Rulership and Judgment

On one occasion during the final days of Jesus’ ministry, the mother of Jesus’ close disciples James and John came to Jesus and said: “Give the word that these my two sons may sit down, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21) Clearly, she was not speaking about something in the heart of her sons. She understood that the Kingdom involved rulership with Jesus, and she wanted her sons to have a share in it. In fact, Jesus did promise his 11 faithful apostles that they would be in his Kingdom and “sit on thrones” and “judge” with him. (Luke 22:30) To his followers, then, Jesus’ Kingdom was to be a real rulership—an administration, a government.

What about the people in general in Jesus’ day? Did they understand the Kingdom to be just a personal transformation, or did they expect something more? Well, shortly before Passover 33 C.E. when Jesus was entering Jerusalem riding a colt, the crowd welcomed him and some cried out: “Save, we pray, the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9) Why did they cry out that way? No doubt they had come to recognize that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that God would give him an everlasting Kingdom, “the throne of David his father.” They longed for the salvation, peace, and justice that they Kingdom would bring.—Luke 1:32; Zechariah 9:9.

Peace in the World - Phrase

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

Beauty - Quote

If there is right in the soul

There will be beauty

in the person;

If there is beauty

in the person,

There will be harmony

in the home;

If there is harmony

in the home,

There will be order

in the nation;

If there is order

in the nation,

There will be peace in the world.

The Quest

For some people, a quest may be encased in a religious experience—for others, it might be a crisis or a dramatic change in personal circumstances, such as a birth or death. And while religion is the spark that lights the fire within some individuals, it can also imposed a limiting structure with rules and belief systems that interfere with true personal growth—especially when the distinctions between religion and spirituality become blurred.

We believe that our purpose in being here is to grow spiritually. We do this in a variety of ways—none of which are better or lesser than others; but, rather, are chosen by us because we are at various stages of spiritual unfoldment. The goals of peace, integrity, clarity, compassion and in particular, the balance between mind and body through personal and spiritual development are essential to spiritual development, regardless of the particular path one chooses to follow. Spirit [God] is equally present in the job as in the remote mountainside.”

In the end, setting out on a spiritual quest—may be less a choice than it is a necessity. What often makes people begin a quest, is a feeling restlessness, and that something beyond is coming through to us, says Andrews. Begin by seeing your intentions. Set your intention to live a happier or fulfilling life. Speaking strictly to that intention will lead us to being aware of guides or teachers around us, someone who can help on the path. Again, it’s essential to set your intention to reclaim your own happiness and connection with life. I feel that the spiritual path to greater consciousness has been –part of the human experience forever, and always will be. - Fit Yoga

The Secret of Living

Good morning everyone. Ones again I’m greeting everyone a very Happy New Year. Start of the year 2010. I wish we should all start the year with a positive views in life. J. Carie Sexton gave his thoughts about the secret of living. Let me share you one article I read. This is good one.

The Secret of Living

To appreciate beauty and the gifts nature brings,
To discover the pleasure of life’s simplest things,
To remember the blessings we received every day,
To explore new horizons as we travel our way—
This is the Secret of Living

To find hope in each rainbow that appears in the sky,
To give comfort to strangers who may be passing by,
To keep smiling whenever there’s a task to be done,
To be gracious in losing and give thanks when we’ve won—
This is the Secret of Living.

To build meaningful values in this life that we live,
To be full of compassion and be willing to give,
To regards as a treasure every friendship we’ve made
And to find peace and love even time cannot fade—
This is the Secret of Living.

The Truth (1)

Good morning friends. Let me start to give you some thoughts of wisdom that I have read. “You may fool of the people some of the time; You can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

They say, “The truth will make you free.” That’s right in many ways, but it is also true that the truth can get you into a lot of trouble. And it might even get you killed.

If you are suffering from some illness, then knowing the ugly truth can save your life. Hiding from it might end up hurting you badly. Keeping the truth about an affair from your beloved could go either way. Admit it now and face the music that could mean lots of trouble. Hide it and get away with it might give you a measure of peace. If and when, however, it is discovered later on, the consequences could be very dire. “How could you lie to me all this time?” she might say. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” you reply.

“You’re adding insult to injury and I can’t trust you anymore. I’m out of here,” she replies indignantly and is gone.

Truth can be a tricky matter. Sometimes it becomes a situation where you’re “damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Either way, the truth will hurt and you are faced with deciding what kind of hurt you are ready to accept. -Bob Garon

The Peace of Christ (1)

Good morning everybody. As it is a Holy Week, I’ve always wanted to read something related to God. It’s good to think what God sacrifice for us. We have to praise Him.

Peace is the tranquility of order. This order demands first of all man’s right relation to God. This implies man’s subordination to and dependence on his Creator; this demands knowledge, reverence, love, praise and service offered by the creature to his Creator. It implies further a certain possession of deep-rooted virtue out of which tranquility arises.

For no man is capable of peace who does not enjoy a stable supernatural character born of constant striving in the order of perfection. Without this ballast of solid perfection he would be like a light ship tossed about by every wind of fancy and every storm of passion; an instability inconsistent with that peace which demands tranquility of order.

Those who are in close contact with God, those who build their lives on fervent prayer in Christ’s presence, take on the ways of God, and develop in their souls the peace of Christ.

The bad spirit will try to keep us disturbed. For this reason, the soul must have achieved some facility in the discernment of the movement of good and bad spirits influencing our soul, battling for its possession. Our souls are battle grounds where various spirits fight for control. If we habitually remain loyal to Christ, we will enjoy Christ’s peace and victory. –Nelia G. Neri

Choosing our destiny

Many people want to know if they have a good life ahead of them, that’s why they felt that they need to see for a fortune-teller.And, the better the future looks, the happier we feel. But, there’s no need to fall victim to fortune-tellers who will just tear us off or feed us the wrong information. Great sages have a lot to teach us about our future. According to them, the future is predictable, and our destiny is in our own hands:

1. The material world is full of suffering, and we’re destined to suffer—from diseases, old age and death. There’s no escape from the miseries of material existence.

2. There’s no guarantee for security in the material dimension. You work to get the things you want, then you lose them. When we die, all material things are taken away from us. You’re driven out of your body, and you can’t bring anyone or anything with you.

3. Knowing the true nature of the world, great sages don’t focus on the temporary material realm and instead strive for what’s permanent. The great scriptures guarantee that the person who focuses on the transcendental is capable of attaining permanent satisfaction and peace in his or her lifetime and thereafter.

4. Those who strive for spiritual goals are assured of attaining imperishable wealth and good fortune, by taking shelter in the Supreme Being’s abiding affection. They’re blessed with spiritual love, kindness, wisdom, humility, truthfulness and generosity. As a result, they’re able to share their blessings with those who need them. And, as they give, their wealth increases even more.

Everyone will go through suffering. But, unlike the materialists, who are overcome with lust, loneliness, anger, frustration and anxiety, spiritualists can rely on a higher form of happiness to see them through the material realities of diseases, old age and death. They also face problems, but they have real solutions for them.

It’s up to us to choose the kind of future we wish to have. We’re encouraged to follow the peaceful and happy lives of saints and reject the miserable, empty lives of demons. Let’s follow the wise men’s advice: “Choose the better future and become truly happy!”

Reference: R. VALENCIA S. BISMARK

Choosing our destiny - 2

3. Knowing the true nature of the world, great sages don’t focus on the temporary material realm and instead strive for what’s permanent. The great scriptures guarantee that the person who focuses on the transcendental is capable of attaining permanent satisfaction and peace in his or her lifetime and thereafter.

4. Those who strive for spiritual goals are assured of attaining imperishable wealth and good fortune, by taking shelter in our God’s long-lasting affection. They’re blessed with spiritual love, kindness, wisdom, humility, truthfulness and generosity. They’re able to share their blessings with those who need them.

Everyone will go through suffering. But, unlike the materialists, who are overcome with lust, loneliness, anger, frustration and anxiety, spiritualists can rely on a higher form of happiness to see them through the material realities of diseases, old age and death. They also face problems, but they have real solutions for them.

It’s up to us to choose the kind of future we wish to have. We’re encouraged to follow the peaceful and happy lives of saints and reject the miserable, empty lives of demons. Let’s follow the wise men’s advice: “Choose the better future and become truly happy!”

ref: R. Valencia S. Bismark