HELL; THE INCAPACITY TO LOVE

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The Gospel of Thomas reads: ‘‘The disciples said to him, ‘When will the kingdom come?’ Jesus said, It will not come by looking for it. It will not be a matter of saying here it is, or there it is. Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.’’ Koester notes that ‘‘Thomas sees this coming of the kingdom primarily as an event that takes place as the disciples gain a new understanding of themselves.’’

In this respect, the Gnostic view and understanding would be similar to what Jean-Yves LeLoup has written concerning this parallel with saying 113 and Luke. ‘‘ It is a matter not of searching here or there for some special manifestation, but of opening our eyes to what is already before us, here and now and caring for all that is. Yet one place where God is prevented from manifesting is in the heart that is closed to love, the heart that refuses forgiveness and revels in bitterness. Hell is truly the incapacity to love. Another place from which God is banished is the intellect that closes itself off from the light of its source.

SNOW WHITE and The SEVEN DWARFS; and Other True Stories

To start with; some people believe that after his resurrection, Jesus visited a lot of different peoples on this planet and established his church including the Celtic peoples. Some historians have shown that their ceremonies reflect what has been discovered about the rituals the original Christians practiced in and for a while after Christ earthly ministry. When others invaded their lands years later, the true Christian beliefs and rites had either been altered or lost completely and the invaders assumed the Celts (and others of that time period,) were practicing pagan beliefs and ceremonies. Thus the following:

Joseph Neil Fairbanks

I sometimes wonder at the light and knowledge we have lost because of our own intransigience, ignorance and disobedience. I utilize the example of the children's fairy tale of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Clearly a Kabbalic tale, one of the Celtic verities told as a parable to preserve its meaning against the persecutions of the self-righteous and the religiously intolerant, not to mention the wiles of the adversary (Satan). Clearly Kabbalic, you say? Indeed. Snow White, the virgin spirit sent forth from her Father's realm (Heaven) finds herself trapped in the fallen physical world, where she is taught, nurtured by seven dwarfs. Seven Dwarfs, the Seven Spheres below the veil...miners because they dig up truth in this dark and dreary world of Assiah (see the (Kabbalic) tree of Life diagram below). Along comes the serpent, ummm, I mean evil step-mother, and tempts her with the fruit of the tree of the science (knowledge) of good and evil, which she consumes, and in that day "surely" dies ["surely" is an aphorism for "spiritually", the whole statement being "In the day thou partakest thereof, thou shalt surely die." By understanding the aphorism, we resolve the paradox, remove the distortion and see that we do not have to stretch to know that God is not a liar]. Hmmm. I think I have read this story before! So the omniscient father sends forth his true prince to overcome the serpent, and cast it into the abyss, and rescue the virgin called Ziyon. The parallels are so clear as to defy logic in a tale meant to hide the story from the religious inquisitors. Yet I daresay that almost no one considers this tale to be of eternal worth. I do not want to get into a full-blown discussion of philosophy, or literary theory, but some of their modern statements are apropos here. The chief point of most discourse: obfuscation. Jacques Derrida posits it thusly: "A text is not a text unless it hides from the first comer, from the first glance, the laws of its composition and the rules of its game." Jacques Lacan further notes: "One of the prime functions of speech . . . is not to reveal thoughts, but to conceal them, especially from ourselves." (Things should always be read with the Spirit/Holy Ghost)my insertion!

·                     The myth is the foundation of life; it is the timeless schema, the pious formula into which life flows when it reproduces its traits out of the unconscious. Certainly when a writer has acquired the habit of regarding life as mythical and typical there comes a curious heightening of his artistic temper, a new refreshment to his perceiving and shaping powers. --Thomas Mann

Beneath the hierarchy of communication there lies a mythological foundation that antecedes the communication and from which flows its primal, creative energies. Organizations will generally propagate a conscious myth to justify their entrance into the social scene. In addition to the conscious myth there are subconscious myths that usually are not even evident to the founders. It seems to be common that we can see the mythological basis for religious beliefs, and additionally see the utilization of those myths in religious organizations, but for some reason, we have difficulty seeing the same mythological basis for the organization of religion, or for other organizations in society. Adrian Cunningham introduces the subject as a topic which not only occupies a central role in the study of religion but which, especially under the impact of the work of Levi-Strauss, has provided a focus for methodological debate in various sciences, and raised, at least for response, the possibility of a unification of sciences, centered on the study of communication and meaning as the central human fact, rendering problematic many accepted procedures of description, objectivity and explanation.

 
From a definitional standpoint, one finds oneself in a quandary to define myth because of its elusively. Many people subscribe to the notion that myth is simply stories that are not true. Myths are constructs related to the subconscious, the unconscious and the conscious interpretation of society, usually beginning at the body, and its extension into the physical world. In many modern secular and religious circles, myths are seen as having no relationship to reality. Most people find their own myths to be "reality," and those of others to be false. I find myself constrained to accept Claude Levi-Strauss's definition of myth as "consisting of all its versions." ...

UPDATE

Sunday, October 21, 2012
                Jayden is texting Skyler (sp) now that he and Kate broke up or rather since Kate broke up with him. Skyler is supposedly “dating” Jayden’s friend Gage. (I still suspicion that Kate will be back though I don’t know if Jayden’s pride will allow it or if he will be strong for someone else or whatever. I also wonder if Kate’s parents insisted she break up with Jayden, though Jayden said it was for another boy.)
                Today in sacrament meeting, Jayden was the youth speaker. He did a really good job albeit he read most of it. He said that he wasn’t asked until Friday (in the evening I assume) and we were busy with other family things yesterday including going to Bailey’s swim meet.
                Jayden showed no fear. He was calm and collected, smiled and looked at the congregation as much as he could. He was the one who apologized to me about having to read most of it.
I think we have all, including Bailey, decided we don’t like swim meets. It is mostly wait and wait and wait and swim eight laps and then wait and wait and wait then swim another eight laps then go home.
                After she finally got to swim the first event; the breast stroke, the one she hates the most unless it is the butterfly; we all went to lunch. We ended up at the Pizza Pie Cafe at the bottom of the hill below the University Mall not far from Lavell Edwards Stadium (BYU Stadium). It has a very good Italian buffet.
                Grandpa Wayne (Bingham) was there. He is really good to support his grandchildren and I suppose that since he lost his wife Ginnie to cancer it gives him something to do on Saturdays. I ask him about what he does to occupy his time and he said that he does a lot of yard work.
                Bailey decided she didn’t want to swim the last event and we finally went back to the Provo Recreation Center pool and got her stuff.
                When she did swim her first event (only event) it turned into a joke. She had broken her good goggles so she put on her other pair. Somehow that pair got lost and she put on a third pair that didn’t fit right. They were too loose. (I think Stacey bought the third pair at the concession stand.) Also Bailey wouldn’t dive off the platform like everyone else; she just dove off the end of the pool.
                Almost immediately after she dove in, her goggles fell off of her eyes so she stopped and put them back on. A couple of strokes later they fell off again and again she stopped and put them back on. Also I don’t think she thought of it as a race and swam like she does in practice pacing herself. At one spot she turned her head to the side and was looking at the people standing on the side of the pool.
                When she finally got to the end of her second-to-the-last lap and turned around, everyone else was done and hanging onto the end of the pool waiting for her to show up. For me (Fred) at least, it seemed that that last lap would last forever.

Here is Jayden’s talk:
“Hi. My name is Jayden Jepson and I have been asked to talk about Go Forward with Faith. Like Elder Norman I hope to be a full time Missionary some day, however I can prepare myself until that time comes.

“In Alma chapter 37, verse 6 it reads (READ THE SCRIPTURE)… [6 Now ye may suppose that this is ^afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by ^bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.]
“What Alma is teaching us is that no matter how small the things we do to prepare ourselves now, they can prepare us for great things later in life.
“What are some of the things we can do to prepare ourselves for our missions and other callings in life?
“First, we can kneel each morning and night in prayer to our Father in Heaven. Thank him for the blessings we have received and ask him for the things we desire. He is the source of all wisdom. He will hear and answer our prayers.
“Second, we need to study the scriptures each day and apply what we read to our lives. The scriptures are a powerful source of personal revelation and guidance and a constant strength to help us build our testimony.
“Third, we need to try to be obedient. We need to remember and live by the covenants that we made and that we have the opportunity to renew each week when we take the sacrament. Try to keep these covenants. If we make a mistake, don’t give up. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to seek His help and keep trying.
“Fourth, when possible, we need to attend the temple and feel the joy and peace that doing so gives us.
“Fifth, we need to follow the teachings of the prophets, the other authorities of the Church, and our local leaders.
“Sixth, we need to be humble and willing to listen to the Holy Ghost and respond to His promptings. The Lord is wiser than we are and will not lead us in the wrong direction.
“When we do these things, the Lord will make much more out of our lives than we could by ourselves. He will increase our opportunities to grow and strengthen us. He will give us the help we need to handle any trials and challenges we may face in life. We will gain a stronger testimony and find true joy as we come to know our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel Their love for us. I know these things to be true and I share them with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

                Corey said they got a lot of it out of one of the church pamphlets. He didn’t say which one.

WINGERS

Wednesday, October 17, 2012
                Tonight Judy and I met Niki, Alexa, Gavin and Gracie at Wingers on 136^th and Bangerter for dinner. Niki’s three especially Alexa and Gavin were their usual noisy silly selves.
                When it came time to order dinner Niki started to tell the waitress what Alexa wanted. Alexa shouted out, “I want to tell her” and repeated “I want a grilled cheese sandwich.” Audrey, our waitress was very cute about addressing Alexa and repeating back, “You want a grilled cheese sandwich.”
                A little later, Niki called her friend Gail whose birthday is near Christmas so everyone calls her, Noel. Alexa asked her mom, “Who are you calling?” to which Niki replied, “Saint Nick,”
                Alexa didn’t hear her well and asked in a loud voice; “Satin; your calling Satin?”
                We all got a good laugh over that one.
                That reminded Niki about a conversation she had with Gavin the other day in the car. She asked him, “Are you going to go on a mission?” or maybe it was, “Where do you want to go on a mission.”
 He started bawling, “I don’t want to go on a mission.” Niki asked him why he didn’t want to go on a mission and he said; because when I get home I’ll have to get married and I don’t want to get married.”
                Niki said he repeated it over and over again; “I don’t want to go on a mission because I don’t want to get married.”
                Tonight at dinner she asked him again and got the same response. She asked him what he wanted to do; “Stay home and live with us?” to which he laid his head on her shoulder and said, “Yes, I want to stay with you.”
                For a long time Gavin and I have been playing the game of me saying I am Gavin and him saying he is Grandpa. I brought it up again tonight to which he said; “I don’t want to play that anymore.”
                Gavin is three and Alexa is six.

I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED

Saturday, October 13, 2012 -
                A few years back; it was after we moved to Saratoga Springs in 2000; I went for a drive out in the West Desert or at least that is what I usually call it. I took SR 73 west past Cedar Valley, Fairfield etc to Highway 36, the road that goes south out of Tooele and connects with U.S. 6 which comes out of Eureka and continues south to Delta Utah and beyond.
                Shortly after I turned south onto Highway 36 I saw an old man walking south on the west side of the road. I don’t remember that he was hitchhiking though it would make sense if this were an ordinary situation.
                I stopped and offered him a ride and asked him where he was going. He told me that he left Montana and was heading to the outskirts of Ely, Nevada to herd/tend sheep. I don’t remember his exact words. He said that that was what he had been doing in Montana also.
                I asked him when he had eaten last and he said, “A couple of days ago.” I apologized for not having anything for him to eat but handed him a bottle of water I had with me and told him to drink as much as he wanted.
                He drank it all down in short order.
                At this point I decided to take him all the way to Ely, thinking we would stop in Delta and get something to eat.
                At that, I instinctly reached for my wallet. It wasn’t there; or at least I couldn’t feel it. I really believe to this day that it wasn’t there.
                I apologized to him explaining my intentions and explained that without my wallet I would have to turn around and go home. I didn’t have enough gas.     He said that it was all right.
                I told him that I would take him up a little farther to where Highway 36 converges with Highway 6 out of Eureka explaining that there would be a better chance of him getting a ride since there would be cars coming from two directions. (Even at that, it is a lonely stretch of highway and one can go quite a distance without seeing another car.)
                I took him a short distance beyond that point and let him out still apologizing.
                I turned around and started up Highway 6 intending to go home along the west side of Utah Lake.
                I reached around and checked for my wallet again. It was right there.
                I immediately turned around to pick him up and do as I was originally intending.
                It had only been a minute or so since I left him, but when I reach the place I dropped him off , he wasn’t there. I drove on a ways looking for him but I couldn’t imagine he could have gotten that far walking.
                Maybe he quickly got another ride but to this day I have wondered if perhaps God was testing me to see what I would do and when I showed that I would have taking this “angel” or whoever he was to his destination he made my wallet disappear forcing me to let him out and turn around.

"THIRTEEN YEAR-OLD LOVE"

Saturday, October 13, 2012
                Today Corey called and asked if I could take the back seats out of my van and meet him and family in Orem. They had sold the massage chair that was in their bedroom; rather the seating area of their bedroom on the other side of the fireplace wall. For nearly the same price they found a nice (used I’m sure) brown leather couch with end pieces that recline.
                We ate lunch at Café Rio on State Street Orem just north of Center Street.
                After eating we went next-door (nearly) bought the couch and had them load it into the van. It fit just right. I drove it to their place and backed into their driveway behind them. They pulled all the way into the garage ahead of me. Before I could come around to help, Stacey had hold of one end of the couch and Corey reached through the back door grabbed the couch and lifted it to help push it out the other end.
                As he did so he pulled something in his back.
                They still managed to get it through the front door of the house and into the living room.
                At about that time, their next-door neighbor lady knocked on the door and asked if they could give her a ride to the Jordan Valley Regional Hospital. She said her husband had had a heart attack and she didn’t drive. I think they are from Eastern Europe or something.
                I don’t know how that all turned out. I drove home shortly thereafter.
                I guess my whole point of this is to say that Jayden was lying on the couch in their family room talking to Kate. Jayden was given his cell phone back and since his parents insist they get to read all his text messages he has gotten really open about him and Kate. I guess they have even said “I love you.” When Stacey “teased” him about it he replied, “It’s only thirteen year old love.” (She’s only twelve.)
                I understand they have talked about meeting at lunch time at school and kissing.
                Personally I think it is a hoot and secretly want to encourage it. There is no doubt in my mind that it will not get overly serious. They don’t “plan” on getting serious until they are sixteen. I would have to assume that that would be age seventeen for Jayden since he is a year older than her.
                That takes me back to the one girl in his class a year ago that enter in her blog about liking Jaden and even used the “F” word. The using the “F” word in her blog was meant for her girl friend to read. Jayden found out about it from another girl in his class and he told Corey and Stacey about it.

                That relationship ended real soon!!!

MEOW-or WHY I WENT to ASTRO BURGER for LUNCH

Friday, October 12, 2012

                 Just before 11:00 this morning, Corey called me and asked his usual, “Can you do me a HUGH favor.” Or “Can I ask you do me a HUGH favor?”

                (Sometimes I wish he would just say “Dad, I/we have such and such a situation, would you/or would you mind helping me out with...?) Just kidding, but it has gotten to be a joke with me.

                This time it was, “The kids just called. They went upstairs to watch TV and let Buddy go up with them…”

They thought they had locked the two cats in Jayden’s room so they went in to Bailey’s room with Buddy in tow to watch TV. Mia, one of the cats was in there and Buddy jumped at her barking. It gets a little fuzzy from here, but, I guess Mia jumped over the big doll house Grandpa Wayne had made for Stacey when she was little, and Ginnie later updated and gave to Bailey. Anyway, the kids said that Mia bounced back and forth between the dollhouse and the wall several times then fell over one eye open and one eye closed and her tongue sticking out of one corner of her mouth. Bailey carried her out from behind the dollhouse and laid her on the floor. I don’t know if she was dead at that point or shortly thereafter. Jayden checked for breathing and a heartbeat and announced that she was dead. (I just talked to Jayden. He said that he poked her, she stood up and fell back over.)

                They were bawling and blaming themselves for what happened; for instance Jayden blamed himself because it was his idea to let Buddy go upstairs.

By the time I got there, Buddy was in his kennel in “timeout” and Bailey and Jayden were in the room crying.

                Mia was dead but still warm. For a second I thought she was a little rug on Bailey’s bedroom floor.

Bailey said that in the past, Mia has sat on the couch with Buddy sitting on the floor by her with no problem.

Before I got there, Bailey said a prayer and that made Jayden cry.

Later, Jayden made some jokes about it to make Bailey laugh, but it was too soon and it made her cry more. Later she would joke about it and laugh and then start crying…this went on for some time…laugh then cry, laugh then cry.

I asked Bailey to get me a garbage bag. I put Mia in it and Jayden put it on the floor of the garage.

I asked if they wanted to go to lunch with their dad. They said yes and decided on Astro Burger. Actually Jayden decided on Astro Burger. Bailey and I didn’t care but Jayden called his dad on my cell phone, and told him that the three of us wanted to go to Astro Burger. Corey said “fine” and that he would meet us there. We called him again when we were close. Jayden thought Corey said that he was already there. He wasn’t but showed up soon after we got there.

(Jayden is grounded from his phone for not turning in all in homework papers.)

Corey called Stacey and told her what had happened and invited her to go to lunch with us. Astro is just across the street from her work. I guess she was in bad shape worrying about Bailey and Audrey, her manager told her to take the rest of the day off.

We ate and visited. The kids felt better and even Bailey was cracking jokes intermingled with sad looks and a few tears.

They decided that after Corey got off work, they would take Mia to the mountains and bury her. It is raining. That should be some fun. I just as soon they don’t invite me but I don’t think they will anyway.

 

Just a side note, Kate has called Jayden and they have talked. She put her cousin Trace who was at her house on the phone and he and Jayden talked for a while. Jayden said that he is nice/cool. He also said he talked to Kate’s brother Max and Jayden likes him too. I think Kate is just as infatuated with Jayden as he is with her. I think I told you that Bailey has “talked” to Kate (texted) and that Kate wants to get together with Bailey so they can get to know each other better.