Begin by taking a skeptical attitude …

We should be constantly asking ourselves: “Is my spiritual consciousness any different now than it was a month ago or six months ago? Is it stronger, is it expanding, is it greater?” If my spiritual consciousness does not equal that of Jesus, then I have room to grow and should be struggling toward it.

Complacency is a rejection of the growth, of the necessary growth, required if we are to be spiritual human beings. Only one form of spirituality gives life: growth. Everything else leads backwards into the darkness of the pit.

Am I sharing to a ridiculous degree?

That is, do I draw a line in my generosity and say “This far, and no further” when I really -do- have the ability to go considerably further? Or, do I share with an open palm from the depths of the spiritual and physical gifts that have been placed under my stewardship? Yes, it is only a stewardship … these things do not ‘belong’ to us in any lasting sense.

When we enter death, we leave behind our light. Some was already conveyed to others; some returns to Jehovah. Similarly, we leave behind our material goods … those portions not distributed in life will be distributed in death.

We are, then, but stewards during the terms of our lives. Will we act with wisdom?

To find fault in others is to awaken the darkness within ourselves. We must force ourselves to seek the good in others so as to keep the light within ourselves at its fullest volume.

Here’s a game you can play. Every time you find a fault in others, find one in yourself — the same one if you can; one like it if you can’t.

You won’t continue this exercise even a full day.

I’ve liked Linux for a number of years and used it off and on. Always there seemed to be something or other that was just easier to do in Windows that I simply had to do. So I would return to Windows, dragging my feet and shuffling. But, I would return.

As of Ubuntu 10.04, that’s over. continue reading…

It is easy for us to fall into the trap of being satisfied with our spiritual growth, with the work we are doing, with what we are accomplishing. Beware lest this trap close over you. We need to keep in mind the awareness that there is nothing of spiritual importance that we, unaided, can accomplish.

Nothing.

But we can call upon Jehovah, acknowledge our powerlessness and beg Him to do it. If we are earnest in our entreaties, and pay attention to the unfolding of events, we are likely to witness miracles. Are these deep and mystical truths? Perhaps. But if deep mysticism confounds you, they are also to be found in the first three of the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This spiritual life is not about hidden wisdom, incense, knowing looks, titles or secret handshakes; it’s about aligning our lives, in very practical ways, with the expressed will of God. He has given us the power to begin and will give us both the strength and the courage to continue if we will but ask him and then accept the help when it comes, whatever clothes it may be wearing.

Many times when we are busy with our own feelings, being upset or sad about something or someone – when we are lost in all this stupidity and silliness – we lose sight of the miraculous process that is occurring in the bigger picture.

The purposes of Jehovah are barreling right along, unperturbed, undaunted, turning neither this way nor that. Despite the uncounted mis-steps of mankind, what God purposed for mankind and the earth in the Garden is still unfolding and we are an integral part of that.

Even as we are forced to concede that “There is nothing that I can do, this situation is beyond my control” we can also embrace the thought “therefore, I put my complete certainty and trust in Jehovah.”

Whatever we think of ourselves is the light that we will manifest. This is not an exhortation to ego, but the humble recognition that we are spiritual people empowered both to receive light for ourselves and to serve as its conduit for others. Jesus said both that he was the light of the world (John 8:12) and that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). He is the example for us, leading the way. We are the example for others (1 Timothy 4:16) again, leading the way until they can, in turn, lead others. The unbroken chain stretches back at least to Abraham.

If we have negative feelings about ourselves, we block that light.

Do we deserve this light, this life that we so deeply enjoy?

No. It is a priceless gift, far beyond our ability to earn or even to appreciate fully. No matter how carefully we fanned the first spark of this spiritual life that came our way, that first spark was a gift. But it is ours nonetheless.

Our negativity can act like a photographic filter, blocking some of the light, more of the light or even all of it. Are you convinced that Jehovah has permitted you to serve him? Good, let His light shine through you in accordance with the depth of that conviction. Keep in mind that you are the lense, not the light. Some of the light passing through a lense is scattered and illuminates the lense, as well. That light is yours to enjoy.

I do not have the ability to preach or teach: God does. What I have the ability to do is to put myself at his disposal. (HaShem sefatai tiftach – God, open up my mouth so that whatever I say will be of You) This is the humility that allows the light of God to flow unhindered through us. We want it to apply to ALL of our speech, even the mundane such as giving directions or asking a price. There can be this awareness of allowing ourselves to be used, constantly, as a channel for the Divine that exalts us mightily in the here and now. Other men may not notice it (though frequently they will), but the Almighty most certainly will. And we, ourselves, will sense the Divine within us and be bouyed along in our days.

We cannot hope to teach others if we are not constantly teaching ourselves. This takes us back to the struggle that is spiritual consciousness. How can we speak from the heart if we have not learned from the heart and how can we learn from the heart without straining to carry a heavier load than ever before? A muscle, lightly exercised, does not grow. So it goes for our spiritual selves.

We should be constantly asking ourselves: “Is my spiritual consciousness any different now than it was a month ago or six months ago? Is it stronger, is it expanding, is it greater?” If my spiritual consciousness does not at least equal that of Jesus, then I have room to grow and should be struggling toward it.

Not just slogging along, content to go with the flow of the crowd. Pushing myself to grow in every spiritual direction at once. We will be judged individually … and the vast majority of ‘the crowd’ will be judged adversely. (Read 1 Timothy 4:14,15 … likely it isn’t the scripture you would expect me to cite.)

So, it’s really important not allow ourselves to be carried along with the crowd.

Complacency is a rejection of the growth, of the necessary growth, required if we are to be spiritual human beings. Only one form of spirituality gives life: growth. Everything else leads backwards into the darkness of the pit.



I am a writer. I can no more abandon writing than you can abandon breathing. There are some I wish would abandon breathing and there are even more who wish that I would abandon writing … possibly by ceasing to breathe. I don’t expect the ‘breathers’ to acquiesce and I am definitely sick and tired of them trying to force me to abandon writing.

This blog is a ‘test bed’ of writing for me. It contains snippets, starts, practice pieces, outlines, topic lists and so on.

One thing you DO NOT want to do is take anything you see here (too) seriously.

If what you read here amuses you, fine … chuckle, giggle, belly-laugh until your heart is fully content and over-flowing with riotous mirth. If what you read here makes you think, ponder, meditate, cogitate or any combination of the foregoing, that is even better; but this blog is basically a place for me to “think in print”. As you’ll come to realize, sometimes my thinking runs deep, sometimes shallow. Every once in a while it will swirl around in a stagnant pool looking for an answer but never finding an exit. That’s okay, few and far between are those whose thoughts do not sometimes get stuck. When we look candidly within ourselves, issues such as honesty, violence, greed, lust, fidelity, hope, faith and so on shrug off the easy answer and demand more compelling evidence prior to conviction. If we cannot see our way clear to that more compelling place, we can never find the exit of conviction and certitude that marks life-giving water.

On the other hand, if my writing doesn’t suit you, get out. Go away. Far away. Scrape this place from the bottom of your shoe and continue on your journey. I am NOT interested in negative, character assassinating, libelous, comments.

If I receive them, I will block them from publication and take immediate legal action to determine your true identity in an undeniable way. I’ve never done this before: but you are being put on notice that a line in the sand has been drawn and I will not back away from it.

After your true identity has been determined, I will have my attorney eat you alive and then crush your bones to suck their marrow.

Wait a minute … that sounds really aggressive. It’s not that way at all. Multiple times over the past 4 years I’ve been libeled in real life and various people have masked the identity of my spineless accuser(s). I’m just taking steps to insure that my wife and I are never put through that again. Not, at least, for free. I do have an attorney. I will sue. But I made up the part about the marrow sucking.

However, I meant the part about eating you alive.