New Preface to The Origin and Purpose Of The Great Questions Group

Hello GQG Friends!

Christmas Tree 2018

I trust this finds each of you enjoying this wonderful time of year!

I recently published a new Preface to The Origin and Purpose Of The Great Questions Group!

It can be found within the About The GQG section of this Forum.

I have also produced an Audio Version of the Preface as well.

Here is a brief excerpt…

“And as those answers came together, they furnished me with a growing awareness of something quite extraordinary:  

The certainty of the eventual and perhaps imminent arrival of an entirely New Order of Reality and Existence–one so totally and profoundly altered and improved, that it is virtually beyond our comprehension.

Furthermore, that there are in fact specific Keys, which we need to become aware of and use properly, to not only gain access to this new reality, but also to enhance our experience there once we arrive.”

 

As a thought, if it has been a while, you might want to consider reviewing Parts 1 & 2 as well, while you are checking out the Preface.

Though I wrote & recorded them, I often do so myself, (along with the other audios I’ve produced) as refreshing my memory and reflecting on the picture of reality the evidence has put together, still sharpens my perspective and always thrills my soul!

In a world where there are so many lonely, empty and hurting people,  it is good to know that the truth of this Coming New Reality can provide a profound and transcendent sense of hope, unmatched by anything this wounded, limited, temporary world can offer.

And furthermore, that it is literally open to anyone…if they will only utilize those Keys!

Sharing this message is the main purpose behind the Great Questions Group, and why I continue to develop this Forum and reach out and connect with more and more people to share it with. 

Speaking of which, here is a brief email I received from a young man, after I reached out to he and his girlfriend just yesterday…

Good evening Mark,

We spoke earlier today at 24 hour fitness. I spent some time looking at your webpage you shared with us. The audio clips are great and very insightful. Feel free to add me to your mailing list I look forward to hearing the new material.

Thank you,
JS

Additionally, I am also building a tool here to help each of you provide the same hope to others you might know who need it, too!

Interestingly, doing so–providing someone else with an awareness of this New Reality–is one of the Keys, through which we actually enhance our own experience there.

And finally, if you are up for it, please consider making a (perhaps generous) year-end donation to help support the continuing work of this GQG endeavor in the New Year…for in doing so, not only will you help encourage and bless the lives of many others, you will also be making another kind of investment into your New Reality!

Please visit the Support Page of the Forum…where I have also just added a new “Tax Exempt Organization Search” link for anyone who might wish to verify that Mark of Matthew, Inc. is a valid nonprofit in good standing with the IRS.

And for those of you who are led to donate, and also those of you who already support the Group throughout the year–a few even monthly–a big heart-felt Thank You to each of you!

With warm wishes to everyone for a very happy and reflective Christmas Holiday Season.

Mark  🙂

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A GQG Special Msg: George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

President George Washington

Hello Great Questions Group Friends!

With our Thanksgiving Holiday soon upon us once again here in the U.S., I thought I would share a bit of American history with you…as this has been another area of fairly extensive study on my Great Questions Quest.

For many years I celebrated Thanksgiving, but never knew how it had become a National Holiday

It was actually initiated by our first President, George Washington, following a resolution by Congress, not too long after the United States came into existence.
 
Later, it was officially established by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, and then formally passed into law by Congress in 1941.

This proclamation, in addition to many other articles and documents, both official and unofficial, along with copious amounts of the personal writings of most of the people instrumental in the founding of our great nation, shed interesting light on their true intent in fostering a citizenry that not only acknowledged God, but also worshiped and obeyed Him, as they knew that doing so, was the only hope in maintaining a truly prosperous and tranquil, self-governing society.

And once my studies had provided ample evidence that there indeed was/is an “All-Powerful” God, these Founding Principles resonated with even more relevance.

Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation:

By the President of the United States of America:  A Proclamation.
Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

P.S.  My Great Questions Group email list has grown to the point that I now have to send these messages out in batches.  So here is a comment I already received from the first portion of the Group I sent it to…

Mark – this is great! this is D… from the gym. I am so impressed at how washington can talk about god in such an open and forthright way – imagine any politician doing that today – we’ve become so politically correct – i see nothing wrong with a president speaking this way – where’s the harm? it’s wonderful. thanks again for sharing. i/m going to pass this on to friends and family.  –DK

Wishing each of you a Happy, Safe, Reflective and Thankful Thanksgiving!

🙂

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Feedback from “Dashes and Dates”

Hey Great Questions Group Friends!

Thought I’d take a moment to share a couple of the comments I received regarding my recent audio Dashes and Dates

Hey Mark!  Hope you are doing great!  I just listened to Dashes and Dates and wanted you to know that your message was thought provoking and eloquent.  So appreciate the new perspective and as always, I learn something new with each message!  Miss seeing you friend!  🙂    –AM

Hey Markus D!  Been a long time, Bro!  Just wanted to tell you how much I really appreciated your last message (Dashes and Dates).  Really made me think about many, many things…things that you think about, especially as you start to get a little older!

Thanks and keep up the great work!  –MZ

Best, Mark D  🙂

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New GQG Special Msg “Dashes & Dates” 9.19.18

Hey GQG Friends!

Over the course of this summer of 2018, I have had occasion to attend several funerals.

The interment for the first was at Arlington National Cemetery…which is always a moving place to visit!

Arlington National

While there, I was re-awakened to something which has had a significant impact on me since…so I thought it might be worthwhile to take the time & effort to share it with you!

Dashes & Dates 9.19.18

By the way, the Subtitle is:  Open Secrets and Year Zero!

Enjoy!

🙂

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An Invitation to a GQG Intro Lecture this Saturday 7.21.18!

Hey GQG Friends!

I will be conducting another GQG Intro Lecture @  IGlobal University this Saturday, 7.21.18 from 12:00 to 1:00pm.

If anyone is available and interested, you would be welcome to join us for this event, as it has also been made available to anyone in our Group!

Here is a link with the details:

GQG Intro Lecture @ IGU 7.21.18

🙂

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A GQG Lecture Update!

Hello GQG Friends!

Recently, I have had the opportunity to conduct 4 more GQG Introductory Lectures at two new local universities.

My purpose in doing these, is to provide students (really anyone!) with an overview of the Great Questions Group and then offer an opportunity to connect with it, if the topic interests them.

The first was at Washington International University of Virginia, in Annandale, and the next three at IGlobal University, in Tyson’s Corner.

My good friend, Dr. Moses Niwe, who teaches a variety of undergrad and graduate level Information Systems courses, has been inviting me in to address his various classes.

This first picture was taken during the 4th lecture, which was to a group of approximately 30 students.

IGU Lecture 1

This second is Professor Niwe, presenting a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the University, at the conclusion of that final lecture.

IGU Lecture 2

Interestingly, one of the students attending the final session, happened to be the Career Services Coordinator for IGU, and he subsequently invited me to return during the Summer Quarter to conduct another lecture.

This session, which will be open to the entire student body, has been tentatively scheduled toward the end of the 3rd or 4th week of July.

All this is part of my ongoing endeavor to introduce this vital topic and the info being shared through the Great Questions Group forum, to as many people as possible.

Furthermore, thanks to the help of some faithful supporters, I am able to continue to offer all these Intro Lectures free of charge…so a heart-felt thank you to those of you who do!

–Mark D  🙂

 

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A GQG Special Update: My Crazy Year! Pt. 2

Hey GQG Friends!

Thanks for all the great feedback I received from Part 1 of this message and the Update regarding my latest GQG “biz” card and new T-Shirt…I appreciate it!

As promised, here is Part 2 of the Special Message:  My Crazy Year!  sharing a few thoughts on some of the things I’ve learned and my (continuing) perspective change, from going through this most recent “unique season” in my life.

I trust that it will perhaps be of benefit and resonate with many of you fine folks!

Crazy Year! Pt 2 5.18.18

And here are the two pix I refer to in this message:

The first is of my folks when they were a bit younger than they are today…

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And the second is of me, the summer I was 16…

How quickly time flies by on this great experiment called life!

2-3-2010_006

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A GQG Quick Update: Cool New “Tool”!

So GQG Friends…just had to share!

Recently received my latest GQG “Biz” Card reorder…and for those of you who may never have seen one, here are a couple Pix of the latest version, which turned out real nice!

GQG Card (front)

GQG Card (back)

But also, check out the cool new “tool” to help spread the word!

GQG Tee 2

Off to do another Intro Lecture for the first time at new local area University, later today, Thursday, May 10th!

🙂

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A GQG Special Update: My Crazy Year! Pt. 1

Well GQG Friends…here is Part 1 of the Audio I promised, providing an overview of this most interesting 16 month period I’ve been through recently!

Since I’ve had so many people asking about it, I thought I’d put this review together so I could share an overview with everyone…and only have to tell the story once!  🙂

Furthermore, what I have learned and my perspective change from going through this “unique season” has been quite dramatic!  And since I’ve been asked extensively about this as well, I will share a portion of it next in a forthcoming Part 2, as I feel it may be of benefit to many.

Before I get going though, let me just extend a warm welcome those of you that are new to our Group!  For in spite of all this distraction, I’ve still been able to reach out and connect with quite a number of new folks, in new arenas–including those I refer to in this review–who are also interested in the Great Questions, just like we are!

Additionally, I have a bit of cool news:  We now have two new web domains, GreatQuestionsGroup.com and GreatQuestionsGroup.org and both are now pointed to our main GQG site: MarkDeMatteo.com

Also, as an FYI, it was recently brought to my attention, that if you simply do a general search for Great Question Group, I believe our Forum is the first one that comes up!  

So we now have a few more options for “Helping Folks Find The Forum”!

Enjoy!  🙂

Crazy Year! Pt 1 4.18.18

Finally,  here are a few pix I mentioned I would post in the message…

The Porsche I owned for 17 years…which is now being appreciated and cared for by her happy new owner in Ohio!

0602171939b_HDR

0602171938

…and my folks and I appreciating that (600lbs!) Fireplace Insert one Sunday evening during that mega cold-spell we had this early January, 2018!

0105182152

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A Quick GQG Update: Intro to the Craziest Year of My Life!

Greetings my GQG Friends!

Recently–for the last 15 months or so–I have been moving through what I believe may perhaps be the craziest and most challenging period I have experienced thus far in my life!

As many of you already know, much of this has revolved around the monumental task of moving my elderly (82 & 80) parents in with me, with all the myriad details and the major life transition associated with it.

Since I have learned a great deal going through this entire process, and that many people have wanted to know about it, I thought I would make the effort to compile a review of what has transpired so that I could share it with everyone.

My resultant perspective change has been quite profound, and thus I feel that it may indeed be of some benefit to many of you fine folks!

I have actually already been working on this, and it is now looking like I will probably produce a two part message, with Part One reviewing the process I’ve gone through, and Part Two, what I have learned from it.

So stay tuned, Part One should be out shortly!

And just for fun, I thought I would post a few pix of my folks and me from our recent (late Jan/early Feb) trip to Orlando, for a much-needed and welcomed break…sorta! 😉

Dad & Mom 1

Dad & Mom 2

Mom & Mark 1

Mom & Mark 2

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