#DISCOVERED LOVE IN ITS DIVINE HOLY TRUTH

[ibvix]

Merci de partager de si belles fleurs, surtout en cette période de saison… C'est un geste gentil et attentionné comme une promesse que le printemps est en effet proche…

by Irina Iriser

[talonabraxas]

Kali-Ma Talon Abraxas

The most ancient goddess still worshiped in the world today is the Indian Kali-Ma, the Mother of Life and Death. Her worship stretches back into pre-history, and is believed to predate that of her more well-known consort Shiva, the longest continually worshiped god on earth. Both Shiva and Kali are strongly associated with marijuana.

Kali is generally depicted with a girdle of human arms and a necklace of skulls, and represents the dark aspect of the goddess trinity of virgin-mother-crone. Both ancient and modern devotees of Kali partake of marijuana in various forms as a part of their worship.

"Ramakrishna, history’s most prominent devotee of Kālī, saw the goddess as the portal to Ultimate Reality:

“And, indeed, he soon discovered what a strange Goddess he had chosen to serve. He became gradually enmeshed in the web of Her all-pervading presence. To the ignorant She is, to be sure, the image of destruction; but he found in Her the benign, all-loving Mother. Her neck is encircled with a garland of heads, and Her waist with a girdle of human arms, and two of Her hands hold weapons of death, and Her eyes dart a glance of fire; but, strangely enough, Ramakrishna felt in Her breath the soothing touch of tender love and saw in Her the Seed of Immortality. She stands on the bosom of Her Consort, Siva; it is because She is the Sakti, the Power, inseparable from the Absolute. She is surrounded by jackals and other unholy creatures, the denizens of the cremation ground. But is not the Ultimate Reality above holiness and unholiness? She appears to be reeling under the spell of wine. But who would create this mad world unless under the influence of a divine drunkenness? She is the highest symbol of all the forces of nature, the synthesis of their antinomies, the Ultimate Divine in the form of woman. She now became to Sri Ramakrishna the only Reality, and the world became an unsubstantial shadow. Into Her worship he poured his soul. Before him She stood as the transparent portal to the shrine of Ineffable Reality.” (From The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.)"

When we invoke Kali through this mantra, we are saying, “I want true spiritual advancement by the most powerful and direct route, the consequences to my ego notwithstanding.” So if you pick this route, its only fair that you know what you are in for. It will be intense, possibly unnerving, probably uncomfortable, certainly disruptive to one or more aspects of your mundane life, and also very effective in a short amount of time.

Spiritual Evolution Mantra:

Om Hrim Shreem Klim Adya Kalika Param Eshwari Swaha

[Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Ahd-yah Kah-lee-kah Pah-rahm Ehsh-wah-ree Swah-hah]

“Om and salutations to She who is the first one, dark within her own reality, the supreme primordial feminine, who cuts through illusion to the unabridged truth of existence.”

[beans-core]

At the age of six, Harry first finds himself thinking of God. It’s hard not to when the Dursleys go to worship Him in church around a few different holidays.

Every time they do, Harry stays locked in his cupboard until they get back to the house. He wonders, is God real? What does he teach? What has he done to make so many people love him?

Hopefully God can help Harry be less freakish. It’s only happened once or twice— whatever it actually was, he wasn’t sure, but the Dursleys hated it— and those few times got him the most harsh punishments he’d ever received. It’s easy to say that he has some motivation for what he does next.

He tries to nick Aunt Petunia’s Bible so he can read it that evening and discover more, but she catches him. She slaps him so hard it feels bruised, her manicured nails leaving a few scratches in its wake. She screams and screams at Harry for daring to touch The Holy Book until his ears are ringing and he’s left with a pounding headache alongside the scrapes on his cheek. Despite knowing how to hold back his tears, they brim his eyes anyway because he knows he deserves it this time.

That night, curled up on his tiny cot, Harry thinks maybe he doesn’t want to know much more if people like the Dursleys love God. If God loves the Dursleys back.

At age 8, he’s pretty sure that God is not real. Harry’s heard more about his ideals now, and what he is supposed to stand for.

Why would he stand for this? Harry thinks it as he is locked in his cupboard once again. It is the third day in a row without food. If God was real, would he really let this happen? Harry had done something freakish again, though now he could barely remember what it was. He didn’t even know he’d done anything until it was too late to beg for forgiveness— not that ‘sorry’ was ever enough for his Uncle and Aunt.

Harry didn’t do bad things on purpose. Surely he was still good enough to help— and wasn’t God supposed to help? Save those that need saving?

“I need saving,” Harry whispers to himself in the darkness, clutching his stomach through hunger pangs. He wants to yell it, shout so loud that the Dursleys and the neighbors and the whole entire world hears him, so loud that God hears and he comes to rescue Harry. But supposedly he doesn’t need to scream for God to hear him. God should be able to hear his pleas even as the hoarse whisper it comes out as.

And that settles it, really. God can’t be real, because if he was, surely Harry wouldn’t still be here.

(It angers him, but he can’t stop himself from praying. He copies what he sees Petunia do and does the same, prays desperately for the savior he’s been hearing of his whole life.)

(When Harry is finally, finally saved, prayers answered, he quietly wonders if God is magic too.)

(As he is introduced to this magical world where Harry Potter is the savior to those who believe in his supposed power, Harry feels like this is a chance to provide these people with the savior he was never given. Live up to the expectations, and be the person to save those who need saving.)

When Harry is 11 years old, and it is his first week back at No. 4 Privet Drive from Hogwarts, he is certain he knows the truth now.

God is real, there is little doubt in his mind. All the grace he’s been granted this past year had to have been divine intervention— Harry’s been at Death’s Door more times this year than he’d been his entire life. There was just no fathomable way even magic could render that type of skin-of-the-teeth dumb luck.

But then Harry remembers the feeling of flesh burning and bubbling beneath his hands, the wails of Quirrel-Voldemort writhing under Harry’s grasp. Remembers that unremarkable day in Spring, all those years ago, when Harry had asked Aunt Petunia if he could come to church with them: “You are devil spawn. If God ever looks your way, it would be to smite you.”

God is real, he has learned. God is real, has looked Harry’s way, and decided to curse him.

He’s cursed Harry with everything he’d ever wished for, but with awful twists around every corner. One step forward, two steps back.

Harry finally got his escape, but it wasn’t as much of an escape than it was a swap. He feels like his cupboard just got traded for a cage, and that all these people who are supposed to be like him have shut him in— are poking at him and rattling the bars.

He thinks back to what Petunia called him; devil child. He thinks back to what she said. Now, Harry would probably choose be smited. At least it’d be quicker.

[eatmangoesnekkid]

I have zero stress in my life, with exception that sometimes I do too much to pump up my skinny arms at the gym. This is not hubris or fantasy. I have a lover who honors that I only do what I love, not one day a week, but all days. But this is not about my lover because true love never begins or ends with a lover. This is about my devotion to love.  I feel that  we get too caught up in the acquisition of love, being chosen by someone and looking for what we can get in return, rather than doing the work to simply embody love as principle, evolving into the kind of person who is actually capable of loving another human soul well, first beginning with ourselves (our cells). Love also includes how we love animals and nature. It's all divine energy accumulating in our cells. I studied love. I studied love as a creative outlet. I studied strangers and couples of all sexualities and ethnicities whom energies resonated as loving. I would study their interactions and banter and fall in love with what I saw. I read simple books on love like Thich Nnat Hahn's "Teachings on Love" over and over again at least 30 times. I listened to songs that only felt like love. I discovered ways to unlock the tension around my heart/breasts and pelvis so that my body could release the archaic contractions and open up wide. I would bathe like love. As a result, it was only a natural next step that I would became a passionate lover. A passionate lover instinctively attracts more truthful love. When we have love, we have creative energy in our lives that we can utilize to help us to create heaven on earth. With more love energy embodied, life will start to feel really good for no reason at all. My way of loving and being in union was re-calibrated from the violent template I saw modeled in my home and community after a terrible breakup, breakdown, and breakthrough into one where loving is habit and self-love is principle. I am consistently spoiled with beautiful things, awakened to the presence of beauty in everyday life most days. I am encouraged to care for myself and do nothing at all, anytime, any day, at any hour. My body is nourished and easily orgasmic to the breeze of a gentle inhale.  It is no longer through the spirit of struggle, lack, tension, hustle, and deadlines, but from living the intimate, sensuous, tantric, magnetic arts that I birth a series of bestseller books that will burst hearts into mystical, sensuous, transformative, dewy pieces. I started to visualize a slow regenerative way of life 15 years ago, one that would include travels, naps, and time and space to cook homemade food without rushing, a real life where I adored being offline with ease far more than online. I would talk to nature and ask for guidance and just allow my body to hold a little more of the vision every day as if I was pregnant. I was! I also asked the holy spirit of love to utilize me; to utilize my mind and heightened intuition; to utilize this pelvis, hips, feet, cylindrical breasts, and heart and enhance my flow of energy; to utilize my tongue and warm mouth to sing beauty and write from loveliness; and even these hair follicles to amplify expanded possibilities for us all. Our mission is only valid when it includes evolving and expanding the light, universe energy, and possibilities within other people.  I stopped needing to possess this body; I know I cannot be contained by it. I can only serve as a conduit and create some deliciousness from its amplified attributes (as a result) of being utilized by Source energy. Most days my body is more a conduit of divine energy than something that I need to claim full ownership over.  We become conduits. This is how God uses us and how we help one another evolve and heal. Even our open-hearted nude bodies can be greatly healing for others. Life loves to fan the flames of our sweltering visions, warmest beliefs, swollen perceptions, and deepest desire frequencies. When you begin to own your mind and what's living in it, you shake loose your potencies. Your potencies are your divine energy. When you access the divine energy of love, your body gets softer. You now feel like love. The pitch/tone of your voice shifts; you now speak like love. You gait ascends; You now walk like love. Your scent evolves; you now smell like love. Your taste buds elevate; you now eat like love. Your relationship to your body, spine, and breathing transforms; you now fuck like love. You are love. Love has always been a noun, you see.

India Ame’ye, Author, Pictured

[hiswordsarekisses]

“In life, as I walk through the fields and plains. I stumble upon a single wild flower that has blossomed and sprouted.

A reflection of God's glory on display. It's fills my eyes with unfathomable beauty and majesty. The intricate details and immaculate design. The subtle, pervasive, and distinctive aroma. It's tenacious and unrelinquishing roots. It's rigorous and vigorous stem. And the variegated radiance of its leaves.

Our hearts always seem to be drawn to such an evasive array. It is unimaginable. It was never intentionally seeded nor planted. Yet, here it lies before my eyes. Existing and subsisting.

Predetermined and deliberate.

More than humanity could ever hope for. I can't fathom but to think aloud.

Even Solomon in all of his splendor was not dressed and adored like this dear wild flower. Yet, it did not labor or even spin. Still, here it is. But, am I the only one?

Out of the billions of people that walk this land; am I the only one that has stopped to enjoy such glorious beauty? To be transfixed on such variety and diversity? But before I blink, I see a petal fall.

It's fatal flaw. The reality of what is to come.

The curse of our brokenness.

The sign of its next season.

As my heart drops, it is filled with appreciation. The feared realization. I am the only one to ever witness this distinct flower.

To comprehend and grasp such tranquility. To notice its existence. It's intended and fixed purpose. To know that I will never understand this moment until it has now become a memory.

An echo within my thoughts.

To show me the state of my well-being. My own fragile humanity. My drained and frail spirit.

My delicate life.

But will it ever count?

Will it fulfill its holy purpose? To herald such a triumphant and glorious truth?

To be sent or be spent?

Will my reply be yes to both?

To be ready for either?

Oh how my heart clamps to comfortability and false security.

To chase my own dreams and desires. My redefinition of myself in my selfish pursuits.

My false delusions and distorted realities.

My schemes and plots to achieve such perfection to only discover a misconception.

My heart to remain unsatiable and determined to answer my preposterous plea.

To hide behind my own pride.

To try to create my own story and act like I give You the glory.

My wondering heart always wants to flee. Yet, it conceives utterly absurd lies to me.

Why can my eyes never seem to see?

I do not plan my life.

I didn't will to exist.

The hardships, temptations, and trials.

The waiting, anxiety, and worrying.

The pain and disappointment.

I did not ask for any of this.

Yet, I did. Because I live to die.

But die to live.

I am not much; but I invite others. For all to be gathered.

To witness me dying to my worst enemy. Myself.

So they can see You live.

For me to count a cost. And be indebted to grace.

To run a race to see my Savior's face.

Because of a stained tree and empty burial place.

To be here and gone within a short distinction and variance of time.

To exclaim though You slay me, I will still hope in You.

That if I perish, I perish.

All that matters is it is for Your Gospel and name to be known.

For others to cherish.

My heart just lingers to see the true source; the reflection of that glorious flower.

To see the scarred hands that wove its pattern and outline.

To see you bind the chains of the Pleiades and to loosen the cords of Orion.

To seek You and live.

To know that being close to You was always still too far.

As my heart cries out to be where You are. To perceive such divine love that I fail to assimilate.

To know You.

To know You as you have known me.

To participate in Your sufferings and death.

To know the power of Your resurrection.

To know the depths of your love based off the depth of Your sacrifice.

To know You intimately.

Being greater than all I have ever wanted.

To understand the wondrous mystery. How you do not accept me just as I am; yet you love me despite how I am.

I don't want the knowledge.

I don't want the information.

I do not want the opinions.

I want the truth.

I want to know you more than I know You.

I just want to know You.

Please just let me know You.

To know You as my Father and to be known as Your Son.

Because You are God and I am not.”

~ Soli Deo Gloria

[radioactivemelody]

Holy Quintet and their paranormal elements

I have been twirling this idea around my head for a good amount of time until I finally indulged it (and because I got some free time) so yeah. But first, let me explain to you what "paranormal elements" I'm talking about.

Simply, the paranormal elements from the Brazilian RPG called Ordem Paranormal (Paranormal Order if you will) and it has four main elements in which people can connect with.

BLOOD - Everything starts with Blood. Blood is the flow that drenches the eternity of the Other Side.

Blood is the entity of feelings. It seeks the intensity: pain, obsession, passion, love, hunger, hatred - everything evolving feeling an extreme emotion pleases the Blood entity.

DEATH - Everything has a start and an end, and time takes everything with it. Nothing transformed by Death can return to what was before.

Death is the entity of time. It seeks the lived moments, distorting the egocentric perception of each individual's existence for its own satisfaction.

KNOWLEDGE - To know everything is to lose everything.

Knowledge is the entity of consciousness. Discovering, learning, knowing, deciphering. Having one's perception of the Other Side and its entities pleases the Knowledge element.

ENERGY - Chaos is inevitable.

Energy is the entity of chaos. Everything that cannot be explained, the intangible, anarchy. The constant change, the heat and the cold, the light and the darkness. Everything that involves unpredictability and transformation pleases the Energy entity.

With that aside, let's get into it (and please, know this is my opinion based on their personality and character design overall).

Homura Akemi – Death/Knowledge

With the characterization of the anime and half of Rebellion (Devil Homura comes later), Homura has always struck me as a mix of Death and Knowledge.

For Death, obviously, her time powers. She doesn't have the ability to speed or slow things, only pause and reset. Her journey can be defined as "running around in circles" and the main symbol for this element is spirals. She seeks to live once again the happy moments with Madoka, in order to change her fate. Her mind is old but her body is young. Homura is an anachronistic. But playing with time - every story has an end eventually.

Along with that, there's Knowledge. Homura prefers logicality, she's strategic in her steps and plans. She takes mistakes as an opportunity to learn and turn better. She doesn't let emotions blind her sense of awareness. She stands on the side of reason. All of those traits are perfectly descriptive of the element of Knowledge. And yet - the holder of information, she can't even tell the others. The truth kills those who know, hence: to know everything is to lose everything.

Now, Devil Homura. She's blood and energy. Why?

What was the factor that made Homura do her board flip? Love and obsession. She tainted the entire universe with her feelings alone, creating a new world just for her beloved. This intensity is what the Blood entity seeks. An emotion so strong that is capable of changing the entire fabric of the universe.

This twines finely with her rebellion against the law and order the Law of Cycles set. Anarchy, the other side of the coin. Nobody expected her to suddenly overthrow Madoka. She's the darkness to Madoka's light. She's evil and unholy to Madoka's purity and divinity. Those traits fit into the description of Energy. Not to mention the entire purple motif going on.

Kyoko Sakura – Blood

A pretty damn obvious one. Intense with her own feelings, has a red motif. Bold, seeks carnage and hunts witches and if needed, magical girls. With a mindset of survivalism and refusal to lose against the chain of food with anger, hatred and bitterness in her heart, Kyoko's erratic intensity is basically a perfect description of what the Blood entity is.

Madoka Kaname - Knowledge

Meanwhile Knowledge is all about being logical and constantly seeking to discover, it also has this motif of purity and holiness. One of the creatures from the RPG associated with this element is literally the Angel from the bible, you know, biblically accurate angels?

Madoka, even much more in her Goddess form, fits into the category of Knowledge. The entity messes in a "psychological" way, spilling truths about things that are out of our reach - like a concept or an universal being. It maintains the balance of reality so it doesn't collapse. Guess who did something similar in the anime? The two colors which are commonly used to those who connect with the entity of Knowledge are yellow/golden and white. Once again, guess who uses this exact palette when she ascended to godhood? Madoka Kaname, you're Knowledge through and through.

Mami Tomoe - Knowledge

Just like Kyoko, Mami's also an obvious one. Thinks in the side of reason, has a yellow and white motif. She's elegant, not failing to have this aura of purity and holiness (hence, Holy Mami). When not having emotions blinding her sight, she's extraordinary. And yet… The truth is cruel in killing her. Despite fitting into the Knowledge entity, being aware of the truth behind Magical Girls makes her lose her mind without pity. She's a great explanation behind the meaning of the phrase "to know everything is to lose everything".

Sayaka Miki - Knowledge/Blood

Oh boy, I do love to analyze multifaceted characters.

Sayaka might not fit entirely into the Knowledge mood but she has some traits of it. A knight who fights for justice, for what's right or at least, what she thinks it's right. Through Sayaka's eyes, that's logical and reasonable. She fights to maintain peace and balance. In Rebellion, she used to be literally one of God's angels and lived in the Magical Girl heaven.

Despite these traits, Sayaka lets herself be swayed away by her own emotions. She's intense and isn't afraid to hide them. Despite sharing similar traits, she heavily conflicted with Kyoko, who's Blood as well. But later, in Rebellion, they connected more than ever. She summons Oktavia through her own blood because everything starts with Blood. She made a wish because of an emotion - love. Died because of that and with that because Kyoko loved her.

And for bonuses…

Nagisa Momoe - Energy

This sweet little ball of chaos. Who cares if it is God or the Devil who's in control of the universe? As long she's alive and has cheese, she's apparently fine. While Homura and Sayaka go down into an argument, she's seen running in the background, laughing. Maybe because she's free or maybe it's cool as hell to run through a river of punch juice. It's really funny to see a character who aligns with the entity of Energy be the family of someone who aligns with Knowledge. Oh, the irony. That's what Energy seeks for.

I hope all liked my shameless crossover between my two favorite pieces of media. It's fun to analyze characters through the lens of another universe. Don't care if it's cringe, at least I'm free. And if you're interested, search for Ordem Paranormal on YouTube! Recently, a special two-shot has been released with global creators, it's all in English. Other seasons have been subtitled in English as well. :)

[andrewuttaro]

The Trinity: a bridge

The first Sunday after Pentecost on the liturgical calendar is Trinity Sunday. After the end of the Easter season, standing at the beginning of the vast summer stretch of Ordinary time, this feast may seems irrelevant. Perhaps it feels as irrelevant as many theological debates us religious nuts allow ourselves to have in public places against better judgement. How practical can theologizing about the nature of God be?

The Trinity is the bridge between the practical and theological as I discovered.

Pentecost recalls the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as fiery tongues. It is a typological callback to the Tower of Babel and the birthday of the Church. The doors then swing open and, as my own Parish’s Vicar preached, the Church goes public if you will. We may forget that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity. It may be the person we think the least about, but it is indeed the person that moves every grace and motivates every prayer.

Pentecost is a practical solemnity, pointing us to a mission to evangelize the world, and Trinity Sunday might be considered the solemnity marking the divine reflection of that calling. The Holy Trinity, in its much theologized nature, is a meditation on what the calling is. God is, in his very being, a relationship of three persons.                         

Perhaps you can see it in my writing: I am treading lightly because on the theology side there are few topics more finely defined in what they are not: what we cannot say about them. Rightfully so, we are talking about God after all, but if you saw the image here below and turned and ran the other way you would be forgiven for thinking we’re descending into the irretrievably wonkish depths of theology.

Do not fear, we shall only wade into the shallows there. We’re building a bridge in this article. There are a dizzying amount of metaphors meant to explain the Trinity to some degree because it is inarguably a fundamental tenet of Christian faith. Missionaries ponder it. Ascetics devote themselves to it. Perhaps only the most contentious debates on Christology are as beguiling as the Trinity.

In religious studies Trinitarian belief is sometimes used to delineate if newer denominations have strayed from the most treasured beliefs of the faith explicit in the Nicene Creed. But the theologians, normally so precise in what they accept the homilists say about such nuanced matters, even they give us the most open ended proclamations most of us will ever hear from theologians:

If you think you understand the Trinity, the theologian tells the homilist, you don’t. Or, more sharply, if you think you understand the Trinity you must be misconceiving it.

Indeed the Trinity is a beautiful, unsolvable mystery for which faith is needed in. Even as I try to lay out the basics here now you would not be alone to see all these propositions as saying the same thing in different ways: how exhausting!

1.     The Trinity is not belief in three Gods.

2.     This one God exists in three persons.

3.     The three persons are not different parts of God, but rather fully and equally God.

4.     God is not one person with three roles.

5.     None of this is a contradiction because of the distinction between a person and essence.

I will pass on trying to describe the distinction between persons and essence. I am not quite educated enough to be so concise. However I do want to draw your attention to the rare thing these truths about the Trinity force us to do. We must define negatives not positives in these assertions: theologians prefer quite the opposite. They like to give detailed descriptions, not these pondering contemplations. Perhaps we might even say the average human being prefers to describe things as what they are and not what they are not.

And that, right there, is precisely it. That is where this discussion gets so very practical. We now cross the apex of the bridge: mystery. God is a mystery. While simultaneously being love, order, and truth, God is a mystery. Indeed, despite sin, we too as beings made in God’s image are complicated, even mysterious… even mysterious to ourselves. Why did I do that? Why do I want this? The way we exist in ourselves and in relation to others: these are not narrowly definable things. We are mysteries that cannot ever be fully solved. We are mysteries that need not to be solved because the unknowing is part of the spiritual majesty of the thing. Spiritual beings exist in a state of relational mystery.

As Pope Francis himself repeats “Reality is more important that ideas” (Pope Francis, Evangeii Gaudium, para. 231).

To be clear, we believe God acts: God reaches out to us in numerous ways both via institution and personal intuition. But always the spiritual mystery of ourselves, God, and our relationship with him must exist in this realm of active unknowing: faith if you will. As the great Thomas Merton once wrote: No man is an island. We need one another. But we do not capture one another. As much as my wife may love the creepy Netflix original “You”, she would also readily admit that Joe Goldberg is not a model for anything healthy, particularly love. Love does not capture: it exists in a state of mystery.

I think we are uniquely disposed to contemplating this truth in our day and age. So many of my peers keep religion at arms-length not because of any hurt or the many hurts religion has inflicted on people: no many of us in this materialist age just don’t want to be fools. We don’t want to get it wrong and there seems to be a lot more space for wrong in believing in a divine being than correctness. Yet these same friends readily acknowledge an intangible, more spiritual reality we may call vibes.

For my parent’s generation this is the old Donatist paradox. In a Church with such widespread abuse how can one trust a priest and, by extension, participate in the Church. The heresy of Donatism dealt precisely with this question and was answered in that the Holy Spirit, God the advocate, works through unholy people because the holiness of the Church is in its sacred contents, not the ministers who govern it. In both my generation and my parent’s generation the deeper concern is relationship: a relationship untainted by foolishness on the one hand and ignorance of abuse on the other.

The Trinity is our answer on both accounts. God himself is relationship. In that reality we may find the peace of a faithful humility and a discipleship that holds the Church accountable. If we know God is a relationship, then what relationship of peoples is not redeemable, not a potential site of healing grace?

Toward the beginning of this article I mentioned my Parish Vicar’s homily on Pentecost. To come full circle on this I want to share what my Parish Pastor’s homily on Trinity Sunday had to say. My pastor started by saying a parishioner challenged him on his usage of “she” and other feminine pronouns in describing the Holy Spirit. This detractor told him to go to the Catechism for his definitions of God as if they were a disappointed instructor from his seminary. My Pastor responded by reading those Catechism paragraphs and directing us to the mystery of God therein.

In his first weekend homily of Pride Month, my pastor bravely pointed out the mystery of God’s triune nature as a point of humbly remembering we cannot capture God or one another. We cannot tell each other to simply acquiesce to our earnest theologizing or rigid plans for a life well lived. The unknowing is the grace… that and the fact that the unknowing is a relationship too. A healthy relationship can figure a thing out without demanding a severe program from the other beings within it. There is grace here in the Trinity: there is a bridge of faith that ultimately enriches us by patient love.

The Trinity is a grace: a mysterious relationship. The trinity is a divine relationship. God is a relationship! Then we ought to recall the humbling truth this imparts when all theologizing ends and all that remains is God and us in some imperfect state of unknowing: we are all together if we have faith. We are all together because even God himself is a relationship. So too must we be in relationship with every other person made in God’s image. Division, the scattering of peoples even for justified reasons, does not accomplish the divine justice the trinity may bring to our lives.

There is a deeper relationship to explore here. Hopefully I can help you discover it. My book, “How to catch feelings for Jesus”, is available online through Wipf & Stock, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and everywhere books are sold online. Stay tuned to this blog for more content from the author... me. And I also encourage talking to me about what I write whether in the comment section, through a private message, or if you see me in person. Some things, especially God, are better understood with the help of others.

[johninrags]

The old testament vs the new

In examining the Torah, we see God depicted as a masterful teacher, with His words as precise and purposeful as arrows shot from a bow, aimed to strike their intended targets. These divine arrows implant spiritual seeds within the hearts of genuine seekers, who then have the choice to nurture and cultivate these seeds. The Bible, or the Word of God, provides guidance and instruction for developing our spiritual lives. The Old Testament establishes the foundation and groundwork for God's creation, while the New Testament dynamically fulfills and expands upon this foundation.

The Old Covenant, or Old Testament, sets the standard for spiritual living, promoting good health and a prosperous life centered on God. As the Israelites learn more about God's sovereignty and holiness, they also become aware of their own shortcomings and are required to offer blood sacrifices at the altar for the atonement of their sins. Nevertheless, God promises to deliver the Israelites from their sins and provide them with a true king and messiah. The Old Covenant's purpose is to reveal how far humanity has strayed from God, with our sinful natures obstructing the lives God intended for us.

Romans 3:20 (NIV) states, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law, we become conscious of our sin." This verse highlights the main function of the Old Covenant: to make us aware of our sins and establish the foundation for the New Covenant. The Ten Commandments, outlined in Exodus 20, convey God's desire for us to prioritize our spiritual needs and recognize that we are spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies.

In the 10 commandments, God urges us to turn inward and seek His eternal truths, cautioning us against idolatry and excessive indulgence in material things that could hinder our spiritual growth. By placing our spiritual development first, we open the door to receiving everything we desire in life.

It also emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring God's name, as well as the power of our speech. We are reminded that our words have immense influence, and we must use them wisely. The commandment to observe the Sabbath highlights the need for balance in our physical and spiritual lives, dedicating time to both work and rest.

The final commandments address honoring one's parents, refraining from murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, and coveting. While these commandments may seem straightforward, Jesus explains in Matthew 5:28 (NIV) that even lustful thoughts are equivalent to committing adultery in one's heart. This demonstrates the strict nature of God's laws, which apply not only to our actions but also to our thoughts and intentions.

The Old Covenant serves to show us the extent of our deviation from God's original design, revealing the stark contrast between the physical and spiritual realms. Despite our shortcomings, God's love for humanity is unwavering, and He desires to alleviate suffering and create a world where all our basic needs are met. John 3:16 (NIV) proclaims, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The Old Testament, with its meticulous historical records and fulfilled promises, serves as the foundation for the transformative New Covenant. The ultimate blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ liberates us from the need for animal sacrifices and paves the way for a new world of spiritual growth and divine connection.

Jesus was born in the quaint town of Bethlehem and experienced a childhood not unlike others of that time. Intriguingly, the Bible offers no account of Jesus' life prior to the age of thirty, save for one incident described by his friend Luke. During a visit to Jerusalem with his parents, Jesus went missing, prompting a frantic three-day search. Ultimately, they discovered him at the temple, engaging in animated conversations with religious teachers and posing thought-provoking questions. After a gentle admonishment, Jesus accompanied his parents back to their hometown. It is surmised that, in keeping with tradition, Jesus may have followed in his carpenter father's footsteps before commencing his ministry at the age of thirty—the age at which an Israelite could become a priest.

As Jesus continued to teach and enlighten, he consistently referenced the Torah and the Laws of Moses to validate his lessons. His teachings attracted a substantial following of influential Jews and Romans, but also alarmed Jewish authorities who felt their positions jeopardized by rumors of Jesus becoming the King of the Jews. Desperate to convict him, they attempted to catch him in either legal transgressions or contradictions with their laws, only to be consistently thwarted by Jesus' authoritative and unassailable explanations. In many instances, Jesus corrected these men's flawed understanding of the law, speaking boldly and fearlessly to high-ranking officials in a manner that would have had ordinary men executed.

By challenging Israel's religious leaders and rebuking influential figures, Jesus sparked a revolutionary movement. Defying cultural norms, he offered compassion and healing to gentiles and unbelievers, providing hope and becoming a cornerstone for the oppressed. Undeterred by the turmoil he incited among authorities, Jesus continued to heal the brokenhearted and proclaim God's Word. He identified Old Testament prophecies and scriptures referencing his arrival, yet Jewish leaders' animosity and envy only grew, fueling their schemes against this widely revered teacher.

Through his tender yet commanding demeanor, Jesus laid the foundation for a new covenant, making disciples to disseminate the good news of forgiveness and the truths of both the old and forthcoming covenants. Though he performed numerous awe-inspiring miracles, his most significant achievement was the fulfillment of the old covenant, which he elucidated to the Jews.

Matthew 5:17 New Living Translation

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

It is challenging to grasp that Jesus' ultimate purpose was to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world, and even more unfathomable that such a dramatic event was required to fulfill the law. However, upon reflection, this pivotal moment in history reveals an undeniable divine design. Every aspect was meticulously orchestrated to etch this event into history and the collective consciousness of humanity.

The Passover, initially an agricultural spring festival, prompted the entire population of the kingdom of Judah to journey to Jerusalem. During this public holiday, the city teemed with jubilant celebrants commemorating their escape from Egypt. Much like a carnival or music festival, the city was alive with excitement and anticipation, especially as rumors circulated that the new king of Israel would appear. In this particular year, the bustling atmosphere was comparable to a popular holiday destination in December.

Indeed, the king of Israel arrived, welcomed by throngs of people who lined his path with palm branches and their own garments. It was a triumphant entrance reminiscent of a championship football team's homecoming. Jesus' miraculous deeds and teachings had spread far and wide, and he had become a beacon of hope for countless downtrodden and oppressed individuals. They chanted praises, celebrating his arrival (Matthew 21:9 NLT).

However, the festivities took a dark turn as the time for prophecy fulfillment arrived. The plot to kill Jesus came to fruition as he was captured, tried, and ultimately crucified, despite being found innocent by the Roman governor who presided over his trial. The tumultuous crucifixion was an essential component of God's plan, witnessed by the entire Jewish nation. Jesus' final words on the cross signified the accomplishment and fulfillment of the ancient prophecy and covenant.

John 19:28-30 (NLTSE) Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

At that instant, a massive earthquake shook Jerusalem, and the temple's central curtain, which separated the Holy of Holies, was miraculously torn asunder. This marked the beginning of the new covenant established by God himself for all eternity. The tearing of the veil symbolized that all humanity now had access to God (Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT).y

The extraordinary events in Jerusalem had only just begun, as the people of Israel were about to witness a revelation far greater than they could have imagined. After Jesus' death, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea, ordered Jesus' body to be placed in a tomb and guarded indefinitely. Both Roman and Jewish authorities were aware of Jesus' claim that he would be resurrected after three days, so Roman soldiers were stationed to secure the tomb. It is likely that Jewish authorities also sent their own guards to keep watch.

Despite various theories attempting to explain the mysterious disappearance of Jesus' body, he reappeared three days later, alive and well. Numerous accounts in the Bible document Jesus' post-resurrection appearances. On one occasion, he revealed himself to a crowd of over 500 people, allowing them to touch him to dispel their disbelief. A few decades later, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, reiterating the magnitude of Jesus' resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6 NLT).

The new covenant ushers in hope for the unification of all people, inspiring us to embrace individuals of every race under a single emblem. We can now proudly bear the standard of "forgiveness of sins," a beacon illuminating our spiritual journey towards an undiscovered realm, a standard that all can confidently claim as their own. The new covenant heralds our spiritual inheritance and unveils the origin of our existence. As warriors of the kingdom, we are no longer burdened by laws etched on heavy stone tablets; instead, we are graced with new, lighter laws inscribed upon our hearts. The Apostle Paul expresses this sentiment in a letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:7-10 NLT).

Romans 6:14 (NLTSE) reminds us that sin is no longer our master, as we now live under the freedom of God's grace.

The essence of the new law is straightforward: acknowledge the reality of God incarnate and accept His gift of "The Termination of Sin." Trust in Jesus and devote yourself to comprehending His teachings. While the concept of the new law is simple, its implications are boundless, and the intricacies of the new covenant surpass human understanding. The old laws, inscribed on weighty stone tablets, encapsulate the initial phase of God's creation, while the second covenant serves as the vessel for the continuation of creation.

If we pay attention, we will discover a law not only written on our hearts, but also evolving within them—alive and akin to a living, breathing organism. Recognizing that guilt and despair belong to the past, while joy, peace, and freedom are within reach, is the very essence of the ongoing creation, in which we all play a role. God is not idly observing His completed work; He is ceaselessly creating and permeating the elements of the natural universe as we understand it.

While everything in the material world evolves, the word of God endures eternally unaltered. Biblical truths hold relevance today, just as they did for past generations, and will remain applicable tomorrow and beyond. Like the renowned "blockchain technology," the Bible is the everlasting spiritual ledger encompassing all truths from the beginning of time to the end. The Word of God will always be the definitive guide for answering the heart's questions.

The Bible is an extraordinary book, and I encourage readers to explore it for themselves. As you turn its pages, you'll notice supernatural sparks that mysteriously materialize in your mind as thoughts or concepts. These fragments of light resonate with your heart and stir a tangible, real connection with the spirit. As you continue to nurture the spiritual seed within and exercise it daily, it will grow, and the sparks it generates will transform into ever-burning lanterns. Discovering a spiritual truth from the Bible is like learning to ride a bicycle; once you have developed your spirit's muscle memory, you will quickly find yourself delighting in a journey through the Garden of Truth.

[hieromonkcharbel]

Though holy doctors have uncovered many mysteries and wonders, and devout souls have understood them in this earthly condition of ours, yet the greater part still remains to be unfolded by them, and even to be understood by them.

We must then dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.

For this reason the apostle Paul said of Christ: In him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering, enduring interior and exterior labours, and unless it first receives from God very many blessings in the intellect and in the senses, and has undergone long spiritual training.

All these are lesser things, disposing the soul for the lofty sanctuary of the knowledge of the mysteries of Christ: this is the highest wisdom attainable in this life.

Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.

Saint Paul therefore urges the Ephesians not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth – to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

From a Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross

Recognising the mystery hidden within Christ Jesus

[thewayofyehoshua]

Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians.

Almost everything you come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice and Saturnalia. If you’re celebrating Christmas then you’re unknowingly involved in pagan worship. Christmas is really about bringing out your inner pagan. Don’t take my word for it just consider the facts. I share truth with you because I love you!

(Did Early Christian Theologians see Christmas as pagan?)

Many theologians, formally trained Christian Pastors, and urban apologists are known for quoting noted Theologian and scholar, Charles H. #Spurgeon. However, you ever wonder why they never quote his sermons or literary work on #CHRISTMAS? Centuries ago many Christians saw Christmas for what it is, a Pagan Holiday.

Listen to Charles H. Spurgeon Christmas sermon of 1871......

“WE HAVE NO superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE PRESENT ECCLESIASTICAL ARRANGEMENT CALLED CHRISTMAS: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Saviour’s birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occurred. Fabricius gives a catalogue of 136 different learned opinions upon the matter; and various divines invent weighty arguments for advocating a date in every month in the year. It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the nativity of our Lord; and it was not till very long after the Western church had set the example, that the Eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known, therefore superstition has fixed it; while, since the day of the death of our Saviour might be determined with much certainty, therefore superstition shifts the date of its observance every year. Where is the method in the madness of the superstitious? Probably the fact is that the holy days were arranged to fit in with HEATHEN FESTIVALS. We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December.” - Charles Spurgeon's Treasury of David

“Upright men strove to stem the tide, but in spite of all their efforts, the apostasy went on. till the Church, with the exception of a small remnant was submerged under PAGAN SUPERSTITION. That CHRISTMAS is a pagan festival is beyond all doubt. The time of the year, and the ceremonies with which it in celebrated, prove its origin” .... “Those who follow the custom of observing Christmas, FOLLOW NOT THE BIBLE, but PAGAN CEREMONIES”. —C. H. Spurgeon

[spiritualsoul1969]

Bhakti’s Unbinding Flow: The Journey of Devotion and Freedom

"भक्ति बन्धन बहे सदा, ममता दूर करै। हरि चरण में चित्त लाव, बन्धन समाप्त करै।"

"Devotion always flows, removing attachment. When the mind is fixed on the Lord's feet, it ends all bonds."

In this verse, we discover a profound truth about the path of devotion, or bhakti. Sant Eknath illuminates a journey that releases us from the shackles of worldly attachments through constant love for the Divine. He describes devotion as a river that flows continuously, washing away the deep-rooted attachments of the mind and heart. This flow, symbolizing liberation, brings us to a state where the burdens of life become as light as feathers, no longer binding us to suffering, attachment, or ego.

Understanding the Unbinding Flow of Devotion

At its essence, devotion is not just a set of practices or rituals but a movement of the heart. It’s an energy that fills us with love, humility, and surrender. Devotion isn’t bound by conditions, nor does it hinge on rewards. It flows regardless of our personal situations or inner conflicts. Imagine it as an ever-flowing stream that gently but powerfully erodes the rocks of attachment and ego, creating a clear path to the divine feet of the Lord, where peace and liberation await.

Sant Eknath teaches us that when we surrender to this flow, devotion works as an alchemical process within us, transforming every attachment into freedom, and each sense of separation into unity. This path does not require us to renounce the world physically but to release our mental bonds. The world, with its joys, desires, and worries, loses its power over us when we devote our minds entirely to God. Through devotion, we become free from the inner chains of expectation, resentment, and attachment to outcomes, resting in the Divine's love instead.

The Healing Power of Devotion

Sant Eknath's words urge us to direct our focus, or chitta, toward the feet of the Divine. Here, the “feet” symbolize humility and complete surrender. When we let go of our preoccupations, anxieties, and ambitions to rest our minds at the feet of the Lord, we experience a type of fulfillment that worldly achievements cannot offer. This focus on God’s feet signifies finding an unchanging center of peace, comfort, and love amid the shifting landscapes of life.

Bhakti, when practiced with sincerity, is like a gentle flame that burns away illusions and fears, offering us clarity and inner peace. Imagine the peace that arises when you no longer carry the weight of your attachments! This is the freedom Sant Eknath invites us to experience—a life where we are completely present, connected to our divine purpose, and anchored in love rather than need.

Practical Toolkit for Integrating Devotion into Daily Life

Here are a few practices to help channel the flow of devotion in your everyday routine, so it can gradually clear away attachments and make way for divine peace:

Morning Prayer and Affirmation Start your day with a simple prayer or affirmation that sets the tone for your devotion. For example, “May my heart remain light and open to the Divine’s love today.” This intention gradually frees the mind from the grip of attachments.

Sankirtan or Chanting Chant a mantra, hymn, or the holy name for 10-15 minutes each day. Choose a chant that resonates with you and repeat it sincerely, focusing only on the sound and meaning. This practice aligns the heart and mind with a state of surrender.

Daily Reflection on Attachment Take a few minutes to reflect on areas in your life where you feel emotionally bound or overly attached. Ask yourself, “What am I holding on to, and how does it impact my peace?” Then offer it to the Divine, surrendering the attachment to a higher will.

Visualize the Divine Feet At the end of the day, visualize yourself sitting at the feet of the Lord. Imagine placing all your worries, joys, and attachments there, one by one. Feel a sense of lightness as each aspect of your life is surrendered.

Practice Seva (Selfless Service) Engaging in selfless acts of service, or seva, naturally reduces our attachments. Serving others brings the realization that joy and peace come not from ownership but from sharing. Dedicate an act of kindness each day without expecting anything in return.

Mindful Breathing with Devotional Intent Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take three slow, mindful breaths. With each exhale, silently say, “I release my attachment.” With each inhale, say, “I open to Divine love.” This anchors you in the present, away from worries and desires.

The Liberation of Bhakti

Devotion, as Sant Eknath suggests, is a path to ultimate liberation. It’s not a task or a duty, but a transformation of the heart that frees us from the chains of attachment and ego. By anchoring our minds on the feet of the Divine, we are lifted out of life’s turmoil into a space of calm and light. Here, the world’s weight fades, and the soul dances in freedom. Bhakti is a path of beauty, where each step taken in faith brings us closer to our true selves—vessels of love, peace, and infinite joy. In the river of devotion, our hearts flow toward the Divine, releasing us into the ocean of divine love and eternal freedom.

[drjamesbjoseph]

Article 10: The Eternal Quest- Following Jesus with Dr. James B. Joseph’s The Ultimate Victory: Becoming a Follower of Jesus

Life often feels like more than just a brief moment in time, it resonates with a sense of eternity. This is because life is, indeed, eternal. God, the Creator of all things, made both angels and humans as beings with endless free will. Each person must choose whether to live under God's loving guidance or remain isolated from Him forever.

In The Ultimate Victory, Dr. James B. Joseph invites readers to explore this profound truth. His book stresses the importance of understanding God's eternal nature and our place within His divine plan. Dr. Joseph highlights that we were created in God's image to be part of a divine unity, a "oneness," marked by perfect love and absence of sin. Despite our tendency towards self-centeredness, God offers us the chance to align our lives with His way of life, which is founded on mutual, equal love.

One of the core messages of Dr. Joseph's book is the simplicity of our spiritual choice: to embrace God's way of life or to follow a path of self-centeredness. Choosing to follow God leads to a life of true fulfillment, enriched by His love and goodness. Conversely, choosing self over others results in a life of emptiness and eternal separation from God.

Dr. Joseph also discusses how God reveals Himself in many ways throughout our lives, encouraging spiritual awakenings that lead us to submit to His will. Understanding and submitting to God becomes easier as we begin to see through the deceptions of Satan and others and our own self-centered desires that often cloud our judgment. The book is a powerful call to recognize God's genuine love and to embrace His transformative guidance.

The ultimate privilege and victory, as Dr. Joseph describes, is to be part of God's eternal family. We are invited to experience the profound joy of joining God and His Family in the creative process, which includes the greatest rescue mission of eternity, leading others from darkness into the light of His presence. Dr. Joseph emphasizes that there is no greater joy than witnessing lives transformed by God's love and grace.

If you have not yet taken the step to seek God's will and become part of His eternal family, now is the time. As you align yourself with Christ's leadership and engage with His Church, you will find growing inner peace and joy. By guiding others out of spiritual darkness and into God's marvelous light, your own joy will mirror that of Jesus.

Dr. James B. Joseph's The Ultimate Victory is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. Through its pages, you will discover how to live out your faith fully and joyfully, participating in God's divine mission as God guides His Creation to a perfected New Heaven and Earth.

Grab this chance to enhance your spiritual path. The Ultimate Victory by Dr. James B. Joseph is available on Amazon and through the author’s official website. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enrich your journey with God and experience the transformative power of His love. In addition, take note that Dr. Joseph has published an in-depth study companion covering chapter 5 of The Ultimate Victory titled Unity and Obedient Discipleship in the Gospel of John, which helps those who like to dig deep understand more fully God’s desired intimacy within His eternal holy family from a first-century Mediterranean world perspective.

[mevbotcrypto]

Unlocking Inner Peace: David Hoffmeister's Insights on A Course in Miracles

Introduction

Inner peace – it's something we all crave in a world filled with constant noise, deadlines, and stress. But what exactly is inner peace? Simply put, it's a state of mind where you're not agitated by external forces or internal turmoil. It's the calm that comes when you let go of fear, anxiety, and emotional baggage. And in today’s fast-paced world, finding this peace can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Thankfully, spiritual teacher David Hoffmeister has dedicated his life to helping others discover this inner calm. His teachings, heavily inspired by A Course in Miracles (ACIM), offer a roadmap to peace that transcends the chaos of daily life.

Who is David Hoffmeister?

David Hoffmeister is more than just a teacher; he's a living example of someone who has embraced the principles of A Course in Miracles. Starting as a seeker of truth himself, David's spiritual journey began with a deep inner calling to find lasting peace. Over the years, he became a well-respected voice in the spiritual community, known for his deep understanding and practical application of ACIM’s teachings.

With decades of experience in spiritual teaching, David Hoffmeister A Course in Miracles has touched thousands of lives worldwide, offering hope, wisdom, and a sense of peace that is attainable for anyone willing to embark on the journey.

What is A Course in Miracles?

At its core, A Course in Miracles is a spiritual self-study program designed to help people achieve inner peace through forgiveness and love. The Course teaches that the world we see is a reflection of our inner thoughts and that by changing these thoughts, we can change our experience of the world.

ACIM emphasizes forgiveness, not in the conventional sense, but as a way of seeing beyond illusions to the truth of who we are. It aims to guide individuals toward a deeper connection with their true, divine nature.

The Spiritual Journey

For David Hoffmeister, spirituality isn't about rituals or rules; it's about a profound, inner transformation. His approach encourages individuals to go beyond surface-level thinking and dive into the deeper layers of consciousness. Hoffmeister views A Course in Miracles as a toolkit for spiritual awakening, helping people realize their oneness with God and the universe.

He emphasizes that the spiritual journey is not something to be rushed but a gentle process of unlearning the ego’s illusions and embracing love as our true identity.

Inner Peace According to A Course in Miracles

In the context of A Course in Miracles, inner peace is not just about feeling calm in the moment; it's about experiencing an unwavering sense of tranquility that comes from knowing your true self. The Course teaches that this peace is our natural state and that the only reason we don’t experience it is because we’re caught up in the illusions created by the ego.

David Hoffmeister explains that true peace comes when we stop looking for it in the external world and start recognizing that it’s already within us. It's a peace that can’t be shaken by outside circumstances.

David Hoffmeister’s Interpretation of the Course

David Hoffmeister’s interpretation of ACIM revolves around the idea of complete surrender to divine guidance. He often speaks about listening to the inner voice, which ACIM refers to as the Holy Spirit, and allowing this voice to guide every aspect of life.

One of Hoffmeister’s key teachings is that by stepping back and letting this divine guidance take the lead, we can release our fears and anxieties, thus unlocking inner peace.

Letting Go of Fear and Guilt

Fear and guilt are two of the biggest barriers to inner peace, according to both ACIM and Hoffmeister’s teachings. ACIM suggests that all suffering stems from holding onto these emotions, which are rooted in the belief in separation from God.

Hoffmeister teaches that forgiveness is the antidote to fear and guilt. By practicing forgiveness, we release the grip of these negative emotions and open ourselves to love, which naturally brings peace.

Living in the Present Moment

A big part of Hoffmeister’s teachings is the importance of staying in the present moment. He echoes the teachings of A Course in Miracles that say the past and future are illusions created by the ego to keep us from experiencing the peace of now.

Through mindfulness and present awareness, Hoffmeister encourages individuals to let go of regrets about the past and worries about the future. By doing so, we make space for the peace that exists in the present.

Overcoming Ego’s Obstacles

The ego is a tricky thing. It's the part of us that believes in separation, fear, and limitation. According to Hoffmeister, one of the main reasons we struggle to find peace is because the ego constantly distracts us with thoughts of fear and judgment.

Hoffmeister provides practical advice on how to recognize and dissolve these egoic thoughts. By becoming aware of the ego’s tricks, we can begin to disidentify with it, paving the way for inner peace to emerge.

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not just a concept in ACIM – it’s the cornerstone of the entire teaching. David Hoffmeister places great emphasis on this practice, explaining that true forgiveness is not about pardoning someone for something they did. Instead, it’s about recognizing that nothing real can be harmed, and thus, there’s nothing to forgive.

By shifting this perspective, Hoffmeister teaches that we can release the heavy burden of resentment and open ourselves to the lightness of inner peace.

Practicing A Course in Miracles in Daily Life

One of the most valuable aspects of Hoffmeister’s teachings is his practical guidance on how to integrate the principles of ACIM into everyday life. From simple mindfulness exercises to more profound practices of forgiveness and surrender, Hoffmeister provides clear steps for applying these spiritual tools in daily routines.

David Hoffmeister’s Global Impact

David Hoffmeister's teachings have resonated with people around the globe. Through retreats, workshops, and online content, he has spread the message of inner peace far and wide. His presence is a beacon for those who seek a deeper, more peaceful way of living.

Testimonies from David Hoffmeister’s Followers

Many of Hoffmeister's followers have shared inspiring stories of how his teachings have transformed their lives. Whether it’s overcoming personal challenges, healing relationships, or simply finding peace in the midst of chaos, these testimonies reflect the profound impact Hoffmeister has had.

Challenges to Finding Inner Peace

Despite the simplicity of the teachings, many people face challenges on the path to inner peace. Hoffmeister acknowledges these obstacles and offers compassionate advice on how to overcome them, whether it’s the fear of letting go or resistance to change.

Conclusion

David Hoffmeister’s insights on A Course in Miracles offer a powerful pathway to unlocking inner peace. By letting go of fear, embracing forgiveness, and living in the present moment, we can all tap into the peace that resides within. It’s a journey worth taking, and the rewards are profound.

FAQs

What is A Course in Miracles about? A Course in Miracles is a spiritual text that teaches forgiveness and love as the key to inner peace.

How does David Hoffmeister teach inner peace? Hoffmeister emphasizes surrender to divine guidance, forgiveness, and mindfulness as the core practices for achieving inner peace.

What role does forgiveness play in A Course in Miracles? Forgiveness is the cornerstone of the Course’s teachings, helping individuals release fear and guilt to experience true peace.

How can I start practicing A Course in Miracles? Begin with mindfulness, forgiveness, and a willingness to listen to your inner voice for guidance.

Can inner peace be achieved in daily life? Yes, with consistent practice of ACIM’s principles, peace can be experienced even in the midst of daily challenges.

[yhwhrulz]

Morning and Evening with A.W. Tozer Devotional for August 29

Tozer in the Morning Pursuing Truth

One of the great religious thinkers of this century has pointed out a strange contradiction in the mental attitude of our times--our eager love of knowledge and our universal neglect of truth.

That men love knowledge is too well demonstrated to need proof, if by knowledge we mean facts, know-how, statistics, technical information, scientific and mechanical skills. Our printing presses are constantly rolling out books crammed with useful information. Our schools are bulging with eager students bent on acquiring all possible knowledge in the shortest possible time. Among the most popular and lucrative radio programs on the air today are those designed to discover how many unrelated bits of information the participants possess. "Who? What? When? Where?" run the endless questions, and the impression is created that the one who can answer the greatest number is in some way a superior person.

It is vitally important that we make a sharp distinction between knowledge and truth--that is, between the knowledge that is but the sum of facts we possess and truth which is a moral and spiritual thing. It is possible to fill the mind with facts and be none the better for it, for facts have no moral or spiritual significance. Facts bear the same relation to truth that a corpse bears to a man. They serve as a medium whereby truth relates itself to outward life and circumstance but must depend for their significance upon the inner essence of truth.

Tozer in the Evening Man - The Dwelling Place of God - The Communion of Saints

"I believe in the communion of saints."-Apostles' Creed

THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN into the creed about the middle of the fifth century.

It would be difficult if not altogether impossible for us at this late date to know exactly what was in the minds of the Church Fathers who introduced the words into the creed, but in the Book of Acts we have a description of the first Christian communion: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Here is the original apostolic fellowship, the pattern after which every true Christian communion must be modelled.

The word "fellowship," in spite of its abuses, is still a beautiful and meaningful word. When rightly understood it means the same as the word "communion," that is, the act and condition of sharing together in some common blessing by numbers of persons. The communion of saints, then, means an intimate and loving sharing together of certain spiritual blessings by persons who are on an equal footing before the blessing in which they share. This fellowship must include every member of the Church of God from Pentecost to this present moment and on to the end of the age.

Now, before there can be communion there must be union. The sharers are one in a sense altogether above organization, nationality, race or denomination. That oneness is a divine thing, achieved by the Holy Spirit in the act of regeneration. Whoever is born of God is one with everyone else who is born of God. Just as gold is always gold, wherever and in whatever shape it is found, and every detached scrap of gold belongs to the true family and is composed of the same element, so every regenerate soul belongs to the universal Christian community and to the fellowship of the saints.

Every redeemed soul is born out of the same spiritual life as every other redeemed soul and partakes of the divine nature in exactly the same manner. Each one is thus made a member of the Christian community and a sharer in everything which that community enjoys. This is the true communion of saints. But to know this is not enough. If we would enter into the power of it we must exercise ourselves in this truth; we must practice thinking and praying with the thought that we are members of the Body of Christ and brothers to all the ransomed saints living and dead who have believed on Christ and acknowledged Him as Lord.

We have said that the communion of saints is a fellowship, a sharing in certain divinely given things by divinely called persons. Now, what are those things?

The first and most important is life-"the life of God in the soul of man," to borrow a phrase from Henry Scougal. This life is the basis of everything else which is given and shared. And that life is nothing else than God Himself. It should be evident that there can be no true Christian sharing unless there is first an impartation of life. An organization and a name do not make a church. One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.

The apostolic fellowship is also a fellowship of truth. The inclusiveness of the fellowship must always be held along with the exclusiveness of it. Truth brings into its gracious circle all who admit and accept the Bible as the source of all truth and the Son of God as the Saviour of men. But there dare be no weak compromise with the facts, no sentimental mouthing of the old phrases: "We are all headed for the same place …. Each one is seeking in his own way to please the Father and make heaven his home." The truth makes men free, and the truth will bind and loose, will open and shut, will include and exclude at its high will without respect to persons. To reject or deny the truth of the Word is to exclude ourselves from the apostolic communion.

Now, someone may ask, "What is the truth of which you speak? Is my fate to depend upon Baptist truth or Presbyterian truth or Anglican truth, or all of these or none of these? To know the communion of saints must I believe in Calvinism or Armimanism? In the Congregational or the Episcopal form of church government? Must I interpret prophecy in accord with the pre-millenarians or the post-millenarians? Must I believe in immersion or sprinkling or pouring?" The answer to all this is easy. The confusion is only apparent, not actual.

The early Christians, under the fire of persecution, driven from place to place, sometimes deprived of the opportunity for careful instruction in the faith, wanted a "rule" which would sum up all that they must believe to assure their everlasting welfare. Out of this critical need arose the creeds. Of the many, the Apostles' Creed is the best known and best loved, and has been reverently repeated by the largest number of believers through the centuries. And for millions of good men that creed contains the essentials of truth. Not all truths, to be sure, but the heart of all truth. It served in trying days as a kind of secret password that instantly united men to each other when passed from lip to lip by the followers of the Lamb. It is fair to say, then, that the truth shared by saints in the apostolic fellowship is the same truth which is outlined for convenience in the Apostles' Creed.

In this day when the truth of Christianity is under serious fire from so many directions it is most important that we know what we believe and that we guard it carefully. But in our effort to interpret and expound the Holy Scriptures in accord with the ancient faith of all Christians, we should remember that a seeking soul may find salvation through the blood of Christ while yet knowing little of the fuller teachings of Christian theology. We must, therefore, admit to our fellowship every sheep who has heard the voice of the Shepherd and has tried to follow Him.

The beginner in Christ who has not yet had time to learn much Christian truth and the underprivileged believer who has had the misfortune to be brought up in a church where the Word has been neglected from the pulpit, are very much in the same situation. Their faith grasps only a small portion of truth, and their "sharing" is necessarily limited to the small portion they grasp. The important thing, however, is that the little bit they do enjoy is real truth. It may be no more than this, that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"; but if they walk in the light of that much truth, no more is required to bring them into the circle of the blessed and to constitute them true members of the apostolic fellowship.

Then, true Christian communion consists in the sharing of a Presence. This is not poetry merely, but a fact taught in bold letters in the New Testament.

God has given us Himself in the Person of His Son. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The immanence of God in His universe makes possible the enjoyment of the "real Presence" by the saints of God in heaven and on earth simultaneously. Wherever they may be, He is present to them in the fullness of His Godhead.

I do not believe that the Bible teaches the possibility of communication between the saints on earth and those in heaven. But while there cannot be communication, there most surely can be communion. Death does not tear the individual believer from his place in the Body of Christ. As in our human bodies each member is nourished by the same blood which at once gives life and unity to the entire organism, so in the Body of Christ the quickening Spirit flowing through every part gives life and unity to the whole. Our Christian brethren who have gone from our sight retain still their place in the universal fellowship. The Church is one, whether waking or sleeping, by a unity of life forevermore.

The most important thing about the doctrine of the communion of saints is its practical effects on the lives of Christians. We know very little about the saints above, but about the saints on earth we know, or can know, a great deal. We Protestants do not believe (since the Bible does not teach) that the saints who have gone into heaven before us are in any way affected by the prayers or labors of saints who remain on earth. Our particular care is not for those whom God has already honored with the vision beatific, but for the hard-pressed and struggling pilgrims who are still traveling toward the City of God. We all belong to each other; the spiritual welfare of each one is or should be the loving concern of all the rest.

We should pray for an enlargement of soul to receive into our hearts all of God's people, whatever their race, color or church affiliation. Then we should practice thinking of ourselves as members of the blessed family of God and should strive in prayer to love and appreciate everyone who is born of the Father.

I suggest also that we try to acquaint ourselves as far as possible with the good and saintly souls who lived before our times and now belong to the company of the redeemed in heaven. How sad to limit our sympathies to those of our own day, when God in His providence has made it possible for us to enjoy the rich treasures of the minds and hearts of so many holy and gifted saints of other days. To confine our reading to the works of a few favorite authors of today or last week is to restrict our horizons and to pinch our souls dangerously.

I have no doubt that the prayerful reading of some of the great spiritual classics of the centuries would destroy in us forever that constriction of soul which seems to he the earmark of modern evangelicalism.

For many of us the wells of the past wait to be reopened. Augustine, for instance, would bring to us a sense of the overwhelming majesty of God that would go far to cure the flippancy of spirit found so widely among modern Christians. Bernard of Cluny would sing to us of "Jerusalem the Golden" and the peace of an eternal sabbath day until the miserable pleasures of this world become intolerable; Richard Rolle would show us how to escape from "the abundance of riches, the flattering of women and the fairness of

youth," that we may go on to know God with an intimacy that will become in our hearts "heat, fragrance and song"; Tersteegen would whisper to us of the "hidden love of God" and the awful Presence until our hearts would become "still before Him" and "prostrate inwardly adore Him"; before our eyes the sweet St. Francis would throw his arms of love around sun and moon, trees and rain, bird and beast, and thank God for them all in a pure rapture of spiritual devotion.

But who is able to complete the roster of the saints? To them we owe a debt of gratitude too great to comprehend: prophet and apostle, martyr and reformer, scholar and translator, hymnist and composer, teacher and evangelist, not to mention ten thousand times ten thousand simplehearted and anonymous souls who kept the flame of pure religion alive even in those times when the faith of our fathers was burning but dimly all over the world.

They belong to us, all of them, and we belong to them. They and we and all redeemed men and women of whatever age or clime are included in the universal fellowship of Christ, and together compose "a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people," who enjoy a common but blessed communion of saints.

Copyright Statement This material is considered in the public domain.

[the-single-element]

Good morning. Just a short thought for today.

As we settle back into Ordinary Time, it can be tempting to look at it as the "easy" part of the year. There's no fasts or stressful preparations like there would be in Advent or Lent, and there's no great miracles to celebrate like in the Christmas and Easter seasons. It'd be easy to let it all fade into the background until Advent comes again in half a year.

But we'd be missing a trick, if we did that, because it's in these quiet moments that the Holy Spirit is hardest at work, bringing forth the abundant harvest that Ezekiel and Mark visualize for us today. Not just blessings, but a bumper crop of blessings, a rush of wonders that we hardly understand.

Consider, for example, the history of the post-Pentecost festival season we just wrapped up, and the feasts we spent that time celebrating:

Trinity Sunday was a celebration of the nature of God, but through a fairly esoteric and intricate lens, a doctrine that had to be worked out in fourth-century ecumenical councils.

Corpus Christi celebrated God's closeness to us, through a belief that was hardly universal at the founding of the Church.

And the "Sacred Heart" devotions, focused on Jesus's synthesis of eternal divinity and mortal humanity, were invented closer to today than to the time when he was living his earthly life.

None of these were obvious the way Christmas, Easter, or Pentecost are obvious. None of them are commemorations of big flashy miracles, of God's "strong right hand and holy arm". They're more subtle ideas, articles of our faith that only came after the Spirit, after its coming enabled the new Christian community to come to understand what Jesus had no time to explain properly.

It was by adding the Spirit that the hunkering-down apostles became the beginnings of Christianity-as-a-community. In the same way, it was by adding the Spirit that we became aware of all kinds of truths which had been hidden until then, and found ourselves "shouting from the housetops what we hear in whispers", moved to action by our enthusiasm, by our love and wonder.

All this happened in the "long now" of Ordinary Time, to people who were awaiting the Second Coming just as we are. In other words, that era is the era of Ordinary Time, in which the seed sowed by the Spirit - which Jesus couldn't possibly have explained in his own time, about what the Kingdom's sort of love means in a world like our own - are finally bearing fruit.

We are, today, living in those heady days, this strange, in-between time after the Spirit's coming but before Jesus's return. We have a chance to discover, in our everyday lives, wonder after wonder about what living in the Kingdom of God is really like.

It still has the opportunity to surprise and amaze us, any day and every day. Maybe what we learn this year, this month, this week, won't look exactly like what we've come to expect from the gigantic tree that, over the last two millennia, has grown from what the Apostles transplanted into something that shades the whole world as a "major world religion". After all, Ezekiel also reminds us today that sometimes such big trees become withered and must be brought low.

But that's part of the wonder of this season. "Ordinary Time" - everyday life, but the sort of life that could last forever and not get old - life as experienced in the Kingdom of God. We have all the time in the world, to "sleep and rise, night and day", and through living that life which the Spirit has ignited, discover what is being brought to fruition in us.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Thursday, June 13, 2024

may 31_june 13

The Ascension of our Lord.

Troparion of the Ascension (tone IV) : O Christ God, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, having gladdened Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. And this blessing convinced them that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world!

Kontakion, (tone VI)

Having accomplished for us Thy mission and united things on earth with things in heaven, thou didst ascend into glory, O christ our God, being nowhere separated from those who love Thee, but remaining everpresent with us and calling: I am with you and no one is against you.

HOLY GEORGIAN MARTYRS OF PERSIA (17th-18thC) c.)

  Throughout history Georgia has frequently been forced to defend what St. Ilia the Righteous called its “threefold treasure”— language, fatherland, and Faith. In this regard, the events of the 17th century are some of the most tragic in all of Georgian history.       In 1616 the bloodthirsty Persian ruler Shah Abbas I invaded Georgia with a massive army. His goal was to level the country completely, to leave not a single building standing. The shah’s army kidnapped hundreds of thousands of Kakhetian Georgians and then sent them to Persia to be sold as slaves. They settled Turkmen in the newly depopulated Georgian regions. In collaboration with the shah, many Lezgin peoples from the mountainous North Caucasus moved south to occupy the homes of the exiled Georgians.       The 17th-century Italian traveler Pietro della Valle described the Georgian exile in Persia: “It would be too long to narrate all that has passed in this miserable migration, how many murders, how many deaths caused by privation, how many seductions, rapes, and acts of violence, how many children drowned by their own parents or cast into rivers through despair, some snatched by force from their mother’s breasts because they seemed too weak to live and thrown down by the wayside and abandoned there to be food for wild beasts or trampled underfoot by the horses and camels of the army, which marched for a whole day on top of dead bodies; how many sons separated from their fathers, wives from their husbands, sisters from their brothers, and carried off to distant countries without hope of ever meeting again. Throughout the camp, men and women were sold on this occasion much cheaper than beasts, because of the great number of them.” (Quoted in David Marshall Lang, Lives and Legends of the Georgian Church (London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1956), p. 170.)       The Georgian exiles in Persia included a large number of clergy. Many of them celebrated the divine services in secret and inspired the people to remain faithful to God. Those discovered were punished severely. Many Georgians were martyred for the Christian Faith during the Persian exile. Not only Georgian researchers, but historians and travelers of other nationalities attest to the truth of this. Furthermore, ethnic Georgians currently residing in formerly Persian territories continue to commemorate their fallen ancestors to this day. They make pilgrimages to the sites where their ancestors were martyred and prepare feasts there in honor of their memory. One of these sites has been called “Ascension.”       Of language, fatherland, and Faith, only language remains alive among Georgians in the formerly Persian territories. Most have lost touch with both their fatherland and the Christian Faith. Those fortunate enough to be able to return to Georgia often convert to Orthodox Christianity. In 2001, when Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II visited the ethnic Georgians in Iran, he presented them with a mound of Georgian soil. With great emotion the Georgians scattered the soil over the ground where their ancestors were martyred.       On September 18, 2003, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church prayerfully considered the martyric contest of the Georgians in Persia. The Synod declared all those martyred at the hands of Muslims in the 17th and 18th centuries worthy to be numbered among the saints. Their commemoration day was set on the feast of Holy Ascension, in honor of the place where many of them were martyred.

© 2006 St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.

MARTYR HERMIAS at COMANA (160)

Icon: AgioErgo on Etsy

Holy Martyr Hermias suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors and mercy from the emperor.

The old soldier bravely confessed his faith in Christ. After long exhortation, the governor gave orders to torture the saint. They beat him on the face so that the skin peeled from his face, and they threw him into a red-hot oven. When the oven was opened after three days, the martyr Hermias emerged from it unharmed.

The governor Sebastian ordered the sorcerer Marus to poison Saint Hermias with a potion. The poisonous drink did the saint no harm. A second goblet with even stronger poison also failed to kill the saint. The sorcerer believed in Christ the Savior, and was immediately beheaded. Saint Marus was baptized in his own blood, and received a martyr’s crown.

Saint Hermias was subjected to even more terrible tortures. They raked his body with sharp instruments, threw him in boiling oil, and gouged out his eyes, but he gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they suspended the martyr head downward. For three days he hung in this position.

People sent by the governor to verify his death found him alive. Struck by the miracle, they were blinded with fright and began to call out to the saint to help them. The holy martyr ordered the blind to approach him, and healed them in the Name of Jesus Christ.

In anger the governor ordered the skin flayed from the saint’s body, but he remained alive. Then the crazed Sebastian beheaded him with his own sword. Christians secretly buried the body of the martyr Hermias, whose relics bestowed numerous healings.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

ACTS 1:1-12

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.

LUKE 24:36-53

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.