Evil Things and Injury

Why do people do evil things? Why do people kill? It is wrong, but it has been done. People kill and have anger to allay their own injuries. They envy, they feel pride, they have wrath. To appease these wrongful sensations they have killed. Because they lack faith in God, they have killed.

What of those who do not sin? They either control themselves in their actions and have all thoughts, which would be doen in service to God and would be honored. Or they control their thoughts and feelings and are uninjured internally in this way. Good actions and good thoughts honor God. Sin is the other. Sin is not loving God.

Jesus Christ

John 10

1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"

21But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

22Then came the Feast of Dedication^[b] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ,^[c] tell us plainly."

25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^[d]; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

33"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

34Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'^[e]? 35If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Footnotes:

1. John 10:9 Or kept safe
2. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
3. John 10:24 Or Messiah
4. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
5. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6

Social Capital

The sermon today in church discussed the modern decline of social capital, prodded by Bowling Alone. I found that expressed social capital, such as friendship, group activities, participation, is down significantly, but that unexpressed social capital, which is goodwill, has never been greater.

Social activity is the expression of goodwill. Efficiency in social action is ease or greatness of the expression of goodwill. An action that communicates this goodwill and love is good.

Formality of social expression is a conventional way for people to express goodwill in a proven manner. When people trust that others have goodwill in their hearts and wish to share it, formality is meaningless because the faith in that goodwill is already there.

Proverbs 3:25

"Be not afraid of sudden terror, of the ruin of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare.

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once.

Plot no evil against your neighbor, against him who lives at peace with you. Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the Lord the perverse man is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship."

Better Godliness Through Myspace

creation happened a long time ago, too, but we're still here. miracles happen every day. the miracles at Lourdes defy science, but they are on the record. a vision of Mother Mary appeared over Paris, France before millions of witnesses as flowers rained from heaven. Amazing things often happen. Science is 'conventional' and woefully incomplete regarding these irregular events, and the authority of God.

Yes, I believe many religions come close to God and are guided by God. I believe that many people of the same religion are different levels of closeness to God, based on God's relationship with those people. I believe these things happen by and because of faith and love. I believe in Jesus Christ in particular being holy and the son of God, and serving as atonement for what people do that is wrong, and helping people become closer to God.

I don't believe 95% of muslims like Osama. I believe 95% of news reports in America say they like Osama. I do not much care what Osama thinks.

Politicians and world-owners seem to want to fight one another. I don't. I sure can't stop them but God can and I can give them good advice where I am able.

I think the violence promoted in the Koran and other books is ungodly.

Iron


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 21, 2006 9:15 AM

I really cant say as it's tough knowing what to believe, all thats happened in the bible took place along time ago, and much of which contradicts science so honestly alot of it is hard to believe. Talking about religions not easy as everyone claims to be the right one and theres no way of telling who's right, though I must admit various religions have helped the world and that's why I have a problem with Protestants or Muslims saying the popes the devil on earth in disguise and such, I really dont think the devil would be capable of donating so much to charity and being responsable for feeding so much of the worlds poor. Nonetheless 95% of all Muslims in the middle east are cheering on Osama Bin Laden and hate non-muslims and Bin Laden plans a nuclear holocaust for America, and when alot of people who hate me that dont even know me die I feel no sympathy whatsoever for them, I'm just gald we have missle defense systems so the nuclear strike, if at all going to happen, would be rendered harmless. The Koran say's to kill infidels and by doing so will go to heaven, these guys need to be shown no mercy from us "devils" and "infidels". Just thought I should say that.


----------------- Original Message -----------------
Date: Jul 20, 2006 8:34 AM

he raised others from the dead in God's name, and scriptures show that he is foretold, and the voice from heaven said he was God's son, with whom God is well pleased.

what do you believe?


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 20, 2006 6:46 AM

I think the resurection may have been symbolic of something to prove something regarding morality of some sort instead of a literal occurance, and about being the son of god theres truth there as everything is a creation of god so naturally he'd be his son.


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 19, 2006 11:53 AM

i am glad to help teach these things! I am glad you do too. how do you feel about Jesus' resurrection and being the son of God?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 19, 2006 10:36 AM

Judging people doesnt sound very nice, however when we're judged we can look in ourselves to see what's wrong so it can be fixed. Of course judgement of an irrational and subjective nature is flat out wrong but like I've said Jesus was a great guy who has raised the morality bar and people arent as disgusting as they used to be in the pre-Jesus era.


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 18, 2006 10:27 AM

Jesus Christ is the son of God! he rose from the dead, and the Romans definately crucified him.

Jesus said the church would become corrupt, and I believe that explains the massive church corruption in the middle ages. It is a shame that we cannot agree not to judge one another as it says in Romans 14:13.

peace!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 18, 2006 9:00 AM

From what I've read Jesus is a great guy, though his life does seem like a compilation of avatars who came before him (IE: other avatars born to a virgin and died on a cross, perhaps put there so as to make conversion easier as the diety before was like Jesus in a certain respect, or perhaps is actuality) Though I dont like how Christianity was used by Rome for there political agenda, sure the Popes have allways been great guys and an example to look up to (even if I dont see eye to eye with them) but the church allways seperates, Jesus said it shouldnt, but the whole Protestant vs. Catholic rivalry is testamount to how they seem to have more of a political motivation then out of respect for any diety. Well take care!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 18, 2006 12:43 AM

well i'm glad you're among the progressive! it may be our job to spread this information to whomever is receptive to it. do you love Jesus Christ? that is word to spread.

iron


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 17, 2006 10:52 AM

I've noticed that also, and the webrings have came out pretty well, and the information is everywhere but its amazing how many people simply dont know it exist.


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From:
Date: Jul 17, 2006 10:46 AM

i invite you to examine this webring i have made.

Yup. And What Every American Should Know.


iron

====

I believe that religions are rule sets for being god's friend and everyone's friend, along with ertain truths. Jesus Christ is the Messiah and an atonement for the wrong things mankind has done, if they accept that atonement. Every religion is a certain portion right, and every person is a certain portion right.

Birds!

This is a great video about birds. Darwin is right about down-evolution, but I do not believe he ever proposed up-evolution. Superceding creationism may be beyond his will.

James 4:1

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Come to the Lord with a clean heart in everything you do. You are a temple to the Lord since Jesus' death when he destroyed the temple and rebuilt it in 3 days in the hearts of everyone who believes. God is always with you, be always with him.

James 4:11

"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"

Isaiah 8:20

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn."

By this should you judge all things, whether they are according to the Word of God or not.

The Ark of the Covenant

!! http://www.wyattarchaeology.com/ark.htm !!

" One day, in 1978, Ron decided to go sightseeing near the Damascus Gate, in Jerusalem. Walking along an ancient stone quarry, known to some as "the Calvary Escarpment," he was talking with a local authority about Roman antiquities. Without warning, Ron's left hand pointed to a site being used as a rubbish dump and said, "That's Jeremiah's Grotto and the Ark of the Covenant is in there."

Even though these words had come from his own mouth and his own hand had pointed, he had not consciously said or done these things. The man with him, quite out of character, also reacted strangely. He said, "That's wonderful! We want you to excavate, and we'll grant you your permits, put you up in a place to stay and even furnish your meals!"Ron knew that this was a supernatural event but he also knew that not all supernatural events originate from God (Revelation 16:14)."

This is a fantastic story and I believe it is true. I also believe Noah's Ark has been found, and archaeologists have in the 20th century unearthed ancient cities mentioned in the Bible. Balls of ~98% pure sulfur were found around the region of Sodom and Gomorrah recently. God has revealed many things to us and his plan is mighty.

Miracles occur, but they are not to be followed for themselves. They follow the Word of God, which is to be followed. If a miracle points away from God, ignore it and ask the Lord for help and delivery from evil.

Jesus Christ loves you so much he died to save you.

God's is the greatest authority. It is not by your power or by the world or by one's own that anything, any justice is done, but through God. Referring someone or something to the work of God's power is far greater goodness, greatness and justice than anything uninspired.

Live through God. Ask God to do the great works that you would but feel you cannot.

Ribs, Mary, Bears

Men have one fewer rib than women. Interesting. Why would that be but for Creation?

And Mary. I need to know more about Mary. Salvation and amazingness and works by faith.

Can you by hating fix a single thing?

I love the life that flows through all living things. It is from God with love.


The bear of the rainbow. It means peace through all.

blog Layouts

The green dead bear. Dead bears mean peace and progression through social study.

blog Layouts

The warning to the Church in Ephesus always gets me. I feel that I have fallen from the works I once did, from the faith I had in my early conversion. I remember the things I used to do and marvel in and wonder in before I formally switched back, and I want to bring them through to God, for even then I loved God and sought him at every turn. Let me search now without reservation.

How can I do those things and obey the law of love and the state? The laws of the state must change. The ways of society must change. Peace must reign and may God give us guidance and clarity through his holy Spirit.

God, please help me improve at spiritual counseling. Please let me do great religious work and improve the lives of millions through discussion and bold social logic. I call myself a reverend. I have sermons and will preach to small congregations and individuals. I have wisdom and will share it passionately, desperately with anyone who will receive it.

Priests should be allowed to marry if they choose to, for it is by FAITH and not by works. Faith shall make works. Faith has room for families. Even the enlisted priest can love God and express that love through family. Gender roles are a new church tradition. God can inspire women to be enlightened with men.

I want to do miracles. Women have done miracles in God's name.

Blessed is prayer from all people of all creeds, for they are speaking with God their Father.

Listen to the Lord before yourself. Listen to the Lord through yourself. Do what is honor and love to God.

"The God who made you without your cooperation will not save you without your cooperation."
-St. Augustine

Jesus Christ, son of God

Put it to the world. Put your beliefs to your expectations and actions in the world.

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to the risen Jesus Christ. He has told us to go forth and spread his word and baptize. He wants this world and place to be wonderful and is working to make it so.

He will return in the same way he left, but we are not to know the hour nor the day.

The 10 Commandments

...through faith, but the law fulfilled is love through Jesus Christ.

The Book For Children

"God gave the people of Israel [and humanity] these Ten Commandments:

1. You must not have any other God but me. This means that we must love God more than anyone or anything else, for anything we love more than God becomes our god instead of him.

2. You must not make any idol, nor bow down to one, nor worship it. Many people in the world make statues or idols and believe that they are gods which can help them. But in this commandment God forbids making such statues or bowing down to them or worshipping them. God is the only one who can save men, and we are to worship him alone. This commandment also means that we are not to worship money or clothes or anything else but God.

3. You must not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. This means that whenever we speak God's name, we must do it reverently, remembering how great and holy a name it is. If we speak it carelessly or thoughtlessly, we offend him. This commandment teaches us not to swear.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. In this commandment God instructed his people not to work on the Sabbath. This was because God rested on the seventh day after his six days or work when he created the heavens and earth.

5. Honor your father and your mother. Next to obeying God, we should obey our parents. We must not delay doing what they tell us to, and shouldn't even wait to be told. This is God's commandment.

6. You must not kill. We break this commandment by murdering, but we also break it when we are angry with someone and wish he were dead. For then we have the wish for his death in our hearts, and God sees murder in our hearts.

7. You must not commit adultery. When a man lives with a woman as his wife when he is already married to somebody else, it is adultery. God says we must never do this, and it is a sin when a man and a woman sleep together when they are not married. He commands us to be pure in all our thoughts, words, and actions.

8. You must not steal. You must not take anything for your own that belongs to someone else. If you have ever done this, whether by mistake or on purpose, God commands you to give it back or pay for it.

9. You must not tell lies. This means that you must never say anything about another person that isn't true. And when you are saying what is true, you must be very careful how you say it. Don't leave out a little or add a little to make it different from the real truth.

10. You must not covet anything that is your neighbor's. To covet a thing is to wish it were yours. We must not do this. God, who knows best, gives to each of us just what he wants us to have."

I would not that the Judaic view of marriage is slightly more precise than what is implied here. Also, killing that is done in defense is saddening to the Lord that someone dies, but protecting yourself in this way is just and God approves.

Life

I exist by a gossamer thread, because God wants me to. I love this and I love God, because God is good and his will is righteous and to make all things wonderful. Free will and boundless love creates many things.

'Los Angeles, where youth have automatic weapons and boundless love.'

You've Gotta Know

You've gotta know that God knows your heart, your thoughts, your feelings, at every moment. By faith, know this. Ask God to show what is in your heart and judge you by it. If you want to communicate with God, this is the place to do it.

Better Godliness Through Faith

There are some matters in the Christian Church that need to be addressed to every Christian. Miracles happen, Christianity is personal by faith with Jesus Christ and God, belief can be basic to advanced, there are degrees of faith present in every life, and the church will fall corrupt. Knowing these things in a Christian life will help you advance closer to God.

God performs miracles on a daily basis around the world. Most are small and noticed only by one or two people, or maybe not by anyone, we don't know. The day dawns, the rain falls, crops arrive in their season. These are common miracles of God. All good things come from God.

But greater miracles occur. An image of the Virgin Mary appeared over Paris before millions. Flowers rained from heaven. Thousands have been healed and still are healed at Lourdes, France, in ways inexplicable to medical science.

St. Mary Major ~

Circa 352 AD in Rome, a wealthy Christian nobleman named John of Rome and his wife both had a dream in which Mary appeared and asked them to build a church on Rome’s Esquiline hill. John told Pope Liberius of the dream. The Pope also had received the same dream, and together they went to Esquiline hill, which was covered with snow --- on August 5 --- in the outline of a church! Construction was begun immediately in conformity with the floor plan. The resulting Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the largest churches on earth.

The miracles performed by the Apostles and by Jesus Christ during and after his resurrection are also mighty. Paul, praying to God, commanded a man born crippled from birth to stand up and walk. Immediately, by faith in God, this man's legs were regrown whole on his body, with bone and sinew, and he stood and walked! What would you do if you witnessed this happen in New York?

On a more mundane level, scientists have examined prayer and samples of bacteria. One set of bacteria was prayed for. One was not, otherwise they were equal. The one that was prayed for grew substantially more than the one that was not.

Beyond these miracles and others, Jesus cast out demons and said that you will know Christians because they will cast out demons. The only way we can do this is by praying and by faith.

Faith

Romans 14:13 Consideration for the Weak Conscience

"Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrtance in the way of a brother [or sister!] . I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; still, it is unclean for someone who thinks it is unclean. If your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be reviled. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit; whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by others. Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another. For the sake of food, do not destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to become a stumbling block by eating; it is goiod not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Keep the faith that you have to yourself in the presence of God; blessed is the one who does not condemn himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because this is not from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."