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   %CONTROL MANAGE SALVATION REDEMPTION GOSPEL LOVE+930606
   %PROCESS NEW TESTAMENT GOD CONVERSION PRAYER JOY+930606
  %ACCEPTANCE GIFT EXPERIENCE AUTHORITY SACRED HOLY+930606
%MYSTERY SPIRIT TRUTH GRACE CHURCH COMMUNITY I-THOU 930606

When   (through   the  grace  of  a  power which we cannot
adequately name,  describe,  or control) we receive/accept
the gift  which  some people  come to know/call salvation,
redemption,   or transcendent---we  are prone too often to
regard the gift as an achievement of our own, as something
which we can own and control,  and/or as the fruits of our
own efforts, etc.

If   we   have   been   controlled  by d iseases  such  as
addiction,   codependence and/or collusive games of mutual
self  deception---we are prone to hang onto  our  familiar
and comforting diseases out of fear of the unknown terrors
associated with the wonderful gift  which has  come to us.
Thus we seek to control, manage, own, sell or otherwise be
in  charge of the gift as a new fix in the same  manner in
which we have sought to  control,   manage, own,   sell or
otherwise   be  in  charge  of  the  other  fixes  of  our
addictions, codependence, and/or collusive games of mutual
self deception.

     We  too often seek to form communities to bolster our
low  self esteem,  to overcome our doubts and  fears,   to
comfort  us with assurances that our way is the best  way.
We  go  out to the byways and seek to get others  to  see,
hear, perceive, feel, believe and act as we have--in order
to  assure ourselves that what we have done is good.    We
believe  that if only we can be in control  of  salvation,
redemption and/or transcendence---we can overcome our most
basic doubts, insecurity, and lack of self esteem.

     If  we were to accept the unconditional gift of  true
salvation we would be able to let go of our disposition to
try  to  be in control of our own  and/or  other  people's
salvation,  redemption and/or transcendence.   We would be
set free of our low self esteem,  doubts,  fears and needs
for  addictive fixes and assurances that we are acceptable
and  lovable.    We would know what true love is;  and not
accept false imitations of true love as if they were true,
honest,   and  characterized by the  realization  of  both
personal and communal integrity.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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