tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75055404513896228672024-03-19T14:38:08.728-07:00Iesus XA blog about Jesus.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-50703929034882412422014-01-20T15:13:00.002-08:002014-01-20T15:13:29.741-08:00Hosea's ChristMany times it is claimed by us Christians in the Old Testament age, before Christ, God did not inspire the love for His son Jesus in the hearts of men. He had not yet come, and therefore, how can one believe in Him?<br />
<br />
So, the conclusion reached is that either everyone who died in the days before Christ are condemned, or God saved them by a path other than Christ (faith in the Father alone? By sacrifice? By obedience?).<br />
<br />
Of course, we know that neither is true. Paul notes, in Romans 3:25-26:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His patience<b> he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - </b>he did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be both just and justifier..."</span><br />
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So clearly, not everyone who died in the Old Testament Age went to Hell! But with the same token, it didn't happen by a "third" path.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
So, the only conclusion left is that faith in Christ was possible in the times before Christ. We see notable indications of this in the lives of Abraham (John 8:56, Romans 4:18) and Isaiah (John 12:41, Isaiah 53) - however, the Lord sometimes indicates Jesus to the Old Testament folk in a more subtle way. Consider this selection from Hosea:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Therefore, I am now going to allure [Israel],</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will lead her into the wilderness*</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and speak tenderly to her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There I will give her back her vineyards</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There she will sing as in the days of her youth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">as in the day she came up out of Egypt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In that day, declares the Lord,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">you will call me "my husband"**</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">you will no longer call me "my master"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will plant her for myself in the land;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will show my love to the one I called</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'Not my loved one.'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will say to those called 'Not my people,'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'You are my people.'***</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And they will say, "You are my God."</span><br />
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*For me, this echoes the strains of Isaiah 40:3, seen in the New Testament in Matthew 3:3 and <i>especially</i> Luke 3:4-6.<br />
**Christ is called the husband of the church (Ephesians 5:23), in Heaven the church is called "the bride and wife of the Lamb" (Revelations 21:9), all of marriage and indeed the culmination of sex in orgasm is just a weak illustration of the joy between husband and wife, Christ and church.<br />
***Galatians 3:28 states that even the Gentiles, despised and condemned by Jews of the OT age as unclean and abhorrent are <b>only in Christ </b>united with Jews themselves - and slave, and freeman, and woman and female, tall and short; everyone is equal in Christ.<br />
<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-51330513955472627062014-01-20T13:33:00.002-08:002014-01-20T13:33:49.471-08:00Where are the Men?Where are the men<br />
whose breath makes fire bleed?<br />
And where, the horseman<br />
and his hallowed steed?<br />
<br />
They rode to war<br />
and verily traveled back<br />
They lost the fight<br />
and now manhood they lack<br />
<br />
Now boys, now babes,<br />
now unborn yet of womb<br />
Instead of fighting Synn<br />
yet even to the tomb<br />
<br />
Lament, oh Earth<br />
for God hath lost warrers<br />
Instead converted into EphesiansErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-33520039300447359322013-03-22T20:40:00.002-07:002014-01-20T15:18:19.508-08:00Stonehill Giant<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">A man on the hill of Stone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Waved a flag of wool and bone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“I submit to you,” quoth he<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Before the Giant Culturality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Giant was Vast and Po’erful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And wast by every lunch hour full,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">For he consumed Christians and men<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Who dared fight time and again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Men clothed in rags and scars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Who defied the Giant's chars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">That hearts of men burns make numb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB">With fingers of steel and with iron
thumb.</span></div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-84679143583058336212013-02-23T18:02:00.001-08:002013-02-23T18:02:29.386-08:00A Cry from the Heart<br />
The days are dark. My heart is leaking rain.<br />
The nights are long but they tell me it wanes.<br />
I know the truth, but in-tel-ect still wants.<br />
My soul it weeps, and sin and guilt still haunt.<br />
<br />
I wait for You. I empty myself for Thee.<br />
If I’m a leaf, then God, oh you’re a tree.<br />
I’ve been made new, but why are you so far?<br />
I know it’s true; you’ve cleaned me from my tar.<br />
<br />
But no in-for-ma-tion can fill my soul.<br />
And no action of mine can make me whole!<br />
Only Jesus. Only Jesus. Alone.<br />
The Word that splits to soul and splits to bone.<br />
<br />
The Wind it howls. It cries. The Ages are Dark.<br />
The sea shivers, dreary it leaves its mark.<br />
To God I cry: To You oh Adonai.<br />
I am barren, empty: thus here I lie.<br />
<br />
The sea-sons pass, the moun-tains fall, time flies<br />
Spirit of God! Awake in me! Untie,<br />
Me from this mess, this barren-ness, I plead<br />
Your Presence Lord, that’s all I’ll ever need.<br />
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Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-69964145855148349682013-02-23T12:27:00.001-08:002013-02-23T12:27:05.841-08:00Breathingː The Name of God<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.godtube.com/embed/source/d7d77wnx.js?w=400&h=255&ap=true&sl=true&title=true"></script><p><a href="http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=D7D77WNX">Nooma 014 - Breath - Legendado</a> from <a href="http://www.godtube.com/anandahh">anandahh</a> on <a href="http://www.godtube.com/">GodTube</a>.</p>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-64811900347093757202013-02-18T19:47:00.001-08:002013-02-18T19:47:24.908-08:00Lament of the CoalWe have ached here in the soot<br />For so long we forget time<br />
Cold in us has taken root<br />
In coming ages light won't shine<br />
<br />
<i>Yet, the pure ones glistening</i><br />
<i>In the Sun's radiant glories</i><br />
<i>God's light was their christening</i><br />
<i>Harvested from earth's quarries</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Give us light oh give us light<br />
May it shine up-on... us<br />
Compress us oh God of might<br />
To reveal in us dawn's blushErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-78700751141978521992013-02-18T19:29:00.001-08:002013-02-18T19:29:57.690-08:00Orbiting the Son - Pt. 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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Made by ~BS4711</div>
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<i>One</i></div>
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The frozen comet hurtled through the bitter darkness of the Oort cloud. This vast belt of icy void orbited the far away Sun, which was a faint distant red glow. This particular comet was one of many. Tens of hundreds of thousands of frigid hulls of frozen water and dirt slowly moved through the dead silence. Cometa ached to enter the warmth of the Outer Solar System, away from the other comets. For within the true Solar system, she could melt and perhaps be a true planet, maybe even with her own moons and rings. But for now, she carried on. Silence. Vast chasms of darkness on every side, occasionally punctuated by one of her dead cousins soaring far above or below. Abysmal black pitch. Dead still. Constant unease of deep stillness. Cometa, aching to become a light and a glory, sung herself a lullaby:<br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Oh that I could be a Chosen.</i></div>
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<i>And not one of many Frozen!</i></div>
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<i>Darkness gives me such unease.</i></div>
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<i>That I could do but as I please!</i></div>
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<i>I wish that my cold bonds would thaw</i></div>
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<i>And release me from the Law!"</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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And Cometa wept a frozen tear, and hurtled on through the dead space.<br />
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<i>Two</i></div>
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A thousand years later into her 34,404th orbit around the sun, Cometa pondered an enigma.<br />
"I wonder," said she, "how beautiful would I be, if these dreary roots of Cold lost their hold on me?"<br />
Though she knew it not, that distant red glow on the horizon of her universe had been pulling her closer and closer for over ten thousand years. Each orbit brought her marginally closer to the beating heart which pulsated light from the solar system's core. And today was the day when Cometa's dreams would come true. For she was now leaving the Outer Solar System. And a thought struck her, like a hammer striking a silver bell. She was drifting further away from her Arctic neighbours than she ever has! Glee filled her as she sailed toward the Sun, and she cackled out to her fellow comets:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>"How sad you all must be,</i></div>
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<i>to say goodbye to one as</i><i> me!</i></div>
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<i>But alas, I love you not.</i></div>
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<i>May ye frozen tubs of cold glass rot."</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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"I shall be," thought Cometa, "the greatest planet that has ever existed. I shall have twenty-two moons and rings a thousand light-seconds long." Thus on she sailed, ever closer to yonder Star and Sun.<br />
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Made by *QAuz<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Three</i></div>
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After another ten thousand years of slowly orbiting away through the deep glacial cold, she espied far off another comet also being gently pulled inward by the Sun. It was far smaller than she. It was a frosty white one, flecked with grey dirty snow. Many craters also speckled her face. She was old, perhaps as old as Cometa herself, though surely not as old as the Elder Comets that floated dead through space far behind. </div>
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<br /></div>
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"Ho there!" Cometa cried out to the distant comet. She spun around, surprised, and spotted Cometa, cried back "Hello there! I shall wait for you here!" And, after waiting a few hundred days, Cometa caught up with her. "Hello, my name is Cometa!" "<i>Enchanté. </i>My name is Stará. What are you doing here, so far away from your home?" Cometa replied "I am going to yonder star, to make myself into a light and a glory, so all the universe can behold my splendour and be exceedingly amazed." "Why," replied Stará, "That's exactly what I intend to do as well! I was hoping that the Sun could melt me, and reveal my true beauty which is hidden within. I feel that I am tremendously special and important, and others simply need to gaze upon me and they will understand. That is why I have left everything behind." Cometa then realized that Stará would be her direct competitor for the exaltation she felt was due to her, Cometa, alone. Bitter anger filled Cometa. What could she do? Suddenly a dead smile flickered onto the lips of Cometa as an ingenious plan seeped into her icy cores.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Four</i></div>
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Ten thousand years later, millennia after Stará had disappeared into the icy darkness behind her, Cometa felt a rise in temperature. Although it was only marginal, Cometa knew it was true. She was closer to the Sun than she thought she would ever be. The Sun! Freedom! Soft warm showers of water would pour off her! Bursts of glee shot through her and reconfirmed her plan to steal the glory. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Suddenly she saw a tiny dimly glinting grey object accelerate exponentially towards her. It zoomed right by her. "Wait!" she cried out. "What?" retorted the Grey Thing. "What are you?" she asked. "Busy. I'm measuring the average percentage of hydrogen atoms per cubic metre at regular intervals, by zoning every five kilometres from the Sun. I've been at this for far too long and I have too much time left, so I must go now. Goodbye!" "Stop! I need a friend!" cried out Cometa. "Not me, I'm far too busy and intelligent to be your friend, but if you need something to do you can count the stars one by one and then count them backwards in the exact reverse order and repeat <i>ad infinitum</i> until you find a friend or something more useful to do. Farewell!" And the mouth of Space quickly swallowed up the Grey thing.<br />
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Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-39621452258019798152013-01-30T15:14:00.001-08:002013-04-01T14:27:27.747-07:00Why Bad Things Happen to Good People.[<b>Edit: I recently received a comment about this post. Scroll to the end to see the comment and my reply]</b><br />
<br />
They don't.<br />
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<div>
Bad things don't happen to good people. There are no good people. I am not a good person. God alone is good. Everyone else has been stained by sin. Even the smallest of infants, the most tender of babes, the most innocent of girls, the most gentle of boys - they too are sin-stained.</div>
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So why are women raped? Why are children kidnapped, tortured and killed?</div>
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As the false dilemma goes, God is either non-existent or non-omnipotent (thus allowing bad things to happen), or he is evil and cruel, able to stop all wrongs but not willing.</div>
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But neither is true. God is existent, He is omnipotent, but He allows sin to happen. He allows women to be raped. He allows children to be kidnapped, and tortured, and killed. Anyone who believes in God will admit this. He allows this to happen.</div>
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<i>But why?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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For several reasons.</div>
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1. We all deserve every wrongdoing we get. We have all sinned against God - yes, the pregnant rape victim has sinned. The rapist has sinned doublefold, to be sure, but the victim too. The little children, even if they are too young to understand the moral implications of their actions, have a sinful nature within them. See the baby, crying when it wants something it can't have. As P. Washer once said, imagine that baby wanted a gold ring. It cried and reached for it. If that baby had the strength of a full grown man, it would slaughter anyone who stood between it and the ring. Adult sin is just - normally - less external. We are not good.</div>
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<b>You want to deny this</b>.</div>
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But it is true that people are inherently evil, and scientifically demonstrable. Go ahead and read one of oldest songs in existence - the book of Psalms. Read Psalm 14. Read Romans 3. Go and research "Milgram's Electric Shock Experiment," or Jerry Berger's replication thereof, or the Stanford prison experiment. People require <i>very </i>little prodding, or none at all, to express evil. It seems a very natural thing.</div>
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2. God is not only love. He is also justice.</div>
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Everyone will receive justice. Some will receive it through Christ, and some through their own non-god bodies. He allows some of this justice to occur here on the earth. He allows most of it to occur after our deaths. It will come. </div>
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<br /></div>
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3. God's paths are unsearchable</div>
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Do not ignore the first two reasons. They in themselves answer the question, though not wholly. The third reason is "I do not fully know. No man, save Christ, truly knows the why behind different scenarios." Some rape victims come to know Christ through their trauma. Some kidnapped children will grow up to be embittered with a profound loathing of Jesus Christ. Either way, God's overarching plan takes all this into account. Jesus said, "no bird dies, and no hair falls from your head, unless God has known it before time began." It is all planned out. </div>
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<b>You probably don't like these answers. You want me to say that every rape victim will be rewarded in Heaven, or God loves them more than normal people. But the truth is, God did not commit the crime. He allowed a guilty person to be punished (immorally) by a more guilty person. At the end of the day, unless grace is received through Christ, both will perish.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Imagine a world where God is both good, and just, and where people were not evil - and nothing bad happened. A world of perfection and peace, laughter and mystery, beauty and science, truth and holiness - a world that reflects the nature of Jesus Christ.</div>
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<br /></div>
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God already made that world. Then we, humans, ruined it. We are living in a world that we have destroyed. God will again make that world. Then we, humans will not ruin it. Sin will be thrown into the maws of Hell, where the just wrath of God abides. And the fire of Jesus Christ shall wax anew eternally.<br />
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[Edit]<br /><br />I recently received a comment from someone, who says they know me in person. That may be so. Here is their comment:<br />
<br />
<i>"Erick, I know who you are, and it makes me sick to know that you actually believe this. Believing that God could ever intend for a woman to be raped requires one to override empathy, lose their moral bearings and accept evil as divine will. And as a rape survivor, I find this to be all the more offensive. I’m very sorry to have found this horrible outlet of yours.</i></div>
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<i><br />Forgive me, I am an atheist and no expert when it comes to the ins-and-outs of your religion, but what you have written here has done more harm to my perception of Christianity and Christians than all its critics combined. This evil and misogynistic ideas post of yours needs to be debunked for what it really is: a rationalization of evil, an attack on women, and a slandering of the God of love, justice and mercy whom I’ve heard many good Christians follow. <br /><br />Help me understand: in person you seem like a perfectly normal guy, not to mention highly academic. Where the hell did this testimony to your sociopathology come from?"</i><br /><br />Unfortunately, this person left me no ability to reply to them, as they left no contact information. I am sorry for this, and I would much prefer to have this conversation with you in private. Whoever you are, I am sorry you feel this way. If you truly do know me, then come and approach me and we can have this conversation.</div>
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You say you are an atheist, and atheists say that they like truth. You state that "I believe that God <i>intends </i>for a woman to be raped."</div>
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<b><u><i>I never said that. </i></u></b>I said that God <i>allows </i>women to be raped. God hates rape. God hates murder. God hates the rapist and the murderer (Psalm 5:5).<b><span style="color: red;"> I never said that God wishes, desires, plans for the murder, abduction, sexual torment and/or rape of countless tens of thousands of women all of the world. I hate rape. God does not condone rape, he condemns it.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Yet we have two facts: women are raped, and God exists. So, why does God allow it? I said two things</div>
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<br /></div>
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1) I think it's because we're all fallen creatures, and we've all done bad things and we all deserve punishment - I am a perfect example. I am not as gentle as I should be, not as loving as I could be, I am frequently rude and ignorant and harsh and severe. I have broken an infinitely big law, therefore I deserve God's infinite wrath.</div>
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2) I don't know.</div>
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You say I rationalize evil. I do not rationalize evil. You know those rapists that raped that women to death in India on a bus for hours and hours? <b>That pisses me the fuck right off. And God fucking hates that as well. I hate evil. </b>I condemn all evil.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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You say this post is an attack on women. How so? Why wouldn't you say it's also an "attack on children?" since I mention them as well? Because this is not so. I honour and respect women - I believe the male-dominated church of today is not in line with the Biblical standard. I believe that women have a much higher place in the church than the realize, perfectly equal in level with men. I am all for women.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So please, approach me, whoever you are. Let's talk.</div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-55335361836365180132013-01-26T17:25:00.000-08:002013-01-26T17:25:09.230-08:00A brief letter to colonizing missionaries of all times.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Preamble: I am not addressing all of you when I say “missionary.”
Many of you come to foreign cultures in humility, realizing that Western
civilization is no less primitive than any other, although it has fringe
benefits. Many of you understand that Jesus will be worshipped in every tongue
by every tribe – that is, in every different culture. Many of you have the
heart of Jesus and offer grace, not legalism and condemnation. Put down this
letter now – you are doing a fine job. I speak to the missionaries who lived in
Ancient Rome or live now in Modern Venezuela – all over the earth in every
time. The men who are concentrated on “collecting souls,” not glorifying Christ
through love and gentleness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear colonizing
missionaries,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I must confess, I am pissed off.
I find it hard not to hate you sometimes – may God help me. I would swear were
I to speak to you in real life. You, oh British missionaries to Hawaii, offered
to natives not peace, but condemnation. Woe to you! You, oh French missionaries
to the Five Nations of Canada, did not care for their culture, but for your
false religion alone. You, oh Spanish missionaries to Peru, offered not the loving
pierced hand of Jesus, but the iron fist of legalism. You, oh men who held up
the name of Christ as a pretention, as a symbol, but your black hearts were
just as stained with sin as any other man. Woe to you! Cursed be the man who
brings disgrace to the name of Christ by killing natives. By punishing them. By
oppressing them. By making them afraid. Did you not realize that men in the
future would look back in utter disdain for a Christ <i>you did not preach? </i>I am filled with rage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"> You built your cathedrals on top
of pagan temples, you condemned hula-hoop dancing, you bound men down with
European morals, you forced them to learn an angry foreign tongue, you made
them farm and make hay-bales, you kidnapped their children to “re-education schools,”
you ravaged their lands, you flaunted yourself, you raped their women, you
despised their culture, you hated their skin-colour. Woe to you! You claim to
be religious, but true religion, says God, is <i>helping the widow and the orphan, and being unstained from the world!</i>
But you slaughtered the husband, raped his widow to death, kidnapped her
orphan, and showed your evil worldly heart. In the name of Anglican and Puritan
and Protestant and Catholic and Orthodox values, you ignored Christ’s sacrifice
and bound them with the law of Moses. <i>Woe
to you! </i>Says Christ, <i>teachers of the
law, you hypocrites! </i></span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FFFEFD; color: #001320; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You
yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: #FFFEFD; color: #001320; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> You preached a false gospel, you
trampled on Christ’s sacrifice, you broke every law of God, you did not remove
the plank from your own eye, you lived to please man, you sat down at the head
table, you exalted yourself, you did not become a Jew for the Jew or Gentile
for the Gentile, you considered yourself better than others, you treated others
as you would not want to be treated, <i>ad
nauseum</i>. How do you think you shall escape the fires of Hell? Jesus saved
his most bitter rage for the most religious of hypocrites. And you are such a
man. You are a hypocrite. Repent from your wicked ways, perhaps the light of
Christ will shine in your heart still. It is truly a wonder and astonishment
that anyone at all was actually brought to Christ through your cruelty. I am
sickened.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-22957039400172573702012-12-28T14:15:00.001-08:002012-12-28T14:15:39.903-08:00Piedod Man, Ak Dievs VisaugstākaisHe is the one who holds the stars in His hands of light<br />
"Sum Alpha et Omega; Iesse Virgula" ait.<br />
Está más allá de los confines del universo.<br />
E vai julgar contra o mau e perverso.<br />
Il est la gloire.<br />
<br />
Hither and thither, we all habitate within<br />
The Dayspark and the Nightguardian<br />
The Second Person of the Tri-unity,<br />
Instills courage in His holy Community<br />
He has the glory.<br />
<br />
Manifeste magnum est pietatis sacramentum,<br />
Quod manifestatum est in carne iustificatum<br />
Est in spiritu apparuit angelis praedicatum<br />
Est: gentibus creditum; in mundo adsumptum<br />
Est in gloria<br />
<br />
La tela espacial y temporal anidan en Él<br />
El tiempo es como línea escrita en papel<br />
El cual es el Dios triuno que supera<br />
El mal con el cruz que él abandera<br />
Merece la gloria.<br />
<br />
Por isso Cristo é o cordeiro que foi imolado<br />
Desde a fundação do mundo. Foi sacrificado<br />
E nos librou com o seu sangue escarlate<br />
E resucistou dizé-nos que foi bastante<br />
Nos deu glória.<br />
<br />
Et aujourd'hui il nous appelle passionnément<br />
Oh, que nous cherchions ses mots qui vivent.<br />
Le temps restant est peu, et grande sa gloire.<br />
Ce qui est important nos devons apercevoir.<br />
Soit a Il la gloire.<br />
<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-76675805282821582802012-12-14T05:54:00.003-08:002012-12-14T05:54:40.994-08:00The Lion on the BedAs I sat down at my desk, I opened my laptop up.<br />
A lion with a golden mane gently trod into my room.<br />
I did not notice him, so instead I scanned the internet.<br />
He looked at me gently and steadily, with flaming eyes.<br />
I searched for webpages titled "Evidence for Lions"<br />
The lion climbed upon the bed and lay down, head erect.<br />
I sighed and placed my face in my hands. Videos.<br />
Majesty and beauty leapt like flames from the lion.<br />
I did not know him, I did not see him.<br />
The lion's heart beated like a steady heavy gong.<br />
I opened up another video, and then I heard him.<br />
The lion on the bed gazed at the back of my head.<br />
The video was a song, the roar of a lion.<br />The lion on the bed saw tears stream from my eyes.<br />
I turned and before seeing him I knew he was there.<br />
The lion on the bed.<br />
I wept openly and bitterly for my lion-hunting,<br />
And I bowed down before the lion on the bed.<br />
His waving cloak of gentle fur was like silk under my fingers.<br />
I pressed my face into his mane, and wept anew.<br />
The lion nuzzled his head into my neck.<br />
Peace like a cloud descended on me.<br />
<br />
Now when I walk, I walk beside the Lion.<br />
Down the hallways of my school the Lion walks beside me.<br />
Gently and quietly he walks, this Lion on the Bed.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-29552656600058832432012-12-03T13:07:00.001-08:002012-12-03T13:07:46.011-08:00The Calf-Path<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">One day, through the primeval wood,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">A calf walked home, as good calves should;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">But made a trail all bent askew,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">A crooked trail, as all calves do.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">
Since then three hundred years have fled,<br />And, I infer, the calf is dead.<br />But still he left behind his trail,<br />And thereby hangs my moral tale.<br /><br />The trail was taken up next day<br />By a lone dog that passed that way;<br />And then a wise bellwether sheep<br />Pursued the trail o’er vale and steep,<br />And drew the flock behind him, too,<br />As good bellwethers always do.<br /><br />And from that day, o’er hill and glade,<br />Through those old woods a path was made,<br />And many men wound in and out,<br />And dodged and turned and bent about,<br />And uttered words of righteous wrath<br />Because ’twas such a crooked path;<br />But still they followed — do not laugh —<br />The first migrations of that calf,<br />And through this winding wood-way stalked<br />Because he wobbled when he walked.<br /><br />This forest path became a lane,<br />That bent, and turned, and turned again.<br />This crooked lane became a road,<br />Where many a poor horse with his load<br />Toiled on beneath the burning sun,<br />And traveled some three miles in one.<br />And thus a century and a half<br />They trod the footsteps of that calf.<br /><br />The years passed on in swiftness fleet.<br />The road became a village street,<br />And this, before men were aware,<br />A city’s crowded thoroughfare,<br />And soon the central street was this<br />Of a renowned metropolis;<br />And men two centuries and a half<br />Trod in the footsteps of that calf.<br /><br />Each day a hundred thousand rout<br />Followed that zigzag calf about,<br />And o’er his crooked journey went<br />The traffic of a continent.<br />A hundred thousand men were led<br />By one calf near three centuries dead.<br />They follow still his crooked way,<br />And lose one hundred years a day,<br />For thus such reverence is lent<br />To well-established precedent.<br /><br />A moral lesson this might teach<br />Were I ordained and called to preach;<br />For men are prone to go it blind<br />Along the calf-paths of the mind,<br />And work away from sun to sun<br />To do what other men have done.<br />They follow in the beaten track,<br />And out and in, and forth and back,<br />And still their devious course pursue,<br />To keep the path that others do.<br /><br />They keep the path a sacred groove,<br />Along which all their lives they move;<br />But how the wise old wood-gods laugh,<br />Who saw the first primeval calf!<br />Ah, many things this tale might teach —<br />But I am not ordained to preach.<br /><br />- Sam Walter-Foss</div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-60599788050811025332012-11-27T19:00:00.000-08:002012-11-27T19:00:00.321-08:00Jesus in FoodWhen you sit to eat, what do you think about as you taste your food? Is the "partaking of the bread of the Lord," (ie. the Lord's supper) only something you do once a month or whenever arbitrarily decided? "Lord, thank you for this bread [normally just a cracker!] which represents the body of Christ." Yes, bread represents Jesus. So does every other food.<br />
<br />
The rich healthy brocoli represents the verdent life of Jesus. The spicy tang of Indian food represents the fire of passion and holiness in the eyes of Jesus. The freshly baked pizza with a thousand toppings represents the rich complexities of the Person of Jesus.<br />
<br />
But that's not all.<br />
<br />
When you bite or cut any food before you eat it, assuming that the food represents Jesus, are you not "breaking the bread" as well? Does this action not represent the "crushing of Jesus" (Isa 53:5,11)? And when the food is pulverised in your mouth and then sent down your esophagus and into the acidic enzymatic liquid of your stomach fluid, does this not all represent the torturous hell Christ bore on the cross?<br />
<br />
But this food does not merely die (in that sense) in your mouth and stomach and pass through the other end, leaving you nothing but mashed up food. NO! Christ did not merely die on the cross, suffering the wrath of God for the sins of the elect.<br />
<br />
The rich nutrients in the food itself go to your body to replenish it, and vivify it, and give it the power it needs to <i>live</i>. No man can live long without nutrients. In this sense, food symbolizes Christ, the <i>life giver</i>.<br />
<br />
So let us not constrain our minds to only see the body of Jesus in one little tidbit we eat once a month, but rather in all the food we eat - and especially what we share with other believers. He can be seen everywhere in everything, and many more patterns and types of Jesus can be seen in all things than any man can think of. And one day we will see this great Archetype and Perfect Prototype (in the sense that all else is copied from Him), the Real McCoy and the Original Omega.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-47233003963075695812012-11-16T12:50:00.000-08:002012-11-16T12:50:26.942-08:00Enslavement to Glory<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Powerful, powerful<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 26</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>March! March! March!
March!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 1</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love consumed me, overflowed me<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 25</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Work! Work! Work!
Work!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> 2</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Green pastures and trees breathed the living air<span style="color: #999999;"> 24</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Muck! Drudge! Sludge!
Nudge!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 3</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked into his eyes of fire<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 23</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Inhale Soot and Coal-dust!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 4</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On His throne, reigning imperially<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 22</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Work harder! Die!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 5</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Winds of holiness swept through me<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Eat thy tongue and
weep.</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 6</span><i><o:p></o:p></i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was lifted up, amazed by wonderous lights<span style="color: #999999;"> 20</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Blinde thyself and
crumble</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 7</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It penetrated me like a sunlit ray from God<span style="color: #999999;"> 19</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Drinke thy mercurie.</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">8 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly the same golden orb pierced all space and time<span style="color: #999999;"> 18</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Devour thy lusts like
swine</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> 9</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It magnamiously turned itself to a globe for me<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Behold, thou art
naught save dust.</i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">10</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His scarlet blood turned into Prince’s gold<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">16</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Thinkest that thou
canst escape my chains of yore?</i><span style="color: #999999;"> 11</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Christ eclipsed then all lesser glory, bleeding red.<span style="color: #999999;"> 15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Yea, weep, despair and
die: but repent thou not.</i><span style="color: #999999;"> 12</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly freedom in the midst of sorrow blinded me.<span style="color: #999999;"> 14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>No! I am his
bloodowner and fleshmæster! NO!</i><span style="color: #999999;"> 13</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
Now read this according to the numbers on the right (1, 2, 3, etc.)Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-91415627822150030242012-11-10T08:20:00.001-08:002012-11-10T08:20:05.795-08:00Hidden Truth<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still they dreamed this dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A man was standing there,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking beyond the dull grey walls</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across oceans of deep majesty</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until he could almost see the other side</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With mountains that stretched into clouds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whereon people clothed in beauty lived</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worlds full of excitement, of adenture</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Palaces of gold</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And a King so powerful all of his enemies bowed a knee to
Him</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Robes of silken white flowing out from him, and crowned of
illustrious blue light</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A woman stood beside him there</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sitting on the concrete barrier</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She too could almost see across the seas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And envision the deep mysterious jungles,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And tree-top villages and cities,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where people rode on the backs of great pterodactyls</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And trained in the art of war, wearing helmets of gold</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emblazoned with the emblem of the King of Life</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wooden railways connected tree to tree</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here the King’s people lived in peace</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A boy stood on the barrier, beside them</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nigh looking over the rippling waves of glass</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the land of the Sun, and the cities of Knowledge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where people lived in towers of glass ascending for eons</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People who delighted studying truth with instruments of
power</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Technology far advanced, given as a gift by their King of
Science</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glass towers with bridges to distant stars, and worlds far
away</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where also the King of Stars held sway, Reigning in the
sound of suns</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A girl sat on the cold barrier, betwixt them</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her mind flying outward and away, across the deep blue
waters</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the wet shining coastline of the simple fishing people</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here the King had built a deep mine, cleaving between land
and sea,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A glass column stretching down to the ocean floor, where
warriors went</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To fight the demons under the seafloor, where there were
many deep caverns</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which fell away deep to the very core of the earth; dark and
great pressure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fishermen fought here, against the devils which fly
across the deep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man held the woman’s hand, and the boy looked in the
girls’ eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many years ago, in sound and in fury they were born beneath
the sea,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And taken captive by the dark, made prisoners on the Grey Isles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They knew not that other lands existed, but that the Isle
was their place to be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All men lived here. Women governed. Children played quietly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Was not all as it should seem?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet still they dreamed this dream.</div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-62045370656096460432012-11-07T16:21:00.001-08:002012-11-07T16:21:33.057-08:00False<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Libertinism gives no freedom, legalism is not lawful and hyper-egalitarianism is correctly pronounced "hypo-equal".</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">None of these proclaim the gospel. None of these speak of Christ, save:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">True liberty, true legality, true equality.</span>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-74456766718371348052012-10-27T17:59:00.000-07:002012-10-27T17:59:00.985-07:00Is Faith Blind?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-53840485660938415082012-10-27T17:57:00.001-07:002012-10-27T17:57:47.359-07:00Sin is a Lesser Imitation of God<br />
Pride imitates exaltedness,<br />
but God alone is exalted.<br />
Ambition seeks honours and glory,<br />
but God alone is to be honoured above all, glorious forevermore.<br />
Cruelty seeks to implant in others fear,<br />
but God alone is to be feared, whose power holds all in place.<br />
The 'tenderness' of lust calls itself love,<br />
Yet nothing is more tender than His love.<br />
...<br />
Curiosity pretends to desire knowledge,<br />
but God alone knows all.<br />
Ignorance and foolishness imitate simplicity and harmlessness,<br />
but there is nothing more single than You<br />
...<br />
Laziness longs to be a rest,<br />
but what stable rest in the Lord!<br />Luxury affects to be called plenty and abundance,<br />
but God is the fullness and neverfailing plenteousness of incorruptible pleasures.<br />Extravagance gives the impression of generosity<br />
but God is the most overflowing Giver of good.<br />Covetousness wants to possess many things,<br />
but God possesses all things.<br />
<br />
Envy argues over excellency,<br />
but what is more excellent than God?<br />
Anger seeks revenge,<br />
but who avenges more justly than God?<br />
Fear is afraid of startling things which threaten things it loves,<br />
but what is starting to God, and what can take from Him what He loves?<br />
Grief pines for things lost: the delight of its desires, because it wishes nothing taken from it,<br />
even as nothing can be taken from God.<br />
<br />
- Augustine, Confessions [a paraphrase]<br />
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-10197495530589065692012-10-27T13:10:00.002-07:002012-10-27T13:10:44.617-07:00Lo, Daughter of God: Your Saviour Loves You!<br />
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Behold, clothed in robes of glory!</div>
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The captain of your soul. He speaks to you:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have heard your weeping</span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And watched over your sleeping</div>
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"<i>But all night long on my bed,</i></div>
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<i>I looked for you,</i>" you said.</div>
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"<i>I looked for you, my heart's love.</i></div>
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<i>More pure to me than a dove.</i>"</div>
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<br /></div>
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But oh lamb, I sought you long before</div>
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Before you heard my knocking</div>
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The knocking at your door</div>
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<br /></div>
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When you still hated me, living in your sin</div>
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Lusting for your slavemaster,</div>
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the one who'd do you in.</div>
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I looked at you, and said,</div>
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"Still I love you"</div>
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This My Father knew.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Before the universe was made in me,</div>
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My body, child, was broken for thee.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I am the Alpha and the Omega</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
The Lord of Destruction and Creation</div>
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Redeemer of men from every tribe,</div>
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tongue, and nation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I hold your life in my nail-pierced hands.</div>
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You can trust yourself to the great I AM.</div>
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How beautiful you are, my dear!</div>
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Come close to me: near!</div>
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<br /></div>
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You are all beautiful, my darling.</div>
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<b>There is no flaw in you.</b></div>
</div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-25912627954166376932012-10-26T10:33:00.003-07:002012-10-26T10:33:34.111-07:00Haiku<br />
Underground a pearl<br />
White, held up to crystal eyes<br />
Firey sails unfurled.<br />
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-74701357206545891642012-09-29T06:20:00.001-07:002012-09-29T06:29:51.794-07:00The Moon3:00 AM. A riverbed is cloaked in a heavy navy darkness. Dark clouds cover the sky. Frogs are singing to the tune of the crickets' violins. Marsh-reeds rock slowly to and fro in a gentle breeze. On the other side of the river lays a vast field of wheat, still in the night. Far beyond the field lies a deep pine forest. All is calm. I take several deep breaths, slowly. My eyes flicker, enchanted into sleep by the peace. On my side of the river lies a steep slope, peaked by pine trees. I sit among the trees, at the edge, wearily looking down the slope and across the river. Minutes creep by as I lean against the trunk of the pine tree. I peer upwards into the night, and notice the clouds are vanishing and the moon is appearing. The sky grows brighter until the full moon makes its appearance. Soft light gives way to brilliance as the moon momentarily blinds my dark-accustomed eyes.<br />
<br />
I weep at this beauty, and peer intently into its face. The longer I look, the more I see. Uniform whiteness melts into shades of grey and yellow as I look upon yonder moon. Deep crevasses and age-old craters scar and beautify its surface. Such a contrast to the darkened still night! This bright glowing orb which pierces the night and illuminates the world! I look into the river below and see a hazy mist hanging over its surface. The moon is reflected perfectly in its still waters. I stand up. Stretching, I wheel about-face and peer into the darkened forest behind me. Many hours ago I first came through this post-dusk land. Night had already settled its claws into the trees and the birds were settling in their nests. Now it seemed almost like day. Every few feet of darkness was punctuated by bright spotlights. The moon cast them.<br />
<br />
<img height="426" src="http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2009/357/a/e/Moon_STOCK_by_wyldraven.jpg" width="640" />Jesus is the moon. <i>Image by <a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=The+moon#/d2fywaw">wyldraven</a></i><br />
<br />
I'm 30 years old. A world is cloaked in a heavy moral darkness. Dark figures cover its history. Small men sing to the sad tune of broken men. Apartment buildings and sky scrapers stand bitterly rooted in their concreted soil. On the other side of the world lies a vast slum, still in its death. Even further lies the mountain villages. All is silent. I have several years, but I quickly lose them. My eyes flicker shut, enchanted into sleep by the Devil. In my land lies a steep social hierarchy, peaked by the media and business giants, presidents and supermodels. I sit at the base of the ladder, wearily looking up the ladder of "success". Lives creep by as men die. I look away from the world and into the heavens above me. What I once knew as true was quickly disappearing. The clouds and veils that had always covered the face of God, vanishing. Jesus Christ was appearing. The heavens grow brighter and brighter until Jesus, Lord of Time, appears in all His brightness. Softer shades of morality give way to the full brightness of Holiness. My eyes are blinded.<br />
<br />
I weep at this beauty and peer intently into His face. The longer I look, the more I see. His Godhood encompasses also His compassion, His gentleness, His burning love - as jealous as fire. His nail pierced hands and side wound scar and beautify Him. Such a contrast to the darkened still world! This brightly glowing Son of God which pierces the night and illuminates the world! I look down into the world below, and see what I did not before. Poisonous mist hangs over its surface. Yet Jesus is even there. I stand up. Thanking God, I look behind me into the past. Many years ago I came travelling through time. Darkness had long seeped into my body: I was rooted into it. Yet now my past showed where Christ had worked to bring me to repentance. The Spirit of Christ did this.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-84793971331812783952012-09-26T17:55:00.003-07:002012-09-29T05:31:18.620-07:00A Poem of the Gospel<br />
All our 'Christianity' is like filthy rags.<br />
As pleasing to God as he who ever nags.<br />
Religiousness does not please God's heart.<br />
Our external hypocrisy is but the devil's art.<br />
Many church-going bible-reading religious folk<br />
Will be reduced on That Day to naught but smoke<br />
But God is merciful to the humble and lowly and weak<br />
From His heart pours gentleness to the abused and meek.<br />
<br />
He sent His Son to pay it all.<br />
On Jesus Christ God's Wrath did fall.<br />
He drank the cup of pain and was afflicted.<br />
The death he died just can't be fairly depicted.<br />
<br />
And three days later Death felt a gentle tap on his back<br />
He turned around and Jesus Christ gave him a face smack<br />
Christ the Lord and Overcoming Saviour was alive!<br />
His sacrifice was enough; Victory He wasn't deprived.<br />
<br />
In Him is all Truth, Science and Revelation<br />
Step out and touch the King now who swallowed Damnation.<br />
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-87123019962348619582012-09-23T18:52:00.003-07:002012-09-23T18:52:37.175-07:00Burning ever BrighterA dancing spark<br />In darkened park<br />Alights on branches<br />Fire thus prances<br />The tree in flames<br />No man now tames<br />The forest bright<br />Fury in the night<br />The world now on fire<br />Burning ever higherErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-3654429550795330762012-09-19T16:42:00.004-07:002012-09-19T16:57:10.287-07:00BalanceA man whom I respect has been telling me for a while that, essentially, "You need more balance in your life. It's fine to be religious and have a passion for Jesus, but you also need to think about yourself and your career, your job, your material wealth, your health, your education. You need to have one foot in religion/Christianity and one foot in the world."<br />
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I completely disagreed with that statement and I told him why. I gave him a reason. Here are a few:</div>
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1) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Mt 7:24-27)<br />
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To be balanced is not to have half of your house on sand, and half on the rock. "It's balanced!" No, it's a major architectural flaw, and the house is highly unstable. If half of the house collapses, the other half is no longer suitable for residency. <b>The whole house is ruined</b> by half a collapse. It's the most balanced to be <i>completely </i>on the rock. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw05Au1ox89ioKq7zxYTjgLw4kZdtIgf-ysL0DL4KuzwLIp11Hv5ln6uZ1IJ5JOkARSdVQVy9lh_UYmoY5akQTvjGiVQQUxii3OOiCxVWjD-e6X_JY0JBdHnJaDv3tswxsYWb_qARUCI/s1600/Balance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw05Au1ox89ioKq7zxYTjgLw4kZdtIgf-ysL0DL4KuzwLIp11Hv5ln6uZ1IJ5JOkARSdVQVy9lh_UYmoY5akQTvjGiVQQUxii3OOiCxVWjD-e6X_JY0JBdHnJaDv3tswxsYWb_qARUCI/s640/Balance.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the same way, you can imagine three men: one man jumps wholly into the support-less air of The World, the second stands firmly upon the rock of Christ, and the third tries to balance- on foot on both. You cannot balance with half of your body weight hanging over the edge with all the force of gravity (your desire to sin) pulling you down and expect to survive. <b>You will fall</b>, and you will die.</div>
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2) God does not recognize either the house built half-way nor the man balancing on the edge. He only recognizes two alternatives: you're either for Him, or you're against Him. "<i>He who is not against us is for us." </i>(Mk 9:40, Lk 9:50) and "<i>You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons</i>." (1 Cor 10:21). Logic demands this be so; either Christ has died for you, or He has not. Either you belong to Him, or you do not. Either you love Him, or you do not. Either you stand upon Him and wish to do so, or you stand upon thin air and desire to separate yourself from the Christ in scriptures (although perhaps not your imaginary Jesus). So the appeal to "have one foot in Christ and one foot in the world" is really illogical and impossible.</div>
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<br /></div>
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3) Christ demands complete obedience, not half-way lukewarmness. Christ once spoke to the church of Laodicea, saying: "<i>How I wish you were either cold or hot. But as it is, you are neither! Therefore, I shall vomit you out of my mouth.</i>" (Rev 3). He also says, "<i>Sell your possessions and give to the poor." </i>and "<i>He who loves: his mom, dad, sister, brother, son, daughter, possessions, wealth, or even his own life more than me <b>is not worthy of me.</b>" </i></div>
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Christ does not demand some stupid, illogical, half-way balancing. He wants you to suck it up, be mature, and choose. And for you men, he wants you to be a man and choose the way of outward suffering. Be a man, die to yourself, pick up your cross and follow Christ into joy unspeakable.</div>
Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505540451389622867.post-87699804290538315142012-09-13T16:12:00.001-07:002012-09-13T16:12:46.470-07:00The Misunderstood ManAlthough I'm just a teen, I've been able to travel to many countries, and in my travels I once met an Israeli named Josh. I've since become really good friends with him, and a lot of my friends also Skype frequently with him. He's probably the nicest guy I've ever met. As far as guys go, he's a really clever and interesting one, but it seems that his brown eyes can pierce to the soul when the topic is serious. He's had a life so interesting I think they should make a movie out of it - all his travels and adventures. And over all that he's also a super good guy - I can myself see no flaw in this Jew.<br />
<br />
Once in a while, I'll talk with my friends about Josh and they'll tell me things about him that I didn't know - say, that he's been to Russia. Sometimes we'll disagree - one of my friends said that Josh is a pretty funny guy (I think he can be funny at times too), while some of my other friends don't really see Josh as a witty guy. Another time we disagreed if Josh had sailed down a river in Lithuania or Latvia. But it's obvious they all know him - they think he's an all around incredible friend as well.<br />
<br />
However, some of my friends completely contradict me and paint a nasty picture of Josh - they say he's an arrogant snob, he's a liar, he's cruel, he's a thief, etc. One guy even told me that he doubts this interesting guy really exists - he's probably just a made up illusion, or a seriously exagerrated. Some other friends don't slander him per se., but when they talk about my well-traveled friend, it's obvious they don't really know him and are just copying what I and other people have said about him.<br />
<br />
In case you haven't figured out who I'm talking about, I'm talking about Jesus (Josh comes from the same root as Jesus). Sometimes Christians disagree about minor things about Him and His Father - if <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHLlHLhinPA">Jesus ever told jokes</a>, if God predestines or lets man choose, or both, etc. Small differences in opinion are not the same as someone who raises a slanderous accusation against Him or says something about Jesus that just does not fit with His character - Him being a lunatic or a liar. Other people just don't know Him although they pretend they do, but it's easy to see through such superficialism.<br />
<br />
The point I'm trying to make is that sure, Christians don't know everything there is to know about Jesus and all the things He is done - or even minor things about Him - so disagreements in minor things are to be expected. However, people who just don't know Him would say things about Him that just go against everything Jesus is. Saying He is not one with the Father is calling Him a liar or a lunatic, things which He most certainly is not. Christ is a person to be known, and among the people who know said Lord are disagreements found.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16458419719830306638noreply@blogger.com0