Citadels of Fear.

From concrete walls in Palestine

to garden walls in the west.

From headless corpses in Iraq

to knives in late-night clubs.

From missing children in Africa

to detention centers off-shore.

We live amongst Citadels of Fear

in a race that's running scared.


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Love Your Neighbor.

"'Do not bear a grudge against anyone, but settle your differences with him, so that you will not commit a sin because of him.  Do not take revenge on anyone or continue to hate him, but love your neighbor as you love yourself.  I am the Lord.'"  Leviticus 19:17,18 (GNB)

I have used the Good News Bible translation for this quote because it better expresses God's universal forgiveness.

If only the Israeli government followed this commandment of God the Middle East might be at peace.

I have heard political leaders in Israel say that their religion does not require them to love their enemies.  But passages such as the one I have quoted above point in that direction.  Certainly the eye for an eye philosophy is contradicted here and elsewhere.

But they don't believe that God will answer them.
So they attack and launch vicious reprisals.

This passage is the second commandment referred to by Jesus when asked which is the greatest commandment.  The first is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

So do not say that you are not required to love your enemies.
Even the Old Testament points in that direction.


[Scriptures (marked GNB) are taken from the Good News Bible published by The Bible Society/Collins copyright American Bible Society.]

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Heaven and Hell.

Do not worry

about heaven and hell.

Trust in God,

He is your friend.


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My Enemy is Fear.

What is it that stops us loving each other?

It is fear.

Fear of being hurt, fear of ridicule, fear of rejection, fear of humiliation.....

And who is my enemy?

My enemy is afraid.

Afraid of losing, afraid of being wrong, afraid of evil, afraid of hell.....

So my enemy is not my enemy.

My enemy is fear.


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Salvation.

Many Churches teach that Jesus Christ is our salvation.

This is backed up by the I am statements in the Gospel of John.

This style of teaching, however, creates a false impression of what was intended by the Gospel writers.

The reason why Jesus is our salvation is because he taught us how to love.

It is love that is our salvation.

So don't listen to those who present you with formulas for salvation based on Jesus Christ as a person, or even as God incarnate.

It is not belief that will bring salvation but Love.


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Ripe Fruit.

God is patient.

He waits until the time is right.

The time when things are ripe.

This maximizes the effect.

And bears the most fruit.


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What is Good?

It has been said that God is good.

But what is good?

Mercy and compassion, patience, contentment, honesty, truthfulness, faithfulness, charity, faith, and love.

But most of all Love.


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