The Need.

Modern society is in need.

Young people have no religious beliefs or ideals by which to live their lives.

The messages they get are materialistic and selfish.

"Buy this product", "get rich", "get famous", "win at all costs".....

They are encouraged to be ruthless, tough, and hard.

And to seek material gain.

But these things are empty boxes.

They may be wrapped in golden paper.

Or adorned with diamantes.

But in the end they are empty.

This us the way of the world.

It does not lead to happiness or fulfillment.

God's way is the way of the heart.

The heart leads to love and compassion.

And the goodness of God:

Honesty, moderation, truthfulness, generosity, humility, gratitude, and courage.

These things flow from God like rain.

But at the heart of it all is Love.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love."  1 John 4:18 (NRSV)

For it is fear that corrupts us and makes us compromise what we know is right.

So love God and love your neighbor.

And live!

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: bible.art

AFL.

Commentators on the AFL are in the habit of calling good players "beasts".

In the Bible a Beast refers to someone who uses violence, brutality, and force to dominate others.

And the followers of the Beast receive his mark in their right hands or their foreheads.

The right hand refers to actions taken in righteousness.

And the forehead refers to your mentality.

So the aggressive, brutal, ruthless mentality of the AFL is the mentality of the Beast.

And that's not to mention the 666 Rule.

Photo Credit: facebook.com

Fear or Love.

Hate is fear.

Fear of sin and evil.

Fanatical Christians hate sinners.

But Jesus said: "'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.  But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.'"  Matthew 5:38,39 (NRSV)

And: "'You have heard that it was said. "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'"  Matthew 5:43,44 (NRSV)   

So when a question arises in regard to our response to others' actions we should ask ourselves: "Is it fear or is it love that motivates me?'

For there is no fear in God.

Only Love.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Fear.

If God treats everyone the same in Heaven then how will we be able to forgive those who have wronged us?

How will the Jews be able to forgive Hitler and the Nazis?

The answer lies in the fact that their behavior was driven by fear.

And we all have hidden fears.

Fears that can make us punish and kill.

So when God makes it clear that we have in our shadows "demons" that we don't acknowledge.

"Demons" that oppress and torture others.

"Demons" that are unconscious fears.

Then we can forgive ourselves.

And if we can forgive ourselves then we can forgive those who have hurt us.

Because they are motivated by fears.

And if some have more fear than others then they are more to be pitied than us.

Photo Credit: The Conversation.

The Mark of Cain.

The Mark of Cain is not what we think.

We think it is a stigma for murdering his brother Abel out of jealousy.

But what the Bible actually says is this:

"And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him."  Genesis 4:15 (NRSV)

The temptation is to think of Abel as good and Cain as evil.

But God shows mercy to Cain and does not punish him.

This is because Cain's murder of Abel is out of jealousy.

And jealousy is fear.

It is fear of losing God's Love.

And we all have these fears.

God's mercy offends our sense of Natural Justice - reward for good and punishment for evil.

But were God to act in this way we would be condemning ourselves.

Because we all have these fears in our shadows.

And so God shows us mercy.

And we can forgive ourselves.

Photo Credit: youtube.com

Violence.

The Hippie Generation were subjected to psychic and spiritual violence by Generation X.

Endorsed by their President Ronald Reagan Generation X attacked the mentality of the Hippies.

They "kicked their heads in."

And they forced them to change.

This was called  Reconstruction.

And the right-wing political parties backed it to the hilt.

They scapegoated hippies and gays.

And they exploited racism and prejudice.

This is the story of our time and the reemergence of political Fascism.

Photo Credit: pinterest.com

Scapegoats.

Hippies and gays get the blame for Satanism in rock music.

This is because the Fundamentalist Christians who have been given this knowledge are right-wing and use it to smear their political opponents.

Hippies and gays are scapegoats for for rock musicians and rap artists.

This is why this information has been around for decades but nothing ever comes of it.

The rock and rap musicians who sold their souls are getting off scot-free.

Photo Credit: simplypsychology.com