Interviewer: Interesting! You said something before about church services, and it didn’t sound like You were that thrilled with them.
God: They are often pretty dull and boring. Would you be that thrilled with them?
Interviewer: No. I stopped going.
God: I know.
Interviewer: Yes, I suppose You do. This gets to me a bit, that You know everything. Is there any privacy in the spirit world? Seems it is sometimes nice to have a few things about oneself that aren’t known.
God: Like what? Your PIN?
Interviewer: I suppose I won’t be needing that, will I?
God: I haven’t thought of a use for that here.
Interviewer: I think I would like to have my thoughts be private.
God: Why? Do you want to think bad thoughts?
Interviewer: No!
God: Honestly?
Interviewer: Well … all right, I can get to brooding over something and then I suppose my thoughts are not “good.” But it is more than that. I think it would be nice to have the freedom to bounce things around inside for a while before anyone knows what I am thinking.
God: So you have a little trouble being transparent?
Interviewer: It just sounds a little Orwellian to have my mind and thoughts monitored.
God: Please let me assure you it is not like Big Brother. It is that we are honest and open here, so we don’t feel a need to hide our thoughts and intentions.
Interviewer: You say “we.” Are You included in all this openness?
God: I am very open, but My mind is beyond yours even in your heavenly state. So no, you won’t be able to read My thoughts. But that does not prevent My being open and forthright with you.
Interviewer: It will take a little getting used to.
God: But it is that way now.
Interviewer: I suppose so, but somehow it is just not so obvious. Well, on to another subject. Do You have favorites?
God: In what way?
Interviewer: Ones that are like Your pets who You are more indulgent with, that You care for more and watch out for more carefully.
God: I love everybody with equal fervor. But those who love Me back do benefit more than those who don’t. These are those who try to follow Me closely and spread My love and message to others.
Interviewer: Is this fair? Shouldn’t You just treat everybody the same?
God: Isn’t it fair to reward good rather than not to? If there is someone who is good to you, don’t you hold him or her in higher esteem than others? It is the same with Me. I reward those who try their best to love Me and others.
Interviewer: From my perspective, I can’t help but think there are some people who do not deserve Your favor but who seem to get it big time. Aren’t there a lot of well-off people who have lots of comfort and care who are far from deserving of it?
God: You are equating luxury and plenty with My blessings. This is not necessarily the case. In fact, it is rarely the case. I do care for those who love Me and I can bless them materially, but an abundance of material goods is, on its own, no indication of My blessings. The majority of the blessings I bestow are those of the spirit. Peace of mind and heart are much more valuable than material things. And it is far better to save up your rewards in the world to come than to get them there on earth.
Are thoughts private?
God's Two Commandments
Interviewer: So You like change.
God: Being static and predictable is boring, don’t you think?
Interviewer: Well, a bit of predictability is nice. Like the sun coming up in the morning and things like that.
God: You can be sure of that at least. But I don’t like things being the same day after day. I prefer to inject variety. I like every sunset to be different from the one the day before. I like every person to be different from the next. The earth is filled with variety and change.
Interviewer: You also talked about being traditional in some respects?
God: A lot has been made of values lately, and, yes, I believe in maintaining values that are good. However, I think people tend to look through rose-colored glasses at the good ol’ days. Some things weren’t so good then, either.
Interviewer: So what are we to base our standards on?
God: On Me and My Spirit, which is love. Base your actions on whether they are loving or not, and with that rule of thumb you can’t go far wrong.
Interviewer: We shouldn’t base our standard on things like the Ten Commandments?
God: Would two be easier than ten?
Interviewer: Two?
God: Yes, to love Me and to love others. If you follow those two, then you won’t go wrong.
Interviewer: Those are pretty broad.
God: True, but if you stick within their parameters, you will be doing well.
Interviewer: This is something I would like to explore a bit later, if I may. But getting back to Your nature and views, would You put Yourself in the liberal camp at all?
God: I wouldn’t put Myself in any camp. You can’t put Me in a box and neatly package Me up and say, “Here is God!” I am not in a fishbowl here, with man peering in. But let Me say that I like freedom and I like for humanity to not be bound up in restrictive traditions.
What does God look like?
Interviewer: You said you are a spirit. Does that mean You don’t have human-like features such as a head, legs, arms, etc.?
God: I created man in My likeness, but the part of man that is particularly My likeness is the spirit that dwells within his body. I can and do manifest Myself in the bodily likeness of a man, but I am not limited to that.
Interviewer: So when we see works of art where You are depicted similar to how Jupiter or Zeus of the old Grecian or Roman mythology were depicted, then this is somewhat right?
God: I have never posed for an earthly portrait, but some have seen Me on occasion in a human manifestation. So that sort of representation comes pretty close to how you could imagine Me. But in reality, I would like it if people could get past the human concept and come to understand Me more spiritually.
Interviewer: How would one do that?
God: By seeking to understand My Words to mankind rather than engaging in debate over My appearance and nature.
Who is God?
Interviewer: Very well. My first question and I think one that most people would like to hear an answer to is: Who are You? Some think of You as a rather old, kindly looking gentleman with a long white beard. Others envision a very stern authoritarian with a large stick in His hand. Others a very nebulous, disinterested entity who has left us to our own fate. What are You really like?
God: I have always regarded the conceptions most of mankind has of Me with a mixture of amusement, puzzlement, and sadness. To best understand Me, it is better not to conceive of Me as a person but rather as the Spirit of love. That is what I am at My essence and that is how My presence is most commonly manifested in the world.
Everyone has been touched by love at some time in his or her life. Think of someone you love or have loved and are loved by in return. Recall how you feel when you are near that person. Now think what that would be like multiplied, not just a few, but very many times over. You now have an idea of what I am like.