When God told us to do things for the gospel to reach others, God forbid we would say it is God's fault for not reaching them. We are supposed to do things for the gospel to be more available to others, as we were told to do. We each can do something for that, even helping another to do so.

Peace in Christ.

Again….the earth BECAME (Hebrew: “hayah” - a primitive root that means "to exist," "to be," or "to become") without form and void. It became without the form of godliness and void of the knowledge of God.

Gen 1:1-5
(1) In Beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(2) And the earth was (BECAME) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

“without form” of God’s righteousness = “none is righteous”, “no one does good”.

“void” of knowledge = “no one understands”.

The earth became without form and void as “ALL have BECOME worthless.”

Romans 3:
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.”

Mankind is without excuse as the whole visible creation shows us the invisible qualities of God. Romans 1:20 .

Yet, the earth BECAME void….void of knowledge... as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge and so were given over to a rejected (reprobate) mind wherein is no knowledge of God nor is there any righteous works.

Rom 1:28 KJV
(28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

“Darkness was upon the face of the deep” as man’s foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21 .

We…as His people…were by nature children of wrath even as others….as those of the outside world who do not have the Spirit of God. We are mortally perishing under His wrath even as those of the outside world (who are by nature the children of His wrath) because of our sins and trespasses.

We are all in the darkness for no one does good nor does any understand. We have been “dead in trespasses and sins” being part of the many man-based churches where they do not understand the truth of the gospel and so is not being preached.

Eph 2:1-5 KJV
(1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
(2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
(3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God who is rich in mercy and love does now give us His knowledge (let there be Light)….His light in Christ.

(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
(5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)

For we ourselves (Christians) were in the past foolish and disobedient and being deceived (by false prophets) but after that the kindness and love of God our Savior appears (shines) toward mankind who is all together become worthless: the earth BECAME without the form of godliness and void of the knowledge of God.

Titus 3:3-6 KJV
(3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
(4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
(5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
(6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Genesis chapter 1 is a metaphor for the “regeneration” of mankind who needs to hear God’s revealed knowledge.

The first lesson to man’s darkened heart is that God IS light. “Let there be light” should be translated “HE IS LIGHT”. "Hayah" = to be/exist or to become. Jesus.,..the Word...speaks to man who is in the darkness the first lesson about God: He is light.

Genesis 1:
(3) And God said, Let there be light (He IS light): and there was light.

וַיּ ֹאמֶ ר : u·iamr and·he-is-saying אֱ הִ ים aleim Elohim יְ הִ י iei he-shall-become/IS (to exist) א ר aur light וַיְ הִ י u·iei and·he-is-becoming ־ - א ר aur light :

This is the very message which we have heard of Him (Jesus who is the Beginning…the Word) that is declared to us who were once in the “darkness” without the knowledge of God is that God IS light (knowledge) and in Him is NO darkness at all. And God said “Let there be light” = And God said “He IS light”.

1Jn 1:5 KJV
(5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

We must hear Him and “awake” from our sleep (awake to His righteousness) and arise from the dead (those church congregations who are currently dead in their trespasses and sins) so that Christ shall give us light….the knowledge of God.

Eph 5:14-15 KJV
(14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
(15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

We are to hear and cast off the works of darkness (the wrath, envy and strife, contentions, etc) so that we may enter into His knowledge unimpeded. Let us not fight against what we hear Him saying with evil words of contention and wrath. Salvation is now.

Rom 13:11-14 KJV
(11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
(12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
(14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Let there be light (He is light)…..and there was/become light. We are to BECOME “children of light” as we are to hear His revelation knowledge (light) and believe in the light and behave with light in our response to His voice. We must manifest outwardly our internal faith in Him. Faith without accompanying good works (the external light) towards the hearing of His knowledge is dead.

John 12:35-39 KJV
(35) Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
(36) While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
(37) But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
(38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

If we do not believe in the revealed knowledge of our Lord, then we cannot enter in to know anything. We then CANNOT believe as punishment for our unbelief. The light is divided from the darkness.

(39) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

We who believe in His revealed knowledge are of the light and not of the darkness where the unbelievers are. We must come out from among them and be separate….just as the light is divided from the darkness.

Genesis 1:

(4) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
(5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

We …who are of the light….are no longer to be sitting among the unbelievers of His revealed Word in their man-based churches. They will not believe in His knowledge (the light). They will hate the light as they will contest it as they seek to defend their denominations works of righteousness contained in their church handwritings of dogmas (statements of faith, church constitutions, by laws, etc).

What communion does light have with darkness? We must no longer be partakers with them in the darkness.

2Co 6:14-18 KJV
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

For we were in darkness in times past while we sat together with them in their churches where there is no knowledge of God. But now (by His mercy) we are light in the Lord. We are to walk as children of light and be no more partakers with them.

Eph 5:6-8 KJV
(6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
(8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

He divides the light from the darkness...and what communion does light have with darkness any longer?

Luk 12:51-53 KJV
(51) Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
(52) For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
(53) The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

For the truth of the gospel is being hid from those who are mortally perishing. The man-based churches do not have the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in them. Their leaders do not have the gospel of truth in their words. There is no understanding. The "heavens" have no light...no knowledge...as our church leaders do not have the understanding of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in their hearts.

Jer 4:22-23 KJV
(22) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
(23) I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

The light shines in the darkness of our hearts….the sign of the Son of man in heaven…in those who are focusing on things above where our citizenship is. We know it is His Son speaking to us and that we should hear Him only as He gives us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as He opens up the Scriptures to our hearing ears. The Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters….in the face of Jesus Christ who speaks to us in the Spirit of Truth.

2Co 4:3-6
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are PERISHING:
(4) In whom the god of this AGE has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

GospelS said:

Hallelujah! He is Risen!

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I've been working on thinking that saying. Not just a Easter / Resurrection Sunday saying. If he's risen on Easter / Resurrection Sunday, he's rise now. Crucified for sin, but more than that, rose again, tomb is empty! Host of implications!

The theme of this article is knowing the definite possession of heaven for the Christian! Moses could not enter the Promised Land for going beyond what was instructed on him. He could only see Canaan but was not allowed to enter in. Christians can see the New Heaven in the image of their mind, and they are guaranteed their place There. Thus, the believer should have the sense of being there now, and even praying from there to the earth; for God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6).
NC








It is possible, in a way, to be tantalized by the beauty and perfection of the glory, because there is nothing to compare with it here; and yet it may be as seen in the distance, as Moses saw the land from Pisgah, admired and loved, but with no positive possession, no setting the sole of one’s foot solidly on it (nothing physical, with anticipation only—NC).

If I only see the glory as Moses saw Canaan from Mount Pisgah, I have no sense of possession there; this is merely seeing a better thing, in which I not only have no present possession, but I am myself actually separate from it, and outside it. This tantalizes, if I may so say. If I were to die then, with this view fully before me, I should be a Stephen, but if I have to live here with a glimpse of it, without any realization of possession, it is only tantalizing.

We must know the place and glory into which the Lord Jesus has entered as our present home and abiding place; an actual possession in which the Father has “set us” now (Eph 2:6), in order to be true strangers here (Heb 11:13; 1Pe 2:11). When we realize this, everything here becomes strange to us (even with feelings that you don’t belong here, so don’t allow this to trouble you—NC), because we are here from another realm, a bright and heavenly place. It is not only that we are looking for and expecting this place at the end (we are to know the surety now that heaven is ours—NC). This will not make us strangers here; for we may have this, and still be at home here, and though we may wish to go to heaven, we are as yet strangers there (instead of here—NC), for we have never enjoyed possession there, (we are to realize that heaven is a Christian’s present possession - Luk 22:29, 30—NC).

There is often this beholding afar off, and there may be a great deal of true admiration, the heart captivated with the view from Pisgah, which does not help one in one’s path down here, but on the contrary, makes one feel the contrast between what is here, and what one has had a glimpse of. In this case one is more unfitted for remaining here, instead of being enabled, because of moral superiority and elevation, to meet everything here as the Lord Jesus’ witnesses on earth.

The fact is, we are not now as Moses on mount Pisgah, nor even as Stephen; we do not see the glory from earth, but we are positioned in heaven (same as being there—NC), and there we see it. Thus we “behold” the Lord Jesus where He is in glory, and as we behold Him and fellowship with Him, we are gradually transformed “into the same image (have the same desires—NC) from glory to glory” (2Co 3:18; 1Co 15:49; Rom 8:29), we are transformed into the condition of the place in which He is, and we in Him there (Jhn 14:20). Then we can walk and serve here (1Jo 4:17—NC), expecting mothing from this scene, but able to contribute to it, as a wealthy man can contribute when visiting the haunts of the destitute. If he were one of them, surely he could not contribute.

The Lord grant that we may indeed traverse the haunts of the destitute down here (witness to the lost—NC), with hearts full of the unsearchable riches of Christ; not merely seeing a future of unbounded wealth, but in spirit there now, our cup running over, and therefore not seeking for anything here; but, as opportunity offers, contributing to each according to his need (according to where our faith may be weak—NC).


— James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)




MJS daily devotional excerpt for October 29

“Rationalism defies God; Ritualism degrades God.” –MJS

“With Rationalism’s intellectual audacity on the one hand, which dares to speak against the Word of God; and on the other hand, the outward piety of Ritualism—there is really the same root of infidelity at bottom. There is the supplanting of the plain truth of the inspired Word. Both get rid of it, depriving the soul of that which is the only means of a living link between God and man.

“It does not matter what the means or forms may be, whether the negative process of Rationalism, or the more positive claim of Ritualism: if man comes in—whether it be his rites or his reasoning’s—so as to exclude God’s Word, or step between its authority and the soul of man, it becomes pretty much the same result in the end.

“Rationalism is the deification of human powers, in which man presumes by his own mind to judge the Word of God, and is therefore the infidelity of the intellect when either carried out to its results or judged in its principle.

“On the other hand Ritualism is the infidelity of the imagination, very often with piety underneath it, with a love for the Savior that may preserve from the full consequences of the system, but in itself always savoring of and tending to idolatry.

“We cannot know the value of Christ the Truth unless we have the Spirit of Truth. Nevertheless, the test of having the Spirit of Truth, and of not being a prey to fanaticism, is that the soul is attracted and subject to the Lord Jesus Christ—and this cannot be without faith produced and nourished by the Word of Truth.” —William Kelly (1821-1906)

IceJad said:

You sound like a conspiracy theorist. What a leap of logic. From not supporting Kamala to Trump will get revenge.

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There's certainly a precedent there : Trump Has Already Punished Jeff Bezos Over the Washington Post’s Independence

I had a tripple A heart emergency operation 8 years ago & now they are saying I may another one

I believe this passage of Scripture is in the context of the Judaizers who were trying to convince Christians that they had to be more like Jews, and that they had to keep some of the Old Covenant ceremonial, liturgical, and dietary laws and restrictions as part of their salvation. And we have some groups of Messianic Jews today who are going into gatherings of what are called “churches,” and they are trying to convince Christians to be more like Jews and to keep some of those Old Covenant ceremonies, et al.

I don’t know whether or not they are teaching what they are teaching today as something they believe is necessary for our salvation, but they are convincing many Christians that being more like a Jew or doing some of the things the Jews did under the Old Covenant will somehow enhance their Christian experience or somehow it will bring them closer to God, or they will be more spiritual if they do these things. But what they are promoting is not the truth. We do not need to add any of those things on to our salvation.

And then we have people today who are legalists, and some of them are huge hypocrites. My dad was one of them. We were taught not to drink, smoke, play cards, dance, or go to movies. But my dad was an abuser to his wife and to his children in some of the worst and most severe ways. So he was definitely a huge hypocrite. He knew the Scriptures intellectually. He attended a strong evangelical gathering of what is called “church” for 86 years, but he didn’t apply his head knowledge to his life in practice.

And then we have people today who are teaching a cheapened form of the true gospel of Christ, making the gospel like picking up fast food at McDonald’s restaurant. The faith they are teaching is of man and is very superficial, for it makes no requirements of its adherents to live holy lives pleasing to God. It does not require death to sin and living to righteousness and obedience to our Lord. Thus, many professers of faith in Christ are still walking in sin, and they are not walking in obedience to Jesus Christ.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must be crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. And we are to die daily to sin and to self and to walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands (New Covenant). For if we do not, but we continue in deliberate and habitual sin, and not in walks of obedience to our Lord, and not in living holy and righteous lives, then the Scriptures teach we do not know God, he does not know us, we are not saved, and heaven is not our eternal destiny.

So, please take this to heart! Do not believe everything you hear, read, or think you see, but test everything against the Scriptures (in their context) to see if what you are being taught is of God or if it is of man and/or of the devil. Read the Scriptures in their context, and let the Lord teach you the truth, and then follow the truth in obedience to the Lord. For one day many who say, “Lord, Lord,” in this life are going to hear Jesus say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness.” Please take this to heart.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

They Spy Out Our Freedom
Video Talk

December 30, 2022

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He Keeps Me Singing

by Luther B. Bridgers, 1910

There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with thee, peace be still,”
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain;
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumbering chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace,
Resting ‘neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face –
That is why I shout and sing.

Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep
See His foot-prints all the way.

Soon He’s coming back to welcome me
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to world’s unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus –
Sweetest name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.

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NewTestamentChristian said:

This post was initially a topic I discussed on a separate website, The Philosophy Forum, but I have noticed a lot of militant atheists brewing in the forum lately so I have decided to distance myself from it. That being said, I will post a few threads that I wrote here to hopefully generate thoughtful discussion and dialogue. Hope you enjoy.

"Religion is to mysticism what popularization is to science. What the mystic finds waiting for him, then, is a humanity which has been prepared to listen to his message by other mystics invisible and present in the religion which is actually taught. Indeed his mysticism itself is imbued with this religion, for such was its starting point. His theology will generally conform to that of the theologians. His intelligence and his imagination will use the teachings of the theologians to express in words what he experiences, and in material images what he sees spiritually. And this he can do easily, since theology has tapped that very current whose source is the mystical. Thus his mysticism is served by religion, against the day when religion becomes enriched by his mysticism. This explains the primary mission which he feels to be entrusted to him, that of an intensifier of religious faith." - Henri Bergson

"Men talk of the extravagances and frenzies that have been produced by mysticism; they are a mere drop in the bucket. In the main, and from the beginning of time, mysticism has kept men sane. The thing that has driven them mad was logic... The only thing that has kept the race of men from the mad extremes of the convent and the pirate-galley, the night-club and the lethal chamber, has been mysticism — the belief that logic is misleading, and that things are not what they seem." - G.K. Chesterton

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I like this from Chesterton as it sums up so well the human condition. Whether we believe in God or gods as the source of our lure to mysticism or not fundementally there is this awareness or an intuition if you like that we cannot rationalise with science or logic everything. Even if its completely logical we know theres more to it. This allows us to step beyond the cold hard facts and ads dimension, perspective beyond our sense perceptions.

Though I think there are varying degrees of a persons sanity in that regard. Mysticism persued to its natural end can bring true peace. But becoming too skeptical and logical can lead you up a garden path where you find no satisfaction and conflict.

NewTestamentChristian said:

"No word in our language — not even 'Socialism'— has been employed more loosely than 'Mysticism.'" - Ralph William Inge

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Too right. I've lost count of the mystical ideas around. Even Disney fantasies as like mysticism kids are immersed in. Its like its in our DNA. We cannot stop ourselves mystifying.

Studies have shown we are natural theists. We have a God shaped mind. So its understandable that this will be expressed in all sorts of different ways through culture. Even the belief that there is no God or beyond is a form of belief in some metaphysical ontology beyond our minds.

I find that most people throughout history and it seems is coming back into fashion is a form of paganism. Now a modern form. Because it appears to not be mystical as its about physical things like mother earth, the sun, moon and stars and animals or idols like in fashion and icons. A mysticism you can have when its not mysticism so to speak. But it is.

NewTestamentChristian said:

"What I don't like today is, to put it coarsely, the phony Hasidism, the phony mysticism. Many students say, 'Teach me mysticism.' It's a joke." - Ellie Wiesel

"The kingdom of God is within you." - Jesus Christ

Mysticism according to Bernard McGinn concerns itself with "the preparation for, the consciousness of, and the effect of a direct and transformative presence of God."

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I think there is some truth to this. I like that idea "the preparation for, the consciousness of. But I think ultimately its the preparation for the presense of God I think its the preparation for consciousness itself that is fundemental. Or is the inituitive state of being we are preparing to fit in with. Its not of the temporal world and we cannot understand this logically or rationally. But we know it and it leads us to something beyond the temporal world.

Ultimately this is our ability to transcend and know God as He is the ultimate God of our conscious experiences. But there are many roads to how people choose to fill that void. But the fundemental truth is we all have this phenomenal consciousness as humans and its something real.

NewTestamentChristian said:

Personally I do not believe that just because someone sees Christ in the sky on the cross or has a vision of Vishnu that one has achieved union with God. I propose something different. Mystical union is experienced via a recognition of the continual awareness of the presence of God in the here and now. This is, I think, the meaning of Christ's words when he says that the kingdom of God is within us and the ideas of the Shin Buddhist Shinran where he discusses the idea of "Other-Power" (I know this primarily from the Kyoto School of thought).

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Yes I agree. Whatever the Kingdom of God is and its certainly not of the temproal world it can be experienced on earth as humans. Maslow talks about the 7 needs of humans. Its starts at the physical like food and shelter and moves up through the emotional and psychological needs. It peaks at the transcedental and spiritual needs. This is not a religious idea but a human condition understood by psychology.

So all humans have this need to look beyond themselves to something. This aligns with the bible when it says we see Gods invisible creative ability in creation. But as humans we rebel against God and look for other ways. Even if thats a substitute mysticism that will satify this natural inclination.

But ultimately its fullfillment is found in Christ. Just as Christ said Gods peace surpasses all human understanding. Because when it comes down to it all the substitute ideas about mysticism are human made ideas and understandings.

NewTestamentChristian said:

I had written a series of papers for a grad program that I was in; It was at a very Thomist Catholic school, so that gives you an idea of how the faculty were (nothing against Thomism its just the "Strict Observance" camp that really grinds my gears). The course was two parts, fall and spring, and we were expected to write two book reviews throughout both sections of the course. My first paper was on the Carmelite friar Nicolas Herman, known to the world by his tonsured name Brother Lawrence. He wrote the classic book The Practice of the Presence of God and I really wanted to do this book; This is probably one of the best books on mysticism that anyone can read. It is not at all technical. My professor, who I was not at all fond of, emails me later that day and says no "New Age" books are allowed. This is why I dislike Thomist's of Strict Observance; Aquinas was a great man but he was just that: a man. I don't think he'd be happy with people canonizing his philosophical work as the alleged "theory of everything." After some back and forth, she did her homework and allowed me to write about the text.

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Thats good as I was beginning to think that some Woke teacher was dictating what information can and cannot be allowed. Jordan Peterson is a great reader and read most of the great philosophers. He says its silly when someone reads something they don't like and then throw the whole book away. When we can take bits and leave others as they all have some truths. Especially the canon writers.

NewTestamentChristian said:

My own personal definition of mysticism, that it is an awareness of God in the present moment, was initially formed when I read him. My second paper was on the first book that Alan Watts wrote. It is titled Behold the Spirit: The Study of the Necessity of Mystical Religion and it is one of my favorite reads. I loved Watts early in college but as I matured I found his later works rather dry. My professor allowed me to write a review of it because of its "theologically conservative nature despite the minor quips." What was my professor referring to? The early Alan Watts adhered to an orthodox Christian view that portrayed Christ as the fulfillment of all things and this was backed up by his interest in Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and Vedanta; Like Aquinas analyzed Aristotelianism and the other schools of Greek philosophy, Watts sought to analyze Christianity through Asian thought. My third paper was on Meister Eckhart, a Dominican friar accused by the Inquisition of heresy, and one of the greatest medieval thinkers. Specifically the paper focused on his 71st sermon, focusing on the concept of nothingness in relation to God, and his short treatise On Detachment. My final paper was on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book The Cost of Discipleship, specifically his distinct between cheap grace and costly grace and his analysis of the Sermon on the Mount.

This is not only an opener on mysticism and a criticism of Strict Observance Thomism. I truly believe that genuine mysticism is a middle ground between rationalism and religion.

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I will have to check out some of the books you mentioned. I have read a bit on Aquinas.

What I find interesting today with all the talk of mysticism is that in some ways science itself is showing us mysticism. Like how you mention the idea of 'nothing' and how that is addressed in physics and cosmology. Like how the theories are becoming more complicated while what we are finding seems to fit more and more with some sort of additional reality beyond material conceptions.

I think in some ways you can use the science itself to support some for of mysticism. Ofcourse material scientists will never say that its anything really mystical but an unknown material explanation yet to be found.

But with what has been discovered lately they better hurry up. So far there are no hidden variables and what appears to be is what appears to be. Which is completely contradictory to a material reality.

Neogaia777 said:

I read some of your devotional, and I get that.

But about the song, and song lyrics, I don't know if even the authors themselves sometimes even knew what they meant, or were fully meaning. But artists just sometimes like poetry, and like to be a bit mysterious sometimes, and so sometimes like to put things in a kind of mystery/metaphor sometimes even to the point that they might not even fully know just exactly what they were trying to say, and/or convey, and/or were meaning, etc. Which is why no one else can exactly, etc.

God Bless.

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Thank you. Yes, some poetry is written in ways which are hard to interpret while others may be quite simple and direct and easy to understand.

Unqualified said:

Well said…

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Glory to God. Thank you.

Our enemy, he prowls about,
Attacking minds, instilling doubt.
He wants us fearful, doubting God.
He wants us fallen, in his squad.

He whispers nothings in our ears,
He wants to fill our minds with fears.
He loves confusion, fears, and doubts.
Division’s what he’s all about.

He’s lacking sense in all he does,
For he is Satan, and because
A fallen creature, that he is,
A liar who is in show biz.

He masquerades as righteousness,
But light is truth, and he’s a mess.
His light is dark. He bites. He barks.
For he’s a dog, and he’s a shark.

He twists the truth, and tells his lies,
The truth of God’s Word he belies.
He turns sin into something good,
And righteousness he not withstood.

And many people follow him,
For he says, “Not forsake your sin.
Forget all of your God’s commands,
And on your flesh now take your stand.

“A party now let’s have instead,
And make your idols now your head.
But claim in Christ you do believe,
So hope of heaven you receive.”

But he tells lies, not trust in him.
In truth, you must forsake your sin,
Turn from your idols, turn to God,
Obey his truth, in Him now plod.

An Original Work / February 17, 2022

Kindly pray I will pass my training today and my work evaluation Amen

JSRG said:

There is a considerable difference between saying Francis "is hardly a model Catholic for us to follow" (various popes of the past can be described as such) and Vigano stating he's not actually pope at all. The excommunication of Vigano was basically just a formality; he had essentially excommunicated himself already, which is why he didn't seem to care much about it.



Since you put the quote in a quote box, it gets vanished when I quote you, so here's the portion quoted from Sheen:

“[Satan] will set up a Counter-church, which will be the ape of the Church. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content.... The False Prophet will have a religion without a cross. A religion without a world to come. A religion to destroy religions. There will be a counterfeit Church. Christ’s Church will be one, and the False Prophet will create the other. The false Church will be worldly, ecumenical, and global. It will be a loose federation of churches and religions, forming some type of global association, a world parliament of Churches. It will be emptied of all divine content; it will be the mystical body of the Antichrist. The Mystical Body on earth today will have its Judas Iscariot, and he will be the False Prophet. Satan will recruit him from our bishops.”

This quote is shared online as some kind of prophecy of the future, but is really taken out of context. In truth, Sheen's prediction failed to come true, because Sheen was talking about how communist Russia would be a key point in such a church. As he notes in a remark usually left off in these online quotes:

"The last century rejected the Church because it was infallible; it refused to believe that the Vicar of Christ would be immune from error when he spoke on matters of faith and morals as chief shepherd of Christendom. But the twentieth century will join the counterchurch because it claims to be infallible when its visible head speaks ex cathedra from Moscow on the subject of economics and politics, and as chief shepherd of the world communism."

Given that Russia dropped communism more than three decades ago, this seems rather unlikely to occur. Even if Russia at some point does decide to bring it back, the fact we're in the 21st century and this hasn't happened yet (Sheen said it would be in the twentieth century) shows that Sheen was simply wrong in his prediction. To be fair, he didn't portray this as some kind of prophecy from what I recall.

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Was the USSR ever "communist" in the theoretical/advertised version of it? The progression of the "antichurch" from the beginning (Cain) , which was and ever is of death for the righteous brother (Abel) of the Church of righteousness and Truth - that beginning work of evil has "progressed through many names over the centuries. Its essence remains the same. Fulton Sheen rightly saw the eschatological end times significance of Russia and the evil that overtook it; "communism" is only a passing temporal expression of the satanic antichurch of the father of lies. As did Our Lady of Fatima, revealing to our Pope at that time to Consecrate Russia, in specific detail which apparently has not been done to this day. I suspect that the time for simple obedience to God's will has passed, and we will see the bitter fruit of man's hardheartedness play out.

I recommend a slow and careful and prayerful listening to the Book of Revelation. In contrast to much reporting and interpreting these days, it is not "fake news." It is never too late to repent, believe and obey in the time remaining, as the "good thief" on the cross shows.

DragonFox91 said:

One thing that I’ve been focusing on is Jesus is risen, at the right end of the throne of God reigning. He’s not asleep at the wheel. He’s not fixing his mistakes. He’s not sitting there watching powerless to do anything. He is perfectly reigning now. If anything seems off, it’s just the pieces falling into place.

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Amen. That's awesome. Thank you for sharing.

If I were a flea
Sitting in a corner
Of your house at night,
What would I see?

Would I see dark?
Or, would I see light?
What changes would I
Sense in light or darkness?

If I were a frog
Sitting on your
window sill at night,
What would I hear?

A mating call to someone
Other than your spouse?
Or, complaints cause someone’s
Getting too close to the truth?

If I were a mouse
Hiding underneath
Your bed at night,
What would I smell?

Would I smell a rat –
A traitor, turncoat,
One who continually betrays
Another’s trust?

If I were God
I would see everything,
Hear everything,
Smell everything.

So, don’t be fooled!
Those who hate the light,
And who embrace the darkness,
Stand condemned already.

An Original Work / October 4, 2019

Germo155, one way we learn is by asking questions.

Most anyone can tell that you are sincere, struggling , persistent,, and eager to learn,

You are welcome on these forums .

Michie said:

“I just need you to know that concept is completely and utterly unbiblical,” he told his congregation.

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I'd say he got that part right, but not in the way he meant.

I am deeply sorry you are experiencing this. This is emotional abuse. The devil knows the scriptures and trembles. Just because he has great bible knowledge doesn't make him a christian, or a man that is converted and loves the Lord.

I take it you are not married. Continue to pray about it, but this man doesn't sound like a good person for you.


When I was young I met a man, like this. Then he wanted to push me from a train. He later told me he had mental illness.
I am glad God spared me from marrying him.


Please take care of yourself and study up on toxic relationships.
take care

1Tonne I think having reflected on this for a few days, that there will a difference of opinon on this which we should accept.

However, the Bible there is a clear call and basis for testimony. Aspotle Peter in Acts mentions it is all well.
I just use this from Google for the definition.
"It is a personal story of how God in His infinite mercy changed that person's life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ."

Some pointers I think you may experience martyrdom some Christians which may lead them for that to be part of the testimony. I think testimony means though a life story in essence. Looking at this more perhaps it could be the word offering. Really as well we have to do our offering to God in the best way that we can with the gifts that we have an involve Jesus at the centre of it, Really as well God is only to judge how ones offering has impacted them in their life. Something outwardly looking something different may have caused that person consequences in some way as well, but it may have not resulted in a loss of life.

Lastly, there is so much you read online you have to be careful. I didn't say at the time but very recently came across Kris Vallotton. Now I am not to say one thing about them, other than that there are appearing to try and speak to the world which won't work so well with many Christians. I read on their blog about Revelation 19 used for prophets and they talk about an encounter.

I think as well the word testimony it is not going to be same as it was in the Bible for many people. Obviously there was no writing on social media then. Even a decade ago a testimony was often done a bit differently. We have to keep the real meaning going as well.

On a general note, just serve God in anyway that you can that is true and meaningful to you.

I hope that your witnessing is going well today.

Vambram said:

Thanks to YouTube, we can find all of their music over there.

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Amen to that. YouTube has done well on getting high quality songs on the platform. Adblocker still works for the most part there, so I have no ads on YouTube.

Vambram said:

It's gray now. But in my younger days I had blonde hair.

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Nice. I am sure your wife liked your blonde hair, and I hope she likes your gray hair as well. For myself, I have one gray hair in my bangs. Just one, which I have first noticed in April 2024. Remember the two verses below, as these go to show that we will get older, and the older we get, the more wise we are and more renewed we are through the power of the Lord.

Proverbs 16:31 (ESV): "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life."
2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."

He RESTORES my soul​

Psalm 23:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.

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Strong's Hebrew: 7725. שׁוּב (shub) — 1056 Occurrences
BDB:
4b. of revival from death
Accordingly, God will restore our soul with the glorified body at the resurrection.

He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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This is one possible interpretation. When we die, our soul (data) is zipped up and stored securely. That's the imagery of the shadow of death. At the resurrection, it is restored to a glorified body.
Ps 49:

15 God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol.

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“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you..." (Matthew 5:44)

"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8)

"The Master said, 'The person of Ren loves others. The person of wisdom knows others.'" — Analects, 12:22

"Fan Chi asked about Ren. The Master said, ‘It is to love all people.’" — Analects, 12:22

"Tang prayed, saying, 'I, the child Li, presume to use a dark-colored victim, and presume to announce to Thee, O supreme God, that if I have offenses, they are not the people’s offenses; if the people have offenses, the offense rests on me alone. Let not the people perish for my sake; if I alone may be spared, I will offer myself as a sacrifice to the powers above.'" - Announcement of Tang, Book of Documents

The concepts of agape in Christian theology and jen in Confucianism provide profound insights into the nature of love, but they emerge from different cultural and philosophical contexts. Both emphasize selflessness, compassion, and a commitment to the well-being of others, yet they do so in distinct ways shaped by their respective worldviews. Agape is understood as the highest form of love in Christianity, characterized by an unconditional, self-giving love that reflects God’s love for humanity. In the New Testament, agape is described as a love that transcends personal desires and even extends to enemies (Matthew 5:44). It is a divine love, rooted in the relationship between God and human beings, and serves as the model for how Christians are called to love one another. The emphasis is on sacrifice, as seen in Jesus’ commandment to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This love is not dependent on the worthiness of the recipient, but is an outpouring of grace. In the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites “Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19).

Jen in Confucianism is often translated as “benevolence” or “humaneness.” But the best literal translation that I have come across is “human-heartedness.” It is a core virtue in Confucian ethics, the idea predating Confucius and is disciples, representing the ideal relationship between individuals. Jen is not just an abstract principle but is realized through specific actions, particularly in the context of social relationships. Confucius emphasized the importance of filial piety, respect for elders, and the cultivation of virtue through proper conduct in family and societal roles. Jen involves empathy and consideration for others, reflecting a harmonious social order where each person fulfills their moral duties by seeing others as living subjects and not as objects.

Both agape and jen demand a transcendence of self-interest and are both of divine origin. Christ was one with the father (John 10:30) and Confucius knew the will of Heaven (“Heaven” is a literal word for God here). Agape and jen emphasize love as a form of spiritual obedience to God. Both forms of love call individuals to transcend selfishness and seek the good of others, whether through divine grace or through cultivating virtue in human relationships. To quote St. Thomas Aquinas, “Love is to will the good of the other.” This is agape as preached by the gospel and Confucius definitely would agree with Christ’s statement “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

britegirl said:

A few weeks ago, I suffered from a sleep paralysis episode early in the morning. I felt the sensation of someone squeezing the right side of my stomach. As I always do when I experience sleep paralysis, I kept my eyes shut out of fear of seeing something that I don't want to see. A second later, I heard the voice of a young woman whisper in my left ear. She said "anything is possible" and laughed afterwards. Her voice sounded crystal clear. I've heard whispers during sleep paralysis before, but I could never make out what they were saying. This is the first time I've ever experienced something like this and her voice is something I will never forget.

Despite prayer and shutting off technology before bed, I still experience paralysis. I'm so terrified of the dark now and I struggle to fall asleep late at night. I've been waking up around 2:00 AM/5:00 AM for the past few nights. Does anyone have advice? I feel like an insane person.

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Sounds familiar. Here is my advice.
- Sleep on your side
- Keep a light on
- Instead of being frightened, laugh at the entiy. The key is to have control.
-Try to wake up by fighting back the paralysis. If you sink into it it's harder to get out. This is actually possible because you know you are in paralysis.
- Last and most important, rebuke in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This needs to be directed to the entity while feeling no fear. It should end !

Now the real question is why are you suddenly getting these attacks?

Anyway, Lmk if this helps! Kind of a pro at this.

Guojing said:

Abraham is not Israel, only Jacob is Israel (Gen. 32:27-28)

We are discussing who is Israel in Romans 9:6 in this thread.

You can have Abraham as your father while still having zero connection with Jacob. (Genesis 25:1-4).

So if you are not Jacob's seed, you cannot be Israel.

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You shall not surely die huh?
Abraham and HIS seed.
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Romans 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Romans 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.