Grace Life Community Association

I have been a Truth seeker since 2000. I have base-camped in religion at times (that was a mistake). I have “climbed” to platitudes like trying to self-funded non-profit, capitalizing on hot trends like tiny houses, and often, asking other people for support. I have also been disillusioned that I had “arrived” even if in my own mind, thought of jumping off the proverbial cliff, and then, at the end of 2022, … I crashed. May I share a few insights as we begin a new year? (1) It is not strictly about one’s ability to “get free”, but to bring it and share it with others, AND (2) We do not need to create or construct anything, but to deconstruct what we think we know and abide in THAT freedom! So, we need COMMUNITY, and we need an ETHOS and PATHOS for getting (and staying) FREE. I have written a couple of books on this, and I am writing another this year. This is not going to be for everyone. We ARE an association of small communities who genuinely GIVE and RECEIVE from others. We ARE lifelong learners/seekers who desire to be MOVED and to be SHAKEN by Truth, and it’s quest. We ARE committed to Others, regardless of one’s journey. We EXIST to GROW spiritually in real-time UNION with the Spirit of God, or as some say, “The Divine Conversation”. Lastly, We DECONSTRUCT everything. What is SACRED? Is it the best-selling book of all time, “The Bible”? I am former grad student at Chicago Theological Seminary. A man or woman in circa 8th century BCE (the “Yahwist”) wrote about 10% of the “Old Testament”. Yes, there are errors, and later edits… but it’s authentic. The rest? Problems, … major problems. And, in the “New Testament”, one “gospel”, two ancient sources called “kTh” and “Q”, and 7 of the 13 letters of Paul, are authentic. The rest is garbage. And, since “church” is based on that, … well, decide for yourself. Is it “America” or Capitalism? This late-19th century CE innovation is known to benefit the few and to provide increasingly less material support for families. The current cost of living (shelter and food) is USD$2,340.00 per person, or approximately USD$18.00 (pre-tax) an hour (40-hour/wk)–just to shelter and eat! How is that working for you? What about your family and friends? Is it Higher Learning or Academia? The current generation is re-evaluating that very question on a cost/benefit basis. The answers are starting to come back, “no”. They are learning online and in peer groups. Plus, intelligent minds are being cancelled, not debated, in the current discourse. Is it Humankind? More and more humans are anxiously and nervously hiding behind texts, emails, social media, dating sites, and shared virtual realities. But that may be because they are hiding behind traumas, untreated mental and physical health, and spiritual/emotional insecurity. And why is that? You are either a trending SENSATION, … or you do not exist. There is no appreciation or valuation for individual artisan/craft. Is it your Body? Surely THIS must be sacred! Yet our inputs are unhealthy, unsustainable, and contributing to the daily death of our mind, body, and soul. We are made of tightly bound atoms working together through electrical impulses. We do not choose our birth or our death (usually). And the life that eventually passes is presumed to be lacking form or matter. So… what CAN we do? (1) Learn our soul’s safe transport into the next existence, AND (2) Learn and play by the “rules” of infinity. We ARE on this path. We MEET in Grand Rapids, weekly. We INVITE YOU to bring your authentic self (your baggage, your gifts, your miracles, and the miracles you haven’t yet experienced). We invite future HOSTS to facilitate our safe, smoke-free, pet-free (or penned), grace life communities. Let’s BUILD each other. Let’s do it NOW. (Beginning mid-February 2023)