WOW

Its been almost a year since my last post! Too long i think. What's on my mind now? Lots of things that are not positive but setting my boring future aside.....here is what i am thinking about a lot lately:

Tradition!

Traditioooooooonn sang Tevya the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof!
Tradition! That is not of GOD, say protestants of certain stripes

Its not our tradition...say some.

Does the Sacred Word of God forbid traditions? NO by no means! The Bible only rails against the "traditions of men". So what are the traditions of GOD? Are they the adaptations of Jewish worship and prayers incorporated into the new worship of the new religion of Christianity by the first apostles of Jesus Christ? OR are they "new" ways of worship invented by those who believe they are lead by the Holy Spirit of God today?

If you were Jesus Christ what what you say? Seems to this humble soul, that if Jesus hand-picked certain men to found the new faith and gave them authority we should follow their traditions.

WHO is Jesus addressing here in this passage--specifically?

Matthew 16  ¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

   ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

   ¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

   ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

   ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,^[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[c] will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

I was taught, years ago in a Christian talk that Jesus was addressing all believers here, but the person pulled verse 19 out all by itself. However, is that the reality here? or is Jesus doing a specific thing here? For over a fifteen hundred years believers thought that this scripture was as straight as it appears. When did we get to make our own interpretations of this out of context? only in the last 50 years i would theorize. 

Lastly, another question, when did the freedom spoken of as a legacy of the power of the Cross and resurrection of Christ become freedom OF religion? When did Religion become a "bad guy"? I believe that Satan wins a round with us if because some people abused a good thing we throw out the good thing altogether. Lets not hand Satan and his ilk any more wins! Please!

An old poster from the wall in my room

Max Ehrmann

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

The Skull and Crossbones at the Foot of the Cross

The earliest Crucifixes (they were not ashamed to put Jesus on the cross, they used the full Crucifix), Had a skull and crossbones at the base of the cross. Ancient peoples believed that Golgotha was the place where the bones of Adam were buried. So when depicting the cross of Christ, they placed the God of Love upon the cross with the bones of "the first Adam" as Paul calls him. at its base.

The precious blood of our Savior dripped down upon the bones of Adam and redeemed him to God. O God on this Passion Friday, Cleanse us by your precious and Holy blood. Redeem us fully, in every area of our lives, right to our very bones.

Love

You love to the degree you're willing to sacrifice for the one you love. -- Fr. John Corapi

I would say that if you do not understand who God really is but claim to worship Him, you are actually worshiping a false God.

God is love, but what is love? It is NOT feelings of attraction or lust. God is LOVE and so HE defines love, His actions ARE love, His works are from love and can be no other. If He allows suffering, it is love, that motivates Him. If He allows us our free will it is because of His love. To love is to be like God. Love lays down ones life for another, love sacrifices all for the beloved.

God gave us His very best, His ONLY BEGOTTEN(not made) Son. He allowed Him to suffer and to die, for us.

To call the silly selfish desires that we have to keep someone ours so that we might feel good is not love. Love desires what is best for the Beloved.

I have a friend that God called called to Him recently, This was out of God's love. And though her husband suffers loss and her children miss her dearly, this too is love.

My most popular post

About a year and a half ago i was on a futile search for the name of a song that i loved. I thought the name was from the Chorus You made me alive, But it is not! The song is called Gift of God made popular by Justin Rizzo. I have found that many people all over the place have been searching for this song also, which says to me that it has a real anointing of the Holy Spirit on it. So since I have had more hits for that original post, than any other on my blog, i am reposting the song here.

Enjoy!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLelQGoQlqs   

UNBELIEVABLE!

Is Ritual and Ceremony Important to God?

I was challenged over Christmas by a family member who said that ritual and ceremony were not important to God, only your relationship to Him is important. .

Let's just look at our relationship with God. If I treat God at least the way that I treat my beloved friends and family, I would find out more about Him. What are His habits, likes and dislikes, what kind of information do I have to base my relationship with this all-important person in my life?

Well I have the Bible and some other early writings of people who knew Jesus Christ first or even second-hand. If I start in the Bible, in the Old Testament i come to places where God specifically called for ritual and ceremony, He ordered a place of meeting, at first a tent, then later a building or temple. He also ordered statuary and vessels for the ceremonies. He proscribed the way that He was to be worshiped and adored in the tent or temple. Hmmm. Well, you ask, I thought Jesus did away with all that stuff?

Let's look at Jesus, He went to the temple and he had a Bar-Mitzvah, and he read his Half-Torah. He went to the temples first to preach until they threw Him out. He kept passover, we know this for certain and He honored the local marriage Ceremony with his presence also.

What about His followers did they seem to think that ceremony and ritual was now passe"? Well when we look at our earliest record of Jesus followers they risked their lives to get together for mass(breaking bread together).

I would conclude that in my relationship with Jesus Christ, I better get on board and embrace Ritual and Ceremony.