The Quest For Eden

"Name it and claim it." "These are the 'BE' attitudes." "Seek first His kingdom... and you will be 'blessed.'" "Everything happens for a reason."   No.   Church leaders and their followers have clung to a transactional function of our relationship to God and how the universe "works;" or even how "attaining heaven" works. No. I do not believe Jesus was teaching how to "attain" or "obtain" anything. I believe He was teaching how to make the world full of blessings; or even how to see that they are already there. He was teaching that we all share struggles, but together, in Love, we share heaven here and now.   Don't equate good fortune with blessings. Blessings are the bonds we share.

  There are throngs of people in the U.S.A. who accuse those like me of "living in fear." It is suggested that we "live in fear" because we Stayed home when directed. Wore a mask when suggested. Got a vaccine when they became available. Regularly get vaccinated against a variety of ills. Regularly follow recommendations from doctors and medical institutions. Avoided crowds, groups, and people in general when government agencies said disease was rampant. and on and on.... I find that the folks who claim I "live in fear" often seem to cling to a religious belief that God is also to be feared.  Always. The God they fear  insists on specific rituals.  insists that no one was created good. insists that we should constantly judge the actions of ourselves and others. insists that we should "speak out in love" against the "sins" of those around us. insists that there is only one version of religion that knows this God. This is not the God I kno

What was Jesus' Gospel? Did He preach about the need to shed a sinful nature? Did He preach that mankind was condemned to suffer eternity in Hell unless they said just the right penance? Did He single out the varied other faiths of the Mediterranean Region and cite why each was destined to lead to Hell? Did He condemn the lifestyles of the lascivious Romans and their sexual promiscuity? Nope. He pointed a finger at all those who would condemn a "woman caught in adultery" and condemned their hateful spirit. He pointed a finger at all those who would claim to be greater and called them lesser. He pointed at the religious leaders and called them vipers. His Gospel was Love. After He died, He still came back one more time to instruct His followers to take THAT gospel to the world. The Gospel He preached was that there never was condemnation. He said it Himself. He was doing as His Father is doing - not condemning, but loving, healing, and asking everyone to do the same.  His