Sunday 30 September 2018

Death.

                                      

Most people on earth think that death is the end, the final word.

This was the mentality of the Romans and the Pharisees in Jesus' time.

They thought that by killing Jesus they would have the last word and they would "get his inheritance".  Matthew 21:38 (NRSV)

But on the third day God resurrected Jesus and raised him to Eternal Life!

And so Life had the final word.

Violence and death led to nothing.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from The New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Saturday 29 September 2018

God's Ways.

                            

When we experience God we realize that His ways are not the ways of the world.

Earthly authorities, including Church authorities, use the carrot and stick approach to the masses.

They seek to control the masses by rewarding some behaviors and punishing others.

In the case of the Church this is the religion of heaven and hell.

But this is not God's way.

God's way is totally benevolent.

It is the way of the heart.

He cares and He helps.

And He seeks to live in relationship with humans.

He listens and He forgives.

His love is steadfast.

And His joy is everlasting.


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Friday 28 September 2018

For Your Information.

                            

I inform you of the Satanism which is in our rock music and our entertainment.

A trend which began in the 1960s.

And has expanded into a world-wide web of evil.

What you do with that information is up to you.


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Thursday 27 September 2018

The Way of the World.

                            

It is the way of the world that people with money and power and people who achieve success consider themselves superior to and worthy of greater entitlements than others.

They set themselves up as elites and exploit the most vulnerable in our society.

And through their ownership of the media they dehumanize the poor and rationalize their own privileges.

They will even modify religion to suit their evil designs.

Malcolm X said that if you watch the media you will end up hating the oppressed and loving the oppressors.

It is ten times worse today.

So don't just absorb what is put before you and swallow their rationalizations.

Jesus said that the way of the world was evil.

And they crucified him for it.


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Wednesday 26 September 2018

Criminal.

                            

The criminal mentality says: "You don't give a damn about me so why should I obey your laws?"

The criminal knows that those in positions of power and authority care only about themselves and no one else.

The powerful are corrupt and deceitful.

They exploit and oppress everyone.

So it should be no surprise that people who are disadvantaged in our society choose crime as a way of life.

Neither should it be a surprise that some people in the Third World choose violence and war.

They are only following the example of the rich and powerful.

There will be no peace until the issues of inequality are addressed.

War and oppression are no answers.


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Tuesday 25 September 2018

Weep!

                            

The world we live in is becoming a more and more violent, hard, cold, and dark place.

The President of the Philippines has said that he would be happy to slaughter the country's 3 million drug addicts.

For which he was invited to the White House.

The President of Chechnya said he wants to wipe out the country's gay population.

These things are not even reported by Murdoch's media.

And those who have heard don't seem to care.

Conditions are just like Germany in the 1930s.

They're only Jews.

They're only drug addicts.

They're only gays.

What does it have to do with us?


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Monday 24 September 2018

Persecution.

                            

"Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age - houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.'"  Mark 10:26-31 (NRSV)

It may surprise many that Jesus predicted the Good News would be persecuted.

But the powers of this world will not give up their supremacy easily.

The Good News - the Kingdom of God - is a challenge to their power and authority.

And their response is to demonize and persecute those who announce it.

So when persecutions come we should not be surprised.

And we should not be deterred.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Cana.


Some would say

Aquarius and Pisces

Clash!


But Jesus turns

The water into wine,

Intoxicating hearts and minds.

As Rumi wrote

So long ago,

Interpreting the Spirit's flow.


We pour out love

From ardent hearts

That open wide the Spirit's path.

And trust that God,

Through ages trod,

Will turn the water into wine.


Photo Credit: Vilseskogen Flickr via Compfight cc
(The image has been slightly modified.)

Saturday 22 September 2018

Saint Sebastian.


Saint Sebastian.

Christian Martyr.

Patron Saint of Gays.

You Confessed

Faith in Jesus.

You Challenged

Caesar.

Your Pure Love,

Pierced by

Arrows of Desire,

Projects

Your Soul

To Heaven.


Photo Credit: MsNina Flickr via Compfight cc
(The image has been slightly modified.)

Friday 21 September 2018

Michelangelo.


For all those musclemen and their gay admirers that populate the Internet.

There is a way to God for you.

No longer will you be monsters.
No longer will you be beasts.
No longer will you be animals.

No longer will God hate you.

This way is through Michelangelo.

The paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo depict beautiful musclemen and their admirers.

Some are angels.
Some are saints.
Some are prophets.

But this blessed beauty is close to God.

It is love.

And its contemplation will save you.


Photo Credit: Michelangelo.

Thursday 20 September 2018

Could God be Homosexual?

                        

Is it possible that God could be homosexual?

In as much as God is all things, it is possible.

Most religious people would dismiss this possibility out of hand.

But is it so outrageous?

God is Love.

And God does not just love the opposite sex.

God loves everyone.

So before you dismiss the possibility that God may be homosexual think about His love for men throughout history.


Photo Credit: Richard Carter Flickr via Compfight cc
(The image has been slightly modified.)

Wednesday 19 September 2018

Sex Education.

                            

There is nothing wrong with sex education.

And gay sex education is no exception.

Sex should be approached from a human perspective - i.e. as a desire for union with another.

But it should be made clear that incest and pedophilia are not acceptable, in fact, they are illegal in our society.

This is not because of any moral objection but because they are extremely damaging to the individuals involved.

You should always respect the object of your desire - respect her or his wishes, respect her or his rights.

If you can do these things then there should be no great problems. 


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Tuesday 18 September 2018

No One Perishes.

                            

Contrary to popular religious thinking I believe that no one will perish.

My experience of God has taught me that He never punishes us.

We make mistakes - this is inevitable.

God forgives us - this is certain.

So it is just a matter if degree.

There will be no Judgement Day.

There will be no Personal Judgement.

God's mercy is infinite.

His grace is absolute.

We have nothing to fear.

No one will perish.


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Monday 17 September 2018

Forgiveness.

                            

Without forgiveness there can be no progress.

Because we are bound to make mistakes.

And when we make mistakes we must ask for forgiveness.

And as we have been forgiven so must we forgive.

"'And forgive our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'"  Matthew 6:12 (NRSV)

Unless there is forgiveness no one would ever be saved.

For we have all made mistakes.

And we must humble ourselves.

And ask forgiveness.

From those whom we have wronged.

And from God.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Sunday 16 September 2018

Free Gift.

                            

We are used to thinking that we have to earn a place in Heaven.

But this is not true.

Salvation is a free gift.

We are not required to earn it.

Neither are we required to do good works.

We are free to behave as we please.

It is possible, however, that gratitude may inspire us to do good for others when we are saved.

But this is not compulsory.

We can share in the work, but it is voluntary.

We should not allow fear of losing God's Love to motivate our actions.

Our motivation should be Love.


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Thursday 13 September 2018

The Pub.

                            

Every time you go into the pub or a dance venue you are subjected to a barrage of Satanic rock music.

Even if the bands are not overtly Satanic their songs and videos contain subliminal messages which sabotage our efforts and our ideals.

Fire (hell), the devil, drugs, horns, darkness, blasphemy, violence, cruelty, the Beast, anything backwards or upside down, black, magic, daggers, evil......

All these things are hidden in the music and videos.

So keep your eyes open.

And watch out.

If you don't want to be brainwashed and cursed. 


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Wednesday 12 September 2018

Bless Them!


Bless them!

Deliver them.

Light their way.

Guide their feet.

Protect their minds.

Touch their hearts.

Bring them Home!


Photo Credit: Bodybuilders.

Tuesday 11 September 2018

Mother Monster.


Cleverly she disguises her true nature behind masks of bizarre images passed off as art.

But a sea of misplaced symbols cannot hide what she does.

She betrays the good and tricks the innocent.

She is Judas.  And she leads your soul to hell.


Photo Credit: Gn!pGnop Flickr via Compfight cc

Monday 10 September 2018

Who Am I?


I kill good,

And corrupt innocence.

I empower evil,

And betray ideals.

I curse children,

And disillusion everyone.

I am

J. K. Rowling.


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Sunday 9 September 2018

Him.


Our hearts

Reach out

To find a mate.

And join with him

In sacred grace.


But in the end

We find that he

Is not a man at all

But the amorphous Father

Of us all

Beloved.  Lover.  Wherewithal!


Photo Credit: Mist Man.

Saturday 8 September 2018

Creation.


Magnificent creation.

You manifest elation.

You fervently inspire

Our deepest heart's desire.

God's beautiful reflection

In modern-day perfection.


Photo Credit: Bob Paris.

Friday 7 September 2018

Rapture.


Beautiful Romeo.

You mirror Michelangelo.

You offer your physique

To everyone who seeks

The rapture of the masculine

In modern-day perfection.


Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Thursday 6 September 2018

Beautiful.


Men dream of this!

They enter into bliss!

They mirror Bounarroti -

The art of manly beauty -

Like ancient Greek reflections

In modern-day perfection.


Photo Credit: Tumblr.
(The image has been slightly modified.)

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Fear 2.

                            

What is it that keeps the world in darkness and corruption?

Contrary to popular opinion, which would say that it is evil, I would say that it is fear.

What appears to us as wickedness and iniquity is fear in disguise.

People compromise their principles and corrupt themselves out of fear - fear of losing their jobs, fear of missing out, fear of poverty and starvation.

Nice guys come last.

But it is precisely this place - last - where we find God.

It might be more precise to say that God comes last.

Fear is the opposite of faith.

Faith that God will provide.
Faith that there will always be enough.

So fear makes us hoard money and possessions and power.

Because we are afraid that there will not be enough.

It won't work - they know.

So they never try it.

Faith takes away our fear.

Faith enables us to give.

Faith leads us to Love.

For Love is the nature of God. 


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Tuesday 4 September 2018

Fear 1.

                            

We wonder why there is evil in our world.

There are evil animals like spiders and snakes.
There are evil people.
Some even say that nature can be evil.

My idea is that it is fear.

The frightening appearance of spiders and snakes and things like scorpions says be scared of me. And there are people like this.

Their instinct to survive relies on fear.

And fear begets fear.

Whereas squirrels and lambs and doves rely on wisdom, and insight, even love.  And there are people like this.

So what happens to the spiders and snakes when they die?

Perhaps they are transformed.


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Monday 3 September 2018

Salvation.

                            

In fact Jesus is the savior of the world.

If people practised what Jesus taught the world would be saved.

But they don't.

Even his own Churches teach something different.

So look to the teachings of Jesus and put them into practise.

Then you will be saved!


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Sunday 2 September 2018

Handsome.


Handsome,

Sensuous,

Muscular,

Strong!

Open,

Direct,

Manly.

He longs

to share

with another

his deepest desire,

His heart's

fervent hope:

To marry a lover.


Photo Credit: Tumblr.

Saturday 1 September 2018

Hallowed.

                            

The Lord's Prayer begins with the words:

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name...."
Matthew 6:9 (NRSV)

Note that it says hallowed be your name, not hallowed is your name.

And because the name of a god indicates his essential nature this is an important distinction.

Too often this has been understood as hallowed - i.e. holy - is your name - i.e. your essential nature.

But this is not what it says.

It says hallowed be your name - i.e. blessed and respected be your name.

So God is not distant, sacrosanct, and separate.

God is approachable.

And the Name of God is Love.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: RobertCross1 (off and on) Flickr via Compfight cc