The Second Coming

For two thousand years, Christians have been waiting for the second coming of Christ. Predictions of the day have come and gone countless times. People have given away all of their possessions and eagerly awaited the appearance in magical clouds with angels and trumpets. But, as we know, that has not happened.

Over the years, I have pondered this escatology. It seems more in line with Greek and Roman gods than with the Jesus I know in the Sermon on the Mount.

I have done a lot of study, trying to understand the first century, trying to get back to the original Jesus before speculations from men piled upon him and hardened into dogma - before the fights and intrigue, and sometimes murder and war over theological ideas.

Dr. James Tabor suggests the closest we can come to the historical Jesus is Q (the material in Matthew and Luke and not in Mark), the book of James, and the Didache. These are before the Pauline idea took hold that it was only about his death and resurrection, not about his life and teaching. Q is the Sermon on the Mount and on the Plain, parables, one liners, etc. It is the Jesus that has framed my life.

I have a theory about the second coming, maybe a stretch for you who are "reular" Christians. In Luke Jesus says that you have looked "lo here and lo there" but the Kingdom is within you. I think the second coming is when we open our hearts to the teachings of Jesus, letting them guide our lives, doing our best to be like him, letting the Divine Light of Christ fill us,  lead us, and instruct us. It is when we become followers of The Way, the Sacred Way, so much so that we embody it.

When we say "Marantha" - we really say come into my heart Lord Jesus. 

The Two Ways - The Didache

 Once upon a time, I read of the Didache, and I recently decided to download a copy so I could read it. What is it you might ask? It is basically a first-century instruction manual for new Christians, mentioned in ancient writings, but no copy was extant in modern times. That is, until 1873 when a copy was discovered in the library of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople. It generated a lot of excitement in scholars, theologians, and lay people alike. It was written as early as 50 CE! It bridged a gap of silence between then and the early writers, often called church fathers, in the middle and late second century and on.

This morning, I decided to open it and begin reading. The beginning chapters are about the two ways - The Way of Life vs The Way of Death. There are similarities to the Qumran community writings of the contrast between light and darkness, truth and falsehood.

Flashing before my mind came my Genine vs Impostor values that I have just been sharing on this blog. I thought they were heavily inspired by Aristotle's book on Ethics, but - they also somehow seem directly related to the Didache's Two Ways!

Not that the Didache has a long list, but the lists it has are in harmony with "my" lists, plus two ways are the same concept.

Did I somehow tap into this very early Christian way? Did I read it in the past, and it came up expanded from my subconscious? Did God inspire me to write them to bring the Two Ways to more eyes and hearts?

I don't know the answer, and it feels significant.

If you are interested in all of this, please do download the Didache (pronounced DidaKay) or buy a copy and see what you think.

Ends ---- Beginnings

 Ends lead to beginnings - no rewinds - you can't go home again. As 2025 comes to an end, but maybe not a conclusion, our minds naturally turn to 2026.

We will no longer write 2025 on checks and forms, as it is officially ending. However, we may drag some of it along with us to continue to wrestle with gnarly issues not yet resolved. We do best to not use that to halt or slow our new beginnings.

We cannot change the past. We can change how we view and interpret it. Maybe we shift to see everything and everyone as our teachers, and review what we have learned as a result of what did or did not happen. Maybe we need to make some amends. Maybe we need to do some forgiveness work. We need to do what is necessary so that we do not carry on negative things and feelings into our opportunity for new beginnings. We need to get out of our own way.

For some of us, 2025 has been the biggest year of pain and sorrow of our lives. I understand. It certainly was for me, as you know if you read my posts particularly from April on for secveral months. BUT, the questions I have to ask myself lead me forward. It's not going on now; he's not here to hurt me anymore, so  do I hurt myself on his behalf? Do I carry on his dastardly work and keep myself in pain over what cannot be undone? Do I have the courage to turn and face a new beginning, the blank slate of 2026?

Since I am still here on earth, I believe that I can assume there is more for me to do here. As has been said, today is the first day of the rest of my life. 

I urge you to think about these things in relation to your life and step bravely into new beginnings. Let's make 2026 a magnificent year.

Christmas Greetings

 It was said - Tidings of peace and great joy.

I think for peace to break out in our hearts and spread across the world would honor this season more than anything. The birth of Jesus brought wisom and light - which humanity has mostly ignored.

He called for God's Kingdom on earth. We can partner with that dream/vision and help it come true. A few shifts in our attitudes and behaviors, and we're there.

Join me in prayer today for peace to break out.

Day 46 - Conclusion of Values Program - or Maybe the Beginning

 Congratulations! All 40 sets of Genuine and Impostor Values are now up on my blog, and if you have been going through them with me, you have a lot to think about.

Once you feel led to your most important key values, I urge you to spend time strengthening, exploring, and living them to the fullest. Somehow, the remaining values seem to be included in their own way in the 7, no mattter which 7 you chose, or maybe chose you. 

For example: if wisdom is one of your 7, wisdom includes peacefulness, learning, integrity, etc. Otherwise, how can it be wisdom?

By more and more of us living up to our highest inner rules (values are the inner rules by which we run our lives), together we can create a fantastic life and world. Please encourage others to consider these 40, to read them and interact with them, leading to clarity and empowerment.

As we look out upon our world, it is clear that many are living with the Impostor Values as their inner rules. Many are unaware they are doing so or that there is a choice.

I want to share an example from my life that is an important lesson. 

The only A+ I ever got in Physical Education was in archery in college. I learned that when I missed the bullseye, I just had to re-aim and try again. Eventually, I could hit it consistently. I have come to realize that in life, many do not have a high target, so they are all over the place. A pilot once told me that if he were flying just 1' off course and did not correct his course, he would end up in another part of the world from the one where he was supposed to be. Don't let that be the story of your life.

If you select your 7 as your target, you can tell when you are off the mark, readjust yourself, and try again. Keep refining yourself until you consistently live your values. I guarantee you that it is worth the time, attention, and effort. You are worth it.

God loves you and so do I.

Day 45 - Wisdom - Folly

 Wisdom           (Goal Number:         )             Folly

clear thinking, keen, good sense, comprehension                             foolish, dull, frivolous, drivel, weak

AWAKE TO THE GENUINE VALUE:

Wisdom is essential to you and how you operate in life. You study wise people of history and see the patterns of wisdom. Clear thinking is what you are known for, and expect it and ask it of others. You have a keen mind that leads you to have good sense, common sense, and exceptional sense. You can see big and little patterns and comprehend meaning. You are something of a sage, so others look to you for wise words. Your conversations are almost always about ideas.

 PARTIALLY ASLEEP TO THE GENUINE VALUE: 

Sometimes you are a fuzzy thinker. Your common sense falters far too often. It is not part of your repertoire to look for patterns unless they are obvious. You comprehend simple ideas, but you do not stretch your mind often to do deep and profound thinking. You stay on the surface of most issues. You engage in gossip, talking about others far too often.

LIVING IN THE IMPOSTOR VALUE:

You cannot even count the number of times you have been foolish. You tend to be thought of as dull. Because of your dearth of wisdom, you can be frivolous. Your conversations usually are drivel; in fact, you tend to talk about other people. You don’t really discuss ideas because you have not sought wisdom in order to have something meaningful to say, plus you enjoy gossip.

Look at your life. Which is the most true for you?   ____ 1   _____ 2  _____ 3

What to do:

DECISION

Choose. Which do you want for yourself and your world? Which way would you like life to be?

FOCUSING YOUR MIND

Going for the target you have chosen

To shift in the direction of wisdom, select some or all of the following and copy them in order to have them with you. Live with them. Think about them. Absorb them.

·  I can clearly see that the great positive people throughout history have shown wisdom. I want to follow in those footsteps.

·  I am ready to practice clear thinking.

·  I see the value of wisdom.

·  I choose to develop wisdom.

·  I let go of the foolish.

·  I cease all gossip and drivel in my conversations.

REINFORCING BEHAVIORS

Action steps to take to get off the log

·  Read some things written by ancient wise ones from another time and place, such as Plato, Epictetus, or Aristotle, and read some early American leaders like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, or Thomas Paine. Notice the mental rigor and clarity the wise exhibit.

·  Read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as told in Matthew 5,6, & 7. What would the world be like if everyone read this and did as he suggested, practicing his wisdom? Consider the wisdom in his words.

·  Join a debate club and practice clear thinking.

·   Join Toastmasters and practice clear thinking that leads to clear speaking.

·  If you catch yourself doing something foolish, engaging in gossip, or not having a wise word to say in a conversation, think about what just happened. What can you do in the future to do better?

Remember Wisdom

Day 44 - Virtue - Vice

 Virtue  (Goal Number:         )                                     Vice

goodness, purity, spotlessness, innocent                                                            weakness, fault, wickedness, degradation

 AWAKE TO THE GENUINE VALUE:

You live not in self-righteous pseudo-virtue, but the virtue of a person who simply lives in harmony with God, expressing a good and pure nature. As much as humanly possible, you live a spotless life. You are an innocent person, innocent of wrongdoing, for you live an ethical life. You are considered to be a moral and upright person.

 

 PARTIALLY ASLEEP TO THE GENUINE VALUE: 

You occasionally slip from a fully ethical life. You are mostly a good person with a good nature, but you can have your negative times. It is unlikely that the idea of living a spotless life has ever occurred to you. You are considered to be an okay person.

 

LIVING IN THE IMPOSTOR VALUE:

You have not exercised your spiritual muscle so you are not all that ethical. You can be quite weak, giving in to temptations. You have a loose relationship with the truth and standards of morality. You may be in a group that considers dark and wicked things as fun or at least acceptable. You have fallen into a degraded kijnd of life.

 

Look at your life. Which is the most true for you?   ____ 1   _____ 2  _____ 3

 

What to do:

DECISION

Choose. Which do you want for yourself and your world? Which way would you like life to be?

 

FOCUSING YOUR MIND

Going for the target you have chosen

To shift in the direction of virtue, select some or all of the following and copy them in order to have them with you. Live with them. Think about them. Absorb them.

·     It feels good to take the high road.

·     Goodness and mercy fill me.

·     I am clear on my standards, and I live up to them.

·     It is important to me to live an ethical life.

·     I do as much good as I can every single day.

REINFORCING BEHAVIORS

Action steps to take to get off the log

·    Select at least one of the 40 Genuine Values today to apply to your life, especially the one you think is the weakest link in your life. Ask yourself what you can do to strengthen it in your life. Notice when you are weak in regard to it, and affirm you are strong and rooted in it. Practice living it consciously today.

·       Pick one or more acts of kindness to do each day. It is especially powerful to do at least some anonymously so that you do not expect to receive praise and thanks. It is powerful to do kindness outside of the constraints of ego.

·       Anything you have done for which you are not proud, make amends wherever possible. Give and receive forgiveness once you have done all you can to make it right.

·       Become aware of how it feels inside of yourself when you are ethical, kind, and doing good work. Notice how the opposite feels or has felt. Choose to feel good by doing good.

Remember Virue