Goodness.

Because most of us are basically good we don't expect others to be otherwise.

So when people lie to us and cheat us we are taken by surprise.

There are people out there who delight in malice and evil.

But because this is alien to us we are unaware of it.

This is especially the case if it is covered up with a veneer of acceptability.

Some people who embrace evil will delight in deceiving us.

And we swallow the deception whole.

Secretly they are laughing at us for being so naive.

So don't assume because you are good that others are good also.

This is plainly not the case.


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Normal.

What we consider normal is not what it seems.

Normal is to watch T.V., to listen to popular music, to go to the movies, to watch sports, to work, and to sleep.

But much of our materialistic culture is contaminated with negative messages.

Advertising on the T.V., radio, and billboards all around us creates dissatisfaction and envy.

We are infected with viral avarice.

But quite apart from these obvious negatives our popular culture is saturated with the covert evil of Satanism.

Rock music and reality T.V., movies and sports are populated by people who have sold their souls for fame and fortune.

The products they create are dark and poisoned with evil.

I came across a movie the other day which was aimed at teenagers.
It started with the lead character - a seventeen year old girl - telling her teacher that she was going to kill herself.  It went on to depict her as a loser full of confusion, obsessed with sex, and constantly put down by her peers.

This is sabotage - self-destruction, sexpectation, and suicide. - all passed off as a joke.

Reality T.V. is no better.

So don't watch something or listen to something merely because it seems normal.

Look more closely and see whether it is helpful or destructive.

Then you will be free.


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Bad Fruit.

Jesus said, "'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.'"  Luke 6:43 (NRSV)

I would suggest that the attitude of orthodox Christianity towards sex in general, and homosexuality in particular, has borne bad fruit.

The repressive attitude which the Church has traditionally brought to sex has produced the scandals of child sexual abuse.

And its attitude to homosexuality has produced persecution of gays and lesbians all over the world.

So, if these doctrines have borne bad fruit, they must be bad doctrines.

My prayer is that the Church will wake up and change these bad doctrines before it is too late.

The Church must admit its guilt and change or Christianity will die out altogether.


[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.]

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Peace.

We were watching The Hollow Crown - Shakespeare's historical plays - and one of my friends said, "Henry VI was a weak king - he wanted peace all the time and he was always in church praying.  Of course this just caused more conflict and war."

This is a common attitude in today's world - we think a leader has to be strong, even violent, to keep the peace.

But this is Pax Romana - peace by force.

We think that the teachings of the Prince of Peace won't work.

But has anyone ever tried them?

To turn the other cheek and return good for evil.
To have compassion for your enemies.
To show mercy.

These are the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

If we cry out to God will He not rescue us?

By some miracle we are saved.


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Curry and Rice.

In the personal ads. section of a gay publication there appeared several advertisements which stipulated "no curry, no rice".

This of course meant no Indians, no Chinese.

This is blatant racism and is to be condemned.

Personally I rather like curry and rice.

Indians and Chinese immigrants bring rich diversity to Australian culture.

But it is unfashionable to support Multi-Culturalism.

White Monoculture is dominant.

And fear is rife.

It is up to us, however, to make for immigrants - Asian or otherwise - a home here in Australia.

Which means not only opening our doors but opening our hearts.


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Hearts of Stone.

When we look at our darkening world we see war, poverty, violence, and death.....

But most of all we see hearts of stone.

The hard-heartedness and cruelty of those in positions of privilege is unprecedented.

And what is it that hardens our hearts but fear.

We have little faith.

Faith that God will provide.

But God said,"I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh."  Ezekiel 11:19b (NRSV)

This is God's promise.

And the world needs it more than ever.


[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.]

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Value.

Do not be surprised if the world does not value you.

What God values is of no use to the world.

The world values: sex-appeal, money, ego, fame, status, possessions, power, and authority.

God values: honesty, integrity, humility, charity, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, faith, and love.

Jesus said that the world hated him.

And it was the powers and authorities of the world that killed him.

Despite what the Church may tell you.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"  1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV)


[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.]

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