Comments on: you can’t get there from here (or can you) http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507 the thoughts and life of just another nobody Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:20:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: MyWalkBlog » Not alone out here in the uttermost parts… http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67768 MyWalkBlog » Not alone out here in the uttermost parts… Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:11:57 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67768 [...] One of the interesting parts of my journey has been the initial isolation you feel when you begin the trek down a different path. The further I go down the path the more I come across others who are on the similar journeys. Today I discovered the blog of Jim Palmer. Just reading his current post, “you can’t get there from here (or can you)“, I found myself excited. One of the sentences that got me really excited was this one: i don’t feel the need to cling to the label “Christian,” and i am okay with people who don’t think i am one. [...] [...] One of the interesting parts of my journey has been the initial isolation you feel when you begin the trek down a different path. The further I go down the path the more I come across others who are on the similar journeys. Today I discovered the blog of Jim Palmer. Just reading his current post, “you can’t get there from here (or can you)“, I found myself excited. One of the sentences that got me really excited was this one: i don’t feel the need to cling to the label “Christian,” and i am okay with people who don’t think i am one. [...]

]]> By: jane http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67654 jane Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:50:50 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67654 Hi Jim, You asked,' what if we lived with that same confidence? Why don't we'? Indeed, why don't we?? I can only speak for myself, but after spending so many years growing up in the IC, I thought I NEEDED more than just following my Heart and opening myself up to the Holy Spirit. (After all, there were all those Bible study classes to attend, committees to sign up for, outreach teams to be a member of!) I just didn't think it could be that simple! But, IMHO...it is that simple! . You also said,'...but even to this day i often wonder as i am conversing with others about “God” if we are talking about the same reality'. So true. I don't feel like I'm talking about the same reality with my family members who are still steeped in the IC, yet they think I'm the one who's 'gone off the deep end'. If that's true...I'll take the deep end any day'. The liberation I've felt since 'shedding religion' has helped make my spirit soar and connect me with others on a Heart level more than I ever imagined. But, I must acknowledge it's been a process and at times the journey has taken me on twists and turns that I never expected. But through it all I've learned one gut-level truth...trust the process! And let go of the outcome! Trust that to the Father. No matter where we are on the path, He's guiding our steps...even in the midst of confusion during the transition from religiosity to metanoia...the re-opening of the Heart to receive Him. That has helped me experience the 'real', regardless of other people's expectations. Peace! Hi Jim,
You asked,’ what if we lived with that same confidence? Why don’t we’? Indeed, why don’t we?? I can only speak for myself, but after spending so many years growing up in the IC, I thought I NEEDED more than just following my Heart and opening myself up to the Holy Spirit. (After all, there were all those Bible study classes to attend, committees to sign up for, outreach teams to be a member of!) I just didn’t think it could be that simple! But, IMHO…it is that simple!
.

You also said,’…but even to this day i often wonder as i am conversing with others about “God” if we are talking about the same reality’. So true. I don’t feel like I’m talking about the same reality with my family members who are still steeped in the IC, yet they think I’m the one who’s ‘gone off the deep end’. If that’s true…I’ll take the deep end any day’. The liberation I’ve felt since ’shedding religion’ has helped make my spirit soar and connect me with others on a Heart level more than I ever imagined. But, I must acknowledge it’s been a process and at times the journey has taken me on twists and turns that I never expected. But through it all I’ve learned one gut-level truth…trust the process! And let go of the outcome! Trust that to the Father. No matter where we are on the path, He’s guiding our steps…even in the midst of confusion during the transition from religiosity to metanoia…the re-opening of the Heart to receive Him. That has helped me experience the ‘real’, regardless of other people’s expectations.
Peace!

]]> By: Roger http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67506 Roger Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:49:01 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67506 I've gone through a very similar experience. My understanding of Christianity, church, the bible and God have undergone radical revisions. But the truth is that I was forcing myself to believe things in order to be who I thought God wanted me to be. In my core being, I was not that person, but in order to be "saved", to be accepted in the IC, to be "orthodox" etc. I had to be someone I was not. If God created me, I think that would be exactly what he wouldn't want! I agree experience is a primary ingredient to this journey. I have experienced freedom, lovingkindness, and joy on a deep, personal level and all of those things I was trying to be don't matter at all. It is a wonderful, scary journey in letting go. I wouldn't change it for the world! I’ve gone through a very similar experience. My understanding of Christianity, church, the bible and God have undergone radical revisions. But the truth is that I was forcing myself to believe things in order to be who I thought God wanted me to be. In my core being, I was not that person, but in order to be “saved”, to be accepted in the IC, to be “orthodox” etc. I had to be someone I was not. If God created me, I think that would be exactly what he wouldn’t want!

I agree experience is a primary ingredient to this journey. I have experienced freedom, lovingkindness, and joy on a deep, personal level and all of those things I was trying to be don’t matter at all.

It is a wonderful, scary journey in letting go. I wouldn’t change it for the world!

]]> By: vicki c http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67488 vicki c Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:55:15 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67488 I am reading your posts and your two past books with great interest. I have not been able to get thru on your e-mail "contact me". is there another way????? I have a question after reading your two books and a another comment. Your books, along with Wayne Jabobsen, Brian Mclaren and William Young are pointing me to freedom and to Jesus. How may I contact you???? (the website "contact me" states 2006 and isnt' getting thru, so tought I'd try this. : ) vicki I am reading your posts and your two past books with great interest.
I have not been able to get thru on your e-mail “contact me”. is there
another way????? I have a question after reading your two books and
a another comment. Your books, along with Wayne Jabobsen, Brian
Mclaren and William Young are pointing me to freedom and to Jesus.
How may I contact you???? (the website “contact me” states 2006 and
isnt’ getting thru, so tought I’d try this. : )
vicki

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67326 Anonymous Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:21:57 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67326 "for all practical purposes, i became an atheist as it relates to the “God” that i had created in my mind" Me too. Jim, I can't believe you wrote this post today. I can't believe I opened your blog to find it here waiting for me. I know its not only for me, but its definitely what I needed to hear today. I had a killer experience this morning at work as an older guy who's been a Christian for 58 years shared with us. It was one of those knife in the chest moments when you KNOW you can't deny what you don't want to hear. I have no clue if any of this makes sense but I do believe in God. He uses you and a few others so often and so powerfully in my life. In a way it pisses me off...not sure why. But I do love you and am so appreciative that you share your journey. It sure has helped me on mine. Oi vay! “for all practical purposes, i became an atheist as it relates to the “God” that i had created in my mind”

Me too. Jim, I can’t believe you wrote this post today. I can’t believe I opened your blog to find it here waiting for me. I know its not only for me, but its definitely what I needed to hear today. I had a killer experience this morning at work as an older guy who’s been a Christian for 58 years shared with us. It was one of those knife in the chest moments when you KNOW you can’t deny what you don’t want to hear. I have no clue if any of this makes sense but I do believe in God. He uses you and a few others so often and so powerfully in my life. In a way it pisses me off…not sure why. But I do love you and am so appreciative that you share your journey. It sure has helped me on mine. Oi vay!

]]> By: Don R http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-67242 Don R Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:17:33 +0000 http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/?p=507#comment-67242 I fully identify with what you are saying. I have questioned the title of Christian as it applies to me many times. I have also come to the conclusion that much of what I "worry" about, concerning who I really am, is ego-centric. I continually have to remind myself of what is important and what isn't. I long for the day when I, like Jesus, can confidently know fully who I am and live that confidently. I fully identify with what you are saying. I have questioned the title of Christian as it applies to me many times. I have also come to the conclusion that much of what I “worry” about, concerning who I really am, is ego-centric. I continually have to remind myself of what is important and what isn’t. I long for the day when I, like Jesus, can confidently know fully who I am and live that confidently.

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