The Heart of Islam.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Islamic fundamentalism is the right hand of Allah.
The instrument of His judgment and His wrath.

But Allah has a heart.

The teachings of Sufism emphasize the Love of God and encourage us to trust Him.

God is trustworthy.
Steadfast and reliable.

He will not punish us or damn us to hell.
He is non-violent, compassionate, and loving.

So we should always look for the heart of Islam.

And ignore the passages of wrath.


Photo Credit: Hamza Hydri via Compfight cc

Wheels Within Wheels.

There are no straight lines in nature.

The straight lines and the squares

are all man-made.

God's creation is circular,

wheels within wheels.

From galaxies to atoms

all is circular and rotating and revolving.

This gives rise

to the cycle of the seasons

and the aspects of the planets.


Photo Credit: seishin17 via Compfight cc

My Message.

What is my message to young gays and lesbians?

What young gays and lesbians need to know is that there is nothing wrong with them.
They are not lame or sick, they are acceptable to God, and they will enter heaven when they die.

My experience of the Divine has taught me that everyone else is wrong and we are right to think that our sexuality is O.K. with God.

The message that young gays and lesbians hear from the media is uncompromisingly negative.
They are told that God rejects them and that they will go to hell.
They are told that they are lame and that they are sick.

A constant diet of negativity is very bad for your self-esteem, let alone your pride.

So my message to young gays and lesbians is that God loves you as you are and you should not let anyone tell you otherwise.  


Photo Credit: Michael Taggart Photography via Compfight cc

Pity.

The cry of the hungry.

The bloody price of battle.

Those sinking in sickness.

Have pity!


Photo Credit: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) via Compfight cc

Hearts of Flesh.

"I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."  Ezekiel 36:26b (NRSV)

What does this mean?

What is a heart of stone?

A heart of stone is a heart that feels no love, a heart that has no compassion.
A heart so afraid that it cannot give.

And what is a heart of flesh?

A heart of flesh is a heart that is human-centered, a heart that values people above laws and morals.

Jesus said to obey the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law.
And the spirit of the law is love.

What was the first commandment?

"'"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."'"  Matthew 22:37 (NRSV)
"'And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."'"   Matthew 22:39 (NRSV)

What was Jesus' commandment?

"'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'"  John 15:12 (NRSV)

Even Paul said that we should make concessions according to understanding.

So do not pride yourselves on obedience to rigid laws and morals.

This will lead to a heart of stone.

But learn to love and forgive.

And you will have a heart of flesh.


[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.]  


Photo Credit: Patrick Hoesly via Compfight cc

Respect.

With desire comes love.

And with love comes respect for the beloved.

What diverts this respect is fear.

Fear of losing out, not experiencing communion.

When this fear is gone we experience respect for the loved one.

Respect for their wishes.

Respect for their rights.


Photo Credit: Darcy Knoll via Compfight cc

If Only.

If only

they knew

how wonderful

you are;

how beautiful

and generous,

how constant

and benevolent;

trustworthy,

reliable,

steadfast in love;

we can turn to you

in distress

or in gratitude

and be healed,

delivered,

saved

by your Love.


Photo Credit: empeiria via Compfight cc