The Consolation Prize.

Jesus spoke of a Treasure in a Field and a Pearl of Great Price. (Matthew 13:44-46)

This is the Ultimate Prize.

Traditionally this is thought to be the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But I have a different view.

On Earth we hanker after worldly rewards: money, possessions, power, status, pleasure, fame, authority.....

But I believe that this Ultimate Prize is the Consolation Prize.

If we forego all the empty prizes of the world we will find this Ultimate Treasure.

It is Love.

The treasure in our own hearts.

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Temporal and Celestial.

The problems I have are Temporal not Celestial.

My relationship with God is good.

My prayers are answered.

And my love is requited.

But on Earth I am persecuted and victimized.

Since the AIDS crisis gay men have been used as a scapegoat for all the evils of the world.

And the Baby-Boomers have been bashed, brainwashed, and blamed for political purposes.

So my life is a waking contradiction.

But the rewards of love and the hope of Heaven far outweigh any suffering that may linger on.

I am blessed with Salvation.

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The Church.

Ironically the problems of our world originate in the Church itself.

Because the Church has traditionally taught Fear not Love.

And fear begets fear.

But there are only two things in the world:

Fear and Love.

And God is Love.

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Youth Crisis.

There is a Mental Health crisis in our youth. 

Numbers of anxiety and suicide are rising.

I believe this is because the messages that kids get from the media and the Internet are materialistic, negative, and destructive.

The Internet will direct you to product advertising or dubious information sites.

Computer Games are violent, evil, and sadistic.

Sports feed you with win at all costs/work harder mantras.

Talent quests and reality TV push worldly success and money motivation.

All this on top of massive expectations and little support at school.

But children are not taught to be human.

And ethics and principles are not presented to them. 

In fact most reality TV shows actively undermine any ideals or propriety.

Evil is entertainment.

And corruption is the norm.

None of these things leads to happiness or even satisfaction.

We are addicted, obsessed, and manipulated.

What is needed is a return to the Humanities in education.

And some sort of philosophy that will lead to meaning in their lives.

The Church is no longer seen as a positive influence.

In fact the Church is viewed as suspicious, intimidating, and sinister.

And ideals are denigrated and dismissed.

So that leaves you with nothing.

There is nothing to live for.

The time has come to find a new way.

To rehumanize our youth.

Education is not just work training.

History, Philosophy, and Literature give us valuable life lessons.

And Comparative Religion broadens our outlook.

Clear Thinking gives us discrimination of the information we are presented with.

And Current Affairs encourages critical thinking.

This is one way to help our youth.

And set them on the path to meaning and happiness in their lives.

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Poison.

Part of the historical context in which we live is the phenomenon of Satanism in rock music, sports, and entertainment.

This toxic influence is hidden beneath a mask of popularity, celebrity, and glamour.

But the fact remains that much of our popular culture is infected with this poison.

It mostly takes place on an unconscious level through backtracking, subliminal messages and images.

Have you noticed that everything is going up in flames?

The association of the flames of hell with sex is rife.

And stars make the sign of the horns and poke out their tongues.

This is also a subliminal message associating sex with the devil.

It is not true.

But they persist none the less.

Songs about death* and suicide are common.

Not to mention broken hearts and cynicism.

This all amounts to a flood of poison which sabotages our well-being and our mental health.

They try to addict you to pleasure and sin in the hope that you will be damned like them.

So be more discerning in your listening and watching.

We are being deceived.

  

And we are being poisoned.

(*This is death to God as cited by St. Paul.)

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Historical and Eternal.

What I write is partly historical and partly eternal.

When I write about social and cultural issues I am speaking historically.

My generation is the Baby-Boomers and I lived through the 1960s and 1970s of peace and love and gay liberation.

I have also lived through the 1980s which saw the AIDS crisis and the rise of Fascism. 

The 1990s saw a resurgence of gay rights and a revival of Liberalism.

The Millennium continued this trend but the 2010s saw Trump and Covid-19.

The 2020s are emerging from Fascism and Evangelical insanity.

So I have seen the vicissitudes of History.

But when I write about God I am speaking eternally.

God exists in all times and places.

But His Presence is in the Eternal Present.

His Mercy is infinite.

And His Forgiveness is forever.

He is non-violent, transcendent, and sublime.

He cannot be manipulated.

And His Salvation is eternal.

All goodness comes from God.

He is Light, Life, and Love!

But His inmost nature is Love.

And His Love is Eternal.

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Do-Gooders and Bleeding Hearts.

The Kingdom of God is made up of do-gooders and bleeding hearts.

Idiots and fools to the world.

The cynical and pragmatic speak disparagingly of anyone with principles or ideals.

Don't they realize?

But I don't want to live in a world that is unjust and unforgiving.

I want to live in God's Kingdom where there is goodness and love.

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