Sin.

                            

Have you noticed that since the 1980s we have been inundated with messages telling us that sin is fun?

Most of these messages come from rock music.

Emboldened by their success in the 1980s Satanists in the rock music industry have stepped up their campaign to make Satanism the religion of choice in our world.

Subversive messages that tell us to sin lead to vice, corruption, and transgression which they hope will consign us to hell.

Lust, behaving badly, filthy, wicked.....

All these things come from Satanism in our popular culture.

So unplug your earphones, and dump your D.V.D.s.

Pray to God and He will deliver you.


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Accidents.

                            

Many people who meditate have had negative experiences which Buddhists and Yogis call accidents.

This  is some frightening or damaging event which is often flagged as a warning.

It has been taken as a sign of guilt.

But I say that these negative spiritual experiences are caused by those who choose the darkness.

Evil forces in our entertainment don't want people having enlightening experiences, so they sabotage them and fabricate an accident to stop them.

These evil forces are mostly in rock music, but they also exist in sports and entertainment.

They act in the unconscious to sabotage our spiritual development.

So, far from these experiences being a sign of guilt, they indicate that the person involved is making progress and is therefore a threat to the agents of darkness.    


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Self-Esteem.

                            

Do not worry if the world does not value you.

As we grow up we experience the world's disdain.

We do not measure up to the world's values.

Jesus said, "'If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.'"  John 15:18 (NRSV)

But God values your good qualities:

Mercy, compassion, understanding, integrity, charity, love.....

But most of all 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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Mother.

                            

A woman will often say that her man wants her to be a substitute for his mother.  He wants her to cook and wash and look after him.

What he is unconsciously doing is looking for the love that his mother showed him.  He wants to be loved.

To be loved is one thing, but to love another is something else.

To be loved is good, but to love another is even better.

If he can learn to give love to others he will have solved life's basic dilemma.

And opened the doors of Heaven.


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Job.

                                

The Book of Job in the Bible depicts a righteous man who is overcome by misfortune.

His herds are destroyed, his children are killed, and his body is afflicted with sores.

The reaction of his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar is that Job must have sinned for God to punish him so severely.

Even young Elihu condemns Job.

But Job maintains his righteousness.

From the beginning it is revealed that the afflictions came not from God but from Satan.

Satan is jealous of Job's righteousness and petitions God to test Job's faith.

This situation parallels what happens in the world today.

If someone is in trouble or misfortune has befallen him or her people's reaction is that it is their own fault.

I'm O.K. so what have you done wrong?

But in the end God justifies Job.

"'for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.'"  Job 42:7b (NRSV)

And Job's prosperity is restored.

This metaphorical tale is included in the Bible in order to refute Prosperity Theology.

Prosperity Theology claims that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked on earth.

But there is little evidence, either then or now, that this is the case.

"'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)

So if God does not reward the righteous and punish the wicked on earth what does He do?

Some say that our actions on earth will be judged after death and we will experience Heaven or Hell.

But I say that the concept of Natural Justice which underpins these ideas is a human construct.

God punishes no one.

He knows the reasons why people act wickedly - out of ignorance, out of fear.

And He forgives them.

God is good.

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish."  2 Peter 3:9 (NRSV)

So we must endure suffering and forgive.

And pray for our oppressors to have a change of heart.


[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 Good Samaritan.

                            

In the New Testament parable The Good Samaritan a man is attacked by thieves and left half-dead beside the road.

A priest and then a levite pass by and cross to the other side of the road before a Samaritan takes pity on him and looks after him.

Rather than judging the priest and the levite in this story I would suggest that the reason why they crossed to the other side of the road and did not help was fear.

Fear controls us.
Fear makes us do what we hate (as St. Paul put it).

The two Jewish men were afraid of being attacked or robbed, afraid even of being defiled with the man's blood.

But the fact remains that their fear stopped them from helping.

Perhaps we can have pity on such people.
So great is their fear.

And help them to overcome what oppresses them.


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Gay and Spiritual.

                            

Because many people equate homosexuality with immorality it is difficult to maintain a spiritual approach to life while remaining sexually active.

People treat you as if you are one or the other - gay or spiritual.

But I am both.

My path leads through a forest of negative perceptions - like running the gauntlet.

And although some may see me as immoral I know that God does not.

God sees my homosexuality as He sees heterosexuality.

And that is as a natural part of life.


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Helter Skelter.

This song inspired the Charles Manson murders.

The only hell that exists is the one created for you by Satanists in rock music, entertainment, and sports.


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The Good News.

                            

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John 3:16 (NRSV)

For centuries this has been the definition of the Good News.

Let us look at this more closely.

First of all God "gave his only Son" - this contains the doctrine of Jesus' divinity which I would contest.  It is absolute, exclusive, and egotistical.

Secondly "so that everyone who believes in him" indicates that belief is the most important aspect of religion.

Thirdly "may not perish" means that if you don't believe in Jesus as the only Son of God then you will perish.

Fouthly "but may have eternal life" means that entry to Heaven is exclusively through Jesus.

This is a "do what I say or else" message that could hardly be called good news.

For too long the Churches have been institutions which use fear and belief to force people to conform to their will.

And their will is tied to the conservative establishment.

It is inward-looking and self-serving.

That being said the Churches still do much good charity work in a world that is dominated by the rich.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."  Matthew 28:19a (NRSV)

This is Jesus' commission to the disciples.

They were to bring the Good News to everyone.

But instead of spreading Jesus' message of unconditional love and forgiveness from the Father they forced their absolute ideology onto everyone.  An ideology which was unchallenged until modern times.

It is this mistake which caused the downfall of Christendom.

The Church should be outward-looking - i.e. looking to address the needs of our society and our world.

But far too often the Churches have been timid and tentative.  They sit on the fence and won't address controversy.

We are not here to ensure our personal survival.

We are here to give love to those around us.

God provides.

We should accept that and look to the needs of those around us.

Then we will bring 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.]

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Black Magic.

The truth at last.


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The Black Death.

It may have a white cover.

But look at the black songs on it.


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A Funeral.

                            
                             Gravedigger  Body  Undertaker  Priest

It's a funeral procession.

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Angel!

Looking down

from high above.

Your shining visage

hallows our love.

Angel!                                    

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Monopolies.

                            

The problem with being gay and Christian is that we are caught between two monopolies.

Fundamentalist Christians want a monopoly on God.

And Satanists in our popular culture want a monopoly on sex, especially gay sex.

So to be a sexually active gay man and a Christian is almost impossible.

It is as if we have to be one or the other - celibate Christians going to heaven or sexually active gay men going to hell.

But my experience of God is that He does not discriminate - He treats gay people in the same way as He treats straight people.

The Age of Aquarius will see the emergence of gay Churches.

But for now we are stuck with two monopolies who will use violence to achieve their objectives.


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Young Gay Men.

Young gay men look life in the face.

They struggle with insult and violence and hate.

They stick with their friends in lieu of God's grace.

And perform on life's stage with a smile on their face.


We want them to know that God does not hate them.

And help them believe that we're bound for Heaven.

But Caiaphas rules the media's message.

And circumvents any vestige of blessing.


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The Water Jar.

The Water Jar

is the heart

of the garden.

And what is

this living water

but Love.


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Gay Men.

Gay men are still around.

We have not disappeared.
Or gone underground.

We go on with our lives.
Like everyone else.

And stick fat with our friends.
For better or worse.


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Young and Gay.

Young and gay.

Dressed all in white.

Open and brave.

On the side of the Light.

Looking ahead

With hope in their hearts.

Reaching out

With all of their might.

Two war-torn lovers

Scale the heights.


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Tribal Lore.

                            

Everyone seems just to do what everyone else is doing.

There is no expectation of anything more.

A visiting Rabbi once said, "I have been preaching liberal Judaism for 30 years.  But do they do it?  Of course not."

And this is the problem.
God may prompt us to do good in the world but if we refuse He cannot force us.

The Old Testament Prophet Zechariah said, "Thus said the Lord of hosts: Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.  But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear.  They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets."  Zechariah 7:8-12 (NRSV)

We prefer our justifications, our rationalizations, our social and business conventions.

And what are these things but petrified fears.

We rationalize our position by endorsing traditional customs, mainly in relation to money.

Prosperity, non-disclosure, privacy, secrecy, tax evasion, private property, inheritance, dividends, shares, status, self-righteousness, amorality, and selfishness.....

All these things are firmly entrenched in our society.

But does anyone ever challenge them?

Not in my Church.

So from where will change come?

Change will come only if we address the fears upon which these things are based.

Fear of poverty, starvation, failure, guilt, ostracism, rejection,and violence.....

And how can these things be overcome?

Through faith and love.

Faith that God will provide.

And love that is unconditional.


[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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Your Heart!

Devils

distract you

and addict you

to praise.

But

life is not

pleasures,

or money,

or assets.

Open your Heart!


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Musclemen.

You may want

to be worshipped,

or flattered,

or praised.

But

you are not

gods,

or devils,

or devas.

You are just

human beings

like everyone else.

We wish you

the best

and we hope

you are blessed.

But we seek

your affection,

and friendship,

and Love.


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Face Value.

                            

We are foolish to take what is presented to us in the media at face value.

Evil forces manipulate the words and images we hear and see.

They demonize the poor and humanize the rich.
Because it is the miserly rich who own our media.

And they conspire with Satanists in the music industry and our entertainment to cover us in darkness and propagate lies.

The results are evident:

The Churches are empty.
Sin is considered fun.
Evil is cool.
Bad is good.
Whole generations are wrecked by drugs.
Everyone is divorced.
The disparity between rich and poor continues to increase.
We are distracted, exploited, and addicted.

And no one knows why.


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Musclemen.

                            

You may think that musclemen have got it good, that they have everything going for them in life.

But many musclemen are in a lot of trouble.

Not only are they competing to see who can be the most outrageous, the most daring, and the most brash.....but they are being led astray into a life of drugs and dissipation.

They flatter their egos.
They call them gods.
They call them beasts and monsters.
They tell them Satan can deliver their ambitions.

Because they must be tough they turn to the devil and his ways.

They push heavy metal and Satanic rock music.

So they are in diabolical trouble both socially and spiritually.

Pray for them.

For many follow them.


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Glamour.

                            

We are used to thinking of Satanism as an ugly aspect of fringe culture.

But those who have sold their souls to the devil can be glamorous - dancers, supermodels, fashion designers, rock stars, movie stars and directors, sports men and women.....

This is the secret of Satanism in our modern world.

They use their glamour and their fame to lure unsuspecting souls into their evil web where we transgress and blaspheme, where we are poisoned and corrupted.....

Their ultimate aim is to consign us to hell.

But there is no hell in reality.

God punishes no one.

So don't believe their evil lies.

And don't be seduced by their glamour.


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Pure Malice.

                            

Far from the influence of Satanism in our rock music and popular culture being harmless I have experienced it as pure malice.

They hate you and curse you.

They try to addict you.

They try to kill you.

It is unhealthy - they push cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.

It is vicious - they push gambling, pornography, and excess.

It is negative - it causes depression, sickness, and suicide.

So far from being harmless modern Satanism is an influence of pure malice.


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Sex.

Sex is the cherry on top of the cake.


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Essence.

And what is the essence

of what I have seen?

What are the whispers

in silences heard?

The way of the heart

is the path Divine.

In tears and compassion

we learn how to give.

Our life and our essence

is pure human

Love.


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The Loved One.

The Loved One

is a living soul,

gentle,

sensitive,

full of hope;

with urgent needs,

just like you,

and yearning

for love,

just like you.


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The Library.

                   

If you go to the library there is no guarantee that you will be safe from evil influences.

Apart from obvious evils like the Marquis de Sade and Edgar Allan Poe there are many historical works of literature which feed the dark side of human nature.

And many of these are not obvious.

Men and women have rebelled against good from the beginning of human history.  And many still do today.

So be discriminating in your choice of literature.

If you are uncertain pray about it.

God will deliver you from evil.


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Survival.

                   

Most people in the world corrupt themselves in the name of survival.

They sell out their ideals and compromise their principles.

They are complicit in the crimes of the corporations they work for.

They laugh at evil and wink at corruption.

But what is survival but fear.
Fear of poverty.  Fear of starvation.  Fear of death.

If only they knew that they could appeal to God for support and rely on Him to provide.

"Food doesn't grow on trees you know."

I'm afraid it does.
And this is a symbol of God's abundant love providing for us.

Pray to God.
And overcome your fear.

God will provide.


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A Safe Place.

                            

What is needed is a safe place in the Church for people who are progressive in their religious views.

Those people who can see the evil influences in our popular culture and react against them need a safe place to go.

Gay people need a safe place to go.

A place where they will not be indoctrinated with negative theology or have their healthy views on sexuality perverted.

Sex is a gift from God.
And as such it is a vital part of His good creation.
It should not be labelled bad or repressed.

The Church should accept the full spectrum of views without fragmenting.  This would entail a policy of tolerance of alternative views.

Unity in diversity.

Until we can achieve these things there will be no revival of religion.


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Aquarius.

An angel for our modern world.


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All.

Do not say:

"Do not!"

For

the Jar

is

for all.


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Crown.

He is

crowned

with

thorns

for

it is

Love

that is

crucified.


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