Dear John

 

The following article covers John the Baptist’s birth and spiritual development.

 

Why did John’s prophetic ministry cause such a stir among the people?  Why at this time did the people consider preparedness for Messiah so critical?  Why is John so important to the teaching of the Way?  The answers to these questions will allow us to delve deeper into John’s ministry.

John the Baptist was raised a Nazarite, committed to this tradition before birth.  At John’s birth his father, Zacharias, prophesied:

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For he has visited and redeemed his people,
And raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of his servant David,
As he spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of those who hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham” (Lk. 1.61-73).

 

John, with his mother and four women.  The four attendant women signify a birth of great importance.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was almost certainly among them.  Elizabeth was from a priestly family, which tells us that Mary is within the same high priestly family.

 

 

The Nazarite is specially consecrated to God.  It is only on two other occasions that consecration was announced before or at birth, and both are biblical luminaries, Samson and Samuel.  The prophetess, Anna, may also have been a Nazarite (Lk. 2. 36-38).  Many believe Paul took Nazarite vows, in part due to his abstention from sex.  The nature of Nazarite life lends itself toward the following: serving others, the study of scripture and knowing the Law, taking solitude, leading a contemplative life and seeking God, receiving wisdom and enlightenment into His spirit, and imparting the word God has witnessed.  John seems to encompass all of the attributes mentioned above, with his final act imparting the Word and declaring the soon-to-arrive Messiah.

‘Men of Perfect Holiness’ would apply to John the Baptist and is the descriptive name for Nazarites, as mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  John’s commitment to the Essene message also seems apparent, and many scholars, if not most, consider John to be a Qumran (Ossaean) Essene priest.  The prophecy from Luke 1.77: “To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins… (79) To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace,” describes a powerful priestly anointing.  To become ‘set aside’ and thus to come into some measure of holiness, to remit from sinful thinking and not just sinful actions, the contrast of light and the shadow of death (spiritual death), and to guide each person into peace in the Lord (God, Adonai) reflect the highest of Essene tenants.

John’s ministry may have encompassed tens of thousands.  This is known, in part, because Sadducees and Pharisees came from Jerusalem to hear John (Mt. 3.7), which is at least ten miles distant.  He seemed to gather people from far and wide, as we see with Jesus traveling to hear him. Rather than reaching out, as in the Jesus ministry, John expected others to come to him.  His more strict Essene vision leads to John’s later uncertainty concerning Jesus as Messiah; even so, John stressed a fundamental change in thinking, not only concerning the coming Messiah but other matters as well, which speaks to his transitional place, directly leading to the new testimony of Jesus.

 

Silence of the Desert

 

In desert lands birds are scarce, land creatures seldom appear, and people are rare.  The desert stretches out, and into that void, the mind drifts, with the desert holding the silence.  For those who have lived in the desert, and I have, the sameness and emptiness can be overwhelming.  After viewing the surroundings, which does not take too long, the man settles into the lifeless habitation.  He is alone in a way most people are not used to.

Along the way, Nazarites would encounter the occasional village, help in the labor, or converse on scripture, but at some point, their times of retreat would take them over.  Some sought visions, others sought wisdom and the will of God.  Still, others sought the Profound Peace.  It is unlikely any left the desert unaffected, and it is only the one who seeks who embraces the solitude.  Such would be the course for John.

The Mojave

*

 

During his sojourn, John would ponder scriptures and wisdom teachings shared by the priests in En-Gedi and Qumran, but his anointing would come from a different source.  Directly from God Himself?  By the hands of the Elect?  Was it transferred through the Archangel Gabriel?  We may never capture the vision John received, or how it came, but by the dark of desert night, or during the blaze of day, the vision became enhanced as John neared his time of preachment.

Of course, there is a second possibility.  Remember that John was consecrated as a Nazarite from birth.  Even as a child his training would have begun.  The DSS, Community Rule, describes some of the discipline and training John would receive.  As he grew in age John was to become a soul of special interest.  Zacharias, John’s father, had given a well-known prophecy concerning John, with the term, “raising up a horn of salvation,” being the keynote.  A second reason of great importance, and often overlooked, is Luke 1.15, spoken by the angel of visitation* to Zacharias, “and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”  In other words, John was awake in the manner we seek wakefulness, from his birth. Considering these prophecies, Essene priests would give John special attention.  Perhaps it was they who perceived the truth about John, spurred on by Zacharias’ prophecy, and who confirmed John’s place within Judaism.

*Archangel Gabriel

The “horn of salvation” might be assumed as John himself, but Luke 1.76 reins this thought into line, “for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,” this is relative to the coming Messiah.  Luke 1.17, “And he shall go before him (Messiah) in the power and spirit of Elias (Elijah).”  As we see in scripture, John understands that it is not he, but the “raising up” points to some other, Jesus. Luke 3.1-2, tells us that John’s calling came when Caiaphas (successor to Aaronic priesthood) was the high priest and Annas (successor to Moses) was the head of the Sanhedrin.

John’s identity is somewhat designated when he states, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,” in answer to the mysterious question, ‘Art thou the teacher, the prophet, or Elijah’.  From, Jn. 1.25, “Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ (Messiah=Anointed One), nor Elias (=Elijah, also, one who shows the way), neither that prophet?”

John 1:25

And they asked him, and said unto him
They put a question, by saying to him, why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias,
neither that prophet?
“…since he denied that he was the Messiah, or Elias that was to come before the Messiah, according to the expectation of the Jews, or that prophet, or a prophet, they demand by what authority he introduced a new rite and ordinance among them, which they had never been used to; for though there were divers washings or baptisms among them, enjoined by the law of Moses in certain cases, and others which obtained by tradition, as the immersion of themselves after they had been at market, and of cups, pots, brazen vessels, and tables, yet nothing of this kind that John administered: and as for the baptism of proselytes, it seems to be of a later date than this, and had no manner of likeness to it. The ordinance John administered was such, as they apprehended that no one ought to practise, unless he was the Messiah, or his forerunner, or some eminent prophet; they insist upon it therefore, that since he denied he was either of these, that he would show his credentials, and what commission he had from God to baptize; or they suggest he was liable to be called to an account by their Sanhedrin, and be condemned as a false prophet, or an innovator in religious affairs.”*

*biblestudytools.com

John was not known to the wider public before he began his ministry.  As mentioned before, his sojourns amongst the people would have been more limited.  Being an unknown factor, the questioning by the Pharisees would require a straightforward answer.  However, the answers they seek cannot be straightforwardly given, for that answer would have to be in context to the rigor of their current understanding, of which both John and then Jesus had separated themselves.  Although they could condone the forerunner, who was expected, they could not fashion the wisdom nor the preaching message of John within themselves.  They would not encompass John, much less Jesus.

“He was more industrious to do good than to appear great; and therefore waved anything of himself till he was legally interrogated.”   Further on, “The Jews expected the person of Elias to return from heaven, and to live among them, and promised themselves great things from it.”*  John faced a similar problem as Jesus, as both were not known to the Pharisees nor the Sadducees; both may be then brought on charges as being false prophets or those who are ‘innovating’, meaning not in the strictness of the law (performance) as well as strict legal interpretation as it was currently understood.

The comment, “great things from it,” is important.  For the Pharisees expected to be praised for keeping the letter of the law, holding the fort for the populous, if you will, and thereby designated themselves as the most holy, or even perfectly holy, as in perfectly keeping the law.  “He was the Elias [Elijah] that God had promised, not the Elias they had foolishly dreamed of.”

 *From Matthew Henry’s commentary, John 1.19-28.

 

What was this message, and what was the interpretation of scripture left unattended?

“According to alchemists themselves—and this is the key to the Grail mystery—the vessel could at times be identical to its contents, implying a unitive or monistic level of reality above or beyond the dualistic mode of ordinary perception.

“Recall the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas (Saying 89): “Why do you wash the outside of the cup?  Do you not realize that he who made the inside is the same one who made the outside?”  Alchemists understood this mystical passage; they were aware… that the experimenter is an integral part of the experiment… Yet the words of Jesus as recorded by Thomas indicate that revelatory insights about non-dual reality are not the exclusive Provence of cutting-edge scientists or even anachronistic alchemists—on the contrary, they are available to everyone.  Such fortunate experiences are usually associated with meditation, contemplation, and prayer… for example, in a fleeting instant when we succeed momentarily in suspending our beliefs about the world and about what is possible.  Quite suddenly, the arbitrary distinction of “self and “other” vanishes… inside and outside are revealed to be one and the same.”

*Mark H. Gaffney, Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes. Inner Traditions, Rochester, Vermont, 2004, p. 153.

This extended quote directs us to Jesus pointing out the failure of Pharisaic legalism, which of nature is divisive, yielding either obedience or disobedience, guilt or innocence, but within the middle removes measures of compassion and emphasizes iota, not wholeness, following the law but offering no true pathway unto God.  Matt. 23.25: “Woe to you scribes [probably Essene scribes] and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside of them may be clean, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  (26) Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and the platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  (27) …for ye are like unto whited sepulchers*, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but within are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  (28) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are filled with hypocrisy and inequity.”

*Whited sepulchers:” higher ranking Essene scribes and priests wore white, leading to “…(29) because ye build the tombs of the prophets; … (30) we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets; … (31) Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.”

What does this tell us about John?  Like Jesus, John denounced the Pharisees and Sadducees and directed a new unity around a baptism symbolizing purification (water baptism), beginning with the confession of sin and the concomitant recognition of sin-nature.  Although John may have held to strict legal obedience, as those of Qumran espoused, he recognized also that the law had to be catapulted, arisen if you will, onto a higher moral plane, one that would signify a new beginning relative to the legal foundation, yet to be completed by the coming Messiah.

The cleansing and purification of the soul, the rinsing day by day, and waiting for the coming of age, there can be little doubt that John’s isolation in the desert led to a new vision and a new era for Judaism.  Every sign is apparent, for his is a revelatory message, not a legalistic one.  He does not unroll a scroll to be read in the synagogue, he is the scroll, written on his heart and accompanied by the Vision, revelation alive, giving life instead of rules, offering hope instead of repetition and subjugation.

 

From The Exhortation, Damascus Document, DSS: “God loves knowledge.  Wisdom and understanding He has set before Him, and prudence and knowledge serve Him.  Patience and much forgiveness are with Him towards those who turn from transgression; but power, might, and great flaming wrath by the hand of all the Angels of Destruction towards those who depart from the way and abhor the Precept.  They shall have no remnant or survivor.”*

*Translated by Geza Verses, (section II) The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English.

The calling out of the mystic beckons as we read the above passages.  In most cases, today’s Christian looks without when he prays, but Jesus tells us God’s kingdom is within.*  The spirit within, the light that animates the soul, lies within us.  Certainly, John would know of this secret, and during his spiritual growth would have to temper his soul to it.  Even within the context of his upbringing, John is still a man, brought to purpose, fulfilling his mission.  By the hand of Herod, the success of his mission eventually brought John to an early death.

*Lk. 17.21, “the kingdom of God is within you.”

 

JOHN PREPARES the PEOPLE

‘Remission of sins’, ‘light’, and “darkness and the shadow of death” are very reminiscent of writings appearing in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  These themes are also reflected within Jesus’ ministry.

 

John stands in the middle, pointing to both the past and the future.  He does not replicate the message of his Qumran Essene brothers, who were a priestly hierarchy with a strong bent toward secrecy, strict rules, and legalism, but seems to spring from a knowledge not yet imparted to the people.  For example, John’s water baptism only requires confession and a sincere effort to repent; there are few rules here.  The trickling water across the forehead represents a clean start and a commitment to obtain a new framework for thinking.  Mark 1.8, sums up this attitudinal shift: “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” It is repentance from certain deeds but also points to a more omnibus capture of the divine essence.

Thus, the message becomes less emphasized as to obedience to the law, although John would have favored that, but Luke 1.79 reflects the message more accurately: “To give light to them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  John’s water baptismal holds the place of the anointing with the Holy Spirit, which the Messiah will later bring.  John emphasizes that the time of Messiah is near and all must become prepared, which makes John’s message outstandingly transitional. 

John speaks of the impending axe put to the root of trees that do not bear fruit (Mt. 3.10).   This reference to not bearing fruit is referred to by Jesus in Matt. 7.17, “Good tree bringeth forth good fruit.”  John preaches, Matt. 3.8, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet (=worthy of) for repentance: (9) And think (=think not for a moment) not to say within yourselves ‘we have Abraham to our father’.”  John and Jesus both referred primarily to sin that concerned the inner man, even unto a person’s thoughts.  The focus on the individual becomes a strong component within both ministries and remains a mainstay within the modern church.

The statement John makes in Matt. 3.8 concerning Abraham as your father, this declaration goes in the face of the Jewish people designated as the ‘chosen people’, and to deny this would be close to blasphemy.  Serious questions would arise, “Are we no longer favored by God?”  “Does the keeping of the law mean nothing?”  Yet, this statement by John is final and issues in a new comprehension of what God wants.  Yes, He wanted the people, but now the commitment must be reasserted by each person, one by one.  To say the least, John’s statement is transformative and opens a whole new relationship to God and how God wants to relate to us. 

The separation from the group consciousness and the legalism that had developed, both within the people and the priesthood, became the real impact in rending the old way of thinking into the new—God did not accept you because you were a Jew, but because the person had made an individual choice.  This choice, in fact, is a part of the good fruit, not just legalism or legalistic behavior in general, but one that reflects the heart of each man.  The inner man must touch upon the mystic calling, the need for spiritual rebirth, and the continued unfolding from within.

This ministry message decided two things: first, that God deals with you as an individual, not as a part of a group, and second, that the condition of the heart is paramount, reflected by Jesus when he states, “…for the tree is known by his fruit (Matt. 12.33), not by which group he belongs to or whether rules are followed properly (ritual), nor in that day that animal sacrifice be given.  John speaks of ‘preparing the way of the Lord’, and not relying for salvation on the fact that you are a ‘child of Abraham’.  ‘Child of Abraham’ becomes the message of the past.  Being a Jew in and of itself is no longer enough.  He breaks down group consciousness and group identity, each man is reduced down unto himself and his relationship with God.  John’s water baptism breaks down the very system of legality created by the lawyers.  Each man and woman must now individually choose.

John refers to the “brood of vipers,” the Sadducees and Pharisees.  If the Jews, who had divided into as many as sixteen different denominations, the further separation by John and Jesus will draw the line as either for or against—unrepentant Jew ye remain, else ye repent of your religiosity and step out.  In Luke 1.17, John is presented to us as “…go out ahead of Adonai in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a people prepared.”** John must be accounted a prophet and is certainly considered a saint, he moves forward within his dedicated path “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” which provides the specific indication of John’s priestly roots and high status.

“…the wisdom of the righteous” points toward the higher level of understanding presented by the Essene.  They considered themselves ‘the righteous’, the Hasadim.  The lower-level priests, the Pharisees and Sadducees, except for a few Pharisees mentioned in scripture, were not considered righteous (read, Essenes, Jesus the Nazarene, Early History of the Way for more).   

**The Complete Jewish Study Bible

 

THE CALLING

 Within a days walk from John’s place of birth, Juttah, Ossaean Essene communes prospered. He was raised in the wilderness areas south and east of Hebron (right), where a robust Essene influence prevailed.

Within a day walk from John’s place of birth, Juttah, Osseaen Essene communes prospered. He was raised in the wilderness areas south and east of Hebron, where a solid Essene influence prevailed.

His Essene studies would have been rigorous, and dedicated, dealing with convictions concerning good and evil and righteousness, as well as the law itself:

“He shall do the will of God according to all that has been revealed from age to age.

He shall measure out all knowledge discovered throughout the ages, together with the Precept of the age.

He shall separate and weigh the sons of righteousness according to their spirit.

He shall hold firmly to the elect of the time according to His will, as He has commanded.

He shall judge every man according to his spirit.  He shall admit him in accordance with the cleanness of his hands and advance him in accordance with his understanding.  And he shall love and hate* likewise.

He shall not rebuke the men of the Pit nor dispute them.

He shall conceal the teaching of the Law from the men of injustice, but shall impart true knowledge and righteous judgment to those who have chosen the Way.”**

*Jesus later moves past the love/hate dichotomy and presents a love and oneness teaching (see, Love-Oneness), as well as unity and wholeness with the spirit.
 **Concerning instructions to the master; (Geza Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, revised edition, 2004, page 111.)

We know John’s later religious preaching puts him outside the Pharisee or Sadducee sects, both of which he condemned.  John revisits the best the prophets have to offer, primarily that his message is revelatory as opposed to legal.  Revelation provides the new way of thinking for the mind, that is, from spirit revealed (renewal) thence to understanding mind.*  Out of John, a whole new revelation has now surfaced.  Coming ‘in the spirit of Elijah’ launches a firebrand from this soul and makes it easy to grasp John’s strong impact and appeal.

*…spirit of Truth, Jn. 14.17; 15.26.

The calling of John the Baptist was similar to previous prophets, which is a return to righteousness.  In John’s case, however, there are two additions.  The first difference is the clash as he confronts the priestly hierarchy of that day.  This confrontation is serious and portends further revolutionary actions.  It is directed at the two predominant religious sects, Pharisees and Sadducees.*  “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the tree” is typical of radical Essene writing and conveys a certain ‘outside looking in’ attitude, and reflects the religious condition which the Essene sect seeks to rectify.

*Both major sects of Essene, Nazarenes (northern) and Osseaens (Qumran-southern), took issue with the corrupted and unrighteous Sadducaic control of the Temple.  John disavowed the Pharisees if for no other reason than they had become dissolute.  There were several different Pharisaic sects.

Villages were located on pockets of good land (note vineyard) near quality wells. John would have visited such villages as his priesthood training developed and would be destinations for his early ministry.

Villages were located on pockets of good land (note vineyard) near where quality wells were available. John would have visited such villages as his priesthood training developed, and would be destinations for his early ministry.

Secondly, John speaks as the forerunner of the Messiah.  He speaks to the issue of preparedness, which can only come about through the repentance within the inner man, best asserted through a new baptism.  In the like manner, Jesus later says, “I will have mercy [speaking to the Pharisees as to their behavior], not sacrifice,” Mt. 9.13.  Yet again, John tells the Jews they cannot rely on being the “children of Abraham” as the ticket into God’s grace or to receive the kind hand of God.  In effect, this message requires a new order of consciousness in the spiritual life of Israel, of which John is the opening salvo.

The new message may be to repent, which is not new, but his message is more closely interpreted as repentance from what has become an old way of thinking.  This repentance is specific and oriented to the coming of the Messiah, meaning to prepare for the mental/spiritual changes the Messiah brings.  John seems clear that his repentance deals with heart and mind, not just outward actions and obedience to the law.  John’s repentance sublimates the law and directs toward the inner display of holiness or spiritual purity.  His baptism is symbolically administered for just such spiritual purity; the washing clean is for the inside of the man.  Therefore, his ministry questions how the law is understood and applied.  On both subjects, Jesus will later have much to say.

One tenet of the new thinking entails the replacement of the Sadducees as the Temple priests.  All Essene believed the Sadducees were corrupt.  Jesus denounced the Sadducees as well.  The remnant of the righteous Zadokite priesthood, now known as the Essene, should instead be ensconced as the Temple Priests.

In his denunciations, John also includes the Pharisees, those who most commonly implement the law.  John tells the people that the coming Messiah will rectify the unjust application of the law, and following, the Pharisees themselves will have to be rectified (converted).  The Messiah will provide the final interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, which will become the final interpretation of the enlightenment teaching of the Way.

The above factors separate John the Baptist from all other prophets.  None of the previous prophets functioned as the forerunner of such a messianic event.  John’s message is expansive and clearly states the time of Messiah’s arrival has come.  The Jews of that day hoped for just such a message, a true Messiah-Savior, with the primary benefit of ridding them of the Romans.

John offers a disquieting and unusual message, yet appealing.  It embroils the people, attracting thousands, and attracts much attention from the Pharisees and Sadducees, the current religious hierarchy who will soon plot against the new message of spiritual renewal.

 

 

God Bless!

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      Some of the details you are looking for reside in other articles. For the benefit of the reader I have included a new section for Dear John, entitled Silence of the Desert, which will be up in the next few days. The Way, its principles and application, is a broad subject. I cannot keep repeating similar or the same information over and over in different articles, although some of that process has to be done for continuity. For that reason it might be best to read other articles you might be interested in to obtain a fuller picture. Thank you for your support, as some articles are more historical and others are more directed to the Way as a teaching. You might like, Love-Oneness and Law of Unconscious Growth, neither of which would fit well into the current thinking of Jesus’ time, but both of which have good pertinence to the Way.

      C. Ray

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  19. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

    • Thank you,

      Newsletter coming soon, more articles, etc., but to practice within the Way is the key to an improved life and the closer connection to God, the spirit within. Info is great but sowing good seed is a powerful key to change our life.

      C. Ray

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  27. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your site in internet explorer, would test this? IE still is the market leader and a huge portion of people will miss your wonderful writing due to this problem.

    • Hi Tulis,

      I have answered this question 3 or 4 times. IE seems focused to itself (IE), and does not seem to work well otherwise. Safari, Opera and all other search engines I know of work well. I receive many compliments concerning the speed of this site from other users…my advice is you need to diversify.

      C. Ray

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  33. What i do not understood is actually how you are not actually much more well-liked than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it?s one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always maintain it up!

  34. I am really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A couple of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?

    • Internet Explorer is junk. I quit worrying about this problem a long time age. Safari is best, never hear one complaint about Safari.

  35. I just like the helpful information you supply on your articles. I?ll bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here frequently. I am moderately sure I?ll learn a lot of new stuff proper here! Good luck for the next!

    • Glad you like the information but downloading the e-book and practicing could change you life!

      C. Ray

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  37. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!

  38. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My blog has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any techniques to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d definitely appreciate it.

    • Because my work is specific to the Way and centers on what Jesus spoke, I do not have much of a problem with others using my information, that I know of. One reason I use longer reference quotes, usually written in block form and painted green, is that the reader is clear as to reference. I do use information that is commonly known but my context has nothing to do with another’s work. Sometimes I do not reference such factoids. That is, I am not writing term papers for the intellect to peruse, but a more in-depth look at the essence of the Way. Therefore, most are my article are think-pieces intended to spur others on in their spiritual pursuit.
      I am not sure I can help you concerning others, except to contact them, or perhaps ask them to reference it or take it down. Send me an e-mail so I may closely look at your content, as that might be helpful. Problems like these are tricky, and once someone uses unreferenced content they have a tendency to go back for more.

      Hope this helps,
      C. Ray

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    • Glad you like to information. The key to this website, however, is to begin the practice of sowing good seed relative to your daily life.

      C. Ray

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    • Thanks Minjares,

      More is planned for J. the B. Takes time, you know, but will be efforting in that direction.

      C. Ray

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  48. I do trust all of the ideas you’ve presented for your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for novices. May you please extend them a little from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.

    • Hi Fackler,
      Will be adding another John the Baptist post when I can get to it. John is being considered by more and more scholars as a teacher, or at least a strong influencer, of Jesus. The principles of the Way seems to be the strong emphasis of both (see, Early History of the Way). The practice of the Way is focused toward the relationship and communication with thee kingdom within, or the spirit within. Most people, like yourself, recognize this reality–spirit and soul united. The sowing of good seed develops this relationship, outstandingly, and its intent is toward soul development, or the greater awakening. You might want to download the e-book and practice, therein the underlying reality of what Jesus and John taught can also become your own.

      C. Ray

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    • Thank you for your thanks. The Newsletter is opening up and there will be more contributions there. Although background is important for this site, the work concerning sowing good seed and the overall ethos of the Way is the emphasis. Are you one who sows?

      C. Ray

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    • Craig’s Coffeehouse is the Newsletter, just started. Helpful videos concerning the sowing of good seed will be posted, and probably some other stuff, too.

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