In my posting “The Grace Of Common Sense” I mentioned, although briefly, about December 2012 being the end of time as presumably the Mayan Calendar ends in that month, later on this year.  In my opinion, exploring end of days theories can be at least interesting and even entertaining, if viewed in the proper perspective.  The following verses giving witness to the importance of not accepting any man’s opinions regarding the end of days as an absolute truth that will “reportedly” occur at the end of this year;

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. [1] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring… [2] more…

In my previous missive titled, “Modern Day Prophets–Soothsayers or Heretics” I expounded upon the viability of those who appear to be no more than soothsayers or fortune tellers hiding behind the façade of a prophet, pleading with my readers to carefully pray and contemplate upon the rhetoric of anyone who professes to have a clear vision of what the future holds in store, before accepting that rhetoric as a truth.  In this light, let us examine the multitudes of latter day prophecies concerning the end of days. more…

I am not a prophet.  I have never claimed to be a prophet, nor do I aspire to be recognized by my brothers and sisters as such.  Personally, I have always felt a certain degree of trepidation—a nervous apprehension—of the title being bestowed upon, or claimed by, anyone of the modern era.  Again on a personal basis, my conviction as an individual, I cannot put aside the words of Saint Peter, I cannot ignore his warning about those that would appear in our midst and attempt to prophesize. more…

Most people come to path of Christian Mysticism seeking to learn the ability to hear the voice of God and his wisdom concerning all things, and through that wisdom be the better enabled to serve him and discover true Christian Spirituality. Until they recognize that what they are hearing before submitting to God, is the word of man, a word of mass consumption and mindless obedience, with the final product being the uplifting of the rich and powerful by contributing to their wealth.

…………yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought. 1Corinthianians 2:6

Before coming to this realization, what they fail to hear from God is “Slow down, balance your life, do with less work and less consuming, meditate, pray, stop, see the beautiful sunset, try loving your neighbor “. They fail to hear the message of disregarding the “noise” of man and therefore miss the treasure hidden within the word of God.

When we truly believe in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ we are in a state such as the apostle was referring to when he said “you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” Remember what Jesus said in prayer to the Father while in the garden the night he was betrayed;

“…..not as I will, but as you will.”

We have to let go of our own will and allow the will of the father to prevail in our lives.  This is but one meaning of the resurrection, to be reborn, to lay aside the old self and put on the new self.

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. Matthew 12:35

Our Lord said that, therefore if we value that which brings joy, relief and truth upon the land, let us find pleasure in it and share with all, rather than to disseminate evil through the proliferation of fear, anger, hate and divisiveness, those attributes that lurk in the hearts and minds of those who have succumbed to the evil one.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.   For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13&14

For most of us, life in this world is a rough and rugged road, filed with turmoil, hate, anger and confusion, states that make it oh so hard to continue to walk in the Way Of The Lord more…

Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. more…

Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body’s life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. For it was by God’s own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority. In union with Christ you were circumcised, not with the circumcision that is made by human beings, but with the circumcision made by Christ, which consists of being freed from the power of this sinful self.
Colossians 1:15 – 17 & 19 and 2:10-11

Argument, strife, lack of agreement or harmony, all these denote contention and no contention should ever exist between friends, brothers and sisters, other than that noble contention, of who can best agree and work together in service to God and mankind. But often contention can raise its ugly head in the best of friendships or the most tightly knit fellowships or congregations. When a brother or sister goes astray, Jesus reminds us of our duty to go in search of that person; more…