Evil.

There is no devil and no dark powers.

Evil in our world is the work of women and men.

And as such evil must be dealt with as we deal with people.

Some choose evil as an alternative to good.

But there are reasons why people act in ways that we call evil.

They have been abused and threatened like the rest of us.

God does not condemn them.

He waits for them to change.

And when they are ready He enlightens them.

Darkness is not a substance or spirit; it is merely our unknowing, our ignorance.

We are not born omniscient. 

We learn as we live.

It is inevitable that we will make mistakes.

But God forgives us.

And we learn.

But we are not forsaken.

If we cry out to God in distress He will answer us.

We must lay down the sword and pray.

Pray for help.

And pray for those who attack us and harass us.

For they are people like ourselves.

And they are God's children also.

Pray for Life, Light, and Love.

Then you will be like God.

Photo Credit: Resident Evil.

Redman.

There is devil-worship in the AFL!

Photo Credit: AFL.

Agents of the Devil.

The difference between the Hippies and Generation X

is that Generation X are conscious agents of the devil.

Photo Credit: Barron's.

How to Interpret the Bible.

The Bible is a collection of writings by a variety of authors over hundreds of years.

The Old Testament is made up of the Jewish scrolls of the Law, the Histories, and the Prophets.

It was never one document.

When reading the Old Testament we must take into account the worldview and understanding that was current at the time of writing.

Primitive understandings of God led many Old Testament writers to endorse practices like: polygamy, incest, scapegoating, and genocide.

They also created an image of God that was harsh, judgemental, vengeful, and violent.

Jesus challenged many of these misconceptions.

He also challenged the Legalism of the Pharisees.

"You have heard that it was said....But I say...."  Matthew 5 (NRSV)

So we can legitimately say that humankind's image of God evolves over time.

But even the New Testament cannot be taken literally.

Many of the miracle stories and post-crucifixion sightings are symbolic stories that represent a spiritual truth rather than an historical event.

Some later theological developments have been written back into the texts.

So we are free to embrace the spirit of the Bible.

The spirit of the Bible is good news for the poor, the outcast, and the sick.

It is inclusive and compassionate.

Its God is merciful, forgiving, and gracious.

A Father to all humanity.

Whose predominant characteristic 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.]

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The Devil!

They're at it again!

Photo Credit: AFL.

The Sick Church.

The Church has a terminal illness.

It's called taking.

The Church is full of takers.

They take the benefits of God's Love.

They take the brownie points of goodness.

They take the credit for things that others do.

They take advantage of the vulnerable.

They take respect by condemning others.

And they do nothing to help.

They may attend Church functions.

And they may help out at church.

But outside of that they do nothing.

They may love their families.

They may help their friends.

But as Jesus said: even sinners do that.

So what can be done?

They have already been told.

In fact they have said it themselves.

But they don't care.

The Church will die.

Then there will be nothing left to take.

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Gays in Heaven.

Gay men go to Heaven.

Of this there is no doubt.

Those who say otherwise are misguided.

They do not know God.

God is good.

God is our loving Father.

He does not punish His Children.

We are His gay sons.

He loves us as He loves all His children.

And we will go to Heaven.

Photo Credit: Blingee.

Love.

The inmost nature of God is Love.

Photo Credit: YouTube.com 

Life.

All Life springs from God.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Light.

The Center of the Galaxy is Light.

Everything revolves around the Light.

As all Creation springs from God.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Invisible Light.

"Even darkness is not dark to you, the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you."  Psalm 139:12 (NRSV)

The spectrum represents the range of light visible to our human eyes.

But there are forms of radiation outside of this visible spectrum that can be seen by some animals.

Infra-red, ultra-violet etc..

This is invisible light.

Which to us is darkness.

But it is bright as day to the Lord.

[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: Nancy zjaba Flickr via Compfight cc

Darkness.

Black holes.

Dark matter.

Dark energy.

Chaos theory.

"and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil."  John 3:19 (NRSV)

[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: Wallpaper Cave.

Starlight.

Starlight illumines the night sky.

"even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is as bright as the day,

for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 139:12 (NRSV)

[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: YouTube.

Grey Power.

In the 1980s we saw the emergence of Grey Power.

This was the empowerment of the older generation under Ronald Reagan.

They were conservative, homophobic, and intolerant.

But now Grey Power is the Hippie Generation and their politics is left-wing, green, multicultural, and gay-friendly.

So the power demographic is changing.

In combination with the Millennials we are seeing a sea-change.

Photo Credit: Lost at E Minor.