Beatitudes.

Feed the poor.

Comfort the afflicted.

Assume humility.

Strive for justice.

Show mercy.

Give love.

Make peace.

Have faith.

Endure.


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Death and Love.

When a fan discovered hidden messages and backtracking in the Beatles' music it was all about death.

And this is the secret of 1960s rock legends.

Death is a spiritual state which equates to separation from God.

St, Paul says, "the wages of sin is death."  Romans 6:23 (NRSV)
And, "the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil."  Hebrews 2:14 (NRSV)

Death is the basis of Satanism and black magic as taught by Aleister Crowley - the icon of 1960s rock bands.

But this is not restricted to 1960s artists.
These practices continue up until the present day.

Rock music encourages sin in the hope of death and damnation.

But when the waters of Aquarius come it is all about love.

The mysterious waters of Aquarius are thought to be the secrets of spiritual knowledge.

And this is all about love.

The concept of unconditional love is the doorway to the heart.

The symbol of the sign of Aquarius is the Egyptian hieroglyph for the water.

And the jar which the Water Carrier holds is the Egyptian hieroglyph for the heart.

So the water which flows from the water jar is the love which flows from our hearts.

This is none other than the water of life which the Bible speaks of.

"'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'"  John 7:38 (NRSV)

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb."  Revelation 22>1 (NRSV)

So open your hearts and give love.

And you will 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.]

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The Kingdom of God.

A few weeks ago we had the reading from 1 Samuel where the people of Israel wanted a king like other nations.

Previously Israel had been ruled by Judges who were instructed by God Himself.

God says to Samuel, "'they have rejected me from being king over them.'"  1 Samuel 8:7 (NRSV)

This throws a whole new light on the Lord's Prayer where Jesus says, "'Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"  Matthew 6:10 (NRSV)

Was Jesus proposing a return to the rule of God?

It is interesting that the early Christian martyrs were mostly executed for refusing to bow down to Caesar.

They insisted that Jesus was their king.

So what does it mean to accept God as king over you?

It means accepting the ways of God which are the ways of mercy and compassion.

And rejecting the ways of the world which are materialistic, self-serving, egotistical, ruthless, cold, hard, and violent.

It means that every decision we make is informed by the Love of God through prayer and devotion.
 
This is what it means to build the Kingdom of God on earth.


[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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Hearts of Stone.

Contrary to the opinion that hearts of stone are the result of toughness and strength I say that hearts of stone are the result of fear.

So if your heart is hard and unforgiving.

If you are selfish and miserly.

You are most likely afraid.

This is why it is important not to preach fear.

Fear of judgement, fear of punishment for sins, fear of hell create a heart that is cold and hard.

The result is violence and force.

But contact with the true God softens our fears and softens our hearts.

We feel love and compassion.

We care and we help.

We have hearts of flesh.


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Fear.

There are only two things in the world:

Love and Fear.

Whether directly or indirectly all evil, violence, and hatred in our world comes from fear.

Whether it be deliberate evil chosen as an alternative to a fearful image of God.

Or force and violence in response to fear of hell and damnation.

All these abominations stem from fear.

But God does not punish us.

God is our loving Father.

And a father does not condemn his children.

The traditional image of God as a harsh and vindictive punisher of men and women is false.

It stems from fear.

But "perfect love casts out fear".  1 John 4:18 (NRSV)

The Love of God overcomes our fears.

Love God and love your neighbor.

And your fear will dissolve like the mist.


[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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Satanism in the World.

There is Satanism in rock music, sports, and entertainment.

It curses and poisons us.

We are disturbed and distracted.

But it is hidden behind a mask of glamour and celebrity.

It is disguised as harmless fun and pleasure.

But it is not harmless.

Drugs, divorce, depression, hedonism, excess, insanity, suicide.....

All these things derive from Satanism in our world.

And it is from this that we need Salvation.


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Dogs and Divas.

People who have sold their souls - rock stars, celebrities, sports men and women - believe that because they have paid with their souls they are entitled to fame and fortune and the perfection of their art.

They expect "money for nothing and their chicks for free".

They have confidence in the power of Satan to deliver these things and also to hide them in the darkness.

This is the arena of the dark arts: black magic, witchcraft, and Satanism.

But they are false prophets.

Dogs and divas.

They distract and they disturb.

They divert and they deceive.

So beware!

We have been betrayed.


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