Faith.

We are poisoned,

cursed,

and brainwashed

daily.

Music, T.V.,

movies, sports.....

All conspire

to bring us

low.

But an answer

remains

and that is

Faith.


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The Real World.

I can hear you now, "That's all very well but it won't work in the real world."

That's your fear talking.

You are not prepared to give love a try because you know it won't work, you'll just get trampled on.

That is fear.

And what is trampling but fear.
Get the next guy before he gets you.

This is the way of the world.
And it is driven by fear.

What did Jesus say?
He said not to retaliate but to turn the other cheek.

But does anyone do it?
Not even Christians.

But Love is the ultimate reality.
The Kingdom of God is ruled by Love.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."  1 John 4:18a (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.]

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Truth.

You can

put spin

on the facts

and weave

a fabric of lies.

But the truth

is not realtive

it is

absolute.

And that is

Love.


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Giving.

A life of

giving love

begun,

who

would return

to

boom and bust?


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Reality.

From a world where truth seems relative.

From a Church where God seems distant.

From a mind that is trained by science.

From a heart that is neglected.

I turn to you

my Father and my God

in prayer and contemplation.

And you answer me

with joy and with love.

You teach me your ways -

the ways of the heart.

I worship and adore you

my lover, my Beloved.

This is the Reality.


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Mind.

As we develop we become aware that what we think is important.

Thinking positive thoughts creates a better state of mind than thinking negative thoughts.

This is true.

But although this will help to improve your experience of life it is not the ultimate answer.

The mind may be enlightened but the soul, or divine spark, is in the heart.

The purpose of life is to develop a loving heart.


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Psalm.

Your ways are a delight to my heart.

Your mercy, your forgiveness, your steadfast love.

Your compassion. your justice, your concern for the poor.

I meditate day and night.

I contemplate your nature.

Rescue me from the powers of darkness.

You come to me in beauty and in trust.

I marvel at your works.

I adore you.

I serve your ways in gratitude and in love.

I pray, I wait on your word.

I ask for nothing that is not freely given.

I bless you in peace and in joy.

Your ways are a delight to my heart.


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Distractions.

How can we hope to resolve the problems of our world

while we are  distracted by sports and trivial T.V.,

while our eyes and ears are attracted by evil.


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All That Glitters.

All that glitters is not gold.

We are constantly told by the media to chase after the glittering prizes - the world's idols - wealth, success, fast cars, big houses, more possessions, fame, sex, and status.....

These things are good for the economy.
But they will not make you happy.

True happiness comes only from the love that we feel in our relationships - our family, our, lovers, our friends.

We are only really happy when we are in love and being loved.

Love is the cause and the purpose of life.

Learn to love.

But we are constantly distracted by the winners of this world who want everything judged by their standards.

But all that glitters is not gold.


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His Children.

He makes of us

His beloved children.


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How Can We Tell?

A comment on a recent blog asked the question: "How can we tell God when He comes?"

We can tell by the ultimate effects of the experience.

Jesus said, "'each tree is known by its own fruit.'"  Luke 6:44a (NRSV)
"'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit'"  Luke 6:43 (NRSV)

So if a spiritual experience has bad or damaging effects then the chances are it is coming from an evil source, perhaps even an evil source disguised as good.

But if the effects of the experience are all good then it is coming 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 of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Blessed.

I ask nothing

for myself

that is not

freely given.

Save

the joy

of knowing

you are blessed.


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Hibiscus.

Coming in heat!

The late-summer hibiscus!


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Heaven.

In ecstasy of Love

I ponder

as through

the vales of Heaven

I wander.

On earth

to have been

male and gay

and enter

through

the Gates of Day.


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Good.

When we think of the good forces that counteract the deluge of evil in our popular culture we think of religions.

Despite the negative aspects which cause crusades, inquisitions, and jihads religion is the source of much good in the world.

So the efforts of the New Atheists to end the influence of religion altogether leave us at the mercy of evil.

Is it any wonder that violence, materialism, negativity, brutality, and war dominate our world?

And without the positive influence of religions we can only expect this to get worse.

God is the source of good.

We should encourage people to approach Him.

  
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Real.

Evil is real.

It's not just a masquerade or a metaphor.

It may even be disguised as good.

And its effects are devastating.


But God is real also.

We can pray for protection and deliverance.

And enter into relationship with Him.

And know His mercy and forgiveness.

For Real.


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Winners.

Compete.

Attack.

Win.

But the world

suffers

while you

smoke

the cigar.


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Rich Regimes.

The West's

dependence

on oil

supports

rich regimes

in

the Middle East.


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Good Spirits.

Have you noticed that whenever the supernatural appears in our popular culture it is always evil?

T.V., movies, books, music.....

It would seem that everything spiritual is evil.

But what of angels, fairies, cherubim, and seraphim?

What of prayers and blessings?

There are good spiritual forces as well.

And we would do well to embrace them.

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Gay.

Upholding our rights.

Ignoring hate.

Celebrating our love.

Raising our spirits.

Defending our brothers.

Marrying history.

Until we are

Free!


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Our Hearts.

It is not enough

to merely be

a channel

of Divine Love.

We must

open

our own hearts.


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An Evil Place (Goodwill).

The world is an evil place.

But not all the people in the world are evil.

People of goodwill are disempowered and distracted by a minority of evil.

Rock stars and celebrities, sportsmen and women, reality T.V. and talent quests all conspire to betray good people.

And the plutocrats who own our media collude to control us.

So that any goodwill that still survives in our world is lost.

The world is an evil place.

But not all the people in the world are evil.


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God's Joy.

It is God's joy

to give us

the Kingdom.


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Light.

Love.

Mercy.

Forgiveness.

Compassion.

Understanding.

Charity.

Integrity.

Honesty.

Truthfulness.

Self-discipline.

Light.


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Darkness.

Satanic rock music.

Gladiatorial sports.

Economic materialism.

Reality T.V..

Wannabe stars.

Drug addiction.

Comic book movies.

Political pragmatism.

Religious fundamentalism.

Corporate crime.

Darkness.


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Building.

The foundations of Progressive Christianity were established by modern Biblical scholars who re-interpreted the scriptures as poetry and metaphor, not as literal history.

Others have begun to build on these firm foundations.

Modern day prophets have returned to the essential teachings of Jesus - to love God, love our neighbor, and love our enemies - and begun to build a New Church in which all the relationships are maintained by unconditional love.

This is the work of God in the 21st century.

And we are privileged to be part of it.


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The New Church.

The Aquarian Church of God will be a structure in which all the relationships are maintained by unconditional love.

It may not be a building at all.

It may be an international fellowship of hearts, a partnership of equals.

Love God, love your neighbor, and love your enemies.

If you do this you will love everyone and live in the light.


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My Pink Heaven.

I am gay.

I worship God.

I trust in Him.

The Father.

The Beloved.

And I know

I have a place

in Heaven.


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The Gates of Heaven.

From a loveless desert,

through the fires of hatred,

to run the gauntlet

of prejudice

and persecution;

at last to glimpse

the Gates of Heaven.


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This is My Beloved.

Dawn!

Source of the Light.

Welcomed

with a flower.

Listening.

Sensitive.

Ready to forgive.

Steadfast in Love.

Always.

This is my Beloved.


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