"The ancients who wished to manifest their clear character to the world would first bring order to their states. Those who wished to bring order to their states would first regulate their families. Those who wished to regulate their families would first regulate their personal lives. Those who wished to cultivate their personal lives would first rectify their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds would first make their wills sincere. Those who wished to make their wills sincere would first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge consists in the investigation of things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, the mind is rectified; when the mind is rectified, the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order; when the state is in order there will be peace throughout the world. From the son of heaven down to the common people, all must regard cultivation of the personal life as the root or foundation. There is never a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order."
Confucius , "The Great Learning" in Wing-Tsit Chan, A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy (Princeton, 1963) p.86-87.]
What does this say to use Americans, Christians? We cannot expect to get something out, what we did not put in it. We cannot expect to gain the knowledge, if we have not investigated with a sincere motivate that is unselfish. We should not go out trying to fix others, when we have not taken the time to remove the beam, plank of madness in our own eyes. No one is expecting perfection, but we do expect you who guide to be further down the path of enlightenment, than the one being guided. We shall see change in others, the world around us, when the change begins in us first. When we learn, and grasp the true meaning of loving thy neighbor as yourself, and loving God, we find love covers and touches. When we ‘get it’, it takes us all playing our part, and watching others to see where we can help another, not hurt them, then we become the village that let each unique light shines within us. No more darkness that robs us of our own self-worth, because we understand too clearly how forgiveness frees all. Because it not just about who was right, who was wrong, but also acknowledge everything has a time a place, and although the right to do is yours, it may not always be right for you to do at this time. Just as we conclude expanding our horizon, perspective is more than just increasing, improving, growth, but also letting go, releasing, putting away childish things are need to mature because the duality of both in the same space makes things dysfunctional, and self-destructive and implosion are imminent. Therefore, we are reminded, we learn by doing, not rhetorical observation, we must practice, what we preach, teach, and explain. Jesus saved us through grace because he came down, out of his comfortable to become vulnerable among men to demonstrate for us the true meaning of servant-leadership.
John 15:1-8 (HCSB) - "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
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