tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.comments2024-03-17T10:18:30.965-04:00Spiritual Reflections by Marshall DavisMarshall Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13258746699175155741noreply@blogger.comBlogger404125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-84991283854579052042024-03-17T07:04:30.228-04:002024-03-17T07:04:30.228-04:00Right on target, as always. How we need to hear th...Right on target, as always. How we need to hear these words today! Thank you. To be free is to be free in God. Yes! -- Rev. Dr. Ernest Boyer, Mountain View, CARev. Dr. Ernest Boyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04716545428491611734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-16189983754450661462024-03-11T12:49:55.429-04:002024-03-11T12:49:55.429-04:00Thank you, Marshall. Continue speaking truth.Thank you, Marshall. Continue speaking truth.Kathy Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13500871186118250491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-62161502503647948622024-02-27T11:33:16.316-05:002024-02-27T11:33:16.316-05:00Please keep doing what you’re doing. Your thoughts...Please keep doing what you’re doing. Your thoughts, ideas, and opinions are much appreciated.<br />Kathy JustissKathy Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13500871186118250491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-61939511407994409932024-02-14T11:57:13.406-05:002024-02-14T11:57:13.406-05:00Congratulations on 50 years together, and may you ...Congratulations on 50 years together, and may you have many more. Thanks for sharing these Lenten thoughts with us.Steve Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07302771205485120133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-11023523885673321552024-02-07T13:06:39.688-05:002024-02-07T13:06:39.688-05:00Last Sunday we had communion at the UCC church my ...Last Sunday we had communion at the UCC church my wife and I attend, and some of the congregation's children participated, helping to serve the bread and cup. I found receiving communion from a child to be a moving experience and am also grateful that the church has an open table that excludes no one.Steve Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07302771205485120133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-34799917713544755882024-02-06T15:12:14.129-05:002024-02-06T15:12:14.129-05:00Actually, I felt the most at- One taking part in C...Actually, I felt the most at- One taking part in Communion a few weeks ago when Pastor Tim Sheets of the Oasis Church in Ohio, when coming to the Communion meal of the Sunday service which I was watching televised, reached out to all of those taking part through tv, and asked that we each take a piece of bread and friut juice or wine at the place we were at to receive the sacred Body & Blood. I felt the closeness of God so much more directly than kneeling or standing at an altar where I must depend on some intermediary.Heartfelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16293861278504382955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-55854723143527364702024-02-05T11:14:12.796-05:002024-02-05T11:14:12.796-05:00Thank you for this blog, Marshall. Although I do n...Thank you for this blog, Marshall. Although I do not adhere to a gluten-free diet myself, I am glad to learn that this alternative is available for Communion. I didn't know this because, while I am playing, the elements are brought to me and I don't see the actual Communion plate. So we both learned something yesterday! I also like your perspective about two breads indicating inclusion and also having the children come up for Communion. I, too, was brought up that one did not receive the elements until of "older" years. I really appreciate Pastor Deb and the leadership of the church in Sandwich, who make these things possible.Judy Englishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144440494274577816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-30557913594005204142024-01-22T12:42:58.252-05:002024-01-22T12:42:58.252-05:00So beautifully stated Mr. Davis!
Christopher Em...So beautifully stated Mr. Davis! <br /><br />Christopher EmmonsTophnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120643990271278773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-62774003005292705812024-01-22T12:42:44.122-05:002024-01-22T12:42:44.122-05:00So beautifully stated Mr. Davis!
Christopher Em...So beautifully stated Mr. Davis! <br /><br />Christopher EmmonsTophnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120643990271278773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-16046576538425382552024-01-22T12:42:15.942-05:002024-01-22T12:42:15.942-05:00So beautifully stated Mr. Davis!
Christopher Em...So beautifully stated Mr. Davis! <br /><br />Christopher EmmonsTophnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120643990271278773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-23664931784051457722024-01-16T15:48:34.865-05:002024-01-16T15:48:34.865-05:00This is a general comment to all, and not a reply ...This is a general comment to all, and not a reply to previous comments. In my post I quoted only two lines of the Old Testament passage that Christians believe describe Christ. I abbreviated the quote to keep the post shorter. Now I think it might be helpful to add a little more context from that messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53 in which the Suffering Servant is described. <br /><br />If this is truly describing Christ earlier in his life and not purely a description of his crucifixion, which seems to be described in later verses in this chapter, then it seems to imply that he had some health issues or a painful physical condition that made people avoid looking at him. But then again, this chapter may not have anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth, but rather someone else, or it is symbolic and representative. In any case here are the verses that got me thinking that Jesus might have been physically unattractive. <br /><br />He grew up before him like a tender shoot,<br /> and like a root out of dry ground.<br />He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,<br /> nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.<br />He was despised and rejected by mankind,<br /> a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.<br />Like one from whom people hide their faces<br /> he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.<br /><br />Marshall Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13258746699175155741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-71274399957078354062024-01-16T15:06:39.167-05:002024-01-16T15:06:39.167-05:00I wanted to clarify something after thinking about...I wanted to clarify something after thinking about this. Based on your words “You accuse me of racism”, “You are judging me unfairly,” it seems that my original post must have come across as a personal attack for which you need to defend your good character. But I don’t want to make it a personal attack as “you are a bad person and guilty” or on trial. I could have done a better job of phrasing my original post to not sound personal, as the issue I am getting at is actually impersonal as it applies to all as a collective consciousness. The statement “ “Jesus looked like a large, muscular construction worker, with dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. He was probably unattractive to look at” I feel is problematic as some like myself have read the two statements to be related as per the author’s viewpoint. You made it clear that was not your intention. In my perception I think this wording is still problematic but as you say it could be the log in my own eye.<br /><br />I want to mention that white supremacist (false) beliefs are in the collective unconscious mind that we are programmed with worldwide at some level regardless of race and it harms us all. We are also programmed with many other beliefs such as sexist and speciesist which are equally harmful to all. Many are aware of these beliefs in ourselves and are actively trying to deprogram from that in the mind and to be free of these beliefs, the first step is to be open to acknowledge those beliefs in ourselves in order to let them go. I don’t want to label and scapegoat people the way society does but I want to make us aware of these beliefs are there in the collective mind. Society has a witch-hunt mentality that says either you are a racist (and are thus cancelled or burned at the stake) or you are not and proclaimed innocent and free. It puts white people in fear of approaching this topic at all in fear of being “accused of racism”, but as I said, the world is operating on these certain beliefs (I have seen it operating at some level in every country I have visited and lived in and I travel a lot). The black and white witch-hunt thinking is a way for all of us not to be accountable for the beliefs that the ego in us is holding and puts our focus on defending ourselves. It pushes the label “racist” on some and others are free of the Scarlett letter. We are collectively programmed with these false beliefs by the ego. It would do us good to acknowledge and examine them. I can see I need to express this differently but I feel it’s important especially to convey this as “It’s okay we all have these beliefs, let’s examine or be aware of it and let it go each time it comes up because it’s false and not who we are”Zeinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05156319153289002834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-50417783870646645082024-01-15T19:10:24.801-05:002024-01-15T19:10:24.801-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Zeinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05156319153289002834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-35913948527579782562024-01-15T18:46:38.383-05:002024-01-15T18:46:38.383-05:00Zeina: You are mistaken in your interpretation of ...Zeina: You are mistaken in your interpretation of my post. I feel like you are judging me unfairly. I do not equate large, muscular, dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes with being unattractive. I thought I made it pretty clear in this post that I do not not accept this cultural standard. If that point did not come across in the post, then I failed. I was combatting racist stereotypes, yet you accuse me of racism! And on MLK Day! One of my heroes! <br /><br />The reason I mentioned that Jesus may have been unattractive was because of the messianic prophecy that says he was unattractive. That is the sole reason. You can read it in its entirety for yourself. It has nothing to do with race. That prophecy says nothing about race, nor has it ever been interpreted that way to my knowledge. The fact that you interpreted it this way and assumed that unattractive had to do with race is your own assumption. It is not there. <br /><br />And it is not in me, except insofar as all people are unconsciously bias toward their own culture. Be careful about judging others without first examining your own bias. Jesus said that using the metaphors about logs and splinters. Also be aware of assuming that physically unattractive is a negative. That is a cultural stereotype as well, which I also reject. Marshall Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13258746699175155741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-25087778401641080712024-01-15T17:56:58.514-05:002024-01-15T17:56:58.514-05:00I normally enjoy your nondual talks and interpreta...I normally enjoy your nondual talks and interpretations but I feel the need to call you out on this statement.<br /><br />“Jesus looked like a large, muscular construction worker, with dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. He was probably unattractive to look at”<br /><br />This statement you made above is problematic and shows your own unconscious racism/white supremacist thinking. You have associated large, muscular, dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes with unattractive. As if it were a fact. And you associate a white blond man with light eyes and thin as attractive. As if that were a fact. White people have been doing this since forever- associating their opinions and delusions of grandeur with fact and shoving it down our throats. You need a little more self awareness to be aware of your own unconscious white supremacist thinking.Zeinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05156319153289002834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-65624035577680857972024-01-10T00:16:37.130-05:002024-01-10T00:16:37.130-05:00So will you stray beyond the Canonical Gospels to ...So will you stray beyond the Canonical Gospels to the Gospel of Thomas etc.?Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06486365931419861660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-82273234879049960332024-01-08T12:53:44.829-05:002024-01-08T12:53:44.829-05:00Like God, I feel you should not hold Jesus in an i...Like God, I feel you should not hold Jesus in an image. Nor yourself or your neighbor. If you must, use your own image as Christ in you. <br /><br />Christopher EmmonsTophnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120643990271278773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-23166418556709655422024-01-08T12:26:18.597-05:002024-01-08T12:26:18.597-05:00Thank you for making me smile as I read about all ...Thank you for making me smile as I read about all your thoughts on what Jesus might look like. Your wordsmithing is a glorious gift. Thank you for sharing it!<br />Blessings, DebDeb Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853092871939863567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-35468233327005095692024-01-08T09:00:32.787-05:002024-01-08T09:00:32.787-05:00Perhaps his appearance can partially be reconstruc...Perhaps his appearance can partially be reconstructed from the "shroud of Turin".<br /> I have seen some fairly compelling reasoning for it to be considered a genuine relic, despite the results of the scientific tests on it in the 70s and 80s.<br /><br />Rene Thomas<br />EnglandRene Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11269373744413362008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-56423448490532054752024-01-08T08:45:33.013-05:002024-01-08T08:45:33.013-05:00Hi Marshall.
I have long suspected that the lette...Hi Marshall.<br /> I have long suspected that the letters of Paul have added to Jesus' teachings a bunch of instructions which Jesus himself might not have endorsed, especially when applied to all churches down the ages since as well as the particular churches to whom the letters were originally addressed.<br /> As for the Gospels, I am aware that the unavoidable distortions caused by translating them have made theit meaning difficult to be certain about, which is further complicated by our varying degrees of unfamiliarity with the historical period and society that they belong to.<br /> I have myself pondered whether their content is basically accurate or whether the events and dialogue have been embellished, tampered with or even sabotaged and subverted.<br /> Having suspected this myself, I can't fault your bold endeavour to try and peel away any alterations from Jesus' message and his life story.<br /> However, anyone else considering embarking on such an investigation needs to be prepared to not only to dive into a rabbit-hole, but possibly to plunge into an abyss, in terms of leaving behind any confidence in the deepest and perhaps most dearly held beliefs.<br /> If you start to question whether Jesus said what he said and did what he did, there might be no way of putting the lid back on the can of worms, if you'll excuse the mix of metaphors.<br /> Anyone reading this blog is unlikely to be unwilling to explore their attitudes to religion and faith, but dissecting the Gospels can easily lead to such potential results as abandoning the belief that Jesus existed at all, or arriving at the conclusion as that he was in opposition to the God of the Hebrew scriptures.<br /> I look forward to hearing updates on how this quest affects your reading of the scriptures and your views on (or even belief in) Jesus himself.<br /> Rene Thomas<br /> EnglandRene Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11269373744413362008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-69940574265975048782024-01-07T11:44:19.085-05:002024-01-07T11:44:19.085-05:00I agree with your assessment. However, I believe ...I agree with your assessment. However, I believe Jesus was attractive for one reason. Love transforms. I had a friend in my youth who had horrible acne, which I found somewhat unattractive. Yet over the years, my friend became more attractive in my eyes and I truly do not know whether his acne improved or my love for my friend transformed my perception. Those who loved Jesus, I believe, would not have found him unattractive for this very reason. He was so loving, he was so filled with God's love and the Spirit's energy and it is that which made him attractive. The problem with any physical rendering of Jesus is that it cannot possibly capture that aspect of him. Ann CadyAnn Cadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125861568473617721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-71102304584718267692024-01-03T11:46:23.163-05:002024-01-03T11:46:23.163-05:00Oh, thank you!! I repeat…..thank you!
I have list...Oh, thank you!! I repeat…..thank you!<br />I have listened to your podcasts and have learned so much, but you have hit the nail on the head with this email. I SO agree with you. I have felt this way about Paul and Jesus for a long time but have been censored in my speech. I have kept these thoughts hidden in my heart,knowing that they are true. You have so eloquently and humbly exposed these thoughts……these ides….these truths. I look forward to your next year of teaching. You have truly blessed me and I pray that you will be blessed as well, as you continue to teach truth.<br />This is Robin from Canada.<br />Grace<br />Abide.Robin Oicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07590187980132691709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-69593821227752003062024-01-02T14:45:20.355-05:002024-01-02T14:45:20.355-05:00You hit a train of thought I have had for a long t...You hit a train of thought I have had for a long time, but just had not dwelled on it or put it into words much. Thank you Marshall. <br />Jennifer Samuel Shakir Jennifer Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05952787863134346763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-45840628232424948102024-01-01T19:57:41.434-05:002024-01-01T19:57:41.434-05:00Over the past few years I have felt a strong urge ...Over the past few years I have felt a strong urge to do this as well. I was raised Catholic, although my family was more or less one of those families that would "go through the motions," so to speak, and there wasn't much substance to our faith. On top of that, I was a rather rebellious kid, always questioning those who held a place of power and authority, because I didn't want to blindly accept what I was told. I needed experiential proof because I truly wanted to understand the workings of the world and to experience God directly (as much as possible, that is). I thought it was quite odd that during church services we didn't focus on the words of Jesus, but spent the majority of the time going through books, letters, etc., not written by Jesus. Intuitively I knew that through the words of Jesus alone Truth would shine forth, but never actually made the decision to go through the New Testament with a strict emphasis on what Jesus said directly. So many of the disagreements among different denominations (and between religions, for that matter) could be resolved by focusing on Jesus' words, which are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It's about time we take that to heart. <br /><br />I also want to thank you for all that you have done in bringing a non-dual perspective to the Christian faith. For the past year or so I have been extensively studying Advaita Vedanta and because of your work I find it incredibly seamless to harmonize the two, which I honestly believe Jesus would wholeheartedly support. After all, the ultimate Truth cannot be expressed in language, but the great prophets can point us toward that Truth which is eternally present as our very being. elfman5150https://www.blogger.com/profile/02750341068267570764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5839286112311865682.post-62969063211365147932023-12-23T21:41:35.523-05:002023-12-23T21:41:35.523-05:00The Universality of Christ in all peoples regardle...The Universality of Christ in all peoples regardless of their beliefs, doctrine, religion, differences of any kind. The message that all people are part of the Great I Am, and are brothers and sisters in the family of God is the true message of Namaste, Emmanuel. How awesome and how beautiful. Reminds me that even the worst among us, in their unconscious state, acting with evil and hateful and selfish intent, are at their essence the I AM.<br /><br />Patrick Kernan<br />Broken Arrow, OKpatrickkernan302https://www.blogger.com/profile/14696089959213445405noreply@blogger.com