~ Preamble
I have been getting a few requests from readers/subscribers to setup payments so that they could donate, and support my work, through subscriptions at Substack. Substack uses a payment platform called “Stripe”. I opened up the setup window and soon found it an impossibility for me to continue. Boxes to be filled in with, “Legal Business Name”, “Registration Number”, “Product Description”, and the biggie - “Registered Business Address”. I could have lied and made up some bogus information to satisfy Stripe, but then I would have been deceitful as well as dabbling in the realm of the dead. I do use dollars and a bank account, under duress, but I attempt to, whenever possible, stay in reality, in the land of the living. Should any of you wish to support my work, you may send a message to me within Substack, or email me arlen@arlenpaul.com to arrange something.
Thank you
What is - Real?
It was the spring of 2012. Cynthia and I had just recently returned to our farm from our calling to sunny California and the foreclosure epidemic of 2010/11. As I have touched on previously, us two “nice Canadians” spent 14 months in Los Angeles going to court with and for people who were being foreclosed on after the manipulated and deceitful real estate and lending bubble which burst in 2008. I was on my way down our mucky eight kilometres of gravel road on my way to a new construction gig I had just gotten through a friend, so I decided to call my Father to chat. Our extended families did not understand nor support anything that Cynthia and I had been up to whilst down south. There were loose suggestions that we had joined a cult or were under the spell of some Guru or other. It was in this brief conversation that my Father, a former Lutheran pastor, made the disparaging comment about how things were in the “Real World”, directly suggesting I was not in that world, and that all that we had recently been up to was fanciful make believe fantasy. My Father is now suffering from dementia and delusions. Delusions that largely seem to revolve around unrecognized guests attempting to manipulate him or his wife out of their “fortunes”. I believe that my Father’s view and value of what is real, was always related to things more of the world. If you have been reading my posts here on Substack I think you will see that my view and value is much more for what is eternal not what is of this world. The title of this post, “Living in the Real World?”, was spawned by his comment that day, it has stuck with me, ultimately with sadness, not for the innuendo of my foolishness and attempt to shame me, but for the tell of what his “Real World” was.
What has come up for me in several conversations with Cynthia and some of my confidants as of late, is the meaning and true value of what has come to be called “Christ consciousness”. There is a very watered down version of this, that reminds me of how children in France get to have a small glass of watered down wine at the supper table. This watered down “Christ consciousness”, perhaps, stems from asking the question, when doubt arises in One’s life, One asks Oneself - “what would Jesus do”? So if One attempts to replicate what they believe the actions of Jesus to be, they believe they are acting in “Christ consciousness”. Things like: loving everybody all the time, turning the other cheek, sharing and caring, accepting anyone as who and what they are (or say that they are), generally; being loving and forgiving in all ways. What comes along with this type of idea, is the notion of “pre-forgiveness”. This was unfortunately the attitude that I had as a father towards my children as they were growing up. I loved them so much, imagining this love, akin to The Father loving me, that my children did not have to ask for forgiveness when they had wronged me. They were pre-forgiven with my love and grace. My awareness and application of this concept was wrong - wrong - wrong - wrong - WRONG!
In a drive to the city the other day, Cynthia shared with me a breakthrough that she had made while unable to sleep the previous night. With the reading of some memes and posts, she came across some newspaper articles written by Psychologist John Rosemond.
Cynthia describing her breakthrough
It was a parenting advice column and it was very revealing. Rosemond’s columns were relating that the trend, occurring in the 80’s and continuing on (when our children were young), was to treat your children as they were so precious and special and that every little Johnnie and Pattie were the best thing that ever happened … . I think you get the idea. And also that he was opposed to this trend and saw the future harm it would create for the family and society as a whole.
So the dilemma is: Johnnie and Pattie are precious and special. And they are also, often, the best thing that ever did happen to us. However, as Rosemond described and predicted; what was lost in the family structure beginning in the 50’s and 60’s, was the respect and reality of a family hierarchy. What came into fashion, which was reinforced by all the new books on how to raise children and have a happy family, what could be described as the first wave of “self help” books, was to put the children first. Their feelings, their needs, their wants, etc. all came before the family as a whole, and most certainly the parents. It turned the traditional family upside down, with the children at the top of the hierarchy as opposed to the Father, Mother, oldest child, on down. An unfortunate but intentional outcome of this inversion was spoiled little children, that today, struggle with taking responsibility for themselves and their errors. SNOWFLAKES! I believe it was no mistake, that post WW2, with the new media of TELL-a-vision, with programs; the new version of what a family “should” look like was being (re)formed. Not least, programming where the Father of the house was a buffoon not to be respected but laughed at, seemingly incapable of much of anything. “The Honeymooners”, and its cartoon version “The Flintstones” (or Flinstones (mandela efffect??)), to “The Simpsons”, and so many others all portraying the Man of the house as barely capable of tying his own shoes. Many others have written about this common idea of TV and Hollywood bringing in models intended to degrade the family structure and society as a whole, I leave that to you to verify and consider.
What I relate now, is that this same inversion of an operational hierarchy (that of the family), has been inserted into the consciousness of people as a whole with regard to our spirituality. In the hierarchical structure that is the “family of God”, we have God The Father, Christ his son, and the Holy Ghost, perhaps some other deities like Angels etc. (depending on One’s specific beliefs) and then, we the people, his children here in this realm. With the inversion, now, the people, the children of God, are on top. Like the trend of the 70’s and 80’s, to put the children as the “most” important. One is led to believe and enact that Oneself is One’s Godhead. The spiritual hierarchy is thus turned upside down. That is to say, that an idea of a preeminent figure, beyond Oneself, is that same “Homer Simpson” character that One transmutes as “the father figure”, to be not worthy of anything other than laughs and scorn.
Godhead - “deity” or “divine nature” - God’s essential nature - the state, dignity, condition or quality of a deity
And so now, The Father, like all fathers, is to be tossed aside, without respect. It is the “I” that matters; “that’s what mommy always told me, ““I”” am so important and special”. It is what is floating around in all of the new age stuff as well; we are all God(!), pieces of the universe, etc. That there is no “One” that is above, me or anyone else. This concept creates a dissonance within itself. If I am at the top, where is everyone else? This is the heart of narcissism, born out of the dissonance that “I” don’t have to answer to anyone. And yet further, am I the chicken or the egg? Who or what created me that I must answer to? If it is I who is at the centre of all (the seat the narcissist holds), it must be that I am the chicken and the egg!? And for that matter, the Rooster as well! I don’t think that narcissism and poultry are inextricably related, though every morning it is evident my best rooster, thinks that he is god ;-).
Let us not forget the puppy that nips. #11 When the Dog Bites . . . which appears to be one of the more popular of my previous posts. In every social group that has any form of hierarchy, at least that I am aware of, there is a need for each such an One within that group to comprehend where they sit in the hierarchy. In the case of the puppy, he is nipping as a part of normal play, but that play has a purpose; to see who will submit and who will set him straight. This is a fundamental need in the psycho-social development of the: puppy, infant, toddler, child, teenager, every such an One, all through life actually. The social group of the pack, family, or any organization; functions, and has a much greater potential of success, if all the members are clear on their duties and their status within the hierarchy. This all sounds kind of cold and calculated; seeming to lead to a kind of master slave situation, and it can lead to that in unhealthy situations. But to the infant child, exactly like the puppy, in order to feel secure, it needs a provider and caregiver that is a strong and confident leader. In all my experiences with dog training but one, when a stressed and unsettled, perhaps even aggressive dog, is to be dealt with, a calm but firm confident manner and method will calm the dog down as it cognates who the “Boss” is. Very few dogs are actually “Alpha” dogs. Young male dogs, just like young men, will challenge the leader now and again to see if there is a fracture in the hierarchy.
Where we find ourselves now, in this modern “touchy feely” notion of safe spaces and zero tolerance proclamations; is fouling the waters. Where those who need to be “put in their place”; instead, whimper and seek undeserved compassion instead of being encouraged to endure and grow from what is called “legitimate suffering”. I think of the disgusting event at a swim meet, where a 50 something year old man, who “identifies as” a teenage girl, uses the same change room to strip down and put on his, female style swimsuit covering “his breasts”, as the teenage girls. This notion that anyone can do or be anything they believe to be true, more specifically in this case, as to how One identifies themselves, is an extension of that same undermining force of the tearing down of the family hierarchy.
To be clear, what I speak of here, the “identifying as” issue. Is that the spoiled and over-indulged child, believes that their view on anything is paramount. Above their peers, their parents, their society, and even if a god exists, above that as well. “God made a mistake when he gave me a penis, or breasts, etc.”
It brings about, and substantiates the narcissist. I “identify” as God. Anyone can “identify” as God. There is no reason that a man can’t “identify” as a woman Rugby player and beat the shit out of his (her) opponents, leaving them with broken bones and ruined limbs! No problem here at all! Men can just “identify” as female and then when they reveal their genitals to the other women, or young girls, in the change room, somehow his “identified” penis and testicles appear as a vagina!? Of course this madness is not limited to males, the horror that is the number of teenage girls, primarily, that suffer from ROGD, Rapid-onset Gender Dysphoria that are mutilating their bodies as they “identify” as something other than what they are, is ‘beyond the pale’! I can not wrap my head around this one. The whole “identifying as” thing, is truly a vulgar masquerade of ‘Not God’ doing his work to bring about His plan.
Disclaimer: as the DSM formerly described “gender dysphoria” as a mental illness, my comments are not meant to lessen or mock the pain of actual mental illness. I am intimately aware of mental illness and have a tremendous respect for the pain that is suffered by the ill One, as well as the family and friends of those that suffer.
Hierarchy, The Father, and a father
So with the goal of turning the family hierarchy upside down, putting the child at the top and the parents as the servile care givers; what does all of this mean to One’s relationship to God? Don’t we see all around us people acting in ways that are upside down and the opposite of submission to our creator and His order? In many podcasts that I have listened to revolving around fundamental questions of science and creation, let alone at the base level of what has been “taught” to us as science, there seems to be a corruption of the scientific method for the purpose of maintaining the denial of God. The evidence that is compiled becomes distorted and manipulated for the sole purpose of renouncing the fact that a designer, a superior mind, that a mind at all, conceived a plan of making things as they are, and then made them. It’s seeming to turn out that the notion of evolution, is increasingly being revealed to be impossible! And in true scientific pursuit, One does not begin the undertaking with the exclusion of certain possibilities, as in: “could a creator have used some kind of design and purpose to come up with our reality?” One must consider all possibilities and then remove the ones that don’t fit, leaving the outcome, whether One likes that outcome or not. All modern science that I am aware of, first delineates that in the “Big Picture” at least, a Creator or Maker, does not and can not exist. And that all manifestation of life and energy comes about by some kind of explosion and ensuing mutations.
Interesting how the “development of humankind”, in this instance is an accident, or more accurately a monstrosity; a mutation! This very much fits into THEIR understanding of mankind in this existence.
An obvious thing that seems to be lost in this effort to destroy and malign hierarchy at all, is the inescapable truth, that we are not all created equal. And further, there are predetermined facts that make up One’s self and One’s world. To ignore truths and facts is gonna take us to places we don’t want to go, as it has so many times throughout history. Hierarchies are a fact and truth. My stallions don’t come together and agree that they are all equal and will have equal time with each mare and then trot off whinnying and neighing about how one of them “identifies as” a unicorn! I am not suggesting that we model our families, organizations or any group for that matter, in the way it goes in the animal kingdom. But to say that a man, who identifies as a woman, can be allowed to compete in physical competitions against females is preposterous. It is no wonder that some women, who will stand up to this idiocy, are walking off the court or competition platforms.
Just as God The Father is the creator and master, and Christ is the Head of the Church, the husband is the head of the family, like it or not. That does not mean that the husband will fill this role. I know many families where the husband has clearly given up that position to the wife. That is not what God commands.
Ephesians 5 verses 22-24, KJV: 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
1 Peter 3 verse 7, KJV: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
And most importantly, as The Father loves each and every One of us, the husband is directed to love his wife. Submission to another is a significant task, whether it be to God, or a husband. To love another is yet the greater task. Fairness is not what God intended when he layed out the rule book on how to live as a family, spiritually or physically. The reality and necessity for a hierarchy to be formed is not negotiable, it is specified and inherent in all relationships, whether we choose to admit it or not. If you think that a hierarchy, a difference of: faster, stronger, bigger, smarter, etc. is not inherent, go ask the female athletes that were dominated physically by those men in competition. I am not suggesting that men are better than women in any way, there is no question as to each having value. I am standing on the fact and truth that One is what One is, not what they “say” they are.
Tempered, by Love
When I was a small boy, I remember my father and my older brothers heating and forming some pieces of steel. They cooled it by dipping it in a pail of water. When the red hot steel hit the water and the water immediately bubbled and steamed I was awestruck! They then explained to me that this type of ‘quenching’ would make the steel harder, but more brittle. A process of ‘tempering’ was required to make it tougher and more resilient. In the case of steel and other metals, a controlled process of heating and cooling enables the character of the steel to change. Same steel, different qualities. Achieved through tempering.
As The Father is at the top of One’s spiritual hierarchy, and a father is at the top of his families hierarchy, it is love that disqualifies that notion of master and slave I mentioned above. When we can finally bring ourselves before the Lord in submission, with humility, the love that he returns is beyond measure. His rule over us could be ruthless and terrible, where the notion of “free will” would be out the window. Now I am aware that I say this from, in my view, quite a comfortable position. It would seem quite easy for me to say that God loves me. Look around at the comfort and security that surrounds Cynthia and myself. Such was not the case a decade ago. We had the gift of true malevolence thrust upon us and our lives. Jordan Peterson in his clinical practice witnessed this in a few of his patients, and it was through this purview, he describes, that he became aware of the significance and comprehensive destruction that often follows such attacks.
Not everyone has experienced true malevolence, the severity and meaningfulness is difficult to convey. However, the love of God, that like the two fingers under Cynthia’s armpits or catching of the pallet forks, held us up through the almost decade long assaults (this is a personal matter that I may discuss in future). So it is this strength and power that He offers us in return for our submission. Of course the offer of redemption stands for each such an One, regardless of their level of submission. Submission is a request, not a demand. One chooses to submit as a child of God or as a wife of a husband. It is that gift of free will again, he does not force and bind us to slavery in submission, and the same goes for the loving husband, he does not demand submission either, but lovingly stands in strength and confidence to lead his family. It is all about the love, always, and in all ways.
Tempered by, legitimate suffering
Around the time of my witnessing the quenching of the steel by my father and brothers, another thing happened that stays with me. My Grandfather was visiting and the “men” were going to do some work in the garage. When I went along to join in, my Grandfather turned and said that this was no place for little boys. I was four or five at the time and I had participated with my brothers in some of the “big boy” projects working in the garage at that point, so I felt very hurt by his words. What my Grandfather was doing, was not calling me down or slagging me, he was asserting that I was a little boy, and that it was dangerous, power tools and such, and that it was not a safe place for me. This is an example of an operational hierarchy. Although I was somewhat aware of the dangers of “garage work”, he felt, as my superior and caregiver that it was no place for me. The legitimate part of this pain is that I felt pain and Grandpa was not only right, about safety and such, but also that his position on this hierarchy was at the top. He did not say it to put me in my place, but it did in fact teach me that lesson.
This is the lesson, legitimately given, that so many of the snowflakes and “safe space” seekers need to be given. “This is not your show! You do not sit at the top! Everything is not all about you! You do not always get to have what you want!” That a child, just recently an infant, can make the proclamation that they feel like, or want to be the opposite sex, is preposterous. Through loving correction and firm guidance, which will almost always cause a little discomfort or pain, as my Grandfather’s words surely did, One rights their attitudes about One’s place or desires. It is not a free for all, where anything goes. Hierarchy is all around us all the time. If I don’t supply the lessons and affirmations in the barnyard, to all the participants, man or beast, someone could be seriously injured or worse. It is not up for debate or negotiation as to what is acceptable behaviours and what will not, ever, be tolerated. The need for a little bit of legitimate suffering to maximize the future potential for all involved, goes a long way.
Back to the Christ Consciousness thing
In a recent discussion, I found my description of the truths that are conveyed in what is called the “New Testament”, form a codice, wherein truths and manner are outlined as to how One might choose to live. If the goal is a life of growth and expansion, not simply for Oneself, but for a family, a society, or a community. Many communities form a people, and if “a people” can grow and expand in health, love, and truth; I am thinking that that is the goal of Our Father and his Son. However, this notion of growth and happiness stands as an afront to ‘Not God’. This is the antithesis of His goal. Death, destruction, a whole lot of pain and suffering represents the convergence of His interests. And so it should be. We have light and darkness, life and the opposite of life (live), evil, and happiness and joy juxtaposed by affliction and torment. And we come back to each such an One, which wolf will you feed?
I feel that that the notion of feeding the “holy and righteous” wolf is just the beginning of a consciousness that is Christ-centric. From Latin “Christus”, to Greek “Khristos”, and the Hebrew Mashiah (messiah), they all mean “the Anointed”. Although there is much talk of the “Christ” part of His name, in the early church at least, as almost a last name, not as a descriptive term wherein His countenance would be described as “anointed”. It was His way of being, how he expressed himself, and how he handled his interactions with any and everyone, that brought about an awareness in the observer, of his anointed quality. That is to say, He was extraordinary! He had knowledge and a purity that shone forth like a bright light, that caused the people to believe his words and to follow his example. He is: the truth, the light, and the way!
John 8 verse 12 KJV: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
1 John 1 verse 6-7 KJV: 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
2 Corinthians 4 verse 6 KJV: 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5 verse 14-16 KJV: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
So what is each such an One to do?
Last night I re-watched a movie that fails not to move me each time we see it. The remake of “True Grit”. I know that Hollywood has produced a package that is meant to manipulate me and cause some kind of reaction, either for the exaggeration or reduction of some kind of emotional response. I have a faint remembrance of John Wayne in the character of “Rooster Cogburn” in the 1969 version. John Wayne was a hero actor of my childhood. However, in this version, 2010, with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon as the heroes, it is Hailee Steinfeld’s portrayal of the character “Mattie Ross” that particularly is of interest. Mattie’s comprehension of “Replevin Bonds” and the “transfer of title” and the timing and significance of these “transactions” and “obligations”, and who was the “holder” of interest and accountability that brings such meaning to these mundane negotiations. I guess the reality of her father being murdered and the possibility of the family farm/ranch being in jeopardy, may bring a higher significance to the merchant code of conduct buried within the UCC, but this same answerability is ever-present in all of our exchanges.
So like “Mattie”, in the movie, we can choose to take responsibility for that which is happening around us. She chose to risk life and limb (watch the movie!!!)! So, what is your situation? Where does One find One’s self compromised or in jeopardy? Use that as your guide as to where to act.
Isaiah 41 verse 10 KJV: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
To strive for the quality of being “anointed” is to live in Christ Consciousness. Jesus mentally and spiritually was in complete submission to The Father. His consciousness was ‘joined at the hip’ to his father’s. So let us connect to that consciousness, that is from above, that is outlined and specified, quantified and defined within the Bible as a whole and particularly, in what we call the New Testament. Jesus in these documents and histories lays down a pretty good ‘guidebook’ as to what to do when and how. If One is unsure, submit yourself to The Father through prayer. Christ Consciousness is awareness and connection to source that comes through knowledge and dedication. Again:
Hosea 4 verse 6 KJV: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, . . .
The fact that the physical anointing ceremony was to rub oil on the head
Anointing was literally done with holy oil being placed upon the head of the One to be anointed and then it was rubbed/massaged into the scalp, hair, head, mind, and consciousness of the anointed One. I do not believe that Jesus passed some kind of test of awesomeness such that he would have his head rubbed with olive oil in a ceremony. What I do believe, is that this notion of anointment, or more specifically living in a way, carrying the weight of that knowledge and consciousness in humility and acting in love, is what is recognized in Jesus’ countenance. I also believe that to emulate this, is the point of attempting to live in Christ Consciousness.
Who Cares?
The answer — everyone!: the Judge, the Police Officer, the political representative, the agent of every public institution, your spouse, your children, your business partners, and most importantly The Father. This is the “Power of God” I rely upon in composing my documents, inspiring my speech and thoughts when it matters, and that leads and guides me through the corruption and danger that is ever-present in our world. One’s faith can not be trifled with. I am speaking not from the viewpoint of the One who is evaluating their own faith, but as the ‘other’, who is assessing who or what you are made of? What are THEY up against in dealing and negotiating with you?
The superior claim is held by those who stand. The One’s who answer the petition of those same unscrupulous and unlawful when THEY say — “so what are you going to do about it!?”
Number one: I am a (wo)man and not a legal fiction/person/NAME (slave). It is my faith and conviction that it is sinful to have respect for persons and therefore I make demand for accommodation, for you to'“go to pains”, as is required of you by your office and oath, to save harmless my freedom to belief and faith, commonly described as One’s religion, and that you deal with me as what I am, a (wo)man, a child of The Father (Creator).
Number two: As a (wo)man with firm and fervent faith in my Creator, I stand in His truth, that His creation, man, has created governments and corporations to serve the common interests of all peoples.
Number three: I choose my life given to me by The Father and to not act as or for a construct/legal fiction derived from my name. I choose to self de-terminate all assumpsit agreements or contracts that do not serve my Father’s nor my own interests.
When One stands in truth and knowledge, The Father stands with you. Together with him, our light can overcome the seemingly insurmountable and shine into even the darkest recesses.
Have it good,
Arlen