R David Foster, not wishing to impose more words on anybody, most importantly himself, provides this blog for anyone who wishes clarification through explanations by means of words.
Honestly, let me tell personal stories as true as I can possibly remember, which is pretty true if I bother to remember at all, and pretty verifiable if I'm bothering to remember or else it really means nothing to remember it because nobody will ever believe anything I feel worth remembering . . . whatever!
This is where I camped the next night after the previous painting. It is south of where I was, closer to Honey Harbour. The back side of this towering island in a channel, was not as steep so I climbed up to the level area at the top from the back side. There were a lot of cottages in the area, so this was prime real estate to me as I searched for a suitable overnight spot.
This painting will require a lot of control of the values to distinguish the various islands in the majority of the image. This is intended to be a morning image, with the sun rising over the right shoulder of the viewer, and just striking the tops of the trees.
I guess it's early to bed and early to rise ! I'm asleep before sunset under the orange fly supported by the kayak on the left side of me. The paddle sticks out to the right side of me.
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on with the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
Verse 6
6”If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' b ”
-b- 6 Psalm 91:11,12
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 6
6”If I am the One of God,” he said, “why do we need this honour ? / For:
“'You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.' a ”
-a- 6 Psalm 91:13
from the text of the animation HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Five's Nine written by R David Foster
Verse 6 Discussion
Again, an idle test of whether Jesus is the Son of God is to be rejected by Jesus. Yet in the animation text the question is put forward by the male spouse that their may not be a need for any honours and the seeking of any honours. Furthermore, why would One seek honours from those who ultimately oppose a new world of the sacred One relationship?
In the animation text, the lion is the earthly kingdom, and the cobra or serpent is knowledge, specifically medical knowledge. This is how I have taken this quote. The quote itself immediately follows the verses quoted by Matthew in this Gospel. Once again, quoting, taking something out of context to make a point, is dubious, yet I play along.
Certainly it could be said that Jesus led a charmed life. Just the fact that he was executed as a criminal yet a worldwide religion was founded on this executed criminal is argument enough. So Jesus did have the supernatural supporting him, whether by magic or otherwise, that allowed him to accomplish all that he did. This means that what the devil quoted, Psalm 91, verses eleven and twelve, did apply to Jesus and did mean that he had supernatural help. So why is it a temptation for Jesus to test this to justify that it is true?
It is a temptation because it is not productive and will not redeem. But furthermore, since I am asserting that Jesus is the superlative balance of whole and part, it is a temptation for Jesus to act without respect to the whole, overlooking the details or parts.
In the animation text, seeking after honour from the crown, or even the educated, is likewise neglecting the whole of the situation and running roughshod over the details or parts. If the sacred One relationship would change everything about present day society, why seek to be honoured by present day society? Who would regard anyone who achieves a high honour and then proceeds to dismantle the source of that honour, as credible? It would lack integrity to do so, and this lack of integrity is what the male spouse is trying to avoid by taking issue with seeking the honour of being a member of the Order of Can of Duh. The female spouse sees it differently, as presented in verse seven of this animation.
So where Jesus is tempted to throw himself down, the sacred One relationship is tempted, through the female spouse, to lift themselves up, with an honour from society. But accepting an honour from the society they wish to rebuild, would be disastrous and tantamount to throwing themselves down. Again, the female spouse sees it differently, as presented in the seventh verse, the next after this verse, of this animation.
The trick is to find a way to rebuild society while still living in it. Everyone has heard the phrase “live in the world, but do not be of the world”. This is the fancy footwork that Jesus did when Pilate asked him if he was a king. His answer, that his kingdom is not of this world, because if it was, his followers would take up arms, disarmed Pilate. But for a people who were looking for an Anointed One, who never expected God to send His Son, Jesus' answer that “you will see the Son of Man at the right hand of God”, is damning. But then again, it is only the truth, and a people with an absolute God, rather than a living God, condemn their saviour.
For the female spouse, this rebuilding requires a few steps back amongst the steps forward. The male spouse can relate to this, because he had to subdue his family's influence on him in order to prepare himself for marriage. The family crest for Foster, I am told, has a stag, a male deer, in it somewhere. In the second image of this verse, the male spouse has bagged a stag, while treading on the lion and the serpent. Jesus too, had to distance himself from his family, saying that those who hear his word and heed it are his brothers and sisters and mother. One must prepare themselves to be married, in a sacred One relationship, by putting away childish things, and entering a new heaven and a new earth, renewed daily, in a grand adventure. So the male spouse knows all about a few steps back amongst the steps forward.
Again, there is a disconnect between the spouses. The only solution is to accept the other's wishes and deny oneself and carry their burden. Jesus must have many times wondered why people just did not get what was so second nature to himself. He must have seriously wondered if they would even get it if he were to rise from the dead. But the kingdom of heaven exists, and there is great Joy in those who live in it. Rather than fear death, or loss, or failure, in the knowledge of their loving infinity's everlasting forgiveness, they carry on for the ride, and marvel at the sights!
___________________________________ Pentecost, Sunday May 27th, 2012
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on with the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
Verse 5
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 5
5Then the devil took One downtown and placed them on the Order of Can-of-Duh list.
from the text of the animation HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold written by R David Foster
Verse 5 Discussion
For Jesus to just walk up and climb to the highest point in the temple, it must have been considered a public place. Likewise, to just go downtown and put yourself on the list for the highest honour in the capital, it must be a public nomination.
There was only an administrative distinction between religion and the state in Judea, as the Roman's ruled the state that would otherwise have been ruled by a king subject to the priests. Nevertheless, the high priest in Jerusalem, the holy city, was a political figure, regardless of Roman rule. So whether religious or secular, achieving the highest honour is the topic of this verse.
Jesus may not have thrown himself down and put God to the test when tempted by the devil in these verses, but he did allow himself to be brought down and crucified, so success or failure, achievement or loss, is not the issue here. The issue is about doing things idly, to just try things out, rather than putting everything into achievement. And this is the issue in this verse of the animation. Why would one attempt to honour themselves, and put any effort into their being acknowledged at all? Is there not enough to do to keep one busy fulfilling their purpose, rather than pausing to receive honours?
Furthermore, is there any advantage to receiving an honour? One may argue that recognition furthers one's purpose, but does it really draw the kind of attention that bears fruit? Jesus frequently tried to keep his miracles quiet, telling the cured lepers to tell no one other than showing themselves to the priests to be acknowledged as having been cured. Jesus did not rebuke all attention to himself, but he did rebuke the kind of attention that does not bear fruit – the seeking of signs and miracles. He performed his miracles for their own sake, to help those in need, rather than to draw people to himself. His teaching was enough to draw people to himself in a way that would bear fruit, or be productive and redemptive.
Standing on the highest point in the temple, regardless of Leonardo DiCaprio standing at the bow of the Titanic and proclaiming himself “King of the World”, is a dubious honour. Most honours are dubious because they only go to those who put every means at their disposal into achieving such honours. This readily involves bending the rules, if not outright cheating. This is the Canadian response to winners – we think of them as overzealous and prefer to content ourselves with those who are good enough. This can become a political issue in the workplace, if not even in politics. One who only does the job they were hired to do can easily find themselves alienating the other ninety per cent of the workforce who are busy dodging work if not down right relaxing until their shift is over. Even management may take offence at someone who gets the work done correctly and on time. So there are two ends to this sword – a group that is overzealous and a group that is under zealous – both will be a threat to an honest person. Finally, when I delivered the Etobicoke Gazette advertising newspaper, I received an award for having a high collection rate – the rate of people I collected payment from compared to the number of homes I delivered to. This was truly a dubious distinction because, naively, I only delivered to those who would pay, and I never realized I was suppose to deliver to everybody and collect as much as I could !!
And then there is the idea that the first will be last and the last will be first! How is one a winner in such an environment?! Jesus may be the first among people, but he was definitely the last as he hung on the cross. His greater honour was his criminal conviction and summary execution, rather than his standing on the highest point of the temple.
And then there is the whole question of why Jesus did not take up a career as a priest, if he wanted to work with religious ideas and minister to people? The short answer is that he was teaching a new understanding that would not fit into the old way of doing things – new wine cannot be stored in old wine skins. His life's work was not anything that would achieve any present honour in his present society, but would achieve honour in a new society of his own creation.
" . . the male spouse is fuming, . . . "
This time the temptation comes through the female spouse, who drags the male spouse downtown to place them on the Order of Can-of-Duh list! She wants acknowledgment and is grasping at it, rather than letting it come in its own time, as a gift of infinity, or a gift from God. The male spouse is fuming, and does not recognize the honour he may receive, and rather considers it an embarrassment, as if his co-workers were chastising him for self grandeur.
Once again there is a disconnect, as being nominated can be an honour in itself, let alone being voted for toward being selected. When one is working away, a little honest recognition can make all the difference and bolster a weary heart, if not transfigure it. And the view from the top of the temple must have been magnificent! It could have gone a long way toward imagining the vastness of the people to whom Jesus was ministering.
__________________________________ Ascension Sunday, May 20th, 2012
This painting was completed in four three hour sessions from April 19th, 2012 to May 10th, 2012. It is of the Monday morning of the Cross of Victory Pilgrimage in August 2010. It is a water stop north of Caledon East.
The three men at the far left are wearing reflective orange safety vests and the man with his back to the camera has a reflective orange flag. These fluorescent orange and fluorescent green colours were painted with fluorescent yellow guache, but that colour does not reproduce, leaving the red alone. I guess that's why I can't find that paint anywhere anymore !
The portion of the photograph is original and not edited.
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on with the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
Verse 4 4Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'a”
-a- 4 Deuteronomy 8:3
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 4 4One humbled him, “Why do we need beer ?”
from the text of the animation HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold written by R David Foster
Verse 4 Discussion
Bread or convictions – the eternal dichotomy ! Is it better to accept injustice so as to sustain our physical needs or to strive for justice at the expense of our physical needs? This is dependent on whether our physical needs are met by the fulfillment of justice, or if instead, the two are independent of each other. But then again, is it better to gain the world and loose one's eternal life, or to save one's eternal life and loose the world.
Jesus' reply implies that the word from the mouth of God sustains, rather than just bread sustaining one. God may send bread, but he sends other things as well, and the entirety of the word sustains, where bread alone is insufficient. So Mabel may get you a (Black) Label beer, but there is more to Mabel than beer. It is the entirety of the situation that sustains, and this situation always includes the infinite, whether your other half of the infinite, your spouse, or plain old infinity.
The temptation is to neglect the infinite, the whole of the situation one finds themselves in, and to just take what one decides they need, rather than let things play out and allow one's needs to be met by the infinite. Attending to one's spouse may actually produce a beer without having to ask for it. This is the point of this verse – that one is always tempted to neglect either the whole or the parts of a situation and act without reference to the whole or the parts of a situation and to just exercise free will and take what one believes they need. Furthermore, one may even fight to gain what they either feel they deserve, or believe they have a right to maintain. This is not forgiveness and this is not what Jesus did. This is what Judas did. Judas, to my mind, thought that Jesus would surely stand up for himself if he was confronted by the Jewish leaders, and he thought that Jesus just needed a push for him to take over. This is why Judas was a disciple, because he believed in Jesus' ministry, and this is why Judas proceeded with his betrayal even though he knew Jesus knew what he was doing. He likely took Jesus' acknowledgment of what he was to do as approval of his betrayal of Jesus.
There is not ever any overpowering force demanding obedience – we are all free to choose life or else. Jesus ministry was not to dominate but to lure and encourage people to encounter and love God and their neighbour, infinity, for the wonder that it is. So Jesus, in his life before infinity, would not grasp at what he believed he needed, but would trust infinity to love and provide for him and those that followed. It is like the world of Disney's animated film, The Jungle Book, in which Baloo the bear sings - “ Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities, forget about your worries and your strife. I mean the bare necessities, that's why a bear can rest at ease, with just the bare necessities of life.” Jesus' bare necessity was his relationship with infinity, and the demands of that relationship. He could have abandoned it at any time, yet he freely chose to accept it and be content with it.
So the husband asks the wife to buy beer, if she really appreciates him, but her response dismisses his request with the question “Why do we need beer?” True, beer is not necessary, but it does make for a celebratory mood, and the husband may have felt like celebrating. But the wife was cleaning, and did not feel like celebrating. There is a disconnect. Even though the wife is cleaning right in front of him, the husband neglects the truth of the situation and wants to celebrate. To him, cleaning could wait, especially until after the celebration, when it would make more sense to clean. Alternatively, the husband could have helped with the cleaning, and then suggested they celebrate together. As well, the wife could have realized that the husband was free to celebrate at this time, and taken advantage of the situation to celebrate with him, rather than tend to their home, putting it above her spouse.
There is not any right or wrong action here, only a disconnect. The temptation is more of an initiative that is not taken up. Jesus was hungry enough to eat stones, yet he chose not to test God or himself by attempting magic. He chose, rather than against magic, to be content and appreciate the solitude and clear head his environment was providing him, and to take advantage of that, to prepare for when he would not have solitude and be heady with wine. Rather than reject magic, he chose life. The spouses, in ignorance, or perhaps just lack of infinite will, do not choose each other in this verse. There is space between the pillars of the temple, but if there becomes too much space, the temple of the sacred One relationship, balancing whole and part, will fall.
_________________________________________ Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13th, 2012
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on with the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
Verse 3
3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 3
3The tempter came through him and said / “ If you are the One of God, take this coin to become beer ! “
from the text of the animation, HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold written by R David Foster
Verse 3 Discussion
For me, the temptation to resolve mysteries with a belief in magic short changes the issue and defeats the purpose of the mystery. Dwelling and deliberating on an apparently unresolvable mystery reveals numerous truths that likely shed light on the mystery without resolving it. This leaves the door open to the unexpected and miraculous. But attributing the mystery to magic short changes this process and the mystery fails to bear fruit. The place holder or unknown of magic closes the door on further consideration and renders the mystery of the situation impotent.
The tempter came through him, and said . . .
Whether Jesus could or could not have magically turned the stones into bread is not the point. Jesus knew his situation and waited on God to provide, rather than grasp at a solution. This is Jesus' life, in communion with the infinite, that loves and provides for Jesus and all of us. To grasp at a resolution to any problem short changes the purpose God has for the situation one finds themselves in.
". . .take this coin to become beer."
I have heard that the temptation to turn stones into bread is the epitome of the economic solution. To settle for an economic solution to existence is pretty much what economists and the Roman Empire had done. Everyone had their physical needs pretty much met, yet this did not allow for an infinite purpose for each and every person. It short changed God's purpose for people and persons. We exist ultimately in an infinite existence, and merely meeting our economic needs negates the majority of our infinite existence. So just as magic short changes the consideration of a situation, accepting a finite solution to infinite existence short changes our awareness of the infinite.
Where the tempter came TO Jesus, the tempter came THROUGH the male spouse of the sacred One relationship. Seeking completion or satisfaction from the other spouse, the man requests beer. Beer may satisfy up to a point, but complete satisfaction cannot be had by beer alone. Complete satisfaction comes from the communion of the spouses, with or without beer, and with or without bread. Jesus knew he longed for the balance of whole and part, communion with the infinite, and neither bread or beer alone would satisfy his longing.
Where Jesus was a balance of whole and part in one person, the sacred One relationship is a balance of whole and part among two persons. Jesus came at a time and place that was ripe for a new understanding of the infinite. Yet someone had to acknowledge, proclaim and begin life enlightened by this new understanding. This new relationship with the infinite would not come on its own, and neither would the infinite impose a new understanding. A person had to recognise, proclaim and live this new understanding in a world of people that did not know it. Likewise, couples must live their relationship in a world that does not know why, where or how they relate to each other. Jesus lived a relationship with the infinite, and spouses live a relationship with the other half of infinity, their spouse.
It has been said that pondering the mysteries presented in christianity will make one loose their mind, or become crazy, and this is true. It has been said that instead, the mysteries must be accepted in faith, rather than considered so much as to change one's understanding of their world, and again, this short changes the mysteries and makes them impotent. Instead, considering the mysteries so much that they change one, opens up a new world to those considering the mysteries, and this world is unavailable to anyone that short changes the mysteries, so the actions of one who does consider the mysteries, become incomprehensible to those who do not consider such mysteries.
This is marriage, this taking up of a life before the other half of infinity, to bear fruit that no one else is able to comprehend the source of the fruit. Likewise, one who considers the mysteries offered by the infinite, will act seemingly without cause, and the cause will be their understanding of the infinite, which is unavailable to others not considering the infinite. This understanding may not be communicated by words but can be identified by the audience that considers the infinite as well. This is the witness of the Holy Spirit, the acknowledgement of one's actions by others who are likewise considering the infinite. Anyone who considers the mysteries of the infinite and acts on their understanding has taken up their cross and is following the path that Jesus took. This is necessary for any relationship with the infinite, whether as a person or as a spouse. To expect that one will be rewarded in a timely manner by those who do not consider the infinite is unrealistic, but to expect that one will make progress toward the infinite is reasonable.
In a world of distinct parts working with other distinct parts, as a machine would, there is little tolerance for changing the parts as that would make the other parts and the machine not work. This is the ego, and it does not allow for renewal. Those who are content with the way things work will not tolerate variation, yet for those who seek more than there now is, change must come. Only in a world acknowledging the infinite, will everyone, infinity, be content. This is a world considering the mysteries and growing before the infinite.
When one has reached as far as they can go, they turn back with a new understanding and recreate the world as much as they can, then continue on to infinity, and again turn back to recreate again. This is the whole of the parts, and many can fathom it, yet many do not consider it. This is not unreasonable, yet others who are content, fail to see it. So if marriage is not proclaimed, many will not see the need to maintain it as the infinite resource that it is, an infinite union of an infinite whole or female, with an infinite part or male. Jesus was the height of this union of whole and part in one person, yet the union of whole and part in a marriage relationship has the capacity to yield far more than one person on their own could.
“Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind; Rich truth that surpasses my knowledge to find; What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard; Is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.”
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on with the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
Verse 2 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 2 2After feasting forty years and forty nights One was full.
from the text of the animation, HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold written by R David Foster
Verse 2 Discussion
Jesus had reached a milestone – he had fasted and was hungry and had come to a turning point or point of decision. He was ready to face life choices and make lasting decisions. This was to be a landmark in his life.
Likewise, the One has come to a landmark in its life. Something has to be decided, which is mainly to stay the course or to correct the course, but things will not remain the same either way. If One stays on the course it is on, it will continue with a greater resolve, but if it changes course, it will be with determination.
It does not matter whether one has fasted or feasted – there will still be a completion to either fasting or feasting. Obviously one could continue to fast, and let the completion be their death, and likewise one could continue to feast, and let the completion be their death. But more likely one will come to a point where they will decide to continue or to change course in a life decision that will be made with determination.
After feasting forty years and forty nights One was full. ( and the bottle was empty ! )
Stepping back a bit, this sacred One relationship, Christlike, exists among the spouses as they balance whole and part, female and male, as Christ did with and in his life and ministry. But where Christ was one person, the One exists in the relationship of two people. Just as Christ could act with his left or right, as a whole or as a part, the sacred One relationship acts as a male or a female, in unity with the other spouse, yet each has their own role to play. If one is tempted, the One, the relationship is tempted. If one overcomes temptation, the One overcomes temptation. If one is full, the One is full, and at a turning point. Yet if one succumbs to temptation, the One succumbs to temptation, and this takes the forgiveness of the other spouse if the sacred One relationship is to survive. Yet God the Father, who is all powerful, oversees the existence of the One whether in a relationship or an individual, and will use both and either to fulfil His will, and see it accomplished. It is like the parable of the talents, where the slave that buried his talent in the ground, not even banking it to earn interest, has it taken away from him and given to the slave who invested his talents and returned even more talents to his master. If a sacred One relationship does not fulfil God's will it will be taken away to be bestowed elsewhere. This is why the One was full – it had accomplished all that it could. Likewise, Jesus was as empty as he could be, and ready to lay the foundation of his ministry.
It is generally accepted that Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. He had probably experienced the death of his father, Joseph, and had settled into the trade of being a carpenter. Yet all this had turned his attention to his heavenly Father, and compelled him to take up another task that would require all his efforts and consume his life. He had just encountered his cousin, John the Baptist, and been acknowledged by John through Baptism. Jesus had to personally consider his life and what he would do with the remainder of the life God would allow him. Being fully human, Jesus had human reasons, regardless of divine reasons, for doing whatever he would do. He sorted this out as a human, and acted accordingly, fully considering the infinite ramifications of his actions.
Just as Jesus was human, we are all human, and when life events run their course we are all faced with decisions of what we as individuals, with full autonomy over our decisions, exercising our totally free will, will do with the remainder of the life we are allowed. We each, as individuals take stock of our assets and debts, our abilities and weaknesses, and decide what we as individuals may attempt to accomplish, in a very realistic assessment. This does not mean that we must limit ourselves to earthly goals, as we generally have the attitude that we will live forever, however unrealistic that may be, and this attitude admits a belief in the eternal, even if we cannot justify such a belief. So we may strive for an infinite goal, knowing full well that we have finite assets, as well as finite debts, finite abilities and limited weaknesses. Yet in the hymn “Lord of Creation”, number 498 in the Catholic Book of Worship, there is the second verse that goes:
“Lord of all power, I give you my will; In joyful obedience, your tasks to fulfil; Your bondage is freedom, your service is song; and held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.”
So many people strive for goals that are beyond them, like the soldier in the trenches of World War I, who fully aware of the barrage of fire that will greet him and his compatriots, still willingly chooses to go over the top and run headlong into likely death, even if that choice is the lesser of two evils, with court martial, execution or prison the alternative to fighting.
But for us today, having the witness and testimony of Jesus, the Apostles, the church, and many others, where are we to direct our efforts? I proclaim that the sacred One relationship, balancing whole and part, as in a sincere marriage, and the maintenance of such a relationship, is christianity applied, and the greatest resource society and individuals can draw on. When tempted, one should always choose marriage, or at least the local balance of whole and part, still in the light of the infinite, if marriage is not at hand.
But as Aristotle's Golden Mean, presents the problem of always taking the middle road, begging the question if always, is that not an extreme, rather than the middle road ? Marriage may not be a balance of whole and part, and this is for the infinite, God, to decide. Nevertheless the lay of the land is that marriage will likely be the best balance of whole and part with the greatest possibility, just as forgiveness is the best choice, with the greatest possibility, yet there are always exceptions, which will require forgiveness.
So the sacred One relationship balancing whole and part, has feasted and come to a point of decision. It has been acknowledged by Joan, in Matthew's Three Fold , and achieved abundance, and is now considering where to head. It could choose to continue as things are, regardless of shortcomings, in the faith that the union will bear fruit, or break the faith, and continue on a new path. This will involve deliberation, discussion and consideration, as well as action to confirm the choices as they are made. This is where temptation comes in, and it requires thorough understanding to chart the course of this local One sacred relationship. The twists and turns are wrenching as these two infinities dance and weave to accommodate the other, and consider their self awareness as well as their position before the infinite, both as a unit and as individuals. What are you, as an individual, exercising your total free will, going to do?
_______________________________________ Good Shepherd Sunday, April 29th, 2011
Just search vid932008 on www.google.ca to see it come up first in the list. On this site there are almost all the blog posts in an easily accessible non-linear format, as well as all the animation dating back to 2008, and most of the other artwork and poetry.
Since I get such a kick, still, out of blathering on about this stuff, I'm continuing on to the discussion of HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold !!
HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold
Verse 1
The Temptation of Jesus
41 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Four, New International Version
Verse 1
The Temptation of the One
1Then One was led by the Spirit into abundance to be tempted by the devil.
from the text of the animation HESUS JOY CHRIST / Matthew's Foretold written by R David Foster
Verse 1 Discussion
'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'
So is it all that better to be rich, whether in wealth or spirit, living in abundance, rather than poor in wealth and spirit? Surely abundance can be a far greater environment of temptation than a deserted experience.
Having sought solitude to clear my head, and simple living to maintain a clear head, I understand Jesus going out into the desert as his wanting to clear his head and set his priorities. I have heard that the stones into bread is the temptation of an economic solution, but I cannot remember the correlation of the other two temptations to another two solutions.
Yet, if wealth is a hindrance to setting oneself right with the infinite, then, relatively speaking, North America, and all of western society, being wealthy, is on the wrong track. The success of the economic solution has left us bereft of spiritual leaders, and we import priests from the third world.
So I would suppose that Jesus wanted to put himself in a better position to face temptation, and so went off by himself into the desert to sort himself out without distractions.
But the achievement of the spouses, in attaining the sacrament of marriage, for their sacred One relationship balancing whole and part, female and male, has brought them prosperity, and the accompanying temptations. One temptation is complacency, that nothing is urgent and nothing too important. Another temptation is satisfaction, that the world has come to completion, and will therefore remain this way forever. A further temptation is that there is nothing to need to strive for, as all is accomplished. And don't forget the distractions of wealth with the many demands on one's attention, such as correspondence, accumulation, social events and more. Where is there any inclination to draw closer to one another, in meaningful discussion of how to take on further challenges as a team, or in discussion of each one's spiritual life and affinities, the life of the spirit before the infinite. And never mind learning about each other so that each may grow into the life of the other, the male growing in the world of the female, and the female fathoming the world of the male.
With all these distractions, no wonder Jesus sought out solitude in order to gain the high ground against temptation.
With all the possibility of renewable resources, why would Canada want to finish off the oil age, after the coal age, rather than develop the technology that reduces oil to a polymer source for plastics that technology can be made of and recycled as a renewable resource. This is but one example of the kind of challenges that are being overlooked because we are too distracted by the demands of our wealth. Really . . . steaming the oil out of the sand !! What were they thinking? I don't even steam my clothes to get the wrinkles out !! Furthermore, who was it that said 'Movies were not made to be seen on a f£$%$%king telephone !!'. A smart phone is for a dumb arse who cannot organize themselves without a four inch screen. Napoleon conquered Europe without even a land line, let alone a walkie-talkie !! In considering my options for renewing my plan, I realized that all that these 'phones' can do is voice, voice messaging, email and internet. What is so important on the internet that one would squint to see it on the bus, not being allowed to use their 'phone' while driving, before they get home to view the internet on the desktop. If one is so busy that they cannot restrict their new boob tube use to certain times of the day than good luck with organizing anything else, including their eternal life. We are surely now living in a 'neon Rome'. We are agok at the shimmering darkness that titillates us and keeps us from real life. Honestly, when was the last time you dug a hole, or even more so, mowed a lawn, and better yet, walked for a half hour? When I had a car I was desperate for bicycle time. Having a car does not save transportation time, it only uses up more time in transportation going more places.
Even when I was dealing with blackberry people, and doing Autocad drafting near the airport in December, 2009, most people could not get over the technology far enough to count how many lanes of traffic Hurontario Street had just south of Burnhamthorpe. Sure, they had begun to take advantage of the customization possibilities of Autocad, but they had not thoroughly thought through their production process so no matter how versatile Autolisp may be, they were shooting themselves in the foot by not understanding their job to begin with!! Measuring along a curve ! ӣ$%^%&^& !! Get real !! We are all staring at the pretty lights at the end of the tunnel and not realizing it is a truck heading for us !!
But I digress. I have been led by the spirit into a rant. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted. The One was led by the Spirit into abundance to be tempted. We will all be tempted. The Spirit is always leading us to new challenges to our faith. We must rise to meet the challenges, and speak the truth of our environment as honest witnesses of our corner of the world. For the One, the environment of married life was found to be full of challenges that were to be overcome, but complacency is the standard of the day, to society's detriment. Marriage requires a supreme commitment, founded in christian forgiveness following Christ, by not only the spouses but the entire community, and this is lacking. Anyone who counsels spouses against one another, for whatever reason, is speaking against the spirit of the One sacred relationship balancing whole and part, and undermining society's greatest asset. Unless something illegal is occurring, than marriage must be supported by supporting both spouses as well as their union. The cost on society of the dissolution of a marriage is too great to take lightly, yet this is the case today. Keeping children as children, putting the well being of either spouse over the other spouse's well being, or anything else that undermines the infinite resource of a marriage relationship, limits society in too many ways to number.
___________________________ Sunday, April 22nd, 2012
"Where's Lunch?" was painted in at least two sessions over the last two or so weeks, totalling about five hours, and is of the Monday morning, just before lunch, south of highway 9, east of Airport Road, on the Cross of Victory Pilgrimage in August of 2010.
R David Foster is an independent minded, gregarious individual, seeking the path less trod, for the sake of those he loves - anyone who may countenance the eternal.
David Foster graduated Sheridan College Arts Fundamentals Intensive Program with Honours in 1993, and continued on into the Classical Animation program there.
As a member of the Liason of Independent Film of Toronto (LIFT), he recieved a grant from LIFT and a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to complete his 6 minute animated film "HYPOTHERMIA / My Kayak Prayer" in 35mm in 2008. He is now working on a sixth episode of his animated series HESUS JOY CHRIST, as well as watercolour painting weekly.
So the husband asks the wife to buy beer, if she really appreciates him, but her response dismisses his request with the question “Why do we need beer?” True, beer is not necessary, but it does make for a celebratory mood, and the husband may have felt like celebrating. But the wife was cleaning, and did not feel like celebrating. There is a disconnect. Even though the wife is cleaning right in front of him, the husband neglects the truth of the situation and wants to celebrate. To him, cleaning could wait, especially until after the celebration, when it would make more sense to clean. Alternatively, the husband could have helped with the cleaning, and then suggested they celebrate together. As well, the wife could have realized that the husband was free to celebrate at this time, and taken advantage of the situation to celebrate with him, rather than tend to their home, putting it above her spouse.
