August 2013 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

from Jaime
by Jaime R Vergara 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

Herman Greene is right about exchanging more stories specially surrounding the members of this listserv. I did not know Stephen Wells, for instance, but Paul's announcement and the responses made Randy W more "accessible" than three paragraphs of his cogitations (which are welcomed, too). As John Cock commented on our picture of the montage on Greenrise: what a fellowship. Am coming to the tail end of our literary contributions to the Saipan Tribune and will likely have, at most, only six more before the end of the month. The following might lose me some readers but should be familiar territory to this listserv. The usual caveat: curious, welcome; not, meet you at the bend. Jaime Whereof we stand We’ll pull together the wisdom of our existence so far, a decade of which was spent in Saipan where we commenced our literary habit. We do not intend to be prescriptive by foisting our experiential learning on the behavior of others. Nor do we have a litany of lessons we share so that others follow our example. Instead, we convey a transparent stance so that our witness acts like a mirror to reflect not the structure of our selfhood but a invite others to see theirs. The word we use is “transparency” in the plane of history, in contrast to the prescriptive inclination of a “transcendent” ideal often used as a measure of perfection from on high that commerce in the language of eternal verities, and the intense immanence of one’s sense of depth and profundity to ground awe and wonder over the mystery of life itself. We stand at the core of contemporary relevance. OK. We are babbling abstractions here. Let me come at it another way. Say the reader stands in the middle of a world map, see the ends of the four directions and the in-betweens as well (like the trigrams do in the ancient symbol of the pugua) to effect a comprehensiveness view and inclusive stance of the whole. Let’s take the inclusiveness to be the earth as a planet, organic, interdependent of parts, and interlocking in roles and functions. This establishes our middle centered position in space. We’ve used the word “glocal” to capture the 60s sense of “thinking globally, acting locally”. A product of my time, literally a twin to Tinian’s nuclear Little Boy, I intend to sally forth till 2031 when I am 86. The sallying forth at the center involves stepping outside of our self (up) and contemplate the processes that abides (down) on the quantum physics of our being. In ’68, the Apollo mission shifted our ground to the reality of a blue orb rising on moonscape horizon oblivious of drawn political boundaries on its surface; a singular, fragile, and pulsating organic throb careening into an unknown universe. The earth and I are one. Internally, we affirmed the external truth, that “all the earth belongs to all the people” is at the heart of globalization. “All the decisions of history belongs to all the people” is an unstoppable impetus that grasps the passion and imagination of local revolutions. Today, nations and States are officiating marriages based on consent and covenant rather than sexual orientation. More significantly, “all the inventions of humanness belongs to all the people” has made religions ecumenical (fundamentalist defensively execute a reflexive jerk). We are participate in glocalizing decision-making at all levels; pedestrian goods and services worldwide move across human existence irrespective of status symbols. Some write manifestoes to state this knowledge; others quietly incorporate it into the fabric of daily life. But the reality is inescapable. Earth is a living organism though the humans in its last 10,000 years created a cancerous global brain that threatens the life engendering capacity of the organism itself. Furthering the new understanding, alas, is met with determined opposition from entrenched vested interests. Development of real estate fuels the economy of many places around the world and greed in this sector is predicated on the ownership of land rather than the equitable stewardship of the same. The bubble burst in the housing sector in the US in 2007 was a financial Ponzi scheme, and the numerous ghost towns of China continuous construction of an illusory pyramid for as long as investors keep paying up with everyone’s retirement fund. Social stratification favors those who own real estate, and while semblance of meritocracy towards upward mobility through education is in vogue, the sad truth is that existing policies favor the privileged and those who already sit at the edge of advantage. The immigration debate is instructive. Like the previous movements to get women their rights, and the birthing of the struggles versus gender biases, the calcified privilege of land owners are staking Alamo defenses to stem the mass of humanity moving into territories without first securing proper documentation. Instead of focusing on improving the documentation process, we build holding camps on Christmas Island as a deterrent to boat people and wetbacks. Pray tell, by what right does Australia have to stop Southern Asians from migrating to the land it grabbed from the aborigines less than two centuries ago, or the USofA have on the border folks across the Pecos and the Rio Grande who used to own the land only a couple of centuries back? Austria-Hungary married the Ottoman Empire so why be surprised at Turk proles in Frankfurt? The Dutch gathered spice in the Moluccas and Amsterdam worries about its Indo plebes!?! The Brits in the Indus and Ganges valleys had their footlockers carried on their tramping around Hindustan (stopping for tea around the Deccan plateau) and the French languished in the hammock as their weeds were handrolled in Indochina while scented rif-rafs fanned the humid air. Now we worry about the lilting accents in London and Paree! Yo, since when was ownership of anything an eternal sacred right? Comprehensive, inclusive, simultaneously transcendent and immanent, is our transparency at the center. How do you describe yours? Jaime Vergara pinoypanda2031(a)aol.com yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today. participate. In all, celebrate! -----Original Message----- From: Jayvee Vallejera Editor <editor(a)saipantribune.com> To: Jaime Vergara <pinoypanda2031(a)aol.com> Sent: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 2:22 pm Subject: Auto-correct Hi Jaime, This is what comes with relying too much on auto-correct. Will turn it off. Jayvee ________________________________________________________________________This email has been scanned by the Barracuda Spam & Virus Firewall 300.For more information please visit http://www.barracudanetworks.com ________________________________________________________________________

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Fwd: Funeral of Stephen Evans 30 August 2013 13:15
by Ann Avery 21 Aug '13

21 Aug '13

------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Frank Little <Frank(a)bfl.xs4all.nl> Date: 21 August 2013 22:02 Subject: RE: [Oe List ...] Funeral of Stephen Evans 30 August 2013 13:15 To: Ann Avery <ann.h.avery(a)gmail.com> Hello Ann.**** ** ** I am indeed reading this (but do not know whether I can post to the list).** ** ** ** Mike was the third member of our Lincoln College, Oxford group and the “Bristol” boys (we joined all three of us the house halfway through our postgrad year in Bristol, then set off for the Summer 74 program together, did most of the trip around the States as a team, and then the Academy. We only split up at the very end of 1974 when we had no other choice. J**** ** ** Mike, Steve and I were very close. We’ve stayed in touch and all three (plus Elizabeth) met here in Holland last summer. Mike was in contact with Steve by email these past years. I saw Steve more frequently too. In fact I saw him only two weeks ago. He was, as always, calm and strong in the face of adversity. **** ** ** You can reach Mike and Elizabeth at: **** ** ** Michael Neat**** 1731 S. Walker Avenue**** San Pedro, CA 90731**** United States of America**** ** ** cmneat(a)cox.net**** ** ** +1 (310) 2410502**** ** ** I think back with pleasure to our time in Rome and am ever grateful for what I learned with the Institute about myself, about the church, and about how to work with groups. **** ** ** My fondest regards.**** ** ** Frank****

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Funeral of Stephen Evans 30 August 2013 13:15
by PSchrijnen＠aol.com 21 Aug '13

21 Aug '13

Dear Colleagues, Stephen Evans died a few days ago, much too young. He had colon cancer. He was the Welshman in the trio with Frank Little and Alan Berresford who joined us around the same time in the UK - in 1973 or there-abouts. He played a key role in starting the HDP project in Tairgwaith. I recall that there was a car accident in which he was involved and that he moved on. Some said that we weren't at our best around that issue with him. I am glad Frank Little has been in touch with him, even 10 days ago. He is planning to attend the funeral, in some way representing all of us. I remember the beauty of his Welsh voice. Grace and Peace, Paul Paul Schrijnen 13 Bloemfontein Avenue London W12 7BJ +447973 206 766 pschrijnen(a)aol.com skype: paulus.schrijnen ____________________________________ From: Frank(a)bfl.xs4all.nl To: AUSTOVER(a)GMAIL.COM, alanb(a)fastmail.co.uk, japchristie(a)btinternet.com, keith-henderson(a)15briarwood.fsnet.co.uk, johnmitchell22(a)GMAIL.COM, cmneat(a)cox.net, samir_shah100(a)yahoo.co.uk, PSchrijnen(a)aol.com, robert(a)swinton2508.fsnet.co.uk CC: evans0310(a)tiscali.co.uk Sent: 21/08/2013 12:18:01 GMT Daylight Time Subj: Funeral of Stephen Evans 30 August 2013 13:15 My dear friends, Stephen’s funeral will be held on Friday 30th August at 13.15 in Coychurch Crematorium, Bridgend, South Wales. I intend to come across to the UK for the funeral. If you wish to send a message of condolences to Stephen’s mother, her address is: 39 Cowbridge Road, Brynsadler, Pontyclun, Mid-Glamorgen, United Kingdom. The post code is, I believe: CF72 9BS. Stephen’s sister, Patrica , and brother-in-law, Gwyn Evans, can be reached at: The Bungalow, Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgen, CF32 0RP United Kingdom. I have agreed with Gwyn to inform Lincoln College. Gwyn’s email address is in CC. I’ll let David Smith know too. Best regards, Frank

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Living RS-1
by Herman Greene 21 Aug '13

21 Aug '13

John Cock suggested I send the attached to the listserv. It's one way I am still living RS-1 in the Historic Church. Herman -- __________________________________________________ Herman F. Greene 2516 Winningham Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-942-4358 (ph & fax) hfgreenenc(a)gmail.com

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Re: [Oe List ...] A New Story
by LAURELCG＠aol.com 21 Aug '13

21 Aug '13

Walt, your answer to what's been happening in your life certainly resonates with me. Since we are One, why wouldn't it? Jann McGuire In a message dated 8/20/2013 12:38:20 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, wak3(a)wowway.com writes: Hi Jack I am sorry that I haven't got back to you sooner. Your question to me was what has been happening in my life? A LOT. I have been on a unique journey that has taken be to places in the mind, body and spirit. Around 8 years ago while Bev and I were vacationing at a resort on the west side of Michigan, I listened to a series of CD's called the "Biology of Enpowerment" by Dr. Lee Pulos. That was my introduction into the world of Quantum Physics. It also set my re-examing my theology and belief system. I learned the out beliefs start out as a thought. I think a thought, Think the thought, think the thought, thonk the thought and all of a sudden it becomes my belief. That opened me to look at the programming that .has occurred over the last 75 years. I and everyone else have been programmed my our parent, family, friends, teachers, clergy, church, society, and media. I began to ask myself what do I believe? I decided that I needed a definitioin of God that fit into the quantum universe. That definition was this: "God in unconditional Love." God is that energy that created this universe and dwells within me now. I am the manifestation of God as well as everyone else. Therefore, since God is unconditional love, I and the rest of the universe are one. There is no separation between me and God. Only my consciousness and awareness of that truth. So, how does one experience God in our life. What kind of built in system do we have that allows us to know we are in alignment with that energy. The system is our emotional system. WHen we are optimistic, happy, enthusiastic, passionate about living our lives we are in sync with God. When we experience negative emotions or thoughts we are in alignment. Negative thoughts are not bad it becomes a wake up call to seek out ways to "upgrade" our feelings. This quote labels the focus and purpose of our individual happiness. "God made the world for the delight of human beings."-Mother Teresa The key word is DELIGHT. (I can't get out of bold so pardon the rest of the letter) We ae to enjoy the world and not suffer through it. Because God being unconditional love, there is NO guilt. This on the surface seems like a utopia. Far from it. It means that annew paradigm has occurred. The past is past and the future is open. There is no more "If you do this ....... then......" That is called conditional love. Where we find it so much is throughout the Old Testament and even the New Testament. We have seen it throughout the life of the church by the pronoucments and sanctions. No more. Our society and almost every culture has many instances and experiences of this conditional love. When you stand in unconditional love you focus on your direction for your life. Thus, I give up the resistance that tries to CONTROL others and the situation. I am in a state of ALLOWING others be. WHEN I an in alignment with who I am, I am in alignmnet with the energy that creates worlds. That means there is no more worry about the world God is taking care of it. The world doesn't need to be fixed. I am never going to get it done so there is no right way for living. I am proposing a new context for the 21st Century. The old way of thinking about the past does not help create to new future. So I have dismissed the old as timewasters and am focused to the opportunity and solutions for the future. To regertate the poprblems does not enable to process or solutions. Part of our emotional guidance system is what we have called intuition. We need to listen to our intuition for it is the link to the universal intelligence or God. Mediation is one way to clear our mind of the noise of the world. Appreciation is another way of focusing on feeling good. By the way, I have decided that there are a different set of acts in worship. There are three acts: The Act of Appreciation, the Acr of Listening (The Word) and the Act of Allowing. This brings freedom and spirit back into worship. There are mountains fo thoughts and side bars I could expound on. I am working some of this through as I am going through each day. Thia may not make sense to you or the rest but I am having fun again. This is the beginning. The areas I am working in is health (how can we heal ourselves?), money( how can we attract it?), wellbeing ( how can we live a life of wellbeing) I wanted to bring you up to date as to where I am on my journey Grace and Peace Walt Kargus _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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Fw: VP 13 MyBookList
by Rod Rippel 20 Aug '13

20 Aug '13

A familiar list I’m sure. : ROD’S RECOMMENDED READING (Updated on my 75th Birthday) Selected books which have impacted my life and remained “friends” for all these years. C. S. Lewis, MERE CHRISTIANITY An old friend since high school days. Basic stuff that started my journey. Lord Dunsanay, THE KING OF ELFLAND’S DAUGHTER Fantasy. The Other World (in the midst of this world). Paul Tillich, THE SHAKING OF THE FOUNDATIONS Great sermons of one of the twentieth century’s greatest theologians. Includes “You Are Accepted,” a moving description of the experience of grace. Isaac Asimov, FOUNDATION Classic SF. H. Richard Niebuhr, THE MEANING OF REVELATION The ‘story of our lives’ from the inside of the faith community. John L. Epps, Editor, BENDING HISTORY, TALKS OF JOSEPH WESLEY MATHEWS A founder of the Order: Ecumenical lays out the practical applications of 20th century theology for living and renewing the local church and society. D. H. Lawrence, SELECTED POEMS DHL, a Christian poet or just saying it the way it is? The Modern Reader’s Bible, THE BOOK OF JOB Job ponders suffering, the advice of ‘friends,’ and the limits of his existence. David Darlington, ANGELS’ VISITS, AN INQUIRY INTO THE MYSTERY OF ZINFANDEL The pleasure and joys of a good Zin. Charles Hedrick, Editor, WHEN FAITH MEETS REASON, RELIGION SCHOLARS REFLECT ON THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS Such diversity! Herman Hesse, THE JOURNEY TO THE EAST If you are on a spirit journey don’t lose your violin or snub your canine friends. Friedrich Heer, THE MEDIEVAL WORLD A passionate portrait of the so-called ‘dark ages.’ A lot of ferment and innovation was happening! Nikos Kazantzakis, REPORT TO GRECO A bubbling vat of sensual experience, intellectual ideas and spirit wisdom is captured in this autobiography. Nikos Kazantzakis, THE SAVIORS OF GOD, SPIRITUAL EXERCISES The distillation of a life’s spiritual odyssey. Moving, powerful and poetic, very inspirational. May be out of print. Ocatavio Paz, THE LABYRINTH OF SOLITUDE, LIFE AND THOUGHT IN MEXICO Somewhat dated, but a ‘must read’ if you are planning a trip to Mexico. T. Harry Williams, HUEY LONG The best biography of Huey. Saint or demagogue? The chapter on how the first woman Senator in the US was elected on her own right is a marvelous description. William Dale Jennings, THE RONIN Based on a zen myth, you won’t be able to put it down. Are you looking for results in life? This will give you pause. A must read! May be very hard to find. Robert Bly, THE LITTLE BOOK ON THE HUMAN SHADOW Jungian psychology 101. Robert W. Funk, HONEST TO JESUS ‘The Book’ summarizing NT criticism by the leading scholar behind the Jesus Seminar. Frank Herbert, DUNE Missional discipline, the Order and environmental stewardship in one SF potboiler! Robert W. Funk and Roy W. Hoover, THE FIVE GOSPELS, THE SEARCH FOR THE AUTHENTIC WORDS OF JESUS The summary of the work of the Jesus Seminar. What did Jesus really say? Herman Hesse, SIDDARTHA The Buddha’s life story.

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Re: [Oe List ...] A New Story
by coevolutionacademy＠juno.com 20 Aug '13

20 Aug '13

Oh My! Walter - this sounds so much like our new book, Trust & Manifest Your Bliss - which is chock full of stories, ours and friends - demosntrating just what you are talking about! Thank You! Rose Anne Sands ---------- Original Message ---------- From: "Walter Kargus" <wak3(a)wowway.com> To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] A New Story Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:38:21 -0400 Hi Jack I am sorry that I haven't got back to you sooner. Your question to me was what has been happening in my life? A LOT. I have been on a unique journey that has taken be to places in the mind, body and spirit. Around 8 years ago while Bev and I were vacationing at a resort on the west side of Michigan, I listened to a series of CD's called the "Biology of Enpowerment" by Dr. Lee Pulos. That was my introduction into the world of Quantum Physics. It also set my re-examing my theology and belief system. I learned the out beliefs start out as a thought. I think a thought, Think the thought, think the thought, thonk the thought and all of a sudden it becomes my belief. That opened me to look at the programming that .has occurred over the last 75 years. I and everyone else have been programmed my our parent, family, friends, teachers, clergy, church, society, and media. I began to ask myself what do I believe? I decided that I needed a definitioin of God that fit into the quantum universe. That definition was this: "God in unconditional Love." God is that energy that created this universe and dwells within me now. I am the manifestation of God as well as everyone else. Therefore, since God is unconditional love, I and the rest of the universe are one. There is no separation between me and God. Only my consciousness and awareness of that truth. So, how does one experience God in our life. What kind of built in system do we have that allows us to know we are in alignment with that energy. The system is our emotional system. WHen we are optimistic, happy, enthusiastic, passionate about living our lives we are in sync with God. When we experience negative emotions or thoughts we are in alignment. Negative thoughts are not bad it becomes a wake up call to seek out ways to "upgrade" our feelings. This quote labels the focus and purpose of our individual happiness. "God made the world for the delight of human beings."-Mother Teresa The key word is DELIGHT. (I can't get out of bold so pardon the rest of the letter) We ae to enjoy the world and not suffer through it. Because God being unconditional love, there is NO guilt. This on the surface seems like a utopia. Far from it. It means that annew paradigm has occurred. The past is past and the future is open. There is no more "If you do this ....... then......" That is called conditional love. Where we find it so much is throughout the Old Testament and even the New Testament. We have seen it throughout the life of the church by the pronoucments and sanctions. No more. Our society and almost every culture has many instances and experiences of this conditional love. When you stand in unconditional love you focus on your direction for your life. Thus, I give up the resistance that tries to CONTROL others and the situation. I am in a state of ALLOWING others be. WHEN I an in alignment with who I am, I am in alignmnet with the energy that creates worlds. That means there is no more worry about the world God is taking care of it. The world doesn't need to be fixed. I am never going to get it done so there is no right way for living. I am proposing a new context for the 21st Century. The old way of thinking about the past does not help create to new future. So I have dismissed the old as timewasters and am focused to the opportunity and solutions for the future. To regertate the poprblems does not enable to process or solutions. Part of our emotional guidance system is what we have called intuition. We need to listen to our intuition for it is the link to the universal intelligence or God. Mediation is one way to clear our mind of the noise of the world. Appreciation is another way of focusing on feeling good. By the way, I have decided that there are a different set of acts in worship. There are three acts: The Act of Appreciation, the Acr of Listening (The Word) and the Act of Allowing. This brings freedom and spirit back into worship. There are mountains fo thoughts and side bars I could expound on. I am working some of this through as I am going through each day. Thia may not make sense to you or the rest but I am having fun again. This is the beginning. The areas I am working in is health (how can we heal ourselves?), money( how can we attract it?), wellbeing ( how can we live a life of wellbeing) I wanted to bring you up to date as to where I am on my journey Grace and Peace Walt Kargus _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net ____________________________________________________________ Extended Stay America Get Fantastic Amenities, low rates! Kitchen, Ample Workspace, Free WIFI http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5213cfaa2198e4fa95070st01vuc

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Re: [Oe List ...] A conversation with John and Lynda Cock and the Progress on my proposals
by Sherwood Shankland 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Thanks Herman for the inspired nudge, I have many cool, yet to be written recollections from our time together in the Cleveland House. I remember a collegium spin that you did about 'journaling' where you pushed us to incorporate our reflections and journaling time into the contexts that we use in meetings and courses, rather than spend time on journaling by itself. I still operate out of that insight, although I do keep a journal going, especially on airplane flights. To get the stories rolling, I was thinking of mini-formats like half-page or one-pagers to make enable short bursts to be shared that will remind people of their version or other experiences to jot down. Like the Epps recent encounter and Jack's story about the musician, and many of the Earthrise witnesses over the years. Will we need a dedicated cyber space for this interchange? (God forbid that I trigger another online dialogue on how many websites we need J.) Similar to the Archives project if we can do both retrospective and current encounters we can get all of the generations of "us" going at the same time. The knowing and being dimensions are the seedbed of our doing - past and future; life does not allow us the luxury of dealing with one dimension at a time. For me the most powerful tool that we have used continuously over the years is the commitment to discern both a Rational Aim and Experiential Aim for every event, every meeting and every conversation. This is a powerful common thread that extends from the Faith and Life Community through RS-I, Church renewal, Town Meetings, Human Development, LENS and The Technology of Participation and Virtual meetings. We care about what happens to the people in the events that we guide. Changing lives in real time encounters is who we are and what we promote. Ciao for now, Sherwood From: oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Herman Greene Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 9:27 AM To: OE Listserv Subject: [Oe List ...] A conversation with John and Lynda Cock and the Progress on my proposals Dear all, I had nice dinner with John and Lynda Cock last night. There's no doubt about it, but those of us who were in the Order share a deep common bond that goes on just like family bonds. Our shared history enabled deep sharing. I presented the idea that the period 1965-75 was the deeply creative period of Order/EI life, that the important ideas and concepts came from that period. John divided it into knowing, doing and being, and said the knowing and being were developed in that period and doing was the focus after that continuing through today. It seems clear to me that our "methods" meaning our facilitation methods are in history. It also seems clear that the doing whether as you all did it after I left in 1975 or as others may do it in the future will carry on. There will be people working on human development and some will use our methods. What remains important to me is our being and knowing. This is what I feel may not carry on. It's something we recognize and feel in the presence of each other and don't recognize and feel in the presence of others, or at least we feel it in a very different way. It's a shared interior space. Those of us in the Order in 1965-75 (and perhaps after though I have no first hand experience of it) know that we were part of something fantastic. A mighty flame of spirit and vision burned within us. We had within us a "motivity" that will never go away. And we had all those sayings and concepts we sometime hammered each other with that were critical to our being. And we had the Christian story, heritage and symbols which were very much a part of our interior reality. I don't think that can be captured with archives or numbers. The interior part can only be captured through stories. This is why I have called on people to write stories on "the way we were" or "who we were". They can be anecdotes that capture just one memorable moment, like the excitement felt at preparing for a doing the grand ball or in a moment in Fifth City Pre-School or the night of the MLK riots. The response, to say the least has been underwhelming, but I'm not going to let this die. Our second generation is already reaching retirement in some cases and what about the third generation and others? These are stories that need to be told. I thought I had Betty Pesek's book on The Circle of Life. Maybe this covers this, I need to get a copy . . . but intuitively I don't think so. We have a grand story and grand stories to tell. We were a part of something fantastic despite its faults. I don't want to justify it, I just want the story(ies) to be told. On the knowing side, I'm not that interested in the content that may be time bound. What I am interested in is the principles that formed us--the ones that related to out being, our power and our motivity--ideas of corporateness, being under assignment, living missional lives, etc. This is what I want to pass on to my children, grandchildren and others. Again the response has been underwhelming to say the least, but I'm not giving up. And the book called "RS-1" that I proposed? Gene Marshall I gather is working to put a version of RS-1 back in to the stream of things. Here I'm thinking about something else. I'm thinking about how did we come to understand God, Christ. Holy Spirit and Church in both its contentless and contentful (being related to the Christian tradition) aspects. I want to tell the story of RS-1, though this one might involve more concepts than the first two. So folks, you aren't dead yet, but you're close. Let's tell the story of this amazing body of people and reality of which we were a part. Herman -- __________________________________________________ Herman F. Greene 2516 Winningham Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-942-4358 (ph & fax) hfgreenenc(a)gmail.com

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A conversation with John and Lynda Cock and the Progress on my proposals
by Herman Greene 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Dear all, I had nice dinner with John and Lynda Cock last night. There's no doubt about it, but those of us who were in the Order share a deep common bond that goes on just like family bonds. Our shared history enabled deep sharing. I presented the idea that the period 1965-75 was the deeply creative period of Order/EI life, that the important ideas and concepts came from that period. John divided it into knowing, doing and being, and said the knowing and being were developed in that period and doing was the focus after that continuing through today. It seems clear to me that our "methods" meaning our facilitation methods are in history. It also seems clear that the doing whether as you all did it after I left in 1975 or as others may do it in the future will carry on. There will be people working on human development and some will use our methods. What remains important to me is our being and knowing. This is what I feel may not carry on. It's something we recognize and feel in the presence of each other and don't recognize and feel in the presence of others, or at least we feel it in a very different way. It's a shared interior space. Those of us in the Order in 1965-75 (and perhaps after though I have no first hand experience of it) know that we were part of something fantastic. A mighty flame of spirit and vision burned within us. We had within us a "motivity" that will never go away. And we had all those sayings and concepts we sometime hammered each other with that were critical to our being. And we had the Christian story, heritage and symbols which were very much a part of our interior reality. I don't think that can be captured with archives or numbers. The interior part can only be captured through stories. This is why I have called on people to write stories on "the way we were" or "who we were". They can be anecdotes that capture just one memorable moment, like the excitement felt at preparing for a doing the grand ball or in a moment in Fifth City Pre-School or the night of the MLK riots. The response, to say the least has been underwhelming, but I'm not going to let this die. Our second generation is already reaching retirement in some cases and what about the third generation and others? These are stories that need to be told. I thought I had Betty Pesek's book on *The Circle of Life*. Maybe this covers this, I need to get a copy . . . but intuitively I don't think so. We have a grand story and grand stories to tell. We were a part of something fantastic despite its faults. I don't want to justify it, I just want the story(ies) to be told. On the knowing side, I'm not that interested in the content that may be time bound. What I am interested in is the principles that formed us--the ones that related to out being, our power and our motivity--ideas of corporateness, being under assignment, living missional lives, etc. This is what I want to pass on to my children, grandchildren and others. Again the response has been underwhelming to say the least, but I'm not giving up. And the book called "RS-1" that I proposed? Gene Marshall I gather is working to put a version of RS-1 back in to the stream of things. Here I'm thinking about something else. I'm thinking about how did we come to understand God, Christ. Holy Spirit and Church in both its contentless and contentful (being related to the Christian tradition) aspects. I want to tell the story of RS-1, though this one might involve more concepts than the first two. So folks, you aren't dead yet, but you're close. Let's tell the story of this amazing body of people and reality of which we were a part. Herman -- __________________________________________________ Herman F. Greene 2516 Winningham Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-942-4358 (ph & fax) hfgreenenc(a)gmail.com

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Egypt Question
by Priscilla Wilson 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

This is really a question for Wayne Nelson...I assume he knows more about this than anyone. Do you have any news from Bayad and surrounding villages? Are our colleagues involved? in peril? ok? Do you know any thing? It is all so frightening...and questionable if Egypt can get their act together. Priscilla Wilson TeamTech Press 913-432-2107 Pris(a)TeamTechPress.com www.TeamTechPress.com

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