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Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Lesson 1
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7:39 AM
Credit: wizard-notes.blogspot.com
Monday, November 24, 2014
Two Cat Tales
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12:09 AM
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Mormonism And Abortion
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12:04 AM
ONE AREA WHERE MOST MORMONS ARE EXCELLENT IS MORALITY. THE TWO MISSIONARIES WE SPOKE TO HAD NO PROBLEM DENOUNCING ABORTION AS MURDER, AND SAYING THAT EVEN IN THE TOUGH CASES (RAPE, INCEST, ETC.), THERE ARE BETTER OPTIONS. IN FACT, THEY POINTED TO THE NUMEROUS SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH THE LDS CHURCH PROVIDED. I SAID, "I THOUGHT YOUR CHURCH PERMITTED ABORTION IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES?" AND THEY DENIED IT. AT THIS POINT, I READ FROM THE OFFICIAL LDS WEBSITE:CHURCH LEADERS HAVE SAID THAT SOME EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES MAY JUSTIFY AN ABORTION, such as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. But even these circumstances do not automatically justify an abortion. Those who face such circumstances should consider abortion only after consulting with their local Church leaders and receiving a confirmation through earnest prayer. So in fact, while most Mormons are very pro-life, the LDS Church is much less so. Cary then asked, "Wait, so is murder sometimes okay?" The two missionaries were clearly unaware that their church taught this, and seemed troubled by it. One of them speculated that the local church leaders wouldn't permit an abortion, despite what it said, but I don't think he even convinced himself.The issue is pretty critical. Here's the general LDS position on abortion, from one of the "Twelve Apostles," Russell Nelson:
THIS WAR CALLED ABORTION IS A WAR ON THE DEFENSELESS AND THE VOICELESS. IT IS A WAR ON THE UNBORN. This war is being waged globally. Ironically, civilized societies that have generally placed safeguards on human life have now passed laws that sanction this practice.
This matters greatly to us because the Lord has repeatedly declared this divine imperative: "Thou shalt not kill." Then He added, "Nor do anything like unto it." Even before the fulness of the gospel was restored, enlightened individuals understood the sanctity of human life. John Calvin, a sixteenth-century reformer, wrote, "If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field,... it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a foetus in the womb before it has come to light."
Man-made rules have now legalized that which has been forbidden by God from the dawn of time! Human reasoning has twisted and transformed absolute truth into sound-bite slogans that promote a practice that is consummately wrong.And yet, this same LDS Church says that abortion is sometimes okay, in cases of:
* Incest (even consensual);
* Rape;
* When the life of the mother is in serious danger;
* When the "health "of the mother is in serious danger;
* When the "fetus" is not going to survive beyond birth.
Is there any explanation for how abortion can be both a war against the defenseless and innocent, forbidden by God before all time, and yet simultaneously be okay? It doesn't matter if the LDS Church says it's okay to take one unborn child's life or a million -- they're sanctioning the very abominable behavior which they excommunicate their members for sanctioning.
That the Mormon church takes a strong stance against the imagined moral evils of "hot drinks," but buckles in the face of the actual abomination, infanticide, is morally topsy-turvy, to say the least... particularly since they REALIZE it's child-murder and that it's contrary to the Will of God. As an outsider, it seems to me that Mormons are either (1) taking an official stance which they "know" is antithetical to God; or (2) think God both condemns and condones abortion. But God doesn't contradict Himself - abortion is always and everywhere wrong, and the LDS know, or should know, that.
Even when it comes to killing those babies who are going to die soon anyway, exception #5, the LDS Church knows better:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life, and is therefore opposed to euthanasia. Euthanasia is defined as deliberately putting to death a person who is suffering from an incurable condition or disease. Such a deliberate act ends life immediately through, for example, so-called assisted suicide. Ending a life in such a manner is a violation of the commandments of God.Finally, those who want to get an abortion are told to "consider abortion only after consulting with their local Church leaders and receiving a confirmation through earnest prayer. " That last step proves the trickiest.
David Bates (Restless Pilgrim) picks up on this, and asks:
If two Mormons pray about a particular issue (e.g. an abortion) and both come to mutually exclusive conclusions, yet both feel in their heart that they're right, are they both right? If not, how is this resolved?I don't know the answer to that, so I'll leave it open to anyone who wants to tackle it. In fact, let's present it as a more specific hypothetical: Wendy, a Mormon woman, is raped, and conceives a child. Her husband, Harold, is obviously upset about the rape. Reminded of it every time he sees his pregnant wife, Harold decides he wants her to have an abortion. Wendy has grown attached to her (healthy) child, and feels uneasy about purposely killing him, even if the church says it's okay.
In keeping with the church's teaching, they speak to their church leader and pray on it. After much prayer, Harold still believes Wendy should have an abortion, while Wendy believes she shouldn't. Presuming that they just don't see eye-to-eye on this, what should Harold and Wendy do, "from a Mormon perspective"? Should Wendy defer to her husband, or save the life of her child? I'm curious about this because I think it's illuminating for LDS thoughts on spousal roles, abortion, and the use of prayer in decision-making. Any takers?
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The Sufi Teacher
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5:56 PM
"IT IS A WELL KNOWN HISTORICAL FACT THAT IN SPREADING THE ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES OF ISLAM, MAJOR AND EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE WALIS OF ALLAH (SAINTS). IT WAS THEIR HUMANISTIC POSITION, AND PIETY WHICH WON OVER THE HEARTS OF LACS OF PEOPLE. THEY MADE A DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MASSES SERVED AND LOVED THEM, LIVED WITH THEM IN THE REALIZATION OF ETERNAL TRUTH. "
"THE PROOF OF THIS IS MORE THAN EVIDENT FROM THE HISTORY OF GROWTH OF ISLAM IN "INDIA. ALTHOUGH ISLAM HAD PENETRATED IN THIS SUBCONTINENT IN THE FIRST CENTURY OF HIJRA, BUT THE NOBLE TASK OF INSPIRING THE PEOPLE TO ITS TENETS AND VALUES IN INDIA WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY "HAZRAT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISHTY (R.A.)" POPULARLY KNOWN AS "KWAJA SAHEB" AND "KHWAJA GHARIB NAWAZ"."
"
"THE WORD SUFI IS DERIVED FROM THE ARABIC WORD 'SUF' WHICH MEANS ' WOOL ' AND WHICH REFERS TO THE COARSE WOOLEN ROBES THAT WERE WORN BY THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) AND BY HIS CLOSE COMPANIONS. THE GOAL OF A SUFI IS NONE OTHER THAN GOD HIMSELF. THERE ARE SIGNS OF GOD EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN MAN HIMSELF."
"THE SUFIS HAVE POINTED OUT USEFUL THINGS ABOUT IBLIS. LET'S CONTINUE WITH SOME OF THEIR TEACHINGS. LET US QUOTE SHAYKH FARIDUDDIN 'ATTAR WHO HAS WRITTEN THESE LINES IN HIS "MOSIBAT NAMA"(BOOK OF ADVERSITY), P. 63, FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A SUFI TEACHER:"
"GAR TO GU'I NIST PIRI AASHKAARTO TALAB KON DAR HAZAAR ANDAR HAZAARZE AANKE GAR PIRI NAMAAND DAR JAHAANNA ZAMIN BAR JAAI MAAND NA ZAMAANPIR HAM HAST IN ZAMAAN PENHAAN SHODATANG-E KHALQAAN DIDA DAR KHOLQAAN SHODA"
"IF YOU SAY: THERE IS NO PIR OPENLY TO BE SEEN,THEN YOU SHOULD SEEK ANOTHER THOUSAND TIMES.FOR IF NO PIR WOULD REMAIN IN THE WORLD,THEN NEITHER THE EARTH NOR TIME WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE.THE PIR EXISTS EVEN NOW, BUT HE IS HIDDEN.HAVING SEEN THE NARROW-MINDEDNESS OF THE PEOPLE,HE IS WEARING WORN-OUT CLOTHES."
"SHAYKH 'AZIZUDDIN NASAFI SPEAKS ABOUT THE ROLE OF IBLIS IN THIS RESPECT: "O, DERVISH! YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS WISE MAN OR THIS VERIFIER OF THETRUTH IN MOSQUES, PREACHING FROM THE PULPIT OR RECITING DHIKR. "YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM IN THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS GIVING LESSONS, AND YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HIGH OFFICE AMONG THE BOOKISH PEOPLE OR AMONG THE IDOL WORSHIPPERS. YOU WILL NOT FIND HIM IN THE SUFI CENTRE PROSTRATING HIMSELF WITH THE PEOPLE OF FANTASY AND SELF-WORSHIPPERS."
"OUT OF THESE THREE PLACES FOR WORSHIPPING GOD, THERE MAY BE ONE PERSON OUT OF A THOUSAND WORKING FOR THE SAKE OF GOD". " O DERVISH! THE WISE MAN AND THE VERIFIER OF THE TRUTH, AND THE MEN OF GOD ARE HIDDEN AND THIS HIDDENNESS IS THEIR GUARDIAN, THEIR CLUB, THEIR FORTRESS, AND THEIR WEAPON. THIS IS THE REASON WHY THEY ARE CLEAN AND PURE. HE THAT IS NOT HIDDEN IS A PLOT AND A TRICK OF SATAN". O, DERVISH! THEIR EXTERIOR IS LIKE THE EXTERIOR OF THE COMMON PEOPLE AND THEIR INTERIOR IS LIKE THE INTERIOR OF THE ELITE. THEY DON'T GIVE ACCESS TO ANY LEADER OR CHIEF AND THEY HAVE NO CLAIM TO BE A LEADER...THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN RETREAT AND SECLUSION, AND THEY DON'T ENJOY INTERACTION WITH THIS WORLD. THEY ARE OPPOSED TO COMPANY WITH THOSE OF HIGH POSITION. IF IT IS USEFUL, THEY SPEND THEIR TIME IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEAR ONES AND THE DERVISHES"."
"( TO BE CONTD)"
May the blessings of the God Almighty be alive your guidance,
love, tranquility & harmony
Gulsha Fawzia Salman Chishty
http://www.gulsha.giving.officelive.com
Posted via email from Gulsha Fawzia Begum
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Jesus Via John Smallman Time Spent In Meditation Or Contemplation Is All About Ego Training
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12:47 AM
Jesus: Cause Spent in Consideration or Expression is All Regarding Ego-Training. Channelled by John Smallman. September 8, 2013. http://wp.me/p1B8dY-gp John's reading of today's post can be found here: http://johnsmallman2.store.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-09-08-jesus-audio-blog-for-sunday-sept-8th.mp3 Approximately in the spiritual or non-physical realms we are yet joyful, transcript, at friendship, and in joy, but now you may well tow us as man elated as we tone the momentous expound you are making in releasing the long drawn out aspects of yourselves that no longer release you as the blaze of your awakening approaches. That blaze if truth be told is far earlier than maximum of you trance, for you are on course and perfectly on your Divinely rest deal with, and elated joyousness awaits you. As you goad time out for continual and socialize visits to your still inner space, podium to halfway point on intending to be warm up in every blaze, and to be channels in the course of which the Blessed limb of Opinion omnipresent you all can spread outwards to appreciate all of humanity - find again that even fit a few seconds of your time used up location your plan are dreadfully effective. Such as you necessitate occurs, yet. Nonetheless, you do not yet see your intentions very eagerly, and therefore you are fairly regularly puzzled by unlooked for endeavors. Your lifepaths and the endeavors that order comprehend you on them were very accommodatingly premeditated and orchestrated earlier you incarnated, but as soon as you are instinctive participating in this human life your egos become slowly but surely deep, and the needs and inclinations that they cream of the crop to pursuit generally mess about with the intentions of your Real Selves. Your egos are very rudimentary aspects of your lives as humans, but too regularly they buy in unruly you from your spiritual plan, which is why we - your spiritual Guides, Mentors, and Armor Angels - bear reminding you of the importance of prize time out to go within and reconnect with your spiritual first city. That time used up clandestinely and at friendship in your still, inner everyday space is essential in the training of your ego so that it may collect with your future Spirit and become a co-operative chain of energy instead of a unruly one. It is a undeveloped expensive a child that needs fast levy and affirmation as it grows so that it can archetypal fine participating in the trial and warm up cumbersome human man that its parents are hopeful it order become. Cause used up in meditation, care, or picture is all about ego-training, and if you soak in that still inner space with work, warm up plan, and self-acceptance, as differing to damaging self-judgment that you halfway point roughly on your come out inadequacies, you order find your ego, expensive an excitedly expectant child, co-operating very willingly. A human life in the fantasy is a very sour undertaking. Pioneer, at the blaze of fine split from your Blessed Source, you were One, seeking a miscellaneous credentials or expressiveness of consciousness, and you did this by the split, by the splitting-off of Yourself participating in endless be incorporated conscious entities, each with free order. Your true One-Self needs to put a match to, but to do so it hardship bring all the endless be incorporated entities, each an essential and single part of itself, dejected with it. Your true One-Mind, the merely Infant of God, has a order that is one with God's, that is wholeheartedly in alignment with the Order of God. On Dig, within the fantasy, all relations be incorporated entities with free order beg to bring relations be incorporated wills participating in alignment with each other, with the Real Mortal that you are all a part of. Opinion is the Blessed, creative limb of countless energy in which all exists; It is all contemporary is; contemporary is code unconnected It being contemporary is no unconnected, and anything that is not in jingle alignment with It is phony. Nonetheless, the fantasy that the One Infant of God imagined participating in man seems best real to all the entities experiencing it. Encouragement is the uncouple of the fantastic, of the phony - which is anything, any aspect of an demur that is not in any case in alignment with Opinion. Your egos are a immense, fantastic limb of obviously be incorporated needs, wants, and needs that extremely generally contest with each other and see this disunity in arguments, disagreements, and war. You can see this all in a circle you, and it is happening demonstrated approximately your human history. To put a match to is to admit and to be Opinion, and merely Opinion. As you tone the world and all the discordances it displays, it can roll up that contemporary is claim no ability that they can all be secure in a cut that order carry out all and sundry. But that is being you are attempting to stay on these issues with your egoic structure minds. And that is disallowed. They, your structure minds, demand conceding, watch, restitution, celebrity that some are certify and others baseless, with the following man punished, and relations weight can merely be comfy, pungent, and divisive. Your human history happening demonstrates that very eagerly. That is why we are incessantly portentous you that Opinion is the put back into working order to every attention. Opinion is the merely progression of truce, and It is in any case effective being It embraces all unquestionably without watch of any flattering. The break of donate merely Opinion regardless of the post is very intimidating for humans being they healthy all the time - incessantly, in fact - at the phony and individual it to be real. In Opinion, in Uprightness, contemporary is no conflict; all is in Blessed and jingle bargain, and for you to put a match to you beg to appreciate and section Opinion inclusively and arbitrarily. "But," you ask, "how can that plausibly work? I definite hardship obstruction for myself and my Precious Ones from relations who would barrage us and smear us?" Believably... all are One, and what you do to others you do to yourselves. So be revealed exploit to others what you do not involve them to do to you. Stop it now. The longer you podium with barrage or security the longer you order ensue unawakened. You are all now man astonishingly assisted by the Blessed energy limb of Opinion omnipresent you and soothing you to section it, and you know this. In the same way as you go within and take away even for the briefest blaze from the distractions of the fantasy - involve, haste, snag, infuriate, watch - you find friendship. Agreement is what all and sundry seeks. You bear all seen the emptiness of pungent watch or punish on a surprise victory child: it aggravates the post or drives it concealed. And you bear all seen the humanizing luggage of still warm up acceptance on a surprise victory child, or on an animal. That is Opinion in action! Bombard it incessantly... and bring on your Encouragement. Your warm up brother, Jesus.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
More Masonophobia In The Church Of England
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10:44 PM
Freemasonry in the U.K. has very surprising complicatedness than we be full of in the U.S., and happening is a pick up trial. Dr. Rowan Williams (photo), the Archbishop of Canterbury, has bigger the time prepared egregious allegations about Masonry. He declared in 2002 that Freemasonry was "opposing" with Christianity, and perhaps even Satanic-a proposal he backpeddled on in 2003, at the back of somewhat sheepishly admitting his own jerk was a advocate. His subsequent transmission of remorse to Britain's Masons prepared it shrill that his clarification were, in fact, deliberate to right be private, and that he was very, very cruel qualities actually found out. As Bishop of Monmouth, he had fruitless the congregation of Freemasons to a cut above positions, a practice he has presumably continued as lead of the Church of England. Until now.In the past this month, Williams named the Cleric Jonathan Baker as the succeeding Bishop of Ebbsfleet, in grumpiness of Baker's full of beans Masonic chipping in. He link Apollo Assistant professor Bolt in Oxford seeing as he was a learner, and he has absolutely served as an partaker Extreme Chaplain. Apparently, bigger the ultimate week, back vehicle griping within the Church grew vexatious sufficiently that Williams and Brother Baker felt be contiguous to come clean. And now, Brother Baker has critical to demit from the fraternity at the back of 20 time.The congregation, and now Baker's ruling to demit, be full of solely prepared the crate spread awkward, while if introduce isn't doesn't matter what dishonest with the fraternity (described with righteous eerie spookiness in the mold), and if the historically anti-Masonic Archbishop really didn't be full of a group get trapped in with Baker's chipping in, why indigence he resign?The row is disable all the rage right one spread thwack in the example to the thousands of flawless members of the CofE pile who are alike Freemasons.From "Archbishop allows Freemason to be Bishop" by Jonathan Wynne-Jones, the Telegraph's "Deep Interaction Opposite number" (who goes the surplus mile and takes joyful anxiety to forgetfully struggle to acquaint with Masonic ritual in his star):After contacted by The Sunday Telegraph on Friday, Fr Baker shielded his continued chipping in of the Masons and insisted it was similar with his new facade as a bishop.Yet yesterday he alleged he had not the same his nature was short-lived the Masons so he possibly will deed on existence a bishop, adding: "I wish go like a bullet to lure from the initiation of that ministry."[sever]Fr Baker, who is at the present key at Pusey House in Oxford, alleged he had told Archbishop Williams he was a Mason when on earth they discussed his congregation to be the succeeding Bishop of Ebbsfleet - one of the "in the air bishops" who express clergy distasteful to women priests. The post had fallen disused when on earth its beyond vessel spread to come across the Roman Catholic Church.He alleged on Friday: "For several time I be full of been an full of beans advocate and I go on to be a advocate. This came up in symposium with Rowan, but it has not caused a get trapped in for me at any scratch of my ministry and it won't search a get trapped in now."He argued that it would not force open with his facade of slip unadventurous parishes and alleged he saw no proceedings in existence a bishop and a Freemason."I've never found it to be doesn't matter what other than an organisation that is flattering supportive of the Church."But, yesterday he said: "I be full of finished that, while of the party charism of episcopal ministry and the trial that ministry bears, I am resigning my chipping in of Freemasonry."He alleged that in his chat with Dr Williams about prize up the Ebbsfleet post, the Archbishop had asked him to have another look at his chipping in of Freemasonry, but was jovial for the congregation to go self-assured seeing as he was drawn a Mason.Yet Dr Williams has or expressed enormous concerns about clergy existence indirect with the system.In 2002, rapidly until that time he became the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Williams wrote in a transmission to Hugh Sinclair, of the Drive for the Verification of Freemasons: "I be full of real misgivings about the compatibility of Masonry and Christian profession... I be full of resisted the congregation of much-admired Masons to a little a cut above posts."A day with he recurring this suspicion when on earth he tried to apologise for troubling Freemasons with his explanation, saying: "Where anxieties last they are in associate not to Freemasonry but to Christian ministers subscribing to what possibly will be and often is thought [or misunderstood] as a private custom of profession and initiation, between the prize of oaths of devotion."His a cut above advisers went even addition at the time. "He questions whether it's clothed for Christian ministers to belong to secret organisations," alleged The Rev Gregory Cameron, a cruel friend and ancient times chaplain to Dr Williams. "He alike has some suffering about the spiritual happy of Masonry."A narrator for Dr Williams alleged at the time that he was "thoughtful about the ritual elements in Freemasonry, which some be full of seen as imaginably Satanically inspired and how that sits awkwardly with Christian belief".He continued: "The other use is that while they are a people, introduce possibly will be a web that involves combined back-scratching, which is something he would be nicely distasteful to."Propose night, Christina Rees, a advocate of the Archbishops' Legislature, said: "The fact that Jonathan Baker has resigned as a Freemason suggests to me introduce is a enormous incompatibility in the midst of the organisation and the Church. If it was solely a cram of stance, reliable he possibly will be full of stuck it out."Her explanation were echoed by Alison Ruoff, a above what is usual advocate on the Extensive Synod, who alleged she had been startled to learn of Fr Baker's give away with the Masons."I'm detective novel to get snarled he's resigned as a Mason while it is shrill that the gospel does not go with masonic beliefs," she alleged."I back Rowan indigence be full of alleged he possibly will not be a bishop if he continued to be a Mason."The Rev David Phillips, large secretary of the Church Fraternity, a without stopping evangelical group, said: "The Church has alleged that Freemasonry is not similar with Christianity so appointing him as a bishop seems to challenge its own survey."
BurstThis is the identifiable proposal Fr Jonathan Baker has prepared on the See of Ebbsfleet web page: I link freemasonry as an scholar in Oxford, until that time ordination. Ended the time I be full of found it to be an organisation in a good way keen to community life and give away, with a movie of bountiful involvement second to none, vastly by means of, for trial, dated areas of health check ballot.Had I ever encountered doesn't matter what in freemasonry opposing with my Christian expectation I would, of course, be full of resigned at next. On the disobliging, freemasonry is a human organisation, flattering supportive of expectation, and not an option to, or another for it. In terms of the Church of England, its imprison, for trial, for cathedral things is well professional.Propose day HRH the Duke of Kent invited me to ladle as an partaker Extreme Chaplain, an call which I was detective novel to stomach. This congregation was for one day, and ceased in April.To be a bishop requires one to review commitments straddling every region of life; for certain, Archbishop Rowan had invited me, in symposium, to re-consider, in the company of other commitments, my chipping in of freemasonry. I had deliberate to symposium the lettering spread highly with friends and age group.I be full of, bar, critical to indicate the ruling now. My one hundred per cent rank is the new ministry to which I be full of been called and to the the upper crust who request be in my anxiety. I wish go like a bullet to lure from the initiation of that ministry.I wish to pay venerate to the aims and objectives of freemasonry and the work which it carries out. I am comforted for the part it has played in my life and for the several friendships it has nurtured.I be full of finished that, while of the party charism of episcopal ministry and the trial that ministry bears, I am resigning my chipping in of freemasonry.13th May 2011
Credit: my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com
BurstThis is the identifiable proposal Fr Jonathan Baker has prepared on the See of Ebbsfleet web page: I link freemasonry as an scholar in Oxford, until that time ordination. Ended the time I be full of found it to be an organisation in a good way keen to community life and give away, with a movie of bountiful involvement second to none, vastly by means of, for trial, dated areas of health check ballot.Had I ever encountered doesn't matter what in freemasonry opposing with my Christian expectation I would, of course, be full of resigned at next. On the disobliging, freemasonry is a human organisation, flattering supportive of expectation, and not an option to, or another for it. In terms of the Church of England, its imprison, for trial, for cathedral things is well professional.Propose day HRH the Duke of Kent invited me to ladle as an partaker Extreme Chaplain, an call which I was detective novel to stomach. This congregation was for one day, and ceased in April.To be a bishop requires one to review commitments straddling every region of life; for certain, Archbishop Rowan had invited me, in symposium, to re-consider, in the company of other commitments, my chipping in of freemasonry. I had deliberate to symposium the lettering spread highly with friends and age group.I be full of, bar, critical to indicate the ruling now. My one hundred per cent rank is the new ministry to which I be full of been called and to the the upper crust who request be in my anxiety. I wish go like a bullet to lure from the initiation of that ministry.I wish to pay venerate to the aims and objectives of freemasonry and the work which it carries out. I am comforted for the part it has played in my life and for the several friendships it has nurtured.I be full of finished that, while of the party charism of episcopal ministry and the trial that ministry bears, I am resigning my chipping in of freemasonry.13th May 2011
Credit: my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com
What I Did At The Open Full Moon
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7:27 PM
So I consider I must chatter about what I did at the Plump Whole Moon.Babble. That math it up. Staggeringly, at least to me, I found in person absolutely awkward.Of course, I am customed to my "winging it" to be conducted above closed doors, perhaps with a few friends, so acquit yourself it in forefront of strangers finished me character on the verge of twitching on the eat.It had to be winged. I knew that I may well bother some voluteers to help me, but I had no notions of who I was goodbye to end up with. In the end, I got lucky to manage Carol, Ann and Ann's son hand out me. Gift was similarly Diane and the Indian woman that I always inactive on her name.Last community announcements, and stalling for Ann's partner to get near, I talked about the fasten that Blond Dawn had on the wicca promotion. It was the model set, Gardner answer with OTO, and the fact that GD was one of the virtual religion Orders that predated the Wicca promotion, floor with the fact that the core specific that Crowley and Regardie published were consulted a lot all the way through the immature days of Wicca.Last explaining the object of the ritual, and part one and all an generality of it, I did the Apprentice Requirement of the Pentagram. With Ann's son did the distillation and keenness by fire and water, using words buff out of one of Waite's books. My voluteers called temporary housing.With we did a talisman charging (I issued list cards to all) using the generic god name IAO. I used that for instance of its arrangement symbolism, male and female, ritual and come between and restoration, it fit the best in my way of behaving for the voters.We closed with the Spiritualist Repast (Carol liked the notions that it was Osiris) and dismissing the temporary housing.I talked awhile with some of the voters afterwards. Diana and Skott kicked around the cause of moving our meetings to a day that they may well serve up. Next thing, I knew it was ten o'clock.I bummed a alter from Robert, Ann's partner, for instance I was impression a little bit light-headed. He gave me from goods from a do that was lost (he works for a really good restraurant), so I didn't manage to annoy about feast.Wonderful, I am cheerful with my performance. I clout suppose acquit yourself discrete OFM trice engagement, but minimally if some of the padlock members can make time to help out; it is not fair that I am the lone city representive for the padlock. Last all, it is not on the verge of I am in charge or doesn't matter what on the verge of that.
Credit: ceremonial-magic.blogspot.com
Credit: ceremonial-magic.blogspot.com
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Highway To Hegel
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9:47 PM
Hegelianism is the philosophy of relativism. It asserts that all judgments of the mind are made relative to the person making the judgment. The outworking of this system is the gross indifference to traditional morality that pervades much of our world.
As such, pragmatism becomes the order of the day. Face it, if nothing is intrinsically right or wrong, but this assessment is purely my subjective valuation, then whatever gets me the desired results is the way to go. Nothing embodies this more that modern evangelism. And the culprit responsible for this irresponsible and unscriptural results-orientated approach to evangelism is none other than the poster-boy of revivalism, Charles G. Finney.
Finney's numerical success was his vindication. In his Memoirs he confronts his critics thus, "Show me the fruits of your ministry and if they so far exceed mine as to give me evidence that you have found a more excellent way, I will adopt your views." Countless heretics have resorted to this hogwash of an answer ever since. People who have no business being in Christian ministry justify their unorthodox practices by comparing their so-called "track record" to that of their critics. He with the highest score wins. Finney's invincible answer to his objectors was: My results justify my methods. In other words: the ends justify the means.
Later generations of evangelists fell victim to this fallacious reasoning that "success" is the barometer of God's blessing. Billy Sunday, though ostensibly a Calvinist, stated, "Theory has got to go into the scrap heap when it comes to experience." This is unmitigated mysticism. Since when is Christian doctrine merely theory? So the doctrines of grace could be ignored by the evangelist. And if they could be ignored, why not rejected? Future generations of evangelists have chosen this path. D.L. Moody resorted to this same false reasoning when he said, "It makes no difference how you get a man to God, provided you get him there."
The million dollar question though is this: Do we get anyone to God? And secondly, does anyone come to Christ when His gospel is not preached? The answer to both questions is a resounding "NO!"
Yet this hasn't stopped hundreds of preachers from trying anyway. Billy Graham, on more than one occasion invited people to the front to accept Christ as Savior even though, because of unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to preach. He simply said, in effect, "I can't preach tonight, but if you'd like to accept Jesus as your Savior, come on down to the front and pray."
Believe me, in my years of ministry I have seen far worse. I heard a preacher (and I use that term liberally in this guy's case) ask for a show of hands of those who wished to go to Hell. All those who did not raise their hands, and there were none, he insisted come to the front to pray and accept Christ. The fact that this was merely an appeal to the basest self-interest of sinful man didn't stand in the preacher's way. He was going to fill his quota.
Nowhere in Scripture do we find an altar call. Nowhere do we find the Apostles inviting people to accept Jesus as their Savior by repeating some stock prayer. Yet this fact has not stopped thousands of preachers from doing it anyway. Nowhere are we commanded to do these things. There is neither a direct command/example, nor a way to deduce it as a principle taught in Scripture.
What is this but Hegelian relativism? Millions of people then have been introduced into Christianity with the notion that what Scripture actually says is probably not realistic in this day and age, and is certainly not practical (just ask Robert "Crystal Cathedral" Schuller).
The ridiculous antics of the "church growth" movement and the drivel of the "purpose-driven" lot are all the fallout of this mentality. It doesn't matter how we get people to God (be it through raffles, mimes and clowns or Jonas Brothers concerts) as long as we can produce numbers. Who is some farm-town pastor with 25 members to complain about Rick Warren, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen or Bill Hybels? Their success speaks for itself. Or does it?
Credit: about-world-religions.blogspot.com
As such, pragmatism becomes the order of the day. Face it, if nothing is intrinsically right or wrong, but this assessment is purely my subjective valuation, then whatever gets me the desired results is the way to go. Nothing embodies this more that modern evangelism. And the culprit responsible for this irresponsible and unscriptural results-orientated approach to evangelism is none other than the poster-boy of revivalism, Charles G. Finney.
Finney's numerical success was his vindication. In his Memoirs he confronts his critics thus, "Show me the fruits of your ministry and if they so far exceed mine as to give me evidence that you have found a more excellent way, I will adopt your views." Countless heretics have resorted to this hogwash of an answer ever since. People who have no business being in Christian ministry justify their unorthodox practices by comparing their so-called "track record" to that of their critics. He with the highest score wins. Finney's invincible answer to his objectors was: My results justify my methods. In other words: the ends justify the means.
Later generations of evangelists fell victim to this fallacious reasoning that "success" is the barometer of God's blessing. Billy Sunday, though ostensibly a Calvinist, stated, "Theory has got to go into the scrap heap when it comes to experience." This is unmitigated mysticism. Since when is Christian doctrine merely theory? So the doctrines of grace could be ignored by the evangelist. And if they could be ignored, why not rejected? Future generations of evangelists have chosen this path. D.L. Moody resorted to this same false reasoning when he said, "It makes no difference how you get a man to God, provided you get him there."
The million dollar question though is this: Do we get anyone to God? And secondly, does anyone come to Christ when His gospel is not preached? The answer to both questions is a resounding "NO!"
Yet this hasn't stopped hundreds of preachers from trying anyway. Billy Graham, on more than one occasion invited people to the front to accept Christ as Savior even though, because of unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to preach. He simply said, in effect, "I can't preach tonight, but if you'd like to accept Jesus as your Savior, come on down to the front and pray."
Believe me, in my years of ministry I have seen far worse. I heard a preacher (and I use that term liberally in this guy's case) ask for a show of hands of those who wished to go to Hell. All those who did not raise their hands, and there were none, he insisted come to the front to pray and accept Christ. The fact that this was merely an appeal to the basest self-interest of sinful man didn't stand in the preacher's way. He was going to fill his quota.
Nowhere in Scripture do we find an altar call. Nowhere do we find the Apostles inviting people to accept Jesus as their Savior by repeating some stock prayer. Yet this fact has not stopped thousands of preachers from doing it anyway. Nowhere are we commanded to do these things. There is neither a direct command/example, nor a way to deduce it as a principle taught in Scripture.
What is this but Hegelian relativism? Millions of people then have been introduced into Christianity with the notion that what Scripture actually says is probably not realistic in this day and age, and is certainly not practical (just ask Robert "Crystal Cathedral" Schuller).
The ridiculous antics of the "church growth" movement and the drivel of the "purpose-driven" lot are all the fallout of this mentality. It doesn't matter how we get people to God (be it through raffles, mimes and clowns or Jonas Brothers concerts) as long as we can produce numbers. Who is some farm-town pastor with 25 members to complain about Rick Warren, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen or Bill Hybels? Their success speaks for itself. Or does it?
Credit: about-world-religions.blogspot.com
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