Sex and Spirituality

[SeaCat]

it does however say something about one's fashion sense

Baaaaaahhhhhhhh

Especialy when it's cold out.

How ya doing Princess?
I'm driving poor Mike nuts with my questions tonight.

Cat

 

[alisonwunderlnd]

Hey Alison,

They've been talking about it when I haven't been distracting them.

What do I think about Lent? Honestly very little. Then again I am probably the most ir-religeos person here. (I dont' believe in organised religion.) I do find it interesting in a historical way, which is why I found the article Mike put up of interest.

Cat

No,my question was what did he think of the article?Or anyone else who has read it.Not about Lent itself.Just curious what anyone thought of the wikipedia article,How are you this evening?

 

[SeaCat]

hehehe, you got it there, pal!

Yep, and the Av's here, welll,,,, ummmmm nope I'm not going there.

Cat

 

[mcopado]

The book I usually follow during the Lenten season is Keep a True Lent by Charles Fillmore....(The entire book is online-just click on the title)...It is the metaphysical interpretation of the Season...

Here's the foreward...

THE CHRISTIAN world is once again observing the Lenten season; the season of prayer and fasting that precedes the joyous festivity of Easter. It is commonly believed that the Lenten period has to do with the events of the forty days preceding the Resurrection. This is an erroneous idea. Lent is a church institution, and there is no authorization for it anywhere in the New Testament. The idea, however, has a sound spiritual basis; Moses, Elijah, and Jesus Himself set a precedent for it. Each observed a forty-day period of prayer and fasting as a preparation for spiritual work. Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai at the conclusion of his fast. Elijah talked with God on Mount Horeb at the conclusion of his period of prayer and fasting. Jesus began His great spiritual ministry at the close of His fast in the wilderness.

The ancient Hebrew writers made a practice of using numbers to symbolize ideas. Forty, in their minds, was a "foursquare" number suggesting the idea of a foundation for something to follow; an idea of completeness. So the number forty is frequently used in the Scriptures to indicate a completed preparation for something to follow. When we consider Lent as a well-rounded or "completed" season of retreat from the things of the world for the cleansing of the mind and the recollection of the things of Spirit, it becomes a true season of preparation for the glorious Eastertide; a preparation for the resurrection of the mind from the darkness of its sins, doubts, and false beliefs into the light of understanding.

Lent, then, is a church institution embodying an exalted idea, the idea of cleansing and disciplining both mind and body toward the end of making them more receptive to the Christ ideas. Like many other religious practices it is too often observed in letter but not in spirit.

Too many people make a fad out of Lent. It is fashionable to give up some luxuries, and when those luxuries have to do with food and drink it is profitable physically. There is also psychological value in the mental discipline involved. But such observance has nothing to do with being a Christian; atheists could get the same benefit!

Every follower of Jesus who would keep Lent in the true Christian spirit follows the way of prayer and fasting that He taught His disciples. He revealed that prayer and fasting are the sure way to spiritual power, the way to keep the soul cleansed and purified that it may feel the presence of God. When the disciples were unable to heal the epileptic boy He told them that they lacked faith, that such healings could only be brought about by prayer and fasting.

Jesus revealed that fasting, like prayer, is a matter between man and his Maker. He told His disciples that they were to make no show of their fasting.
He said, "Appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." He gave the same instruction concerning prayer. Prayer and fasting, then, are matters of communion with God, not matters of public display. They are transactions in mind. It is of no use to go through the outer form if the feeling of communion with God is not established. In abstinence from worldly things the mind must be filled with thoughts of God, else there is no spiritual value in fasting.

If we would "lose the bands of wickedness" we must learn to fast from all unworthy thought and feast on the good and the true. To observe Lent according to the spirit rather than the letter we must fast from criticism and condemnation and feast in brotherly love; fast from false beliefs in sickness and weakness and feast on the truth of God's omnipresent, perfect life; fast from false beliefs in lack and limitation and feast on the truth of God's bountiful good will. Ideas such as these form an excellent basis for Lenten meditations that help establish permanent spiritual values in heart and mind.

One of the most valuable ways of observing the Lenten season is to fast from (loose and let go) the belief that men or nations can stand in the way of God's good will for man. Now is the time to affirm the power of the Christ Spirit indwelling in all men everywhere and influencing their thoughts, words, and actions to work for the good of the whole. We all want to be of some influence in establishing world peace. To do so we must learn to obey Paul's exhortation "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace." Each one of us must be concerned with improving his own life. We must learn to deny our selfish impulses and be obedient to impulses of brotherly love. When we withdraw our attention, interest, and support from the false and the unworthy, this is true fasting. When we give that same attention, interest, and support to the enduring good, we are feasting on the things of the Spirit, and this is true prayer. When we have truly fasted in the Christ way we have increased our ability to respond to God's good will.

 

[asian_princess]

Baaaaaahhhhhhhh

Especialy when it's cold out.

How ya doing Princess?
I'm driving poor Mike nuts with my questions tonight.

Cat

hehe i'm doing great , Cat.

and as for the Rev's nuts, well, ya know...

we had our fair share of asking you qs last night...

 

[mcopado]

Fillmore does a nice daily reading for each day of the season...Here's today's...

Denial

1st Day, Ash Wednesday. Read Matthew 5:1-16.

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is so-called from the ceremonial of ashes. Ashes symbolize repentance.

John the Baptist came, saying, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Repentance means denial; it is a relinquishment and should be made without too much vehemence. Therefore, I deny out of consciousness old error thoughts, as if I were gently sweeping away cobwebs, and I affirm positively and fearlessly that I am a child of God, and that my inheritance is from Him.

As I follow this rule I find that I am letting go of old mortal beliefs and the Divine within is flaming higher and higher. Its pure white light is infusing all my surroundings with a delightful spirit of wisdom, dignity, and peace. I realize more and more the law of righteous thinking that is bringing me into a consciousness of my perfect dominion.

In Christ it is not difficult to eliminate belief in strife and contention. If petty quarrels, jealousy, uncharitable thoughts come into my life, I overcome them by a quiet but positive denial made in the realization that no error has any power or reality in itself. I turn away from the belief in negation, and my thinking changes. I rid my consciousness of limited thoughts that have encumbered and darkened my understanding. I break down mortal thought and ascend into a spiritual realm, the kingdom of the heavens.

Affirmation- In the spirit of divine love I affirm: "Forgetting the things that are behind, I realize I am strong, positive, powerful, wise, loving, fearless, free spirit. I am God's perfect child."

 

[SeaCat]

i think this goes somewhat along the lines of forgiveness...hatred simply ties ourselves to the subject...

I'm trying to remember the quote by Robert Heinlein.
He said something along the lines of do not hate your enemy. It clouds your thinking. Instead try to understand him. Then if you still find you need to do something about him you can take care of it in a compasionate manner with a clear consience.

May I use your cause as an example? (A cause I fully endorse by the way.) The people who commit this attrocity need to be stopped. What they are doing is much worse than murder. However if you hate them then you blind youself to possible ways of stopping them. (Yes my way of stopping/puishing them is most likely a bit more abrupt and draconian than yours, but I'm just that kind of guy with people like this.) If you hate them you end u[ wanting to destroy and kill them while it may work better to use education to stop them. If you hate them you start to want to use direct action against them when it may be better to use the local police to stop them. (Thereby educating the local police on not only the original crime but the effects of it.)

Cat

 

[mcopado]

No,my question was what did he think of the article?Or anyone else who has read it.Not about Lent itself.Just curious what anyone thought of the wikipedia article,How are you this evening?

I thought the wikipedia article was fine...good info on the history of it...it's nice to know where our religuous holidays come from...

 

[SeaCat]

No,my question was what did he think of the article?Or anyone else who has read it.Not about Lent itself.Just curious what anyone thought of the wikipedia article,How are you this evening?

Well I don't know what he thought about the article, he didn't say.
For myself I found it interesting although I did have one chuckle about the phrasing in it. (You may have read that.)

I'm foing pretty good this evening even though I have to get up early again tomorrow.

Cat

 

[alisonwunderlnd]

I thought the wikipedia article was fine...good info on the history of it...it's nice to know where our religuous holidays come from...

Thanks.I am glad that they did point out the meaning/or what gave you,of the number 40 during Lent.i did have someone to tell me i was WRONG because I basically said what the article did.That bothered me.She got very loud,irrate and red faced.We were both celebrating Lent,I dont see why she got her panties in such a knot.

 

[SeaCat]

hehe i'm doing great , Cat.

and as for the Rev's nuts, well, ya know...

we had our fair share of asking you qs last night...

Well your questions were easily if not shortly answered. On occasion I know my questions must make poor Mike and the rest of you here scratch your heads in confusion.

Cat

 

[mcopado]

Canadian public radio-my new favorite nightly listenning since I don't have cable anymore, is running a multi-part radio documentary on Saint-hood, last week on the disparancy between the number of male saints vs. female...today they appear to be focussing on St. Francis and Padre Pio...

 

[asian_princess]

I'm trying to remember the quote by Robert Heinlein.
He said something along the lines of do not hate your enemy. It clouds your thinking. Instead try to understand him. Then if you still find you need to do something about him you can take care of it in a compasionate manner with a clear consience.

May I use your cause as an example? (A cause I fully endorse by the way.) The people who commit this attrocity need to be stopped. What they are doing is much worse than murder. However if you hate them then you blind youself to possible ways of stopping them. (Yes my way of stopping/puishing them is most likely a bit more abrupt and draconian than yours, but I'm just that kind of guy with people like this.) If you hate them you end u[ wanting to destroy and kill them while it may work better to use education to stop them. If you hate them you start to want to use direct action against them when it may be better to use the local police to stop them. (Thereby educating the local police on not only the original crime but the effects of it.)

Cat

Cat, i think you examle is spot on. It can become so easy to get caught up in your hatred ...at the most you can only rid the world of them one at a time...
and sometimes...you even forget about the victims...because frankly,, the hatred an become an escape. It's easier to deal with that have to feel the pain of the victims.
if only though...saying was as easy as doing, huh

 

[RomanticLass73]

Give me a few days and I may have something to send you. Then you shall repent. (Look at my greeting this evening and you'll see why. I tend to write long stories.) You can ask Mike about suffering through my stories, he's seen a few rough drafts.

As for dancing away, I probably have the fastest hands you have ever dealt with. (That way as well. ) My cats both refuse to play slap paw with me.

Cat

Send away.... I read fast (Gone with the Wind in a week fast)

I prefer slow hands myself

 

[asian_princess]

I prefer slow hands myself

yeah cos then you can catch them nd put tem where you want..

RL, you dog, you

 

[RomanticLass73]

yeah cos then you can catch them nd put tem where you want..

RL, you dog, you

Mais oui *smiles demurely*

 

[SeaCat]

Thanks.I am glad that they did point out the meaning/or what gave you,of the number 40 during Lent.i did have someone to tell me i was WRONG because I basically said what the article did.That bothered me.She got very loud,irrate and red faced.We were both celebrating Lent,I dont see why she got her panties in such a knot.

Oh my, you have run into one of the reasons I don't believe in organised religion. People get so swept up in the True Beliefs of their sect they forget that other sects in the same religion may feel somewhat differently. It is all, in my most humble opinion, a matter of interpretation.

Translated, she got her Bra twisted too tight because you were saying something different from what here holy man was saying. (An addendum, she couldn't be bothered to look it up and form her own conclusions.)

Cat

Oh and yes I was being polite in my translation, and no I don't usually preview my posts hence the misspellings.

 

[SeaCat]

Cat, i think you examle is spot on. It can become so easy to get caught up in your hatred ...at the most you can only rid the world of them one at a time...
and sometimes...you even forget about the victims...because frankly,, the hatred an become an escape. It's easier to deal with that have to feel the pain of the victims.
if only though...saying was as easy as doing, huh

Too true. I learned that the hard way on two instances. When you hate you tend to focus on one or at the most a very few. Even the destruction of these few brings no pleasure.

As for it being easy, no it is not easy. I find myself having to stop myself from slipping back into hatred at times. When I see the pain and suffering inflicted on those in my own crusade I too want to lash out. I too would find it very gratifying to destroy them one at a time in a very personal manner, but I know I can't. I have to look for other ways to end this. (Causing pain and suffering on those who I am close to on the other hand causes an immediate reaction. Even here though there is no hatred involved, just retribution.)

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

Send away.... I read fast (Gone with the Wind in a week fast)

I prefer slow hands myself

I shall remember this when I finish the story.

As for slow hands, I know of no greater pleasure for me than to do something like give a full body massage, and go on from there. (Read Jade if you haven't and want an idea of what I enjoy doing to people. )

Cat

 

[leeroy jenkins]

Oh my, you have run into one of the reasons I don't believe in organised religion. People get so swept up in the True Beliefs of their sect they forget that other sects in the same religion may feel somewhat differently. It is all, in my most humble opinion, a matter of interpretation.

Translated, she got her Bra twisted too tight because you were saying something different from what here holy man was saying. (An addendum, she couldn't be bothered to look it up and form her own conclusions.)

Cat

Oh and yes I was being polite in my translation, and no I don't usually preview my posts hence the misspellings.

Not sure about other religions but Christianity is all about interpretation. You do not take bits here and there but look at the whole picture to help you decided. Also one of the funny things about GOD is that he just so happen not to follow Paul Harvey's tag line of the rest of the story. If he did then there would be no room for error but as part of the story is unknown to us, you just have to make the best decisions that you can. And no one should just take someone at their word people make mistake or knowingly lie to get them to justify actions and behaviors that otherwise would be condemned. Just my 2 cent ever so briefly.

 

[mcopado]

Not sure about other religions but Christianity is all about interpretation. You do not take bits here and there but look at the whole picture to help you decided. Also one of the funny things about GOD is that he just so happen not to follow Paul Harvey's tag line of the rest of the story. If he did then there would be no room for error but as part of the story is unknown to us, you just have to make the best decisions that you can. And no one should just take someone at their word people make mistake or knowingly lie to get them to justify actions and behaviors that otherwise would be condemned. Just my 2 cent ever so briefly.

Welcome Leroy,

Great Insight...wish more peole felt this way....I'd say it's worth a lot more than 2 cents...

 

[alisonwunderlnd]

Oh my, you have run into one of the reasons I don't believe in organised religion. People get so swept up in the True Beliefs of their sect they forget that other sects in the same religion may feel somewhat differently. It is all, in my most humble opinion, a matter of interpretation.

Translated, she got her Bra twisted too tight because you were saying something different from what here holy man was saying. (An addendum, she couldn't be bothered to look it up and form her own conclusions.)

Cat

Oh and yes I was being polite in my translation, and no I don't usually preview my posts hence the misspellings.

She truly bugged me for getting so IN MY FACE,I was not trying to prove a point with her,or even argue,She kept on,following me around the room.I try to accept all people .no matter what they believe.I wish that more people could do that.I may not agree with everyone,but I will at least listen to their views.

 

[SeaCat]

yeah cos then you can catch them nd put tem where you want..

RL, you dog, you

*Ahem*

Stepping behind you I slide my hands around your body. Slowly and by touch I unbutton your shirt until it slides from your shoulders. Lifting my hands I slowly start to massage your neck, reveling in the softness of your skin and feeling how tight your muscles are. I focus on the knotted muscles, gently kneading them while feeling the tension ebb away. I can feel as well as hear your gentle purr of delight as my hands work their way to your shoulders. Once again I can feel the tension in your muscles. Your shoulders are tight and knotted. I take my time, letting my fingers slip over your shoulders as I dig my thumbs gently into the smooth flesh of your back. I work them outwards away from your spine, pushing the tension away from you. Slowly, oh so slowly I feel you starting to relax.

I ease my hands down your back wondering at the taughtness of your muscles under your soft skin. Gently yet firmy I work on you. Gently yet firmly I knead the tension away, moving it up and into your arms. By the time I reach your lower back you are more than purring, I can feel the betle vibration of your breathing under my hands. Without saying a word I guide you to lay on the bed with your arms at your sides.

When I reach your belt I stop for a moment before reversing my course. The fine little hairs in the small of your back tickle my palms as I rub them there. I am pushing now, pushing your tension and pain up your back. With thumbs and fingers and palms I move it higher and higher. With thumbs and fingers I guide it into your outstretched arms. Shifting my position I start working on your shoulders again. Slowly I ease my way down first one arm then the other. Gently I knead your muscles and skin. Gently I move the tension further away from you until you can feel it bleeding off through your fingers.

When I am done here I quietly ask you if you want me to work on you more. Seeing you nod against the pillow I slide down your body. Whispering in your ear I ease my hands under your belly. By touch I open your pants. Carefully I slide your jeans over your hips. Gently I ease them down your legs until I am able to slide them off over your feet. Now I can see almost all of you, only your most private parts are covered by the thin fabric of your panties. Lightly I slide my hands up your legs to your hips.

Shall I continue?

Cat

 

[entitled]

<hijack>

LEEEEEEEEROOOOOYYYYYY!!!

</hijack>

Interesting show coming on national geographic channel right about now. Rivals of Jesus.

Now, gimme the skinny on stigmata.

 

[SeaCat]

Not sure about other religions but Christianity is all about interpretation. You do not take bits here and there but look at the whole picture to help you decided. Also one of the funny things about GOD is that he just so happen not to follow Paul Harvey's tag line of the rest of the story. If he did then there would be no room for error but as part of the story is unknown to us, you just have to make the best decisions that you can. And no one should just take someone at their word people make mistake or knowingly lie to get them to justify actions and behaviors that otherwise would be condemned. Just my 2 cent ever so briefly.

Hey no fair thinking. That's against the rules or didn't you get the memo?

I agree with you about religion being about interpretation, which is another of the reasons I don't follow organised religeon.

What people are taught is not the gospel, it is the gospel viewed through the filter of the peron teaching it. That filter is influenced by their life experiences and their own personal beliefs. I do not want their beliefs nor do I want their filter. They claim they are correct in their interpretation while using the bits and pieces to show their viewpoint. I for one do not agree with this. (As I have said several times in this thread.) I prefer to read the gospel myself and if I have a question then I will ask it, of several people.

Cat