Today was a magnificent day as the Creator flowed forth powerfully in creation. I had a 6 AM photography field trip as part of my participation in the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida.

Previously, we had some excellent lectures on photography from Reinier Munguia and Robert Amoruso. Munguia put a great starting tone on our birding adventure. He began his presentation by saying that we have the responsibility of making sure the rest of creation survives along with us; therefore, as photographers of bird animals, we must learn about the birds and animals so we can tell others of their importance to creation.

We capped off yesterday with a visit to the Raptor Project as we had the opportunity to photograph, a Bald Eagle, owls, falcons and hawks. Beautiful creatures indeed. The lecture with demonstration flights and feeding helped us learn more about each bird. I was fascinated with the Barn Owl. Its round bowl face with ears located at different positions on each side of the head can triangulate sound. The owl responded to a far away whistle with nods and searching until it honed in and flew across the stage and down into the exhibit hall straight to the daughter of the instructor.

Munguia’s wisdom was in my mind as I drove out of the Great Outdoors RV Resort at 5 this morning. A blazing orange-yellow full moon was hovering over the palm trees and the distant marshes along the St. John River. It truly revealed the glory of the Creator. The view of the moon was accompanied by Dvorak’s New World Symphony on Sirius radio. I cranked up the volume.

Having driven across the causeway from Titusville to Merrit Island to rendezvous with the field trip, I hurriedly put my 200-500 lens on my Canon 60D, mounted it on my new tripod, only to see the moon disappear below the horizon across the Indian River Lagoon. Robert Amoruso have us personalized attention as we tried to learn more about the intricacies of our cameras. I was humbled before the flaring forth creation and my lack of knowledge about photography after all these years of film cameras and digital cameras. I plan to take a two day class with him before I leave my winter haven in Florida.

Not to be outdone, the Creator gave us a wonderful sunrise as we caravanned to the Black Point Nature Trail. I learned that shooting before the sun rises fully gives the best lighting for photographs. At our first stop we photographed various types of ducks who were intent on bobbing under water to get breakfast. Soon the sun rose over the marsh and the tall palm trees. It was a beautiful sunrise with some very interesting cloud patterns. The Creators’ glory and shekinah—the very face of God—was smiling on us. I felt a sense of oneness with the creator and the cosmos.

At our next stop, we saw Ibises, Great White Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and Little Heron. We photographed them feeding in the water and in flight. What sights to behold! Soaring, circling, landing birds in search of breakfast as creation nurtured them for yet another day.

Now when it was evening, after the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those under the power of demons, 33 Until the whole town was gathered together about the door. 34 And He cured many who were afflicted with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to talk because they knew Him [[20]intuitively]. Zondervan (2010-08-17). Amplified Bible (p. 884). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

[Before I start, let me recommend the Amplified Bible because it gives alternate words for some words and that enhances the meaning of the text.I also add that I took this picture of the eagle yesterday. Double click to enlarge. Close ad.]

Fr. John Rice, our former rector at Good shepherd in Hayesville, NC gave a healing prayer retreat in Titusville this past weekend and on Sunday gave a presentation and sermon on generational healing. Previous Wednesday night sessions at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Titusville, FL had prepared us for the process of generational healing.

As Mark said, Jesus healed those who came to him. He saved them, set them free, liberated them. Salvation means health, wholeness. It means everything contained in the Hebrew word, shalom. That healing work still continues today through the Body of Christ—the Risen Cosmic Christ’s presence to us.

Jesus came that we might have life and have life to the full (Jn 10:10).

Nobody had perfect parents. Some parents, though doing the best they could, left some deep wounds and these wounds are passed on from generation to generation unless Christ through his Body, especially in a Eucharistic service, cuts us loose from the “sins of the parents.” I highly recommend participation in generational healing processes.

Some progressive Christians doubt whether healing ever occurred and especially whether it continues today. It does. I have seen it and experienced it in myself and others. I put this question to Bishop Spong and he, though denying the miracles and healing today, could not explain to my satisfaction, how healing occurs through healing ministry. Maybe it is not through a “personal” relationship with my Savior Jesus as evangelicals (which I must admit turns me off) are wont to say; however, I know it is through the Body of Christ. In spite of our struggle to be independent Egos; we are all interconnected. Our oneness in the power of the Spirit of the Risen Christ enables us to bring healing energy to one another. There is power in touch, oil, and intercessions for healing. We are all “walking around shining like the sun” as Thomas Merton said because we have a spark of the divine within us. Healing liberates that spark—the image of God—until we flare forth with new life and new consciousness.

The problem is that I am trying to describe the indescribable. This past weekend, I discovered that things that I used to call coincidence are really the “voice” of the Living God who is still birthing us as creation flares forth. This God, this Force, the Energy, this Power is bringing us to higher and higher levels of consciousness as we moan and groan our way toward Chardin’s Omega Point when Christ will be all in all.

All that is required is that we listen, as St. Benedict says, with the “ears of our heart.” Obedience to the Living God means listening. As Richard Rohr says so clearly, faith is not about overcoming obstacles but living them through to the end.

This past weekend prepared me well for some listening events which are coming up the next three weekends. This weekend we will be at the January Adventure in Emerging Christianity at Epworth by the Sea on beautiful St. Simons Island, GA. Walter Bruggemann and Gary Dorien will lead us to deeper awareness. The following weekend I will be privileged to be attending one of Richard Rohr’s last men’s retreats at the San Pedro Retreat Center in Winter Park, FL. Wow! The journey will conclude the first weekend in February at the Gladdening Light Conference with Matt Fox in Winter Park. As I finished writing this, it struck me that the Living God is alive and well in Central Florida and throughout the cosmos.

Come, Lord Jesus! You through your Body are always leading us to new light, new life, new being, higher levels of consciousness. You are giving us life in abundance.

God has shown the strength of his arm,

[Where is the the Kin-dom that was promised? Where is God?]

and has scattered the proud in their conceit.

[The proud stiil parade around and flaunt their power and wealth.]

God has cast down the mighty from their thrones

[The mighty and powerful still rule and they exploit and oppress others.]

and has lifted up the lowly.

[The lowly wallow in the mire trying to survive on two dollars a day.]

God has filled the hungry with good things,

[Around the world children with swollen bellies cry themselves to sleep.]

and the rich he has sent away empty.

[The rich have sent away their money to off shore banks.]

He has come to the help of servant Israel

for he remembered the promise of mercy,

the promise made to our fathers and mothers.

to Abraham and his children for ever.”

[We still languish and cry out, “How long, O God?” as innocent children are slaughtered. Where is the promise?] Continue reading →

These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6 They [the prophets like the prophets of old] have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.7 When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. . . .11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. (Rev. 11)

John of Patmos had been exiled to that Aegean island by the emperor. Christian teaching was subversive to the ends of empire. Revelation was written as a disguised critique of empire—the Roman Empire to be exact. It is not, as many fundamentalists insist, a treatise predicting when the world will end. Continue reading →