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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 7 months

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16th February >> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies for Today's Mass Readings (Inc. Matthew 9:14-15) for Friday after Ash Wednesday: ‘The time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away'.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Gospel (Except USA) Matthew 9:14-15 When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast.

John’s disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’

Gospel (USA) Matthew 9:14-15 When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast.

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Reflections (8)

(i) Friday after Ash Wednesday

Fasting doesn’t seem to be as prominent in our Catholic tradition as it used to be. The only days we are required to fast are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting seems to have a higher profile in the Moslem tradition. Yet, fasting remains a value in the Christian tradition generally. It is at the opposite end of the spectrum to overindulgence. When we fast we are proclaiming that we do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. In the gospel reading Jesus affirms the value of fasting for the period after his death (and resurrection), the time of the church, ‘The time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast’. We fast in order to be freer to serve the Lord and his people. In that sense, fasting is inseparable from pray and almsgiving, from the service of the Lord in prayer and the service of his people, especially those in greatest need. In the first reading, Isaiah stresses the connection between fasting and the service of the Lord’s most vulnerable people. There is no point in fasting while at the same time striking the poor person with the fist, he says. The fasting that is acceptable in the Lord’s eyes is the fasting that makes us more aware of the hungry, the homeless, the oppressed, the naked, the enslaved. Our voluntary denial of something we like is to make us more responsive to those who have little or no access to what we are denying ourselves. Our fasting is to flow over into what the Catholic tradition has called the corporal works of mercy. Then, in the words of the first reading, ‘your light will shine like the dawn’. Or as Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel, ‘Let you light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’.

And/Or

(ii) Friday after Ash Wednesday

Both readings this morning speak of fasting, one of the traditional Lenten practices. We tend to think of fasting in relation to food. To fast is to deprive ourselves of certain foods for a period of time. In the first reading, however, Isaiah defines fasting much more broadly than that. He understands it as fasting from all those ways of relating to people that damage and oppress them and replacing such ways of relating with working for justice on behalf of those in greatest need. Isaiah seems to be saying that fasting can never be separated from that other Jewish practice that we associate with Lent, almsgiving, the sharing of our resources with others. On Ash Wednesday the gospel reading put before us the three great Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Isaiah reminds us this morning that all three stand or fall together. They are three expressions of one way of life. We cannot focus on any one to the detriment of the other two. Fasting is saying ‘no’ to something. Isaiah reminds us that such saying ‘no’ is always with a view to saying ‘yes’, a ‘yes’ that finds expression in greater service of our neighbour. Such service of others makes our prayer more acceptable to God. In the words of our first reading, ‘Cry, and the Lord will answer; call and he will say, “I am here”’.

And/Or

(iii) Friday after Ash Wednesday

In the first reading Isaiah makes a strong connection between fasting, on the one hand, and almsgiving and working for justice, on the other. The kind of fasting that pleases God, according to Isaiah, is one finds expression in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, letting the oppressed go free. We fast so as to be freer to give ourselves in the service of others. In the gospel reading Jesus affirms the value of fasting for the period after his death and resurrection. He too linked fasting and almsgiving closely together and he linked both with prayer, as was clear from the gospel reading that we read for Ash Wednesday. Within the Christian vision, fasting or abstaining is not about losing weight. Rather it is about become free of what is not essential so as to be able to give ourselves more fully in love to God in prayer and to our neighbour in loving service. We all have something to fast from; it may not necessarily be food or drink. We all have something to let go off so that we can be more available to the Lord for his work in the world. There may be something that absorbs us too much and that blocks our relationship with God and with others, especially those who need us most. Lent is a time when we ask for the grace to fast and step away from whatever that is holding us back, and hindering us from being all that God is calling us to be.

And/Or

(iv) Friday after Ash Wednesday

Jesus’ words in the gospel reading suggest that there is a time to fast and a time not to fast. He speaks of himself as the bridegroom, suggesting that his ministry is like a joyful wedding feast, when the divine bridegroom reaches out in love through Jesus to his bride, God’s people. There is no place for fasting at a wedding feast. There is no need for the bridegroom’s attendants, his disciples, to fast. However, alluding to his forthcoming death, he declares that the bridegroom will be taken away from his attendants and that will be an appropriate time to fast. In the words of Qoheleth in the Jewish Scriptures, ‘there is a time for every matter under heaven’, and we could add to his list, ‘a time to fast and a time not to fast’. Lent has traditionally been understood as a time to fast. It is a time when we identify with Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, the city of his passion and death, the city where he was taken away from his disciples. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that our fasting is always to be linked to one of the other traditional Lenten practices, almsgiving or service of the needy. According to that reading, our fasting is in the service of letting the oppressed go free, feeding the hungry, sheltering the hungry and clothing the naked. We die to ourselves so as to give to others. We deprive ourselves so as to become more sensitive to those who are deprived and to serve them from our resources.

And/Or

(v) Friday after Ash Wednesday

The gospels suggest that people often asked Jesus the question, ‘Why?’ In particular, the religious leaders asked him why he was doing this or that or not doing this or that. There was clearly something new and different about the ministry of Jesus which gave rise to this repeated question, ‘Why?’ In this morning’s gospel reading, it is the disciples of John the Baptist who ask the question ‘Why?’ They wonder why Jesus and his disciples do not follow the fasting practices of the disciples of John the Baptist and of the Pharisees. In the gospel reading for Ash Wednesday, Jesus affirmed the value of the key Jewish practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, provided they are not done to attract attention. In this morning’s gospel reading, he indicates that the celebratory aspect of his ministry means that fasting cannot have the same significance as it does for the disciples of the Pharisees and John the Baptist. Jesus’ ministry is more like a wedding feast than a funeral, with himself as the bridegroom and his disciples as the bride. Jesus goes on to say that this celebratory element of his ministry does not exclude fasting. However, it does give it a different tone and focus. That celebratory element of the Lord’s ministry continues today in the church. The risen Lord wants his joy to be in our lives, a joy the world cannot give. Our fasting is with a view to entering more fully into the Lord’s joy; it is in the service of deepening our loving relationship with the Lord so that the joy of his Spirit may be in our lives. As Isaiah in the first reading reminds us, and as Jesus would confirm, our fasting is also in the service of a more loving relationship with others, especially those in greatest need.

And/Or

(vi) Friday after Ash Wednesday

There are only two days of fast and abstinence in Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Yet, many people chose to fast from some form of food or drink for the season of Lent. According to the gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples were criticized by the disciples of John the Baptist for not fasting in the way they did. John the Baptist was a more austere man than Jesus. Jesus once referred to John the Baptist as one who had come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and to himself as the Son of Man who came eating and drinking. It seems that neither Jesus or his disciples were as much into fasting as John the Baptist and his disciples. There was something more celebratory about Jesus’ ministry in comparison to the ministry of John the Baptist. In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks of himself as the bridegroom and his disciples as the bridegroom’s attendants. Jesus’ life and ministry had something of the celebratory quality of a wedding, and who fasts at a wedding? Yet, Jesus also acknowledges that a time will come when fasting will be appropriate, ‘the time will come…’ Jesus is looking ahead there to the time of the church. When we fast from some food or drink, we are showing that it is not vitally important to us, that we are not dependent upon it. What really matters to us is our relationship with the Lord. We fast so as to as to grow in our relationship with the Lord. In the first reading, Isaiah links fasting to our relationship with those in greatest need. We fast so as to be freer to respond to the call of those who most need our help. Fasting is always in the service of our love of the Lord and our love of others. If fasting is a saying ‘no’ to something, it is always with a view to our making a more generous ‘yes’ to the Lord and his people.

And/Or

(vii) Friday after Ash Wednesday

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus affirms the value of the Jewish practice of fasting for his followers. ‘The time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast’, he says. Jesus is looking ahead to the time after his death and resurrection. He declares that beyond that time fasting will be appropriate for his disciples, but not during his public ministry which is equivalent to the joy of a wedding feast. In today’s first reading, Isaiah declares that fasting must be in the service of just relationships with others. He speaks of a fast that breaks unjust fetters, that leads to sharing our bread with the hungry and sheltering the homeless poor. Fasting can seem like something negative, a saying ‘no’ to something that can be good in itself, but, the prophet reminds us that this ‘no’ is always in the service of a more generous ‘yes’ to the Lord and his people, especially his most vulnerable people. We deny ourselves so that others can live more fully. We have become more aware in recent times that we need to say ‘no’ to others, to fast, so that our natural environment can also live more fully. Pope Francis reminds us of our responsibility to our environment in his wonderful encyclical ‘Laudato Sii’. We deny ourselves not only for the sake of others but for the sake of our natural environment. The Pope expresses this bond we have with all of creation very beautifully in that encyclical, ‘Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures, and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth’.

And/Or

(viii) Friday after Ash Wednesday

In the gospel reading, Jesus says to those who criticize his disciples for not fasting that his ministry is not the time for fasting. Why is it not the time for fasting? It is because Jesus’ short public ministry was too joyful a moment in God’s dealings with humanity. It had something of the quality of a wedding celebration. Jesus, the bridegroom, expects those who attend on him to be joyful rather than mournful. He asks, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them?’ There would come a time when the bridegroom would be taken away, when Jesus would be put to death. That would be a time of mourning, and fasting would be appropriate. However, that time of mourning would be short lived. On the third day after his crucifixion Jesus would be raised from the dead and the celebratory mood of Jesus’ public ministry would be restored. Indeed, it would be greatly enhanced, because form now on death would have no power over Jesus. It is worth reminding ourselves that even in this season of Lent we are living in the light of that first Easter. There is a place for fasting in the Christian life but it shouldn’t be of such a nature that it leaves us and others miserable. The bridegroom is very much still with us and he is constantly inviting us to the wedding feast of the Lamb. In the first reading, Isaiah reinterprets the Jewish practice of fasting as fasting from all forms of behaviour that are detrimental to others and, more positively, being proactive in regard to the full human flourishing of others. It means ‘to break unjust fetters… to let the oppressed go free… to share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor’. The practice of fasting has morphed into the Jewish practice of almsgiving, acts of justice and loving kindness that serves the wellbeing of others. Jesus would agree with Isaiah that this is the kind of fasting that is always in season and that we are all called to practice every day.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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lunarsilkscreen · 11 months

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Hamas Covenant 1988

Both Israel, Palestine, and Hamas will hate me for this; but here we go.

Here's the verse raw-translations, which excludes minutia, slang, and multiple definitions of words:

"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (evidently a certain kind of tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Moslem)." - Article 7

Here's how it might be translated based on my poor understanding of linguistics:

"It would be the end of days if the Muslims defeated the Jews.

The rocks and trees would have to take our side and hold them down and say 'here they are, come get them!'

Only the Gharqad tree (which isn't a real tree anyway) would not do that.

Because it is the *one* tree the Jews planted." - Not Article 7

"The Judgement" or "Judgement Day" or "Ragnarok" refers to what Christians call "Revelations" or the "End of times". Its use in this context suggests the same, considering the preface to this verse in the [covenant of 1988] is: "The injustices of family are harder to bear than the smite of the Scimitar."

As in; that same document consideres Palestinians and Israelies brothers. Or cousins. Or kin.

And then says; on a hypothetical day when Muslims are victorious against the Jews AND the *trees and rocks themselves* tell them to kill the Jews, that's the day judgement day has arrived.

The absurdity of waiting for the plants and rocks taking the side of the Muslims and convincing them to commit murder of their cousins should be clear.

And the joke is; The Gharkad are a type of Bonzai that Jews planted in Israel, and thus they would be the only plant not to turn on them. Because you don't "bite the hand that feeds you" or something.

The rest of the covenant references the Quran, and basically says that if they (the Muslims) must die because God wills it, then so be it. This is common rhetoric in nearly every modern religion starting with Judeism (in line of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths). And so, they should understand what is being said.

"Zionism" to them is the arbitrary definition of Territory which should not be crossed (land borders). Imagine if somebody drew a border right in front of your local Starbucks and said "you cannot go in there anymore" and you're like "But I get my coffee there..."

Both that Starbucks and you Suffer, because now you gotta go a mile out of your way to the other Starbucks. And you're not gonna do that, because that Starbucks sucks, AND it's out of your way.

Only in this case, it's more important things like work, and food and clean water. (Which they were denied access to). Which had an impact on *both* of their economies, which now Netanyahu is mad at Palestinians for. And Hamas is mad because of what I just said.

(I do not support baking anybody's babies in ovens.)

"We will not accept your money" means one of two things: "We are a service that would rather go bankrupt than serve you" -OR- it means: "We'd rather you die than serve you."

Depending entirely on the state of the local economy.

And sometimes, businesses don't understand which of the two positions they're taking. They often believe they are of the former, but they are often taking the latter. Like Hypocrits do.

And they don't see, that both stances will affect the entire local economy to the negative. Because the money stops changing hands.

And then, the United States is expected to put its *own* economy on hold to fix this "injustice".

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fr-martin-gospel-reflections · 7 months

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16th February - ‘The time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away’, Reflection on the readings for Friday after Ash Wednesday (Mt 9:14-15)

Friday after Ash Wednesday

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seekfirst-community · 1 year

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Knowledge of My Word will set you free from fear, worry and doubt.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31 - 32).

Wednesday 29th March 2023 in the 5th week of Lent.

When Jesus says that if you persevere in feeding on His word, you will come to know the truth and the divine truth you know will set you free, what does the Teacher mean?

The truth (divine reality) frees us from fear, worry and doubt and dread that falsehood imposes on us.

Pope Benedict when he visited the oil rich country of Angola was shocked to see how the population was still shackled by fears of evil spirits, disease and death. He remarked that Angola received Christian missionaries about 500 years ago. At that time, Europe was still shackled with similar fears and superstitions. But the light and truth of Christ has since dispelled those fears in Europe.

Today, Europe needs a fresh burst of the light of Christ because the continent is again in darkness because of materialism, atheism and hedonism.

The consequences are dire. Most European countries have today close to zero birth rate. The citizens have abandoned Christianity in large scale. They welcome Moslems with open arms to work and maintain their standards of living. Islam will be the majority religion in Europe in about 50 years.

In the 1st Reading from the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar asked the three Jewish boys:

"Who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" We hear the same threat today everywhere from strong men and bosses: "Is it true you will not work on Sunday? Who is the God who can deliver you out of unemployment?"

If you have not remained in the word of God, how can you ever know the truth that can set you free?

Hear the bold answer of the three Jewish boys to their tormentor who believed he had supreme power:

Oh Nebuchadnezzar, if we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

The boys know the Scriptures and they know the truth that set them free from fear of death. How did the story end? Read on below:

"Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own."

By faith, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego conquered the spirit of Nebuchadenezer. The same faith is available to us through the Word of God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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bylagunabay · 4 years

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In Praise of MARY

MARY, KEEPER OF THE GATE (2/2)

The image is the painting of our Blessed Mother by St. Luke. And now to our incredible miracle story on the Panagia …

HOW A SAUDI ARABIAN MAN WAS MURDERED, HIS BODY CHOPPED UP YET LIVED TO TELL HOW THE PANAGIA STITCHED HIM UP BACK TO LIFE

A Saudi Arabian Moslem, appeared before several new agencies to relate the following incredible event he experienced, which changed his life (this story appeared on TV, the Internet, radio, and was circulated in newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets throughout Saudi Arbia, Syria, Palestine, and evidently in all neighboring countries).

Some years ago, this man married a very rich Moslem woman but she was sterile. As the years passed, and despite all their efforts and significant medical expenses with many doctors, they remained childless. The man’s parents suggested to him that he marry a second woman, while upholding his initial marriage (as the local laws permits up to four concurrent marriages).

Being exhausted, worried, and downhearted, he did not accept his parents’ advice but rather chose to vacation with his wife in Syria. There, they hired a limousine with a driver who would serve as tour guide for all their site-seeing excursions throughout Syria. As the vacation progressed, the driver noticed that the Saudi Arabian couple was experiencing bitterness, pain, and grief. Having gained familiarity with the couple, the driver cautiously asked them why they appeared to be so unhappy-was it perhaps because he was not conducting the tour to their satisfaction?

The couple confided to the driver that the source of their unhappiness was their inability to have children. The driver who was also a Moslem, then told them that in Syria the Christians, specifically the Orthodox Christians, have a monastery named Panagia Saidraya (Arabic word meaning Our Lady) and that many people who can’t have children take refuge to Her miracle-producing icon. They go to the monastery and there they are given to eat, the wick from the lamp which burns before the miraculous icon. And then the “Mary” of the Christians gives them according to their faith, what they wish for.

Becoming excited, the Saudi Arabian and his wife asked the driver to take them to the monastery “Saidnaya” of “The Lady of the Christians” and said that if we have a child, then I will come back and I will give you $20,000.00 US and, I will give the monastery $80,000 US. So they went to the monastery and did as they were instructed. Later they returned to their homeland and after some time the wife was found pregnant. In a few months she gave birth to a charming baby boy. It was truly a miracle of Our Lady Theotokos (Mother of God).

Now, as soon as his wife gave birth the Saudi Arabian man wanted to return to Syria to uphold the promises he had made. Upon his return he called the same driver and asked to be picked up at the Damascus airport. But the driver was cunning and wicked and he persuaded two of his friends to go to the airport with him to pick up the rich Saudi Arabian man and to take his money and kill him. So they picked up the rich man at the airport who, as they drove, without realizing that they had planned to kill him, told the friends of the driver that he would give them also $10,000 US each.

These men still not satisfied, deviated from the route to the monastery and went to a deserted place and proceeded to slay the Saudi Arabian man and to cut off his head and other parts (hands and legs) of his body into pieces. Blinded by passion and overcome by the horrific act that they just committed, they put the man’s remains in the trunk of the car rather than just leaving him there. After taking his money, watch, and all that he had, they proceeded to find another deserted place to discard the remains.

Then on the National highway, their car broke down and stopped in the middle of that road. The three men got out to determine why the engine had stalled. Then a passerby stopped to help them but they, afraid that their terrible act would be discovered, pretended that they did not need any help. But as the passerby motorist was leaving, he noticed blood dripping from the rear of the vehicle and he called the police to investigate because the scene and the three men looked suspicious. The police came and they saw the blood under the car and on the pavement so they ordered that the trunk be opened.

Well, when the opened the trunk, lo and behold, the Saudi Arabian man lifted himself out, obviously and amazingly alive and in good health, saying to them “Just now this PANAGIA finished stitching my neck, right here (showing them the area of his Adam’s Apple), after first stitching up the rest of my entire body”. Seeing this, the three criminals immediately lost their minds-becoming like mad. The police handcuffed them and as they were being taken away to an asylum for the insane, the criminals started raving that it could not be possible that the Saudi Arabian man whom they killed, beheaded, and dissected could yet be alive.

The Saudi Arabian went to a medical facility to undergo examination by doctors and medical examiners who confirmed and attested that the stitching was done very recently, thereby validating the miraculous event. The stitches were, and still are, obvious. When the Saudi Arabian came out of the car’s trunk, he had the appearance, literally, of just having been refabricated (put back together) to which he continuously confessed that the PANAGIA had rejoined his body and resurrected him with the help of her Son.

Immediately after this, the Saudi Arabian called his relatives to come to Syria and they all went together to the monastery of Panagia Saidnaya and offered up prayers, praises, and glorification, and instead of the initial gift of $80,000 US (which was promised), he gave $800,000 US to the Theotokos.

Today, as this man relates the details of that overwhelming miracle, he starts his narration with “When I was a Moslem this happened to me” this indicating he is not longer a Moslem, as neither is his family.

This miracle stunned with awesome surprise the entire Arabic/Moslem nation and all of the Middle East.

Source: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/01/great-miracle-in-syria-and-convent-of.html

#catholic #orthodox #mary #virgin mary #theotokos #mother of god #panagia #st. luke #miracles #icon #blessed mother

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seekfirstme · 4 years

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“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31 - 32).

Wednesday 1st April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. When Jesus says that if you persevere in feeding on His word, you will come to know the truth and the divine truth you know will set you free, I can vouch that this is not April fool. It is the truth.

The truth (divine reality) frees us from the fear and dread that falsehood imposes on us. Pope Benedict when he visited the oil rich country of Angola was shocked to see how the population was shackled by fears of evil spirits, disease and death. He remarked that Angola received Christian missionaries about 500 years ago. At that time, Europe was still shackled with similar fears and superstitions. But the light and truth of Christ has since dispelled those fears in Europe.

Today, Europe needs a fresh light of Christ because the continent is in the darkness because of materialism, atheism and hedonism. The consequences are dire. Most European countries have minus zero birth rate. They welcome Moslems with open arms to work and maintain their standards of living. Islam will be the majority religion in Europe in about 50 years.

In the 1st Reading from the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar asked the three Jewish boys: "Who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" We hear the same threat today everywhere from supervisors and bosses: "Is it true you will not work on Sunday? Who is the God who can deliver you out of unemployment?"

If you have not dwelt in the word of God for a long time, how can you ever know the truth that can set you free? I enjoy freedom in a number of areas in my life and I am profoundly grateful.

Hear the bold answer of the three Jewish boys to their tormentor who believed he had supreme power: Oh Nebuchadnezzar, if we live, we live. If we perish, we perish. The boys know the Scriptures and they know the truth that set them free from fear of death. How did the story end? Read on below:

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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divanquotes · 5 years

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Salaberry, History of the Ottoman Empire v1, 1813

Page A-46: D’Aubusson waited for Zizime’s departure to send ambassadors to Constantinople to negotiate peace. Bajazet desired it, and received the knights with more consideration than the Muslims usually put in their relations with the Christians. The sultan’s court had a somber hue which reflected the defiant and taciturn character of this anxious sovereign. The renegade Paleologue, as astute and dissimulated as his master, dominated in the Divan, where the true Ottomans, firm and proud, such as the grand vizier Achmet Ghiedik seemed out of place and without credit.

Page A-51: He had made his master tremble. A prince of Bajazot’s character could not forgive this new crime of his virtuous vizier; he thought only of separating him from the soldiers, whose love was his safeguard. Achmet returned to the Divan, again clothed with the vizierate, and, like all great souls, preserved neither distrust nor resentment. He followed Bajazet to Adrianople; and by the order of the cruel sultan, the brave, virtuous and faithful Achmet was strangled in secret.

Page 142: If the Ottoman princes cultivated and protected the letters, which soften the manners, they are nevertheless engaged in a fierce practice, worthy of the most barbarous peoples; they sacrificed the lives of their closest relatives before even the slightest suspicion was raised of concern. It was in the hope of preserving from this danger his two other children, princes at a young age, that Muhammed I had prayed, by his will, for the Greek emperor to serve as their guardian. Manuel therefore claimed the brothers of Amurath II, but the Divan declared that this request offended the honor and religion of the Ottomans, and that the care and education of the young princes would not be entrusted to the infidels. This refusal opened the prison of Mustapha in Lemnos. He subscribed, under the threshold of the door, to all the conditions that Manual wanted to release, and arrived on a Greek ship at Gallipoli. He was soon recognized as emperor in the Hexamilion, and in the peninsula. In vain did thirty thousand men gathered at Adrianople march against him: the Ottoman army passed under the flags of the alleged son of Bajazet, seconded by credulity, fortune and kinship.

Page 308: He arranged for Egypt a mixed government, in which the shared powers retain the custody in an equal dependence on the supreme authority. He forgave the rest of the Mamelukes who had escaped the massacres he himself had ordained, and far from continuing to destroy them, he recalled them and gave them a part in the government he stablished. He put the Egyptians under the law of a Divan or Council, composed of the Pasha and the Mameluke chiefs, seven in number. These seven members had under them twenty-four beys or governors charged with collecting the taxes, watching over the inner tranquility of Egypt, and pushing back against the incursions of the Arabs. The duties of the Pasha consisted in notifying the Council of the orders of the Porte, in passing the tribute, in preventing any party from becoming too powerful; and in order that he should not abuse this great portion of authority, the Council, formed of the chiefs of the Mamelukes, had the right to resist the Pasha’s orders, by giving reasons for their refusal, and to depose him even if he were absent, from his duties; such was the wisely combined government that Selim had the skill to give to Egypt.

Page 332: But we must place here an anecdote which at the same time shows the vigilance of Soliman, his respect for justice, and which marks the time when the sovereign authority made the first use of this mysterious and dreaded window, which is placed in the Divan above the sofa of the grand vizier. This invisible communication, which supposes the prince’s eye always open to the duties of his ministers, honors the exercise of supreme power, as much as the famous ear of Denis the Tyrant has made us hate the abuse.

Page 333: A member of the ulema corps named Cabiz-Effendi, was speaking at the Divan, on the same evening, and publicly claiming that Jesus Christ was above Muhammed, and that the gospel was preferable to the lies of the Koran; the scandal was universal. The heresiarch had as his judge the grand vizier Ibrahim, and the two caziaskers of Romelia and Anatolia. He presented his profession of faith and belief in the strongest and most assured tone. The two caziaskers, who were unable to refute the bold and learned assertions of the accused, declared him, without further examination, unfaithful and ungodly and sentenced him to death, accompanying their judgment with imprecations and insults. The Grand Vizier told the magistrates that violence did not belong to their duties; that doctrine and law were the only weapons with which they were to fight error, and that no one could be sentenced to death, who had not been convicted of his crime. Solomon, who was placed behind the jealousy (window) that made him present, though invisible to all eyes, sent the order that the case should be judged the next day by the mufti himself.

It was the first time that this supreme leader of the Law had sat in the Divan. The truth, say the Moslem historians, sustained by the science and the eloquence of the mufti, triumph over the sophisms of the heresiarch. He was exhorted to abjure his errors, to ask the forgiveness of God, and to return to the bosom of Islamism. Cabin-Effendi, unshakable, declared that he would never betray his belief, in which he wished by conviction to live and die. It was only after further useless attempts that the mufti authorized the natural judge of the accused to condemn him to death as unholy, unfaithful, and apostate. It is with pleasure that the friend of humanity sees in this very remarkable cause that persuasion and gentleness are not excluded from a religion which is even erroneous, and it is with all the more pain that Christians are reminded that they have not always dictated the decisions of the Councils.

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saiorgseo · 5 years

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chennai to shirdi flight packages

Valuable Lessons of Sai Baba

Beyond the miracles of Baba, there is one bright, marvelous fact, worthy of people’s adoration and that is, his golden heart of love with its message of universal love. Baba loved all - Hindus, Moslems, Christians, and Buddhists, the learned and the illiterate, the poor and the rich, the priest and the criminal - alike. His message to all his devotees is ‘Love ye, one another, as I love you all’.

Baba declared that if people hated one another, his heart was smarting with pain and sorrow and if persons forgave enemies and endured the ill-treatment, he was highly please. This is the most valuable lesson for this day and for all time. A story is told in Bhagavatha of the world going as a cow to Brahma, groaning under the weight of the cruel Asuras harassing innocent people. That is just the spectacle all over the world to day. Hatred, destruction, plunder, and absolute disregard for truth and virtue, are the chennai to shirdi flight packages predominant features in the daily history of the world to-day. Man’s claws and teeth are red with the gore of brother man; and the criminal is not apologetic but blatant. Civilisation is in imminent danger of being submerged in pools of human blood and devastating fire leaving the human form a fossil to be discovered within some rocks by some later race. Sri Sairam Subhayatra offers you. The only thing that can avert this doom is love, a revival of the very ancient message to Asuras from God ‘Dayadhwam’ i.e., ‘Be merciful’.

Baba’s whole life was an illustration of how this divine message could be carried out in life, and the more Baba’s message is heeded, circulated, and preached, the greater is the hope for humanity avoiding the threatened catastrophe.

One species of miraculous achievements wrought by Baba for the benefit of his devotees is the blessing given for issue. Whenever Baba blessed anybody and said that there would be issue, invariably the lady brought forth the child, either male or female, in twelve months, exactly as stated by Baba.

In 1886, Baba died his first death. One day when sitting along with his devotee Mahisapathy in the Dwaraka Mayi (as his mosque was named by him), Baba said that he was going to Allah and that consequently for three days his body was to be looked after for, after that period, he might return to the body, and that in case he did not do so, the body should be interred near the mosque. Presently Baba’s body became a corpse. An inquest was held over the same and the officer holding the inquest insisted on Mahlsapathy burying the body. But Mahlsapathy vehemently opposed the proposal and succeeded in preventing the internment. On the fourth day, Baba’s body revived and for thirty-two years thereafter, Baba worked through that living fleshy case and finally left it on the 15th October, 1981, with the same prescience and clear control over all the circumstances which he showed in 1886. This leaving of the body at will and returning to it at pleasure is an art, a siddhi, described in the Yoga Sastras; and Baba’s exercise of such powers convinced and would convince many of the truth of the Sastras.

One noticeable feature of Baba’s life after his return to the body was that he began to encourage the arrival of bhaktas to his feet. Evidently the object of his return to his body was to carry out his mission more fully and for a longer period on earth, especially with reference to the devotees and others bound to him by former ties, rinanubandha.

Baba’s own miraculous personality surviving his release from his physical body has however been the principal reason for the success of all this propaganda. His power is still working and by reason of that along, myriads in Madras and other Presidencies have become firm adherents to, and worshippers of, Baba. The faith is well grounded in the experience showered upon them now as liberally and miraculously, as they were showered before Baba’s passing away. Baba’s figure is occasionally seen by, and his wondrous powers are manifested to, those that have the necessary faith, at any place, as Baba has no partiality and his grace cannot be the monopoly of any person or place. All of us like to go to shirdi to visit Sai Baba. Best is organized by Sri Sairam Subhayatra. Wonders are being worked by him today at various places and therefore Sai Mandirs have sprung up in many of them.

Real Facts of Sai Baba

Baba, however, is not a mere worker of miracles. He is a Samartha Sadguru. He applies miracles or miraculous means to fill with faith and gratitude the hearts of devotees. Gratitude soon turns into love and then Baba’s real work is seen. Baba purifies the hearts of all of the dross of low attachments and their consequences, and gradually raises the devotees’ souls to loftier and still loftier states of being, till they finally merge into himself. People begin with the notion that Baba is a kind provider of all that they need and in fact resort to him to have their temporal needs satisfied. But they discover (at least many do) that Baba is after all their Ishtamurthi, their own Rama or Siva, the God of their fathers who has now taken a new shape to carry out the ancient divine plan of the Universe, and that ‘God fulfils himself in many ways lest one good custom should corrupt the world’.

Baba’s antecedents as mentioned already were revealed by himself. Even after they are fully considered, still the question must be deemed doubtful whether he was a Hindu or a Moslem. But (Janma or Jathi) by actual birth, he was of Brahmin parents, and hence by a very large number of persons, he is considered to be a Brahmin. But according to Baba’s own statement, he was handed over in his very infancy to a fakir who brought him up for about five years according to Islamic faith. After the death of the fakir, Baba was handed over to a Brahmin Guru by name Sri Gopal Rao Deshmukh of ‘Venkusa’. The stay of ten years under this Guru and the marvelous initiation into divinity by the Guru’s purna kripa, ought to clear all doubts, and establish that Baba was Brahmin or at least a Brahmin.

But as fate would have it, the Guru after conferring upon Baba his purnakripa and raising him to divinity, directed him to go westwards and Baba had to spend the rest of his life in a mosque moving with all alike as an ativarnasrami, i.e., one beyond all caste rules. We do not know what an expert lawyer would conclude as to Baba’s caste in these circumstances. But whatever that may be, to those who considered him a Moslem, he responded as a Moslem and to those who cared to treat him as a Hindu, he responded as a Hindu; and he expounded the Koran to the former and the Sastras to the latter. By the Hindus, he has been worshipped as Ramavatara or Sriman Narayana for so many decades while others treated him as merely human. This reminds us of an incident about Krishna. When Sri Krishna went with Balarama and others to a yagasala and wanted food, the Brahmins were wondering whether they could offer the food prepared for gods to Krishna, who appeared to have been born in a Kshatriya family but brought up among (Vysias) cowherds. He was regarded as God by many, but the Brahmins were doubtful about his caste. By reason of their ignorance (ajanna) they offered no food at all to Krishna. Then Sri Krishna sent word to the ladies, who ran up all at once with great devotion and gave up all that they had prepared for the Gods to him whom they considered as the God of Gods. Exactly the same chennai to shirdi flight packages thing happens now. Our gives comfort feel, safe and happy journey. Persons whose pious leanings render they easily attracted to such great souls as Baba run up to Baba and never bother their heads over questions of his Jathi or caste, and like the Brahmin ladies, deserved and obtain the highest blessings while many doubting Thomasses (samscyatmas) even of the highest castes, go on debating endlessly about the question of the caste to which a holy man belongs and lose their chance of benefiting themselves here and hereafter.

It depends a great deal upon once’s poorva sambanda or rinanubhanda whether one is attracted by Sri Krishna or Sri Sai; it may be noted that persons wish to discuss this question of caste only when their feelings have not been roused. But when one is in intense pain or great trouble, his heart leaps out with the request, ‘Baba, help me’, never minding a brass pin as to where Baba was born or how he was brought up; and once he receives innumerable and miraculous benefits, he gets perfectly convinced that Baba is God to him, whatever he may be to others and he cares not for discussions as to the legal position regarding Baba’s caste. Baba himself used to say at times to such Hindus as considered him a Moslem: “I am a Moslem, don’t come to me” and to persons who regarded him as Sad Guru or Guru-God: ‘I am a Brahmin. Give me dakshina. This place wherein I am sitting is not a mosque; it is a Brahmin’s mosque; it is Dwaraka Mayee’. He was everything to everyone.

Apart from Baba’s caste, some persons raise the question whether he was a Brahmagnani and if so how he happened to perform miracles.

Sai Baba’s leelas were purely unmotivated by desire. His whole life in the flesh was one continuous self-sacrifice for the sake of humanity. In serving Man, he was serving God; and he advised his devotees to do the same.

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sortiarius65-blog · 6 years

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New Post has been published on https://worldofamulets.com/product/silver-pendant-seal-of-the-archangels-and-olympian-spirits/

Silver Pendant Seal of the Archangels and Olympian Spirits

The Silver Pendant Seal of the Archangels and Olympian Spirits is used to invoke any of the archangels or spirits and asking for their favors. In this incredible amulet not only the arcangels can be invoked but allso the 7 Olympian Spirits. This amulet will help you communicate with all of them when needed.

To invoke any of them just say it’s name 3 times followed by: I, (your name) invoke (name of the archangel or spirit) to serve my goal. After this you clearly and precisely state your goal to him and finish with: “Please go out there and make my wish come true. My payment is the gratitude i feel when you bring success.”

The Archangels

Michael

Michael Hebrew = Who is like God? Michael is one of the Angels of God’s presence. He is depicted as a warrior-prince leading the celestial armies against wicked forces and in Christian tradition he is the Angel with the sword. He appears as a tall young man, blonde hair and has yellow/golden coloured eyes. He is usually dressed in a golden cloak and tunic. He carries a large sword in his right hand. One of the Angels of the Apocalypse together with; Orifel, Anel, Zachariel, Raphael, Samael, Gabriel. One of the Angels of Creation with Orifel, Anael, Zachariel, Samael, Raphael, Gabriel. The first Angel created by God, Michael is the leader of all the Archangels and is in charge of protection, courage, strength, truth and integrity. The Ruling Princes of the Nine Celestial Orders: Seraphim: Michael, Seraphiel, Jehoel, Uriel, Kemuel. Ruler of the Fourth Heaven. reputedly contains the heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple and the Altar.

Magical Intentions:

Worldly ambition,, new jobs, peace, to acquire money and favors from people in power, regain youth, recovery of lost property and to obtain luck. It is an excellent time to work efforts involving business partnerships, work promotions, business ventures, and professional success. Spells where friendships, mental or physical health, or bringing joy back into life are an issue work well on this day, too. Growth, Advancements, Enlightment, Rational Thought, Exorcism, Healing, Prosperity, Hope, Exorcism, Money

Gabriel

Gabriel comes from the Hebrew meaning “Man of God.” It has alternately been translated “God is mighty” or “the strength/power of God.” The Prologue from Ohrid explains his name this way: “Man-God. Gabriel, has also been interpreted to mean ‘God is my strength.’

Christian tradition makes Gabriel the Archangel trumpeter of the Last Judgment (1 Thes. 4.16). In Islam, Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad, becoming the Angel of truth. In art and literature Gabriel is mainly treated as the Angel of the Annunciation. In the Annunciation he often carries a lily, properly the symbol of the Virgin. He is often represented on churches with trumpet raised and facing east, ready to proclaim the second coming of Christ. The Archangel Gabriel appears as a mature male with long silver hair. Muscular in form and clothed in white/silver robe which shines in the light. Some say he also has a silver crescent ornament on his brow.

St. Gabriel the Archangel -“Fortitudo Dei”, one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible. Only four appearances of Gabriel are recorded: In Daniel 8, he explains the vision of the horned ram as portending the destruction of the Persian Empire by the Macedonian Alexander the Great, after whose death the kingdom will be divided up among his generals, from one of whom will spring Antiochus Epiphanes. In chapter 9, after Daniel had prayed for Israel, we read that “the man Gabriel . . . . flying swiftly touched me” and he communicated to him the mysterious prophecy of the “seventy weeks” of years which should elapse before the coming of Christ. In chapter 10, it is not clear whether the angel is Gabriel or not, but at any rate we may apply to him the marvellous description in verses 5 and 6. In the New Testament he foretells to Zachary the birth of the Precursor, and to Mary that of the Saviour. (Hugh T. Pope. Transcribed by Sean Hyland. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VI. Published 1909. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York)

The Jews venerated Gabriel as the angel of judgment, and in both Jewish and Christian tradition he is one of the seven archangels. Gabriel is also known to Moslems, who believe him to be the angel who served as the mouthpiece of God in dictating the Koran to Mohammed. Angel of the Apocalypse with Orifel, Anel, Zachariel, Raphael, Samael, and Michael. Angel of Joy with Raphael. Watcher of the South. Ruler of the First Heaven. This heaven is the closest heavenly realm to the Earth. Many believe it is the abode of Adam and Eve ( who were also angels ) Angel of Mercy with Rahmiel, Rachmiel, Michael, Zehanpuryu, and Zadkiel.

Magical Intentions:

The ebb and Flow of magical power, all things domestic or about marriage, women in particular .Monday’s energy best aligns itself with efforts that deal with women, home and hearth, the family, the garden, travel, and medicine. It also boosts rituals involving psychic development and prophetic dreaming. Psychic Sensitivity, Women’s Mysteries, Tides, Waters, Emotional Issues, Agriculture, Animals, Female Fertility, Messages, Theft, Reconsolidations, Voyages, Dreams and Merchandise

Tzadkiel

Sachiel or Tzadkiel is an archangel of the order of Cherubim. The meaning of his name is variously given as “the covering of God” He appears in a urple robe with a cloak, in the image of an older man with gray hair. He also hold a scepter. Ruler of the Sixth Heaven.

Magical Intention:

The achievement of general ambitions, health and wealth. Generates friendships and social prestige. Governs Lawyers, legal affairs and justice. Thursday, the vibrations of this day attune well to all matters involving material gain. Use them for working rituals that entail general success, accomplishment, honors and awards, or legal issues. These energies are also helpful in matters of luck, gambling, and prosperity.

Haniel

Anael Hebrew: “Joy of God” or “Grace of God”, also known as Aniel.He is an Angel in Jewish lore and Angelology, and is often included in lists as being one of the seven archangels. The name Haniel probably derives from Hebrew hana’ah, “joy”, “pleasure” His family seal is a crescent moon with a small dove beneath it. From Hebrew hana’ah means”delight,” “enjoyment” plus el “God.” Haniel (Anael) means “the Grace of God” . He is listed in as one of the 7 Archangels. From a Kabbalistic perspective it is thought that this Angel escorted Enoch (Angel Metatron).

There is conflicting descriptions of the Archangel Anael some believe that the Archangel is Anael is 5’2″ tall with straight light blond hair and one pair of large cream wings., others an androgynous figure long black hair and with large gray wings approximately 6′ 0″ tall. Some also say that the angel appears as Dressed in emerald green tunic and carrying a lantern. He holds a wand tipped with a pine cone and decorated with multi-coloured ribbons. Archangel Anael is reputed to be the daughter of the Archangel Michael. As hshe is also one of the Angels of creation, this is unlikely as God made all the cration Angels. One of the Angels of Creation, which includes: Anael, Orifel, Zachariel, Samael, Raphael, Gabriel & Michael. Chief of the Order of Principalities and Virtues.

Ruler of the Second Heaven and in charge of prayers ascending from the 1st Heaven. The Second Heaven serves as the home of the Garden of Eden. It is also believed that both Paradise and Hell are contained in the second heaven on the “Northern Side” Prince of the Archangels and ruler of the Friday Angels.

Venus, the jewel of the sky, was once know by ancient astronomers as the morning star and evening star. Early astronomers once thought Venus to be two separate bodies. Venus, which is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is veiled by thick swirling cloud cover.

Astronomers refer to Venus as Earth’s sister planet. Both are similar in size, mass, density and volume. Both formed about the same time and condensed out of the same nebula. The astronomical symbol for Venus isa Circle above an equal armed cross. The Venus symbol has therefore been adopted to represents femininity, and in Western alchemy stood for the metal copper. Polished copper was used by the ancients to make mirrors, and thus the symbol for Venus has been interpretted to stand for the mirror of the goddess. The Patron Angel of Students, Teachers & Learning.

Magical Intentions: Love affairs, friendships and marriage. All artistic matters, drama, the arts and beauty. Venus’s energies are warm, sensuous, and fulfilling. Efforts that involve any type of pleasure, comfort, and luxury, as well as the arts and music work well on his day. As Venus lends its sensuous influences to the energies of this day (Friday), use it for any magical work that deals with matters of the Heart. Romance, Marriage, Sexual Matters, Physical Beauty, Friendship, Strangers and Partnerships.

Rafael

Raphael, Archangel. Standard Hebrew, “God has healed”, “God Heals”, “God, Please Heal”, and many other combinations of the two words. An Archangel of Judaism and Christianity, who performs all manner of healing. The Hebrew word for a doctor of medicine is Rophe connected to the same root word as Raphael. Raphael is sometimes shown (usually on medallions) as standing atop a large fish or holding a caught fish at the end of a line on a fishing rod. Appears as a young man dressed in a flowing yellow cloak and bodice. Also, as with the Greek God Hermes, wears winged hat and sandals. He carry’s a caduceus. According to the occultist Johannes Trithemius (1462–1516), Raphael is one of the 7 angels of the Apocalypse (this opinion is derived from Enoch 20) and numbered among the 10 holy Sephiroth. Raphael is also denoted as one of the 7 Archangels who stand in the presence of God, as well as a ruler of the Cherubim and Archangel classes in the heavenly hierarchy. The Archangel, alongside Zarachiel, also holds dominion over Raquia, the Second Heaven. Angel of Compassion – Raphael. The Ruler of the Third Heaven. whem Oses visitedParadise it was the third heaven. It is also believed that the “Fallen Angels” are imprisoned in Raquia. From the Hebrew word rapha which means “doctor” or “healer”. Raphael is a powerful healer and assists with all forms of healing – humans and animals. He helps to rapidly heal body, mind and spirit if called upon. One of the Angels of Creation together with; Orifel, Anael, Zachariel, Samael, Gabriel, Michael. Raphael: is the Watcher of the North.

Magical Intention:

Business success and the will to succeed. Influencing people, theatre, mental ability and gifted speaking. Wednesday’s vibration adds power to rituals involving inspiration, communications, writers, poets, the written and spoken word, and all matters of study, learning, and teaching. This day also provides a good time to begin efforts involving self-improvement or understanding.

Samael

Archangel Samael: Appears as a strong muscular young man wearing a tunic on the style of the Romans with a flowing cloak. He has long red hair tied into a pony-tail. In his right hand he hold a short sword, again in the Roman style. Some say on his breast is a bronze plate engraved with a pentagram. Reputed to be the Angel of death & destruction who is often equated with Samael incorrectly, in the Book of Revelation this Angel is as Apollyon. One of the Angels of the Apocalypse together with; Orifel, Anel, Zachariel, Raphael, Michael and Gabriel. Ruler of the Fifth Heaven. One of the Angels of Creation together with; Orifel, Anael, Zachariel, Raphael, Gabriel and Michael.

Magical Intentions:

Physical courage and overcoming enemies. Projects related to war – success, prevention and cause. Disrupts friendships and causes discord. The energies of this day best harmonize with efforts of masculine vibration, such as conflict, physical endurance and strength, lust, hunting, sports, and all types of competition. Use them, too, for rituals involving surgical procedures or political ventures. Courage, Physical Strength, Revenge, Military Honors, Surgery and the Breaking of Negative Spells, Matrimony, War, Enemies, Prison, Vitality and Assertiveness

The Olympian Spirits

Aratron

ARATRON governs those things which are ascribed astrologically to Saturn. He can convert any living organism, plant or animal into stone, and that in a moment of time; he can also change coals into treasure and treasure into coals; he gives familiars and reconciles subterranean spirits to men; he teaches Alchemy, Magic and Medicine, imparts the secret of invisibility, makes the barren fruitful and, lastly, confers long life.

Bethor

The affairs of Jupiter are administered by BETHOR, who responds quickly when called. The person dignified by his character may be exalted to illustrious positions and may obtain large treasures. He reconciles the Spirits of the Air to man, so that they will give true answers, transport precious stones and compose medicines having miraculous effects. BETHOR also grants familiars of the firmament, and can prolong life to seven hundred years, subject to the will of God, which qualification imparts an air of caution.

Phul

Lunary concerns are under the government of PHUL, who truly transmutes all metals into silver, heals dropsy and provides Spirits of the Water, who serve men in a corporal [sic] and visible form; he also prolongs life to three hundred years.

Hagith

The government of Venereal concerns is entrusted to HAGITH, and the person possessing his character is adorned with all beauty. He converts copper into gold in a moment and gold instantaneously into copper; he also gives faithful serving spirits.

Ophiel

OPHIEL is the ruler of those things which are attributed to Mercury; he gives familiar spirits, teaches all arts, and enables the possessor of his character to change quicksilver immediately into the Philosopher’s Stone. Phaleg

PHALEG governs the things that are attributed to Mars. The person who possesses his character is raised by him to great honour in military affairs.

Och

Solar interests are administered by OCH, who prolongs life to six hundred years, with perfect health therein. He imparts great wisdom, gives excellent (familiar) spirits, composes perfect medicines, converts any substance into the purest of metals, or into precious stones; he also bestows gold and a purse, quaintly described by the English translator of the Arbatel as “springing with gold.” He causes the possessor of his character to be worshipped as a god by the kings of the whole world.

When ordering spells or seals, our spellcasters or seal creators will contact you in 24 hours to get the details for your order. Some state the requirements in the description or the note you get after ordering.The spellcaster will stay in touch with you and keep you updated on the progress and expected results before, during and after the job. All seals are different as they are made only for 1 person. The delivery is is digital form. JPEG or PNG at 300 dpi so you get a high quality impresion. The delivery time and price of the seal depends on the person and the type of seal. Some seals can only be made 2 or 3 times a week, month or even year. The has a big impact on the price. Seals for crops or affairs of the heart are more difficult to make than seals for protection against negative energies.

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delwray-blog · 6 years

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THE GREATEST DANGER FACING MAN TODAY IS THE JEWS

The Attitude of Communism toward Christianity The greatest danger facing the world today is the Jews! The Russian leader Vladimir Putin knows it very well. After having lived to see his country collapse and all because of a Bolshevist, Jewish Communist coup that succeeded and now controls the Soviet Union, once an Orthodox Christian nation turned into an Atheistic Dynasty by dirty money supplied by the Jews in New York City. The Jews have vowed to do it again here in America. Money speaks! The dirty money that overthrew Russia is now being used to destroy America and is behind all, and I say all the upheaval in the United States today, especially, the attacks on the current President Donald Trump and now his Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. An old philosopher once said, to know a thing well one must understand its first cause. It is unpleasant to realize that a certain element of apostate Jewry is behind the turmoil of this dark hour and the present Soviet persecution through which the Church of Jesus Christ is passing. The Jews and Communism: No informed person who is truthful denies the Jewish character of Communism! The writer recently published the names and nationalities of every leader in the Moscow dictatorship as it was set up many years ago. It was discovered that out of the 545 members of the bureaucracy, 454 were Jews and there were only 23 Russians in the group. In other words, the Russian people are governed by a gang of anti-Christian foreigners, many of whom are said to be unable to speak the language of the people they govern. Some of the principal officials of the Red government are reported to have come from the East Side of New York. It has been said on the floor of the United States Congress, and the charge has not been denied, that a certain Jewish banking concern in Wall Street sponsored Trotsky's mass meetings of rebellion in New York some years ago, sent him across the ocean secretly, and deposited millions of dollars in a Swedish bank to the credit of the destroyers, with which the Russian revolution was financed. In her remarkable book “Waters Flowing Eastward”, Mrs. L. Fry states that back in 1893 a Jewish secret order here in America appointed Jacob Schiff, a Wall Street Jew, chairman of its committee on Russian revolutionary activities. If this is true, it simply means that Mr. Schiff sat at his desk in New York and directed the destruction of the Czar's government thousands of miles away. It is impossible to separate Jewish Communism from Jewish Capitalism. Laboring men who think they can free themselves from the Money Power by embracing Communism are being betrayed by soap-box oratory. The Moscow leaders are the world's wealthiest Capitalists. They own one-sixth of the earth's surface. They control one hundred and sixty million Gentile slaves. The Russian people are not allowed to vote, own property, exercise free speech, enjoy the freedom of the press, or worship God. The masses are kept in their weakened, helpless condition by the most powerful system of secret police ever invented in the history of the world. The attitude of Communism toward Christianity was explained by Lunatcharski, one of the leading Jewish members of the Moscow dictatorship: "Why should we believe in God? We hate Christianity and Christians. Even the best of them must be regarded as our worst enemies. They preach love of one's neighbor, and pity, which is contrary to our principles. Christian love is a hindrance to the revolution. Down with love of one's neighbor; what we want is hatred. We must know how to hate, for only at this price can we conquer the universe. We have done with the kings of the earth; let us now deal with the kings of the skies. The anti-religious campaign must not be restricted to Soviet Russia: it should be carried on throughout the entire world. The fight should also be developed in the Moslem and Catholic countries, with the same ends in view and by the same means." There is no way of knowing how many millions of Russian Christians have been slain during the last one-hundred years because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The magazine, New Outlook, recently carried an article entitled, "Men of Russia." It was the author's purpose to make a critical examination of the ringleaders of international Communism. He says: "Some of the businessmen are Russians, but most of them are of other blood, and practically all of them have prison records. In considering the men of Russia, it should be remembered that it isn't often that ex-prisoners get a crack at the society which punished them, but they did in Russia." The writer in New Outlook then proceeds to discuss some of Moscow's principal Jewish fiends: "Joseph Stalin is a minor official of the Soviet Government. He is but one of the three hundred or so members of the Central Executive Committee, and yet, nevertheless, he was the first man of Russia. Although serving as secretary of the All-Russian Communist Party, Stalin was not a Russian. His every feature is commensurate with 'Stalin', the Russian word for steel." Parenthetically it should be remarked that Stalin was merely the customary "Gentile Front" for the Moscow Jewish leaders. His Gentile wife died a "mysterious" death and he immediately married a Jewess. "Lazarus M. Kaganovitch is a member of the Politbureau or arbitrary 'Brain Trust', and chief organizer of the Second Five Year Plan. This Polish Jew was Stalin's Number One Boy and was his logical successor as dictator. "Maxim Maximovich Litvinov is Commissar of Foreign Affairs. He was the super-traveling salesman of Bolshevism. This shrewd Polish Jew has fought diplomatic battles in every political arena where the gate receipts warranted his appearance. He returned from these victories from time to time to his spacious Moscow office to check up one more Red diplomatic triumph by sticking a new red glass tack in the huge map which covers the wall behind his desk. "Klementy Voroshilov (another Jew) was Commissar of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. He is the dashing yet modest cavalry officer who was charged with preparing the Russian forces for an anticipated war. "Mikhail Kalinin, (an Armenian Jew) was President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Like all big leaders, he served his term in prison, taking an important part in the revolution of 1905 as a member of the Council of Workers' Deputies. "Karl Radek, (another Jew) was Contributing Editor of Izvestia, an official government newspaper. Radek has frequently been suppressed by radical organizations for being too radical. "Michael Borodin, Editor of the English-language Moscow Daily News. This Czechoslovakian Jew was educated at Valparaiso University in Indiana; and spent many years agitating for the International Communist Party, in Spain, in Mexico, in America, the British Isles, and China. "'Just' Podolsky, master of the Foreign Office Press-Censorship Bureau. He may have a first name, but it is doubtful that anyone in Russia, including his wife, knows it. He is a soft-spoken Jew in eight languages, not counting American slang, of which he has a thorough knowledge. Padolsky was a hundred percent Communist. "Jerry Lifschitz, Ex-Vice-Yankee Consul, ex-Second-in-Command of Moscow Amtorg. This Polish Jew had an American jail and prison record for I.W.W. activities; and an added palm for being twice tarred and feathered by irate Midwest American farmers. "Comrade Smirdovitch, (another Jew) is the 'Red Pope'. Smirdovitch, an atheist, is the official restrainer and regulator of religion in the U.S.S.R. He was a member of the important Central Executive Committee. As the official Anti-Christ of the Soviet Republics, he decided how far remaining priests of the church may go toward preaching the Word of God. Kindly, cultured, educated, tolerant in manner, Smirdovitch says religion will die out when divorced from superstitious ritual, pomp, and fear. His job was to help kill it." Toward the close of the article, the writer in the New Outlook says: "But the men who control Russia are not Russians. Members of the Jewish race from all over the world predominate. Every member of the foreign office press censor bureau is a Jew. Little men of Russia who help in responsible positions, heads of offices, trusts, are mostly Jews." Let Christians remember that the international Jewish Communists and Capitalists expect to eventually destroy all Gentile governments, rule the world, and establish throughout the earth the kind of conditions they have introduced in Soviet Russia. They expect to murder all Christian believers and blot Christianity out of existence. The struggle is between the philosophy of the Jew Karl Marx and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The manner in which the Moscow Jews have proceeded with their program of destruction is recorded in a quotation taken from the London Times dated November 14, 1919. The quotation is a letter written by a British army officer, who was stationed at the time in southern Russia, to his wife in England. It reads: "The Bolshevists are devils. I hope to send you copies of 64 official photos taken by British officers at Odessa when the town was taken by the Bolshevists. I suggest you make them widely known. Their horror may make people realize. The victim gets crucified with nails through his elbows. The hands are treated with a solution which shrivels the skin. The skin is cut out with a razor, round the wrist, and peeled off, till it hangs by the fingernails, a human glove. The victim gets terrified and goes insane. Other photos are of women. Women with their breasts cut off to the bone. Passes issued to Bolshevists by commissaries authorize holders to arrest any girl they fancy for use of the soldiery. Sixty-two girls of all classes were arrested like this and thrown to the Bolshevist troops. Those who struggled were killed. The rest when used were mutilated and thrown dead or dying into the river. Slaughter-houses were choked with corpses. Hundreds of suspects, men, women, and children, were herded in these, doors and windows manned and the struggling mass fired into until most of them were dead or dying. The doors were then locked and they were left with veritable plague spots causing widespread epidemics. The Bible, to them, is a 'counter-revolutionary' book to be stamped out. Churches are used for anything from movie shows to 'slaughterhouses.'" Let no Christian be duped into believing that we are supposed to sit supinely by and permit the Reds to create a reign of terror in America simply because this menace happens to be a "Jewocracy." True, there is a stratum of Jewry that is indeed "Chosen" and has been a blessing to humanity through the centuries, but there is another stratum that is a "curse in all places" as Jeremiah said they would be. Speaking through the lips of the prophet in Ezekiel 38:3, God said: "I am against thee, O Gog" and this is a clear reference to Communism with its seat of government in "Meshech" (Moscow). It is possible that this invisible empire has existed as a self-propagating body ever since the Jewish leaders contacted the Chaldeans while in Babylonia. Persons holding to this view agree that the organization has almost completed its course, that the time for the consummation of the plot is near at hand, that the last great attack is now being launched for the purpose of setting up an international system of Jewish government. The existence of this secret sinister organization in New Testament times is implied in 1 John 4:3, "And this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world." The entire cabal (plot) is so large and far-reaching, its motives so hellish, its plan of attack so contrary to Christian thinking, that it simply staggers the mind when it is first exposed to view. But the results of its devastating influence may be seen both in history and among the nations today. It breathes the spirit of the last great Beast-Emperor described in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. It discloses the perverted Messianic theories of an apostate people. This anti-Christ force has apparently manifested itself from its underground sources in different ways at different periods of history, but never with the boldness and permanency that it has since it came to the surface so many years ago. There have always been two kinds of Jews. One racial division represents all that is highest and best in Jewry and regards the Jews primarily as being a system of religion. The other has little inclination toward religion but regards Jewry as a political State, the purpose of which is to conduct world conquest until the nations are brought under one head with themselves in control and all the Gentiles changed into servants. In AD 70 when the Romans turned against the designing and wicked political leaders of Israel, the Pharisees and Sadducees were driven under cover. With the dispersion that followed, their taint was taken to the ends of the earth and has grown up in every nation. No doubt Jesus had this in mind when he warned to: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." In all parts of the world, it appears that this poison "leaven" is "leavening" the whole lump of the nations. What used to be the Russian Empire is now completely "leavened." These are the subversive forces that have moved through the centuries, changing their form from time to time as governments have been made to heave, totter, cave in, and fall, but always with the same object in view, a final culmination when all nations will be leveled and a super-Jewish State set up, presided over by one man, their apostate Messiah. This is the genius behind Socialism and Communism. Let me say it again, Let Christians remember that the international Jewish Communists and Capitalists expect to eventually destroy all Gentile governments, rule the world, and establish throughout the earth the kind of conditions they have introduced in Soviet Russia. They expect to murder all Christian believers and blot Christianity out of existence. The struggle is between the philosophy of the Jew Karl Marx and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. America, you better take heed!

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segunolumide · 4 months

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EXPOSING ISLAM! — AUDIOTRACT 014 — by Segun Olumide

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facesofkay · 7 years

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Jesus Christ was a ladies' man

Happy Palm Sunday everyone! Are you all churching alright? Let the Bible-thumping Christian shout Amen! Jesus is about to make his majestic walk in Jerusalem like the Ol’ G he is! And in a week’s time, these disloyal heifers have crucified him! But in the meantime, get your palm ferns out and jubilate. Because HE WILL BE BACK LIKE ARNOLD!

Now that we’ve got that over, I’ve been looking at this post that has been sitting on my MacBook for several days now. I’ve been wondering whether to finish it since I am not entirely sure I am as invested in it as I thought it was.

You know there are certain truths you cannot convince others of and for that reason, you find peace in knowing that, at least, YOU know it. But I think I should just say it anyhow.

Jesus is a feminist, a womanist and a total ride-or-die for the ladies!

It needs to be said for all those that try to justify misogynistic behavior and attempt to shut down Christian womanists. Well, the joke is on you. Feminism IS scriptural.

I have always believed that the Jesus we learned about, his unconditional love for the marginalized simply didn’t tally with the Christian teaching of the unspoken suppression of women. So as I looked over at ace journalist Shamima Ishmael speak about the feminist nature and doctrines of the Quran, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the Christian beliefs that I subscribe to, made a case for the ‘free’ woman as well.

A few weeks ago at the PepperdemMinistries debut Intergenerational Conversations about the Feminism movement, there were a few references to the religious and in this case (Christian) teachings that inhibit a true liberation of the Woman in her choices. Listening to Shamima, talk about the word of Quran, however, I was enthralled. "Women can own land”, she said.

"Women can work, earn money and do what she wants with it." She said, “the Quran would be the most feminist religious text there ever was”. Moslem said she found it amusing that anti-feminists tried to explain misogyny away with holy texts.

Immediately, I started to wonder whether my own beliefs in Christianity were debased because of my own bias for women (not that i am ashamed to be bias) or that there was enough evidence to support what I have always believed to be true. So what did I do? I went back to my Bible. I believe as problematic as the Scripture is with regards to context and interpretation, I was still trusting that my simple question will be answered:

Does the Bible have proof that there is an equal inclusion of women in… everything? Even the slightest?

There are many instances I cannot do justice to in this post.

But I did try to run through most of the old testament with the reference word “ Woman”. My goal was to find any text that suggested that the woman was lesser than or restricted by her sex. I found many references to both man and woman in copious instances in the Book of Leviticus, Deutronomy, and Numbers.

Eg: 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed.” Numbers 5:6

Eg 2:“If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, then you shall bring out to the gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones” Deuteronomy 17: 2

Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and Numbers are books with explicit details on God’s commands and conditions. What screamed out to me was the basis of equality on which the Lord maps out his rules and commandments. No man or woman is spared God’s wrath should they sin. Both sexes during the Mosaic era were treated as equals, intellectuals, capable of knowing right, wrong and judged accordingly. And while stoning isn’t as common as it is today,(Thank God) we can’t ignore the stigma attached to women who deemed sexually immoral (even though it takes more than often two people to commit a sexual act ) as we see in present-day contexts.

Why is that? When did it become our burden to carry?

Anyway, moving on to Christ, the center of the matter. We both know that there are more than at least in two significant moments during His three years on earth, where He shows inclusiveness, inherent respect, and regard for women. His dealing and teachings showed He understood what discrimination, prejudice, inequality was.

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

First of all these men KNOW the punishment for adultery in the Mosaic law were for BOTH parties.

Many use this verse in showcasing Jesus’s kindness to the sinful and unworthy but choose to ignore the mortal danger the adulterous woman potentially attracted. For being sexually immoral or being an adulterer. But the question was, where was her partner in crime? How was she caught in the “act of adultery” alone? Was she being adulterous with an inanimate object? No. When Christ replies these men, I do not see his response as a challenge to the accusers to reflect on their own humanity (even though that is apparent), but simply to state things as they should be. In other words, if you think you or I am worthy of a second chance, who are we to deny this woman the same? Tell me if this is not the basis of Feminism? That we challenge a patriarchal world to treats women by dwelling if only briefly on what it would be to walk in a woman’s shoes.

These Pharisees are no different from the anti-feminists or rather, anti-woman, we have today. It is much easy to make the woman, the “weaker” object; an embodiment of sin. A scapegoat in the house of the Lord by policing her thoughts, actions, body, mistakes and her opportunities. The reasons are simple: Why look in the mirror at your own weakness when there is already a sheep for that sacrifice? Interpretations of the Bible, by would-be Men of God, try to control the spaces women have the capacity to occupy by assigning gendered roles to us, even before we understood who we are.

1. A woman cannot be sexual. 2.A woman cannot take up leadership positions. 3. A woman confirmed to the standards of her society even if it means to impede her full greatness.

When Christ commanded, "That love thy neighbor as thyself”.Matthew 19:19, He knew it was the one universal law that would keep the peace between man, woman and his neighbor. In its simplicity, it says more than just showing kindness. It challenges to look at ourselves and ask who we would be without our privileges. It a law that hopes that each individual, man, and woman, will have the equal opportunity to thrive as they are; that man and woman can co-exist peacefully without one or the other suffocating under the whims and manipulations of each other. Why? Because we would all understand what it feels like to walk in each other’s shoes.

Let us not say, “A woman’s place is in the kitchen”. “A woman who has had many sexual partners is a whore” “ To say a woman is too smart for her own good” "A woman must not be too loud”, we cannot put men in the same sentences justifiably.

I have more to say about this but no-one likes to read long passages. I will not talk about the trust he places in Mary Magdalene when his resurrection journey begins or His making a case for Martha’s bold display of devotion; Or fellowshipping with the woman who had several husbands.

I only know that when God commanded that man will leave his home and become ONE with his wife, he meant it as it should be. One in living. One in decision making. One in worship. One in love and respect. One in opportunities. One in strength and weakness; That they would serve each other in unison.

I am more than convicted that my faith in Christ alone is well placed. He finds worthiness in me as he does in you. As for the moral harbingers and its enablers, they grow smaller and smaller as I self-actualize. Women are changing and growing. For now, that is all that matters.

#Women #Jesus Christ #Feminism

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singing-with-thankfulness · 7 years

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DECLARATION ON  THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

1. In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship. One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.(1) One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men,(2) until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.(3) Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what is sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going? 2. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense. Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust. Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination. Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing “ways,” comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.(4) The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men. 3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom. 4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham’s stock. Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God’s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ-Abraham’s sons according to faith (6)-are included in the same Patriarch’s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people’s exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles.(7) Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.(8) The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: “theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church’s main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ’s Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people. As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation,(9) nor did the Jews in large number, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading.(10) Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle.(11) In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve him shoulder to shoulder” (Soph. 3:9).(12) Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues. True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ;(13) still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ. Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone. Besides, as the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church’s preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God’s all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows. 5. We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man’s relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: “He who does not love does not know God” (1 John 4:8). No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned. The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to “maintain good fellowship among the nations” (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men,(14) so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.(15)

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seekfirst-community · 2 years

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TRUST AND OBEY. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE HAPPY IN JESUS BUT TO TRUST AND OBEY.

12 DAYS TO EASTER SUNDAY. NOT TOO LATE TO TEST THIS WORD OF GOD AND SEE THE TRUTH OF IT.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31 - 32).

Wednesday 6th April 2022 of the 5th week of Lent. When Jesus says that if you persevere in feeding on His word, you will come to know the truth and the divine truth you know will set you free, what does the Teacher mean?

The truth (divine reality) frees us from fear, worry and doubt

and dread that falsehood imposes on us. Pope Benedict when he visited the oil rich country of Angola was shocked to see how the population was still shackled by fears of evil spirits, disease and death. He remarked that Angola received Christian missionaries about 500 years ago. At that time, Europe was still shackled with similar fears and superstitions. But the light and truth of Christ has since dispelled those fears in Europe.

Today, Europe needs a fresh burst of the light of Christ because the continent is again in darkness because of materialism, atheism and hedonism. The consequences are dire. Most European countries have today minus zero birth rate. They abandoned Christianity in large scale. They welcome Moslems with open arms to work and maintain their standards of living. Islam will be the majority religion in Europe in about 50 years.

In the 1st Reading from the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar asked the three Jewish boys: "Who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" We hear the same threat today everywhere from strong men and bosses: "Is it true you will not work on Sunday? Who is the God who can deliver you out of unemployment?"

If you have not remained in the word of God for, how can you ever know the truth that can set you free?

Hear the bold answer of the three Jewish boys to their tormentor who believed he had supreme power: Oh Nebuchadnezzar, if we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

The boys know the Scriptures and they know the truth that set them free from fear of death. How did the story end? Read on below:

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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netmaddy-blog · 8 years

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Why Did Christ Come Into the World?

New Post has been published on https://netmaddy.com/why-did-christ-come-into-the-world/

Why Did Christ Come Into the World?

It seems to be a foregone conclusion today that Christ came into this world over 2000 years ago to establish his glorious earthly kingdom in Israel. And since he failed to do that at that time, he must return soon to set it up! This establishment of an earthly kingdom in Israel was the same thing that was on the minds of many apostate Jews of that day also, and so we see the impetus of their thought processes when they sought to take Jesus by force and make him their king over Israel, but he would have none of it (Jo. 6:15). We still see thinking like this today, so not much has changed, even though we have the inspired Word that should set us straight on such things.

Had the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day been more intent on actually listening to what Christ really had to say on the matter, instead of persistently following all of their own thoughts, they would have likely been led to seriously question their own ideas as to Christ’s real purpose in coming here. But we see the very same problem manifested today, even among those who profess Christ. The Jews clearly had no interest in bothering themselves and their time with the truth. Is this what we are going to continue to see today among this other modern group as well? Perhaps so! From all that I have seen and experienced they seem very determined to cling to something outside of the real Scripture testimony.

And just what is the real Scripture testimony? Well, we see many things in many different places in Scripture that lead any rational person to an entirely different conclusion. Let’s take a good look in one specific area.

Christ made it very clear what his real purpose was for coming into the world. We read at Matthew 20:28: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” (See also Ma. 10:45.)

We read at Luke 19:10: “And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those …who are lost.”

We read at Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

We read at Jo. 12:27: “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came!”

Christ precisely confirms the words of the Old Testament prophets that spoke of his coming to bear our load of sin. You can read these prophecies that refer to what he was about to do at places like Isaiah 53:10-12 and 61:1-2. The Jews of Jesus’ day failed to see the truth in these Scriptures, just as the modern professing Christians and apostates of today also do.

Again, he told us that “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jo. 18:36). He further states that he was born as a King, but not in the earthly sense that they thought. He tells them that he came “to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true” (Jo. 18:37. See also I Jo. 4:4-6). Indeed, instead of an earthly kingdom he told those in Capernaum that the Kingdom of Heaven was near (Mt. 4:17). Other Scriptures such as Phil. 3:14, Col. 1:5 and 3:2-3, and Heb. 3:1 and 6:19 tell us that our calling is heavenward! This was clearly his Kingdom! No earthly kingdom is ever mentioned by our Lord at all, nor by the apostles! So who do we believe, if not our Lord himself? Do we just keep on believing the made up stories of men?

By the modern church’s believing in the words of men, much damage has been done everywhere. Our President, Barack Obama, is on a mission this week, hopefully, to repair some of the breach and damage that a false theology and a misleading message has created in the Moslem world. It is a pretty tall order indeed! You see, they call us “the great Satan”. When the church turns its back on the truth and makes up something else instead in its place, it is no longer serving the King of glory. It has sold itself out to the service of another power instead!

The Scriptures warn us of the lies of the “official interpreters” of the Scriptures. You can find such warnings as these and warnings against following other lies of men at numerous Scriptures like Mat. 16:11, 23:1-39, Ma. 8:15, I Cor. 5:3-8, Gal. 5:6-9, Col. 2:8-10, II Pet. 2:1-3, Ps. 36:1-4, 119:59-61, Prov. 4:18-19, 26-27, Isa. 58:2, 59:1-4, 66:2-4, and many other places. But “The honest will be rescued from harm, but those who are crooked will be destroyed” (Prov.28:18).

Is the church in America really being honest today? Will the church come to its right senses and recognize its own grievous mistake before it is forever too late? It really needs to turn over a new leaf and get right with God and his program to spread the Good News of salvation in Christ in all of its purity to all the waiting world. Only in this true Gospel of Christ can real healing ever come to a needy and hurting world. It alone has the powerful potential of God to stop terrorism dead in its tracks and to set the captives free.

Modern Christians desperately need to ponder the direction of their lives and hurry to correct their misguided thoughts and ways (Ps. 119:59-61. See also Prov. 4:26-27, Heb. 3:7-19, and 4:8-11-all of the chapter, really). Then they need to follow God’s ways (Prov.8:32-33, 14:12, 16:25).

I think that maybe President Obama is doing what he can to usher in a better day of peace this week. Whatever “tough love” he gives to Israel, it is badly needed. Whatever expressions of apology and reaching out to Muslims , these are badly needed. For we have been so very wrong for such a long time, and the price has been enormous, both to the precious Gospel of love and grace to all peoples and nations, which is now slandered and ridiculed, and to our own nation. Our combat veterans are in trouble, our economy is buckling under the heavy weight of wars and other demoralized behaviors in our midst, and true godliness does not really exist in America’s churches. The topsy-turvy mindset of the apostate American Christians has brought us to a most serious impasse, and very close to falling over the precipice into the violent vortex of anarchy and chaos. Truly, the country is ripe for God’s judgment, and too blind to know it or to care.

But if Christians will indeed humble themselves, and repent of their being so sold out to lies before God, then will God hear from above, and heal our nation (II Chr. 7:14). May it now be so, for the President cannot do everything all alone for you! Christians, you really do need to start getting down to your real business with God today!

And that business is not at all grievous. It is the sweetest business that you will ever know on earth, and not at all the most dreaded or difficult. For God went far out of his way to send Jesus here to us. He didn’t have to but he loved the world that he had created so much that he sent his beloved only Son to us to be our ransom lamb without spot or blemish to suffer and die for our sins, so that we could be reunited with him. Christ bridged the gap between God the Father and us. And it is as we come to his real truths and cherish them above all else that he reveals himself in all of his glory, majesty and grace to us. This I discovered throughout and especially at the end of all of my personal longings and searchings. Ideas of an earthly kingdom do nothing to accomplish what we really do want to accomplish by our coming to God in the first place. We stagnate, and cannot move forward into his secret, larger place where he patiently waits for us to come further on with him, and then abide most happily with him for whatever remains of time and for all of eternity. This victory he provides, not of our own grueling efforts at all, but of something, or Someone else, and his amazing power.

As I personally progressed further on in my own searching for real Scripture truths, I sought after the facts. I figured there just had to be more to Christianity than what I had experienced at that point. I knew nothing else, but just to uncover the facts. And I did not see the facts for which I was searching in the church. So it came as quite a wonderful surprise to me that many spiritual blessings accompanied my finding and love of the truth. It seems to me that, unbeknownst to me, God had long ago built into these wonderful facts a spiritual life force that had hitherto been escaping me almost completely. Nothing ever completely prepared me for that. It was a really nice surprise. It was the dear Holy Spirit’s confirmation of the Gospel truth, and it was and still is my treasure far beyond anything earthly. And so it remains for me to this very day, and I think it always will. It is the way that God enlightens us and reveals himself to us, and nothing is ever quite the same after that. But these wonderful facts that God had built in, and the dear Holy Spirit’s power that accompanied my glad acceptance of them, I did not find there in the church. And to this very day, the church still shuns them! I have wondered for some time what was going on. Now I believe I know.

This is why it is so important to listen to Jesus and his own words very closely. We ought to listen anyways and always, but we must first want to listen. I always wanted to find God, and to listen to him, but was confused with just how. Now I know how, and I strive to show you the way, because I know first hand how strong the lies can be, and just how confused we can become as we explore the possibilities. We get drawn in and can utterly lose our way in that blinding maze of ideas. And only Christ can rescue us all over again! We first come to him to own him as our Savior who died in our place to save us from our own sinful fallen condition. But then we discover that we need to come back to him to help show us the way back when we have lost our way and strayed far away from his dear side once pierced for us on Calvary’s cross. We didn’t realize the ramifications of it all until we are rescued and jerked back to where we belong.

Perhaps it is by the bended wooden crook in the great Shepherd’s hard rod as it snags us by the neck and none too gently pulls us back to the safety of the sheepfold, but one thing we do learn from it. We humans are a lot like sheep who wander away from the Shepherd to get eaten by the wolves. On one occasion we might be dexterously scooped up and tenderly sheltered in the warm arms of the Shepherd. At another moment we may find ourselves more vehemently jerked around by the Shepherd’s crook and returned to safety.

This article may seem a bit severe to some, like that hard crook in the Shepherd’s rod, and we grimace at it, but it is intended to get serious attention, not chuckles and laughter. Serious attention to our serious situation is very badly needed. Even in these bad economic times, many still seek to be entertained at movie theaters across the nation. Other diverse distractions are the ways that people find to cope. But the most beneficial and wondrous gift of all is little thought of, even today, when times are so bad. Many are fed up with what churches have to offer, as they all seem to be waiting for something better from on high to come along soon. Well, Something better has already come along, and the church needs to busy itself proclaiming just how really good it is! But the church is out-of-touch with it itself! Because it is really, really good, and mere words alone can never completely give adequate expression to it! Today is the day that the church needs to rise to the occasion and grasp these truths itself so that it really can throw out the lifeline to other poor sinking souls in this day that is so desperate for many who need the true light to lift their troubled spirits now. It is no good to say that next year, or in three or four, things may get better. In God’s bigger view of things, today is the day for the church to be salt and light. The watering down of the blessed truths that are there to lift us up into the heavenly realm of love, joy, and glorious light is the modern church’s bane. And, as we see in the opening chapters of Revelation, and in the notes of some renowned Bible commentators of the last century, it is not pleasing to God. For the church is called upon to be God’s messenger of blessed truth in a dark and needy world. And an awful lot goes wrong when it has taken unto itself a completely different direction and cannot be bothered to right itself with God’s real command nor desire.

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