Tag Archives: Jesus

Aug 31

CANTOR: NO DISASTER RELIEF UNTIL SPENDING CUTS

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This week, Virginia experienced a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, one of the most powerful tremors on the east coast since 1897. As Virginians scramble to assess the damage, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) quickly returned from his trip in Israel to survey the damage done to his congressional district.“There is an appropriate federal role in incidents like this,” Cantor said. That role? The bare minimum. According to Cantor, Congress’s traditional practice of providing disaster relief without strings attached — a policy its followed for years — is going way beyond the call of duty. If Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) asks for federal aid, Cantor insists that the relief be offset elsewhere in the federal budget:      This week, Virginia experienced a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, one of the most powerful tremors on the east coast since 1897. As Virginians scramble to assess the damage, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) quickly returned from his trip in Israel to survey the damage done to his congressional district.“There is an appropriate federal role in incidents like this,” Cantor said. That role? The bare minimum. According to Cantor, Congress’s traditional practice of providing disaster relief without strings attached — a policy its followed for years — is going way beyond the call of duty. If Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) asks for federal aid, Cantor insists that the relief be offset elsewhere in the federal budget:

 
Why is he monkeying with this? Here’s how you reduce spendlng: adjust your own healthcare, retirement plan, benefits, job security, etc. to what the middle class has in your own district. Also, pay $$ back the billions politicians have borrowed. One more thing: approve us being able to fire any politician on the spot who is not following the desires of his/her district.
 
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-2
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12

 

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Apr 07

WHY SHOULD WE BE LOOKING ABOVE

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WHEN WE SHOULD BE SEEKING GOD WITHIN?

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied,
“The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,
nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.
(Jesus: Luke 17:20-21)
Can we know more about ourselves by seeking God within?


V

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears,
and he will tell you what is yet to come.
(Jesus: John 16:12-13)

The Spirit of truth guides us today in many ways far beyond the Biblical days.
We have learned more about ourselves, the world, the universe, etc. in the last 100 years
than at any other time in history.

V

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

V

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
(St. Paul: Galatians 2:20)

V
“I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(St Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:31)
Will we die daily to all the old hatred, resentments, etc., to all that has shaped us in the wrong way
and let the Spirit of truth guide us in each new day His Way?

V

Jesus said: “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”
(John 10:10)

Will you let the Spirit of truth live through you?
-mackie

 

 

Nov 26

A BETTER UNDERSTAND OF THE STORY OF JESUS…

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Many Christian preachers, teachers and members believe that the story of Jesus WAS CLOSED, SEALED AND DELIVERED 2000 YRS AGO IN THE BIBLE.  The following shares the latest insights on the story of Jesus for those who are not religious or do not understand. -mackie

 (quoted)

“Most Christians seem to assume that the details of their faith system dropped out of heaven in a fully developed form. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 The creeds began as baptismal formulas in the 3rd century and did not receive the shape we now recognize until the 4th century. Doctrines like the Trinity and Incarnation were still being formed in the 5th century.

 Moving closer to the life of Jesus, scholars now suggest that miracles were added to the Jesus story only in the 7th and 8th decades of the Christian era. The Virgin birth and the suggestion that resurrection meant physical resuscitation are products of the 9th decade, and the account of Jesus’ ascension enters the tradition only in the 10th decade. Perhaps the biggest gap in our knowledge of Jesus, however, occurs in those years between 30 C.E. when Jesus’ earthly life came to an end and 70 C.E. when gospels began to achieve written form. Today, by lining up the gospels in chronological order with Mark first (ca. 70 C.E.), then Matthew (ca. 80 C.E.), Luke (ca 90 C.E.) and finally John (ca 100 C.E.), we can see how the miraculous was heightened; the details become more graphic and supernatural activity more pronounced.

 If the story could grow as dramatically as it did from 70-100 C.E., is it not reasonable to assume that it also grew from 30-70 C.E.? Yet with no written sources, entering that time of oral transmission is a problem.

 For the past year that forty-year oral phase of Christian history has been the primary focus of my study. In a series of columns not necessarily on successive weeks, but as a theme to which I will return often during the next six months, I want to begin to share this study with my audience under the general topic of “Jesus for the Non-Religious.”
 For much more click on: http://johnshelbyspong.com/bishopspongon_jesus.aspx

 
 
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SEARCHING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES,
not hearsay, rumors, or falsehoods.
Oct 15

COMMON GROUND OF CREATION STORY AND BIG BANG THEORY?

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 There are many similarities between The Creation Stories and the scientific Big Bang Theory.
 
The Big Bang was an event which led to the formation of the universe, according to the prevailing cosmological theory of the universe’s early development (known as the Big Bang theory or Big Bang model). According to the Big Bang model, the universe, originally in an extremely hot and dense state that expanded rapidly, has since cooled by expanding to the present diluted state, and continues to expand today.  Click on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang
 
Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 

 Notice that no time is mentioned.  The earth could have existed for billions of years as it cooled down,  was covered by water, and began to expand. They had no scientific knowledge. They told and handed down their stories in very simple language as it developed over thousands of years, even before writing was discovered.  Notice how the sequence of events in the creation story are logical.
 
The rambling tribal gypsies (later called the Jews) began to orally gather their impressions about their tribal gods as they ran into other tribes who described their god or gods.  At times they were enslaved and forced to worship these new tribal gods.  In time they began to believe their tribal god was over all other tribal gods.  They kept adding to and/or changing their ideas about their god until they concluded that their God was the only god and they were his chosen people.  They accepted hundreds of rules, laws, blood sacrifices, etc. until they finally begin to listen to the prophets.  The prophet Micah reportedly stated that the  
  
Lord only required three things of them:  
  
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mh 6:8)
 
THE ETERNAL ONE DOES NOT CHANGE, BUT HOPEFULLY OUR FAITH CHANGES AS WE COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS BEING THROUGH STUDY, SCIENCE, PRAYER AND MEDITATION.
 
Then comes this Jesus who is reported to be the Son of the ETERNAL ONE who by his life, words and actions in human form points us to the ETERNAL SPIRIT.  When asked why he had come he is reported to have said in John 10:10:
 
“The Thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
 
Coming next time:
 
Near the end of his ministry on earth Jesus reportedly said that the he must leave but would send the Holy Spirit to comfort and lead us to a greater understanding of the kingdom of Heaven (God) and that we no longer had to look for the kingdom because it was already within us.
 
Also, St. Paul talked about dying daily so that the Holy Spirit could lead us daily.   Is that why Jesus stated earlier to take no thought for tomorrow, LIVE FULLY DAILY?
 
 
“The Bible tells you how to go to Heaven, not how the Heavens go.”
 
 
 
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SEARCHING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES,
not hearsay, rumors, or falsehoods.
Sep 08

BIBLE MORE VIOLENT THAN KORAN? CODE RED ALERT!!!!!!!

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BURNING THE KORAN COULD CAUSE MORE TERROR AGAINST US SOLDIERS AND AMERICANS!
WILL WE ALLOW EXTREME FUNDAMENTALISTS ON BOTH SIDES TO TERRORIZE MORE PEOPLE?
 
(source cited)
In the minds of ordinary Christians – and Jews – the Koran teaches savagery and warfare, while the Bible offers a message of love, forgiveness, and charity. For the prophet Micah, God‘s commands to his people are summarized in the words “act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Christians recall the words of the dying Jesus: “Father, forgive them: they know not what they do.”

 But in terms of ordering violence and bloodshed, any simplistic claim about the superiority of the Bible to the Koran would be wildly wrong.

 In fact, the Bible overflows with “texts of terror,” to borrow a phrase coined by the American theologian Phyllis Trible. The Bible contains far more verses praising or urging bloodshed than does the Koran, and biblical violence is often far more extreme, and marked by more indiscriminate savagery. The Koran often urges believers to fight, yet it also commands that enemies be shown mercy when they surrender.

  Some frightful portions of the Bible, by contrast, go much further in ordering the total extermination of enemies, of whole families and races – of men, women, and children, and even their livestock, with no quarter granted. One cherished psalm (137) begins with the lovely line,

 “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept”; it ends by

 blessing anyone who would seize Babylon’s infants and smash their skulls against the rocks.
 

Read much more at: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/03/08/dark_passages/

 

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SEARCHING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES, not hearsay, rumors, or falsehoods.
Aug 25

“THE TERRIBLE TEXTS IN THE BIBLE?”

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For those who have seriously read the Bible their are texts that seem to contradict the God of love that is revealed in Jesus Christ.
 
Is the Bible God?  The Word of God? A long history of a people striving to understand and explain their God?
 
Bishop Spong defines the Bible as:
 
“The tribal story of a people as they walked through history,
and it is always evolving.”
 
 
The following is a video by Bishop John Spong of a book he is writing called:  
 
THE SINS OF SCRIPTURE; SHATTERING THE TEXTS OF HATRED
IN SEARCH OF THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
It is good reading for any serious seeker who is trying to better understand some of the difficult passages in the Bible, many times in a humorous way.  You will find insights that you haven’t found before that could lead to a better understanding of the one true creating, eternal, all loving Supreme Being.
 
Or, you may find that it hasn’t helped you at all and reaffirmed the faith you already have.  I state no opinion.  It is only what YOU find for you. -mackie 
 
 
 
p.s. There it a question and answer period at the end.
 
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SEARCHING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES,
not hearsay, rumors, or falsehoods.
Jul 17

A GREAT WAY TO SHARE WITH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT….

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5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us today our daily bread.

12Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.a’

 

14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

 

15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

  

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Jesus also mentions in chapter 6: Giving to the needy, fasting,
storing our treasures in Heaven, and not to worry.
 
 
 

We pray for all the leaders of the world that they may make wise choices for everyone

and that they may lead us to honor one another and serve the common good.

Guide them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

 

We pray for your wonderful creation, the Earth, and its streams, trees, mountains and plants.

We pray that the animals of the Earth may freely enjoy these resources.

Guide those who manage the world, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

 

We pray for those who have died and for the people who miss them.

May all find peace and strength in You.

Bless all of us, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

 

We pray for those who do not understand or have not found Your love,

that they may seek a deeper knowledge of You.

May Your love find those who need You most.

Guide and bless them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

 

Please add your thanksgivings and requests. -mackie

 

Click on: http://www.stjohnwilderness.org/prayersp.htm

 

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SEARCHING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES,
not hearsay, rumors, or falsehoods.
Jul 09

WHO BROUGHT US HERE? FOR WHAT?

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It is amazing how with each generation there is a broader and deeper understanding about the Creator and the Universe and what our obligation is to every human being and everything else in His Creation.  No wonder Jesus said, “You can’t pour new wine into old wine skins…”
 
He’s not referring to age, but to people who are not willing to change.  They are afraid of it. They hang with only those who look like, talk, and believe as they do and condemn the rest.  They must have missed out on “the kingdom of Heaven is within,” and “our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.”  They are not aware the Spirit of the Universe reveals himself to us, if only we be open to him through His Creation and “Be still and know that I am God (or whatever you call this Being).  It has been said in so many ways over the ages by those who have experienced this Spirit of the Universe: empty ourselves and be open to this Spirit, die to all the thoughts that plague us and live in the present moment (that’s all we have), etc. -mackie
 
(following source cited)
 

“We believe our current denominational engagement with these issues have often been too timid, failing to produce a unified moral voice. Our cautious response to these issues in the face of mounting evidence may be seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed. We can do better. To abandon these issues to the secular world is to shirk from our responsibility to be salt and light. The time for timidity regarding God’s creation is no more.”

I can’t help but hear echoes of Ellen Davis here, and be confirmed in my sense that her kind of theological reasoning has spread much farther and deeper than has heretofore been visible on the surface of our public life. It is also a reminder of the effect of up-and-coming generations in and around Evangelical Christianity, like Shane Claiborne, who has continued to grow in visibility and influence since I interviewed him in 2006. We’re putting him back on the air this week.

 

For more click on:

 

http://blog.speakingoffaith.org/post/757834402/evangelical-environmental-evolution

 

Mar 22

HOW RUMORS RUIN LIVES AND HELPING SOMEONE CREATES A FRIEND…

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Few characters in the New Testament have been so sorely miscast as Mary Magdalene, whose reputation as a fallen woman originated not in the Bible, but in a sixth-century sermon by Pope Gregory the Great.


Not only is Mary Magdalene misidentified as the repentant prostitute of legend, meditating and levitating in a cave, but she was not necessarily even a notable sinner: Being possessed by “seven demons” that were exorcised by Jesus, she was arguably more victim than sinner. And the idea, popularized by The Da Vinci Code, that Mary was Jesus’ wife and bore his child, while not totally disprovable, is the longest of long shots.

– U.S. News and World Report[51]

For more click on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene

Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 

Mark 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid. 


For more verses…
Click Here.

Oct 01

JESUS: A Story of Enlightenment by Deepak Chopra

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New Realities with Alan Steinfeld interviews Deepak Chopra about his most recent book – JESUS: A Story of Enlightenment. In this book Chopra tells the amazing story of how this spiritual Jesus emerged and why it speaks to all of humanity. By revealing the spiritual evolution of Christ, Chopra provides a fresh and unexpected understanding of a story readers thought they already knew.


As Chopra writes, The Jesus who is left out of the New Testament turns out to be in many ways the most important Jesus for modern times. His aspiration to find salvation vibrates in every heart. If it didnt, the brief career of a controversial, largely despised rabbi wouldnt mean much. Yet that obscure rabbi became imbedded forever in myth and symbol.” The Jesus that emerges in these pages is, like so many of us, a seeker in search of a calling. With JESUS: A Story of Enlightenment, Chopra has created a classic tale that will forever change the way we understand God and the soul.

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