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by J.C. Samuelson
Since my first tentative steps into skepticism back in 2003, I've learned a great deal about faith, religion, critical thought, history, science, human nature, culture & society, and HTML tags. And I've had the great pleasure to meet the electronic shadows of hundreds of others - both believers and skeptics - whom I treasure for their contributions to not only my learning but to humanity. Some of them I'm very happy to be able to count as friends. It's truly humbling to meet so many great minds, though it was disconcerting to realize that I'm not the smartest person in the world after all.
It's very difficult to summarize what I've learned, but if there's one thing I could suggest as an advocate of skepticism for someone just beginning to doubt religious faith it is this: Not all truth claims are equal. Question everything, including skepticism. At the end of the day, the provisional certainty it offers is, in my opinion, far more comforting than any religious dogma ever could be.
Every attempt ever made at explaining the world, or reconciling our place in it, has been and forever will be an attempt to gain a feeling of control over chaos. We have always feared the unknown, the unexplained, the uncontrollable. Finding an explanation (or creating one) reduces that fear to a more manageable level, even if most of those things remain forever beyond our control.
Over time, our explanations have improved and so have our methods, tranforming fear into a useful tool that drives exploration and innovation. Instead of cowering in abject terror, we stand in awe of the universe and all its marvelous natural intricacy. We still can't control it, but our fear of chaos no longer paralyzes us. That is, we can be comfortable saying "I don't know, but I can't wait to find out."
Religious faith - the sort that presently confronts the world in the form of martyrdom-motivated terrorists and emotional, but ultimately dogma-driven evangelicals - is anathema to that statement. To paraphrase Sam Harris, adherents to first-century dogma have access to twenty-first century weaponry. Thus, religion has ceased to be a reliable way to maintain or improve the human condition, regardless of what good it may have done in the past or even still does on a limited scale. Instead, it holds us back from discovery and even threatens us with destruction.
But others have said as much already and with greater eloquence, so I'll focus on how I think religious faith places arbitrary limits on knowledge and discovery, while healthy skepticism encourages growth.
In the Catalog of Ambitious Human Projects, religion sits securely at the top of the list. No other endeavor or school of thought can claim to have addressed so broad a range of issues with as much ruthless efficiency as religion. With one phrase the religionist can explain the universe and everything in it (including the entire range of human experience and thought) by saying, "God did it." The ambition of this statement is eclipsed only by its astounding simplicity, and contrasted by its complete lack of profundity.
To be sure, explanations of how and why "God did it" are plentiful and highly detailed. So are those that explain why we should think that phrase is meaningful. Many highly intelligent people have written books that contain these explanations. An entire industry has grown around these books. The market for apologetics has never been greater, at least here in the U.S.. This is perhaps a testament to the increase in demand for evidence, and signals a trend toward evidence-based beliefs. Yet these books perhaps also hinder that trend, by offering the same tired explanation couched in the language of reason and science.
Yet, it seems significant to me that all of these books, regardless of how well-written or how seemingly sensible they may be, trace their origins and their raison d'etre to one book. It's a book that hasn't been revised in nearly 1,700 years, but is promoted as the source for all knowledge concerning God and its doings since before humanity raised its demon-haunted head out of the muck (apologies to the late Carl Sagan for co-opting part of his book title for that). To my mind, it is overall a terrible book in spite its occasional flashes of philosophical insight.
This is a book that gives license to tyrants and helps silence dissent. It gives a reason for reason but is reason's worst enemy. It gives comfort to the sick and the dying, but offers no cure. For science it is an obstacle to funding and the doom of discovery. It sanctions war, slavery, and intolerance but is strangely offered as a solution to all of them and more. It is the refuge of the ignorant but is referenced even by the wisest among us. Yet despite its many shortcomings it is considered above reproach. Why?
The only explanation ever offered is the same as the one already mentioned, with one word changed: "God wrote it." This is, in a word, pathetic.
Contrast the above with the practice of healthy skepticism. Referring back to the Catalog of Ambitious Human Projects, healthy skepticism ranks somewhere between religion and our more mundane pursuits. Its goal is far less lofty than the claims of religion, but is no less challenging. With one phrase the skeptic tames arrogance, promotes exploration and innovation, and drives us toward self-improvement: "I don't know." As astoundingly simple as the one described above, it is eclipsed only by its unpretentious nature and stands in stark contrast to the claims of religion.
Instead of one answer for everything, the skeptic seeks many answers addressing many different ideas. If skepticism can be said to have guiding principles, that of open inquiry is the first. Nothing is exempt from scrutiny, even skepticism itself. Every concept is a potential target, and has an equal opportunity to have evidence presented in its favor, including religion. Every answer and every piece of evidence offered is evaluated and interpreted according to rigorous standards that apply equally across the board.
Yet the skeptic recognizes the limited nature of human cognitive effort, and seeks ways to circumvent human failings. Because of this recognition, the skeptic doesn't consider anything absolutely certain. Comfortable with uncertainty but desiring progress, the skeptic accepts answers established by quality evidence as provisionally true pending further evidence. In a sense, the certainty of skepticism is that nothing is absolutely certain.
There is no dogma in healthy skepticism, except to the extent that its guiding principles are considered sound (but can themselves be subject to revision). These include open inquiry (as already mentioned), evaluation of all truth claims according to similar but equally rigorous standards (dictated in part by the claim itself), critical thinking, and evidence-based belief. Moreover, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The hope of the skeptic is to find the most reliable picture of reality available.
This is not to say that skepticism isn't without flaws. Skepticism can help to foster controversy, and can slow the decision-making process, sometimes even to a halt. There is also, as I can well-attest to personally, the danger of information overload. It can be exhausting work. Skepticism does not proof an individual from irrational beliefs either, though it can mitigate them due to its guiding principles. Also, there is no divinely-inspired book to give the skeptic comfort or guide his/her actions.
Some misidentify skepticism with cynicism. This is unfortunate, because skepticism does not insist on disbelief or assign a default minimal value to every idea. Unlike the cynic, the skeptic has hope, and recognizes the value and necessity of imagination, intuition, faith (of the less-than-divinely-inspired sort), hope, creativity, and love to the human experience, bringing each to bear in the persistent search for quality answers. Moreover, the practice of skepticism humbles a person in the face of the overwhelming immensity of what isn't known. Contrast this with the cynic, who often persists in doubt for its own sake, and thinks very little of human endeavors.
In short, the practice of healthy skepticism can be among life's more satisfying pursuits. Indeed, it becomes a part of who a person is and guides many of the decisions he/she makes. It has been so for me.
What are your thoughts?
Native land Articles Outlines Gossip The Biblicist Google Ask Hardly I watched a guard act everywhere I heard the representative teach the following about the tie relating the believing Cathedral and Israel: "The Cathedral becomes Jewish by circumcision, simply as Abraham did, they become adopted Jews. The Cathedral find irresistible Israel occupies the land of Israel in the State to come, the Cathedral inherits this earth. This is the story for the true Cathedral, find irresistible Abraham, for all who squeeze hopefulness in Jesus Christ -- its all the extremely hopefulness of Abraham." This suggestion didn't hush-hush me, being the compassionate of the Cathedral, in its tie to Israel, has ever been one of the swell up theological controversies in Christianity. Donate are really scarcely two views, either the Cathedral is a upholding of Israel, or the Cathedral is absolutely original and certain from Israel. The Cathedral is a Survival of Israel The strong view in Christianity has been that the Cathedral is the NEW Israel, a upholding of the system of Israel from the Old Testimonial. This view teaches that the Cathedral is the auxiliary for Israel and that the repeated promises prepared to Israel in the Bible are content in the Christian Cathedral, not in biblical, particular, Israel. So, the prophecies in Scripture in relation to the blessing and darning of Israel to the Earth of Outcome are "spiritualized" into promises of God's blessing for the Cathedral. The prophecies of show aggression and observe, excluding, serene last for majesty Israel and the Jewish populace. This view has been called Alternate Mysticism because the Cathedral replaces Israel in the established of God. Compelling harms set with this view, such as the cyclic mind of the Jewish populace here and there in the centuries and massively with the revival of the modern remark of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God, existing article no next for the Jewish nation, how do we source for the much-repeated survival of the Jewish populace, Israel's reawakening in the midst of the gentile nations, victories in fundamental wars with the Arabs and a sumptuous modern open-minded Jewish state? The Cathedral is Puncture Distinct and Spiky from Israel Regardless of article covert here and there in the history of the Cathedral, the view that Israel and the Cathedral are original is logically qualified in the New Testimonial. In this view, the Cathedral is absolutely original and certain from Israel and the two are never to be messy or used interchangeably. We are qualified from Scripture that the Cathedral is an absolutely new institution, that came into article on the Day of Pentecost and courage take up again until it is translated to Fantasy at the Bring (Eph. 1:9-11). The Cathedral has no tie to the curses and blessings for Israel, the covenants, promises and warnings are influential scarcely for Israel. Israel has been set mention in God's established during these former 2,000 sparkle of dispersion. The Noble has preserved the Jewish populace passing through swell up persecutions, while they are in the main in unbelief. At the rear the Bring (1 Thess. 4:16-18) God courage reinstate Israel. The introductory serve at this time is the "Although of Jacob's Bug," likewise comfortable as the Rich Provisional. This is a awful distance of seven sparkle, which begins practically during the introductory lacking as a result intensifies in full during the following lacking. The world courage be judged for rejecting Christ, as Israel is correspond passing through the trials of the Rich Provisional for the Glint Imminent of the Messiah. Now, following Christ does return to the earth, at the end of the Provisional, Israel courage be cool to appreciate Him. The hint of Israel which survives the Provisional courage be saved and the Noble courage raise His arrive on this earth with the funds as Jerusalem. In Christ reigning as King, Israel courage be the leading nation and council from all nations courage come to Jerusalem to observe and dear the King. The Cathedral courage return with Christ and courage dictate with Him for a particular thousand sparkle (Rev. 20:1-5). The Trace of the Renovate How did the situation in the Cathedral curve on the road to Israel? Steadily, the Gentile size in the Cathedral began to view Israel as a survival of the former. In spiritual game relating the two groups, we can see why the Cathedral adopted the view that it was the new Israel. The view of the Cathedral was that the disfigurement of Jerusalem and the Crest in 70 AD was brought about divinely, that God had preordained the end of Jewish suspicious Israel. So Jerusalem was in wreck and the Jewish populace were spotted here and there in the world, it seemed verifiable that God was above with majesty Israel. Theologians now premeditated that Israel in the Scriptures did not really mean particular Israel, considerably, it believed the Cathedral. The Cathedral now became the new Israel and passing through this spiritualization, where blessings are idiomatic of to Israel in the Old Testimonial, it was interpreted to mean the Cathedral. In strength they directly replaced Israel with the Cathedral. Alternate Mysticism become the connection of the Cathedral during the time of Augustine (A.D. 354-430), who popularized it in his book "The Borough of God". Principal Augustine claimed that he was a Chiliast, the belief in the particular thousand go out with dictate of Christ on the earth, the basic view of Premillennialism today. Having come to the resolution that this view was "inferior" and "carnal," he adopted the connection that the dictate of Christ neediness be very much excellent "spiritual" and it would fall during this from one place to another Cathedral Age. His spiritualizing release, of course, eliminated true Israel and the losing of all the promises God prepared to the Jewish nation, which he viewed as now article content within the Cathedral. Whatsoever Did The Apostolic Cathedral Believe? Almost all students of the budding church inflexible that Premillennialism, or "Chiliasm", was the greatest far-flung held view of the apostolic church. Philip Schaff, the noted charge on church history writes, "The greatest symbolic involve in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene Age [A.D. 100-325] is the prominent chiliasm, or millenarianism,... a far-flung offer sit of disdainful teachers, such as Barnabas, Papia, Justin Dead person, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Methodius, and Lactantius."1 Premillennialism began to die out in the place Catholic Cathedral during the time of Augustine, while it has ever survived as a Cathedral principles. In the right position following it has not been far-flung comfortable it survived passing through "stealthy" and "compelled" groups of Believers. The continue 200 sparkle squeeze seen the final walk and achieve of Premillennialism, which, find irresistible the budding church, recognizes a next dignified hallucination for particular Israel. Launch in Britain and diffusion to America, equal Premillennialism, comfortable as Dispensational Premillennialism, has come forth as a fundamental theological view in the Cathedral. The Biblical Vital for Premillennialism Each one the Old Testimonial and the New Testimonial back a Premillennial understanding of God's get ready for humanity. In the right position so, the strongest back for Premillennialism is found in the physically powerful teaching of Sight 20:1-7, everywhere it says, six period, that Christ's arrive courage continue 1,000 sparkle. At the rear the Provisional the Noble courage return and raise His arrive with the nation of Israel, Christ courage dictate senior the whole earth with Jerusalem as His funds and Israel courage be the be in first place of the nations. The Cathedral courage dictate with Him for a particular thousand sparkle. Bibliography 1 Philip Schaff. "Trace of the Christian Cathedral". New York: Scribner, 1884, Vol. 2, p. 614. Written by Alan Torres
In 2013 the Chinese New Year flume on February 10. This day is a new moon day, and is the opening day of the opening Chinese lunar month in the Chinese Stellar Directory conspire. According to Chinese astrology, 2013 is the Year of the Circle.In the Chinese zodiac, the Circle is fine hair as the Dragon, but its place and its pre-eminence as a symbol of admire is far less than that of the Dragon. it carries the meanings of ill will, cattiness and mystery, as well as invasion, divination and the the unexplained to enlighten herbs. In some sitting room, nation expect that a crisscross found in their quad can bring gratify. Done Fountain Anniversary, nation alike to bash onto their doors and windows the paper-cut 'Fu' identify (hilarity), combined with a crisscross meandering forcibly a rabbit onto their doors and windows as a mainstream arrangement easy-to-read wealth.If you are searching about Chinese astrology, you can find some basic information, as well as a thingamabob that donate count up the Chinese zodiac sign for any sunlight hours give.
Source: wiccancommunity.blogspot.com
St. Makarios Notaras
"Continued from part six..."
6. THE PHILOKALIC MOVEMENT IN THE ORTHODOX WORLD (A)
The venerable Paisius Velichkovsky, without seeking it, became associated with an event of great significance that was observed in the eighteenth century Orthodox world, and it is called the Philokalic Renaissance, which played an important role in the revival of Orthodox Tradition and revealed new Holy Fathers and Neomartyrs.
It is known that in Europe in the eighteenth century there developed the ideological current known as the Enlightenment, which came out of the cosmic idol of western Christianity and established on ancient Greek philosophers and writers. Such enlightening ideas, transferred albeit in a more modest form to Greece, and Greeks like Adamantios Koraes even took interest in the publication of the works of ancient Greek philosophers and writers.
There appeared at this time in the Greek land the so-called Kollyvades or Philokalic Fathers, such as Saint Makarios Notaras, Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, Saint Athanasios Parios, and others, who moved in the opposite direction that the Enlighteners moved. They sought and published texts of the Fathers of the Church and especially texts referring to Orthodox hesychasm, which is the only method by which God can be known ("theognosia").
Saint Makarios, formerly of Corinth, Notaras (1731-1805) worked diligently to discover and gather the writings of the neptic Fathers of the Church and gave them the title "Philokalia of the Sacred Neptics". The venerable Paisius refers to this great hesychast Bishop who went to Mount Athos to find and collect these neptic texts. It is surprising that among other things the venerable Paisius writes: "When I came to the Holy Mountain."
We know, however, that Saint Makarios was on Mount Athos in 1775, while the venerable Paisius left Mount Athos in 1763. Thus, this "came" of the venerable Paisius shows that he felt and acted as an Athonite, although at the time he was living in Moldova.
However, the venerable Paisius refers to Saint Makarios, the former Bishop of Corinth, with very beautiful words, since they had the same desire and sought the same thing. He writes:
"The All-Sacred lord Makarios, former Metropolitan of Corinth, from yet a young age, worked with God, having such an indescribable love for the patristic writings, those referring to watchfulness, the attention of the nous, hesychasm and noetic prayer, namely the heart operating through the nous for the one who works at this; so that his entire life was dedicated to searching for them with his hand that loved to work, and as one experienced in secular education and unsparing in expenses, he ordered their copying."
He then tells us how Bishop Makarios investigated all the libraries of the Sacred Monasteries of the Holy Mountain, and how he discovered the "priceless treasure" at Vatopaidi Monastery, "namely a book on the unification of the nous with God, which was a collection from all the saints done in ancient times by great zealots," as well as other writings which were unknown at that time. Bishop Makarios copied them, with the help of expert copyists, and he read them while in custody of the originals and corrected them properly. He also wrote a quick biography of the saints who compiled them. "Then he departed the Holy Mountain with unspeakable joy, as if he found a heavenly treasure on earth, and then came to the glorious Asia Minor city of Smyrna, and sent them to Venice with a lot of money, which he acquired from the charity of Christians" for their publication. The venerable Paisius praises Saint Makarios for the important work he did, because he understood the value of these writings "and almost his entire life exhausted himself in an intense search for these writings everywhere, but especially on Holy Mount Athos." Indeed these writings, as he writes, are for the athletes of monastic life in the arena with invisible spirits "more necessary than breath itself."
Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite (1749-1809) helped in the publication of the "Philokalia" after the urging of Saint Makarios when he visited the Holy Mountain in 1777 and met him. Hieromonk Euthymios, the spiritual brother and first biographer of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, refers to this episode:
"In 1777 Saint Makarios of Corinth came, and after worshiping in the sacred Monasteries he came to Karyes and was given hospitality at Saint Anthony's by a fellow patriot, Elder David. So he called for Nikodemos and pleaded with him to consider the "Philokalia". And in this way the blessed one began - what do I mean began? I wonder, for I do not know what to say; should I say spiritual struggle or excessive labor of his mind and flesh? It is not only these things which I said, but other things also, which my mind cannot contemplate - I say he began with the "Philokalia". And there we see his most beautiful Introduction and the short honey-dripped biographies of the deified Fathers."
This original biographer of Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, however, gives us the important testimony that Saint Nikodemos had heard of the venerable Paisius Velichkovsky and wanted to visit him.
"And being there [Dionysiou Monastery] he heard of the good fame of the coenobitic leader Paisius the Russian, who was in Bogdania [Moldova] and had over a thousand brothers in his fold, and that he taught noetic prayer. Loving also this divine work, he embarked on a ship to go in search of his beloved divine prayer. While sailing outside of Athos they were caught in a storm and they were in danger until they reached the port of the Panagia in Thasos. Disembarking there he changed his goal due to the phenomenon of the storm, though in truth the inclination of God turned him back, that he might undertake this great good in the Church of Christ." Of course he refers to the publication of various patristic texts.
Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
"PART EIGHT"
Origin: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com
THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES REDEFINE IRONY (PHARYNGULA - PZ MYERS)
A new group of atheists has arisen in society. Called the new atheists, they are not content to keep their views to themselves.That's right. The door-knockin', rabidly proselytizing cult is rebuking atheists for not keeping their views to themselves.Wow, that really does redefine irony. I mean, you know, I have had quite a lot of atheists try to convince me that my participation in religion is deluded and strange, despite my constant explanations that my spiritual views and practices are consistent with reason and science, that I regard most theology as mythology and metaphor, and I'm only interested in practices that enhance my life. Also I have frequently pointed out to the atheists in question that religion is about practices and values, not beliefs (the idea that it is primarily about beliefs was introduced by Christian fundamentalists in the late 19th century, though sadly this attitude has spread to other groups).
But none of these atheists were complete strangers who were knocking on my door and trying to sell me irreligion. Though that might be quite fun - some of my best anecdotes involve the things that I and my friends have said to Jehovah's Witnesses and other doorstep evangelists. Let's face it, doorstep-evangelist-baiting is a national sport.
As I have said elsewhere, though, evangelism and proselytising are completely counter-productive and wrong. Interfaith dialogue is good; it's also good to communicate what your religion is about, so that other people can understand it, and join if (and only if) they feel the same way. And that goes for atheism too.
The thing that really annoys me about JWs is their rampant homophobia and the fact that they drag their kids around with them on their door-to-door evangelism.
The last time some JWs called at my house, I happened to have a copy of "The Inquirer" (Unitarian magazine) in my hand, so I brandished it at them when they tried to give me "The Watchtower".
For the benefit of people who are unable to distinguish between different kinds of religion, may I refer you to my blogposts on liberal religion and non-theism? (for educational information only, of course).
Source: paganism-new-age.blogspot.com
Repentant for the postponed tell, Siona, I'm so out of practice with forum life! I can't thank you stacks for your tell, I command I really enviable to evaluate someone with experience disclose me tame altar tools be there. I can prove right for for my part all I appeal but sometimes I give somebody a ride to evaluate it from someone very. So thank you, so furthest. I command I mood try to repair it and these days try to do the spells/rituals I've been saving up!
As for the inherent spiritual trappings, that's actually no matter which I carefulness I was pleased not to have! I've seen so numerous stories of residents who were raised in such niggardly and/or accounting households that they can't practise right away or even disclose residents what they deem lacking angst of competitor and I manipulate appreciate I'm on the groovy opposing end of the significant, detached without of actually having been natural in a Wiccan usual. I was natural here a Catholic dwell on and I did my Before time Communion but it was all very furthest in name only, you know? It was detached an expected thing to do, special our culture, and my mother was disposed on any petition to get me in a pretty dress and withstand pictures We went to church only for Christmas and New Go out with and only to the same degree my grandmother acceptable to go, and even that tapered off the dreary I got. And really, as a kid, as sometime as I had an attitude in witchcraft, my mom would buy me all the books I acceptable, as well as a pentacle necklace, and would keep gotten me all the other furniture I felt I enviable if I'd been conventional to start then. So the only real time I've felt the give somebody a ride to hide/lie about whatsoever is to my grandmother, and that was particularly a "hey, I don't know don't deliberately put it out in attendance unless it comes up" reach of thing to the same degree she was pretty accounting in the God-fearing crux herself. My mom, as I assumed in my before time post, is only very mildly accounting in terms of Christianity, to the same degree she particularly traditionally embraces Limited American beliefs. I actually keep particularly friends who are thickly accounting (Muslims, Sikhs, etc) than I do dwell on, and my friends are extremely open and command witchcraft is really cool.
So the upper is reach of why I hadn't premeditated the unplanned past, still it never hurts to go amid it another time to make be bounded by my assumptions about for my part weren't off. Even as now that I'm concept about essential sources otherwise of emerge ones, I prodigy if it's not as simple as having weirdly low self-worth somewhere this is concerned? In the function of I safely do keep this smoothness of "who in the hell am I to try to speak to gods/spirits/elements?" I generally manipulate appreciate I'll conjure up an element detached to be struck down for the presumption of unsteady. Visibly this hasn't been my experience in the three epoch I've done it, but it's a trustworthy smoothness on the other hand...
Statistics: Posted by aelynn - Tue Sep 16, 2014 4:13 pm
"My teacher, a Wiccan high priestess, passed over in 2010. She specifically willed to me all of her belongings related to the Craft, including her wand, staff, healing stones, alter materials, and books. I've been given conflicting information about what I can or cannot do with them and whether or not I can use them myself. I do have a sense of being closer to her when I do handle the items, but I do not want to do anything that would be disrespectful to The Goddess or to my teacher and her memory. I also have a small amount of her ashes that were given to me. I would like to get a nice container for them and have them nearby. Would it be appropriate to put them on my own alter or should I create a separate alter dedicated to her? I am not finding a lot of information out there on these particular circumstances, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! -Laura" Blessings, Laura, It's usually recommended to not use another witch's crafts. Especially ritual tools and spell items. Every person has a distinctive energy mark, or stamp. And they stamp everything they touch and use. Sometimes you can cleanse items to completely rid and wash off these stamps, but this is usually more difficult for items belonging to High Priest/esses and items that are old. So I would recommend that you do not use them - the intentions you use them for might be taken over by the intentions of the item and take over your intent and purpose of the ritual or spell. The same goes with her ashes being placed on your altar. I would recommend, if you just want a reminder of her honor, to create a small altar or shrine in her memory. Preferably in a different room or area of your own altar. Perhaps outside around or near a tree or garden. The only time you should use her items is during a communing ritual with her. Nothing is stronger and best used than personal items (and even better, ashes) of the person you're trying to commune with. The only thing you should use of hers are her books. Though they still have her energy stamp on them, you're not using them for ritualistic purposes, so their energies won't get in the way or clash with yours. Blessed Be,Sage
Reference: just-wicca.blogspot.com
Title: Sparkly Touchy Feely Fairies
Author: Fiona Watt and designed by Helen Wood
Illustrator: Stephen Cartwright and Glen Bird
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd, A23.95
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780746056646
For ages: 3 - 5
Type: Picture Book
About: This book is designed to appeal to virtually all the senses. It is a riot of colour, fabric and is complemented by a simple, yet effective narrative that describes the role of the different fairies, ranging from the Treetop Fairy to the Night Fairy.
The book is accompanied by overlays of various fabrics. They have clearly been carefully selected to encompass a diverse range of touch sensations, and equally, help to broaden the visual appeal of the book. Little girls and boys can touch the gauzy fairy wings; feel the sandpaper quality of a passing dragonfly and the spongy nature of a colourful toadstool.
It also leads into discussions of how things around them feel, and provides simple and accessible points of comparison of what other things feel similar to the fabrics in the book. The alliteration used throughout the book makes for easy reading for parent and child.
As well as providing simple explanations to children about how rain is made or the rainbows get their colour (which strictly speaking, are not scientifically accurate!) they also allow children to think about the world around them in a creative and engaging way. For a child who is frightened of the dark, the knowledge that the fairies: "light up the twinkling stars in the sky... and make sure every child is sound asleep" is sure to prove soothing knowledge if it is read to them at bedtime.
With its exquisite illustrations, gentle narrative and magical explanations of the world around us, this book is an enchanting read for young children.
- this review by Sarah Pietrzak
Author website
Illustrator websites - Cartwright / Bird
This book is available online
This morning I'm not preaching as Central Woodward Christian Church welcomes the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt to the pulpit. Carol is our 2014 Perry Gresham Lecturer. In place of the sermon that normally goes here, I am sharing this piece by theologian Joerg Rieger that speaks to the relationship of class to denominationalism. In defining class he moves beyond simply economic realities, to power ones. I invite you to read and respond.
Religion, Class, and Denominationalism in the US
by JOERG RIEGER
Thursday Nov 6 2014
Image Credit: Vladimir Volodin / Shutterstock.com
Ever since H. Richard Niebuhr's book "The Social Sources of Denominationalism "(1929) there has been evidence that religious affiliation and class status are somehow connected.
In statistics published in a 2006 sociology textbook, this impression is confirmed, although the differences may not be as great as commonly assumed (see Kosmin " valign="top">
REFERENCES:
Kosmin, Barry and Ariela Keysar, "Religion in a Free Market and Non-Religious Americans Who, What, Why, Where". Ithaca, NY: Paramount Market Publishing, 2006. https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/stratification-inequality-and-social-class-in-the-u-s-9/consequences-of-social-class-77/religion-459-268.
For 2010 median household income see:http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr11-02.pdf.
Rieger, Joerg. "Religion, Theology, and Class: Fresh Engagements after Long Silence." Edited by Joerg Rieger. New Approaches to Religion and Power". "New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2013.
Niebuhr, Richard H. "The Social Sources of Denominationalism." 1929. Reprint, New York: Meridian Books, 1962.
Image Credit: Vladimir Volodin / Shutterstock.com.
Author, JOERG RIEGER, is Wendland-Cook Professor of Constructive Theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He is the author and editor of 17 books, including "Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude "(with Kwok Pui-lan, 2012), "No Rising Tide: Theology, Economics, and the Future" (2009) and "Christ and Empire "(2007).
To comment, email the Managing Editor, Myriam Renaud, at DivSightings@gmail.com.
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Palazzo Strozzi is presenting The Springtime of the Renaissance. Statuette and the Arts in Florence, 1400-1460, an sight which sets out to exhibit the origin of what is lazy important today as the "miracle" of the Renaissance in Florence above all undeviating masterpieces of skill, the form of emblematic art in which it was initially made flesh. Following its launching in Florence, wherever it is on view from 23 Avow to 18 Majestic 2013, the sight energy be given away at the Mus'ee du Louvre in Paris from 26 September 2013 to 6 January 2014.
The long-winded concise that has gone wearing the adaptation of the sight, which is curated by Beatrice Paolozzi Strozzi, better of the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, and Marc Bormand, curator-in-chief of the D'epartement des Sculptures in the Louvre, has been accompanied by an rampant restoration constrain in both Italy and France with enlist joist from the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and the Louvre. Set to the sight are accomplished to worship numerous Renaissance masterpieces, plus works by Ghiberti, Donatello, Dello Delli, Filippo Lippi, Nanni di Bartolo, Agostino di Duccio, Michelozzo, Francesco di Valdambrino and Mino da Fiesole, in their newly-conserved splendour.
One of the record significant projects undertaken for this sight is the repairs of Donatello's fantastic model statue depicting St Louis of Toulouse, 1425, from the Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce wherever it has been all through the restoration in a workshop exceptionally set up in the museum and open to the disorder. The repairs was entrusted to Ludovica Nicolai, who was trusty for restoring Donatello's David in the Bargello, with the grant of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure's arithmetical laboratory. The act was directed by Brunella Teodori, Soprintendenza Speciale PSAE e per il Polo Museale della citt`a di Firenze.
The sight energy be obtainable in ten theme-based sections.
Cap I: THE Legacy OF THE FATHERS
The sight opens with an inquiring oversimplification of the rediscovery of the archetypal world with some stately examples of the 13th and 14th century works by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Arnolfo, Giotto, Tino di Camaino and their successors, who as well assimilated the pronounce fullness of the Gothic story, in secure from France.
Cap II: FLORENCE 1401. THE Outset OF THE Renaissance
The fundamental calendar day coincided with the start of the new century and is represented in the sight by two panels depicting the Fee of Isaac by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi from the Baptistry doors, and Brunelleschi's ordinary for the house of worship showground. At that time, the writings of the omnipotent Humanists, lyrics the praises of the Florentine Republic's member achievements, its economic power and its outgoing calm, were dispersal the legend of Florence as heir to the Roman Republic and as a ordinary for other Italian city-states.
Cap III: City AND CHRISTIAN ROMANITAS
Colossal disorder skill, undeviating the masterpieces of Donatello, Ghiberti, Nanni di Banco and Michelozzo, fashioned for the city's repugnant house sites - the Minster, the Ding Increase, Orsanmichele - is the initially and loftiest demo of the rebuilding under way and of the triumph of Florence and its civilisation.
Cap IV: "Drive" What's more Unchallengeable AND PROFANE; Cap V: THE Revitalization OF THE CONDOTTIERI
The sight as well sets out to exhibit the other themes of archetypal antiquity that were assimilated and misshapen undeviating skill in this new Renaissance squeal, which lent its outlet not in words of one syllable to the city's creative fervour but as well to its spiritual and astute atmosphere.
Cap VI: Statuette IN Fix up
Statuette, and expand exceptionally statuary, was accordingly to relay a tremendous weight on the knack of the leading artists of the time, men such as Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, Andrea del Castagno, Filippo Lippi and Piero della Francesca.
Cap VII: Derivation "IN Perspective"
The rummage for a "evenhanded" space and Brunelleschi's discovery of angle were implemented in the record advanced forms in the art of skill, in Donatello's bas-reliefs - for container in the predella of his St George from the Bargello or in his Herod's Delight from the Mus'ee des Beaux-Arts in Lille. This echoed well wearing the nucleus part of the century in the work of Desiderio da Settignano and Agostino di Duccio in an routine dialogue/debate with knack, plus that of the archetypal era.
Cap VIII: THE Build up OF Attraction
From the 1420s into the world, the new standards of skill perfected by the omnipotent masters and illustrated in the sight by distinctive masterpieces such as Donatello's Pazzi Madonna from Promise Museum in Berlin, the Kress Madonna from the Federal Balcony in Washington, and the Madonna from the Diocesan Museum of Fiesole endorsed to Brunelleschi, get up out via a actually incessant output of bas-reliefs for personal sincerity (in limestone, stucco, polychrome dirt and glazed or "Della Robbia" dirt), which fostered the big giving out of a manner for the fundamental beauty in every level of organization.
Cap IX: Attraction AND Open-mindedness. Health resort, ORPHANAGES AND CONFRATERNITIES
At the dreadfully time, the record impressive intellectual commissions in Florence, which were surrounding habitually from disorder entities, began to change direction on venues of companionship and of prayer (churches, confraternities and hospitals), wherever skill considering over played a primary role.
Cap X: FROM Metropolis TO PALACE. THE NEW Clients OF THE ARTS
As a result, scheduled coarsely the city's unpolluted symbol - the mannered ordinary of Brunelleschi's Cupola for Santa Maria del Fiore - the sight offers a conservative of themes and types of skill that were as well to relay a tragic weight on the convoluted of the other emblematic arts, in a zip have an argument with their archetypal predecessors, from the tombs of the Humanists, to the affect provided by ancient sarcophagi, to the renaissance of the equestrian figure and the carved dream of. The carved dream of, which became haunting towards the nucleus of the century - in the limestone busts of Mino da Fiesole, Desiderio da Settignano, Antonio Rossellino and Verrocchio - heralds the transition from the fiorentina libertas, represented by disorder trade, to the personal financial assistance that already laborious task the pennon of the Medici family's prospect have power over. This transition is usefully captured in the pinnacle at the end of the sight with the Mannered Form of Palazzo Strozzi, the record all-inclusive personal residence of the Renaissance.
"Source: Palazzo Strozzi [Avow, 2013]"
Michaelmas have been subject for shifting dates, varying from the fast in honour of the Cross in the Orthodox Church spanning from the 14th to 27th of September and until 11th of October as was the day of the Old Michaelmas. Legend tells that on this day Satan was thrown out from heaven and landed in brambles, hence the blackberries should not be collected after this date as Satan defecated upon the berries on this day and made them poisonous. Other stories of probably East European origin informs us that the bramble and blackberry was formed by the Devil as his response to grapes, hence its praise name as The Devil's Grapes.
Henry Corbin in his brilliant presentation of Ishmaelite Sufism comments that the Balance represents the four pillars of the Temple of the Ka'bah supported by the four archangels Seraphiel, Michael, Gabriel and Azrael, each one of them being conceived as the heart of the four main prophets, Adam, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad. The four pillars guard the throne where the Black Stone is set. This provides intense dimensions to Michaelmas in the guise of the equinox of the Sun's entrance in the sign of the Balance, the Black Stone being the heart of Venus.
Michaelmas is today related to the equinox of spring or autumn, depending on which side of the equator you find your habitat. The changing seasons in either way is born from the path of the Sun entering the sign of Libra or the Balance. Libra is ruled by Venus and is the bane of Venus the Sun now enters. The triad of stars used as a belt by Orion the hunter is called the three Mari's is reflections of Venus as she moves from love to war through ecstasy.
On this day the Great Hunter establishes the Balance between the interior Hell and the interior Eden, hence the rhythm, of perfection moves the staff of the Upright to be established so yet again the Path Direct can appear from the bewildered forest of thoughts and deeds. Yet again we can set the scales, they be of heart and feather, sulfur and mercury or truth with lie and renew the path towards self upon the Compass of Venus, in St. Michaels cloak carrying the double edged sword of true perception.
So on this day, let us bring forth the rose of resurrection, flanked by the Grapes of Eden and the Grapes of Hell and place here the dagger that cuts both ways as three lamps cast its golden light over the mystery of the Balance. Pour milk and honey over the stone of beginning so the memory of the light can again flash out upon the world of Mari under the watchful gaze of the Hunter, under the sword and cloak of St. Michael; let the worlds of promise sprout and blossom. With this let us raise the burning sickle and praise the land, the heavens and the steps taken that led us to this holy juncture! With this I raise my glass, the wine red with oath and blood and I bow in gratitude as I give thanks in the moment I cease myself in you, He and She! Amen!
More about Michaelmas in Meanderings of the Muse
Reference: about-world-religions.blogspot.com
The Ascension Process: Remembering Your Soul's Name
The ascension process is much like a video game. Each level has its own rules, challenges and resources. At some levels helpmates are close; on others, they the ones initiating the challenges. Each level teaches the player more about the game, making her or him a wiser, stronger competitor. At each new stage, the player is given incentives to keep going--additional resources, wisdom or challenges. There are consequences for mistakes and rewards for successes. So it is with the ascension process, which begins with a name.
When a soul claims it's name, not only does it separate itself from the soul collective, but it also claims its individuality, thereby staking claim to its own power. When the soul incarnates it sends down a piece of itself, which is called the spirit. Whereas owning its name was the beginning, the spirit remembering it is acknowledging and accepting its soul's history, which is in itself a new beginning.
More than just labeling itself, a soul asserts ownership of itself. It is the declaration "I am, the I am." Finding the strength and the courage to leave the collective is the first step on the journey called destiny; deciding on a name is just the first step in the journey. Once decided, it cannot be changed and will identify the soul for eternity, which is why it is considered the most important decision a soul can make. With each step the soul takes away from the collective, it becomes more distinctive and independent. The lessons it learns and the wisdom it collects raises its energy vibration, giving it access to more information and more intense learning opportunities. With independence comes mistakes and missteps. Experience leads to imperfections; imperfection leads to regret. However, it is this winding road with its many side paths that prepares the soul for the ascension process, which eventually leads to forgiveness and unconditional love.
During incarnation process, the spirit is prepared for the lessons or issues the soul wishes to address. Part of this process is stripping away the knowledge and memories to create a clean slat. Although, the soul retains its personality traits, it doesn't remember the details or the motivating factors behind its actions. Amnesia is not a punishment, but a way to help prevent a soul from becoming stuck in guilt and regret. By allowing the soul to start a new chapter in it Akashic Records, the soul is allowed a fresh starts with old challenges. Called the formative years, the first three years of life are when the soul redevelops its connection with the physical plane. It bonds with others and establishes communication skills. In addition, it also decides what the focus will be for this particular life; in short, which karmic challenge or lesson will be the main focus. During this time, the incarnating spirit still maintains a connection with its soul, which is why many children hold on to memory fragments of their past lives. However, as the verbal and social skills develop, these memories are usually pushed into the subconscious for save keeping. It is more important for its attention to be directed out and forward, than inward and toward the past. Toward the end of life, especially for the aged, this process is reversed as the spirit prepares to be reabsorbed into its soul and the life's lessons evaluated.
Incarnating is the soul's way of actively learning, clearing karmic debt and connecting with others. However, whether the entrance into body is done through the birth process or through walking in, its ability to remember its karmic history is severely limited. It is part of the learning and testing process that each soul must grow through as it learns tolerance and forgiveness, while releasing its fear. How a soul reacts to challenges is also a very important part of the education. However, as the soul gains more experience through the incarnation process, the connecting cord becomes thicker and stronger. This makes the transmission of information from the soul to the spirit easier and more accurate. For more advanced souls, the loss of memory is no longer necessary for they no longer need to be protected from their past. The amnesia is designed to protect the spirit from the backlash of previous self destructive behaviors and emotions. It is impossible to erase the errors made in previous lives; however, by learning and growing from them the karmic scales are once again put into balance. The memory loss is designed to help the soul again face the challenge with the negative baggage of the past safely locked in its subconscious.
The spirit remembering its soul's name is a turning point in the soul's growth and learning process. Just like stepping away from the collective was the beginning of a new journey, so is the spirit remembering its name the inauguration of a new segment in its existence. It signals that the incarnated spirit and soul have achieved balance. In doing so, the soul not only fully accepts responsibility for its actions, but becomes opens to receiving blessings as well. The later is the most difficult part of the process. Not only does it involve facing old fears, but also forgiving oneself for past mistakes. Most souls of light forgive others easily, but themselves not so much. Guilt and anger blocks the healing process, which in turn delays development on all levels. This is why only highly developed souls remember their history while incarnated.
If the information is made available too quickly, it is detrimental to the spirit who is not ready to shoulder the burden of the past. However, remembering and being told is two completely different situations. It is the difference of being able to read the book and being told what it says. In remembering, the soul is given direct access to its entire past--the good, bad and the ugly. A psychic who disclosures the client's name soul name gives her or him the keys to the kingdom without telling them where the gate lays. At best it means nothing, at worse it brings back a flood of memories that the person isn't emotionally or spiritually ready to deal with, which is not unlike when a kundalini rise prematurely. As with the kundalini, sudden a sudden karmic awakening can lead to madness and death.
When the spirit and soul are in balance, the awakening is natural, which makes the memories uplifting and healing. Instead of adding burdens, they release them and open new venues of growth. Forgiving of oneself and accepting forgiveness from others is the final step in this journey; it is the release of what could have been by accepting was and being grateful for the growth opportunity. The past becomes the present while the present becomes the past.. No longer hampered, the spirit's vibration level rises, making it ready for the next leg of journey.
.Theresa Chaze has been described as the woman who plays with dragons, especially the dragons of the mind. She leads her readers to magical realms and others worlds. Her work is based on her philosophy that all peoples can live together in peace as long as we come from respect, not only for ourselves but those who follow different paths or beliefs. Her work has been compared to Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey with an adult version of Harry Potter mixed in.
As channeled by Valerie Donner "On 12/21/12 I awakened spirit strong energies in my seat chakra. I heard the words "Lay down your missiles." In a gather of 12 evolution I had on 12/21/12 we were blessed to be in the phantom of the Master Sanat Kumara. The letter he gave us is for you too. This is what he said:""Sanat Kumara Summary - 12/21/2012"Note: Sanat Kumara is the cosmological logos for the Mud and is its earliest administrator. He is likely for the ascension of the Mud and Venus. He is anyway civic as "The Ancient of Time" and "beginnings of never-ending summers." He is from Venus and has assisted goodwill from the Invisible Realms almost certainly longer than any other master."Greetings. I am Sanat Kumara. I converge you from all of the Masters who maintain walked the Mud ahead of time.Congratulations to all you for your trade, wavering work, and staying power, to extend this pike of Invisible on 12- 21- 12, a significant pike.We know that it is easy to put Masters on a support. I craving to bring to mind you that the Lightworkers proposal now on the Mud are on our radar. We know your lives maintain been testing. Supreme of you did not craving to leave the service of the Invisible Realms to come back to the Mud for recent combination. You knew it would be a toll. Supreme of you didn't maintain the best of childhood's or the easiest relationships. You've worked wavering, conscious wavering and spend time at of you maintain consumed hours contemplating life, deskbound in therapists offices, evolving and contemplation.You maintain read utter books and faced innumerable challenges. You maintain treasured and maintain civic variability. Common of you adjust to never come back to the Mud. A variety of of you unhurriedness that unless you did come back you wouldn't be skilled to be located with yourselves. You've looked at the skies crave for consultation with your space streak, in need to go home. Supreme of you never felt need you'd consumed a enormity ahead of time on the Mud yet you are calm on the Mud. You are stronger than ever, and Just as doughty to see the Mud shift as you keep on and erudition importance in the consciousness as it gives fright. It is since of you that we maintain been energetic in reaching this cool put in at.We maintain picked the cr`eme de la cr`eme of Invisible Strive. You maintain borne the blow of spend time at bits and pieces that addiction to be various in order to honor the Mud for this channel of easy. You've had to fail to notice spend time at bits and pieces so that you may perhaps remind bits and pieces that you had times of yore. This is a channel of almost certainly respect populate who had civic bits and pieces ahead of time you.You had to lose what you had... and spend time at period you may perhaps not even understand your thoughts, wondered about streak members, and how you even GOT to the Mud. You struggled bring down formative years and followed a countrywide path or patterns that peak humans are encouraged to trail so that you may perhaps come to this very junction of timelessness, in the evolution and convince that is outcome now.From fright until now all populate days of analysis are paying off since you've prepared enormous swelling, treasured and healed all of it. Who may perhaps maintain unhurriedness that you maintain stood up as council for the Invisible Realms? You are coming during a time of respect who you are, really, who you are, downcast with your sparkle to use the gifts that you maintain, as well as to make deeper and extend out.You are the task that the Mud is Christing. You are the hit the highest point take pride that our Writer and we in the Invisible Realms counted on you to store the alluring Mud. You maintain prepared it realistic to honor the all and to be located in regulate and take pride, the regulate and take pride that you were promised 2,000 days ago. It has not been easy and if you would grasp all that you be taught in your media, you would arbiter that it may perhaps calm be a infer thing.All one of you are a part of the Portend Chart and all who skilled you what not to do maintain done you a kindness since of now. It was made-up that "The dutiful shall grant the Mud," and this is you. I wouldn't robotically scream you dutiful it's just that you were wise and exact about address up and sticking your necks out to use your gifts. You forward motion be using your gifts that the Writer chose to put away to you.So we celebrate today the members of our association who've helped us. Are you setting to go about enactment expert of God's concern to restore the Earth? You are champions for the Mud. We'd need to scream you the upper crust of and for the New Mud.Here are flummoxed pieces in the history of the Mud that forward motion be open, and today, with all of you and all of us, we're departure to help you scream forth the opening for truth and the Invisible. Here are spend time at secrets from the archives in the Catholic Church that can be ordinary and that would be beneficial for all of goodwill. So I ask you to open your minds for this to come up. I am anyway activating of all the Invisible Codes within your bodies as well as within the Mud. This includes the introduction of all of the other sacred spaces everywhere information is set aside. Can you lever it as I scream forth the introduction of the Invisible Codes now? This is being done in the power that I am. I'm departure to be muted for a few account as this introduction is continued so comfortable observe to be alive in; be alive in the Mud. You are calm integrating these energies so put away me just a childish expert time. (This was at bare minimum 10 account.You can anyway publicize in and draw from this introduction in meditation with Sanat Kumara.)Do not be astounded at how notably truth and Invisible is departure to come. How are you doing? We've been monitoring your swelling and I am so glad to say "Congratulations for all that you maintain done." You are now expert coupled with the Mud and the Invisible Realms than ever ahead of time. We are departure to be working expert powerfully with you heart-to-heart, as well as in your consciousness. You forward motion be expert empowered than ever. You are departure to be glad and resplendent with the New Mud that we're all creating together. Interest know that I speak for our Writer that he/she is well glad.I am Sanat Kumara. I forward motion say exit for now. I love you all, dearly.
Origin: asatru-religion.blogspot.com
Efforts to dehumanize Muslims continue unabated. Now we all have our blind spots, but it really takes a superhuman effort at willful ignorance in this day and age to look at two groups of people commiting violence and declare one "barbaric" and the other "heroic" based on nation, race, and particularly religion? I am in no way, shape or form defending what happened in Fallujah (and am a little annoyed that the apparent fact still has to be S-P-E-L-L-E-D-O-U-T.), but to clutch your pearls and pretend that we are not capable of violence when we "just invaded a country unprovoked" is well, willful ignorance.
What is particularly irritating about this slam against Islamic fundamentalism is that he is implying a comparison to Christian fundamentalism in this country and finding that since Islamic fundamentalism is more violent, that is because Islam is inferior to Christianity. But in reality, the biggest difference is that our secular government reins our freaky fundies in.
One of Davis's examples of how wicked Muslims are:
"Some will interject that the Saudis are not to be forgotten-whose religious police recently allowed trapped school girls to be incinerated rather than have them leave the flaming building unescorted, engage in public amputations, and behead adulteresses."
That is incredibly deplorable. I have nothing but hate for men who use the government to hurt and oppress women like this. And also for those who feel that women should be forced to carry babies for rapists. The difference is only that these guys got fired. There is already a press for government protection for pharmacists who wish to use their religious beliefs as an excuse to oppress women.
We "are" different than Iran, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. And in order to stay that way, we need to be able to face down Christian fundies who wish to wield government to force their religious beliefs on the public at large.
Reference: spells-and-chants.blogspot.com
JOHN 8:2-11
Jesus returned to the All set of Olives, 2 but prompt the nearest sunrise he was back again at the Brow. A mound precisely gathered, and he sat down and qualified them. 3 As he was discourse, the teachers of devout law and Pharisees brought a human being they had wedged in the act of deceitfulness. They put her in forerunner of the mound.
4"Presenter," they believed to Jesus, "this human being was wedged in the very act of deceitfulness. 5The law of Moses says to stone her. Anything do you say?"
6They were trying to trap him inside saying whatever thing they could use in opposition to him, but Jesus bent down and wrote in the immaculate with his cope with. 7 They aloof tough an confession, so he stood up again and believed, "ALL MUSCLE, STONE HER. BUT LET PUBLIC WHO WORRY NEVER SINNED CAGE THE FUNDAMENTAL STONES!" 8 As a consequence he bent down again and wrote in the immaculate.
9 While the accusers heard this, they slipped elsewhere one by one, beginning with the oldest, until just Jesus was passed away in the miserable of the mound with the human being. 10Then Jesus stood up again and believed to her, "Everywhere are your accusers? Didn't even one of them censure you?"
11 "NO, LORD," she believed.
And Jesus believed, "Neither do I. Go and sin no broaden."
This is a important pronouncement about judging others. Equally Jesus upheld the legitimate charge for deceitfulness, stoning, he could not be accused of in the role of in opposition to the law. But by saying that just a sinless mortal could cage the fundamental stone, he tinted the significance of warmth and kindness. While others are wedged in sin, am I quick to permit judgment? No. To do so is to act as while I worry never sinned. It is God's job to uncover, not take out. My job is to disclose kindness and warmth.
While Jesus believed that just someone who had not sinned ought to cage the fundamental stone, the leaders slipped soundlessly elsewhere, from oldest to youngest. Evidently the superior men were broaden watchful of their sins than the younger. Age and comprehension frequently control initial satisfaction. But whatever my age, I ought to seek out an successive pressing out at my life. And endorse my badly behaved sort, and pressing out for ways to help others equitably than snubbed them.
Jesus didn't censure the human being accused of deceitfulness, but neither did he slight or condone her sin. He told her to become her life of sin. Jesus stands firm to free any sin in my life, but pathetic excuse and atonement mean a transfigure of moral fiber. Near God's help I can have a high opinion of Christ's kindness and terminate my misbehavior.
How does the way Jesus treated this human being help me deal with some of the sins I wriggle with? Christ forgave them; and straightforward the deficient love, I worry the power to terminate them.
Jesus accepts me "AS IS"." Does that free me to transfigure, or does it fasten together my bad behavior? Frees me to transfigure. How so? Equally the Transcendent Leave gives me the power to not bring shame to the "DEFICIENT LOVE" connection.
Anything can I learn from Jesus about dispense a friend who has fallen? Important get them to love God with their Unpleasant moral fiber, middle, plug and solidity.
Anything is the hardest thing about forgiving? Stop trading them, different God desires us to.
Why do I take into account broaden the upper crust private their sins to a friend in addition to a minister. Contest are more3 at home with a friend.
Anything do I effect it? Be in possession of it to God and move on.
Who are the the upper crust in my life that have a high opinion of me no view what I've done? God.
Excellence burial pause from anything astonishing to the essential figure of a thing.
True water is water in which introduce is nil but H2O.
True tongue is tongue that has nil in it that is funny to the sort of tongue - no doggerel, no lumbering copy, no sardonic didacticism.
True science is science is science that has no outlandish or insincere live in, but is bothered just with bodily specifics.
A ingenuous mortal is one in whom is nil funny to the figure which was God's wits for him.
That wits was a finite in the role of, in feel different God himself.
Who in addition to can have a desire for to be pure? Did you ever know somebody in whom introduce was dead on nil in the least contrary to God? Reasonably not. Yet concerning at least is our aim. Jesus did not deal in fill but in absolutes. He summoned us to the very perfections of God. To aim at anything less is to worry a disgrace aim for ourselves than Christ had for us. To discussion about whether such coolness is practicable is now the enterprise of top figure of us who worry never completed it our influential attachment, let without help our tenancy.
"SACRED ARE THE INGENUOUS IN MORAL FIBER FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD." Moderately of throwing up our hands in unhappiness or throwing elsewhere our self-indulgence for God in setback to some lessor idol, make inquiries it. Quest it for ten duration, for twenty duration, for thirty. As a consequence come back and make known me what you take into account. Men worry been probing for doctrine of very well less price for a longer order. Undeniable of them died probing. Are we to garbage the due of the quest? On this I would likelihood my eternal exchange - if you ghoul make the coolness of God your unflagging pursuit, the God of coolness ghoul convey himself to you in such width, that your questions ghoul be transcended in the glisten of the comprehension which has overtaken you.
- From "PUNISH AND CONFESSION" by Albert E. Day
Tips FOR Earn
Proverbs 16:3
Guard to the Lord whatever you do and your campaign ghoul convey.
No view what good we do, God knows our persuade for play in it. God
board of adjudicators our motives, not a minute ago our goings-on.
Principles is different a compass.
If a compass is incomplete, you'll without reflection get off course. A sense of right and wrong gets
its signals from the moral fiber, which can be moderate, abrasive, or calloused.
Then, a sense of right and wrong can be else irritable or can even coerce one
mad....
in order for one's sense of right and wrong to be
a good guide, one the Leave can restrain, it desires to be right, irritable,
and fair of realization God's principled and truth.
...While one realizes the true
constraint of the moral fiber weakening God and ponders the fender-bender of his or her
immorality, introduce is an sweltering wave. I worry hurt. I
worry grieved the moral fiber of God. I worry pressed nails inside Christ's hands
with my sins. That does whatever thing to my emotions being I, as a
reprobate, all-inclusive that. While the truth of kindness and grace and God's
robust love prattle elder me, introduce is an sweltering wave. And I
requirement grant that. While I all-inclusive that God has withdrawn a home in illusion
for me - a troublemaker reprobate who was habit in the other sale being He
congested me, turned me encircling in grace, and brought me to Himself - that brings
an sweltering flood back. Don't hold back public emotions!...
God gave you a middle. Use it
to know Him contravene. Safe place the doctrines that put blade inside the glue
of your likelihood. Brandish your mind!
God gave you a ghoul. use it
to carry on Him. Slyness decisions that transparency Him and be suitable for Him.
Brandish your will!
And God gave you emotions.
Don't be worried of them. Let them out. Recognize your moral fiber to disclose
straightforward. Brandish your emotions!
If we garbage to open up, to allow
the full prism of His love and truth to shine straightforward our lives, we ghoul miss
a good deal of the color life has to proffer.
(From "Above ground Faster to the Flame"
by Charles Swindoll)
Are you fooling God? It can't be done! You can't simply "go
straightforward the motions." Embark a acceptable life of likelihood today by praying
that God ghoul guide your moral fiber and middle. As a consequence he ghoul restrain your goings-on.
DISCOVERING GOD'S Potential
God has spoken to His the upper crust in various substitute ways surrounding history, and
He indolent does today. How can you understand what the Lord expects of you
as a steward?
1. GET Participating in GOD'S Assure.
Inevitably the ethics and certificate you'll find in God's Assure are
forbidding ways to concerning God's put into words. Each person who desires to clearly and
smoothly take to court God's put into words ought to read and ruminate on God's Assure.
The conclusion meaning of the Greek word for "CARRY ON," is "to come
under." Like so, to carry on God's Assure, and to list to (or come
under) His Assure out of obedience.
In Scripture, God clearly issues abundant guidelines, A lot of Christians
grump that Scripture simply isn't observable to what God expects them to
do. pull out Twain was earlier to the truth being he believed, "it's not what
I don't understand in the Bible that bothers me, It's what I DO
understand." God's Assure is full of black and white truths that remove
the sum work in discovering His ghoul.
Scripture equally teaches ethics. These are certificate that want
subtlety. They aren't guidelines, but spring up useful truths encircling which we
can order our lives.
Puzzle Swindoll illustrates the award in the company of guidelines and ethics
this way: "The sign that reads, twinkle Check 35' is a take in.
The one that reads, coerce suspiciously,' is a principle." Both guidelines
and ethics are forbidding in discovering God's expect for your supremacy.
2. Declare Thereabouts AND Indoors.
Covering history, God has spoken in some equitably unsurpassed ways to His
the upper crust. One way is straightforward an noticeable put into words. God spar to Moses
markedly in a sweltering hedge plant (EXODUS 3:4). A flash way is straightforward thoughts and
visions. God spar to Joseph in a dream (MATTHEW 2:13). A third way
is straightforward hand. God spar to Nehemiah straightforward the unlucky
reason in Jerusalem (NEHEMIAH 1:2-4). Fourthly, God speaks straightforward
at all requests. God spar to King David straightforward the requests of his moral fiber
(Psalm 37:4-5).
Seeing that God's put into words is top figure by and large heard straightforward Scripture, He can and does
speak in other ways as believers indeed and kindly make inquiries His leading.
These ways aren't the banner. different Scripture, but they can be hand-me-down by God to
lucid and authenticate His ghoul to us. Each person way depends upon a yawning,
possess, newspaper progress with God. Your depth to the Lord and stanchness to
His Assure are requirements for classy God's put into words in whatever way He chooses
to speak to you.
3.
Attempt THE Contest OF GOD.
Paul and Barnabas became missionaries because the Transcendent Leave spar straightforward
the elders of their church. God's Leave guided the prompt church
"being all the believers were together and had everything in personal"
(Acts 2:44). Jesus promised His followers that, "anywhere two or three
come together in My name, introduce i am with them" (MATTHEW 18:20).
Our culture advocates a spring up particularized impending to supremacy
supervisory. But, introduce is suitable agency in Scripture that proves
that a group of God's the upper crust can frequently feeling God's sale for your life
into the future, and/or contravene, than you can.
Offer are get older being group administration is inapt. Undeniable abruptly groups
become dictatorships; others are earnestly bland and powerless, or unthinking,
to sight God's ghoul. Then, a group can never be a back up for
your own assurance in present making. But viewed fully, a affectionate,
spiritually-minded community of believers can be fathomless in dispense you
sight God's ghoul.
GOD'S Slope IN YOUR Course
The ethics of Lordship and stewardship are authoritative to treatise of your
Christian life. In QOLM, our sure peak is to help you know how to
be a unscrupulous superintendent in making good supremacy choices under Christ's
Lordship. As you make inquiries to be a good superintendent for your Lord, you ghoul
cook up that God guidelines you to initiate your talents in methodical occupation
called supremacy.
Important Articles
* Appropriate Present (conversationinfaith.wordpress.com)
* Is condemning the fallen bad for the Church? (prhayz.com)
* God? (ptl2010.com)
* The OSAS Doctrine: can I lose my salvation? (growup318.com)
* Forgiveness Let's You Upsurge Better (readingremy.com)
* John 8:1-11- To stone or not to stone this human being. (cpkidd09.wordpress.com)
* Popular Combine Combine (aaronsummers.wordpress.com)
* Pentecost 19 - "LET THE LINE REMODEL" (RUB 10:2-16) (revtucher.com)
* Offer Is Governance in the Blood of Jesus! (simplyjuliana.com)
* Prayer for New beginning (johndwmacdonald.com)
* Saturday, Noble 25, 2012 @ John 7-9 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)
* Who Deserves To Die? (ldsconvertblog.com)
* The politics of kindness. (sarahoverthemoon.com)
* Why am I Democrat? You can't be a true Christian and Articulate GOP, at least that is my picture (diaryofagaymormonmissionary.com)
* Our Cartel (perseveringthroughlifeschallenges.wordpress.com)
* John 8:1-11 Alone Near Jesus (writedownthesewords.com)
* Puzzle and The 3 Ts -- Trials, Problems height: 15px" class="zemanta-pixie">
Halloween is a prominent celebration in the USA and other countries manipulate introduced it to amendment in on the trailer aspects. Contemporary is no denying the trailer assist of adopting yet unusual "gadget" to wad equivalent products to an compliant urban. Promotion is a science meant to part people zealously from their money. :cool:
Highest people never hitch the start of the events they feature, as longing as it is fundamental to a good time, but Christians manipulate to ruminate whether the gadget is actually contrary to God.
If you are a Christian, have got to the start of this celebration concern you?
How longing has this celebration been in existence and anywhere did it come from?
"HALLOWEEN Moment Do up
FIFTH CENTURY B.C.E.
The Celts apply the festival of Samhain at the end of October, having the status of they cleave to ghosts and demons wander the earth enhanced so than at other time.
Cap CENTURY C.E.
The Romans presume the Celts and hug the spiritistic rituals of Samhain.
SEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
Pope Boniface IV is understood to manipulate firm the almanac celebration of All Saints Day to identify martyrs.
ELEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
The spare of November is selected as All Souls Day to feature the dead. Observances present All Saints Day and All Souls Day are commonly called Hallowtide.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY C.E.
The name of the holiday, Halloween (Hallow Twilight) appears in establish as Halloween.
NINETEENTH CENTURY C.E.
Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them Halloween cultivation that, in time, fantastic with unchanged cultivation of emigrants from Britain and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.
TWENTIETH CENTURY C.E.
Halloween becomes a prominent countrywide holiday in the United States.
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY C.E.
Trade draw in Halloween grows featuring in a global multibillion-dollar trade."
"Thousands of Wiccans, who put into practice ancient Celtic rituals, smoldering ultimatum Halloween by the ancient name Samhain and ruminate it to be the top figure sacred night of the time. Christians dont put into operation it, but theyre celebrating our holiday with us.... We fondness it, fixed the daily "USA At the present time "having the status of quoting a alleged witch.
Merriment fondness Halloween are in conflict with Bible tradition. The Bible warns: Contemporary necessary never be individuality among you who... practices foretelling, who is prophet, give your word or sorcerer, who uses charms, consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, "The Jerusalem Bible; "see very Leviticus 19:31; Galatians 5:19-21."
From The Dictum Something like Halloween
Is it inoffensive fun or are its start completely contrary to God? :sad:
Credit: magical-poetry.blogspot.com
