Thursday, December 2, 2021
JESUS IS MY WAY, BUT NOT MY LORD
For Christmas, 2021
November 28th, 2021
Francis William (Frank, Will) Bessler &
Nancy Shaw
4500 Meadowlark Lane
Laramie, Wyoming U.S.A 82070
willieb@wyoming.com
una-bella-vita.com
francisbessler.com
Hello, Everyone!
Nancy & I wish everyone a Wonderful Christmas Season – and Generous and Healthy New Year! How about that? Another year is done and another is about to begin; but in our opinion, it is good to know that one begins another year like one ended a last one. So, be sure and end 2021 in a kind way in order to continue in a kind way in 2022. That is not to say we can’t change to be kind in 2022 if we did not end kind in 2021, but it just makes sense that if you want to be sure of being kind in the future, it is best to be kind now – and then inherit the same ole you that you left behind – be it in this life or another.
Believe it or not, I do believe that is the exact message of Jesus – the one we celebrate during this Christmas Season. I wrote a song about this time in 2008 about how I see Jesus that I will feature below. Look at it if you wish. OK? But I also wrote a book about Jesus spanning past essays over many years that I published in 2019 I called KNOWING CHRIST. It is my intent – or rather, our intent (Nancy & me), to share that book with any who want a copy in January of 2022. If you wish, judge the content of my book by the content of my song below. If you do not like one, you won’t like the other, but if you like one, you will probably like the other too. Keep in mind, too, you can always pass a book on to another who may like a copy if you get a copy and do not want to keep it. Make it easy on yourself! Alright?
If you are wondering where I get a notion like Jesus should be seen as a “way” and not a “lord,” it is partly due to the almost unknown and previously banned Gospels of the apostles of Jesus named Thomas and Mary Magdalene – both of which gospels I comment on a lot in my works. These gospels were probably banned in the 4th Century due to their implying at least that Jesus should be seen as a “brother” to counsel in life rather than a “lord” to command in life. These works were probably banned because of that notion entirely – the Jesus in them was not claiming to be a lord over all, but a brother to and of all. In time, many churches will come to terms with that notion and start services attending to the Jesus of these banned gospels. This, I Believe! Christian Churches of the World, listen up! You can change to open doors that are much more practical than purely mythical. The future may depend on it. Haven’t we had enough of “lords” who command rather than “brothers” that counsel?
As it is, as I am writing this letter, the “kid” here is about to turn 80 – on December 3rd. Nancy just turned 89 on November 22nd. Debbie, her 56 year old daughter who lives in Medford, Oregon, was here for that – as was her 84 year old sister, Dottie, and husband, Don, who live in northern Illinois. We sure enjoyed their visits and thank them for coming.
Anyway, on my 80th birthday, I think it would be good to share at least 80 copies of KNOWING CHRIST for the 80 years I have had the privilege to live – and then it is my plan in January of 2023 to share a copy of my final book – TRUE CHRISTIANITY – which I published about the same time I published KNOWING CHRIST. More than likely, if you will have received KNOWING CHRIST, you will be on my list to receive TRUE CHRISTIANITY. That is, of course, if conditions permit it. Keep in mind, though, if you want any of my books, just go to one of my websites indicated above and there should be a link to whatever you may wish.
I think I should tell you, however, that I did not intend on publishing any more books after I finished with my 8th – SONGS BY A DIVINE NATURIST CHRISTIAN in 2018 – but in May of 2019, Nancy’s son-in-law, Frank, suddenly passed to his next life experience and I thought about an article I wrote in 2011 I called “Still Alive” that I had not included in any of my previous books. I thought then that maybe it would be good to include that article in another book, along with other essays I had not included in a previous book. So, I gathered many more articles of the past not included in previous books and decided to publish two final books – KNOWING CHRIST and TRUE CHRISTIANITY. Thus, I guess I owe it to Frank for going on because it made me consider other things I needed to do.
Thanks, Frank – wherever you are! I believe you are in peace – and that means the world to us! And because of you, for what it’s worth, the world will now have two more books it would not have had. Indeed, Frank, you are “Still Alive” as my article in KNOWING CHRIST says – and we are all happy for that. Thanks for being here with us for awhile!
Hey, another for what it’s worth – I just joined Twitter – due to the managers of my two websites encouraging me to do it. I must say I was reluctant to consider it, but Crile and Laora and Manas, my managers, encouraged me to do it to perhaps publicize my other works featured in my websites. I won’t mention my other works in my Twitter Tweeks, but I intend on putting out a brief twitter a day while often referencing my websites. If interested, just put in Francis William Bessler in a Twitter lead – and presto – my tweet of the day.
A special thanks is in order here to tech guy, Spencer, of Laramie, for helping me put out several of my past DVD videos in digital form in 2021. Spencer helped me download 15 videos of the past to two sources: 5 to YouTube and 15 to my website managed by Manas of India he and his team call francisbessler.com. I did not name it that. They did. It may not do much for the human race anymore than my other website, una-bella-vita.com, managed by Crile & Laora, but at least my websites are out there for any who might find them helpful. Spencer & I loaded 15 digital videos on my view of life in 2021, 5 to YouTube under the search title of Frank Bessler and that same lot to francisbessler.com + 10 more. I may produce one more digital video in 2022 and add it to francisbessler.com – but I do not plan on more after that. In any case, check them out as you wish. Alright?
Many of my current digital videos feature parts of an audio cassette album I did in the 80s I called MASTER OF YOUR OWN FATE – which features a good bit of original commentary and lyrics recorded by a team I called The Natural Virtue Players of Georgia. At the end of that process, I had recorded an audio cassette album called DANIELLE’S MELODIES – which features the instrumental versions of the songs of MASTER OF YOUR OWN FATE. I have not supplied a digital video yet featuring DANIELLE’S MELODIES, but I may do that in 2022, dubbing DANIELLE’S MELODIES to a pictorial of recent photos I have taken. If so, I will have to produce it and then Spencer can load it to francisbessler.com – if Manas and team can handle one more digital movie. OK, Guys? If I do choose to produce a DANIELLE’S MELODIES next year, I plan to do it in July. So if you want me to include any pictures of you and yours in that effort, be sure and get them to me by the end of June, 2022. Alright? Thanks!
Nancy is doing ok at this time, but she did have some heart related problems early in the year. Taking medication for a blood clot in her heart led to some internal bleeding and bleeding and swelling in her legs, but much of that has diminished now with various medications. Problems still ensue for Nancy, but that can be expected at the age of 89. We cannot really schedule any outing because of her needing care. For two years now she has been on furlough, as I call it – and that is not likely to stop.
Enough for now! Have a Happy Christmas and Blessed 2022 – and come and see us when you can. Alright? I may not know Jesus personally, but I don’t think he would want that anyway.
Practically, can you imagine one lord overseeing more than a trillion followers? Imagine such a burden! Let me (us) just say, we will try to follow the “way of Jesus” even if we never have the good fortune of joining in his company. Virtually, we who act and believe as he did will be his companions and he will be ours; and that is my vision of Jesus. See Below.
Thanks! Be in touch!
Bye for now!
Your Twitter Pals from Planet Earth,
Gently,
Francis William Bessler (Frank, Will, Sonny)
& Supportive Wife, Nancy Shaw
JESUS IS MY WAY
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
11/27/2008
Note:
Phrases in parentheses are spoken.
The rest is sung.
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus – for me – represents the word;
but the word is “nothing’s evil
because everything is pure"
(because, God, as Infinite Purity,
must be in everything,
making everything pure).
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus – for me – is all I can afford.
All I can afford
is to be kind to all that’s in this world
(because kindness is its own reward).
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus – for me –
is Heaven on this Earth;
but Heaven is only knowing
the Divine is in the dirt.
(In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus says,
The Kingdom of the Father
is spread upon the earth –
but men do not see it.)
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Jesus – for me –
is Heaven beyond this birth;
but Heaven beyond this birth is only
extending Heaven here on Earth.
(Assuming, of course,
that I know Heaven on Earth).
Jesus is my way – but not my lord.
Repeat all verses,
excluding sayings in parentheses.