Disciple.

Big-hearted,

Good-tempered,

Strong-willed

Angel.

Generous,

Friendly,

Gentle

Giant.

Open your heart

to your fervent admirers.

Bare your soul

to the advent of Love.


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Prayers.

                            

We pray for those who have wealth and power in our world.

The corporate plutocrats, boards of directors, captains of industry, C.E.O.s, and businessmen who rule our world.

We pray that they overcome their fears and treat their workers and employees as human beings - not as units of productivity.

We pray that the small percentage of individuals who own most of the world's wealth share what they have gained with the poor and the starving.

We pray that they make our systems and workplaces more humane, more human-friendly places.

We pray that they abandon their evil plans to subjugate the masses to their will.

We pray that they abandon the use of slave labor.

We pray that they abandon the practice of land-grabbing.

We pray that they reject nepotism and corruption.

We pray for their health and well-being.

But most of all we pray for them to open their hearts.


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Violence.

                            

Violence is never the answer.

It merely replaces one oppressive system or individual with another.

Jesus said to bless those who curse you and to pray for those who abuse you.

So we pray for our oppressors.
Pray for them to open their hearts and allow people to live.
Pray for them to overcome their fears and share what they have gained with others less fortunate.

Only then will we escape the cycle of violence.


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Desire.

                            

Some say that desire is the cause of suffering.

But desire plays an important part in the perpetuation of life.

If we had no desire the human race would die out.

But like many things in life if desire is taken to extremes it becomes destructive.

So moderation is important.

I see little point in banning desire altogether.

Or developing a guilt complex about the inevitable.

So desire in moderation is a good thing.

And it is not to be feared.


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No Fear.

                            

You have nothing to fear from God.

God does not punish us.
God punishes no one.

God loves us.

We are His children.

Even children who have gone bad are still His children and He loves them.

You can make a mistake and be forgiven.

You might even learn something.

In fact it is inevitable that we will make mistakes.

So do not be afraid.

God knows us .

His mercy and forgiveness last forever.


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No Hell.

                            

Could it be that there is no hell?

Hell has always been out of character for a loving God.

Hell comes from dualistic thinking.

God is good and if we are good we go to Heaven.
But if there is a Heaven for good people then there must be a hell for bad people.

This is simple dualistic thinking.

It also contains a temptation.
The temptation to threaten people with hell in order to get them to do what you want.

The old Machiavellian carrot and stick.

But God does not punish us.
God punishes no one.

So there can be no hell.


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Fear of Hell.

                            

Fear of hell (which is fear of God) may be the driving force behind radicalism.

When we introduce liberalization and freedom there is often a backlash.

This backlash is motivated by fear of hell.

Usually more conservative religious people are terrified that we will all go to hell.

So they use violence and hatred to force us to return to moral purity.

But this violence and hatred betrays its origin in fear.

God does not use violence or hatred.

God loves us.

And "perfect love casts out fear"  1 John 4:18 (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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