Just Wayne

The God I Am

2012-02-05T06:30:00.000-08:00

A recent exchange of philosophical viewpoints with a younger member of myextended family resulted in the usual outcome… I was told, yet again, that Iwas heading straight into the Fires of Hell because I have turned my back onGod. I can smile at this predictable response from a young Christian because Ino longer believe in this mythical place, but at the same time, I wish itdidn’t have to always end the same way.

Icould go on and on about the irony of “Loving Christians” damning to hellanyone who disagrees with them, but in so doing I would only further alienatemy family and friends, most of whom are either content to remain in theirpresent state of complacency or are, like my father was when he left the churchafter 75 years of service, to old and with too little time to start a newjourney.

Andso to my family and friends, and to anyone else who cares to read it, here iswhat gives me Great Joy today. I share it with you now so that you may knowthat I am quite happy with my life and have no intention of ever returning tothe place I was before. I hope you can understand that and learn to accept mefor who I have become. I don’t need your prayers, your preaching, or your pity.All I need is your acceptance, and for you to perhaps understand that I did notreach these conclusions without much study, contemplation, agonized soulsearching, and yes… even prayer.

THE GOD I AM

Ihave had questions about Christianity all my life, but the ship didn’t startsinking until a few years back, when I wrote my first Statement of Passions andBeliefs, just after my Father’s death. It occurred to me then that the only wayJesus could have been the sacrificial lamb that took away my sins, therebymaking it possible for me to gain entrance into God’s Kingdom, was if he hadforfeited his place in the Godhead for Eternity. For if he was once God andthen became man, and then returned to being God… what was the sacrifice He made… except for a few years of loweringhimself to the level of us humans?

Toquestion the Deity of Jesus however went against everything I was ever taughtand also contradicted the Bible where it is written in John 14:4-6 “Andwhither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we knownot whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I amthe way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”To go against what is written in the Bible, especially when it was the words ofJesus, was something I could not do. My whole life had been lived for Jesus andto turn away at that point was to condemn my own self to Hell!

Icould not get it out of my mind however, and so I began to study Christianityfrom the perspective of others who were not Christians. It was in my search forthe meaning of this statement by Jesus that I discovered the Book of Thomas andread for the first time what Thomas heard Jesus say. In Thomas Saying 3,Jesus says, “...the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside ofyou. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you willrealize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you willnot know yourselves, you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty.”

Suddenlya door was opened and I began to see things more clearly. I no longer believedin the infallibility of the Bible and from that point on, it could no longerhold me captive with its threats of Hellfire and Damnation. The poverty of mylife vanished as I realized that I too was a Son of God.

Itis now my understanding that God is not a being at all. He is Life itself;Universal Life that will last for Eternity, and we are all a part of thatWondrous Life. Jesus evidently understood this Truth and although his wordshave been rearranged by men to fit their purposes, his whole ministry suddenlytook on a new life for me. He was not the Savior of mankind that the writers ofthe book of John wanted us to believe, but was in fact the same as you or me.

Freedomfrom the chains of religion however, does not come without cost. Giving upJesus meant giving up a Savior that could absorb all of my wrongdoings. Itmeant there was no more forgiveness for all of those things I had done in mylifetime that were selfish and arrogant. I had to take a closer look at myself andadmit that I had made foolish choices, and I realized that I am the sum totalof all I have ever said and done. Every lie I have told, every word I havespoken in anger, every bad deed, are all a part of me and I had to acceptresponsibility for the damage I had caused others because of these things. Thatwas not an easy thing to do, but as I began to admit my wrongdoings to myself,I was reminded of my good deeds as well and I gradually learned to accept theperson I have become,

Ialso realized that I no longer had to accept or forgive those who had treatedme unjustly, something which had never come easy for me any way. Nor did I needto turn the other cheek anymore; I could hold people just as responsible fortheir actions as I held myself responsible for mine. I was free to judge othersjust as harshly as I judged myself. That may not sound right to a lot ofpeople, but it is now my belief that the only way there will be any change inthis world is if we start holding ourselves and others responsible for theactions and inactions in our lives.

TheJoy of which I speak comes from the fact that I am no longer in competitionwith anyone. Meditation is now the only worship I need and it takes placewithin myself and requires no words of wisdom or instruction from anyone. I amfree to examine the deepest parts of my inner being whenever I choose.

Inaddition I am no longer responsible for the “souls” of others. There is no“Hell” to save them from going to and therefore they are welcome to worshipwhomever they want and in any fashion they choose. There is no right or wrongway to worship as long as the end result is finding a Spiritual connection toall Living Things… and even this is not essential. There are those who gothrough their entire life without ever learning Compassion. For them perhaps,Eternity will seem like “hell”, but for the majority of us Eternity will be anever expanding awareness of Love as Creation continues to grow from theexperiences we bring back into it.

Thebest thing is I can now take credit for my “Works” again, which is a forbiddenword in Christianity. Yes, I work hard at becoming a more loving person towardall living things and it makes me feel good when I see progress in myself. Andperhaps the best part of all of this is I don’t care if anyone else believesthe same way I do or not. It is not important… because I am a Child of theUniverse and no one can take that from me. Within me is Eternal Life and I haveonly begun to experience what it means to be God.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

January 2012

True Peace

2011-12-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Afterreturning from the war in Vietnam, I decided to spend the rest of my lifeworking toward making this World a more peaceful place. I don’t think I haveaccomplished much actually and at times I still find myself ready to jump intoan offensive mode whenever I am threatened. That happen recently when a disputeover how my parents’ trust fund should be divided, resulted in a heatedargument with a family member.

Of course theproblem goes much deeper than the trust fund, and I am not without blame forallowing things in my family to deteriorate to the extent that they apparentlyhave. My point is, that my family’s problems are a microcosm of the world welive in. We wonder why it is that there are wars, hatred, and injustice in thisworld, when it is so obvious that these things are wrong… and yet, whenprovoked, we are the first to retaliate against those who threaten us - evenfamily - without realizing that by so doing we are feeding the flames ofhatred that cause all of these things to continue.

Most of youare aware that I no longer believe in the Divinity of Jesus… but that does notmean that I do not appreciate the ministry that he supposedly had while here onEarth. In the stories told of him, he fought against injustice and stood up tothe religious zealots of his day and when they unjustly imposed the penalty ofdeath on him, he did what few of us would do, he forgave them, for he knewthey did not fully understand what they were doing.

This year,during the Christmas Holidays, I will remember Jesus… not because I believe hewas a demigod sent to Earth to save me from my sins, but because he was avictim of injustice, like so many others I have known, and in his death hedemonstrated for us the trait that I often find missing in my own life: the abilityto forgive those, who out of ignorance, want to destroy you.

I doubt thatthis World will ever know True Peace… for the forces of ignorance are far toogreat, and even if we were able to bring Enlightenment to all of mankind, thedestruction our greed has caused to our planet and atmosphere is far too severeand it could very well be, that it is too late to redeem it. We will in allprobability remain at war with each other until the last of our kind isstanding and then, and only then, will the reality of our foolishness be fullyunderstood.

I still havehope however, that one day I will know True Peace… not the peace that eludes usin this World, but the Inner Peace that Jesus knew, the Peace that allowed himto forgive his torturers, even as he was being tortured. That Inner Peace whichonly comes to those who, like Jesus, realize that we are God.

MerryChristmas everyone!

May you allcome just a little closer to finding True Peace in your life, during thisHoliday Season.

Wayne DaleMatthysse

Retirement

2011-11-28T18:03:00.001-08:00

I wonder where the idea got started… the idea of retiring that is? Retiring for the day I can understand; we all need to have a timeof relaxation before starting a new day. Retiring from a workplace, after anumber of years of doing the same thing over and over, I suppose is alsounderstandable… but retiring from life, to sit by an empty pool, surrounded byold people sipping afternoon tea, while watching others play shuffleboard, isnot something I have ever envisioned myself doing. I hope to stay involved inlife right up to the end and when this life is over, I hope to do it again andagain and again.

Some people have the idea that Heaven will be like aretirement village, where our weary souls will have a chance to just sit aroundall day singing Praises to God. I certainly hope not! Of course there are thosethat have already condemned me to Hell and so perhaps I won’t have to worryabout that… but whatever happens in the next stage of my development… I hope itis as good as the life I am living now.

A good friend of mine commented privately to my post I AM GOD… “So what is left when you are God? It seems to me that there is not a lotexcept a continuing more or less subjective search for right and truth.”

I don’t think God finds life boring… I believe he lives inthe same Present as We do and actually enjoys creating a new sunrise everymorning and a different sunset every evening. I think he takes great pleasurein throwing us out into the middle of the lake and watching us struggle to stayafloat… until we eventually learn that we have the ability to swim on our own.I believe he watches with Pride the development of Mankind as we become moreand more aware of our Spiritual relationship to him… and I am not at all looking to retire, I verymuch want to remain an active part of the continuation of Creation, for as longas time may last.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

I Am God

2011-10-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

Afear of many, who put themselves in leadership positions, is that one day oneof their followers will find themselves, and come to the realization that theyno longer have need of a teacher.

Formany years I thought I needed someone to follow and so I choose Jesus to be mySavior. Christianity became my life and all I thought and did was centered onthe Church and its Bible. Jesus was my Light in times of darkness, my Guidewhen I was lost; he bore the weight of all of my religiously induced guilt, andbecame my Crutch when I found the trail to difficult to walk alone. He waseverything to me and I was nothing and could not imagine life without him.

Overthe years however, I have come to know others who have had similar experiencesin life as mine, but they had chosen to put their faith in someone or somethingother than Jesus, and yet the results were similar…and I came to therealization that many of us have this need to believe that there is someone orsomething out there in the Universe that is bigger than ourselves. It reallydoesn’t make any difference who or what we put our faith in, as long as we cantransfer the responsibility for our deeds and misdeeds over to It. I wouldconclude that this is why religion has been so successful over the years… andyet, where have all of these religions gotten us?

Ifyou have read some of my recent writings you would know that I now believe that“I am God”. That does not mean, as some have wrongly assumed, that I believethat “I am A God”… there is a big difference. Jesus, we are told, claimed to beGod as well and I still have a great deal of respect for many of his teachings.It is my hope that many more will also come to the realization that they arealso God, not because of anything that I write or teach, but through the selfevaluation of their Inner Being… for once we realize that We are the only Godin the Universe, we have no choice other than to take responsibility for theCreation we are all a part of.

WayneDale Matthysse

October2011

The Transformers

2011-10-03T21:33:00.001-07:00

Every time I come upon a revolutionary new thought pertaining to life and existence, I realize, after doing some research, that someone else has already come up with the same thought years before I did and I have to wonder why it is that we could not just start from where they left off and carry the ball a little further each time. Every trail I have ever taken, regardless of how far off the beaten path it was, has been forged by someone else long before me… and I have come to the conclusion that there really is nothing new to learn about Life.

There is however, still much that I personally do not understand and so I will continue my Journey… for who knows, perhaps one day I will catch up to the One who blazes the trails and we will be able to walk together.

By most indicators our World is falling apart, at least for the Western Societies and perhaps that is not a bad thing. It is time to return to a more natural civilization that is less about the individual and more about community. I like the idea of a One World Order but I don’t have much hope of it happening in my lifetime, at least not this one. Still… I like to believe that what I am doing now will one day make it happen. For me, that is what Wat Opot is all about.

We have some rough weather ahead of us I believe, but we need not be afraid. We are, after all, Created Beings and collectively we form Creation which is the Heart and Soul of Our Creator. Some people will have a problem with this statement for, like me in my Christian days, they prefer to see themselves as worthless beings, incapable of doing anything right. Sinners from the day they were born. Condemned to Hell for eternity because of something someone supposedly did in the bushes thousands of years before them; except of course, for the privileged few who were Chosen by a Loving God, before time began, to be spared of this torturous destiny. What a horrible way to go through this life; believing that everyone who was not Chosen, is a despicable filthy piece of trash that will burn forever in the incinerators of Hell.

Every morning, after taking my shower, I look into the beautiful Face of the Lord God Almighty while brushing my teeth. He is always right there in front of me, smiling His approval from the other side of the mirror. Have you ever looked into the eyes of someone who is really hurting while you try your best to help them? If you look closely you will see the face of God looking back at you, for God is nothing more than a reflection of our self.

Creation is the Soul of Its Creator.

All that there is and all that will be.

Depends solely on what happens,

Between you and me.

No Heaven or Hell awaits us,

There is no destination,

Creation will continue forever,

We are Its Transformation.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

October 2011

Inner Light

2011-09-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

It is not unusual, at my age, to have to get up at leastonce or twice in the middle of the night to relieve myself… and with theaddition of Melinda’s beans to my diet I usually have considerable gas to passas well. Since moving to the new dorm, going to the bathroom is a bit morecomplicated because the bathrooms are in the middle of the building and thecorridor is out in the open air. I don’t mind the walk however and at times, ona peaceful night, even enjoy it.

A few nights ago I made one of those journeys to thebathroom and decided to sit instead of stand and so I turned on the light.Within seconds there were flying insects buzzing around it and before a minutewas over, the light was completely surrounded by insects of every kind. Theybuzzed frantically, trying to get as close to the light as possible. Someactually touched the light and paid the immediate price of death while others,thinking themselves more wise, flew in circles around the light… perhaps hopingto understand it better. In the end however, they too paid with their life asmany fell to the floor in exhaustion. I am sure that to them the light was abeacon of hope, a promise of salvation from the darkness, but in actuality, byseeking the light they became easy prey for the geckos who took advantage oftheir ignorance. Common sense should have told them that something was wrong…but because they were blinded by the light, they could not see the bodies oftheir comrades below them, nor could they see the geckos waiting to devour them.Had they closed their eyes and looked within for only a moment, perhaps theywould have understood the deception and saved themselves from their demise.

I flipped off the light switch, causing further pandemoniumamong the few remaining insects and verbal complaints from the geckos on thewall. The insects bombarded each other in their confusion and I had to wait afew moments for the air to clear before stepping over their carcasses andwalking back to my room in the darkness of the night… guided only by the softglow, radiating from the inner being, of the one I have come to know as me… foreach is the Light of his own world and no other light do we need.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Eddie and Ishmael

2011-04-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

While home, I have been going through the boxes of my memorabilia, trying to decide what I can throw away and what I should keep, trying to scale everything down for easier storage. Now that Mom and Dad are gone, so to is the home that they built for us and the convenient storage place for all of that stuff we collected along life's hi-way. Reading old letters and seeing the names of people I had long ago forgotten, has open files in my memory system that explain much of my behavior and partialities today. One of those memories is of Eddie, a neighbor kid who lived on the other side of us on Bluebird Street.

Eddie was a few years younger than I was but we often played together and were good friends, until one day when we got into a fight during a neighborhood softball game. Eddie's eye got swollen from accidentally running into a bat and he ran home crying... only to return a few minutes later with his irate mother. She was very concerned for her son and began shouting at us. My mother heard the commotion and came out to defend us but, by the time it was over, both of them had said things about each other that they regretted. Their relationship never healed and because of that, neither did ours, and even today my memories of Eddie, after that incident, are negative. Now that I realize this however, I wish there were some way of finding him and trying to resolve our differences.

Often, when we take the time to seriously look at ourselves, we realize that many of our prejudices actually started out as simple misunderstandings between either ourselves or those that have had an influence on us at some point in our lives. Realization of these misunderstandings can start us out on a path of understanding that shows us why we are who we are and how we can begin to make positive changes in our character.

I know it can work on a personal level but I wonder if it could also work on a larger scale. One of the biggest problems in this world today is the relationship between Jews and Christians and the Muslim people. Each side can come up with numerous accusations and accounts of injustices that explain why they feel as they do toward each other... but what if we were to go back to the beginning, to where it all started? What if all of the problems in this world today were the result of one single person? Could the realization of this also put the world on a pathway to reconciliation?

Regardless of what we personally think of the Bible, the stories in it have had a great influence on all of the peoples of the world. One of those stories is about Abraham and Sarah.

The birth of Ishmael was planned by the Abraham’s first wife Sarah who sought a way to have children in order to fulfill what she believed was God’s promise. Since she was unable to have children herself, her idea was to offer her Egyptian handmaiden Hagar to Abraham, so that they could have a child by her. Customs of that time dictated that, although Hagar was the birth mother, any child conceived would belong to Sarah and Abraham.

Ishmael was circumcised when he was thirteen years old because his father Abraham, at the age of ninety-nine was initiated into a covenant by having himself and his entire household circumcised.

A year later, Ishmael's half-brother Isaac, was born to Abraham and his first wife Sarah. One day Sarah was angered by seeing Ishmael playing or "mocking" and she asked Abraham to expel him and his mother, saying: "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." Abraham initially refused to do as Sarah asked but after much deliberation, he released Ishmael and Hagar as slaves. At the age of fourteen, Ishmael became a free man along with his mother. Under Mesopotamian law, their freedom absolved them from laying claim to any inheritance that Abraham and Sarah had. Abraham gave Ishmael and his mother a minimal supply of bread and water and sent them on their way to wander in the desert wilderness of Beersheba.

After roaming the wilderness for sometime, Ishmael and his mother settled in the Desert of Paran, where he became an expert in archery. Eventually, his mother found him a wife from the land of Egypt. He had twelve sons who became twelve tribal chiefs throughout the regions from Havilah to Shur (from Assyria to the border of Egypt) The Prophet Muhammad, who is the founder of Islam, is a descendant of Ishmael.

Those who know this story well will notice that I have removed all of the conversations that Sarah and Abraham supposedly had with God and his Angels. I did so because I do not believe that God has ever spoken to anyone in this way... for if he had, he would still be speaking to people today in the same manner, and although there are those who claim he does, they are, in my opinion, only racketeers hoping to cash in on the ignorance of fools. I am not saying however, that it is not possible for mankind to know and understand the Mind of God.

How unfortunate that Sarah and Hagar could not have come to an understanding between themselves during their lifetime. What a difference it would have made to their sons and the people of their generation if they had. Even sadder is the fact that because of Sarah's greed, the whole world now sits on the brink of destruction. Isn't it time we come to an understanding of this and begin the process of reconciliation?

Wayne Dale Matthysse

April 2011

Demons and Demigods

2011-03-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

In the past few days I have come in contact with several religious people and found it amusing how some of them reacted toward me. I understand where they are coming from, having lived a similar life for many years, but to be afraid of evil forces to the point where they don't want to enter into a discussion with me, because I have been labeled a heretic, or to hesitate entering a building because they sense it is demon possessed is almost laughable. Anyone who has ever known me or been to Wat Opot could tell you that about the only danger that lurks in the darkened corners of our campus is the possibility of being attacked by a few head lice from the kids or me. Of course... if you are a religious person who is stuck in a box and afraid of being made aware of that fact, because that awareness would require an action on your part that could turn your world upside down... than perhaps it doesn't seem so funny.

There is still so much I don't know about life and spirituality but now that I am out of the box, it is exciting to view the world without having to wear the blinders that religion forces one to put on. I am beginning to learn that many of my fears and worries came from biblical teachings that were formed in the Dark Ages, when epilepsy was considered demon possession and those who disagreed with their self-righteous-religious leaders were called heretics and burned at the stake. Demons and demigods were big back then as were the self-righteous leaders... but times have changed, at least for some of us. Unfortunately many people still live in those Dark Ages because self-righteous pastors still preach the same messages as then and still try to scare their congregations into submission by telling them about the evil forces out to get them... but the reality is that the devil and his league of demons exist only in the imaginations of ignorant people and although these imagined forces can seem very powerful... they are really nothing more then an irrational excuse for negative behavior.

Discovering this Truth is at first scary, for it implies that man is therefore responsible for Mankind and that if there is evil in this world it is only because we have allowed it to exist. Accepting this Truth however, empowers us to actually make the changes necessary, in our personal life and in the lives of others around us, to create a better world.

I do not believe that the future of Mankind and the Universe has already been determined, as some would have us believe. We are creating the future as we live and breathe and each of us, whether we want to believe it or not, contributes daily, by the actions or in-actions of our life, to the Evolving Character of the One True GOD, who is Us All.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

March 2011

The Great I Am

2011-03-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

The Bible says God told Moses that His name was Yhwh which when translated by the early Rabbis meant "He Who Was, and Is, and Will Be", or in Revelation it is translated as "He Who Was, and Is, and Is to Come". Both translations imply that God's state of action (being) continues into the future.

I had never thought about it before but if God gives Himself an action name, wouldn't that imply that He has not yet become all that He will be? That would mean that He is living in the moment just as we all are and that He doesn't know any more about what the future holds than any of us do, because it hasn't happened yet. I always had a problem with the idea that God knows everything before it happens because it raises so many questions, like... "If He knew something bad was going to happen, why wouldn't he do something about it?" or "If he knew I was going to become a heretic and be condemned to Hell, as some would like to believe, than why did He create me in the first place?" Can God prevent a natural disaster... or cause one to happen at will? Can He stop the rain from falling on my picnic if I pray hard enough? Or do these things happen because of the Laws of Nature that were put into place from the beginning. I use to believe that He could move mountains if I asked Him to... but now I am not so sure that He can.

In 1995 Joan Osborne released the song "What if God was one of us". It was not well received by the Christian or Catholic communities but did make the Number One spot on the music charts. I remember the video and admit that even I was a bit shocked at its apparent irreverence for God. Of course that was back in my "Christian" days and time and experience has changed much of my thinking since then.

Today I would ask the question, "What if God was Us?" and I am aware that by asking it I may get an even worse reaction from some people than Joan Osborne did... but since I am not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking anymore, only throwing out possibilities, it doesn't really matter.

I may be the only one who actually follows my writings, which, believe it or not, often come to me in a package from somewhere outside of my thinking. I find it interesting that the theme lately has been about God being within us. God gave His name to Moses as "I Am", which, as long as you don't add anything to it, leaves no room for questions. As soon as you add something however, like "Father" or "Creator", you immediately have a thousand questions that beg to be answered. If we stick only to "I Am" however, it becomes the Answer to all of those questions.

Who is responsible for creating this Universe? God answers "I Am "
Who is the Father of Compassion, Peace, Truth, and Justice? God answers "I Am"
Who is the Father of Hate, Envy, War, and Destruction? God answers "I Am"
Who is responsible for the problems the world faces today? God answers "I Am"
Who is responsible for man's future and the Universe? God answers "I Am"
Who am I? God answers "I Am"

God says...
I am Love and I am Hate,
I am both Joy and Sorrow,
I am all of the Yesterdays,
And also Tomorrow.

I am Gay and I am Straight,
Both a Saint and a Sinner,
A Prostitute and a Virgin,
A Loser and a Winner.

I am Rich and I am Poor,
Black as well as White,
I make Peace and go to War,
I am the Day and I am Night.

I'm a King and I'm a Beggar,
A Husband and a Wife,
I'm a Coward and a Hero,
I am Death and I am Life.

I am All and I am Nothing,
The Beginning and the End,
I am all Things that now are Living,
I am the Great I Am.

If God is really us, than all of our journeys are His and His Journey is happening through us all. What we do and experience in this life is our contribution to God's Evolving Character and when the life that we now know is over... those experiences will become a part of that which IS and always WILL BE.

Therefore, the next time you come upon a situation in life that calls for a decision of Godly proportions, ask yourself, "What would God do?" ... than go ahead and do that, which your heart tells you is right.

Wayne Dale Matthysse
March 2011

Veterans for Peace

2011-01-30T19:49:00.000-08:00

I just sent in my renewal for membership in the Veterans for Peace Organization www.veteransforpeace.org . For those that are not aware of them, they are some of those who tied themselves to the White House fence a while back and got arrested. They also lead marches against the war and other injustices. They are not as radical as some of the groups but they are getting the attention of many and I am proud to be a member of them.

One of my regrets is that I can not be more active in this organization. The work I am doing here in Cambodia is great and very fulfilling however there are times when I would like to be back out on the front-lines, actually doing the protesting, instead of just writing about it and supporting them with my membership dues. I question however how that would fit in with the Spiritual Path I am trying to walk. Can a follower of Jesus who is trying to stay on the Middle Path be an active member of a protest movement?

I am not well read in Buddhism nor do I claim to understand fully the Middle Path however I have found something that I think says it would not be wrong to be an activist, if my intentions are right. One of the teachings of Buddha says

"When there is a cause there will be an effect; when there is perverted thought, there will be wrong behavior, and this will certainly result in evil consequences, i.e. sufferings. On the contrary, when there is no cause, there will be no effect. Once the perverted thought is corrected, wrong behavior will stop and sufferings will also cease."

My understanding of this is that if my intention is to correct perverted thought by actively participating in events that bring heightened awareness, to those who are suffering, of those who are perverted; it would not be out of line with his teaching. To my Buddhist friends, please forgive me if I am not correct in this and please correct me if you feel I am out of line interpreting it this way.

As a follower in Jesus, I would have had a hard time awhile back because I have always lived by the rule of turning the other cheek as Jesus taught us. Pacifism is after all, what the ministry of Jesus was all about... that is until the very end of his life on Earth. One of the last things Jesus did in his ministry before his arrest, and the reason for his arrest and crucifixion, was to cleanse the temple... and he did it with a whip.

I am not sure where my Journey will take me next... but I am looking around for a good piece of cord.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Confession

2011-01-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

Before I take my final breath I would like to confess that I am the one responsible for all of the problems we are facing today in this turbulent world. It would be great if I could pin the blame on people like George Bush, Dick Cheney, or Sarah Palin, but the truth is... I am the guilty one and I can only hope that the victims of my unforgivable crimes will have mercy on me and that future generations will be able to learn from my horrible mistakes.

I wish that it were only one crime that I had to confess to but the truth is there are many. Once you start a life like mine, it is difficult to change yourself because of the guilt you feel. Personal guilt for not having the guts to do what was right in the first place and the added guilt for the accumulation of after-effects that your acts do on the life's of your victims.

It started as a child with little things like not standing up to classroom bullies who, not only pushed me around, but also teased my friends. Then came Viet Nam and I witnessed rape, murder, and plunder in the name of God and my Country. Then there were the sexual rings in the mental hospital where I worked that involved retarded patients. I also witnessed the negligent homicide of patients by arrogant doctors. That was followed by Pastors who beat their wives and children, Missionaries who fathered illegitimate families, Evangelist who were pedophiles and pornography addicts and the list goes on and on and I did nothing about them, and now because of my silence I must bear the awful responsibility for allowing these crimes to go unpunished.

I am responsible for at least two of the suicidal deaths of my classmates because I did not report the bullying to the teachers. I am responsible for the deaths of numerous Vietnamese women and children who died by the hands of my comrades because I did nothing to stop it. I am responsible for the deaths caused by some of these comrades who later committed murder after returning to the States and I am responsible for the deaths of others who committed suicide after returning. I am responsible for the deaths of mental patients who died prematurely from AIDS because of the sexual rings I did not report in the Hospital. I am responsible for the grieving families of the patients who died because of negligent doctors and for the damage those doctors may have caused to other patients in the years that followed. I am responsible for the damage done to the wives, children, and congregations of those who I knew to be false teachers and hypocrites. And I am responsible for the sad shape that the world is now in because I have sat silently by and allowed it to happen.

There is no punishment that could be given to me that would erase the damage that my silence has caused in this world. My hat is off to Bradley Manning and Julian Assange for having the balls to do what I have failed to do in my lifetime. May it be that their actions begin a Revolution in the hearts and minds of all people... so that one day mankind can live in a world where those who bring the Truth to Light are given a place of honor and respect, instead of isolation and a prison cell.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

January 2011

Religion

2011-01-21T20:35:00.000-08:00

Religion in itself is not the Truth... however worship and the practice of religious disciplines can often bring one to a place where the Truth can be found.

Therefore continue to practice your religion; until your search for the Truth leads you to that place where your religion is no longer a necessity... for when your life is filled with Love for all Living Things, religion is no longer of importance and worship can be done anywhere, at anytime, with anyone.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

The Journey

2011-01-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

The Sea is like Eternity,

It seems like an old, old friend,

It gently calls me by my name,

Yet I dare not enter in.

For I can not walk upon Its surface,

Nor survive within Its depths,

And I cannot even fathom,

The length of it or breadth,

Yet I'm comforted by Its presence,

In an eerie sort of way,

As if we're all connected,

By some distant yesterday,

Could it be our journeys parted,

Or do they all One Journey make,

The Creator and His Creation,

Moving toward some distant Gate.

I am the Sea, I am Eternity,

And they are Me.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Finding Jesus

2010-12-23T18:31:00.001-08:00

FINDING JESUS

I've searched for Jesus everywhere,

Through Scriptures and in silent prayer,

I've sang Him songs and shouted Praise,

Clapped my hands and arms I raised,

I've searched the deserts, sailed the seas,

Climbed to heights above the trees,

I've been in caverns far below,

And gone to places few men know.

I've loved and I have hated too,

Felt the pain and pleasures others do,

I've seen the best and worst of men,

Some were enemies, others friends.

And now my life is nearly gone,

But still I search from dusk to dawn,

Looking for this Savior-friend,

To guide me thru my journeys end.

Alas He calls me from within,

And beckons me to enter in,

It's dark at first, no one I see,

And then I realize the Voice is Me.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

24 December 2010

Knowledge

2010-12-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

Close now your eyes,

Relinquish all thoughts,

Let your Spirit begin to rise.

Open your ears,

To the sounds that surround you,

Nature's sweet lullabies.

Reach now and find,

The knowledge you've sought,

Believe not men and their lies.

For you are that Savior,

Who you've looked for so long,

Within You the Answer lies.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

12 December 2010

Jesus Loves Me

2010-11-21T22:53:00.003-08:00

"Jesus loves me this I know,

For the Bible tells me so,

Little ones to him belong,

They are weak but he is strong."

These words by Anna Bartlett Warner are well known by nearly every man, woman, and child who has ever entered a Christian church. For me, they represent the core teachings of Christianity and although they are very simple... they are also profound, in that they give us a look into what I believe is the major fault of the Christian religion... the idea that mankind is weak.

Christianity's idea of God began with the Israelites, who were a tribal people. Supposedly the God of all gods adopted them as his chosen children, giving them exclusive rights over all other tribes. That was not uncommon in them days... there were many gods and goddess's to choose from and almost every tribe and nation had at least one or more of them to worship. Religious wars were not uncommon and it was the God or gods of each tribe that gave the permission to fight and conquer other tribes. The God of the Israelites was one of the most ruthless... demanding blood sacrifices and death to any man, and his family, should he disobey him.

Jesus changed all of that. He taught Compassion and Love for all of humanity... but more importantly, he held the church leaders responsible for their dishonesty and he wasn't afraid to call them hypocrites when confronted by them. He was the Michael Moore of his day. He spoke of a God that lived within the heart of each man, a God that could only be known from knowing ones own self, and people were listening. He was causing a revolution and it had to be stopped... and so the religious leaders had him crucified.

Two hundred years later a Roman Emperor and a group of new religious leaders came up with a plan. They decided to bring Jesus back into the picture as a martyr and so they resurrected him and blamed his death on the sins of mankind. What better way would there be to gain control of mankind then to create a product that was so absolutely necessary for every man, woman, and child to have? A product that people would be willing to pay good money for and even to die for, a product that could provide not only forgiveness of wrongdoing... but everlasting life as well, to anyone who had ever lied, cheated, stolen, gossiped, or masturbated, while at the same time giving status and wealth to those who held the keys to that product. It worked, and it continues to work today... but not as well as it has in the past. Christianity is going bankrupt and, like a Crystal Cathedral, people are beginning to see through it.

I believe that the idea of mankind being weak and sinful is a lie. We were created in the image of our Maker and we are, as Jesus was, the Children of a Living God. If we feel that we have wrongdoing in our life, we can find forgiveness by looking within and forgiving ourselves. If we have need of Love, we can find true Love by looking within and loving ourselves. If we lack knowledge and good judgment, we can find it within by understanding ourselves. Jesus said, "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Enlightenment can be yours by simply looking within and getting to know the Essence of God that is in you. You are a Beautiful Creation with the power to change the world around you... isn't it time you begin acting like it?

Wayne Dale Matthysse

The Garden

2010-10-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Burned out on life, not having a dime,

I fell to my knees in prayer.

"Lord... your work in the Heavens is truly Divine,

But some things down here don't seem fair."

"There's corruption and greed, injustice and crime,

And the world seems always at war,

Those who do evil never do time,

And those who have much just get more."

"What was your thinking in creating mankind,

Because some thing's just don't seem to fit,

Those who do good are forced out of line,

By those who are nothing but shit."

Then I felt myself rising to a place quite sublime,

And I stood in a beautiful garden,

Surrounded by flowering bushes and vines,

My heart began to unharden.

"Your questions, my son, are not out of line,"

Said the Caretaker of the land,

"But the beauty you see in this garden of mine,

Comes from this that I hold in my hands."

Then slowly he opened his hands and my mind,

And showed me a pile of shit,

Then said as he crumpled it under a vine,

"I couldn't grow flowers without it."

Wayne Dale Matthysse

The Omnipresence

2010-08-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

Come stroll now with me to the edge of the sea,"

Said a voice from inside my soul,

"For the heavens are lit for the whole world to see,

And there's something that you need to know."

So I walked to the shore in the twilight of day,

Then sat quietly down in the sand.

The colorful skies changed to soft shades of gray,

Then darkness crept over the land.

"Close now your eyes and surrender your mind,"

Said the Presence inside of me.

"Leave all of the baggage you've carried behind,

From all of your past you are free."

"Give no thought for tomorrow, only thanks for this day,

There is nothing more you must do.

For the seasons go quickly, life soon slips away,

And all you can keep will be you."

"So breathe deeply the air and know in your heart,

That you do have a reason for being.

Like the flowers and trees, each has a part,

As Creation continues unfolding."

"Be at peace with all men and all that has life,

Let your words always come from the heart.

In the face of injustice, sickness, and strive,

Hold back not your hands, do your part."

"For I am the Omnipresence,

And all that there is, I have made.

And you are a Child of my Essence,

So go now and be not afraid."

Wayne Dale Matthysse

August 26, 2010

Generic God

2010-08-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

A few years back the hand controller for my RCA Television stopped working and so I went to the local market to see if I could find a new one. Living in Cambodia I knew that if I could find just one of them, I would be able to find ten thousand in the same area and sure enough... all I had to do is ask and I was presented with all kinds of them, for every make of television made in the world.

Because of my poor vision, I am not that good with hand controllers and so I looked for one with only a few buttons and large letters. After about 15 minutes of looking through the stack, I found one that I really liked and was ready to pay for it when I noticed that it was made for a Motorola television and not for a RCA, like the one I owned. I asked the saleslady if she had any similar controllers for a RCA television and with a smile on her face, she told me that this controller would work on any television. 'Sure,' I thought, 'just like the one size fits all underwear you sold me last week.'

I was sure that she was only trying to make a sale and so I pointed to the Motorola sticker on the controller and said, “This no good, it must say RCA.”

She smiled again and then reached into the pile and pulled out a controller for a RCA television... but it had very small buttons and was hard to read and so I said, “No, No, No! I want one that looks like this one.”

“I know, I know,” she replied, as she peeled the RCA sticker from the controller in her hand and exchanged it with the Motorola sticker on the one I was holding. “Now it work good for you.” she said confidently.

It was only $2.00 and so I bought it from her. I tried it out as soon as I got home and to my surprise it worked just fine.

I have lived on Faith for many years but up until only a few months ago I thought the only way I could survive in this life was to call upon the name of Jesus. Lately I have been using other names and they seem to be working just as well.

Wayne

God's Glorious Creation

2010-08-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

Having lost three good friends in the past couple of months, all of them much younger and appearing in far better physical condition than I, it has occurred to me that each day I live, each word I speak, and each writing I post, may be my last... and for that reason I would like to make sure that I am understood by friends and family, who I know are concerned about my Spiritual Life. I can assure you that I am completely convinced that if I were to leave this life this moment, I will find myself in good standing on the other side of the veil.

I realize that I have challenged your Faith in Christianity and I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable with my accusations and claims but sometimes there seems no other way to get people to listen, but by shouting.

The fact is, I feel very comfortable with where I am at. I still have a long ways to go before understanding all things; however I am no longer hindered by the falsehood that there are questions that I may not ask or things I do not need to know. While The Source (God) remains a mystery to me, I am no longer prohibited from seeking further knowledge of Him outside of the Bible.

I spent several years living in a small village in Honduras where the predominate religion was Catholicism. Most homes had a place where they displayed their favorite Saint. Some lit candles every night while others would only dust the Saint off a few times a year. At one home, just outside of town, lived a very devote woman who had a statue of a small boy in her home. She had had it for some time and the paint was faded and worn. From time to time she would announce a special celebration for this Saint and people from the village would go to pay homage to it. Of course people always left money at the altar to show their respect but over the years the money grew less and less because of the physical appearance of the Saint.

One day she came running into the village all excited and told everyone that God had taken the Saint back into Heaven. She had seen it with her own eyes ascending into the sky when she returned from her afternoon walk. Everyone went running to her house to see if she were really telling the truth and when they got there they found the statue missing from the altar and therefore assumed that indeed a miracle had happened.

A few weeks later she came running into town again but this time she said that God had sent her a new Saint. She saw it descending from Heaven when she returned from her walk and she had to run to catch it before it hit the ground. All of the villagers went running back to her house to see if it were true and sure enough there it was, a brand new brightly colored statue of another little boy. Everyone crossed themselves and offered prayers, dropping their money on the altar as they left the house. Even the boys that lived with me were excited about this miracle and couldn't stop talking about it all afternoon.

That night at the dinner table I asked them what they really thought of the incident and all of them were still very convinced that it was real and so I asked them this question, "If the statue really came down from Heaven... why would there be a MADE IN GUATEMALA seal stamped on the base of it?" Needless to say it ended the conversation and perhaps destroyed their Faith in miracles... but because of this incident they were forced, from that day onward, to start looking at things more seriously.

They say ignorance is bliss and perhaps that is so... but often the ignorant are misled by men with selfish motives. The God I now know does not work miracles through ceramic statues, nor does He have His Words written down in a single book that only a few can claim understanding of. We need not peer only at a poor reflection of God, as some would have us believe, but can walk in His Light with full understanding, if we shall but seek Him from within ourselves.

It is my belief that The Source of our being has never stopped writing His Holy Bible and that even today He speaks through the words and poetry of people like you and me. His Words fill the pages of a multitude of books and His Voice can be heard through the singing of birds, the sound of the wind, the laugh of a child, and the silent embrace of two people in Love. His Magnificence can be seen in the mountains, the valleys, and the rivers that flow past flowering gardens where artist sit, capturing on canvas but a moment of His timelessness.

The God I know is ever changing… evolving with each new day and I am only a part of that Evolution. Each breathe I take is prove of His existence in me, for He is that which gives life to All. The flowers and trees could not exist without me, or I without them. We co-exist only because He lives within all things. We are the tools through which He Creates all that is Created and His Creating will never cease… though I may fall and wither, as a leaf upon the ground, I know that my endeavors will nourish that which sprouts up around me, even after I am gone. Life is my contribution… Life is what gives me Joy. I am a part of God’s Glorious Creation and that which I do for Him, will continue on for Evermore.

Wayne

Don't Give Up On Jesus!

2010-07-25T08:18:00.001-07:00

A friend wrote to me an encouraging e-mail and although she agreed with much of my latest writings, she asked me not to give up on Jesus. I know many others of you feel the same way and so I will give my response here in the hopes that it will generate more discussion on this very important topic.

I had several rough days as the deity of Jesus began to crumble for me. I have followed him all of my life and have spoken to him in prayer almost continually through out each day... but the evidence against his being any thing but a man started increasing as I began to research the facts and soon they became overwhelming.

The stories are nice for children but the reality of an Immaculate Conception, a bright star above his manger, the raising of the dead, the feeding of thousands with a loaf and three fish, the casting out of demons, a conversation with the Devil, walking on water, the resurrection, the ascension into Heaven, and all of the other impossible things that happened and are attributed to him, are no more than stories, as far as I can tell. Nothing like that ever happened before or after, except perhaps in Mythology.

It may have made sense in those days, when the Bible was compiled, and the belief was that the World was flat and the Sun revolved around it...and demons and devils roamed freely on Earth. It made sense then because they saw with their own eyes, people who would fall to the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth. What else could it be but demons?

Today we know that the World is round and the Sun stands still while we revolve around it. We know that a star can not stay in one place. We know a man can not walk on water, unless he knows where the rocks are. We know that once the decaying process begins a man can not come back to life. Today we can control demon possession with medicine, and in all this time the Devil has yet to make his appearance to anyone but Jesus. Isn't it time we grow up and recognize that Christianity was built on a foundation of Ignorance and Superstition.

The World IS older than 6000 years, there WERE Dinosaurs that once roamed our Earth, and it is only logical that man descended from monkey. These are proven facts and only an ignorant fool would deny them. There was no Garden of Eden. There was no talking Serpent. There is no Devil or League of fallen angels to lead us astray. The facts are these... there is only Us and the Source that Created Us... and the mess we find ourselves in today is our mess and the only ones who can clean it up, is Us.

A few nights ago I closed my eyes at the end of the day and for the first time in years felt very alone. I wanted to share my feelings but with whom? If Jesus were only a man as the evidence I have collected would suggest, than what good was it to pray to him. And if God were not a personal God but some Unknown Source of Energy... who has been taking care of me all these years? How do I explain the miracles? I was beginning to wonder if my sudden unbelief would cause the total collapse of the world I had built through my faith in Jesus Christ.

It than occurred to me that even if Jesus were only a man, he did things in his lifetime that were most extraordinary. He practiced what he preached and was even willing to go to the cross for what he believed in. Much of what he taught was Universal Truth and in agreement with the teachings of Buddha. Should he not than deserve as much respect and honor as that shown to Siddhartha?

And that is when it hit me... I realized that I did not have to stop talking to Jesus, or to Siddhartha, or to Rumi, or any of the other enlightened individuals who have lived on this Earth... for they all were extraordinary people, and although they may not have any actual influence on the Source of Life in their present state, in their time, they were the Embodiment of The Source, and therefore to talk with them, is the same as to talk with The Source. I can now pray again, as I did before, only now I am not limited to talking only with Jesus.

It may seem foolish to many but it is all beginning to make more sense to me. I now feel that the foundation I have, is far more believable than the one I had before, and I am quite confident that it is strong enough to build my new Faith upon.

SOHAM...

Brotherhood

2010-07-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the estate." So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. "Your brother has come," he replied, "and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound."

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!"

"My son," the father said, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

But the older brother refused to give in and his anger turned to hatred and contempt for not only his younger brother but for all who resembled him in character, and upon the passing of their father, he took over all of the estate and claimed himself the sole heir of his father's fortune. He became a tyrant and seized all of the land of those who could not pay immediately, the debts they had owed his father. He even insisted that his younger brother return the money he had squandered from the estate and when he could not, the older brother threw him out of the land.

And so it was that the younger brother became an outcast once again, however... this time he saw things differently. He realized that money and power were evil forces and he rejoiced in the fact that he was no longer and heir to his fathers fortunes; he was at last free to be himself and so it was he lived the remainder of his life simply… but was loved by all who knew him.

Wayne

Rethinking Salvation

2010-07-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking since returning from my visit to the USA. It is obvious that I will never fit in to that kind of lifestyle again, even if, through some good fortune, I were able to afford it. That realization is at times uncomfortable for me because living life from day to day, as I have been doing for the past several years, is wearing, especially as age and health begin to deteriorate this body that I have made my home in, for the past 65 years.

I am mainly concerned with the remainder of this life; if I should become ill or too weak to take care of myself. I don't regret the life I have lived or the bridges I have burned to get me to where I am at. I stopped believing in Hell a long time ago and more recently gave up Heaven as well when I decided that the Bible was not infallible. Don't get me wrong... I do very strongly believe in the continuance of existence after this life and although it is a mystery to me, it is something I am looking forward to. I stopped calling the Creator "God" a while back and now refer to the Source of our beginning as "Goodness" simply because by doing so, I do not put human qualities or expectations on This Force, so overwhelming and incomprehensible, that my feeble mind will never even begin to fathom Its Nature.

I know your next question and believe me it was a difficult thing to accept, but once I came to realize that there really is no sin in this world, only ignorance of rightful living... the need for a Savior no longer existed. How does one walk away from Jesus, after devoting his whole life to following Him? The answer came to me when I understood that "guilt and sin" are actually fabrications of unwholesome men... men who seek to control others for their own personal gain and satisfaction. There is nothing wrong with the teachings of Jesus, and nothing wrong with following the example he showed us... and should it turn out that he really is the Son of God and His life was required for the Salvation of mankind, I have no fear, for my acceptance or rejection of His sacrifice would not change the fact that it has already been done.

As I now rethink the teachings of Jesus, I understand him to be saying that we are all Sons of Goodness and as such we are each responsible for our own Salvation. Our good deeds and our bad deeds determine our state of happiness in this life and in that which lies beyond. In other words, contrary to what I have been taught all my life, It's all about "Works" and our motives for doing them ... what we put into this life, is exactly what we will take out with us when it is over.

Wayne

Some People

2010-06-25T19:18:00.003-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I received another one of those forwarded E-mails, from a family member who has slightly different views then I have. Most of the time I just smile when I read them but this one was in particular bad taste as it was one that slandered President Obama for mocking Christianity. If you are part of the Tea Party crowd you most likely know which one I am talking about.

Having voted for Obama and sticking with my decision that he is still the best man for the job, it was just a bit more than I could take and so I responded to all of the names on her list with this e-mail, because I felt they needed to hear another side of the story:

Hello relative,

Okay... you got me on this one. Some of the stuff you send out is good and I enjoy reading it but when it comes to slandering the President of the United States I have to say something. I know what you are thinking, "Who are you to talk, the one who had nothing good to say about George Bush and Dick Chaney?", and you would be right to say it, but there is a difference, the stuff I send out is in my own words and comes from my heart after much thought and deliberation. What you sent out was Crap from a Tea Party warehouse that sells "Don't Tread on Me!" bumper stickers. Did you put any thought into what this video is trying to do? Perhaps you believe in the principles of the Tea Party, and that is your choice, but don't give up your Christianity for it... which is exactly what you are doing if you endorse people whose only intent is to destroy the character of someone for their own personal gain.

Here is a fact that some people seem unaware of. The USA was never a Christian Nation and if it follows the wishes of its Founding Fathers it never will be, because it was their desire to create a nation where all men had the right to worship in whatever way they wanted to, free of persecution. That is why we have a separation of Church and State.

Obama may not have made the changes I had hoped for yet, but I believe he is still trying and with our support he can still do it.

What was it in President Obama's statement from the video that you disagreed with? Are you trying to tell me that you accept the Old Testament as the infallible Word of God and that we all should follow the commandments laid out in it? I don't think you do, at least your lifestyle would not suggest that you do and so I would have to assume that you do not accept the Old Testament as having any authority on our life today, which is exactly what President Obama said. Do you believe that our government should follow the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount in dealing with terrorist groups? I doubt very seriously that you do and so again, isn't that exactly what President Obama said? So what is your grievance... the fact that a Black Democratic President said it? Maybe you should read the Sermon on the Mount again, because it does have a lot of good things to say and I think you will realize after reading it that what I am saying is Biblical.

From now on I would suggest you check the source and content of your material, before sending it out. "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and Praise your Father in Heaven." Sending out slanderous garbage is not, in my mind, Glorifying GOD.

I received no reply from my relative but did get this reply sent to her, copied to me from one of the other names on the list:

Hi friend,

I'm speechless after reading his reply!! Satan has his eyes closed to the truth!!!! Doesn't he see anything of Obma's past? and ALL the other slanderous statements he has made towards Christianity? Is this fella your friend?

You can keep sending items to me - I am totally against Obama and what he is doing to this country!!!

My response was simple and to the point:

Hi offended,

I am sorry you are offended but you are obviously not speechless because you found the words to condemn to Hell both me and President Obama. Doesn't your Bible have something to say about not judging others... or does that apply only to us heathen?

Now the reason I share this with you is because I have yet to receive a response from any of the Tea Partiers who I sent this message to. They simply tell me I am going to Hell and then slam the door in my face... just as I was taught to do to the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons whenever they came to my door. This unwillingness to discuss things really irritates me and although I would like to just forget them, I can't, because it is they and their Supreme ideology, I feel, that prevents this world from knowing the Peace our Creator intended for us.

I don't expect everyone to believe as I do, that any and all religious practices that lead to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will get you through in good standing to the other side... but the fact that I see things a bit differently than they do, should not exclude me from their discussions, which I know go on behind my back. It is my belief that their unwillingness to accept me is, on a grander scale, the primary cause of mistrust and hatred in today's troubled world.

Perhaps John was right when he said that those of us who Imagine a World where all men live as One, are only dreamers... but for me there is no other choice, for to do anything but Imagine this... would be to become one of them.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Living Water

2010-05-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

I read in a recent Truthout article that a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology concluded that Compassion has been found to have a positive effect on the handling of stress. I found this to be quite interesting... not the conclusion, but the fact that someone felt the need to study something that has been known for centuries to be true.

Compassion has been the central theme of most of the great Spiritual Leaders and the Foundation of many of today's major Religions. There is no question in my mind that our Creator intends for us to have Compassion for each other and that by obeying His Will our life would thereby be freer of stress... but what exactly is Compassion?

Some would say that Compassion is one step beyond Love, and they make it out to be some kind of warm fuzzy feeling for all of humanity, especially for that part of humanity that is less desirable to be around. While that may be partially true, I would have to say that, in my opinion, Compassion is not really Love at all... it is instead a necessary step toward understanding one's own self and his relationship to the rest of Creation.

Those who sit on Satin cushions or stand behind ornamented podiums, surrounded by fresh cut flowers may be right when they speak of Compassion as being the way to Salvation or Enlightenment... but, in my mind, they themselves do not know of what they speak... for Compassion to me is not something that can be explained in flowery expressions... it is instead something that must be felt in the heart of each individual.

It is my opinion that Compassion requires hard work and discipline. It is not Love dipped in Honey... but rather the result of self denial and sacrifice. Compassion at times stinks like shit or leaves the taste of blood in your mouth. It drags you through the mud and garbage until you too begin to smell. It doesn't ever let you go, but keeps requiring more and more of your time, your energy, and your life until it finally takes hold of you and you have to surrender to it.

Compassion is the price one pays for Imagining. It is the legacy of those who dared to Dream. It's the Cross that was borne as a sacrifice for mankind. Compassion is not Love at all, but rather it is God in action. It is a mighty sword by which greed and corruption are destroyed and it is the shield that prevents evil from taking over... for as long as there is Compassion in this World, there will be the Hope of a better tomorrow.

In Love there is a give and take, but Compassion requires the complete emptying of oneself until the end... when, with thorns upon your brow, your blood and tears mingle down to form that sweet-sweet taste of Living Water... and as it touches your parched tongue, you come at last to understand... the reason for your being.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Back in Black

2009-11-23T04:11:00.001-08:00

It has been just a year now, one hour after the election of Obama as President of the United States of America, that I changed from wearing black to wearing white attire and much has happened that still gives me hope that someday Goodness will prevail and the World will be able to live in Peace... however on this day, as President Obama contemplates sending more troops to Afghanistan, I am forced to accept the fact that there are still many forces of opposition in the USA, that continue to block the Path that would allow it to become a leader in the pursuit of a more Peaceful World.

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to be willing to admit to some of the more recent illegal activities of its political and military leaders, and be willing to put them on trial for their crimes against humanity. If we do not do that, how can we expect others to?

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to step out of the role as protector of Israel and allow the country to stand or fall on its own. How can we be a mediator in the problems of the Middle East if we are partial to one side.

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to silence the voices of those like Sara Palin who spread lies and promote hatred wherever they go. Freedom of speech should not include the right to lie and deceive the public. Those who speak out must be held accountable for the damage they cause to others.

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to rid itself of political groups like the Christian Right, who believe they have exclusive rights to freedoms that others are not entitled to. Extremist groups like these only fuel the hatred between religious groups and do nothing to bring about Peace. No Extremist group should have a voice in the government, nor should it receive tax-exempt status.

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to pull all of its troops from Afghanistan immediately and accept the fact that it has lost yet another war. For wherever armed troops are sent, there will be a resistance... and the stronger the reinforcements are, the stronger the resistance will become.

To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to do all of these things and more... but it doesn't look like it will happen at any time soon because there are still a great many citizens of the USA who are still naively convinced that they are above reproach and for that reason I will return to wearing Black... not in protest of Obama, but in protest of those who believe that World Domination is more important than World Peace.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

The Answer

2009-10-21T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Answer is not,

A Word or a Phrase,

It cannot be found,

In Worship or Praise,

The Answer is not,

In the things that you do,

To put it quite simply,

The Answer is YOU!

For years one of my favorite songs was 'Jesus is the Answer' and I sang it from the bottom of my heart. In many ways He still has, for me, the answers for many of life's questions but I no longer believe that He is The Answer for the World today... it is we who are that Answer.

In John Chapter 14:6, the Apostle supposedly overheard Jesus say these words to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

This however conflicts with what Thomas himself supposedly understood Jesus to say, for he records it more like this: "The Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourself, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the son of the living Father. But if you will not know yourself, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

I have lived in the Third World most of my life and have seen many people who literally have nothing at all... but this is not the poverty Jesus is speaking of. Poverty is the absence of Spirit, absence of willingness to get involved, absence of concern for others, and the absence of Love for God's Creation. Poverty is not being able to let go of worldly possessions, of holding on to past injustices, and to saying "I would like to help you, but... ".

Why do we have war? Why is there injustice? Why is there starvation? Why are there abortions? Why is there misunderstanding? Why is there loneliness?

There is but one answer to all of these questions...

And that Answer is

YOU!

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Writings on the Wall

2009-09-26T06:21:00.001-07:00

To a Warring GOD they sacrificed,
Sons and Daughters, Husbands, Wives,

Believing HE would truly bless,
Their pains to wipe out godlessness,

But in the end to their surprise,
HE looked at them through tearfilled Eyes,

Than heard HIM say with trembling Voice,
“Depart from ME, I have no Choice,

For much was written, more was said,
But few have listened, fewer read,

The Fingered Writings on the wall,
It’s Love not hate, which conquers all.”

Wayne Dale Matthysse

The Lord's Wine

2009-09-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

“There is a Wine that flows,

From the Vineyards of the Lord,

Its sweetness aged in jars of clay,

It’s price none can afford.

And wise men say that he who taste,

It’s sweetness on his tongue,

Will understand the Mind of God,

And evil overcome.”

With tear-filled eyes, a dying father passed these words on to his son… then peacefully closed his eyes and surrendered his Spirit.

His wife had died while giving birth and so he raised his son alone. He had been a good father and a generous man, however, because of a physical handicap, had lived a difficult life and was never able to give his son all of the things he had hoped to.

Years went by and the son tried to make his mark on the World, but every time he would advance himself to a position of status, his father’s words would come back to him... and he would remember how his father had to struggled in a World that would not accept him as a whole being.

It was not a quick decision; more of a gentle pulling that caused him to leave Society and got him started on his Journey… in search of the Wine that his father had spoken of. He believed that if he could only find this Wine he could use the knowledge he would gain to heal the wounds of the World and to make it a better place for all of mankind.

His travels took him near and far, to places unknown to most. From finest crystal, he sipped the wines of Kings and Rulers but there were none that could give him the knowledge that he sought. And when at last, his fortune spent, he returned from whence he came, and sipped the wine of paupers, yet no knowledge did he gain, that would help him change the cruelty that he saw.

He spent his final years caring for abandoned and orphaned children in the house where he was born. And when at last he could journey no further he prepared himself to die. Tears came to his eyes as he remembered his father and the hardships he had suffered. He had hoped that in his lifetime he could repay his father’s love by finding the Wine he had spoken of, but now his journey too was over... and he had failed.

As the children gathered around his bed, he gazed into their tear-filled eyes and realized that he had failed them as well, for now he had nothing left to give them and they would return to being alone. Tears of Compassion began rolling down his frail bony cheeks and then upon his dry cracked lips. With parched tongue, he licked them away and in doing so, felt his body relax... and then a peacefulness he had never known before in his life, took over his entire being... for he realized that his tears had somehow lost their brine and at last, he could taste the Wine.

“There is a Wine that flows,

From the Vineyards of the Lord,

Its sweetness aged in jars of clay,

It’s price none can afford.

And wise men say that he who taste,

It’s sweetness on his tongue,

Will understand the Mind of God,

And evil overcome.”

Wayne Dale Matthysse

Christianity

2009-09-16T23:33:00.000-07:00

It is not for me to say whether Christianity is right or wrong... each person must answer that question for himself... however, if Christianity is your choice, then let it lead you to a point of openness and acceptance of the fact that not all people choose, nor is it necessary for them to choose, that same path, in order to receive their Salvation or Enlightenment.

For those of you who are interested in why I left Christianity I would like to give you some of my reasons and I welcome your response.

My first issue was with the Bible. I tried for years to believe it was the Holy Word of GOD but there was just to many things that didn't make any sense, and so I began checking into how the Bible actually became the Word of GOD. I will not go into detail here but if you are interested in learning more, here is a good place to start your own study: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus.

Once I decided that the Bible was nothing more then writings, much of which may have been Inspired by God but certainly not all, I was able to realize that God has never stopped Inspiring people through their writings. This allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the writings of many others, like Rumi, who before my awakening were nothing more then pagan idol worshippers.

My second issue was with Salvation being tied to the acceptance of Jesus as your Savior. I preached it for years but to this day have absolutely no idea of what that means. I know of many people who say they have done this but to tell you the Truth, I see nothing in them that is any different from those who haven't. If God's Love is unconditional... then why would He put conditions on receiving it?

My third issue was with Sin, especially with that Original Sin in the Garden of Eden which makes us all filthy rotten disgusting creatures that need to be cleansed. For most of my life I couldn't understand how in Genesis 1:31 it says, "Then God looked over all he had made and saw that it was excellent in every way." And then just two chapters later in Genesis 3:23 he banishes man from the Garden he Created for them. It didn't make sense until I realized that the banishment actually was a part of his plan all along and it occurred before he made the statement that every thing was excellent in everyway. I came to this realization when I put the story told in Genesis 2 and 3 of man and woman's Creation back into Genesis 1:27 where it says "So God created people in his own image;"

That means we are not after all the filthy rags as I have been taught all my life but we are instead beautiful Creations patterned after our Creator. Isn't it time we start acting that way?

Wayne

Truth

2009-09-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

To search for Truth beyond Oneself,
Will only cause despair.

No book contains the answers,
No guide can lead you there.

Created in His Image,
Our hearts contain the Key.

Learn to Love Creation,
And from doubt you will be freed.

I had a conversation recently with a friend who is still stuck in Christianity. He is afraid of letting go of what he thinks are the Keys for Salvation, namely, a belief that Jesus is the Son of God and that the Bible is the Infallible Word of God.

I asked him if he actually believed that every word in the Bible was from God and he admitted that he didn't see how the God of the Old Testament could be the same as the God of the New Testament... yet he still could not get himself to say that the Bible was not infallible, as if to do so would forfeit his Salvation.

If Jesus were not the Son of God, would that change the meaning of His teachings? If He had not died on the Cross for our Salvation but was instead a Martyr for Truth, would it make His death any less significant?

The Truth I believe in, is that God Loves all of His Creation, the Fish in the sea, the Plants and the Trees, the Birds and the Bees, and the Yous and the Mes... and when we understand this Truth, we no longer need to worry about losing our Salvation or our Life... for we will understand completely our purpose for being.

There is nothing you can lose
By seeking the Truth...
Except perhaps your ignorance.

Wayne Dale Matthysse