CLARIFICATION

Ok, I published my post and then re-read it. I thought some people who read it might think the book I'm talking about is Pro-Cultist----nothing could be further from the truth. I't's just that this author really "gets" people----and he really understands different religions, and why people become fanatical and how they can be mislead.

Also I thought it sounded like I was anti-Catholic. No WAY! I am liberal, and Catholic, and I can understand why people might think that we Catholics are "cultish". Everyone thinks their religion is the best and that they are right and the only way to go. Everyone! Which is exactly the point of: "You don't have to be wrong for me to be right."

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WRONG

FOR ME TO BE RIGHT (Finding Faith Without Fanatacism) by Brad Hirschfield is the name of the book I'm reading right now.

Yes, I'm STILL reading the THE POWER OF NOW----but it's so repetitive. He (Tolle) is taking a whole book to say: Yesterday is gone--kaput--you can't CHANGE it. Stop thinking about it. Tomorrow will never actually come---because there's ALWAYS a tomorrow---it never REALLY arrives. You only have this very moment you are actually living in. So stop thinking----and just be--------and be grateful and fully aware of all the blessings you have right now---this very minute. If you could stop thinking and be AWARE every minute of every day you would be "living in the moment". Most of us can't do that----but this author tries to tell you this will solve all the world's problems and says it a million different ways. I think living in the moment is VERY important also.

However I'm really really loving the Hirschfield book. It's written by a Rabbi who was at one time something of a fanatic himself, and he's incredibly wise and articulate about the problems in todays world. We live in a time where "religion" is killing more people than at any time since the crusades. He clearly understands and explains why this is so. He talks about many different aspects of religion and here is an excerpt about cults:

"The distinction between cults and religions is far less clearcut than most people think. The way we define a cult can't be based on its age. All religions have a starting point; each tradition was once an innovation. When early Jews proclaimed there was ONE God, and early Christians said Jesus was His only begotten son, their contemporaries thought they were lunatic cultists."

Well gee, let's see. Say there's this "cult" as some might call it, where some of the women and some of the men live separately and wear a type of uniform, and give all their money and all their goods away to serve their God. And when they go to church, the "minister" makes these gestures like the sign of a cross, and sometimes he lights incense, and waves it around, and sometime he sprinkles something on the people. "Outsiders" might consider this a "cult" of some sort. I consider it being a Catholic. The thing is-----is to know more, and understand more, and be educated more about all religions. Cause you don't have to wrong for me to be right.

Love it.......

I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. He's an excellent narrator I highly recommend it to people of all faiths. -(I think you would like this book Joy).

I LOVE SUMMER BECAUSE

fall is next!! When I lived in Michigan summer was always such a treat. We went swimming in Lake Huron (VERY COLD---water temp. in the 60's) when the temp. outside was up to 70. We loved this very short season that started usually in June. By July the temps would be in the 70's and sometimes 80's---but at night it would still be 50's & 60's.

Aug. was the hottest month and we would sometime see high 80's and very rarely 90's. Whenever it was that hot, we would all head for our basements or go to the beach. It was so hot to us (no central air) we had to rest! We always spent a week or two at an inland lake (you can't go more than 3 miles in MI without hitting a body of water) and loved the canoeing, fishing, and swimming. I grew up on Thunder Bay River, and Dean grew up on Lake Huron As adults, we lived across the road from Lake Huron. All the kids took swimming lessons, and several times a week I would load up the wagon with towels and toys, and we would walk to the beach. Sometimes I would be wrapped up in a towel for warmth while the kids swam. That was summer then at that place.

Now, in the South, the temps are so much higher, and I don't deal well with temps over 90. So I stay in the AC and close the curtains and look forward to the fall. Even the fall here can sometimes be higher than our summers in MI were.

So for me, I look forward to reading and movies and the occasional swim with the kids, while waiting...... for glorious FALL!!

LYNN THINKING.......

Hello. Sherri tells me I need to blog. So here goes. I have a big birthday coming up in Sept. and I thought I'd share with all who read this what it's like to get older. Your outside changes (boy does it!) but your inside doesn't. You may be amazed really at how little it changes. Of course you have all that wisdom----but really you remain about 30. You are even startled & puzzled sometimes when you look in the mirror. You think Connor (HGTV) & John Travolta etc... is/are HOT!! I'm not raising children anymore like most of YOU are----but I'm still interested in what every ones concerns are. I think of my grandchildren as my own children. My daughter lets me do this :). I like to do a lot of the same things all of you do. I love reading and the movies. I care about being "green" and doing the right thing. I hate feeling "invisible" as you will all find out some day. Just thinking and thinking........

New subject: We just back from Mississippi. Dean is feeling very tired, and has been resting for over a week now. He has had a cold for about a month, and is now on anti-biotics. This is the result of his CLL. He is getting better, and is finally playing golf again. We had a fun time in the Gulf and saw NARNIA-PRINCE CASPIAN & the new INDIANA JONES movie. We really enjoyed both. Also got to go to a couple of casinos, and did some shopping with my SIL Debbie.

The kids have basketball camp this week and theater camp----so maybe Sherri and I will head out to Hobby Lobby!!! YES! Ok enough for now----no more thinking.