Faith.

Why do people try to take advantage of God's forgiveness but not change their behavior?

They do this out of fear.

"God forgives us."

"Good."

"But I can't change my behavior because if I do I will not be able to survive in this world."

They want to prosper.

This, in reality, is a lack of faith.

Jesus says of them: "You of little faith."  Matthew 16:10 (NRSV)

They are still looking to the world for their security not putting their faith in God.

For with God there is always enough.

[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: zekkyevv.blog.fc2.com

Radical.

"Sell everything you own."

"Love your enemies."

"Your sins are forgiven."

"Forgive them, Father."

These statements bear witness to the radical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus was not some lukewarm moderate.

Neither was he a hard-line conservative.

Jesus was truly radical.

His teachings were new.

They had never been heard before.

But no matter how radical Jesus was God is more radical.

Photo Credit: jesuswalk.com

Love.

The world's problems are caused by fear.

But every time you give your love you reduce the amount of fear in the world.

For love casts out fear.

And love is the universal panacea.

Photo Credit: Golfer1483 Flickr via Compfight cc

Black Narcissus.

Black is darkness, sin, hate, and evil.

Narcissists wear black to hide the truth about themselves.

They will even hide the truth from themselves.

Their egos foster self-aggrandizement.

They are never wrong.

They judge others.

But they never admit to their own faults.

They never admit that they have faults.

When challenged they retaliate.

They intimidate and threaten.

When wrong they change the rules.

So that they always win.

This feeds their egos.

And reinforces their false opinion of themselves.

In fact their behavior is evil.

They have no spiritual worth.

But they think they are morally superior.

They are bullies and hypocrites.

And their time is up.

Photo Credit: pinterest.com.au 

Fear or Love.

As with everything there are two ways to respond:

Fear or Love.

Photo Credit: Força Aérea Brasileira - Página Oficial Flickr via Compfight cc

Unfamiliar Teachings.

God does not punish us.

God does not judge us.

There is no devil.

There is no hell.

God loves us.

God forgives us.

God is reliable.

God is merciful.

God is trustworthy.

God is truthful.

Even if Jesus knew these things - and there is evidence in the Gospels that he did - these remain unfamiliar teachings.

Why is this?

These are unfamiliar teachings because the religion of Jesus of Nazareth was hijacked by conservative leaders who compromised Jesus' teachings with the imperatives of the Roman State.

They reinstated the carrot and stick religion of rewards and punishments which ruling elites have preached since the time of the Pharaohs.

The purpose of this theology is to keep the masses under control.

It does not represent Jesus.

And it does not represent God.

So the nature of the real God remains a secret.

And this secret is revealed to precious few.

Photo Credit: InMyEyes88 Flickr via Compfight cc

No Hell.

God punishes no one

So there can be no hell.

Photo Credit: Kacper Gunia Flickr via Compfight cc

No Devil.

God is One.

Dualism is false.

So there can be no devil.

Photo Credit: Lawrence OP Flickr via Compfight cc

(The image has been slightly modified.)

God's Radical Love.

God's Love is truly radical:

God punishes no one.

God judges no one.

His mercy extends to the most heinous sinners.

And His forgiveness is everlasting.

Photo Credit: arcaswiss Flickr via Compfight cc

(The image has been slightly modified.)

Murder in the Cathedral.

When I help the poor and the disadvantaged you call me a Saint.

When I ask why they are poor and disadvantaged you call me a Marxist.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Work Harder.

Since 1984 it would seem that the powers' answer to everything has been to "work harder".

Work harder for less.

Work harder and lose overtime.

Work harder and lose conditions.

Work for nothing.

Work 24/7.

This has resulted in a workforce that is overworked, exhausted, and hostile.

And this results in mistakes and inefficiency.

If employers granted reasonable working hours and conditions then they could employ juniors as assistants and solve the problems of inefficiency and youth unemployment.

But they won't!

So young people will have to resurrect unionism if they want to have any power in the workplace.

Then balance will be restored. 

Photo Credit: Canadian Veggie Flickr via Compfight cc

Serious.

One thing about Fundamentalists and Evangelicals that corresponds to Progressive Christians is that they are serious about their religion.

They genuinely want to establish God's reign on Earth.

Unfortunately they are mistaken about what that reign entails.

They mistake God's Love for morality.

  

And His goodness for righteousness.

And they try to force their errors onto others.

At the root of this is fear.

Fear of God's punishment.

So Jesus was right about them:

"'Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?.....You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.'"  Matthew 7:3-5 (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: Jon Boyd Flickr via Compfight cc

Mandela.

It was a surprise to everyone when Nelson Mandela, after 27 years in prison, announced the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Rather than seeking revenge he was prepared to pardon those who came forward and confessed their crimes against the black majority.

I believe that Nelson Mandela was guided by God in his decision.

Contrary to popular belief God does not punish evil.

He pardons evil and seeks to redeem those who have fallen victim to its wiles.

Fear lies beneath acts of evil.

And we are all subject to fear.

So, if we are forgiven, then those who have committed crimes are also forgiven.

    

And, as Jesus said, he who is forgiven more will love more.

Photo Credit: United Nations Information Service Vienna Flickr via Compfight cc

Set.

During the early 80s I attended a lecture on ancient Egyptian mythology.

There I met a girl who said to me: "I have been doing meditations on the Egyptian gods but Set keeps interrupting them."

Set is the ancient Egyptian devil.

Later I realized that this interference was coming from the rock music we were listening to.

The rock bands of the era made no secret of their admiration for Aleister Crowley.

Unknown to us was that Aleister Crowley was a black magician and Satanist.

And the rock stars who had sold their souls to the devil* practised all kinds of magic.

Egyptian symbols can be seen in many of their albums and videos.

And the center of Satanism in California is called the Temple of Set.

This is why the spiritual practices of the Hippies failed.

Their meditations were interrupted and diverted by Satanists in the rock music they constantly listened to.

We were stabbed in the back.

And our spiritual aspirations were sabotaged.

And this is still happening today.

So if you want to practise meditation I suggest that you throw away your CDs and videos and turn off the TV.

We have been betrayed.

(*Aleister Crowley's writings include instructions on how to make pacts with the devil.)

Photo Credit: Pinterest.

Pluto in Leo.

Pluto is exalted in Leo.

This is because the benevolent influence of the Sun causes the power of Pluto to be expressed positively.

This is the best placement of Pluto whose energies can be expressed negatively in other signs.

But the Sun channels Pluto's power in a creative way.

And Pluto's dangers are averted.

Photo Credit: bolero_ Flickr via Compfight cc

Leo.

Generation X thought that if they sold their souls like the rock legends of the 1960s & 1970s they would become superstars like them.

But what they did not realize was that it was not planets in Scorpio which made them superstars but their planets in Leo.

Leo governs all kinds of stardom and it was this that made them superstars.

Also the Sun, which is the ruler of Leo, is the ultimate benefic.

Therefore their power was expressed positively.

The covert Satanism and malice which was hidden in their music was due to planets in Scorpio (natal and transiting).

But it was not the devil that made them superstars.

It was Leo.

Photo Credit: Atelier Teee Flickr via Compfight cc

Respect.

Respect is the key to sex.

With desire comes love and respect.

We should always respect the wishes and the rights and the vows of the object of our desire.

Then we will be free.

Photo Credit: Alexey Lesukov.

Sex.

The purpose of sex is not only to create life but to engender love between us.

Sex without love is unsatisfying and leaves us empty and miserable.

But sex with love leads to a kind of ecstasy.

And it is the love we feel that creates this bliss.

To repress our sexuality is to cripple our capacity to love.

And it is our capacity to love that engenders happiness.

So do not eliminate sex altogether.

But practise sex with moderation as an adjunct of love.

Photo Credit: Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Corporate Corruption.

Shareholder activism is essential if we are to reverse the slow decline of our civilization.

Shareholders in large corporations must use their votes to force management to adopt more ethical practices.

Human rights abuses, slave labor, sweatshops, land-grabs, price hikes, management bonuses, political donations, kick-backs, collusion, nepotism.....

All these practices are rife within the corporations.

And shareholders turn a blind eye to them.

It is time for them to take responsibility for their wealth.

Or at least for the poverty of Third World nations.

Returning land to its rightful owners.

Paying workers a living wage.

Treating workers as human beings.

These things would stem the tide.

It's up to us. 

Photo Credit: mctic.gov.br Flickr via Compfight cc

Love.

Where we are faced with crimes of violence and abuse we must have love for the victims.

Our love will bless them and help them to heal.

But the victims must also have forgiveness for it is in forgiveness that we find freedom.

So we must also have love for the perpetrators.

For the perpetrators have been abused and betrayed as well.

Love demands that we forgive them.

May they be transformed by love into the people they were meant to be.

I pray for this.

Photo Credit: CityTree עץבעיר Flickr via Compfight cc

What You Need to Know.

The first thing you need to know is that there are evil people out there.

They are not always obvious and some of them are famous people* but they are evil none the less.

Most of them have rejected the false image of God as judge and punisher of humanity in favor of the devil.

They sell their souls and do evil in the world.

The second thing you need to know is that they are in league with corporate plutocrats and right-wing political forces which deceive and betray everyone.

They exploit and oppress everyone and seek self-aggrandizement and the subjugation of the masses.

The third thing you need to know is that the traditional image of God as a harsh punisher and judge of human beings is false.

This image of God is a projection of our experience of earthly authority figures - fathers and kings - and is a product of fear.

God is our loving Father.

He does not judge us.

He does not punish us.

He loves everyone equally.

And He shows us mercy and forgiveness.

The last thing you need to know is that the purpose of life is love.

We look for love in the outside world. 

But when we look within and find love in our hearts we have learned the ultimate lesson.

Love God and love your neighbor.   

Then you will be Home!

(*Rock stars, sports men and women, celebrities, authors etc..)

Photo Credit: Lawrence OP Flickr via Compfight cc

Black.

Black is the color of evil, hate, sin, death, night, and darkness.....

The devil is the Prince of Darkness.

And the darkness hides evil.

They "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: wallpaperaccess.com

Downfall.

Satanism is based on lies.

Therefore it cannot last.

Eventually they will have to face the fact that what they believe is not in line with the facts.

There is no devil.

There are no dark powers.

The only supernatural being in the universe is God.

And God is good.

So get with the strength.

And turn from the devil and his works.

Be reconciled to God through love - the unseen hook.

Photo Credit: Dzejsenka Flickr via Compfight cc

Angels and Devils.

I remember an episode of Big Brother in which the host asked the housemates to dress up as angels or devils.

Needless to say the majority chose to dress as devils.

But there were some angels among them.

 

After various tasks the host announced: "All our angels are now safely fallen!"

This is a graphic example of Satanism in our entertainment.

And it reflects bad peoples' attitude to good people.

They are jealous.

And they try to bring them down. 

They want to kill them and send them to hell!

But they cannot fool God.

God is good.

Ans He wants us to be good also.

Photo Credit: 4ELEVEN Images Flickr via Compfight cc

(The image has been slightly modified.)

Homosexual Sex.

Sex involves the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and divine aspects of our being.

It integrates our whole self.

And this happens during sex whether it results in the creation of life or not.

Sex is the ultimate union with another.

It is the consummation of love.

So homosexual sex is just as valid as heterosexual sex because the creation of life is not what we are seeking.

We are seeking union with another.

And sex satisfies one of the greatest urges of our being.

Photo Credit: enric archivell Flickr via Compfight cc

(The image has been slightly modified.)

Gut-Reaction.

Part of the right-wing campaign against the left is the sowing of hatred.

Black magic techniques transmitted through rock music, entertainment, and sports can induce a gut-reaction over which we have little or no control.

This is why people hate certain individuals but they don't know why. 

And it affects how people vote.

This is why the plutocrats and politicians don't expose the black magic and Satanism in rock music, entertainment, and sports.

It is too useful to them.

The media is full of these triggers: hell, monsters, terror, evil, threat, violence, fear.....

And they are married to Satanic rock.

So turn off your T,V, and throw away your newspapers.

We are being poisoned.

Photo Credit: DonkeyHotey Flickr via Compfight cc

The Bottom.

Quentin Crisp said that in the 1920s they blew the bottom out of everything to such an extent that they thought it would never be the same again, but what they did not realize was that afterwards they put the bottom back in again.

And this is what has happened with the world's religions.

The Buddha taught the Middle Path and compassionate love.

But afterwards the authorities of religion put the bottom back in by making the message about desire and merit.

Jesus taught the way of non-violent love, even for our enemies.

But afterwards the religious authorities put the bottom back in and taught chastity and judgement and repentance for sin.

This is why the religions of the world fail.

They do not teach the truth.

But they enforce the carrot and stick approach of the ruling elites.

Because they are part of the establishment their motivation is power and control.

And this is backed up by the prophets:

"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 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)

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

The religious authorities have turned to their own gain - the power and privilege of the ruling elite.

This is what has happened to the religions of the world.

So, even though I preach peace and love,those who come after me will try to turn the message back into judgement and punishment for sin.

They will stigmatize sex and homosexuality and impose guilt and fear.

Because these things give them power over others.

And this ensures their wealth and privilege.

[Scripture quotation (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: j-No Flickr via Compfight cc