, correct errors. It is not one’s duty to save others necessary efforts of will and thinking. The master powerfully removes the sluggishness of the intellect of one’s disciple; clarifies one’s ideas about what is eternal and what is perishable, what is real and what is unreal, what is material and what is mental; and what open to one the realm of truth slowly but unmistakably by constant appeal to one’s reason. #RandolphHarris 10 of 25
The first service of the Master is to point out the way, both inwardly and outwardly, to the disciple. This shortens one’s journey by several lifetimes, which would otherwise have to be spent in wanderings, explorings, gropings, and searchings. It is to expound truth and correct errors, to place an example before the others, and to purify them by one’s company that such a teacher appears in the outer World. Another phase of one’s work is to stimulate the yearning for higher attainment where it exists, and to inculcate it where it does not. Nature, also, mourns for a lost good. “Day unto day utter speech, and night unto night show knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World. In them has one set a tabernacle for the Sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of one’s chamber, and rejoice as a strong human to run a race,” reports Psalm 19.2-5. It is one’s work to show others what they cannot see for themselves—their own higher possibilities. One’s function is to interpret humans—and more especially spiritual humans—to themselves. One’s task is to make known to other humans their God like possibilities within themselves. One’s mission is not to being humans pleasure, but to raise them to appreciate truth. #RandolphHarris 11 of 25
The teacher assists one’s students to attain a degree of concentration beyond that which they are able to achieve by themselves. One detonates the higher potentialities of each disciple, breaks the closed circle of one’s senses, and leads one toward a moral and mystical regeneration. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of one who has subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travels in pain together until now,” reports Romans 9.19-22. The duty of any spiritual teacher is to lead the seeker to God, to find one’s own source of inner light and strength and thus not to lean on outside human beings. A self-actualized individual who is quite competent does help the learner: one shows the way, illuminates problems, untangles knots, dispels confusions, explains meanings, and encourages effort. Tutelage has its place. One who directs anyone’s wakening spiritual faith that person’s teacher. If one guides us to notice hitherto unobserved truths, if one lead our thought and faith away from hitherto strongly held errors, then a teacher fulfills a useful function. #RandolphHarris 12 of 25
A teacher’s services include the unveiling and exposing of psychic or mystic experiences which are merely self-suggested or mainly hallucinatory. One cannot do more than help them find and fulfill their own ways to the goal, but it is enough. A teacher has to be firm at some times, gentle at others. “And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth: for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away; and there was no more sea…And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations,” reports Revelations 21.1, 22.1-2. Each year when Good Friday and Easter Sunday approach us our thoughts turn toward the great drama of redemption, culminating in the pictures of the Cross and Resurrection. Who is redeemed? Some humans alone; or humankind, including all nations; or the World, everything that is created, including nature, the stars and the clouds, the winds and the oceans, the stones and the plants, the animals and our own bodies? The Bible speaks again and again of the salvation of the World, as it speaks of the creation of the World, and the subjection of the World to anti-Divine forces. And World means nature as well as humans. #RandolphHarris 13 of 25
So let us ask today: what does nature mean to us? What does it mean to itself? What does it mean to the great drama of creation and salvation? A threefold answer is contained in the words of the psalmist, the apostle and the prophet: the psalmist sings of the glory of nature; the apostle shows the tragedy of nature: and the prophet pronounces the salvation of nature. The hymn of the psalmist praises the glory of God in the glory of nature; the letter of the apostle links the tragedy of nature to the tragedy of humans; and the vision of the prophet sees the salvation of nature in the salvation of the World. So let us listen once more to the words of the psalmist, about the glory of nature, in their precise meaning. “The Heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament shows the work of his hands. Day unto day pour forth the story, night unto night announces the knowledge. There is no speech, no language! Their voice cannot be heard! However, their music goes out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World.” The 19th Psalm points to an antique belief held by the ancient World and expressed by poets and philosophers: that the Heavenly bodies, the Sun and the Moon and the Stars, produce by their movement a harmony of tines, sounding day and night from one end of the World to the other. #RandolphHarris 14 of 25
These voices of the Universe are not heard by human ears; they do not speak in human language. However, they exist, and we can perceive them through the organs of our spirit. Shakespeare says: “There is not the smallest orb which thou beholds, but in his motion like an angel sings, such harmony is in immortal souls; but whilst this muddy vesture of decay does grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.” The psalmist has heard it; he knows that the stars are sounding: the glory of creation and its Divine Ground. Are we able to perceive the hidden voice of nature? Does nature speak to us? Does it speak to you? Or has nature become silent to us, silent to the humans of our period? Some of you may say, “Never before in any period has nature been so open to humans as it is today. The mysteries of the past have become the knowledge of children. Through every scientific book, through every laboratory, through every machine, nature speaks to us. The technical use of nature is the revelation of its mystery.” The voice of nature has been heard by the scientific mind, and the answer is the conquest of nature. However, is this all that nature says to us? If one only arouses the human to recognition of the necessity of taking a new road, a spiritual guide’s duty to an erring human will not be fully carried out. It will not be enough to show one the path. One must also keep them steadfast on the path. #RandolphHarris 15 of 25
I was sitting under a tree with a great biologist. Suddenly he exclaimed, “I would like to know something about this tree!” He, of course, knew everything that science had to say about it. I asked him what he meant. And he answered, “I want to know what this tree means for itself. I want to understand the life of this tree. It is so strange, so unapproachable.” He longed for a sympathetic understanding of the life of nature. However, such an understanding is possible only by communion between human and nature. Is such communion possible in our period of history? Is nature not completely subjected to the will and willfulness of humans? This technical civilization, the pride of humankind, has brought about a tremendous devastation of original nature, of the land, of animals, of plants. It has kept genuine nature in small reservations and has occupied everything for domination and ruthless exploitation. And worse: many of us have lost the ability to live with nature. We fill it with the noise of empty talk, instead of listening to its many voices, and, through them, to the voiceless music of the Universe. Separated from the soil by a machine, we speed through nature, catching glimpses of it, but never comprehending its greatness or feelings it power. Who is still able t penetrate, meditating and contemplating, the creative ground of nature? #RandolphHarris 16 of 25
A Chinese emperor asked a famous painter to paint a picture of a rooster for him. The painter assented, but said that it would take a long time. After a year the emperor reminded him of his promise. The painter replied that after a year of studying the rooster he had just begun to perceive the surface of its nature. After another year the artist asserted that he had just begun to penetrate the essence of this kind of life. And so on, year after year. Finally, after ten years of concentration on the nature of the rooster, he painted the picture—a work described as an inexhaustible revelation of the divine group of the Universe in one small part of it, a rooster. Compare the emperor’s wise patience and the painter’s saintly contemplation of an infinitely small expression of the divine life, with the exuberances of our contemporaries, who rush in their cars to some famous view and exclaim, “How lovely!”—referring, no doubt, not to the view, but to their own appreciation of beauty. What blasphemy of the glory of nature! and consequently of the divine ground, the glory of which sounds through the glory of nature. Praising the glory of nature does not mean speaking of the beauty of nature alone and forgetting its overwhelming greatness and terrible power. Nature never manifest shallow beauty or merely obvious harmony. #RandolphHarris 17 of 25
We must try to conform to the humanity, intuition, sensitivity, and the intelligence needed to understand the message from the Universe. One who teachers well, learns oneself. Many of the historical statues in American are representations for hopes of a greater time. The welcoming of the second coming of Christ. Some of these monuments are universally admired and accepted by all people of all nations as the symbol of FREEDOM, and many of these relics evokes a profound veneration and strike a responsive chord from all liberty-loving people everywhere. To make these statues of these great characters and to erect in them that part of the country which gave them their early development and growth into public life is an honour. Human spirit finds its expression through a particular individual, likewise a spirit in finding its self-expression in permanent materials of bronze or stone and deserves to be focalized and located so that they may have a place and standing in our World. When life sinks to a low, these monuments constantly fed the human spirit with hope and promise. The closer the arts bring us to our souls’ ideal the more worthy are they to their exalted mission. These statues bring us in contact with the harmonies of nature, awakening responsive echoes in our innermost souls. #RandolphHarris 18 of 25
This art, these wizard-like creations, revives he ashes of the past, makes us appreciate how far we have some, so we never forget our roots. If we destroy our history, we will forget our past and are doomed to recreate the same mistakes. We have a new wave of immigrants who know nothing about our culture, and these monuments serve as reminders that we must never repeat slavery, genocide, nor economic oppression. They stand for the freedom of this nation and are part of its founding. Without these markers, Americans will lose their way. For instance, no one can find reference to the Prison’s of the River in Sacramento. The only place I found it recorded was on a fading, plastic plague in Sacramento. It was a reference to the Witch Trials that took place in this city in the mid-1800s. The LaGrange served as Sacramento’s jail until November 1859 when it sank in a week-long storm, killing 449 people. There were more than 950 suspected witches and Jewish refugees on board. In February of 1986, archaeologist located what is believed to be wreckage of LaGrange, which was imprisoned by the rip-rap and must, just south of the “I” Street Bridge. Now, it would be nice to have a monument to remember these people and their sacrifice. #RandolphHarris 19 of 25
Certain teachers develop an unhealthy lust for power, imposing their personal will on hapless disciples. The teacher whose motives get mixed up, whose desire to help and serve others twins around one’s desire to gain money, prestige, influence, or power is one who begins to teach before one is ready to do so. Both one and one’s disciples will have to pay the price for one’s premature activities. It is better to have no teacher at all than to have one who has psychologized oneself into the delusion that one has reached the God-realized state, who mistakes self-deception for self-realization. The Saints become the sons and daughters of Christ through faith—they are then called by the name of Christ—King Benjamin exhorts them to be steadfast and immovable in good works. About 124 Before Christ. “And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin has thus spoken to this people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them. And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou has spoken unto us; and also, we know their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. #RandolphHarris 20 of 25
“And we, ourselves, also, though the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. And it is the faith which we have had on things which our kind has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy. And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the Angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God. And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant. And now, because of the covenant which ye shave made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he has spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. #RandolphHarris 21 of 25
“There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come to pass that whosoever does this shall be found at the right hand of God, for one shall know he name by which one is called; for one shall be called by the name of Christ. And now it shall come to past, that whosoever shall not take upon one the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, one finds oneself on the left hand of God. And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not be blotted out of your hearts. I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which God shall call you. For how knows a human the master who one has not served, and who is a stranger unto one, and is far from the thoughts and intents of one’s heart? And again, does a human take a mule which belongs to one’s neighbour, and keep him or her? #RandolphHarris 22 of 25
“I say unto you, Nay; one will not even suffer that one shall feed among one’s flocks, but will drive one away, and cast one out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called. Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, hat you may be brought to Heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of one who created all things, in Heaven and in Earth, who is God above all. Amen,” reports Mosiah 5.1-15. Up to a certain point it is good for us to know that there are people in the World who will give us love and unquestioned loyalty to limit of their ability. I doubt, however, if it is good for us to feel assured of this without the accompanying obligation of having to justify this devotion by our behaviour. And the important thing was that you never let down doing the best that you were able to do—it might be poor because you might not have very much within you to give, or to help people with, or to live your life with. However, as long as you did the very best that you were able to do, then that was what you were put here to do and that was what you were accomplishing by being here. #RandolphHarris 23 of 25
O my Lord, please forgive me for serving Thee in sinful ways—by glorying in my own strength, by forcing myself to minister through necessity, by accepting the applause of others, by trusting in assumed grace and spiritual affection, by a faith that rests upon my hold on Christ, not on Him along, by having another foundation to stand upon besides Thee; for thus I make flesh my arm. Please help me to see that it is faith stirred by grace that does the deed, that faith brings a human nearer to Thee, raising Him above mere human, that Thou does act upon the soul when thus elevated and lifted out of itself, that faith centres in Thee as God all-sufficient, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, as Go efficient, mediately, as in Thy commands and promises, immediately, in all the hidden power that faith sees and knows to be in Thee, abundantly, with omnipotent effect, in the revelation of Thy will If I have not such faith I am nothing. It is m duty to set Thee above all others in the mind and eye; but it is my sin that I place myself above Thee. Lord, it is the special evil of sin that every breach of Thy laws arises from contempt of Thy Person, from despising Thee and Thy glory, from preferring things before Thee. Please help me to abhor myself in comparison of Thee, and please keep me in a faith that words by love, and serves by grace. #RandolphHarris 24 of 25
I give Thee thanks, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God, Who hast refreshed me with the most holy Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and I pray that this Sacrament of our salvation, which I, unworthy sinner have received, may not turn to my judgment nor condemnation, according to my deserts, but to the profit of my body and soul, unto life eternal. Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty and everlasting God, please be merciful to my sins through my reception of Thy Body and Blood. For Thou has said, “He that Eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood dwells in Me, and I in One.” Therefore I humbly beseech Thee to create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, and strength me with Thy free Spirit, and cleanse me from all vices and the crafts of the devil, that I may attain to the partaking of Heavenly joys; Who lives and reigns in God. The person who constantly tries to make other persons over into a copy of oneself, who tries to change their living habits or thinking-ways into the same as one’s own, who seeks zealously to proselytize their religious beliefs, is too often merely asserting one’s own ego and practising a subtler, more self-deceptive form of egotism. If one really felt love for them, as one often professes, one would leave their freedom to choose what suit them, not thrust oneself and one’s own beliefs aggressively upon them. #RandolphHarris 25 of 25
BRIGHTON STATION AT CRESLEIGH RANCH
Rancho Cordova, CA |
Now Selling!
Brighton Station at Cresleigh Ranch is Rancho Cordova’s newest home community! This charming neighborhood offers an array of home types with eye catching architecture styles such as Mid-Century Modern, California Modern, Prairie, and Contemporary Farmhouse.
Located off Douglas Road and Rancho Cordova Parkway, the residents of Cresleigh Ranch will enjoy, being just minutes from shopping, dining, and entertainment, and quick access to Highway 50 and Grant Line Road providing a direct route into Folsom. Residents here also benefit from no HOA fees, two community parks and the benefits of being a part of the highly-rated Elk Grove Unified School District.
Best of all, each Cresleigh home comes fully equipped with an “All-Ready” connected home! This smart home package comes included with your home and features great tools including: video door bell and digital deadbolt for the front door, connect home hub so you can set scenes and routines to make life just a little easier. Two smart switches and USB outlets are also included, plus we will gift you a Google Home Hub and Google Mini to help connect everything together! https://cresleigh.com/brighton-station/home-site-79/