Casual conversations with Jesus

Skipping rocks with Jesus

Hanging out with Jesus

 

January 2015

I never thought that hanging out with Jesus could be so casual. Last week we spent a couple of hours skipping rocks across a pond. 

Jesus was much better at it than I was. With one rock he got thirty six skips – seemed like a miracle to me since the best I could do was seven. 

I should mention that when I first started skipping rocks with Jesus, the best I could do was three.  I am much better now. 

Maybe that’s the point - just hanging out with Jesus seems to make a difference.

 

Brother Giovanni

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An excerpt from “Thoughts by a Pizzaonian spelunker”

I can know It, It can’t know me?

 

Sitting alone at night

Watching the glittering

Universe before me

 

I wonder does it begin

Or does it exist without

Beginning or end

Reaching into infinity

 

Can something without

End be the beginning

Of all things except itself

And if it’s there can it know

Me

 

That is projection I am told

And egocentric to a fault

Wishful thinking at best

Serious delusion at worst

 

But one can wonder

     Infinite speck that I am

 Can know It and It

Cannot know me

 

It which is the beginning

Of all things and is

Beyond explanation

The mother of all that

Is is dumb and cannot know

 

But then suddenly

When the night is still

And all is quiet a sweet

Voice calls my name

 And then I know

 

An excerpt from “Thoughts by a Pizzaonian spelunker”

 

opd 2/11

 

 

Sitting alone at night

Watching the glittering

Universe before me

 

I wonder does it begin

Or does it exist without

Beginning or end

Reaching into infinity

 

Can something without

End be the beginning

Of all things except itself

And if it’s there can it know

Me

 

That is projection I am told

And egocentric to a fault

Wishful thinking at best

Serious delusion at worst

 

But one can wonder

     Infinite speck that I am

 Can know It and It

Cannot know me

 

It which is the beginning

Of all things and is

Beyond explanation

The mother of all that

Is is dumb and cannot know

 

But then suddenly

When the night is still

And all is quiet a sweet

Voice calls my name

 And then I know

 

An excerpt from “Thoughts by a Pizzaonian spelunker”

 

opd 2/11

 

The significance of mundane service to others - conjectures of a recovering dilettante while traveling the road to Utopia

 
Thoughts while waiting for Jesus to get back from Wisconsin.

Today was about performing a service.  It occurred to me near the end of the afternoon that an erroneous presumption we often make is that when performing a mundane service for others, it often seems like we are wasting our gift by not doing the specific work we believe we were meant to do for this day.

When in fact the service we performed, no matter how seemingly insignificant to us, may in the long run be the most important thing we can do this day when seen from the eyes of the recipient.

I guess that’s what they mean when the say “leave it up to God to decide.”     Think about it the next time you grow impatient while doing a routine service for someone else.

Brother Giovanni

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Note from Jesus: "People get the rest of the message quickly but forgiveness, wow..."

 
Giovanni, 

Well it’s been quite a trip.  It’s been nice to have so much time for myself.  It always amazes me how people never consider how I need time for myself just like everyone else does.  I have enjoyed every minute of it. 

I am going to spend a couple of days in Elko and then on the Reno. I haven’t been there for awhile (At least not in human form) and I am looking forward to it. 

I have met so many nice people on the way.  I always tell them who I am when they ask me my name but it never gets much of a reaction.  Not much has changed in 2000 plus years.

 
I was thinking the other day while driving here, when we came up with Christianity the one thing we didn’t count on was how hard this forgiveness thing was going to be.  People get the rest of the message quickly but forgiveness, wow; it just seems beyond most people to really forgive those who have hurt them the most. 

Don’t misunderstand me; this wasn’t the easiest thing for me either. But I hoped by swallowing hard and forgiving my enemies, it would be easier for you folks to get the message.  It still is the key to everything else working. 

Well, who knows, someday we’ll get it all together. Soon as I get to Reno I'll check in again.  Meanwhile stay well.  Till then …….. 

Jesus

 

Despite the controversy, Brother Giovanni will continue to publish his "Conversations with Jesus."

Pizzaonian Council of Monks - courtesy of Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator (C) 2015

An old controversy that most Pizzaonians believed was resolved a few years ago has raised its head again in Pizzaonia.  Brother Giovanni, former Supreme Pizzaonian, and currently a contributing editor to “The Pizzaonian,'' is back in the news because of his intent to bring back his column, "Conversations with Jesus." 

The Pizzaonian Council of Monks (PCM) and pizza conglomerate, Pizza digogo DiVinci, are concerned when a prominent figure in Pizzaonian politics as Brother Giovanni engages in an activity many Pizzaonians consider weird at best, and psychotic at worst. 

When asked about the controversy, Brother Giovanni seemed unconcerned and said,  “I have never made any claim that the Jesus that I correspond with is "the"JESUS. You may surmise by the way my friend addresses issues that he believes he is the Jesus of the New Testament.  I leave that for the readers to decide.  The controversy seems to me to be overblown and inconsistent with Pizzaonian tolerance.”

Brother Giovanni is a familiar figure to controversy here in Pizzaonia.  While Pizzaonia has no government or laws like other worlds, issues like this are usually resolved by consensus with an emphasis on the consideration of minority opinions. 

Sister Veronica, Supreme Pizzaonian said, “We have such pride in our “empathetic culture'” I am confident this issue will be resolved fairly.” 

Brother Giovanni added, "I have every intention to continue to publish my letters from Jesus because I think they are interesting to our readers.  There is also a chance that he is who he says he is."

 

John Frank Giovanni, reporting for Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, editor

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Strange things about Christians discovered while moving west.

 

 

It has always seemed strange to me that Christians always talk about a God that they believe is both alive and loving, and fills all life with His presence.

They also believe they can pray to their God and He will hear them.  He not only knows their name; he knows everything about them. 

If this is true, why is it if this same loving God decides to talk to them directly and actually appears to them, they are considered a complete nut case by most fellow Christians?

Brother Giovanni

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The truth is it's you so-called good folks that cause most of the trouble!

Brother Giovanni,

It has always seemed strange to me that Christians always talk about a God that they believe is both alive and loving and fills all life with the presence of the beloved. 

They also believe they can pray to their God and He will hear them.  He not only knows their name; he knows everything about them. 

If this is true, why is it if this same loving God decides to talk to them directly and actually appears to them, that same devoted Christian is suddenly considered a nut case by all fellow Christians?

Your friend,

Jesus

 

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"Casual Conversations with Jesus,"  Musings and Giovanni and Franco recommend "The Pizzaonian"

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Just left Wisconsin - finally. What a lesson in the human condition. #politics #elections #life

 

Dear Giovanni,

Just left Wisconsin - finally. What a lesson in the human condition.  It is hard to believe that so many folks of supposed good will can get so upset with each other. 

Politics and religion seem to do that to people.  I can understand how politics can do that, but I am totally mystified how religion can end up being such a force for such anger and angst.  I thought we were going to get rid of that aspect of human nature. 

Don’t quote me but sometimes I think my Father is naïve on what the human condition is supposed to be.  I know we are all sinners. (I am not supposed to be one so we will leave that one alone.) And redemption is always available to restore lost souls, but I tell you it really gets weary seeing the same old stuff come up repeatedly.

The recall election is over, but you would never know it.  Folks just won’t let go of their anger.  I don’t know who is worse – the humanistic "what evers" or the Christians.  Maybe I should not say this, but the folks up here are a poster board for Buddhist recruiters if there is such a thing.  Just a thought, between you and me.... 

Would love to say more but there is a Motel 6 coming up just ahead and I need to get some rest.  Will write you from my next stop, until then... 

Your friend,

Jesus

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Short note from Jesus: "Leaving Grand Island heading west ...."

 

 
Giovanni, 

Heading west on 80 after a great stay in Grand Island. Don’t know how far I will go, just intend to drive and see where the wind takes me. (That’s not a bad image for me, considering who I am.) 

Attended quite a few Christian Churches during my stay here – it’s amazing how many churches you have in this country! 

One thing that fascinates me is how busy all of you are protecting me against sacrilege and all kinds of other stuff. I can’t believe how many folks you exclude from your congregations because somehow you are convinced they will offend me. 

I am not sure where that all comes from - seems pretty tribal to me.  Just for the record, why not let everyone in. I am quite good at taking care of myself. You folks might be amazed how well that might work. 

Well going to enjoy myself for now. The nights have been cold, but the days are very nice. I will write you from the next stop.  Till then… 

Jesus

 

Jesus staying in Grand Island, Nebraska for a few days

 
Giovanni, 

I am taking my time driving back to California. Driving across the United States is an experience to remember. 

I have had much time to myself.  I know that seems strange to some, but it’s seldom that someone isn’t asking ME for something - a bit of solitude for reflection is welcome. 

I am stopping for a while in Grand Island, Nebraska, a wonderful place to experience the heartland of America – everyone should spend a few days here. 

While reflecting on world events yesterday, I had a thought about how we humans act out our aggression. A few thousand years ago, a tribe would travel down the road apiece and, without hesitation or reflection, destroy the neighboring village simply because it posed a threat to them.  Their reaction was instinctive and quick. 

 It’s interesting how we still do the same thing.  We can’t however, do such a deed as easily as our earlier brothers and sisters did because we are civilized.  

Instead, we have codified our instinctive behavior into a complex set of ethical and moral codes that allow us to still act out our aggressive and selfish impulses, however, we do it with the created moral authority that makes it "ok" to do so.  As they used to say in Nazareth, “that’s nice work if you can get it.” 

My old friend, Reinhold Niebuhr once said, to paraphrase - the ironic tragedy of human behavior is how we consciously choose evil to do good.  Still has a familiar ring to it.  Enough for now, I am going to relax for awhile before heading west.  See you soon. 

Jesus