Shangri-La.

All human beings long for Shangri-La.

The lost kingdom of mysticism, harmony, longevity, and happiness.

And so it is with the Kingdom of God.

We must act out the values of the Kingdom of God as described in the Beatitudes.

Then the Kingdom will appear amidst the kingdoms of the world.

And we will be free.


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Obstacle.

Although most Progressive Christians agree that unconditional love is the key to the New Paradigm.

I believe that there is a negative spiritual and psychic influence which must be overcome if we are to develop spiritually.

Satanism in rock music and popular culture poisons us and sabotages our spiritual quest.

This is darkness, death, and evil.

And it saturates our media.

This holds us back, turns us away. and blocks our way.

So unplug your earphones and turn off the T.V..

Listen to sacred classical music.

And meditate on the scriptures.

Then you will begin to move towards the Light.


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Devil-Worship.

And this is why rock stars and celebrities who have turned against God and His Church will be exonerated.

Because they have rejected a false image of God.

The traditional image of God as a harsh judge and punisher of men and women.

God is seen as such a bastard that even Satan seems more reasonable.

They turn to the devil and do his work in the world.

Or so they think.

For there is no devil in reality.

Only God's Love.


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The Dark Arts.

The followers of Satan practise the dark arts.

Rock stars, celebrities, and sportsmen who have sold their souls push negativity, harm, and poison.

They deal in negations, curses, and darkness.

They stress the negative interpretations of your astrological signs and planets.

They steal and they sabotage.

They do this in the belief that this backwards religion is somehow powerful magic.

They hope for a reward from Satan himself.

This is the basis of their irrational practices.

But this has no basis in reality.

There is no devil.

No dark powers.

Their harmful practices are in vain.

For there is only one supernatural power.

That is God.

And He is good.


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Be the Difference.

"Be the difference you want to make in the world."

This quote is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi.

Although it is not exactly what he said it is good advice none the less.

And this is how it is with the Kingdom of God.

We must be the Beatitudes.

Then we will be the Kingdom of God.

Otherwise we reflect the values of the world as taught by the mass-media.

And the Kingdom of God is lost.


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The Kingdom Of God.

Christians have long sought the Kingdom of God.

But what is this mysterious Kingdom?

The Church has traditionally taught that membership of the institutional Church equates to the Kingdom of God.

But this conflicts with the Beatitudes which set out the values of the Kingdom.

The Church has all too often not reflected these values.

Jesus said, "'the kingdom of God is among you.'"  Luke 17:21 (NRSV)

But I say if you practise the values of the Kingdom - mercy, compassion, and love - then you are in the Kingdom of God.

In this way the Kingdom of God exists among the kingdoms of the world but does not reflect the values of the world.

And "If God is for us who is against us?"  Romans 8:31 (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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Life-Wish.

Popular music and entertainment contains a hidden death-wish.

The desperate pleasure-seeking and self-destructive substance abuse encouraged in venues and pubs and in our popular culture leads to a burnt-out emptiness.

But faith can lead us to a life-wish.

Love for the real God is life and health.

To be enfolded in His loving embrace is to love life and goodness.

"What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."  John 1:3-5 (NRSV)

"'I am the bread of life.'"  John 6:48 (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 through the middle of the street of the city."  Revelation 22:1,2 (NRSV)

So throw away your death music and come out of the darkness.

Love God and love your neighbor.

Your love will be requited.

And your heart will be alive!


[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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