Raw Power.

Satanists in rock music, entertainment, and sports function through the acquisition and application of raw power.

And as such they are attracted to the astrological sign of Scorpio and the planet Pluto.

These aspects can be found in their horoscopes.

But because these are hidden things this may not be immediately apparent.

They accumulate anything which gives them power including black magic and making pacts with the devil.

Many follow the teachings of Aleister Crowley who was a Satanist and black magician at the turn of the 20th Century.

They manipulate images; use subliminal suggestion, and unconscious control methods.

Anything backwards or upside-down is Satanic.

But no matter how deceptive or powerful they may be God is more powerful and truthful than them.

God has ways of acting that are greater than anything raw power can do.

But make no mistake God does not destroy evil people.

He seeks to redeem them and reconcile them.

Why?

Because deliberate evil like this is based on a false premise:

The idea that God is a harsh judge and punisher of men and women, especially in relation to sex which is one of their main concerns.

So they have rejected a false image of God and have been led astray by lies and deceptions.

God seeks to redeem them and reconcile them to His Divine Love.

So we should not oppose evildoers but pray for them as Jesus taught.

God will answer.

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Palm Sunday.

I must admit I am ambivalent about Palm Sunday.

There is lots of hosannaring and declaring of Jesus as King.

But many of the crowd and even the disciples were expecting a political and military king in the style of David who would then liberate them from the Roman occupation.

This may explain why many of them turned against him by Friday after Jesus had ignored the Romans and attacked the Jewish religious leaders.

But why did Jesus go to Jerusalem?

Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious faith.

It was here that the shepherds of Israel had their Temple.

I believe that Jesus' attitude to the shepherds was a reflection of the Prophets.

"The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain."  Isaiah 56:11 (NRSV)

"Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?  You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep.  You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them."  Ezekiel 34:2-4 (NRSV)

This explains Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees and his status as a spiritual leader not a  temporal one.

It also explains Jesus' mysterious injunction to Peter: "'Feed my sheep.'"  John 21:17 (NRSV)

So I am ambivalent about Palm Sunday.

I am unsure whether to be jubilant or sad.

[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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It Is Written.

We think that because something is written in the Bible it must be true.

But the evidence of modern scholarship would suggest that this is not the case.

Words have been put into the mouth of Jesus and even into the mouth of God.

The Gospel of John contains long passages attributed to Jesus which do not appear in the other Gospels.

This has led scholars to assert that the Gospel of John is not historical but developed theology about Jesus.

The short aphoristic sayings and parables in the Synoptic Gospels are  much more in keeping with the oral tradition of teachers at the time.

But the habit of Old Testament writers of putting their messages into the mouth of God is much more problematical.

Violent, judgemental, and legalistic passages in the Old Testament are unlikely to be literally the words of God.

Ancient authors could only write according to the understanding and worldview that existed at the time.

This is where tradition breaks down.

These primitive attitudes to God have been passed down from generation to generation.

But humankind's image of God evolves as the Bible progresses.

There are passages which contradict earlier passages in the text.

The God of Jesus bears little resemblance to the harsh God of the Old Testament.

So now, 2000 years later, humanity is ready for a new image of God.

A God who is transcendent.

Beyond our human expectations of punishment and judgement.

A God who is wholly good.

The God whom Jesus of Nazareth knew.       

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Design.

Most religious people will tell you that sex should be restricted to the confines of marriage.

Before marriage we are supposed to control ourselves.

But this is not how sex is designed.

Our sex drive is at its strongest when we are young and this is precisely when we are supposed to refrain from sex.

This makes no sense.

Sex is designed to sow your wild oats when you are young and then settle down with one partner and raise a family.

So moral objections to sex before marriage are not in line with God's plan.

Old fashioned imperatives imposed on women to avoid unwanted pregnancies have been rendered obsolete by the contraceptive pill.

Obviously there is a health risk involved with excessive promiscuity.

But common sense and moderation will help to avoid any problems.

So sexual experimentation in youth is not immoral or condemned by God.

We can engage in some sexual activity before settling down with one partner.

And this is precisely what happens in the gay community.

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Ecstasy.

All my Love

I give to Thee

And ever Live

In Ecstasy.

God Stock photos by Vecteezy

Aquarius.

"'And if anyone says to you at that time, "Look!  Here is the Messiah!" or "Look!  There he is!" - do not believe it.  False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.'"  Mark 13:21,22 (NRSV)

This was Jesus' warning to his disciples at the time of his mission. (The Age of Pisces).

But now we are entering the Age of Aquarius and many false prophets are appearing.

Rock stars and celebrities pose as saviors and messiahs.

Also modern Churches claim to be gay-friendly when in fact they are not.

This is to make them look like a manifestation of Aquarius when in fact they are false prophets.

This is a lie!

And there is no lie in New Jerusalem.

[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 image has been slightly modified.)

Saviors and Messiahs.

Rock stars and celebrities are always presenting themselves as saviors and messiahs.

But they are false prophets.

The Savior and Messiah is Jesus Christ.

Listen to him.

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Naked.

Naked we were born,

And naked we remain.

The beauty of created flesh

Surpasses every human shame.

So do not fear

To bear your flesh 

For photographic art.

The beauty of your naked flesh

Inflames the human heart!

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Self-Deception.

Often people in the Church will claim some virtue which they do not possess or claim to be doing something which others are doing.

This is self-deception.

It is the feel-good factor of the Church.

And they will defend it with their lives.

If you challenge them they will turn on you.

The first thing they will do is accuse you of what you have criticized in them.

They become threatening.

This is their fear.

And this merely serves to perpetuate the problems which plague the Churches:

Literalism, legalism, Phariseism, hypocrisy, bigotry, bullying, deceit - all these things persist in the Churches.

And they will continue until the people in the Churches overcome their fears and look honestly at their own efforts. 

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The New Mentality.

Rather than the negative mentality which we get from rock music and T.V.:

A mentality of extreme pleasure seeking which is called bad, wicked, and sinful.

With its partner materialism and their daughters: fame, money, status, war, violence, and ego. 

We should be attuning ourselves to the New Mentality.

This New Mentality owes something to the positive aspects of religion:

Consideration for others, charity, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, gratitude.....

And some aspects to Yoga:

Positive thinking, selflessness, discipline, mindfulness, contemplation.....

But this New Mentality brings with it something original:

Humanitarianism, universal brotherhood, tolerance, integrity, freedom, and unconditional love.

So tune in to God.

And the New Mentality.  

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Is the Devil Going Broke?

Now that people can download music and movies from free sources those who serve Satan in the music and movie industries cannot make a living out of it.

Sure the content still goes into the minds of young and old alike but they cannot make millions out of it as they have in the past.

This unexpected side-effect of the Internet has wide-ranging implications.

For one: How come Satan can't make them rich anymore? 

Maybe he never did.

I do not believe in a supernatural devil.

But I do believe that people in the music and movie industries do believe that Satan is real and sell their souls in the traditional fashion for fame and fortune.

But if this devil cannot deliver the fortune promised what is the point?

Maybe we will see the end of Satanism in music and movies.

Personally I hope so.

If the devil is bankrupt who will want him?

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God Children.

"For thus says the Lord, To the eunuchs* who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me, and hold fast to my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters, I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off."  Isaiah 56:4,5 (NRSV)

This refers to the practise of God adopting unmarried men to His service.

Everyone was to them like family.

Because God is Father of us all.

And His servants foster everyone.

(*Eunuchs referred to any man who did not marry.)

[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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Enlightenment.

What do we expect when we seek Enlightenment?

The word itself suggests a state of mind.

Like the halos around the heads of saints.

But true Enlightenment is about the heart.

Where there is Light there is Love.

And the ultimate Enlightenment is to experience the Love of God.

But it does not stop there.

We must learn to give love.

Not to be just passive receivers.

But to be active givers.

To give our love freely to God and to others.

Then we are truly Enlightened.

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The Universal Field.

Science is looking for a Universal Field.

This Universal Field would explain how light and matter form in the universe.

It would also explain gravity and the Big Bang.

My theory is that the Universal Field is God's Love.

Stephen Hawking said that science was investigating the Mind of God.

But I say that the Unfathomable Mystery is God's Love.

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Zion.

"In the days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills.  People shall stream to it, and the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."  Micah 4:12 (NRSV)

This prophecy - that many shall recognize Zion as the house of the True God - is imminent.

When the fathers recognize God's sovereignty the world will be transformed.

Their hearts will be opened.

They will let go of their fear.

And there will be an end to war and oppression.

"they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."  Micah 4:3 (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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Corrupt.

The Religious Right is corrupt.

They side with big business corporations and conservative economic forces against anyone who challenges the rich.

They demonize their political enemies.

And they damn their social enemies.

They scapegoat gays and lesbians.

And they dictate to Christians.

This is corruption.

They conspire with right-wing media moguls. 

And they extort money from followers.

And this is because their motive is power.

But their reign is coming to an end.

Their mentality is madness.

And their philosophy is bankrupt.

The Religious Right have corrupted themselves.

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Evil.

Evil = Fear².

Evil is a rebellion against the harsh God of vengeance and judgement.

But this false image of God is itself based on fear.

Fear that God will reject us and punish us.

But this punitive, petty God is not the Reality. 

In fact God loves us and cares for us.

God is our loving Father/Mother.

So take the fear away.

And where is evil?

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Spiritual Corruption.

The Religious Right has corrupted itself by siding with right-wing plutocrats in the corporations.

In exchange for the money and power that were on offer they sold the Holy Spirit to the corporations and their allies Generation X.

This is spiritual corruption.

It began when Pope John Paul II sold out to Ronald Reagan's plot to defeat Communism in Russia.

Reagan used Satanic rock bands to foment rebellion in the youth and the Holy Spirit from the Church to break the atheist Commies.

This was spiritual corruption.

And the right-wing political machine made Generation X its most preferred nation.

While condemning the left-wing Hippies as agents of Satan.

But this is backwards.

Generation X are self-confessed bad guys and they openly side with the devil.

The Hippies and Baby-Boomers still believe in a benevolent God.

It was their rock stars that practised covert Satanism and not the Hippies themselves.

Whereas Generation X openly supported Satan.

So to attempt to give Generation X a spiritual blessing as well as the material advantages they received from the Plutocrats is in fact to bless the devil and curse the good.

But because the good are in favor of equality and the redistribution of wealth the Plutocrats hate them and try to use the Church to damn them out of spite.

This is where the Religious Right have corrupted themselves for power and money.

They have sold out the Holy Spirit.

And corrupted their faith.

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Sacred Love.

Come out

from 

the darkness

and the web of evil.

Renounce

the devil

and his works.

Deny

death

and all its minions.

For you are Life

and your beauty

is innocent.

You are good

and your love

is sacred.

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Moderation.

When it comes to pleasure the answer is not the extremes of excess indulgence or fanatical self-denial.

The answer is the recommendation of the Buddha - the Middle Path of Moderation.

It is interesting that the inscription of the Oracle of Delphi - the Temple of Apollo - reads: "All Things in Moderation."

So there is a history behind the practice of Moderation.

The temptation, of course, is to eliminate pleasure altogether out of fear.

But this leads to repression which causes perversions.

So do not be afraid of pleasure.

Pleasure in moderation is pleasing to God.

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(The image has been slightly modified.)

At Work.

God is at work in the world.

He answers prayers.

And He acts through people.

But there are less people available to Him because so few people worship Him or call on Him in prayer.

The rest of us are busy enjoying ourselves or following rock stars and celebrities of dubious virtue.

But God is available to us.

It is up to us to call on His Love.

And see that God is at work in the world.

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Thank You.

Lord,

Let us never take your Love

for granted.

Let us always give you thanks.

For now we have Life,

Having known death.

And now we see Heaven,

Having known hell!

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God's Fool.

When the world starts telling you you are a fool you will know that you are on the right track.

God's goodness and virtue are foolishness to the world.

What fool sacrifices his advantage for the sake of principle?

What fool rejects temptation for the sake of virtue?

God's Fool.

The Love of God is a treasure with no equal.

We are willing to sacrifice everything for this treasure.

And be called fools by the world.

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Gay Activism.

My role as a gay activist is to reconcile gay men with God.

And as such I must deal with the Churches.

I am in the unique position of being a sexually active gay man and a confirmed Son of God.

My relationship with God is strong.

It is rooted in Reality.

It cannot be shaken by the naysayers in the Churches.

I am firmly established in the Love of God.

And God does not discriminate.

We are His gay sons.

He loves us as He loves all His children.

We are bound for Heaven.

And we will have Eternal Life!

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