Sunday, February 25, 2018

Built to Last

"It Just Be That Way ~~~Sometimes"
~ ! ~ ! ~ Change in Life is One Thing you can Count On... >>> But Some Things Remain The Same ~ Eternal >>> "It just be that Way > Sometimes!"

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When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them:
3"Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted.
5Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God's approval. They will be satisfied.
7Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully.
8Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.
9Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God's children.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.
13"You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
14"You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. 15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. 16In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
17"Don't ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn't come to set them aside but to make them come true. 18I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true. 19So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God's approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.' 22But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire. 23"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, 24leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift. 25"Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 26I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Never commit adultery.' 28But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart. 29"So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.
31"It has also been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.' 32But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.
33"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.' 34But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. Don't swear an oath by heaven, which is God's throne, 35or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. 36And don't swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white. 37Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.
38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. 40If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. 42Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. 46If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! 47Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! 48That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

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21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’21"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:21"You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.
22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Fool!' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, You moron!' will be subject to hellfire.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,23"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;23So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Monday, February 19, 2018

HAPPY (Goodness Mercy) NEW YEAR

May Blessing Flow and Our Ship be
On Course (Corrected Course, of course).
. . . and try to get Our Life "ShipShape",
making Time Well, in Health, Lived with Right Thought
Word Action . . . Right in the Now
a Very Present Help
~ ~ ~ * * * 8 8 8 * * * ~ ~ ~
"Help Us move Forward, Mighty God, in All Goodness and Love
overcoming
all obstacles In Life/Ourselves by Your Strength, Mercy, Grace
and Goodness. Thank you Jesus for Eternal Life Now" (Jah Our New's Prayer)

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
"Help"
 
"ON THE WAY"
.

Monday, February 12, 2018

Peace and a "Sound Mind"

 2 Timothy 1:7 [Full Chapter]
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Corinthians 14:33 King James Version

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33 in all English translations 

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2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

1 Corinthians 14:33 Amplified Bible

33 for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.
As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints?{FAMILY} (God’s people),

                                                             Mindfulness
 

Roky
"Starry Eyes" 
^^^

Romans 12

12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service]. For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other]. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, [d]with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; 11 never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; 12 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], 13 contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them]. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself. 17 Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap [e]burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.

VVV
Below Roky with Billy Gibbons
@
Austin City Limits

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Mighty Hard Pleasure~Too Many Years

Mighty Hard Pleasure


honey, can i have a sip from your water glass?
oh, that’s a fine thing to share
i remember back when robbie rebein
you know he got me drinking
Lord, it’s been a mighty hard pleasure


i was 22, thought all the burdens i knew
were too much to bear
now i’m 45, lucky to be alive
after fighting the spoiled child inside
you know, i found it takes a long time
just to bury the trash that
comes with the treasure
shoot, it’s been a mighty hard pleasure


how many of you live in the world of deals?
tell me, what have you learned?
most sellers don’t give a damn
what you’re made of
yeah, or how it’s earned
they got a remedy for your humility
man, it’s made of the finest
steel and leather
gentlemen, you make it a
mighty hard pleasure


but i got my lucky boots on
and a desire i can’t tame
and i got a picture of my gal
and a wedding ring
i got some old wounds you could open—
i hope you refrain
honey, don’t tempt me with nothing
that i don’t already disdain


even in love or what passes for love
it aint always an easy thing
we’re jacked up by fantasy
from the tv
and even the songs we sing
and one side of you knows to refuse,
the other’s dying to get together
girls, you’ve made it a
mighty hard, hard pleasure


hey baby, can i have another sip
from your water glass?
oh, that’s a fine thing to share
i remember back when robert rebein
God, he got me drinking
Lord, it’s been a mighty hard pleasure


i remember when i was just a little boy
but i started really thinking
Lord above, it’s been
a mighty hard pleasure


Mighty Hard Pleasure


"Too Many Years"


JORMA KAUKONEN
"Too Many Years"
I opened the door and I found I was looking at danger;
It's been too many years but we're hiding our faces like strangers;
She says that she's got to gobut there ain't no way;
I'm letting her walk while there's something to say;
It's been too many years,
To watch our hearts die in this way.
She's feeling a time for a seasonal change and she's yearning;
To shake the trees of our love in the streets where the leaves are for burning;
All things on this earth were made for the dying;
One look in my soul says there just ain't no use trying;
It's been too many years,
To watch our hearts die in this way.
In an unwritten time I thought that life was for sharing;
And living together was simply a matter of caring;
But things did not work out like I planned;
And alienation has left me here damned;
It's been too many years,
To watch our hearts die in this way
  

Living in the Moment

 

Monday, January 29, 2018

              Summer Time
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Make Us a Blessing, God!!!


Hearing and Doing
19This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.…
Cross References
Proverbs 10:19
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 14:29
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
Proverbs 16:32
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 17:27
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make Us a Blessing.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&>>>>>>>>
Perseverance in Temptation >>>   from the book of James  
16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
Cross References
Psalm 85:12
The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
Psalm 102:27
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
Psalm 136:7
who made the great lights-- His love endures forever.
Daniel 2:22
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Malachi 3:6
"I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Matthew 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
John 3:3
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
John 3:27
To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
1 Timothy 6:16
who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
James 3:15
Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Treasury of Scripture
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning.
good. See on ver.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Now Here 2018

Sixty Three Circles in the UniVerse ~ ! ~ ! ~
Happy Birthday, my Love, January 15 ~ ! ~ ! ~
  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >

  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >
"That Cool Jewish Dude"
   ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcomea it.
~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >
9The true Light who enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11He came to the own, and the own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to be children of God—to those believing in His name, 13who were born not of blood, nor of will of flesh, nor of will of man, but of God.
The Word became flesh
(Psalm 84:1-12)
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John witnesses concerning Him, and he cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I was saying, ‘The One coming after me has precedence over me, because He was before me.’”
16For from His fullness, we have all received and grace upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God,b the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. 

  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >
"That Cool Jewish Dude"
{Turning "Nowhere into Now Here 2018  ~ ! ~ ! ~ discarding the negative ~ accentuating the Positive/Grace and fixing what is wrong  ~ doing and Living Right}
   ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > >  ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > > ~ ! ~ ! ~ > > &
gt;
 

6 X 3 = 3 X 6 = 18
20.50 ~; 20 X 50 = 1,000
0's are a Metaphor for nowhere or NOW HERE
= ONE   ~ ! ~ ! ~
Be Here Now at 108 Park Avenue
"Welcome Home"
~ ! ~ !~
0123456789 2 X 9 = 18 (Eight is Everlasting/Eternal/Infinity with Nine being Completion)
~ ! ~ ! ~
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gematria

  ~ ! ~ ! ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~    ~ ! ~ ! ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~    ~ ! ~ ! ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~
July Second , 2018  (07 ~ 02 ~ 2018) Twenty Fifth Anniversary
2 X 5 = ONE    ~ ! ~ ! ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~
   ~ ! ~ ! ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~  (Seven Two is Happy Couple)


Be Here Now
"Welcome Home"


Sunday, January 7, 2018

World Party - Here Comes The Future

~ ~ ~ GOING GOOD INTO 2018 ~ ! ~ ! ~
~ ~ ~ TRYING TO WORK IT OUT ~ ! ~ ! ~
 ~ ~ ~ GOING HOME, BUT FOR GRACE, INTO 2018 ~ ! ~ ! ~
~ ~ ~   ~ ! ~ ! ~

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Moving Forward #Mississippi

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Moving Forward
~ ~ ~ 2018
~ ~ ~ "Getting Our Ship on Corrected Course"
~ ~ ~ and in the direction of Our Lives "Shipshape".
~ ~ ~ Grace and Help from God, "Our only Hope, left"
for ~ ~ ~ 2018

Mississippi

Written by: Bob Dylan
Every step of the way we walk the line
Your days are numbered, so are mine
Time is pilin’ up, we struggle and we scrape
We’re all boxed in, nowhere to escape

City’s just a jungle; more games to play
Trapped in the heart of it, tryin' to get away
I was raised in the country, I been workin’ in the town
I been in trouble ever since I set my suitcase down

Got nothin' for you, I had nothin' before
Don’t even have anything for myself anymore
Sky full of fire, pain pourin’ down
Nothing you can sell me, I’ll see you around

All my powers of expression and thoughts so sublime
Could never do you justice in reason or rhyme
Only one thing I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long

Well, the devil’s in the alley, mule’s in the stall
Say anything you wanna, I have heard it all
I was thinkin’ 'bout the things that Rosie said
I was dreaming I was sleepin' in Rosie’s bed

Walkin' through the leaves, falling from the trees
Feelin' like a stranger nobody sees
So many things that we never will undo
I know you’re sorry, I’m sorry too

Some people will offer you their hand and some won’t
Last night I knew you, tonight I don’t
I need somethin’ strong to distract my mind
I’m gonna look at you ’til my eyes go blind

Well I got here followin' the southern star
I crossed that river just to be where you are
Only one thing I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long

Well my ship’s been split to splinters and it’s sinkin' fast
I’m drownin’ in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it’s light and it’s free
I’ve got nothin’ but affection for all those who’ve sailed with me

Everybody movin’ if they ain’t already there
Everybody got to move somewhere
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interestin' right about now

My clothes are wet, tight on my skin
Not as tight as the corner that I painted myself in
I know that fortune is waitin’ to be kind
So give me your hand and say you’ll be mine

Well, the emptiness is endless, cold as the clay
You can always come back, but you can’t come back all the way
Only one thing I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Gospel Good Spell

Good Hope for the coming year 2018
God Spell (Bob teaching..."according to")



Matthew 24:14English Standard Version (ESV)

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Defects of Character

On Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7

From a 45 year old article on Going Through the Steps is a listing of 20 character defects we should ask ourselves about as we take our inventory. In Step 4 as we take a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, we must find out what we've got, what we need to get rid of, and what we need to acquire. The "fearless" is not about how we feel, but about what we write, thoroughly, rigorously honest. There are 20 character defects to ask about -- the individual wrongs we have done are not necessary to go over, just the defects that caused them. The inventory is of our defects, not our incidents.
Going over the listing, we ask ourself have we honestly admitted our defects to ourself as we write out on paper how they have manifested in our lives and created the unmanageability we have known.
Here are the defects:
  1. Resentment, Anger

  2. Fear, Cowardice

  3. Self pity

  4. Self justification

  5. Self importance, Egotism

  6. Self condemnation, Guilt

  7. Lying, Evasiveness, Dishonesty

  8. Impatience

  9. Hate

  10. False pride, Phoniness, Denial

  11. Jealousy

  12. Envy

  13. Laziness

  14. Procrastination

  15. Insincerity

  16. Negative Thinking

  17. Immoral thinking

  18. Perfectionism, Intolerance

  19. Criticizing, Loose Talk, Gossip

  20. Greed
Having admitted these defects to ourselves, having thoroughly inventoried them and written out how they have manifested and controlled our actions and reactions in life, we have completed Step 4.
Are we now willing to share them with another and with God? We must ask ourself if we are willing to go to any length to get rid of these same defects that caused our life to be unmanageable. Do we want to get rid of them, even those that were "fun"? Perhaps you will have some hesitancy sharing all this with another. I did. Not to worry, you haven't done anything that each of us hasn't done in one fashion or another. And you will hear someone in meetings tell your story, maybe not all of it, but a great portion of it.
(The way it was put to me, "Until someone in AA knows everything you know about yourself, you are nowhere. The result is nil until you tell it all and let go absolutely." So then I asked "How will I know when it is right for me to DO the 5th Step?" and his answer was just as blunt, "When you have to make a conscious decision between DOING the 5th Step or going out and getting drunk, that's when!")
In Step 5, we bring these things we have written out to the light of day, from out of the Shadows of Our Mind, by admitting them to another person, and the God of our understanding.. Having told someone else ALL our life story, we have completed Step 5. (Another Not To Worry -- Even if something of importance has been left out or missed, I can guarantee you "MORE SHALL BE REVEALED")
How can we ask God to get rid of the THINGS we did in our past? WE CAN'T!! He cannot remove things that have already happened. We can ask to get rid of the defects, which caused us to act in the manner we did by taking Step 6. (Steps 8 and 9 handle the restitution for things past, as WE set them right.)
Step 6 is the step that separates the men from the boys. If we can honestly say we are ENTIRELY ready (not almost, not just about, not partially) to have God remove ALL (not some) of these defects, even the ones that were fun, remembering that in step 3 we turned our will and our life over to God's care with complete abandon, then we have completed Step 6.
Step 7 asks us to come up with something we don't have, never had, and are unlikely to come up with anytime soon. But Step 7 is the beginning of acquiring it ... True Humility ... With a simple prayer to our Higher Power, as we ask that ALL our character defects which stand in the way of our usefullness to Him and our fellows be removed, we have completed step 7.
(For myself, I have had to repeat that prayer many, many times, sometimes moment by moment, as I have found that God does not remove a character defect if I am doing it... I have first had to stop from doing it, ask for His help to not do it, and then He removed the need for doing it. Same like with the need to drink, I had to stop first.)
And that is another story, the continuing saga of Steps 10, 11 and 12, as I remember that my spiritual awakening and continuing spiritual awareness is THE RESULT of working, DOING, and LIVING ALL of the 12 Steps! There is no message to carry unless I have done the first 9 Steps and am living the last three. I can't give what I don't have, even though I might want to. I must try to practice the principles of the Steps in ALL my affairs, every day, one day at a time. By that the message is given.
These are the Twelve Simple Principles by which one leads a truly Spiritual Life and completes the learning of the Lessons of Love.
Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Brotherly Love, Justice, Perseverance, Spirituality, and Service to One Another. (Those are the character assets we need to acquire.)
NONE of these are possible without the development of TRUST! And that I learned from you!!

After a person objected to the above, as it does not mention in the listing of 20 character defects of any character "assets", and they were looking for a "feel good" in their inventory of "their assets," I added the following ... after thinking about the people I have buried from alcoholism over the years ... and the many who have come whimpering back, time after time after time ... who were constantly looking for a "feel good", and who after looking at the "feel goods" in their inventory, decided "I am not that bad yet."
My sponsors and the BigBook informed me that I was bankrupt in every department, had no stock in trade, that all my "best characteristics" had worked hand in hand with all of my "character defects", the combination of my "best thinking", one excusing the other, to keep me out there and drunk.
They insisted that the inventory was not about making me feel good, it was about deflating my ego in depth and making me determined to clean up my mess. They informed me, "If we (meaning them) find anything that is any good we will let you know!"
I went to a 70 year old dictionary and found this applicable definition of "taking inventory" -- "To make an appraisal, as of one's personal characteristics and liabilities, etc."
This definition is properly in context with the writing and understanding of Steps 4 and 5 in the BigBook in 1938 and 1939.

More On Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7

Yes, there is "some" good in the the worst of us, that is true. How many times has it been said, "He's a grand fellow when he is not drunk." But nowhere in these steps is there a search for character "assets." It is a search for the root causes of our drinking to escape our fears and insecurities, our DEFECTS. 4.Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5.Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
As we work at the fourth, the BigBook does mention that by this time we have begun to learn and demonstrate a few assets, Trust, Faith and Courage. We have begun to develop Self-Honesty, Tolerance of self and others, Patience and Good Will toward all men, and we have commenced to outgrow fear.
The process of the steps is to dig out our character defects, and expose them, so that they can be eliminated, root and branch.
In the beginning paragraph of Chapter 6, Into Action,..
    "We have been trying to get a new attitude, a new relationship with our Creator, and to discover the obstacles in our path. We have admitted certain defects; we have ascertained in a rough way what the trouble is; we have put our finger on the weak items in our personal inventory. Now these are about to be cast out."
What is to be cast out?? Our Character DEFECTS, those things which we have inventoried and found.... (and more shall be revealed as we develop more assets, like rigorous self-honesty, self-esteem, acceptance of self and forgiveness.) The BEST reason for being thorough in Steps 4 and 5 in our rooting out of our defects of character, bringing them to light and casting them out, to paraphrase the BigBook,
    "If we skip these vital steps, we may not overcome drinking. More than likely we will drink again."
Or as my sponsors said, "Until someone in AA knows everything you know about yourself, you are nowhere, bud."
Why? Because until ALL our character DEFECTS are uncovered and exposed in Steps 4 and 5, and cast out in Steps 6 and 7, the old thought system still has a basis for return. That's Why!
The reason and need for Steps 6 and 7 is simple to understand, knowing our past failures (and the shame and guilt and fears of our failures) at trying all sorts of ways to correct our defects of character, things that we have already known were wrong, for years, in all the ways mentioned in Chapter 3, ad infinitum... WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN, WE NEED HELP, and the HELP has to come from somewhere outside ourselves, from a POWER GREATER THAN OURSELF.
In Step 6, the step that "separates the men from the boys," we again demonstrate courage, willingness, trust in our Higher Power, and a few more assets that we have begun to develop, integrity, determination, consistency, and diligence as we repeatedly apply Step 6 to all our character defects - without any reservation of mind or body whatsoever.
Step 7, in all its simplicity, with a simple prayer, is in fact the completion of the decision made in Step 3, we have abandoned ourselves to our Higher Power. (At least for the time being. We have a lifetime ahead of us to learn to make the decision and leave it alone, instead of tinkering with it to make it fit our thinking.) We shall be remaking the decision and repeating the simple prayer many times as we trudge the Road to Happy Destiny.
As we trudge along, over the hills and valleys of life, we see that the practice of all the steps is a day at a time thing, and that the more we adhere to them and LIVE THEM, the sweeter life gets. How Sweet It Is!!!

194 Character Defects
1 Abusing Others for enjoyment
2 Action, failing to take
3 Aloof
4 Anger Anger 37, 66, 88, 108, 135
5 Antagonistic
6 Anxiety
7 Anxious, overly
8 Apathetic
9 Apologetic, overly
10 Appearances, preoccupied or obsessed with
11 Argumentative
12 Arrogance
13 Avarice
14 Avoiding confrontation
15 Beating yourself up
16 Beauty, obsession or preoccupation with
17 Bigotry
18 Blaming others for disease
19 Blaming self for disease
20 Boastful
21 Boundaries, not setting
22 Busybody
23 Cheating
24 Choosing easy prey, gossip
25 Choosing easy prey, physical
26 Closed-mindedness
27 Codependenc
28 Coldheartedness
29 Communication, avoiding
30 Communication, poor
31 Companions, seeking corrupt / lower
32 Compassion, lack of
33 Competitive, excessively
34 Complaining
35 Conceit
36 Condemning
37 Confrontation, avoiding
38 Controlling
39 Controlling Others
40 Cowardice
41 Critical
42 Crude
43 Deceptive, deceiving
44 Dependency, dependent
45 Dependent on parents
46 Destructive
47 Devious
48 Different, thinking you are
49 Disease, feeling responsible for/taking credit for
50 Disease, making excuses for
51 Disease, not accepting
52 Dishonesty
53 Dishonesty by omission
54 Disorganized
55 Egotistical
56 Envious
57 Exaggeration
58 Excess
59 Faith, lack of faith in God
60 Fanatical
61 Fantasizing
62 Favoritism, playing favorites
63 Fearful
64 Filthy-mindedness
65 Financially dependent on others
66 Financially insecure
67 Following through, failing to
68 Frustration
69 Gluttony
70 Gossiping
71 Greed
72 Guilt, about sexual fantasies
73 Guilt, excessive feelings of
74 Guilt, feeling guilty for things beyond control
75 Harsh
76 Hate
77 Hatred of others
78 Hatred of self
79 Health, irresponsibility with or neglect of
80 Help, refusing/not asking for
81 Hopelessness
82 Ignorance Ignorance 2, 20, 107
83 Ill wishes toward others
84 Immodesty
85 Impatience
86 Impulsive purchaser
87 Inadequacy, sense of
88 Incompassionate
89 Inconsiderate Inconsiderate 69, 82, 108, 125
90 Indecisive Indecision 86
91 Indifferent
92 Injustice
93 Insecure in your own skin
94 Insecure in sexuality
95 Insecurity, financial
96 Insensitivity
97 Insincerity Insincere 96
98 Intolerance Intolerance 50, 103, 120, 135, 160
99 Intolerance of sick people
100 Inventory, taking other’s
101 Irresponsibility
102 Irresponsibility, financial
103 Irresponsible
104 Isolating
105 Jealousy
106 Judgmental of others
107 Knowing it all
108 Laziness
110 Leering, crude toward Lewd
112 Lifestyles, not accepting others’
113 Love and friendship, refusal to accept
114 Lustful
115 Lying
116 Making excuses for disease
insecure
118 Manipulative
119 Measuring self against others
120 Meddling
121 Messy
122 Miserliness
123 Negative body image
124 Negative Thinking
125 Negatives, focusing on or magnifying
126 Neglectful
127 Opinionated
128 Opinions, not respecting others’
129 Overcompensating for projected wrongs
130 Overcompensating for weaknesses
131 Perfectionism
132 Pessimism
133 Physical appearance, obsession or preoccupation with
134 Physical health, neglect of
135 Playing God
136 Playing God with self
137 Positives, not looking at
138 Possessive
139 Preachy
140 Prejudice
141 Pride, False
142 Pride, Intellectual
143 Pride, Spiritual
144 Procrastination
145 Program, working other’s
146 Psychoanalysis of others
147 Reckless
148 Remorseful
149 Resentment
150 Revenge, vengefulness
151 Rude
152 Sarcastic
153 Secretive
154 Seeking attention
155 Seeking negative attention
156 Self Condemnation
157 Self Deprecating humor
158 Self Importance
159 Self Justification
160 Self Pity
161 Self reliance
162 Self Seeking
163 Self, putting self on pedestal
164 Self-absorbed
165 Self-centeredness Self-centeredness 14, 61, 62, 64, 111*, 124
166 Self-hatred
167 Self-indulgence
168 Selfishness Selfish 7, 21, 61, 67, 69, 82, 84, 86, 87
169 Self-loathing
170 Setting expectations
171 Sex, hidden
172 Sex, lack of appreciation for
173 Skeptical
174 Sloth
175 Stealing Stealing 68
176 Step on others to get to top
177 Stewardship of assets, poor
178 Suspicious
179 Thoughtless
180 Thrill-seeking
181 Uncharitableness
182 Uncleanness
183 Undependable
184 Undisciplined
185 Unfaithful
186 Ungrateful
187 Uniqueness, terminal
188 Unreliable
189 Untrustworthy
190 Valuing the opinion of a sick mind
191 Vengeful
192 Vulgar Immoral Thinking
193 Wasteful
194 Worry

Saturday, November 11, 2017

VA Mindfulness Therapy

{more video/multimedia links~~~https://www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/resources/multimedia/index.asp}

.....<<<<<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>.....

Mindfulness: Embracing the Moment

Veteran Colby practices mindfulness. He stands with his back to the camera in front of a labyrinth, outside the Los Angels VAMC.
Veteran Colby practices mindfulness. One way he has learned to live in the moment is by walking through a labyrinth.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Do you live in the moment?
For Army Veteran Colby living in the moment — a practice called “mindfulness” — is essential for his health and well-being. But this didn’t come naturally for him.
“We get around, and we don’t just step back and take a look at what’s really going on around us,” Colby says. “We’re just kind of caught up in the day-to-day activities.”
After returning from service in 2008, Colby had trouble transitioning back into civilian life. Struggling to deal with his racing thoughts, he turned to alcohol. “Drinking was pretty much my No. 1 coping mechanism,” he says. “It just got really bad, to the point where I needed help.”
To get the help he needed, Colby turned to his local VA facility: the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Through spirituality programs and therapy sessions — both one-on-one and as part of groups — he has been able to practice techniques that allow him to be more present in everyday life.
With his ability to live with mindful awareness improving, Colby now has time to consider what matters most to him in greater depth. “My wife [and I] are getting along a lot better,” he says. “I can enjoy the little things with my children. That’s probably the most important thing.”
Colby is one of many who have seen positive results by focusing on mindfulness. In fact, the VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative’s Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) has developed an evidence map of mindfulness to show the amount of literature on various mindfulness techniques and their effectiveness for treating many medical conditions.
Take a moment to read ESP’s evidence map of mindfulness, and explore how living in the moment can improve health and well-being in quantifiable ways. Watch this brief video, “What Is Mindfulness,” to learn more about this powerful practice, and download the mindfulness audio podcasts to begin your own practice.


Thursday, November 9, 2017

VA Downloadable Videos~CBT~MBT~PhysicalThoughtWordDeedRelationships Health

(Living Skills~!~!~)

Downloadable Videos

These files are NOT optimized for streaming over the internet. For the best viewing experience, visit the VHA YouTube channel and explore the "Patient Centered Care" playlist.

How to Download Videos

In order to download a copy of any of our videos, navigate to the correct video file below and then:
  1. Right click on the file
  2. Choose "Save target as..."
  3. Navigate to an appropriate location on your personal computer


Whole Health System Series


Core Concept Video


The "Components" Video Series


"Health for Life" Video Series


Mindfulness Video Series


Breathing, Streching, Relaxation (BSR) Video Series


Practicing What Matters Most Video Series


VA Motion Story Series


Whole Health Education Video Series


On Demand Audio Files (Podcasts) Mindfulness Series, developed at GLAHCS

Thursday, October 12, 2017

12OCT17GoodKindBridgeAAGroup

Open w/ "moment of Silence" for "Those Alcoholics still suffering on top of these bridges and those under the bridges",
... followed by the Serenity Prayer:
"

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Upper Room Reading>>>>>>>>
Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither 
toil nor spin, yet . . . even Solomon in all his 
glory was not clothed like one of these. - Matthew 6:28-29 (NRSV)
When we visited Ajo, Arizona, we went on a tour of the desert south of the city. There we spotted the Ajo lily, or desert lily. It has a beautiful flower, like a smaller version of the Easter lily. It only grows in the deserts of the American Southwest and in northern Mexico. The Spanish called it the Ajo lily because the native people prepared food with its bulbs, which tasted like ajo (the Spanish word for garlic).
When I saw this beautiful plant thriving in such an arid, sandy environment, I was amazed at how God creates beauty in even the most desolate places.
God brings beauty into our lives in the same way. Even in our deserts of hurt, loneliness, and despair, God reminds us that we can thrive where we are planted and share the beauty of our faith with our neighbors. When we dedicate our lives to God, we can look past the 
ugliness we may see in ourselves to see God’s beauty in our lives and in the world.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, remind us that where we see ugliness you see beauty; where we see fear, you see hope. Amen.
Thought for the Day
God can make love bloom anywhere in my life.
Prayer Focus > Someone who is lonely
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Getting plenty of rest
For at least three reasons, people who drink heavily often cannot realize how tired they are. The reasons are three characteristics of alcohol: (1) It
is full of calories, which give instant energy; (2) it numbs the central nervous system, so that one cannot fully feel body discomfort; (3) after its
anesthetic effect wears off, it produces agitation that feels like nervous energy.
After we stop drinking, the agitating effect may persist for a while, leading to jumpiness and insomnia. Or we may suddenly become aware of
our fatigue and so feel worn-out and lethargic. Or the two conditions may alternate.
Either is a normal reaction that thousands of us have had at the very beginning of our sobriety, in degrees depending on our previous drinking
and general state of health. Both wear off sooner or later and need not cause any alarm.
But it is very important to get plenty of rest when we stop drinking, because the notion of having a drink seems to arrive from nowhere with
greater ease when we are tired.
Many of us have wondered why we suddenly feel like taking a drink, for no apparent reason. When we examine the situation, time after time we
find that we are feeling exhausted and hadn't realized it. Chances are, we have used up too much energy and have not had enough rest. Generally,
a snack of some kind or a little nap can change our feelings completely, and the idea of a drink vanishes. Even if we can't fall asleep, just a few
minutes of lying down, or relaxing in a chair or a tub, take the edge off the fatigue.
It's even better, of course, to get our lives on a healthy schedule which permits a sufficient regular rest period every 24 hours.
Not all, but thousands of us can tell stories of insomnia spells after we quit drinking. Evidently, it takes a little while for the nervous system to
learn (or usually to relearn) the habit of regular, undisturbed sleep without alcohol in the body. What may be the worst part of this is our worry
about it, because the worrying makes it even harder to get to sleep.
The first advice we commonly give each other on this point is "Don't worry. Nobody has ever died of lack of sleep. When your body is tired
enough, you'll sleep." And so it turns out.
Since insomnia was so often the excuse many of us gave ourselves for "needing a drink or two," we largely agree that a brand-new attitude
toward insomnia helps in trying not to drink. Rather than toss and turn and fret about it, some of us give in to it, get up, and get some reading and
writing done in the wee hours.
Meanwhile, it is a good idea to check out our other health habits to see whether we are in any way making sleep difficult for ourselves. Too much
caffeine in the evenings? Are we eating properly? Getting enough of the right kind of exercise? Is the digestive system functioning properly yet?
That may take some time.
Many simple, old-fashioned recipes for insomnia actually help, such as a glass of hot milk, deep breathing, a soak in a warm tub, a dull book, or
some soft music. Some prefer more exotic gimmicks. One recovered alcoholic recommends heated ginger ale with pepper in it! (To each his or
her own!) Others rely on a particular massage, yoga, or various remedies suggested in books on the subject.
Even if we do not fall asleep at once, we can rest by lying still with the eyes closed. Nobody goes to sleep pacing a room or talking all night over
coffee.
If the condition persists, it may be advisable to check with a good physician who understands alcoholism well.
One thing we have learned for sure: Sleeping medicines of any sort are not the answer for alcoholics. They almost invariably lead to drinking,
our experience repeatedly shows.
Because we know how dangerous such medicines can be, some of us have had to put up with slight discomfort for a little while, until our bodies
settled into a healthy sleep routine. Once we are past the temporary unease, when a natural sleep rhythm sets in, we can see that the price was
eminently worth it.
One more curious item about sleep after we stop drinking may be useful. Long after we have weaned ourselves from the bottle, a great many of
us are started to awaken some morning or night realizing we have just had an all-too-vivid dream about drinking.
Not all of us have such dreams. But enough have for us to know that they are common, and harmless.
AA is not a program of dream interpretation, so we cannot point out the hidden meanings, if any, that such dreams have, as psychoanalysts and
other dream interpreters do. We can report only that such dreams may occur, so don't be too surprised. Among the most common is a dream that
one finds oneself drunk, and horrified about it, but has no memory at all of taking a drink. We may even awaken with chills, shakes, and other
classic hangover jitters—when, of course, we haven't touched a drop in months. It was all just a bad dream. And it may come out of the blue,
long, long after our last drink.
Probably, it's a good thing that we find ourselves shook up and miserable at the notion of drinking, even in a dream. Maybe this means we are
really beginning to get the idea, deep down in our bones, that drinking is no good for us. Sobriety is better, even to dream about.
The beauty of sober sleep, once it is achieved, is the sheer pleasure of waking up—no real hangover, no worries about what may have happened
in last night's blackout. Instead, it means facing the new day refreshed, hopeful, and grateful.
Good Kind Bridge - AA Group, Bridgeville
(Mar 15 to Oct 15) Thursdays, 5 to 6 PM
- on the old bridge
- park by the Post Office
- bring a 5 gal Bucket!