Friday, July 11, 2025
About REVISED CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT
7/11/25
Francis William Bessler
1746 Fetterman Drive, Unit 2, Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Phone: 307-742-7428; Email: willieb@wyoming.com
una-bella-vita.com & francisbessler.com –
tho francisbessler.com is offline at present.
Hello, Everyone!
Just returned from a wonderful trip to celebrate my 65th Powell, Wyoming High School graduation anniversary and meet with my siblings in Powell and Montana. Had a great time, but came up with a “new idea” during that trip and after it yesterday when watering my lawns. It is not a “new practice” for me because I have been living it since I decided on the main theme of it when I was just 22 – and now I am 83; but living it has confirmed that it is probably right – having granted me peace while living it.
What is it? Let me announce it, so to speak, on what I put on our grave site – that is, that of my Dear Late Wife, Nancy, and me.
The Key to Finding Peace
In this life or the next
Is to Know & Treat Life
Like it is a Gift –
For a Gift it is from
An All Present Infinite God.
Or such is OUR BELIEF!
Onwards!
Every place is Heaven
because God is everywhere.
What makes a place a Heaven
is the Divinity that is there.
So, it stands to reason, My Friend,
if all existence is of God,
all existence must be Heaven
and where I am I should applaud.
But who believes that? Is it really that simple? I think it is and encourage all to take heed and follow the simple way of life it offers – KNOW YOURSELF BY KNOWING THAT ALL LIFE IS SACRED – OR OF GOD. That is all there is to it to live a good life. Take off your clothes and know you are taking off a civilization that demands shame and not virtue. Shame and Virtue do not get along. Know that and you will, like the inscriptions on our grave site says, know Heaven on Earth. I think it is as simple as that.
Knowing that, however, is to know that we are all the same. A naked me is not better than a naked you – and a naked you is not better than a naked me. Take off your clothes and live without shame, but in doing so, don’t commit adultery. Whoops! That is an exception, huh?
In the wonderful GOSPEL OF MARY (MAGDALENE), banned by some in the 4th Century who believe it is shameful to go naked, Peter asked Jesus about it. Let me quote. OK? Peter said to him, “you have explained everything to us. Tell us also what is the sin of the world? The savior replied, “There is no such thing as sin, but you create sin when you mingle as in adultery, and this is called sin.
That is to say, I think, we have been told wrong in believing that we are born in sin. Jesus said that we have no sin unless we create it. That is sin. His example of “creating sin” is “adultery."
Even before I was given my first copy of the GOSPEL OF THOMAS in 1979 by a good friend named Russ – which gospel basically claims the same thing – I led my life believing in having sex only to procreate a child with a dear spouse. That is to say, I guess, that I did not have to be told I should not have sex except to “create” a child because it just made sense to me that it “probably” is not wise to do otherwise. Why complicate life by acting stupid? What sense does it make to have sex with a lady for the sheer enjoyment of it and take a chance of “creating a baby” I would not want. Be sensible! Should that be too much to ask?
I did not encounter the GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE until 2004 when I just chanced to find it in a book store in Laramie, Wyoming, where I live, however, while looking for another book. Just goes to show miracles can happen when least expecting them. Right? Indeed, I consider it a “miracle” that I found that book while searching for another.
But let me get back to the GOSPEL OF THOMAS and check out what Jesus said in it, recorded by the apostle, Thomas, but also banned by some not wanting to deal with shame in the 4th Century when the current BIBLE was selected and canonized by some who did not agree with the Jesus of Thomas in terms of making virtue a solo thing entirely and not dependent upon some authority having to approve it.
Anyway, in verse 37 of that skipped gospel, let me quote. His disciples said: When wilt thou be revealed to us and when will we see Thee? Jesus said: When you take off your clothing without being ashamed, and take your clothes and put them under your feet as the little children and tread on them, then shall you behold the Son of the Living One and you shall not fear.
But realize, Jesus is not “The Only Son of the Living One” who should “take off your clothing without being ashamed We all are – and that we are not is one of “terrible dictums” of the current BIBLE. Do you think that Peter and Paul and all their comrades could do that? Of course not; and that is clear indication that they did not know Jesus – according to the GOSPEL OF THOMAS. They only thought they did.
Why did they not understand what Jesus may have told his disciples in that last quote? Probably because they wanted a “Lord” to save them from the terrible attrocities being imposed on them by the ruling Romans. Keep in mind, the Romans who were ruling them, had their own gods – and it was considered a crime to not praise their gods. So, they chose to live in fear of the Romans and did not dare to act as they should have and maybe encourage the Romans to follow them rather than for them to have to fear the Romans.
So, there it is in a nutshell, I think. When you take off your clothes without being ashamed, it is not only Jesus that you are knowing. It is any “son of the Living One” – including yourself, not just Jesus.
But are we all “sons of the Living One.” Let me quote what Jesus said about that in the GOSPEL OF THOMAS. In verse 3 of 114 verses in that wonderful insightful gospel, Jesus said: If those who lead you say to you: “See, the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heaven will precede you. If they say to you: “it is in the sea,” then the fish will precede you. But the Kingdom is within you and it is without you – which is to say that the “Kingdom” is not dependent upon Jesus or you or anyone. That is “without you” really means, I think. It is only realizing the end of verse 3 of the GOSPEL OF THOMAS, which is: If you will know yourselves, then you will be known and you will know that you are sons of the Living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty.”
Wow! Does that say that Jesus is not “The Only Son” of God or what? The BIBLE gospels claim that Jesus is “The Only Son” of the Living Father – or God; and according to the dictum stated in verse 3 of the GOSPEL OF THOMAS, that is not so. We are all “sons of the Living Father” – and that we are not is one of the many misleads of the BIBLE gospels; or so I believe.
I have known I am a “son of God” since I could think for myself when I was seven and tried to act like it by running naked in the fields of our family farm; but did Peter or Paul or any of those who wrote the gospels in the BIBLE know that? Absolutely not! It makes sense to one like me to know myself and know that I am a son of the Living Father because I know it can’t be otherwise. I am a son of Creation – which is of “the Living Father.” So, how can I not be a “son of the Living Father”? Tell me that!
That means, however, that we are all equal because we are ALL “sons of the Living Father” – not just me or Jesus. Jesus is not “The Only Son of God.” We all are – including all you wonderful ladies; but did Peter believe that? Let me quote what Thomas said that Peter said about that in the verse 114 of 114 of his gospel: Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go out from among us, because women are not worthy of the Life.
And that is from the mouth of the one supposedly chosen by Jesus to lead his church! Wow! Just goes to show that it implies at least that Jesus probably would not choose Peter to lead a church – who would have banned women as being “unworthy” - and it also implies that Jesus may not have intended to “start a church” at all but simply leave an ethics for all of us to follow to find the “Ideal of Heaven.” Don’t you agree?
What does “if you know yourselves, then you will be known and you will know that you are the sons of the Living Father” mean if it does not include “all” – including “female sons” as well as “male sons”? Peter did not understand that, though, according to the final verse in the GOSPEL OF THOMAS, did he? If he really thought that “women are not worthy of the Life” as stated in the final verse of the GOSPEL OF THOMAS, then he likely did not see “women as equal.” Right?
But what did Jesus reply to Peter to his utterance that “women are not worthy of the Life”? Here it is: Jesus said: See, I shall lead her, so that I will make her male, that she too may become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who makes herself male will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
That is only to say, I think, that “For every woman who considers herself equal to man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” It is only an equality issue. We are all “equal sons or children” of humanity and God.
In the GOSPEL OF MARY, it is stated like this: “Whoever has ear to hear should hear.” When the blessed one said this, he greeted all of them and said, “Peace be with you. Receive my peace. Be careful that no one leads you astray by saying, ‘Look here’ or ‘Look there.’ The child of humanity is within you. Follow that. Those who seek it will find it. Go and preach the good news of the kingdom. Do not lay down any rules other than what I have given you, and do not establish law, as the lawgiver did, or you will be bound by it.” When he said this, he left them.
Where did he go? Who knows, but Mary did not seem to care. She was satisfied with “he left them.” I guess we have to guess where he went, but it does NOT really matter, does it? All we need to know is that he suggested we should look for the “child of humanity within us.” For me, that is enough. It is to confirm the notion that all of us are “equal children of humanity” and that as long as we recognize that and treat everyone as an equal, we will find ourselves in “the kingdom of Jesus.” I like being a member of that “kingdom.” How about you?
I could go on, but I think I will procede with the intent of this letter. Based on the implication, at least, that Peter and his fellow “men” did not understand Jesus as being “a” solitary son of God and not the “only son of God,” I would like to suggest that we overrule the BIBLE that claims that God can choose one over another and allow for what I would call a “REVISED CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT” that includes only those works that maintain the equality of all like the GOSPELS OF THOMAS AND MARY MAGDALENE – theoretically banned in the 4th Century for not favoring simple virtue over authority.
I am a “son or child of God” and you are too. We can accept that by relying on such as the GOSPELS OF THOMAS AND MARY MAGDALENE – and perhaps the writings of “disciples” of those gospels like Francis, that is, yours truly. We do not need to continue to war and claim we are “marching onto war in the name of Jesus” as we have done so many times in history – including the current wars in Ukraine and Israel.
When will we stop killing so called “enemies” in the name of one who forbid it and accepted crucifixion rather than loose his virtue by striking back at some who wanted to remove him from life? In truth, Jesus did not die as an “intended sacrifice” as current Christian churches uphold as teaching. He was probably killed only because he was not liked by those who believed that solo virtue is not enough to find salvation; but what many do not realize – you cannot “strike back” and hold onto to virtue – which is acting only to admire and embrace the wonderful gift of life – that of yourself and the one you would strike.
If Jesus would have carried a sword in his time to be able to strike back at another with a sword, he would have planned to use it – and that plan would have stripped him of his virtue of believing “we are all sons of the Living Father or God.” It is as simple as that for us who really believe we are all “equal sons or children” of Life and God.
So, again, I am suggesting that we turn back the pages, so to speak, and overrule the current BIBLE because it states from the beginning in GENESIS to the end in THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS that true virtue is acting to “please God” rather than acting “to be pleased we are all sons or children of God” and start living that course by living according to what I call a REVISED CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT which would include only those books that state the need for equality such as the GOSPELS OF THOMAS AND MARY MAGDALENE – and perhaps my own which I will list below.
How can we do that? I do not know, but we can figure that out in time – either before I pass like my Dear Nancy did on 11/1/2023 or after it. It won’t matter so much for me because I have tried to live the verses of the GOSPELS OF THOMAS AND MARY all my life and will continue to live them wherever I go – in this life or another. For me, like Jesus tried to say, Heaven is always at hand – but practically speaking, only if we act like it.
I have included the wonderful GOSPELS OF THOMAS AND MARY in my writings listed below. I do believe it is time we “undo the canon chosen in the 4th Century” and start anew with a much simpler REVISED CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT. We can leave it with those works – or include those like mine to form a “Revised New Testament.” What do you think?
Thank You – and HAPPY LIVING TO US ALL!
ALL MY LOVE!
Francis William Bessler, born 12/3/1941,
The seventh of eight children of Leo & Clara Bessler,
Willwood Division, Powell, Wyoming.
MY LOOK AT LIFE
By
Francis William Bessler
1746 Fetterman Dr, Unit 2
Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Home phone: 307-742-7428
6/24/25
I consider myself a “Divine Naturist Christian” – a label of my own making, so to speak. I believe that an Infinite God must be
in everything and everyone, making everywhere Heaven if Heaven is defined as “being in the presence of God.”
We are all saints, but we don’t know it – and, thus, do not act like it. I consider myself Christian in that I believe Christ believed and taught the same – based largely on the mostly unknown Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene, effectively banned by church and state in the 4th Century for challenging a need for authority for salvation. All my works argue accordingly and can be acquired if desired via my websites:
una-bella-vita.com and francisbessler.com – though currently,
francisbessler.com is offline.
Consider a description of a work via my websites to judge if a work seems acceptable or not. OK?
THANKS! FWB
My Books: (composition range in parens)
1.WILD FLOWERS (1983-2014),
2.FIVE HEAVEN ON EARTH STORIES (1975-2007),
3.EXPLORING THE SOUL
AND BROTHER JESUS (1988/2005),
4.LOVING EVERYTHING (1963-2015),
5.JESUS ACCORDING TO THOMAS & MARY –
AND ME (2009-2017),
6.IT’S A NEW DAY (2015-2017),
7.IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCIS (of Assisi)
AND WILLIAM (Penn) (1995),
8.SONGS BY A DIVINE NATURIST CHRISTIAN (1963-2018),
9.KNOWING CHRIST (1985-2019),
10.TRUE CHRISTIANITY (1983-2019).