The Water Jar.

A pottery jar

of pink terracotta

opens our hearts

to the water of life.


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The White Garden.

I walk with God

in the tranquil garden,

and all the flowers

are white.


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Inverse.

Satanism is the inverse of Orthodox Christianity.

Therefore the errors that mar Orthodox Christianity also affect modern Satanism.

The doctrines of Original Sin, Substitutionary Atonement, Judgement, Damnation, Hell, and Death all infect modern Satanism.

But the fact that these are theological fictions does not altogether cancel the damage done.

Curses, temptations, negative ideation, misery, sabotage, and violence all affect us through rock music and movies, books and sport.....

The harm remains.

So we must be careful what we watch and listen to.

It may not be as harmless as we think.


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Blame.

It may seem that I am taking sides and blaming Conservative Christians.

But Progressive Christianity is for everyone.

Conservative Christians may be the agents of negative doctrines but they are not evil.  They are acting out of fear.

This fear has been handed down from generation to generation as tradition and discipline.

Their fear of God comes from their fear of their own fathers' discipline.

So they are not to be blamed or damned for what they have done.

They are to be helped to overcome their fear.


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Morning Light.

Through my doorway

a white shaft

of morning light.


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God Comes Last.

Quite contrary to our expectation that God will beat everybody and rule alone, God is with the losers and the outcast, the neglected and the marginalized of this world.

God does not win

God comes last.


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Rainbow.

In the late afternoon

a leisurely walk,

and over my path

a rainbow.


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A Healthy Attitude Towards Sex.

What is needed in the Church today is not the traditional phobias and taboos about sex but a healthy acceptance of what is a natural part of life.

I include homosexual activity in this acceptance because apart from procreation sex creates intimacy, trust, and love in a relationship.

For far too long the Church has hidden its head in the sand and enforced silence about sexuality.
This has created fear and repression.
It is the cause of the sex abuse scandals.

It is time for the Church to realize that it has been mistaken about this and to teach congregations to have a healthy attitude towards sex.


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Moderation.

From the left I am assailed by excess.

From the right by self-denial.

Between the two extremes

I choose the middle path.

And conduct myself with moderation.


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Heaven on Earth.

As the cherry blossom

catches

the morning light,

so we are granted

a glimpse

of heaven.


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A Glass of Water.

In the heat of Summer

a glass of cold water.


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The Nuclear Family.

The basic unit of our society is the nuclear family: father, mother, and children.

Within this nuclear family we experience love and trust.

Outside of the nuclear family, even in our extended family, we experience fear and suspicion.

We are encouraged to compete with other families for dominance and advantage.

But if God is our Father then all people are our brothers and sisters.

Once we realize this our fear leaves us and we are able to love and trust everyone.


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