Comments for Internal Sense http://internalsense.com "It is genuine wisdom for a person to see from the light of heaven that what he knows, understands, and is wise in, is so little in comparison with what he does not know and understand, and in which he is not wise, as to be like a drop to the ocean, consequently as almost nothing." (True Christian Religion 387) Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:32:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Comment on “The Hunt For The Good Sermon” by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/06/05/the-hunt-for-the-good-sermon/#comment-2075 Matthew Genzlinger Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:32:36 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=261#comment-2075 Your comment brought to mind the difference between a long term healthy diet, and a one off exciting dinner out. I wonder if part of the problem is that in today’s consumer driven world people want to experience that one great event, rather than make a commitment to a life time of worshiping the Lord and learning from His Word. Thank you for your thoughts.

]]> Comment on “The Hunt For The Good Sermon” by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/06/05/the-hunt-for-the-good-sermon/#comment-2074 Matthew Genzlinger Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:25:44 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=261#comment-2074 I’m glad you find the website inspiring. I’m lucky in that with the Writings of Swedenborg it’s very easy to find inspiring things : ).

]]> Comment on “The Hunt For The Good Sermon” by Robert Lee http://internalsense.com/2012/06/05/the-hunt-for-the-good-sermon/#comment-2073 Robert Lee Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:37:54 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=261#comment-2073 I noticed this very thing today as I was looking at one of the preachers of a mega church on television. I thought to myself that there was much in the way of congratulations for the man’s style but little in terms of actual truth being taught. I wondered if Jesus would have preached like this and concluded that it did not seem to be his intention as to nature and character of preaching. I often wonder if how much of what such preachers say during their entertaining sermons is remembered with any degree of permanence by those who hear them.

]]> Comment on “The Hunt For The Good Sermon” by Robert Lee http://internalsense.com/2012/06/05/the-hunt-for-the-good-sermon/#comment-2072 Robert Lee Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:28:21 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=261#comment-2072 What a wonderful website. I was moved, inspired and blessed by the rich insights and articles. I am one who has long loved and believed the writings of Swedenborg and I am so glad that there are such insightful people as yourself among God’s children who are of the New Church. I will be sure to visit your website more often for the pleasure of inspiration. I sent my wife one of your articles via e-mail. Hope you don’t mind.

]]> Comment on Shift of Expectations – Why Was Leah Given Before Rachel? by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/03/01/shift-of-expectations-why-was-leah-given-before-rachel/#comment-940 Matthew Genzlinger Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:00:27 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=225#comment-940 I never got around to part 2 of this post. The basic idea is that if you can understand that life is a process – that ideals are not achieved overnight – it can help you have much more patience with life. I personally find this true with life in general. However, I find this idea most powerful when it comes to being more patient with myself and with other people.

Being more patient with myself: It’s important to push myself and strive for great things. But if I expect too much from myself too fast, I’m not going to get anywhere. Be realistic with your goals and yourself!

Being more patient with others: To often we make the mistake of puting an undue burden on others; we put our high expections and ideals on the people around us. Here again it is good to inspire others to do beter, but we also need to be patient with the people around us.

]]> Comment on Shift of Focus – Opening the Well by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/02/22/shift-of-focus-opening-the-well/#comment-821 Matthew Genzlinger Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:55:34 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=215#comment-821 After reading a comment on this, the idea came into my mind that the Word will be opened to me if I’m willing to use it to see my own evils and shun them. At a discussion group we had last night we read a passage that began, “How many are there at this day, who desire to look their own evils in the face?” I love this image of being willing to look your own evils in the face when going to the Word! Our egos don’t jump up and down at the opportunity : )

]]> Comment on Shift of Awareness by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/02/08/shift-of-awareness/#comment-810 Matthew Genzlinger Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:25 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=168#comment-810 “Man is obviously made for thinking. Therein lies all his dignity and his merit; and his whole duty is to think as he ought. Now the order of thought is to begin with ourselves, and with our author and our end. Now what does the world think about? Never about that, but about dancing, playing the lute, singing, writing verse, tilting at the ring, etc., and fighting, becoming king, without thinking what it means to be a king or to be a man….If our condition were truly happy we should not need to divert ourselves from thinking about it…the sole cause of our unhappiness is that we do not know how to sit quietly in our room.” (Pascal)

]]> Comment on Shift of Awareness by George Gantz http://internalsense.com/2012/02/08/shift-of-awareness/#comment-725 George Gantz Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:14:03 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=168#comment-725 The challenge to “know thyself” goes back to the ancient Greeks (the phrase was reportedly inscribed on the entrance to the Oracle of Delphi) – so there is no shortage of advice on how to go about it. But your three simple steps are as clear and concise as anything I’ve read. The first lesson of Shift also adds the imortant insight that when we experience conflict, it is a sure sign that we have work to do in truly knowing ourslves. Sorting out our selfish and noblest thoughts and impulses is tough. My post in ISAS on the issue of cognitive bias explains one aspect of the difficulties: http://swedenborgcenterconcord.org/wordpress/the-difficulty-of-judging-what-is-true/

]]> Comment on Shift of Awareness by Matthew Genzlinger http://internalsense.com/2012/02/08/shift-of-awareness/#comment-724 Matthew Genzlinger Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:34:51 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=168#comment-724 I’ve been thinking about the question, “How do you get to better know yourself.” So far I’ve come up with three things that relate to this:
1. Reflection. You need to take the time to reflect on your own thoughts and affections. A lot of people simply don’t take the time in their busy lives to do this.
2. Learning. Along with your own reflection, you also need education. A true understanding of the “internal man” is so lost at this day that you need to be taught about it. The Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg act as a great teacher!
3. Interest/effort. The passage I quoted above from, Heavenly Secrets, talks about how uninterested people are in internal things. I take this to mean that if you want to know yourself on an internal level, it takes effort. You need to compel yourself to do this, and eventually your interests and delights will change.

]]> Comment on A Child’s Perspective On Heaven by Eliza http://internalsense.com/2012/01/31/a-childs-perspective-on-heaven/#comment-710 Eliza Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:41:57 +0000 http://internalsense.com/?p=160#comment-710 I kept thinking that the best part about having a loved one pass on, is the understanding, knowledge and simple belief the kids have shown about the afterlife. Your article summed it up much better than I could have expressed. Thank you.

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