About the Path of Health Community (Belinda's question)

[Guest guest]

LOL! Thank you, Belinda, for a good laugh!

 

And more important, Thank you for being (if memory serves correctly) the

very first person to ask me a straightforward question about all this. For

your simple question, I feel truly grateful!!

 

- Do I live from a very strong set of beliefs and convictions, principles

and paradigms? Absolutely.

 

- Do I regard some of these as a form of religious/spiritual expression for

myself? Absolutely.

 

- Am I involved in some sort of cult? No, absolutely not.

 

The Path of Health Community is sponsored by a tiny congregation called

Vibrant Living Ministries. This congregation is nondenominational (not part

of any denomination), nonsectarian (not part of any branch of any

established group), private (not associated in any way with any government),

noncommercial (not engaged in any form of commerce, as commerce is defined

in law), and ecclesiastical in nature.

 

Ecclesiastical is often taken to mean " religious " , but actually the two

words have quite different meanings. " Religion " means to bind back, or to

return or reconnect with one's source, creator, that sort of thing. In

contrast, " ecclesiastical " refers to a sense of calling to serve.

 

Vibrant Living Ministries espouses no particular theology, our intent is to

be inclusive, regardless of one's beliefs about divinity or the absence

thereof. We do have a cosmology, a set of beliefs about the nature of

Nature/the cosmos, our relationship with these, etc. Our desire to live

increasingly in harmony with Nature is designed arises from this cosmology.

 

At the present time, and as far forward as any of us can see, this

ministry/congregation hires no one (other than, perhaps, a contractor to do

design work or the like). None of us receives any personal income from many

of the activities in which we engage.

 

Those who wish to participate in this community... which shall eventually

become a physical community somewhere... choose to donate a small amount

(typically USD 25 or equivalent) each month. We call this our " Exchange

Program " . Being a tiny community, we have no bank account. Nobody wishes to

spend time and energy managing one, to put it rather straightforwardly. So

all the donations arrive as cash.

 

I find it fascinating to observe the degree to which some have been

indoctrinated with the idea that use of cash implies some sort of

wrongdoing. I find such beliefs quite foreign and in fact. almost

incomprehensible.

 

We also request donations in exchange for some of our educational programs

but never for any of the many free teleconferences we have offered and will

continue to offer).

 

In every case thus far, we exclude no one who genuinely lacks the capacity

to generate whatever funds are requested and who asks to participate in our

community or any of its programs.

 

We apply funds donated to our community toward the creation and improvement

of our service-related activities. As I wrote nearly two weeks ago, we

recently expended approximately $1800 to purchase various telephony and

audio equipment, which we hope will greatly improve the quality of our many

teleconference programs. (I wrote USD 1700 at the time, we added a few items

since then.) This equipment is owned by the ministry, and not by any

individual man or woman. Perhaps as an example of synchronicity, I just

interrupted writing this message to take delivery of that equipment!

 

Regarding our Exchange Program, we just began doing this since the first of

the year. As I mentioned in an email nearly 2 weeks ago, we have discussed

among ourselves the question as to when, where, and how to share this

information. As I also mentioned at that time, we recognize that the best

place in the long term is to share through a Web site, and we recently

formed a team to create our first Web site.

 

Regarding our use of discussion groups, our community currently

sponsors 6 discussion groups. Five are closed and used internally.

One, called PathOfHealth, we open to participation by the general public on

a limited basis. We use this group as one of several avenues of entry into

our community, a means through which people can get to know us and vice

versa before deciding whether they wish to become part of what we are doing.

 

 

Our discussions in the PathOfHeatlh are quite different those that typically

occur here. The difference arises, at least in part, from having a steady

group, over time, that shares a common base of knowledge (education) and

beliefs, particularly a clearly articulated commitment to live in harmony

with Nature's design, and a comprehensive approach toward creating health,

in which food is merely one of many components, or inputs.

 

We offer many educational programs. We offer some of these (thus far, in the

form of teleconferences) to the general public, and we conduct many programs

just for ourselves, as well. For those who choose to participate, the

rewards are tremendous, as the participants readily attest. And for those

who prefer another approach, that's fine, too.

 

Well, that's probably enough for now. Anyone who wishes can read the home

page for our PathOfHealth group, found at

 

http://health.PathOfHealth/

 

And we make all our messages, program descriptions, etc freely to everyone

inside the PathOfHealth. That is where one person found one of my messages,

which he/she posted here earlier today. If we wished to hide that

information, we would surely not store it in the Files section of a

group!!!

 

Well, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll gladly respond to any and all

questions that seem to me to reflect a genuine desire to understand, a

genuine sense of curiosity.

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

Belinda

Friday, June 01, 2007 1:18 PM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Re: After Harassment From One Member I have Decided to

leave this Group

 

Now since I have seen Elchanan being accused of being a cultist or

something like that, I will ask.

 

Elchanan, are you a cult leader?

 

Belinda

in TN

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Aaaaannnnnndddddd there ya have it.

 

Thanks Elchanan for clearing that up.

 

Belinda

 

 

 

rawfood , " Elchanan " <Elchanan wrote:

>

> LOL! Thank you, Belinda, for a good laugh!

>

> And more important, Thank you for being (if memory serves

correctly) the

> very first person to ask me a straightforward question about all

this. For

> your simple question, I feel truly grateful!!

>

> - Do I live from a very strong set of beliefs and convictions,

principles

> and paradigms? Absolutely.

>

> - Do I regard some of these as a form of religious/spiritual

expression for

> myself? Absolutely.

>

> - Am I involved in some sort of cult? No, absolutely not.

>

> The Path of Health Community is sponsored by a tiny congregation

called

> Vibrant Living Ministries. This congregation is nondenominational

(not part

> of any denomination), nonsectarian (not part of any branch of any

> established group), private (not associated in any way with any

government),

> noncommercial (not engaged in any form of commerce, as commerce is

defined

> in law), and ecclesiastical in nature.

>

> Ecclesiastical is often taken to mean " religious " , but actually the

two

> words have quite different meanings. " Religion " means to bind back,

or to

> return or reconnect with one's source, creator, that sort of thing.

In

> contrast, " ecclesiastical " refers to a sense of calling to serve.

>

> Vibrant Living Ministries espouses no particular theology, our

intent is to

> be inclusive, regardless of one's beliefs about divinity or the

absence

> thereof. We do have a cosmology, a set of beliefs about the nature

of

> Nature/the cosmos, our relationship with these, etc. Our desire to

live

> increasingly in harmony with Nature is designed arises from this

cosmology.

>

> At the present time, and as far forward as any of us can see, this

> ministry/congregation hires no one (other than, perhaps, a

contractor to do

> design work or the like). None of us receives any personal income

from many

> of the activities in which we engage.

>

> Those who wish to participate in this community... which shall

eventually

> become a physical community somewhere... choose to donate a small

amount

> (typically USD 25 or equivalent) each month. We call this

our " Exchange

> Program " . Being a tiny community, we have no bank account. Nobody

wishes to

> spend time and energy managing one, to put it rather

straightforwardly. So

> all the donations arrive as cash.

>

> I find it fascinating to observe the degree to which some have been

> indoctrinated with the idea that use of cash implies some sort of

> wrongdoing. I find such beliefs quite foreign and in fact. almost

> incomprehensible.

>

> We also request donations in exchange for some of our educational

programs

> but never for any of the many free teleconferences we have offered

and will

> continue to offer).

>

> In every case thus far, we exclude no one who genuinely lacks the

capacity

> to generate whatever funds are requested and who asks to

participate in our

> community or any of its programs.

>

> We apply funds donated to our community toward the creation and

improvement

> of our service-related activities. As I wrote nearly two weeks ago,

we

> recently expended approximately $1800 to purchase various telephony

and

> audio equipment, which we hope will greatly improve the quality of

our many

> teleconference programs. (I wrote USD 1700 at the time, we added a

few items

> since then.) This equipment is owned by the ministry, and not by any

> individual man or woman. Perhaps as an example of synchronicity, I

just

> interrupted writing this message to take delivery of that

equipment!

>

> Regarding our Exchange Program, we just began doing this since the

first of

> the year. As I mentioned in an email nearly 2 weeks ago, we have

discussed

> among ourselves the question as to when, where, and how to share

this

> information. As I also mentioned at that time, we recognize that

the best

> place in the long term is to share through a Web site, and we

recently

> formed a team to create our first Web site.

>

> Regarding our use of discussion groups, our community

currently

> sponsors 6 discussion groups. Five are closed and used

internally.

> One, called PathOfHealth, we open to participation by the general

public on

> a limited basis. We use this group as one of several avenues of

entry into

> our community, a means through which people can get to know us and

vice

> versa before deciding whether they wish to become part of what we

are doing.

>

>

> Our discussions in the PathOfHeatlh are quite different those that

typically

> occur here. The difference arises, at least in part, from having a

steady

> group, over time, that shares a common base of knowledge

(education) and

> beliefs, particularly a clearly articulated commitment to live in

harmony

> with Nature's design, and a comprehensive approach toward creating

health,

> in which food is merely one of many components, or inputs.

>

> We offer many educational programs. We offer some of these (thus

far, in the

> form of teleconferences) to the general public, and we conduct many

programs

> just for ourselves, as well. For those who choose to participate,

the

> rewards are tremendous, as the participants readily attest. And for

those

> who prefer another approach, that's fine, too.

>

> Well, that's probably enough for now. Anyone who wishes can read

the home

> page for our PathOfHealth group, found at

>

> http://health.PathOfHealth/

>

> And we make all our messages, program descriptions, etc freely to

everyone

> inside the PathOfHealth. That is where one person found one of my

messages,

> which he/she posted here earlier today. If we wished to hide that

> information, we would surely not store it in the Files section of a

 

> group!!!

>

> Well, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll gladly respond to any

and all

> questions that seem to me to reflect a genuine desire to

understand, a

> genuine sense of curiosity.

>

> Best to all,

> Elchanan

> _____

>

> rawfood [rawfood ] On

Behalf Of

> Belinda

> Friday, June 01, 2007 1:18 PM

> rawfood

> [Raw Food] Re: After Harassment From One Member I have

Decided to

> leave this Group

>

> Now since I have seen Elchanan being accused of being a cultist or

> something like that, I will ask.

>

> Elchanan, are you a cult leader?

>

> Belinda

> in TN

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

yes. Thank you very much.

 

back to sapotes...

 

a

 

On 6/2/07, Belinda <MistyBlueTN wrote:

> Aaaaannnnnndddddd there ya have it.

>

> Thanks Elchanan for clearing that up.

>

> Belinda

>

>

>

> rawfood , " Elchanan " <Elchanan wrote:

> >

> > LOL! Thank you, Belinda, for a good laugh!

> >

> > And more important, Thank you for being (if memory serves

> correctly) the

> > very first person to ask me a straightforward question about all

> this. For

> > your simple question, I feel truly grateful!!

> >

> > - Do I live from a very strong set of beliefs and convictions,

> principles

> > and paradigms? Absolutely.

> >

> > - Do I regard some of these as a form of religious/spiritual

> expression for

> > myself? Absolutely.

> >

> > - Am I involved in some sort of cult? No, absolutely not.

> >

> > The Path of Health Community is sponsored by a tiny congregation

> called

> > Vibrant Living Ministries. This congregation is nondenominational

> (not part

> > of any denomination), nonsectarian (not part of any branch of any

> > established group), private (not associated in any way with any

> government),

> > noncommercial (not engaged in any form of commerce, as commerce is

> defined

> > in law), and ecclesiastical in nature.

> >

> > Ecclesiastical is often taken to mean " religious " , but actually the

> two

> > words have quite different meanings. " Religion " means to bind back,

> or to

> > return or reconnect with one's source, creator, that sort of thing.

> In

> > contrast, " ecclesiastical " refers to a sense of calling to serve.

> >

> > Vibrant Living Ministries espouses no particular theology, our

> intent is to

> > be inclusive, regardless of one's beliefs about divinity or the

> absence

> > thereof. We do have a cosmology, a set of beliefs about the nature

> of

> > Nature/the cosmos, our relationship with these, etc. Our desire to

> live

> > increasingly in harmony with Nature is designed arises from this

> cosmology.

> >

> > At the present time, and as far forward as any of us can see, this

> > ministry/congregation hires no one (other than, perhaps, a

> contractor to do

> > design work or the like). None of us receives any personal income

> from many

> > of the activities in which we engage.

> >

> > Those who wish to participate in this community... which shall

> eventually

> > become a physical community somewhere... choose to donate a small

> amount

> > (typically USD 25 or equivalent) each month. We call this

> our " Exchange

> > Program " . Being a tiny community, we have no bank account. Nobody

> wishes to

> > spend time and energy managing one, to put it rather

> straightforwardly. So

> > all the donations arrive as cash.

> >

> > I find it fascinating to observe the degree to which some have been

> > indoctrinated with the idea that use of cash implies some sort of

> > wrongdoing. I find such beliefs quite foreign and in fact. almost

> > incomprehensible.

> >

> > We also request donations in exchange for some of our educational

> programs

> > but never for any of the many free teleconferences we have offered

> and will

> > continue to offer).

> >

> > In every case thus far, we exclude no one who genuinely lacks the

> capacity

> > to generate whatever funds are requested and who asks to

> participate in our

> > community or any of its programs.

> >

> > We apply funds donated to our community toward the creation and

> improvement

> > of our service-related activities. As I wrote nearly two weeks ago,

> we

> > recently expended approximately $1800 to purchase various telephony

> and

> > audio equipment, which we hope will greatly improve the quality of

> our many

> > teleconference programs. (I wrote USD 1700 at the time, we added a

> few items

> > since then.) This equipment is owned by the ministry, and not by any

> > individual man or woman. Perhaps as an example of synchronicity, I

> just

> > interrupted writing this message to take delivery of that

> equipment!

> >

> > Regarding our Exchange Program, we just began doing this since the

> first of

> > the year. As I mentioned in an email nearly 2 weeks ago, we have

> discussed

> > among ourselves the question as to when, where, and how to share

> this

> > information. As I also mentioned at that time, we recognize that

> the best

> > place in the long term is to share through a Web site, and we

> recently

> > formed a team to create our first Web site.

> >

> > Regarding our use of discussion groups, our community

> currently

> > sponsors 6 discussion groups. Five are closed and used

> internally.

> > One, called PathOfHealth, we open to participation by the general

> public on

> > a limited basis. We use this group as one of several avenues of

> entry into

> > our community, a means through which people can get to know us and

> vice

> > versa before deciding whether they wish to become part of what we

> are doing.

> >

> >

> > Our discussions in the PathOfHeatlh are quite different those that

> typically

> > occur here. The difference arises, at least in part, from having a

> steady

> > group, over time, that shares a common base of knowledge

> (education) and

> > beliefs, particularly a clearly articulated commitment to live in

> harmony

> > with Nature's design, and a comprehensive approach toward creating

> health,

> > in which food is merely one of many components, or inputs.

> >

> > We offer many educational programs. We offer some of these (thus

> far, in the

> > form of teleconferences) to the general public, and we conduct many

> programs

> > just for ourselves, as well. For those who choose to participate,

> the

> > rewards are tremendous, as the participants readily attest. And for

> those

> > who prefer another approach, that's fine, too.

> >

> > Well, that's probably enough for now. Anyone who wishes can read

> the home

> > page for our PathOfHealth group, found at

> >

> > http://health.PathOfHealth/

> >

> > And we make all our messages, program descriptions, etc freely to

> everyone

> > inside the PathOfHealth. That is where one person found one of my

> messages,

> > which he/she posted here earlier today. If we wished to hide that

> > information, we would surely not store it in the Files section of a

>

> > group!!!

> >

> > Well, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll gladly respond to any

> and all

> > questions that seem to me to reflect a genuine desire to

> understand, a

> > genuine sense of curiosity.

> >

> > Best to all,

> > Elchanan

> > _____

> >

> > rawfood [rawfood ] On

> Behalf Of

> > Belinda

> > Friday, June 01, 2007 1:18 PM

> > rawfood

> > [Raw Food] Re: After Harassment From One Member I have

> Decided to

> > leave this Group

> >

> > Now since I have seen Elchanan being accused of being a cultist or

> > something like that, I will ask.

> >

> > Elchanan, are you a cult leader?

> >

> > Belinda

> > in TN

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I do hope so! And, you're welcome!

E

 

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

Anna Bishop

Saturday, June 02, 2007 6:36 AM

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Re: About the Path of Health Community (Belinda's

question)

 

 

yes. Thank you very much.

 

back to sapotes...

 

a

 

On 6/2/07, Belinda <MistyBlueTN@ <MistyBlueTN%40aol.com> aol.com>

wrote:

> Aaaaannnnnndddddd there ya have it.

>

> Thanks Elchanan for clearing that up.

>

> Belinda