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beautiful words from

http://www.comparative-religion.com/forum/

the word `sacrifice' literally means to make HOLY. It requires that we GIVE UP something which we might prefer doing, by desire, or which we have become accustomed to doing, by habit ... or best of all, something that we THINK is right - once we recognize that a higher good exists.

Those who are so down on human nature, and like to emphasize the "sinning" aspect of being human, need to remember the point about missing the mark. The archer (Saggitarius) does not give up. S/he takes better aim, and shoots again, and again, and again ... UNTIL s/he HITS the mark. The disciple, in Scoprio (which is the SIGN of discipleship, universally), conquers the challenges of sex, power, and greed (money/comfort).

This has subtler implications. But EACH passing of the Scorpio tests (higher & higher turns of the wheel, as we progress as disciples) - means giving UP something, of our own nature/past, to become a better, Holier person. In this way, we walk with Christ, as "little" Christs (in the words of a Lutheran pastor whom I barely remember from childhood) ... and we progress, as Christ draws us to greater Love, and potential to Love.

The absolute requirement, for this to occur, is that we are ready, willing and ABLE to make the proper sacrifices. We don't have to do it all in a day, or overnight, or even in one lifetime (mileage may vary, on this one, of course). But we do have to keep trying.

And the trying is not in vain, as if to suggest that we cannot do it alone. In fact, we MUST do it alone - or not at all. This is a hard lesson. It eventually will claim not only our life, but ALL that we hold dear, precious and close to our heart. Friends, family, even our closest companion(s). And this is what Christ helped prepare the disciples for ... gently suggesting (like the Buddha), that we not be attached to the things of the world. Something about storing up treasures in Heaven, not on earth.

But it's a gradual thing. Giving up more and more, which WE would otherwise prefer to have, do, think, or be. THIS ... is not easy. It will not simply claim your life, it will claim much, much more. Many are called, few are capable of answering - so fully, in this go-round.

Vicarious atonement? Perhaps no greater evil, no more pernicious lie, has ever been foisted upon humanity, by the preisthood of the day. It is a sad thing, yet people still struggle to defend such things as "Jesus died for my sins," instead of just considering how ridiculous this is. Jesus died because of our sins, not for them. We can either collectively own that, or play the blame game. Time to forgive, Love, accept and move on. Time to focus on SELF.

Irony, that. How do we live in self-forgetfulness, yet also learn to stop worrying about OTHER people? Irony of ironies, Christians often seem to get so worked up, about FELLOW Christians!!! So much wasted energy, time, and effort. Trust me, I know about waste. I am close to mastering it (reverse aspect). But still, I don't give up! And I'm human!!!

Let me clarify:And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have store house nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast in to the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Luke 12:22-29)

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:11-13)

There's something there for everyone. But I especially like what's being emphasized here. ANY human father, "evil" as we are, has enough love to "give good gifts unto his children." This doesn't sound like damnation. It doesn't sound like condmenation. It is NOT even judgment, as we are so wont to use the word. It is FORGIVEness, and LOVE. And gee, a HUMAN can do all this. What can GOD do then? Hmmm, I wonder. DAMN us? Reject us? Tell us to go fish, because we haven't uttered something with our tongues?

The flowers have a lesson for us here. God does not curse the flower, if it fails to blossom. We are like the perennial. If we don't make it one season, we try again the next. Some seasons may show more beauty and bounty than others, but one bad harvest does not end the farmer's lifestyle, or the gardener's careful tending.

NOT a sparrow falls ... that God doesn't know it. Yet a person can be condemned, damned, or forever cast from God's Loving Presence - simply because s/he hasn't uttered something, professed something, or even expressed something? NOT for failure to reach perfection, does God condemn, or judge, or damn. These are harsh words. God is not harsh. God is fair. God is Just.

Failure in one season, means that extra effort may be needed next season, but God is not wasteful. Not a single ATOM of God's is lost unnecessarily, or without a purpose. Humanity can be wasteful. We can destroy. We can sin in this way. But this has been permitted by God. This has been willed by God. God is not the author of error. God is not a being of folly, and pettiness. God, I've been lead to believe and understand, does NOT make what we call "mistakes." That, if I remember correctly, is what being HUMAN is all about. And learning not to repeat the same ones over, and over, and over. Especially when they harm ourselves, and others, and slow the whole world's progress. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)

The sooner we realize and accept that we're truly and literally, all in this together ... and the sooner we can accept the responsibility of being our Brother's Keeper, as best we're able - AFTER we have mastered the corresponding lesson(s) about being our OWN (Keeper) ... the sooner this world will become a Sacred Planet. Planets, like Human Souls, are not made for destruction. They are relatively permanent - certainly important - Creations. But we do not originate here, and it is not our destiny to remain here forever. Yet without the planet, we cannot fulfil our Purpose, individually, or as the collective Human Family.

So much confusion, largely centered around the teaching of two groups of Human Souls - one whose "Final Judgement" means returning home sooner, the other whose Destiny (Blessing, and Good Fortune, equally as the rest) is to return home later. NOT a sparrow falls. NOT a single atom of matter is destroyed. Science trumps religion, in this most BASIC of understandings. [And stop worrying already! But remember, S/he who seeks to be first, shall be last ... ours is to SERVE, Lovingly, not compete for status, and flash an *imaginary* "member's only" card when we feel threatened or insecure. ]

Atoms evolve. Cells evolve. Tissue grows and evolves. Humans, and our SOULS, evolve! Even GOD evolves!!! And yes, Jesus too, EVOLVES. The Cosmic Christ, shining for us as a certain STAR in the Heavens ... even THAT, evolves.

God's Greatest Sacrifice ... was to DESCEND into Incarnation, so that WE TOO, might evolve the God-Spark into something Greater. "In this God, we Live, and move, and have our Being."

Anyone want to MAKE GOOD on the talents?

I may be having a hard time of it (my OWN fault, my responsibility), but I CANNOT skip the work, the effort required, no matter what I believe. It may sound Gnostic, but God died, that we might live. That death, was the descent from the state of the Absolute (when the Universe was NOT) - into what we call existence. Which is the Greater Reality? God? Or God's manifested, Created, Emanated Cosmos? Hmmm.

Look down at the ground. That's God. Look up at the sky. That's God too. Now the mirror trick. Damn I hate that one.

Okay ... your regularly scheduled program is back on the air. Enjoy!

Love and Light