Bradly aka/fanofVan

Bravo All!! Wonderful. Scott - I too seek the "group wisdom" of others in both the religious and secular worlds which I differentiate from the "majority view"...the group is not often aware of its own wisdom. The group dynamic effect is fascinating....take any group in relationship and then add and subtract new members and watch the dynamic change. Seek the leadership which appears...also in rotation. This dynamic relationship is illustrative of ever larger groups....right up to the planetary. I think our discernment is always challenged and our choices always unique when we become thusly aware. What I mean is that as the definition of insanity is giving the same response (wrong) to the same choice over and over, that when we "learn" the lesson and move forward progressively, that we will learn that each choice is also within a different circumstance and with different persons and is thusly always found within a new dynamic for us to discern how to "approach" each the same but not that the response choice is always the same to the mature mind. Jesus gave a different response in many similar situations and gave truth differently to each....even his parables and lessons for the large group audience was masterfully given to appeal to each set of "ears". We have much to learn as tadpoles. But believers learn in confidence and we do not fear our errors. And we seek out diverse situations, experiences, and minds to test our perspective and to enlarge it by the experience and wisdom of other minds. Prejudice is the death of progress except by consequential brutalities which change our prejudice. What Scott describes is the concious destruction or demolition or deconstruction of prejudice....which opens the mind to learning and growing. We must learn when and how to assert self for the benefit of another or all others but without the self as the object or even the source of our contributions....then we are in spirit assertion and not self assertion or ego gratification in our offerings in the dynamic at hand....personal or group. Thanks to all. Such a lovely group dynamic here....and so much group wisdom to learn from.

Brother Pike and Friends - to discern there is a problem is half the solution as they say!! Many primitives still think life is a series of good and bad luck events or personal blessings or curses....what a pity. The problems in life - the viccisitudes - ARE the purpose of life. To "learn" to discover opportunity, to see the response result and then to adapt or correct or at least change our response for a different outcome is why time, choice, and reason are given to us. Problem solving brings mind into focus. Once able to discern, we are challenged to find the superior from the inferior....and then to know the difference between patience and procrastination - timing is everything for effect....ask any comic, field commander, parent....or revelator!! I am reminded of an old Chinese proverb that someone else first posted here or truthbook: A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, still recovering from his injury. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”

Bonita, to clarify - I think the quote does not say "evil gravity" but that evil is gravity resisting....a drag or weight interfering with the force of spirit gravity. And I agree with all that evil includes the mind poisens...anxiety, fear, impatience, and prejudice are all similar in their resistance to the pull of the spirit.

The moment I read of the midwayers and the rebel midwayers, my mind flashed AH HA!! I'm Gaelic and my wife is Norse (if you go back far enough in multiple family lines) and our traditions abound with the faere folk. The king of the elves in norse fables is Van. And these midway creatures are just that in folklore. These are ancient traditions or fables to be sure. But it was only 2000 years ago the mischief making rebels no longer walked among us. To be sprited is to become lost by following such a mischief maker into the wood.

So I am pompous and self aggrandizing? That would be a pity if true. Words mean things Howard and one must presume the writer intends their meaning when written. I seek only to understand and clarify your obfuscation.

Howard - The Revelation was not written by divinely inspired mortals but by celestials themselves in the first 3 parts (Part IV is authored by the midwayer commission as I recall). None of the authors were inspired either but witness and participant and/or as instructed and informed by those who were. Inspired writing comes through the mortal mind to be influenced and distorted by the experience, memories, symbols, etc. within mortal mind. In other words what the mind thusly receives is often more inspired than what that mind then communicates in writing or voice or picture, etc. There are many wonderful works that are inspired and we are to be inspired and aspire truth, beauty, and goodness. The UB purports to contain over 1000 of humankind's greatest achievements in such inspirations. But herein lies the difference between personal revelation and epochal revelation. The epochal speaks to all and is for the all but is learned and experienced by the each as must personal revelation be so as well. But the epochal does not come through a mortal's mind making the message/revelation clearer. Still constrained by language to be sure but without the distortions and incompleteness and inexperience and ignorance inherent in any mortal mind. You may believe what you will Friend. But those who believe the Revelation is a revelation do not believe it is inspired....or written by or through an inspired mortal mind in any regard, piece, or parcel. Peace.

Hey JR....good stuff. It is my understanding there is another interpretation to the scripture you posted that is even more interesting to UBers.....that creation process involves ascenders too in the eternities of the outer universes....that we have such destiny as believers. Another of my favorites is we all go to heaven (albeit one of three levels) and while Mormons are chosen for and can attain the highest heaven, the rest of the world is not condemned. Both pretty unusual beliefs for christians anyway (and yes Mormons are christian IMO). I have always surmised that Joe was given vision to see or get a peek of Heaven like John and Paul. And this personal revelation inspired Joe's words. There was a great deal of heady and exciting religious outpouring of the spirit in Joe's time, especially in New York it seems but elsewhere, individualism and expressionism of religious revelations seemed to be growing up and dropping seed in fertile soil. Mormons are taught they have the same circuitry as Joe and all the apostles to follow and the same obligation to Father to stand on holy ground and speak with the voice of truth for themselves. Personally, I always enjoyed Joe's writing as more engaging and illuminating than the Book of Mormon, which he did not write or claim as revelation at all.....it was a translation of the plates.

Lot of hats flying into this ring....might as well toss mine. I will not criticize or dispute any other's perspective....and think group wisdom is greater than mine (at least). Pike - I know you registered at the new site. This costs nothing and we need you and your wisdom and poetry over there....please come. I plan to donate a little for I believe in the work - even if I don't agree full spectrum on every choice and design...it is an evolutionary work in progress. The work is greater than ever with more and more newer and newer readers....and we are teachers as well as students with a positive group dynamic....which will change no doubt but the change will be better by the solid core working here. I don't plan to use the networking and links any....or not until I have compelling reasons to.....I'm too busy for all the fooferaw of social media. But the discussion site is the core for now. We should offer a waiver of the $20 upon any request knowing it will only be so requested by those who need it as cost should not preclude participation. And UAI members should be able to offer a seperate donation entitling them/us to participate on multiple levels perhaps.....membership benefits. It would be adviseable for the UAI to post costs, budgets, and money raised by Forum fees for transparency issues.....apparently. I know that UAI is underfunded for the many great works they tackle and support salaries, and they are understaffed with volunteers. I encourage anyone to consider the needs they can discern and lift this boat over the next shoal and the next one to come after. May we exhibit the best of unity and fraternity in this transition. I need you all and so do many others. Thanks to all. May Father bring the light to your face and the wind to your back on this noble path we tread together. Peace.