Let The Curiousity Begin

Welcome. This is the first posting of what I am optimistically expecting to be a myriad of conversations on "God".
God's image, roles, nature, position, plans. Our views of God. Our views of ourselves. Anything else that surfaces.

Open ended questions that invite open answers.

This particular conversation took place after I became challenged in my own thinking. I have a wonderful friend that bounces ideas with me and we run the gamut. Something we share is a curiousity. That is what I am uniting here on this new blog.

All the "question" words apply..

Curiously yours,
Jan M. Olsen
~J~
Let the CURIOUSITY begin~

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J: Rob, can i ask you a God question?

R: of course.... you will probably just get a Rob answer though :-)

J: i hope so,,, a deeper- than- most- people Rob answer :)

here goes,,, trust me,,, i have a reason for asking.

<when you think of God, what do you SEE? Please describe what you SEE,

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R: Rob: wow.... dont have an answer right away.... I know I used to "see" or imagine him strictly in the form of the man Jesus...

 now off the cuff Hes so much bigger in my seasons of prayer or how I see Him... I honestly dont have an accurate picture or image to explain...many times I see Him moving through... more in spirit form, wrapping Himself in individuals and flowing through them....

 make any sense... sorry... you have me thinking now....

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J: J: dont be sorry. yes it makes sense. someone said something to me that got me thinking also,,,, you are the deepest person i know,,, that's Oneness.

do u want to think more about it and tell me more before i send the "what brought this on?"

 i want you to tell or think of as much from your heart ,,, before we spin off...

R: go ahead and tell me

·        

J: I had a convo with Mark. Here is what I said to him :

"God was always the constant. Ineffable. Immutable. He was always omnipresent, even when I wander. He is omnipotent, when I am weak and fallible. He is omniscient when I just don't know, and reach the end of knowledge."

My friend quoted me back, then wrote the following:

Mark: “I believe God is in all great works of art, literature, and
education. Not limited by them (God is bigger than that), but in them.

(still his quote -) - I often think that man has created God in his image
rather than thinking of ourselves as created in his image.

Imagine that  --- created in the image of God. What would God want for himself, his
children, his creations? Surely, it must be to feel our best, to allow the flow, to allow the good and to know the difference.”

end of the Mark's quote

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Rob? It hit me,,,, I see God as a man,,,, my view had become of God as masculine in man's image.

my friend's musing reminded me we are in GOD'S image,,,,

really made me think,,,, and repent to God.

·        

R:  Rob: I like that.... kinda puts into words a little of what I was trying to covey... when we can see ourselves and confindently walk as though we truly are made in His image, to operate, think, speak and act like Him what would our world look like? I believe our limited perception of God limits his activity in our lives.... true God stuff, the things we dont understand or cant explain....

·         J: thank you for being willing to go deep into it with me....

so maybe i am not completely losing my mind,, or my salvation :) whew!

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Angel: 

Angel called on her lunch break. Remember, I said Angel and Rob are the 2 people I would feel okay to ask the "image of God" question. Well,, her answer surprised me as well, but I find it to be beautiful and revealing.

I wrote down notes as I was driving,,, let me see if I can decode them.

Angel's views:

When Angel sees God, it is light. Like when angels visit, they look like live men, but bigger. Hair and eyes of gold and fire.

When she is in prayer and has reached the throne room, as she looks up, God is not intimidating. Rather he is her security. He makes her feel like "You're okay. I got you now. Nothing is going to get in to harm or disturb you."

He is watching her. Not intimidating, but calming. He is powerful. His image is POWER.

She feels warm, almost hot,, and smells the ancient incense or annointing oil. Aaron says it emnates FROM her.

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it's how she sees herself that touched me so deeply.

Her words, jotted down :" It's more of what I see of me. In a white robe, but not like anything I have ever seen before. Nothing that man has ever created. I am barefeet, and my hair is down (25 years long).

I am not seeing me, the Angela Gilmore that I see in the mirror every day. I am not little. And I am not the same insignificant little girl when God sees me.

(I asked if she think she sees herself as God does? Redeemed? ) She responds, "YES!!! He sees me white, without blemish or spot."

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okay,, this is beautiful,,, and it is sad too. Is that how she views herself in the mirror? "insignificant.... little"????

Her holy vision though remeinds me of when I held Brian Fegter's little newborn, Everett at the New Year, and saw myself as pure as he was....that revelation.

We got interupted. She had called me on her lunch break, and her alarm rang.