Paul's Letters.

"There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."  Galations 3:28 (NRSV)

"In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all in all."  Colossians 3;11 (NRSV)

If we take these inclusive statements by Paul as the genuine spirit of his message then we are free to disregard the intolerant and misogynistic writings in his other letters.

This inclusive attitude is much closer to the teachings of Jesus himself than Paul's sexist and sex-phobic rants in other letters.

They are also closer to his warm and respectful attitude to women of faith in the early Church.

Most scholars agree that Paul did not write all of the letters attributed to him in the New Testament.

One way of sorting the writings is by the spirit shown in each particular passage.

The spirit of inclusive love is the true spirit of God.

And this is shown in many of Paul's writings.

So, if we apply this method of discrimination, there is much in Paul's letters that is of great value to the faith.

1 Corinthians 13 and other such writings are reflective of the spirit of unconditional love that is the true spirit of God.

This is not merely cherry-picking but a legitimate method of sorting the true writings of St. Paul from what has been added by later writers in his name.

[Scripture quotation (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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God is Love.

The world does not know God.

The ways of the world are evil.

Those who love know God.

Your body is a Temple of Love.

And its Sanctuary is your Heart.

So love God.

And love your neighbor.

Love will save us.

For God is Love.

Photo Credit: Free Stock photos by Vecteezy

Heart Drum.

The Heart Drum represents the beating of the Human Heart.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Fountain of Love.

"'Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'"  Matthew 11:28 (NRSV)

The Church should be a fountain of love where all the thirsty and broken-hearted come to drink.

[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: Andras Fulop Flickr via Compfight cc

Birth-Pangs.

The Culture Wars that characterize the great conflict between Saturn and Uranus are the birth-pangs of the Age of Aquarius.

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Good News.

Many Old Testament prophets claimed that war was the result of  "doing evil in the sight of the Lord", which usually took the form of worshipping foreign gods.

Therefore, they claimed, God raised armies against Israel.

And they put words into the mouth of God to fulfill their theory of vengeance.

But there is no evidence that God acts in this way.

"Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power.

Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.

Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them."  Job 21:7-9 (NRSV)

God does not punish the wicked.

Because God punishes no one.

The theory that suffering in life is punishment from God (or Karma) is bankrupt.

It doesn't happen.

Because God punishes no one.

He is our loving Father.

And He does not punish His children.

Instead He tries to help us.

This is why Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who abuse you.

God will write off their debts and let them start again.

And he who is forgiven the greater debt will love Him more.

This is Good News.

[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: FarTripper Flickr via Compfight cc

Seeing God.

"No one has ever seen God."  John 1:18 (NRSV)

"On the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw a vision of God."  Ezekiel 1:1 (NRSV)

"As I watched, the thrones were set in place, and the Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool."  Daniel 7:9 (NRSV)

These are just two examples of people who have seen God.

But "it is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known."  John 1:18 (NRSV) 

And "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepared for for those who love him."  1 Corinthians 2:9 (NRSV)

And "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  Matthew 5:8 (NRSV)

What could this mean?

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

Could it be that God reveals himself to those who are pure in heart - like Jesus - those who love Him?

When I was about three years old I saw a vision of God.

He was white as snow and clothed in light.

A mature man with long white hair and beard and sitting on a throne - like the Ancient of Days.

And there was no fear - as if fear had never been conceived.

And He was speaking to me.

But I did not understand the language He was speaking.  It was all breath - the Breath of Life.

Later I discovered that one of the Jewish names for God is all aspirates - Hs - Like the Breath.

And so I am blessed.

But this is not a boast.

It is merely a statement of fact.

Perhaps God has chosen me to reveal His true nature to humanity at this time.

And that nature is pure Love.

There is no wrath, no judgement, no vengeance in God.

He loves us like a Father.

And He loves us like our Mother.

"Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God, he has seen the Father."  John 6:46 (NRSV)

And when I thought: "Perhaps God punishes no one" a voice said: "Someone has seen me."

God punishes no one.

And that includes evildoers and apostates.

The only reason that words of vengeance and violence appear in the Bible is because those who wrote them were filled with fear - they could not conceive of a God without vengeance.

But God reveals Himself to those who love Him.

And so the true path to God is the Shamma.   

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

And love your neighbor as yourself.

These are the first and second Commandments.

And Jesus' Commandment is that we love one another as he loved us.

Then you may see 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 of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: Thoughts on Books.

The Almighty.

God 

Is the Almighty.

All Power and Strength 

Derive from Him.

Denounce

The devil

And all his works.

Turn to 

God

And His Mighty Angels. 

Build up

Your Faith 

And your Honest Character.

Have 

A Good Heart

And do Good in the World.

Give

Your Love 

To All.

And Worship

The Almighty God.

Photo Credit: Behrooz Tabani.

Baby-Boomers.

May you be

Healed, Enlightened, and Protected.

Healed:

Of the effects of

Drugs and Satanism

In your

Bodies, Minds, and Spirits.

Enlightened:

To see

Who has done this to you

And why?

And also

To see 

God's Beautiful Nature

More clearly.

And Protected:

From 

Political Plots,

Satanic Attacks,

And all Worldly Temptations.

Amen.

Photo Credit: The Hard Times.

Awesome.

God

Is Awesome.

His Thoughts

Are Higher

Than 

Our thoughts.

His Love

Is Faithful,

Steadfast,

And Reliable.

His Throne 

Is Established

In Heaven

Forever.

God 

Is Awesome.

Photo Credit: whiteclouds.com

Him.

All American.

Great Dark Man.

Greek God.

Rose of Iran.

Your Matchless Beauty

Excites our desire.

Your Massive Muscles

We proudly admire.

Pray for Protection.

Bless Him and Praise Him.

Touch His Big Heart.

Your Love will Save Him.

Photo Credit: Phil Heath.

Rose of Iran.

Mighty Angel.

Manly Strength.

Matchless Muscle.

Massive Heart.

Respect for Goodness.

Rock of Faith.

Resplendent Beauty.

Rose of Iran.

Photo Credit: Behrooz Tabani.