Enough.

I had an aunt who worked into her old age even though her husband had a well-paid job.

My mother asked her why she continued to work when they had millions.

My aunt said: "Because I never felt that I had enough."

She had grown up during the Great Depression and the fear of poverty was great indeed.

Perhaps this is how it is with those who chase after more and more wealth and possessions in our world.

Perhaps they are just afraid.

And as such we can feel sorry for them.

They don't have the courage or faith to stop.

For with God there will always be enough.

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Ecclesiastes.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible King Solomon is saying: "I was the richest man in the world; I had all wealth, all power, all pleasure; and yet I found no satisfaction in it." 

"All is vanity and chasing after the wind,"  Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NRSV)

He became disillusioned and hated life.

He developed a death wish. 

Even wisdom and knowledge seemed futile.

The wicked and the righteous experience the same fate: 

Naked we came into the world and naked we shall leave it.

And the ways of God are inscrutable.

But he does not find the answer.

All he can say is that God will bring everything to Judgement whether good or evil.

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The Blacklist.

When we pray for others we must remember that some rock stars, sportsmen, writers, and entertainers have turned to the devil for fame and fortune.

And so those for whom there is evidence of evil* must be placed on the Blacklist.

Not that we should not pray for them but that they would try to take advantage of us and benefit from our prayers but not change.

So for others we can pray for heaven and salvation.

But for those on the Blacklist we must pray that they change.

They must denounce the devil and all his works and turn to God through love - the unseen hook.

For the devil denounces love because God is love and those who love abide in God and God abides in them.  (1 John 4:16)

(*Images of the devil, his name, the Beast, monsters, hate, death, or hell.)

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Tough and Teeth.

Generation X insist that the answer is tough and teeth.

Meaning you have to be tough to endure life.

And the answer is teeth or superior strength.

But hidden behind this rigid facade is a black heart.

A heart of pure evil that resorts to violence and murder to achieve their ends.

And they project these qualities onto God.

And they force others to submit to their errors.

But at the root of this is fear.

Fear of losing, fear of being dominated, fear of weakness.....

But God does not resort to violence or force.

He will not coerce us.

God is non-violent.

He is merciful, forgiving, and gracious.

And His inmost nature is Love.

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Our Thoughts.

"With our thoughts we make the world." - the Buddha.

Our thoughts actually affect other people.

If we have bad thoughts about others it will affect them badly.

If we have good thoughts about others it will affect them positively.

 

So prejudice matters, and malice and vindictiveness count.

It has recently been suggested that prejudice and malice play a role in mental illness.

And this is my experience.

So working to alleviate prejudice and hatred is a worthwhile cause.

And our prayers for others will help.

These problems are caused by fear.

So getting to the root of the fears that inspire prejudice and hatred is essential.

Then the benefits will come to everyone.

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The Cost of Living Crisis.

The cost of living crisis in Australia was directly caused by the conservative Howard government.

Then Treasurer Peter Costello cut Capital Gains Tax by 50% which resulted in investors flooding the house market and causing house prices to rise dramatically.

When this caused tax revenue to fall he brought in the G.S.T. which penalized the poor.

And the exorbitant rise in home prices has meant that people could no longer afford to buy their own home therefore the rental market has been flooded and landlords have increased rents inordinately.

So the cost of living crisis was directly caused by the mismanagement of the economy by the conservative Howard government. 

 Photo Credit: this.deakin.edu.au

Fear.

In the end all the problems of our world are caused by fear.

Fear of poverty, fear of suffering, fear of punishment, fear of ridicule, fear of God.

Even reactionary Satanism is caused by fear.

Fear of missing out, fear of castration.

Satanism is a reaction against the harsh image of God put out by traditional religions.

But this image of God is caused by fear.

Fear of punishment, fear of evil.

So all these things are forgivable because they are caused by fear.

Be they personal fears or errors caused by fear.

But there is no fear in God.

And so when we overcome our fears we will be on our way home.

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