Bread and Wine

The wine  is the wine of divine wisdom. The bread is the bread of life: these nourish the soul and enlighten the mind of the spiritual body.   --- Origin

 First, concerning the cup. We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine, David thy Son, which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus Christ thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.And concerning the broken bread. We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.  -- The Didache

 We see from early teachings a different view of the Eucharist than is common later on.  

It makes more sense, particularly when we consider the Jewish understanding of blood, for example, having to be drained from an animal before cooking it.  The idea of drinking blood and eating flesh would have been abhorrent. It still is abhorrent. 

I think the early ideas above would make the experience more meaningful. 

Knwing God Is Not Just a Mystical Event

My love of the mystics and my own mystical experiences are something I cherish. And, knowing God can be practical as well.

Yesterday I decided to wear to church the pearl ring L.B. gave me our first Christmas so long ago. I tell the story in my book I hope to publish soon. He was the father of our children and a great love. He had an aneuyrism in his brain Christmas 1976 and died on New Year's Day 1977. This ring was all I had left from him because of Gilbert's disasters (see entries starting in April, 2025)

I stopped at the car wash and a grocery store after church. I was putting away the groceries and realized the ring was not on my finger. I panicked. I looked everywhere I had been in the apartment and in the trash and recycle bag, retraced my steps, and thorouhly checked my car. Then I texted several people to see if they had seen it at a church, called the car wash and grocery store. 

I cried deep grief. I had lost so much.  Not this precious reminder of love too, please God NO. I prayed and prayed - God You know where it is. Lead me to it, bring it to me.

Finally, I went to bed after 11, so exhausted I couldn't even pray anymore. I woke up praying, and I had an irresistible urge to look in the recycling in the kitchen, even though I had gone through it yesterday. Nothing. Then I saw the crumpled-up plastic bag that friends at church had given me, filled with their homegrown lemons. I had looked in it too yesterday, but I now had a strong, strong urge to do so again. I looked and saw nothing. I ran my hand through it and felt a lump under the fold in the corner. I turned it out, and there was my ring!

Yes, God, I was almost hysterical yesterday, even though I prayed. You just showed me, again, that You are here with me in large and small moments. Thank You, Thank You!!!!! 

If I had focused on that Truth, I could have saved myself a pile of emotional turmoil. But, it did show me how raw I still am over all of the losses due to Gilbert. There is definitely more healing to do. Scratch the surface, and tears lurk there.

Dear and Wondrous God, my heart is overflowing in joy and gratitude for the return of my pearl ring from L.B. What a powerful lesson, and what a powerful reminder of the need for more healing.

I ask that You guide me to find the way out of this valley of darkness and grief. Help me release Gilbert fully to You. Help me to release my treasures so that the pain is neutralized. I am thankful that I once had them, and I do miss them so. I realize I shall never have them physically again as they are scattered to the winds via the auctions. Please grant me peace.

I am incredibly thankful to know You hear my prayer and are always with me. I give thanks in advance for my healing.

I release this all to You as I seal it with the ancient seal of faith and integrity, Amen, Amen and Amen.

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.