Seeing Reality

In his March 10th video Ted Nottingham discussed the Bible verses, Colossians 1:15-17 KJV

[15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. …

Often we overlook the phenomenology (understanding how we know or perceive things) that is in Scripture preferring to concentrate on issues like “good and evil” or guilt or how to get to heaven.  These topics are the everyday grist for the great religion mills that dot our landscape but they ignore some very important issues.

In this reading from Colossians authored by the Apostle Paul we are drawn to how we view our world.  Our reality is made in two parts, the visible and the invisible. It is all created by God “by him and for him”, in other words this is God’s universe which we are living in. “Before all things”, He is vested in the fabric of our reality.  

We are not living in a simple machine consisting of whirling electrons and specks of abstract energy.  Rather we are living in a vast construction of God matter of an inconceivable nature. I think Ted Nottingham in his accompanying video is drawing out attention to this miraculous vision of God’s majesty.  Not unlike Jacob Boehme (1575-1624) Nottingham sees the connection between Creation and matter as a spiritual one not a material one.

Learn more in his video

Evangelism through Peace

Ted Nottingham has been researching the Perennial Wisdom for decades.  He has studied in United States and Europe and been involved in several spiritual practices. The Holy Spirit had him working as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ church, studying G. I. Gurdjieff, living with Alphonse and Rachel Goettmann the Christian mystics who ultimately  lead him to the Orthodox path.

Along the way he has created many books and videos that document his path of spiritual study.  

This excerpt from an interview with a 4th Way Gurdjieff group gives us a very good view of Nottingham’s outlook.

“Students who reject any relationship between Fourth Way teachings and spiritual wisdom are generally focused on personal power and elitism. That is a dead end as is clearly demonstrated by the state of being of many such persons.

The Work is not for the elite (the word esoteric means inner not secret), but for anyone who has a sincere desire to reach connected with a deeper part of themselves that opens on to encounter with that which is greater than themselves. Emotional healing and purification, self-transcendence,
conscious effort, awakening from sleep are the birthright of all who "hunger and thirst" for Truth and right action in the world.”

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/sufi/ginterviewo.html

Nottingham gives us a glimpse of how he has put his inner study to practical work in the recently released video Unlocking the Door, which contains the audio portion of a sermon he delivered reveals another side of Nottingham’s powerful grasp of the Scriptures as well as perennialist vision of Christ.

     

He says that in the Gospel of John “...peace I give you and I send you…” revises The

Great Commission of Matthew to go forth and evangelize .  Your personal peace found in an inner relationship with God transforms the world. It is the  mystical “peace that no one [intellectually] understands” or which is beyond ordinary comprehension but is obtainable through spiritual work. It is then passed on by breathing or infusing your peace into others thus beginnings of new Evangelism in the end enlarging salvation to include a living illumination.

Video here:

http://tinyurl.com/y2h3pc7f