Franc Li

Since last week this concept of the adult child of an alcoholic has been percolating in my head.  Even as a child, children of alcoholics are forced to act as adults, but being children they do not know what it means to be an adult.  This is an equation that can apply to so much codependence-- trying to be the thing we need, which we need because it is not what we are.  It occured to me that this has much to do with the fundamentalist approach to God. 

I was also thinking it answers in some respect M. Scott Peck's question of evil, which I think goes like this:  Evil is when a person does not consider the possibility that they could be evil.  Well, you can see that the shape of the paradox is similar.  The person who does not consider that they might be evil believes they are doing the right thing, but it is their own conception of right.  They have no humility.  God said to become as a little child.  God is receptive.  God accepts things as they are.  Perhaps.

As I've been trying to write about my parents, the trap of the fall and mortality weighs on me.  I do not wish to condemn anyone. 

As I go along in life now and then I come upon a truth so large it becomes my One thing (which is from City Slickers:  "Life is about 1 thing."  "What is it?"  "Well, that's what you have to figure out.")  So this one thing is the answer to several questions I'd been having about how it is Mormons believe all sin, but we do not have Original Sin.  I mean, I know we are not born sinful.  It is when we have knowledge of right and wrong that we become able to be accountable for sin.  And at that point, sin is an inevitabililty.  It is why we were born in a fallen world.  But we are not given that fall by our birth, but as we become knowledgeable of the world in which we live. 

How then, did Christ live without sin?  If he could not sin, was he tempted?  We know he was tempted.  The answer that satisfied this for me came from the poem "Immanuel" that I wrote last week.  Christ was fully God and fully man, not part one and part the other.  After a few days I stumbled on a discussion of grace in which it became apparent to me that salvation is not part faith and part grace, but all grace and all [living]faith.  Faith is our fullness, the offering of our heart, might, mind and strength (as we are, our good and bad) to the Lord to ratify (not earn) the bounties of his tender mercy upon us.  The Lord has chosen and accepted us.  Have I chosen and accepted him? 

These words are simply knowing that I know, giving signage to what I have been living.  But there is obstruction falling from my view.  What will I do with it?  That is the question.  If I do no bear fruit, the branches will become corrupted.  I was capturing Jacob 5 yesterday.

To be carnally  minded is death, but to be Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal...
For this is Life Eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ...
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.  Mosiah 26:24
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Why, then, the choice to name his ship after this event? And why name the movie for the ship? Many titles could have been chosen to bring in poster traffic of people who would enjoy a sci fi action adventure. 8 Hawt People on a Spaceship would have won out over Flightplan for a few people. Why this word that evokes drunks hitting bottom, taking it easy, and Let Go, Let God? I haven't dug into Joss Whedon's psyche beyond watching the commentary, but I did find it curious that the movie antagonist, the Operative, declares "I believe in something greater than myself."
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Moroni 7: 3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the ^achurch, that are the ^bpeaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient ^chope by which ye can enter into the ^drest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.

You don't have to die before you go to heaven.  This is the most important thing I have learned so far in life.  When we have a hope in the Lord; we trust him; and we begin to love him with all our heart, might, mind and strength; we become subjects in the kingdom of God.  Now if I can just figure out what my "might" means.  But I think I'm doing pretty well to have my mind and my heart sorted out.