thesoulpurposedotorg

“The intuitive gift is a sacred gift and the rational mind it’s faithful servant.” Albert Einstein

Over the last several decades, I’ve watched with interest the various manifestations of New Age practices. I remember the first time I was introduced to the use of the pendulum to discern energy flow or to answer “yes” and “no” questions. I found it quite amazing but remained skeptical. I know many people who use Tarot cards and have palm readings, energy readings, and chakra readings. I’ve always been quite skeptical, in part because the teachings of my youth taught that such things were an abomination to God. I’m not so sure about that. When someone is sincerely seeking to know and communicate with the eternal, I believe God’s mercy and grace is greater than what we know or perceive. I also am quite sure that such things cannot be relied upon and can be the source of much confusion.
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Please note a option on the left side of your computer screen. If you would like to receive these entries by email every day rather than having to surf the web to find me, put your e-mail address in the box!

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I have watched Jim Wallis, one of founders of Sojourners since I first met him and his fellow seminarians in 1972. Wow – that date makes me feel old. As I see how he has lived his life in total commitment to the demands of Jesus Christ, I am humbled. If I were the Pope, not only would hell freeze over but Jim Wallis would be the first one to be named a Saint. Which would make him laugh I am sure.

Anyway, I encourage all to subsribe to their on-line magazine. Today’s article about the Advent in Iraq is well worth the time.

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Perhaps the most famous passage from Plato’s writings is the Allegory of the Cave. In it, we are asked to imagine ourselves in a cave somehow fettered so that we can only look at the back of the cave. Behind us is a fire that keeps us warm. Between the fire and ourselves is an endless parade of life which we can only see as shadow plays on the back wall of the cave. Finally, we are to imagine what it would be like to be unfettered and able to leave the cave in order to see life as it truly is.

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The Advent season is an annual reminder that God comes to us before we come to God, the one not dependent upon the other. We don’t need to “invoke” God’s presence – God comes to us.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life.. I John 1:1-2

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Having been raised in the Free Church tradition, I knew nothing of Mary the Mother of Jesus. I remember the first time I heard the Magnificat – I was already a young adult when an elderly and blind woman, nearly a century old, recited it to me on Christmas day in 1974. I have never heard such beautiful words spoken by such a beautiful spirit before or since.

I’ve been a bit jealous of the Roman and liturgical church people in this regard. The tradition of my youth both held women in low esteem and had no sense of the holiness of Mary. On the other hand, I have never understood why the traditions that venerate Mary, also consider women to be impure and unworthy of the priesthood. I would have thought that Mary, as the one who bore God within her very womb, would have changed this view of woman as unclean temptress or merely “not man therefore not whole.” (more…)

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