"The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in His Truth. Not a baptism, not a marriage, not a sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost. There is no authority, civil or religious - there can be no legitimate government - but what is administered by the Holy Ghost"....

QUOTES FROM THE RECENT HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Alexy II - Patriarch Of Moscow & Russia (Russian Orthodox Church)
The rough and difficult time is what bring people together and strengthens their faith. In prosperity, and in the high living standards, people forget God sooner than in the hard times. We have a saying "Unless there's thunder, people don't make the sign of the cross".
"If people who commit terrorist acts are hiding behind religion, they are lying, becauyse religion does not provide any grounds to commit this insanity, these terror attacks".

Pope Benedict XVI (Roman Catholic Church)
"In the end, faith is simple and rich. We believe that God exists, that God comes. Maybe Christianity give us joy, just as love gives us joy. But love is almost always also a renunciation of self. The Lord has given us a formula for what love is....'Those who lose themselves, find themselves. Those who save themselves, are lost"....
"How many pages of history record battles and wars that have been waged, with both sides invoking the name of God...as if if fighting and killing the enemy could be pleasing to him?"

The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet (Buddhist)
"Whoever I meet, I tell them we are the same."
"There are about 6 billion people in the world...and amongst them, only a few thousand believe in the principles of terrorism".

Joginder Singh Vedanti - Jathedar Sri Akal Takht (Supreme Sikh Authority)
"According to the gurus, we long for a society where all are treated well...the ones spoken about in the scriptures. We want that...a world where no one suppresses anyone. A good person is identified by these qualities : honesty, contentment, compassion, righteousness & patience. These are godly qualities".

Yona Metzger (Chief Rabbi Of Israel)
"From time to time, every person faces questions and crises...but it is his resposibility to overcome them, ask for advice, to find support and return to his belief....."
"God does not give any person the right to do evil in His name or the name of religion. The whole significance of religion is peace, between man and man, and man and God....Though shalt not commit murder is a commandment with no exceptions. It is allowed in the name of religion...he who comes to kill you, be first to kill him. Defend yourself. But to simply go and kill someone in the name of religion does not exist."

Rev. Mark Hanson (Presiding Bishop - Evangelical Lutheran Church)
"We believe very firmly, that humanity is at the same time both saint and sinner"
"I think the violence, the hatred, the divisions that have occured in the name of religion are not testimony to religious faith, but to the sinfulness of human beings (the broken-ness of human beings), human beings using something, in this case religion, for the sake of their own domination, exploitation and aggression. I understand why fundamentalism is attractive today, because when people live in a world which seems out of control, when life feels absolutely overwhelming...we are drawn to that which gives us structure in life. I am a little concerned that the world is so preoccupied with terrorism, that we are turning our back on other realities that are frankly killing many more people each day than terrorists".

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah (Shia Muslim)
"I have always considered that all the challenges that I have faced from those who differ with me in opinion and dislike me, can be met through my faith. Islam as a civilization is based on compassion... it only resorts to violence when it faces those who impose violence on them & life. In this, Islam is similar to all other civilizations which resort to violence and self-defense, in the defense of the nation and life".
"The problems of the world are caused by those who have no respect for the humanity of others, and are motivated by an imperialistic thinking which tramples on human beings goodess and energy. We wish the world would advance through science & knowledge which should be used to build, and not destroy life, in the interest of human beings and not against them."

Imam Muhammed Sayyed Tantawi (Grand Sheik Of Al-Azhar - Sunni Muslim)
"Life is a conflict. It has been that way since God created life. It is a conflict between good and evil. Life will continue to be this way until the end, when God inherits the Earth."

Amma Sri Mata Amritanandamayi (Hundu Spiritual Leader)
"My desire is to love others, to serve otthers, to wipe their tears.
I get happiness from their happiness".


PEACE & RESPECT TO ALL FAITHS
HAPPY HOLY DAYS

In this consumer world gone insane, we quite often look at the tradition
of gift-giving as a hellish ordeal to conquer instead of relish. We rush about
trying to spend the right amount of money buying just the right present,
when we fail to realize the best gifts are the most modest or humble blessings.
Sometimes, we are focussed so intently on getting "what we want", that we
don't realize that blessings are all around us that provide us with everything
tht we need. When we are GIVEN something, we are BLESSED. It doesn't have
to be couture, or jewelry, or even of material substance. It only has to be from
the heart, the core of the person giving, to really matter. When we are given
words of kindness, we often try to read between the lines, when the blessings
are simply in the words themselves. We deny ourselves healing, because we
are too selfish to accept the gift of it. We want things our own way, even if
it knowingly brings us heartache. What kind of gift is that for us to give
ourselves....a gift of denial? Love in itself is beast measured in intangible
ways. When we stop trying to compare what the world sells us as "presents"
and start acnowledging the simplicity of what is known as "presence", then
we can begin to understand the enormity of blessings and how they surround
us in ways we continuously underappreciate. A gift is anything we have not
seen, or heard, or understood....until we embrace it. If we judge anything based
on superficial means, then we have deprived ourselves of the most priceless
gifts the world has to offer.

If there is a God (and I believe there is), then He should be coming to our rescue very soon. Or should I say, judgement? As children of God, I am sure God is quite upset by how we are treating our own children on this planet, as well as our brothers & sisters. How have we taken away the power from our children, how have we become so selfish? We leave the planet in ruins and apathy, and only use our ingenuity to pamper our immediate desires. How can we as a race believe in a universe that is built on love, yet deny that very universe to our fellow human beings? What has darkened us so severely that we cannot see the simple truth? I believe it is our fear that drives us, for we are too frightened to face the imminent reality that is God. Whether the entire world ends and judgement arrives, or if you should live another 30 years on Earth, you are always facing a future with God (whether it be willingly, or in denial and rejection). The end is near, positively for everyone, and the only ones who shall inherit their worth are the ones who prepare for it. The only one who can determine that is yourself.

Sin is an attempt to break the law. However, as Cecil B. DeMille once said, "It is impossible for us the break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law". We cannot claim ignorance of that law, because deep inside us all there is a compass of truth, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. We have to the power to make that choice and enact upon it wisely. The consequences are a result of our fear and denial.

Someone asked me "how do you know God is real?"...and although I could probably muster up a dozen quotes from Jesus to back my claim, it had me searching my brain for personal proof. The answer to the question, however, seemed to ironically come from another series of questions. Are ambitions real? Are desires and goals real? What about dreams? If the answers to these questions is "no", then why should we even bother to hope? Our lives are built upon dreams and our quest to fullfill them. To dismiss them based on "lack of evidence" would be insane. I cannot see my desires, but I know they are there. My hopes and ambitions define who I am, and they drive my passions. If I were to discard my dreams, then I would have no life. And the essence of all life (being God), would not exist. How can we deny a Creator who has given us ability to create and reason and love? It should be obvious to us, that we cannot hope to fullfill our wants, if our wants have no meaning to us. To negate God based on evidence unseen, is to also negate your faith & very existence. And so the answer to that question would have to be..."I know God is real, because I am real...and all that I know and hope for has purpose, despite the alleged lack of evidence." If we eliminate the intangibles (like love) based on burden of proof, then what hope do we have to live for?
Give God purpose, as He has given us.

Some would say that there is no such thing as "sin"...that it is all subjective and that things are "just the way they are". But for the sake of argument, let’s say it does exist. Let’s say the very thing that the Republican party condemns is the very thing they are guilty of. Only THEN can we start to have an open and honest conversation about sin. But the republicans aren’t the only ones that need a reality check. A lot of other human beings should probably "check in" as well.
When we "sin", what are we doing? Basically we are taking our eyes off the source of Life (God) and putting them on another idol which distracts and destroys from our faith. That essentially makes us all "sinners". I’m not saying it’s such a bad thing...actually, it shows us how alike we are, and how very wrong it is for us to judge one another in any capacity. It further goes to show why we all need God and forgiveness and mercy towards others. Sin is sin, not to be measured by some moral barometer...for once you have done that, you will fall short by some other measure of perfection. Usually the standard by which you judge is the standard by which you are judged...that is why Senator Larry Craig is a hypocrite. And that is why we condemn him.
So why then is this story surprising to us? Probably because like our President, and like the Pharisees that Jesus chastised, the people on the moral "high horse" still do not seem to learn from their own history of fallen icons and pride. They expect the "sinner" to repent, all the while forgetting that they must do it on a daily basis as well! "Holiness" is not an attribute you attain which gives you privilege to condescend; it is a state of grace which affords you the mercy to exhibit compassion and humility in the face of your fellow human "sinners". As a person of faith, does one ever reach a pinnacle of sanctification where sin is no longer present? If so, then what need is there for God or a savior? We can then be our OWN gods, and proceed to tell others how to live their lives. Quite simply, to crucify gays for the thing you practice in private is like putting a nail in your own cross. Ultimately, you will bleed for it.
Did Christ die exclusively for straight men, gay men, Democrats or Republicans? Or did he die for ALL that have been corrupted by human compromise? He certainly didn’t preach a message of hypocrisy. Jesus basically narrowed down the Old Testament into 2 commandments...loving God and loving thy neighbor (in that order). Wouldn’t it make sense that if the majority of us could follow at least those two commandments, then we wouldn’t have so much division and chaos in this world, especially between people of similar faith? Even the most devout have fallen short at one time or another. We prove daily that we fail these two basic commandments, upon which all the others rely. We are only being perfected when we take our eyes off the sins of others and place them on our own.
If the "moral majority" were really honest with themselves, then they would have to admit that God’s law can NEVER be legislated into action in this country or this world. As humans, we will always be at odds with each other. God’s law will only prevail when carried out in His kingdom to come, not on the earthly playing field. If our American laws were truly to reflect HIs laws, then we would give others the freedom to choose their own destinies, and allow them to reap the ultimate rewards or consequences. God gives us the freedom to decide, and does not force us to choose. That would be slavery. Now I’m not saying there should be no boundaries whatsoever, only realistic & fair balances. There need to be barriers that provide equal liberties for ALL to explore their own realities with respect. The "moral majority" seems to be only adding confusion and confirmation to their already pompous rhetoric...."do as I say and not as I do". A double standard simply cannot exist in a country where freedom of liberties is based on the idea that we are all created equal in the eyes of God. If a double standard is the national staus quo, then who is the one considered worthy to judge the "sinner"? And how do we then define the "sinner"? If a moral person in a position of power admits to being a sinner, but then says he hasn’t sinned, then that person is a liar....and has no place (especially in government) to be judging the "sins" of others.
Larry Craig should think about running for President...anyone who lies to the public, then puts a spin on it while continuing to believe his own deception....well, that person should be our leader. He would define the American standard...or perhaps we already have someone doing that? I have forgotten what truth I am to believe. But I digress...the far right wants their cake and to eat it too. They want this Larry pervert to go away quickly with this "gay thing"....primarily because it is too painful to look in the mirror and see the similarities. It is much easier to live the cushy American dream, with the legal wife coddled by denial and comfort, and sheltered with delusions of grandiosity. Where is the "forgiveness" that the moral majority supposedly touts? They seem to be quick to eat their own kind when sin is apparent; Practicing what one preaches is not applicable it seems. Perhaps this harsh slap of reality will force some of the "conservatives" to look up the meaning in the dictionary...at least I have respect for people who define themselves in accurate terms. And I have respect for people who are opinionated about differing viewpoints and lifestyles and cultures, but are honest about their own misgivings. We need to start a dialogue of truth and genuine faith in this country, eradicating the mantra of fear. What is of fear is not of God, and we need to stop fearing others for what we all have in common. We separate ourselves with condemnation based on our own "sins", when we should be embracing others for the similarities. Is Larry Craig gay? Who knows...who cares? If he is a sinner, then so are we. But if there is one thing that ALL sinners despise, it’s a liar. Even Judas can attest to that.

I am having a crisis of faith. I realize that this preface may sound like the world's neediest cliche, but for my very real existence (and the sustenance of millions of others), it is the apex where life and meaning converge. "Do I really believe?" is the recurring theme. And it's the culmination of ALL of my experiences which define the very conflict I am facing right now. I feel as though I have been tested by God in every possible manner, in the same way as every great prophet and traitor in the Bible...but my verdict is still out. I say that with doubt, only because it is very odd for me even to utter such a comment, for I have always had the sense that Divine power was guiding me, lifting me, protecting me, doing SOMETHING to keep me from ultimate demise....until now. Every instance in my life seems to point to the very disheartening realization that no matter what one does in this life, nothing matters and no one really cares. Where is God in this creation of mess? And how can one have faith with that sort of world view? Is this supposed to push me closer to the Creator who is the anti-world anchor? Or is my discontent with the world supposed to confirm that no matter what one does with faith, the evil will always overcome you in the end? After all the friends and family and people who supposedly care about you (even in the most basic of human terms) have disappeared, is "faith" in God enough for a person to continue?
I look upon the doubt of Mother Theresa, and how her struggle seemed to be a mask of faith, not containing substance once the layer had been peeled away.....but also bearing great fruit and proof of the witness of faith in her brave adversity, despite her weak moments. I look at the life of Christ, and how He was the Ultimate disciple, not ever having sinned, and yet still being shunned on the cross by His own Father in the hour of need. Is this dark night of the soul necessary for greater understanding of faith, or is this just a facade....a willing denial of the reality of things, that we are who we are and nothing more.....just greedy careless animals that undermine each other and devise cunning tactics to survive? This survival surely must have more meaning than just the simple act of surviving, for what is it all for in the end anyway?...to live selfishly and perish into nothingness forever? or do I really believe that we must go through this hell in order to find heaven? Sometimes I think that Christ would have said to anyone doubting His faith..."you don't know what real hell is until you know Love". That seems to speak of truth, sacrifice, and faith. That's what I try to convince myself on a daily basis when I am faced with such utter human harshness that I could scream. I say to myself "if no one else cares, then why should I?"...but ultimately, the answer is always "because i do"....and maybe that's why I ultimately have faith as well, because I just do. As with anything else, it all comes down to a choice..and THAT determines my destiny. No matter what comes my way, and how thin the wire I walk on, there is always a hand that covers unknowingly, and yet I know it. I shudder to think of the moment that I might say " I have no more faith", because after that, then what? What is there left to live for?.... A planet where we consume one another like beasts for empty vanities....or a training field for eternity? DO I REALLY BELIEVE? Unfortunately, I do. Now I understand the price tag of wisdom. In a world of cost, this is the most costly path, and yet the most rewarding. I'm just tired of waiting for the investment to pay off. Maybe that's selfish, but after all, I am just human. Perhaps that's why I need God most.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A "PURPOSE" TO LIFE?

I think the main purpose in life is to find God. This is where it becomes complicated.....
I think God has created us to give us freedom to grow in our own manner and to hopefully recognize that through the magnificence of life, we have been given an opportunity to discover His goodness and implement His spirit in our every action. Unfortunately, humans have placed their own narrow limitations on what God is, and so we condemn others around us for thinking that they are wrong and we are "right", when in fact NONE of us have a clear picture of who God really is. If we did, we would indeed know that we are all "wrong", and should be humbled by His greatness. I believe the purpose in life is to discover God so that we can prepare ourselves and others for the journey home. Those in this world who have a better understanding of God, understand this purpose, and their lives are reflected by the humble and fruitous actions they perpetuate. It is quite clear to most of us when we witness the un-Godly, and so of what "purpose" is that kind of behavior? Even those who seemingly do "good" can be deceiving the world and themselves, for if their pursuits are only temporal and meant for selfish reasons, how can it be of any purpose or service to man or God? Purpose can be fullfilled through the most menial of tasks, as long as it is done with a Greater purpose, or sense of Being in mind. When we stop placing barriers on our imaginations of what God really is, then we would be able to better cut through all of the insignificant distractions we are bombarded with on a daily basis, and live our lives with true purpose. The purpose in life is to love, and grow from that love...not to destroy....and without God, love is not possible to live, grow, love or exist. Death and hell are created when we diminish God, because in hell, there is no God or purpose, only suffering. We could end this suffering on earth, if we were to all truly understand God, and in return, effect purposeful change for the betterment of this world.