DNA offer placements in Christian churches, ranging from October to August. This is seen as a “year in with God, not a year out.”, needing the enrollee to live within a Christian environment – either inside your own church if you already attend one, or a specified church if you’re not currently a member of a church. Your typical day will require assisting with the everyday activities of the church, and to be trained by its members in bible studies. The course assures faith in action, so those who join can expect a really pragmatic experience of living their faith, and not simply the theoretical study.

More plus points of the studies include:-

• faith in action; what you’ll study is what you’ll actually do
• equipping you for church based leadership
• training you for the workplace environment
• your maturation in character, skills and understanding
• relational, non-religious Christianity; it’s fun!

There are three sorts of course open : Track 1 is the most popular entry point to DNA – it is the fullest DNA expereince. The overwhelming majority of individuals choose this as the best pick for them. Track 2 is more appropriate to you if taking a whole gap year is not pragmatically achievable. This could be for issues like your workplace or family commitments. Track 2 consequently proffers some flexibility. Track 3 proffers people the chance of coming in to be with us for as many individual training sessions or days as they want.

On Franklin Graham’s website for his Samaritan’s Purse ministry, he challenges all the churches in the southeastern United States to take in 10 families each. Likewise, I broadcasted a few nights ago that, with nearly 350,000 churches in the nation, we could each take one family each. Poof! The burden’s over. Already today, I’ve heard of several instances where churches were taking in families. These were located in Madison, Mississippi and El Paso, Texas.

Also, according to a friend in Kentucky, when he contacted Samaritan’s Purse regarding how to apply for taking a family into his home, he was directed to Talia Barnes of Adventures In Missions. E-mail her at: taliabarnes@adventures.org. Explain who you are, why you’re writing and what your offer is. Only 148 families have written her as of Sunday night.

Give her the following details:

Name
E-Mail
Home Ph.
Cell Ph.
Wk Ph.
Address
City, ST, Zip
Name of your Church
Can you provide transportation?
Describe your family and home

The largest displacement of Americans since the Civil War reverberated across the country from New Orleans yesterday, as more than half a million people uprooted by Hurricane Katrina seek shelter, sustenance and are facing the uncertainties of starting some sort of new lives.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife Shonda paid to fly a New Orleans family of nine to Boston and pledged to provide them with housing for a year. The Fields family, with seven children between the ages of 5 and 12, fled New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina struck.
“When we realized how many people had nowhere to go, we didn’t just want to make a donation,” Shonda Schilling told The Boston Globe. “We decided we wanted to bring an entire family here and put them up.”

The families connected through a Web site, OpenYourHome.com, which matches displaced families with people willing to house them. The Schillings registered Friday and on Saturday anonymously arranged for the family to fly to Boston.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has set up a site where individuals may volunteer their homes or request a place to stay. That site is located at KatrinaHousing.org. Check it out. To Christians everywhere, we must ask ourselves the question, if we do not take these displaced families in, taking advantage of the opportunity to make disciples, who will?

Over the years, I have taken in homeless people myself. A gay witch. A long-bearded alcoholic brick-layer. A former Army Ranger who had just become a Christian after years in the occult. A black crack addict. Several others on a very short-term basis. I have also been that person seeking shelter, trusting that God was going to provide in one way or another. He always did.

My advice to anyone is simply: (1) make sure you’re being led by the Spirit. A “good” idea is not always a GOD idea.(2) if you take someone in, set the house rules IN WRITING so that your guests know what’s expected by both parties, what will not be tolerated and what the consequences will be if rules are broken. (3) involve church leadership; keep everyone accountable. There are more. implementing these would be a good start.

You’ve been blessed to be a blessing. Now, bless somebody!
In Jesus,
Pastor Michael

Michael
A servant of God
t.e.a.m. ministries
A Ministry of Discipleship & Encouragement to the Body of Christ
P.O. Box 633
Stephenville, Texas 76401
www.planetaryministry.org
Your Town For Jesus!
EzineArticles.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Michael is founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). His eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” (SEARCH it!) are reaching tens of thousands WEEKLY. Log on at http://www.PlanetaryMinistry.org
Michael’s mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Michael is the author of numerous booklets on a subjects that will interest the thinking Christian. Since 1999, he has written and broadcast hundreds of inspirational articles and a dozen booklets, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

No doubt you have heard, as I have, many sermons preached on this text.

Most take the same view that those that enter in by the strait gate get saved and those who enter by the wide gate get lost.

But is it really that simple?

As I was washing up the dishes after breakfast this morning, God spoke to me on this very text. I want to share now that which I believe God gave me.

The vast majority of people in the world today DO NOT ENTER BY ANY GATE AT ALL.

They are simply not interested. Some do not believe in God and others, though believing in God have no desire to do anything about it.

They do not attempt to enter in, period!

In the verses quoted above, Jesus is not talking about this group of people. He is only referring to people who actually enter through one of the two gates mentioned. He is talking about people who have a desire for a religion that leads to eternal life and speaks of some finding it but most, although believing they have found it, actually end up lost!

In Revelation Chapter 3 15-16, Jesus gives a message to John, intended primarily for the Church at Laodicea and also prophetically to the Church of the last days before the Rapture.

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

He speaks of three types of people, those who are HOT, those who are COLD and those who are LUKEWARM.

Those who are HOT are easily recognized as those who enter in by the strait gate. Those who are COLD can be seen as those who have no desire to enter any gate at all. But it is those who are LUKEWARM that appear as detestable to God. It is those who desire to enter the gate but go through the wrong gate, the wide gate. They are content with a form of religion that does not lead to life.

Notice that Jesus does not appear to have a problem with those who are COLD. He would rather someone be COLD than LUKEWARM!

Because the cold person, although as yet not having any desire for any religion, Christian or otherwise, they can still be reached with the truth.

But the lukewarm, those trying to enter in but by the wrong gate, are usually so stubbornly sure that they are right, that they become unreachable with the truth. They settle for error. They settle for a wrong gospel and another Jesus! (See 2 Cor. 11:4) They have the ‘form of Godliness but deny it’s power’ 2 Tim. 3:3

Going back again to our original text from Matthew 7, I want you to notice that Jesus said there will only be a few that find the true way that leads to life.

Does this surprise you?

This is a very different view from that which we hear from most preachers these days. We constantly hear revival being preached. We are constantly being told of mighty moves of the Holy Spirit that are sweeping millions into the Kingdom of God But if we are totally honest, we see that Jesus told a very different story.

Matthew 7 13-14 speaks of great deception.

It speaks of people trying to find the real truth, but ending up accepting a way that is far from the truth that leads to life. The word ’strait’ as used in KJV means ‘narrow, from obstacles standing close about’. It’s not that God has deliberately placed obstacles in the way to prevent people entering in, but that people have made obstacles of the truth.

Jesus said, “No man comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Many make this an obstacle. They would rather ignore what Jesus said and ‘climb up some other way’ John 10:1

They would rather seek God’s approval by good works, by going to Church or by their giving or a host of other ways. In the end, all these things become obstacles to them entering in and finding life. Jesus said, “I am the door, if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” Jesus is the only Way, He is the only Truth and He is the only LIFE!

So many in the Church today are not entering in by Jesus. Many are following the big name preachers of this day. They hang on to every word that Mr. False Teacher says.

But because Mr. False Teacher is approved by so many, is so well known and respected by the majority, they take his words as truth, without testing them, and follow him.

They are deceived. They are lukewarm. They are detestable to God!

I believe that what we are seeing in the Church today is that which was prophesied for the end times in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. “…That day will not come unless the falling away comes first.”

The falling away means apostasy in Greek. The vast majorities in the Church today are in an apostate condition. They have settled for less than the truth.

“…All unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:10

I challenge you who are reading this, do not settle for that which is being served up as truth by most preachers and ministers in Churches today.

“Test all things; hold fast to what is good.” 1 Thess. 5:21.

Test all that you hear by the infallible Word of God.

Not all that sounds ‘Christian’ is actually truth.

Be among the few who enter in by the strait gate and find LIFE!

Remember that Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock.” Luke 12:32 He called the true Church a little flock, not a massive big one! Are you one of the ‘Little flock’ Are you one of the ‘few there be that find it’

Pastor Keith Brown runs http://www.hiscomingministries.com and provides free downloads and cassettes of his teaching. Why not tune into one of the internet’s only Prophecy Radio Stations at http://www.hiscomingministriesradio.com Great Music, Great Teaching 24/7

The documents discovered at Dag (or Nag) Hammadi in the same decade were fully translated by 1971 and they are of equal if not greater insight. The life of Jesus as a ‘Therapeutae’ or Gnostic with a ‘Source’ of learning in a large family of adepts is contrary to all sorts of proselytes and his involvement of an equal partner and wife puts a lie to a lot of ‘only begotten’ or other Divine appellations sought by the Popes who have claimed to be the only representatives of the Lord on Earth. This ‘Source’ is described correctly by Barrett as the very Grail that the Dag Hammadi scrolls represent from the verbal tradition or Qabala. If you consider that there was no name or actual Christians at the time of Jesus we will be starting at a fair beginning. The Copper Scrolls that made coded references to the site of Solomon’s treasure were found here as well. That is of import to our continuing effort to know what trade and designs exist (ed) in the Templar to Benjaminite or Merovingian lineage. It is more important to start with this ‘Source’ as many Biblical scholars are calling it. They call it this rather than a pagan tradition of Bardic and nature worshippers or Phoenicians, as the Father of Biblical Archaeology assures us that even the Bible itself should be seen as being. We are of the opinion that all documents and related things that reflect on the life of Christ are part and parcel of the ‘Holy Grail’; and the churchians were crusading and killing to get them and control the truth that might upset their marketing and other plans. Thus we should provide a little proof of the actual religions and politics of the time that Jesus was alive upon this earth.

“The Bible imagines the religion of ancient Israel as purely monotheistic. And doubtless there were Israelites, particularly those associated with the Jerusalem Temple, who were strict monotheists. But the archaeological evidence (and the Bible, too, if you read it closely enough) suggests that the monotheism of many Israelites was far from pure. For them, Yahweh (the name of the Israelite god) was not the only divinity. Some Israelites believed that Yahweh had a female consort. And many Israelite invoked the divinity with the help of images {Remember Onias’ Temple in Egypt and the archaeology of the sacrificing of Ibises practiced by Moses and later Jews.}, particularly figurines. I call this Israelite religion pagan Yahwism.

The archaeological evidence we will look at comes mostly from Judah in what is known in archaeological terms as the Assyrian period, the span from 721 B.C.E., when the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, until 586 B.C.E., when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple and brought an end to the Davidic dynasty in Judah. This period, to put it into perspective, is several centuries after King Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple {Actually done by an architect Mason from Tyre named Hiram but not the King of that name and time.} in about 950 B.C.E. So the archaeological evidence we are about to discuss documents a level of Israelite paganism long after Solomon built an exclusive home for Israel’s god. {The Incas and other used such techniques of social management rather than garrison armies in occupied territories.}

While Yahweh was the god of the Israelites, other nations had their own national gods. The chief god of the Phoenicians was Ba’al. For the Philistines, the chief god was at first Dagon {As noted earlier we suggested a Berber/Phoenician connection to Philistine. This Dagon is almost the same as the Dogon of West Africa who are early observers of Sirius the Dog Star. This is a Berber influence to be sure.} and later also Ba’al {He could mention Bel in Mesopotamia is the same as Ba’al but he is just developing the extensive similarity of the actual worship of people with different names within a gradually degrading or devolving ‘Brotherhood’. We can’t expect all of these things to be integrated all at once, can we?}(Judges 16:23; 2 Kings 1:2). For the Ammonites it was Milkom. For the Moabites {In Deuteronomy 23 you will see prejudice and hatred excluding them from the ‘House of the Lord’, ‘Yes, even unto the tenth generation’ along with ‘bastards’ and ‘he who is wounded in the stones’.}, Chemosh. For the Edomites, Qos. And for the Israelites and Judahites — Yahweh. Except for the Edomite god Qos, who appears only in the archaeological record, all of these gods are mentioned in the Bible (1 Kings 11:5, 7, 33).

Interestingly, while each nation’s chief god had a distinctive name, his consort, the chief female deity, had the same name in all these cultures: Asherah or its variants Ashtoreth or Astarte. (As we shall see, this was even true of Yahweh’s consort.)

Not only was the female consort the same, the various nations used the same cult objects, the same types if incense altars made of stone and clay, the same bronze and clay censers, cult stands and incense burners, the same chalices and goblets and the same bronze and ivory rods adorned with pomegranates. It was easy to take cult vessels of one deity and place them in the service of another one–and this was commonly done. For example, in the ninth-century B.C.E., stela erected by Mesha, the king of Moab, he describes himself as the ’son of Chemosh,’ and tells how he defeated the Israelites (see also 2 Kings 3:4-27). He then brags,’(I) took t(he ves)sels of Yahweh, and I hauled them before the face of Chemosh.’

We sometimes get the impression that after Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, Yahweh had no other sanctuary in ancient Israel — but this is not the case.” (1)

It is possible that the prevalence of the ‘one god’ was actually a one goddess as we see in the fact they all worshipped one similarly named(identical really)goddess. The reality as we see it was almost the same for Ba’al in this period as well. He goes on to show these multiple and pantheistic practices seem to disappear when the exiles are returned from Persia, so maybe Cyrus and Zoroaster were able to convince them of the error of their ways and we might see what many have pondered in regards to the magi of Zoroaster being a major influence on Christianity in the original foundations and not the more ritualistic Moses. At Qumran many scholars note the people called themselves ‘Covenanters of the Law’. Most of them note this law was Mosaic but my perception is different and I believe it was a syncretism akin to Gnosticism and with many adept understandings such as the healing practices of the Therapeutae. Golb makes it clear he is on the side of the Qumran library having been a collection of all the factions of religion and practices in a large area even beyond Judaea. The Roman practice of destroying all literature and writing new ones around old beliefs which were in line with their approaches was the reason for this, and all tribes, zealots or cults knew it.

The henges of the Emerald Isles which were once wood as some are seeing today, are in the Negev and Sinai deserts as well. The ‘Bedouin’ (‘tent dweller’) fiction is not the root as we showed from the scholars of the excellent book Carthage. The article following the one just quoted from Biblical Archaeology Review says this:

“Take even a one- or two-day trip through the Sinai or Negev deserts and you’ll come across scores of them–standing stones erected in a variety of combinations. These stone installations may help us understand the very origins of Israelite religion.” (2)

Last year the word about pre-hieroglyphic alphabets in the Sahara were accompanied by more on the agricultural savannah people who had henges too. This is where the Berbers were from and the connection if no simple chance occurrence. The article goes on to discuss ‘fertility triads’ and whenever you see triad or troad (Greek) you are looking at the central laws of the philosophic Kelts. These parables of process and moral or spiritual concepts are a wealth of insight to this very day. The Triune Nature of Man that was plagiarized into the ‘Holy Trinity’ and raised to a deity took more of man’s self awareness and divinity away from humanity than any of us can imagine. A central theme in the Dead Sea Scrolls is said to be very Zoroastrian in nature (and the Mani attempt to join Christianity and it in one ecumenical religion that Augustine was a promoter of until bought out by the Catholics); – it is simply this: ‘There are two spirits ‘truth and error’. We surely see the real original sin of the Gnostics who saved the Dag Hammadi Scrolls and gave their lives protecting the Library of Alexandria in this. These people who were with the Cathars a millennium later say ‘The original sin that separates us from God – is IGNORANCE!’

Another culture that really worshipped this goddess at one time is the Greek or Hellenic culture of Dionysius and Aphrodite as we see a practice that was at work while Yahweh became the one and sole male god Jehovah and that development was not mentioned in BAR.

“In Cyprus it appears that before marriage all women were formerly obliged by custom to prostitute themselves to strangers at the sanctuary of the goddess, whether she went by the name of Aphrodite, Astarte, or what not. Similar customs prevailed in many parts of Western Asia.” (3)

Casting aspersions on great thinkers like Augustine is easy and I don’t want any readers to think I’m saying these things without basis in fact. We have his own book to work with in that regard. Here is a little from Augustine’s autobiography called Confessions.

“As literature, the Scriptures compared poorly with the polished prose of Cicero and he thought them fit only for the simple minded.” That was when he was a Manichean before “the mercy of God had saved him from this evil.” (4)

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Do the Scriptures oppose themselves? How can this be that we are saved by faith only, yet have works play a part in it? Are both groups right? Do these Scriptures prove that it is all in how you look at it? Well, first the Scriptures do not oppose themselves. And also, this subject is not hard to understand. Let’s examine this subject of works, faith, and salvation and see how it all fits perfectly together.

During the time that the apostles were on earth teaching and establishing the churches throughout the world there begun to arise those who wanted to put additional qualifications on being saved. We know by studying the Scriptures that there is a simple plan which we are to follow in order to accept the free gift of salvation. That plan consist of (1) faith, (2) repentance, (3) confession, (4) baptism, and (5) faithful living. (See our monograph “What Must I Do To Be Saved?) This group began to teach that in order for one to be saved — to be a Christian — he/she must first obey the “works of the law.” In other words, one must first become a Jew, then become a Christian. Even the apostle Peter began to behave in a manner which indicated to the Gentiles, that one must obey the law of Moses first. In Galatians chapter 2 Paul writes of the time when Peter would associate with the Gentiles as long as no other Jewish Christians were around. Then when his fellow Jewish Christians were present, he behaved in a different manner, perhaps giving the message that in order to be a “real” Christian, one would first obey the Jewish laws. Paul then rebukes Peter for this behavior and states to him, “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:15,16)

In other words, man can only be justified (vindicated) by faith (and those things which faith produces) in Jesus Christ. The law of Moses can not vindicate us from our sins. The “law” can only make us aware of the fact that we are sinners. Therefore, when the Bible says that we are justified by faith, and not works, it means we are vindicated by faith (and those things which faith produces) and not by our striving to obey the law.

This concept that we are justified by faith is found in several passages in the Bible. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of Works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:27,28) See also Galatians 3:1-5, Romans 4:1-6, & Romans 5:1,2.

So what about those other Scriptures which indicate that works do have a part to play in man’s salvation. In order to better understand how this relationship exists, let’s look a James, chapter 2: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” (James 2:18-24) You are probably saying, “How can this be? Now I’m more confused than ever.” Let’s try to sort this out.

First, the above passage is not discussing the issue of salvation, but rather the relationship between works (the way we conduct ourselves) and faith. Works, regardless of how we want to phrase it, can not and will not result in our salvation. We simply do not have the ability or opportunity to work our way to heaven. We could spend the rest of our days doing “good works” and it would not save our souls. Salvation is apart from works!

So, what relationship does works have to salvation and faith? How can we be justified by works? Let’s examine the few verses which precede the above passage. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to him, ‘Depart in pease, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give him the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17) Works — good deeds which help our fellow Christians, spreading the gospel, etc. — is what proves that our faith is alive and real. If we were to say, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” we would call that faith which can lead to salvation. But the proof of that faith, is not that we say we believe, but that we do those things which further the kingdom. Works are the result of saving faith. We are justified by our works, in that our works prove our faith to be real, alive saving faith; not just intellectual assent that God and His Son exist.

It is sort of like the old saying, “Put your money where your mouth is.” It is one thing to say that we believe something, and another to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to demonstrate our belief. I have a friend who is a pilot. I may say, “I believe that he is an excellent pilot.” But my refusal to fly with him indicates that I do not really believe that. My actions disprove my statement. In respect to salvation and saving faith, our actions after we have been saved proves or disproves our faith.

If we have the kind of faith which will save us (not just intellectual assent), that faith will produce repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living. So then we ask, “Are these (repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living) works?” The answer is, no they are not works. Now I would be the first to agree that these four items could be perverted into works. One might say, “I want to go to heaven (or maybe avoid hell) so I will do those things which he has taught that I need to do.” He might say “I’m sorry for the sins I’ve committed.”; he might confess that Jesus is the Christ; he may permit himself to be baptized; and he may go through all the “acts” of being a Christian (faithful living). He is then trying to work his way to heaven. Real salvation is different.

When one has real saving faith that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, and gives his life to Him, a transformation takes place. He becomes truly remorseful of his sinful nature and strives to eradicate sin from his life. He is happy and please to proclaim Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He willingly submits himself to the watery grave of baptism so his sins can be washed away. And he strives to live a life which is pleasing to God by committing himself to daily prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ. These then are not works, but the manifestation of saving faith in his life.

There are several other Scriptures in the Bible that discus the subject of works. Again, these seem to indicate that works are important to salvation. Here are some examples: “. . . each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15); “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58); and “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) See also: Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4; 5:12- 13, Titus 1:16; 3:8; 3:14, and James 1:25.

Do these Scriptures teach that we must “work” our way to heaven. Again, the answer is no. If we are truly saved, and have abiding faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, these works are a natural result of our desire to please Him. Because we are a child of God, saved by His grace through our faith in Him and His Son, we want to do the works mentioned here. And really it is more than just a “want to”, it is a deep burning desire which cannot be extinguished.

I hope that I have given my readers a better understanding of the subjects of faith, works, and salvation and how the three work perfectly together. We are saved by faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living; but these produce in us and through us good works for the kingdom of God. May God bless you as you continue in His good work.

All scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted

About the Author

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org

Permission to use is granted if attributed to author and his website.

The make-up of the contract drafters is interesting, especially when one considers the justification for creating this pact. It all starts with a rather startling interpretation of the most spun document ever written, The Declaration of Independence.

I hate to bore you with this but here it is again, that one sentence that gets all the attention: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Here is how the gang of forty three interpreted that in the opening of their contract: “We are citizens of the United States of America and subjects of the sovereign Creator, acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence as the Supreme Ruler and Judge of the World.

Some real slight of hand there: “subjects of the sovereign Creator”. Geez … where does it say we are the subjects of any Creator, let alone ‘THE’ sovereign Creator. In fact, the Declaration of Independence is carefully worded to say “endowed by THEIR Creator”; acknowledging the freedom for people to have differing beliefs in whom their Creator might be. And apparently “endowed”, as only Bible interpreters can do, implies the sovereign Creator is the Supreme Ruler and Judge of the World.

I’m already a little nervous and I haven’t even gotten to the ten terms in this contract.

And here is the core reason for their angst: “We strongly affirm our allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and are moved by our faith in God to join together now to defend government of, by, and for the people against the greatest assault it has ever faced: the destruction of our Constitutionally-mandated republican form of government by judges who legislate from the bench and, thereby, subvert our liberty and our entire way of life.”

Folks, it’s those damn activist judges who legislate from the bench. That is what is wrong with America. Great sickness and pestilence can’t come to them quickly enough; the bastards!

This is a summary list of the ten terms to this contract:

1. Affirm the national relationship with God by preventing “activist judges” from ruling against public acknowledgements of God

2. Secure the national interest in the institutions of Marriage and Family by passing a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as between a man and woman only
3. Secure parental rights to the care, custody and control of their children
4. Secure Right to Life by prohibiting abortions, human cloning, and the use of human embryos for research (death penalty excluded)
5. Secure God-granted liberties by passing legislation to allow greater religious expression without penalty and support any legislation that specifically denounces the anti-family and deceptively-named “U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)”
6. Secure the God-given right to property stewardship by passing legislation to stop Government from reclaiming property as “public use” for the purpose of taking from on individual and giving to another
7. Secure an environment of decency that is free from pornography and obscenity
8. Secure just taxes, and end immorally destructive taxation (balanced budgets optional)
9. Secure our national borders and identity (hmm … and what identity might that be?)
10. Judges who legislate from the bench subvert the republican form of government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and threaten all these legislative aims. Therefore, we urgently call for Judicial Restraint, and an end to Judicial Activism.

Their proposition is that if the above “value” tenants and supported identified legislation are endorsed by our political leaders, the problems America faces will be corrected.

Okay, so let’s say we allow prayers in school and work environments; we permit the ten commandments and references to God to be omnipresent; we stop all abortions, human embryo research, human cloning; we don’t allow gays to marry and even return the sodomy laws; we build a fifty foot wall across the south and north borders to keep illegals out; we protect property ownership; we rid the country of porn; we end immorally destructive taxes (again, whatever that means); and we hang every activist judge in the land.

What then?

How does that help us with the Iraq mess? How does that help our growing deficit and burden we continue to build for our children and grand children to pay? How does that help the folks still reeling from Katrina? How does that solve global warming? How does that solve our addiction to fossil fuels? How does it stop the shrinking middle class? How does it address terrorism, nuclear proliferation, genocide in Africa? Where is there any discussion of AIDS? What about the trade deficit, bird flu, outsourcing of jobs?

And what about the accountability of our legislators to be honest, forthright and transparent? After all, they are the ones creating the laws the activist judges overturn.

Well, when you have Tom Delay as a keynote speaker at Pastor Rick Scarborough’s ‘The War Against Christians and the Values Voter 2006′ Conference in Washington D.C. late March 2006, it is really hard to take this seriously. Oh that’s right, Tom Delay didn’t do anything wrong, he is just one of those Christians under attack. By the way, Rick Scarborough, for those who don’t know, is founder of the religious activist group Vision America, contributor to the Values Voter’s Contract With Congress, and author of the book, “Liberalism Kills Kids”.

And he thinks he is under attack!

I worry about people who can take a belief system based on an unyielding faith and twist it and turn it until they can justify an ideology that spews purposeful fear like liberalism kills children. It is the same machinery that fifty years ago clamored against desegregation and inter-racial marriages in the name of Christ. Before that the scourge was women voting. These were all a by-product of the same traditions they so eagerly want to return this country to; when women and coloreds knew their places and Jews lived quietly in the shadows.

Now it will be homosexuals, activist judges and apparently liberals who will find themselves on the outside of “traditional values”. And if I were black or female, I’d be a little wary about jumping on the Value Voters bandwagon.

It’s one of the reasons I’m no longer religious.

In a world where the wheels seem to be coming off right now, it just strikes me that the focus of this contract is all about reclaiming the good old days, when white male privilege was in full stride.

It has little to do with fixing anything.

This article is written by Robert Crane. A humorist by trade, he has a lot to say about everything. He also authored two books, “Still Living in the Sixties” and “The Single Adventure of Inlin Freebosh”. You can read a lot more at his popular website: http://www.cranelegs.com

I will not commit suicide.

I will not, commit foeticide.

I will not attack anybody.

I will not support aggression.

I will endeavour to bring about world peace and disarmament.

I will not take part in violent agitations or in any destructive activities.

I will believe in human unity.

I will not discriminate on the basis of caste, colour etc., nor will I treat anyone as an untouchable.

I will practise religious toleration.

I will not rouse sectarian frenzy.

I will observe rectitude in business and general behaviour.

I will not harm others in order to serve any ends.

I will not practise deceit.

I will set limits to the practice of continence and acquisition.

I will not resort to unethical practices in elections.

I will not encourage socially evil customs.

I will lead a life free from addictions.

I will not use intoxicants like alcohol, hemp, heroin, tobacco. etc.

I will always be alert to the problems of keeping the environment pollution-free.

I will not cut down trees. I will not waste water.

Today my comprehension of the spiritual path has changed completely. Instead of the complexity of any of the disciplines to becoming a good person, I have found that the path is simple. In fact, some of the greatest atheists have followed it better than many theists. An example that comes to mind is the famous British Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who lived an impeccable life of wisdom, compassion, and grace..

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That is the spiritual path. Everything else–all the theology, philosophy, and practices–lead you to that singular ideal.

Physically, do you like to be murdered, wounded, beaten, or raped? Emotionally, do you like to be humiliated, disenfranchised, betrayed, abandoned, disrespected, alienated, and cast aside? Mentally, do you like to be cheated, swindled, lied to, vilified or misinformed?

Of course not. In fact, your whole body just cringes at the thought of such mishap.

Yet, this is what we do to others. If we are truly savage, we abuse others physically. If a little more sophisticated, we abuse others mentally and emotionally.

And in this process we abuse ourselves.

In actuality, there is no enemy, for we are all connected at the collective unconscious, and the misperception that “they” are different from “us” has been the historical cause of most human suffering. Often this abuse is perpetuated from the collective rules referred to as ethics and morality. What is ethical and moral is defined by who is making up the rules.

Yet the bell that tolls for another, also tolls for thee.

Why do we act in a way that injures others?

It is because we feel a deep void inside of us and we lash out like a wounded animal. We relate to the world from the wounds of apathy, grief, fear, lust, anger, and pride. By striking out, however, we only deepen our own anguish. Although we are only trying to survive, we achieve only more peril.

A spiritual person, however, comes from a completely different perspective. He or she is motivated by feelings of courage, acceptance, and peace.

What does the spiritual path have to do with good psychology? Everything. A sound mind in a sound body.

Can the spiritual path be defined in an even simpler way? Yes. It can be defined as love.

When you love, love, love–you’ll be happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise.

The opposite of grief, misery, and unending travail is the spiritual path. While many disciplines may lead to it, the heart will show you the way. Once we shed our habitual narcissism, then the way to courage, acceptance, and peace becomes possible.

About the Author

Saleem Rana, M.Sc., is a psychotherapist in Denver, Colorado. His articles are appreciated by hundreds of people from around the world. He loves to share inspiration and motivation for personal development.
If you’re interested in signing up for a free 35 week NLP Mindset Success Course, please go here: http://www.theempoweredsoul.com

Let’s take a look at 6 biblically based principles that make up several areas of loving.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1. Love Is Patient! Are you patient with your spouse? Patience is a virtue. It is a wonderful character trait to have and practice patience. Are you utilizing all of the potential that God has given you? Are you patient, or are you easily irritated and annoyed?

Do you listen to what your spouse has to say? Are you considerate and understanding of their needs and desires? Being patient with your spouse is one way you furnish love to them.

2. Love Does Not Envy! Are you jealous of who you married? Do you ever envy or resent your spouse?

Resentment runs rampant in marriages today, and it is literally tearing couples apart! You don’t want resentment to tear apart your marriage, do you?

So often I hear couples tell me how resentful they are of their spouse for one reason or another, but mostly over petty little things that only need to be discussed! Instead what are they doing? Getting even! Have you talked to your spouse today?

3. Love Is Not Self-Seeking!! This is a biggy! I talk quite a bit about selfishness in my book, “Journey on the Roads Less Traveled”, and in many of my articles. Why? I believe that it is a major issue with couples even though it doesn’t always seem apparent.

I know how a selfish spouse can tear the other down with them. I’ve been there and done that one. I wasn’t taught how to give of myself, being the spoiled little brat that I was growing up. I was so into “myself”, and so out in left field for my marriage, that is, until I found the love of Jesus for my life.

We all have some selfish abilities that we shine intensely on occasion. But some of us are so selfish in marriage that we don’t KNOW how to give of our self at all!! Many issues cause selfish behavior, but mostly it is lack of the spiritual Christ intervening in our psyche. What we allow into our mind is what we will output to others, mainly the person we married.

This is why I stress in previous articles that for a healthy and sound marriage couples need to take care of them selves FIRST, then and only then, can they help the marriage.

4. Love Is Not Easily Angered! Do you get angry with your spouse over nothing! Do you ever think that you might be behaving impatient and intolerable with your spouse?

What underlining problem might be charging your anger? If you are quick to anger, something deeper is bothering you. Until you get to the root of that, the anger will remain within your inner psyche ready to abuse whoever gets in the way. If you are abusing your spouse with your angry feelings, leave the house if you have to. It is wrong to berate your spouse with bad feelings of anger, and it hurts them terribly.

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20

“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man, calms a quarrel.” Proverbs 15:18

6. Love Does Not Delight In Evil but Rejoices In Truth! This has to be the champion of all the aspects of love because if we followed this one simple principle we would not need any other standards to tell us how to love, or what love is. This straightforward verse speaks for itself, but for some of you, maybe you are not sure what the TRUTH is.

The truth is what will set you free from all of the above unpleasant aspects of your character, such as anger, resentment, envy, jealousy and strife. After all, these are only feelings that you carry around inside your head. You can either make them your life or find a new way of life.

If you want to be free of these feelings you need to find the truth, right? You need to KNOW the truth, right?

Deeply put, the truth not only sets us free from our weaknesses, but also makes us new people within that truth. Once we start applying THE truth into our life is when we can easily stop carrying around any bitter feelings, and negative attitudes that we may have.

Simply said, truth is God’s words of wisdom. We will be walking in truth when we apply God’s truth into our life.

Bottom line, the person who has wisdom is loving towards their spouse, faithful, honest, trustworthy, committed, trusts in God, puts God first, turns away from evil, knows right from wrong, listens and learns, and applies wisdom into their life and marriage.

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18

And that is the truth! Do you have the wisdom to love who you married?

Angie Lewis offers spiritual enlightenment tips for couples in marriage, and is the author of new release book JOURNEY ON THE ROADS LESS TRAVELED.

This unique book is about love, life, marriage, addiction, temptation, and understanding the power of spiritual awareness for your marriage.

In her book, Angie reveals her own journey of overcoming addiction and how her negative emotions took over her life. To find out more about this new book click here, http://www.spiritual.journeybooks.4t.com

ISBN 1413788904

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Angie Lewis counsels couples and writes a monthly newsletter. She reveals her secrets on how YOU can stay happily married for life!

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