One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.
On Monday she gave each student his or her list.
Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard someone whisper. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.
She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another.
That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student.
She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.
The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.
"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times.
The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around.
Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said "It's in my diary."
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.
So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.
And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Send this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful
If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.
The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about.
Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.
May Your Day Be As Blessed As You Are Special!
Unknown.
Allan W Janssen is the author of The Plain Truth About God-101 (what the church doesn't want you to know!) www.God-101.com
Showing posts with label christian love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christian love. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Let's get things back into perspective here!
The fact that we can examine ourselves thinking, (Like mentally looking in a mirror) is one of the great mysteries. This, along with the existence of God, the process of evolution, and much more in the metaphysical sphere are questions that do not easily lend themselves to interpretation.
Not to take anything away from the Eastern Philosophies, (Since they probably have a better handle on things than most Western Religions) but these are answers we mistakenly try and understand from a here and now point of view. As long as we look at these questions from a materialistic, egocentric point of view I dont't think we will find an answer.
Perhaps the question "Is there a God" or better yet, "What is God?" are areas that we are not meant to address in this life. They could, by their very nature, be unanswerable.
(Here we go, now everyone is going to tell me THEY have the answer. Save your breath, unless you have a REALLY bad Messianic Complex!)
The point is, perhaps we should be more concerned with attaining a "State of Grace" in this life, and then sitting back to see where it leads us in the next! Remember..(from my book God-101) When all else fails, the simple solution is usually the correct one! OR If you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras!
Why can't some of you people LISTEN instead of grabbing anything at all as an excuse to once again spout your bullshit nonsense. Listen to me please, I don't need doubletalking, assinine, convoluted, self absorbed, deluded rants to make me see the light!
The truth is not in the Bible or the Koran. (Or the Bhagavad-Gita for that matter!) They should all be thrown in the garbage because they were written by sun-baked, wandering nomads who mostly ate bugs and honey..... of course they saw God!!!!
God is not in a book because that is other people trying to tell you what is right and what is wrong. You are not going to find paradise by listening to 2000 year old, hallucinating, camel jockeys.
KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don't jump through hoops trying to explain the infinite. Don't manufacture all these grand theories on the nature of God. Centainly don't sit there and try and second guess what God wants, and CERTAINLY don't tell me that you know what God wants ME to do!
I don't think it's our job to probe these questions yet. When we are ready they will be revealed. But they will be revealed to EVERYONE.
I think God is big enough that he doesn't need translaters. Remember-the simple solution is usually the correct one! God is love!!!!
In other words, God is within you and no one should ever come between. If we must refer to religious texts I would like to quote from the Book "God-101" once more.
One of the core sayings of Jesus was "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' For behold, that kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Jesus tells us quite clearly that the "Kingdom of God" is not a coming kingdom, or a future kingdom, but rather something already in amongst his disciples.
It is not a place, but rather a state of mind! Or, to quote James Breech once more: "Your concept of the kingdom of God, whether it belongs to the future mythological conceived, in either eschatological or apocalyptic terms, misses the reality of the kingdom. The symbolism really refers to a power that is a basic factor in human experience!"
** The foundation of Christian ideology revolves around "Love" for one and another. To understand this we need to define exactly how the term or meaning of "Love" is used!
In the first instance, there is the true Christian "Love" which means it is rooted in the power of the kingdom of God. This is the "Love" that the historical Jesus preached to his followers.
The second type of Christian "love" (small L) is defined solely as an ethical idea that was propagated by the spreading Christian faith in trying to define the words of Christ.
Nietzsche probably best defined this form of Christian 'love' as a masked feeling of pity or charity. In other words, we feel sorry for others and from this superior moral ground to lend a helping hand.
Nietzsche claims that Christian 'pity' (love) is a device used by those who are not themselves truly vital and alive to obtain a perverse elevation of their own position by undermining others. In other words, "I can make myself feel better by thinking you or someone else is worse-off and deserving of "love.” We often confuse the feeling of Christian "love" for someone with:
1. Pity for them.
2. Humanitarianism-or a love of Mankind.
3. Altruism, or self denial, and
4. Sentimentalism, or wanting to be with others.
These concepts of “love" have been re-enforced over and over again in the Bible through one story or another.
What Jesus actually said was something much more basic and infinitely harder to achieve. The historical Jesus did not urge us to love Mankind or to feel pity for someone else.
He did not tell us to deny ourselves for someone else's sake, or flagellate ourselves, or even to enjoy another’s company!
What He did say was pure and simple and straight to the point, "Love one another.” This sort of Love is not the altruistic love of Mankind, nor the possessive love for our mate, but rather, something that requires hard work, tenacity, and sacrifice.
It is easy to love your wife or husband, child or parent, but to Love your neighbor (or stranger) is a task that is never ending and always requires effort.
It is a Love that seems to have no immediate benefit and is therefore not practiced by many people. However, in the long run, this is what will make Humanity rise up to it is potential and approach what Jesus referred to as the "Kingdom of God (Father).”
This is not something that is to be expected in the near, or far, future. Rather, it was a state of being that is present at this time, and only has to be observed and followed in order to achieve a state of Grace.
Allan W Janssen is the author of the book "The Plain Truth About God-101' (what the church doesn't want you to know!)
Not to take anything away from the Eastern Philosophies, (Since they probably have a better handle on things than most Western Religions) but these are answers we mistakenly try and understand from a here and now point of view. As long as we look at these questions from a materialistic, egocentric point of view I dont't think we will find an answer.
Perhaps the question "Is there a God" or better yet, "What is God?" are areas that we are not meant to address in this life. They could, by their very nature, be unanswerable.
(Here we go, now everyone is going to tell me THEY have the answer. Save your breath, unless you have a REALLY bad Messianic Complex!)
The point is, perhaps we should be more concerned with attaining a "State of Grace" in this life, and then sitting back to see where it leads us in the next! Remember..(from my book God-101) When all else fails, the simple solution is usually the correct one! OR If you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras!
Why can't some of you people LISTEN instead of grabbing anything at all as an excuse to once again spout your bullshit nonsense. Listen to me please, I don't need doubletalking, assinine, convoluted, self absorbed, deluded rants to make me see the light!
The truth is not in the Bible or the Koran. (Or the Bhagavad-Gita for that matter!) They should all be thrown in the garbage because they were written by sun-baked, wandering nomads who mostly ate bugs and honey..... of course they saw God!!!!
God is not in a book because that is other people trying to tell you what is right and what is wrong. You are not going to find paradise by listening to 2000 year old, hallucinating, camel jockeys.
KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don't jump through hoops trying to explain the infinite. Don't manufacture all these grand theories on the nature of God. Centainly don't sit there and try and second guess what God wants, and CERTAINLY don't tell me that you know what God wants ME to do!
I don't think it's our job to probe these questions yet. When we are ready they will be revealed. But they will be revealed to EVERYONE.
I think God is big enough that he doesn't need translaters. Remember-the simple solution is usually the correct one! God is love!!!!
In other words, God is within you and no one should ever come between. If we must refer to religious texts I would like to quote from the Book "God-101" once more.
One of the core sayings of Jesus was "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' For behold, that kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Jesus tells us quite clearly that the "Kingdom of God" is not a coming kingdom, or a future kingdom, but rather something already in amongst his disciples.
It is not a place, but rather a state of mind! Or, to quote James Breech once more: "Your concept of the kingdom of God, whether it belongs to the future mythological conceived, in either eschatological or apocalyptic terms, misses the reality of the kingdom. The symbolism really refers to a power that is a basic factor in human experience!"
** The foundation of Christian ideology revolves around "Love" for one and another. To understand this we need to define exactly how the term or meaning of "Love" is used!
In the first instance, there is the true Christian "Love" which means it is rooted in the power of the kingdom of God. This is the "Love" that the historical Jesus preached to his followers.
The second type of Christian "love" (small L) is defined solely as an ethical idea that was propagated by the spreading Christian faith in trying to define the words of Christ.
Nietzsche probably best defined this form of Christian 'love' as a masked feeling of pity or charity. In other words, we feel sorry for others and from this superior moral ground to lend a helping hand.
Nietzsche claims that Christian 'pity' (love) is a device used by those who are not themselves truly vital and alive to obtain a perverse elevation of their own position by undermining others. In other words, "I can make myself feel better by thinking you or someone else is worse-off and deserving of "love.” We often confuse the feeling of Christian "love" for someone with:
1. Pity for them.
2. Humanitarianism-or a love of Mankind.
3. Altruism, or self denial, and
4. Sentimentalism, or wanting to be with others.
These concepts of “love" have been re-enforced over and over again in the Bible through one story or another.
What Jesus actually said was something much more basic and infinitely harder to achieve. The historical Jesus did not urge us to love Mankind or to feel pity for someone else.
He did not tell us to deny ourselves for someone else's sake, or flagellate ourselves, or even to enjoy another’s company!
What He did say was pure and simple and straight to the point, "Love one another.” This sort of Love is not the altruistic love of Mankind, nor the possessive love for our mate, but rather, something that requires hard work, tenacity, and sacrifice.
It is easy to love your wife or husband, child or parent, but to Love your neighbor (or stranger) is a task that is never ending and always requires effort.
It is a Love that seems to have no immediate benefit and is therefore not practiced by many people. However, in the long run, this is what will make Humanity rise up to it is potential and approach what Jesus referred to as the "Kingdom of God (Father).”
This is not something that is to be expected in the near, or far, future. Rather, it was a state of being that is present at this time, and only has to be observed and followed in order to achieve a state of Grace.
Allan W Janssen is the author of the book "The Plain Truth About God-101' (what the church doesn't want you to know!)
Misplaced Anger - Misplaced Love
We often confuse the feeling of Christian "love" for someone with a feeling of:
1. Pity for them.
2. Humanitarianism- or a love of Mankind.
3. Altruism, or self denial, and
4. Sentimentalism or wanting to be with others.
** These concepts of “love" have been re-enforced over and over again in the Bible through one story or another.
What Jesus actually said was something much more basic and infinitely harder to achieve.
The historical Jesus did not urge us to love Mankind or to feel pity for someone else. He did not tell us to deny ourselves for someone else's sake, or flagellate ourselves, or even to enjoy another’s company!
What He did say was pure and simple and straight to the point, "Love one another.” This sort of love is not the altruistic love of Mankind, nor the possessive love for our mate, but rather something, that requires hard work, tenacity, and sacrifice.
It is easy to love your wife or husband, child or parent, but to love your neighbor (or stranger) is a task that is never ending and always requires effort. It is a love that seems to have no immediate benefit and therefore not practiced by many people.
However, in the long run, this is what will make Humanity rise up to its potential and approach what Jesus referred to as the "Kingdom of God.” (Father)
This was not something that is to be expected in the near, or far, future. Rather, it was a state of being that is present at this time, and only has to be observed and followed in order to achieve a state of Grace.
Allan W. Janssen is the author of the book "The Plain Truth About God-101" (What the church doesn't want you to know!)
1. Pity for them.
2. Humanitarianism- or a love of Mankind.
3. Altruism, or self denial, and
4. Sentimentalism or wanting to be with others.
** These concepts of “love" have been re-enforced over and over again in the Bible through one story or another.
What Jesus actually said was something much more basic and infinitely harder to achieve.
The historical Jesus did not urge us to love Mankind or to feel pity for someone else. He did not tell us to deny ourselves for someone else's sake, or flagellate ourselves, or even to enjoy another’s company!
What He did say was pure and simple and straight to the point, "Love one another.” This sort of love is not the altruistic love of Mankind, nor the possessive love for our mate, but rather something, that requires hard work, tenacity, and sacrifice.
It is easy to love your wife or husband, child or parent, but to love your neighbor (or stranger) is a task that is never ending and always requires effort. It is a love that seems to have no immediate benefit and therefore not practiced by many people.
However, in the long run, this is what will make Humanity rise up to its potential and approach what Jesus referred to as the "Kingdom of God.” (Father)
This was not something that is to be expected in the near, or far, future. Rather, it was a state of being that is present at this time, and only has to be observed and followed in order to achieve a state of Grace.
Allan W. Janssen is the author of the book "The Plain Truth About God-101" (What the church doesn't want you to know!)
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