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Monday, August 31, 2009

The Divine and Human Nature of Christ

The testimony which, according to Scripture, Christ has given of Himself is developed and confirmed by the preaching of the apostles. The confession that a man, named Jesus, is the Christ, the Only-Begotten of the Father, is in such direct conflict with our experience and with all of our thinking, and especially with all the inclinations of our heart, that no one can honestly and with his whole soul appropriate it without the persuasive activity of the Holy Spirit. By nature everybody stands in enmity to this confession, for it is not a confession natural to man. No one can confess that Jesus is the Lord except through the Holy Spirit, but neither can anyone speaking by the Holy Spirit call Jesus accursed; he must recognize Him as his Savior and King (1 Cor. 12:3). Hence when Christ appears on earth and Himself confesses that He is the Son of God, He did not leave it at that, but He also had a care, and He continues to have a care, that this confession finds entrance into the world, and is believed by the church. He called His apostles, and He instructed them, and made them witnesses to His words and deeds, to His death and resurrection. He gave them the Holy Spirit who brought them personally to the confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16), and who later caused them, from the day of Pentecost on, to minister as preachers of those things which their eyes had seen, and they beheld, and their hands had handled of the Word of life (1 John 1:1). The apostles were really not the real witnesses. The Spirit of truth, proceeding from the Father, is the original, infallible, and almighty witness to Christ, and the apostles are that only in Him and through Him (John 15:26 and Acts 5:32). And it is that same Spirit of truth who by means of the testimony of the apostles brings the church of all ages to the confession and preserves them in it: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:68-69). When the four Evangelists in regular order report the events of the life of Jesus, they usually refer to Him simply by the name of Jesus without any more particular qualification or addendum. They tell us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that Jesus was led into the wilderness, that Jesus saw the multitude and went up the mountain, and so on. Jesus, the historical person who lived and died in Palestine, is the object of their chronicle. And so we find a few times in the letters of the apostles, too, that Jesus is designated simply by His historical name. Paul says, for instance, that no one can say that Jesus is the Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). John testifies that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 1 :5 compare 2:22 and 4:20). And in the book of Revelation we read of the faith of Jesus, and of the witnesses and witness of Jesus. Still, in the letters of the apostles the use of this name without qualification is rare. Usually the name occurs in connection with: the Lord, Christ, the Son of God, and like designations, and the full name usually reads: Our Lord Jesus Christ. But, irrespective of whether the name Jesus is used alone or in connection with other names, the connection with the historical person who was born in Bethlehem and who died on the cross always comes to expression in it. The whole New Testament, that of the epistles or letters as well as that of the gospels, rests on the foundation of historical events. The Christ- figure is not an idea nor an ideal of the human mind, as many in past ages maintained, and as some in our time also assert, but is a real figure who manifested Himself in a particular period and in a particular person in the man Jesus. True, the various events in the life of Jesus recede into the background in the letters. Those letters have a different purpose than the gospels have. They do not chronicle the history of the life of Jesus but point out the significance which that life has for the redemption of mankind. But all of the apostles are familiar with the person and life of Jesus, are acquainted with His words and deeds, and they proceed to show us that this Jesus is the Christ, exalted by God to His own right hand, in order to grant repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:36 and 5:31). Often, therefore, in the letters of the apostles mention is made of events in the life of Jesus. They picture Him before the eyes of their auditors and readers (Gal. 3 :1). They stress the fact that John the Baptist was His herald and precursor (Acts 13:25 and 19:4), that He comes from the family of Judah and the stem of David (Rom. 1:3; Rev. 5:5 and 22:16), that He was born of a woman (Gal. 4:4), was circumcised on the eighth day (Rom. 15 :8), that He was brought up in Nazareth (Acts 2:22 and 3:6), and that He also had brothers (1 Cor. 9:5 and Gal. 1:19). They tell us that He was perfectly holy and sinless,1 that He presented Himself to us as an example (1 Cor. 11:1 and 1 Peter 2:21), and that He spoke words that have authority for us (Acts 20:35 and 1 Cor. 7:10-12). But it is especially His dying that is significant for us. The cross stands at the central point in the apostolic preaching. Betrayed by one of the twelve apostles whom He chose (1 Cor. 11:23 and 1 Cor. 15:5), and not recognized by the princes of this world as the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8), He was put to death by the Jews (Acts 4:10; 5 :30; and 1 Thess. 2:15), dying on the accursed wood of the cross.2 But, even though He suffered greatly in Gethsemane and upon Golgotha,3 He has by the pouring out of His blood achieved the reconciliation and an eternal righteousness.4 And therefore God raised Him up, exalted Him to His right hand, and appointed Him Lord and Christ, Prince and Savior for all nations.5

Saturday, August 29, 2009

PEACE


ARISTOPHANES' PEACE was brought out four years after The Acharnians (422 B.C.), when the War had already lasted ten years. The leading motive is the same as in the former play--the intense desire of the less excitable and more moderate-minded citizens for relief from the miseries of war.
Trygæus, a rustic patriot, finding no help in men, resolves to ascend to heaven to expostulate personally with Zeus for allowing this wretched state of things to continue. With this object he has fed and trained a gigantic dung-beetle, which he mounts, and is carried, like Bellerophon on Pegasus, on an aerial journey. Eventually he reaches Olympus, only to find that the gods have gone elsewhere, and that the heavenly abode is occupied solely by the demon of War, who is busy pounding up the Greek States in a huge mortar. However, his benevolent purpose is not in vain; for learning from Hermes that the goddess Peace has been cast into a pit, where she is kapt a fast prisoner, he calls upon the different peoples of Hellas to make a united effort and rescue her, and with their help drags her out and brings her back in triumph to earth. The play concludes with the restoration of the goddess to her ancient honours, the festivities of the rustic population and the nuptials of Trygæus with Opora (Harvest), handmaiden of Peace, represented as a pretty courtesan.
Such references as there are to Cleon in this play are noteworthy. The great Demagogue was now dead, having fallen in the same action as the rival Spartan general, the renowned Brasidas, before Amphipolis, and whatever Aristophanes says here of his old enemy is conceived in the spirit of 'de mortuis nil nisi bonum.' In one scene Hermes is descanting on the evils which had nearly ruined Athens and declares that 'The Tanner' was the cause of them all. But Trygæus interrupts him with the words:
"Hold--say not so, good master Hermes;
Let the man rest in peace where now he lies.
He is no longer of our world, but yours."
Here surely we have a trait of magnanimity on the author's part as admirable in its way as the wit and boldness of his former attacks had been in theirs.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Nature Island Destinations



Nature Island Destinations is based in and dedicated to Dominica. To you, the visitor, this service costs absolutely nothing to use.Our aim, through the pages of this website and our personal service, is to make planning and booking your visit to Dominica not only easy, but fun, so that when you arrive, you don't waste any of your precious holiday time.We'll guide you through a wide choice of places to stay, from the largest hotels to the smallest guesthouses, incuding many private rentals (villas and apartments), at prices to suit every pocket, all personally inspected by Nature Island Destinations. You'll learn all about how to get to Dominica, how to get about, where to go and what to see and do in our beautiful island paradise, where crime is scarce and locals tend to be friendly, polite and helpful to visitors.We have provided features on what there is to enjoy whilst on vacation in Dominica - such things as scuba diving, whale and dolphin seafaris, birdwatching and botany tours with foresters, our World Heritage Site - the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Rainforest Aerial Tram, the world's second largest Boiling Lake, Carnival in February, Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, a lot of which was filmed in Dominica... and more.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

STUDENTS FOR PEACE


Students for Peace has an offer for anyone who desires a peaceful life in a peaceful world: unite with us. Peace is more than an idea, it is an experience of unity in ourselves, with other people, with all life, with everything, everywhere. Together we will promote the experience of peace, share it with others, and work toward establishing and sustaining it in the world. Together we will create peace that permeates all of existence.
Personal relationships are at the core of any effort to organize people for a common purpose. Students for Peace is facilitating connections between people who care about peace, acting with the conviction that all people are members of one family. People create peace in many ways. Educators inform and expand awareness. Activists preserve freedom and influence opinion. Social Workers strengthen communities and assist those in need. Environmentalists protect all life and develop our connection with nature. Some enrich the human experience through the preservation of cultural and spiritual traditions. Others are peaceful in ways too numerous to mention. By connecting and cooperating, all of us can empower each other to change the world for the better by reinforcing our individual roles and understanding our collective purpose.

Welcome to the Planetary Peace Movement International

Planetary Peace Movement is an international organization founded in 1998 by Master Choa Kok Sui with co-founder Charlotte Anderson to promote world peace and harmony through the Planetary Meditation for Peace.
The Planetary Meditation for Peace is a non-sectarian meditation that is practiced in over 70 countries throughout the world. This powerful universal meditation or prayer, can be used by almost anyone desiring to contribute loving energy toward achieving Global Harmony and World Peace.
Many religions and philosophies of numerous traditions state: "It is in giving that we will receive!" According to the Teachings of Master Choa Kok Sui, the same concept is true of Blessing. He teaches that when we Bless other people; our lives will likewise be Blessed.
In the Planetary Meditation for Peace, Master Choa used phrases from the "Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi" in order to project maximum Blessings to all of the people on the Planet Earth.
The Planetary Meditation for Peace was originally produced under the title ”Meditation on Twin Hearts". "Twin Hearts" refers to the activation of the Heart and Crown Energy Centers. The Heart Center is associated with Human Love and with caring for our fellow human beings. The Crown Center, also known as 'Our Spiritual Heart,' is considered to be the Center for Divine Love. The activation of the Crown Energy Center leads a practitioner to heightened Spiritual Consciousness or awareness of his/her Spiritual Nature.
By simply concentrating on these two energy centers simultaneously, they become activated and one may experience being filled with Universal Divine Love. It is also reported that many practitioners of the meditation frequently experience an intense sense of connection (unity) or "Oneness" with everyone and everything.
Benefits of the Planetary Meditation for Peace include better health, reduced stress, greater productivity, happier relationships, increased calmness and inner tranquility. The Planetary Meditation for Peace brings peace, joy, healing, reconciliation and transformation on many levels.
When regularly practiced, The Planetary Meditation for Peace may be used as a form of Service to Humanity as one becomes a channel for Divine Blessings to flow to the entire earth and all of humanity.

Common Peace

In 1960, in Nashville, Tennessee, anCommon Peace d Greensboro, North Carolina thousands of college students risked their lives by daring to be seated at the lunch counters of the local five and dime stores where they regularly shopped. A normal, everyday occurrence for most of us ---- but these seatings, and subsequent seatings at these same lunch counters by both African American and Caucasian students in support of the end of segregation in the south, was the beginning of a major transformation, first in the south, and ultimately, in the entire United States which resulted in the passage of the Civil Rights Bill in 1964. This simple act of nonviolent protest against the laws of segregation was a powerful shot which ultimately rang out as a loud and clear message to the people and government of the United States and the world ---- that what the Declaration of Independence stated, would in fact, be implemented. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . .
Through our work as Common Peace, Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence, we honor those who have come before us in the name of nonviolent protest and change, and continue their commitment and powerful work. As taught by Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mohandas K. Gandhi, "nonviolence" is a powerful, effective, pro-active tool. It engages our inner and outer selves, and unifies our personal, professional and global relationships.
As Common Peace , our focus is "nonviolence education" ---- educating the public about the power of "nonviolence" as a pro-active expression of participation and change in the world. In alignment with our focus, we offer nonviolence education tools to the public in the form of a nonviolence school (or home schooling) "curriculum" entitled 64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence currently published by Pro-Ed, Inc. Publishers proedinc.com, community healing forums, adult and children nonviolence trainings, and other effective communication workshops that educate individuals and groups of all ages in the use and power of "nonviolence" as a daily practice and way of life that heals individuals, families and communities. We also share the vision of nonviolence as the global standard for resolving conflict.
Through our work, we honor the students of the 1960's sit-ins and Civil Rights Movement and so many other courageous individuals around the world over the centuries who have embraced and embodied the principles of "nonviolence," who have stepped out into the world, and activated personal and political, individual and global changes through "nonviolent" action.
We at Common Peace exist to nurture the spirit of "nonviolence" in our personal lives and communities and to demonstrate that every individual can move the world in the direction of peace through their nonviolent choice and action. While this is a noble task, we are clear that we cannot do this work without you, our partners and supporters. Without you, we have the ways but not the means through which to realize our mission and actualize our potential and the potential of thousands of students, teachers, participants and residents in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Peace and Justice for Animals

The City of Santa Fe plans to destroy prairie dog colonies at the College of Santa Fe (CSF), as part of its bailout of CSF and development of St. Michael's Drive. The city has approved a deal to turn CSF over to Laureate Education, Inc., product of a $3 billion buyout managed by corporate raider Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Citigroup Private Equity and hedge fund SAC Capital. A recent CNBC story on the deal explains: "Private equity firms buy and sell companies, borrowing most of the money through their targets to finance deals. So-called buyout firms seek undervalued companies with strong cash flows, because they need the cash to pay down the borrowed debt. "
The proposed construction site, which includes a floodplain, is habitat for prairie dogs, lizards, burrowing owls, and other birds and vertebrates of the prairie ecosystem. Construction on this particular parcel would require the removal and relocation of hundreds of prairie dogs, destroy acres of habitat, and reduce Santa Fe’s natural heritage.
The City of Santa Fe is threatening to remove the last remaining prairie dogs from the city, as it turns city parks into sterile playgrounds devoid of wildlife. The city prairie dog relocation ordinance, originally designed to protect prairie dogs from development, is now being used as an excuse to pay contractors to eliminate prairie dogs from the city.
The main prairie dog habitat on the College of Santa Fe property is scheduled to be turned over to the State of New Mexico. Speaking before the Santa Fe City Council in support of the CSF deal, Governor Bill Richardson committed the state to an "open dialog with the prairie dogs." This gives the site the potential to be a refuge for prairie dogs, safe from the city's eradication program.
The city claims that prairie dogs pose a risk of plague. Even though the city depends on tourism, they have posted a prominent plague warning on the home page of the official city website. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, Yersinia pestis, commonly known as "plague," is a rare and easily treated disease. They report: "The number of cases varies by year, ranging from 0 to 27 cases per year. From 1983 through 2006 there were 135 human plague cases in New Mexico, for an average of about 6 cases per year. Since 1993 the number of cases has dropped to an average of less than 4 cases per year."
Prairie dogs, cats and other small mammals can catch the plague, but they generally do not spread disease to humans. The Dept. of Health identified a potential transmission of plague to humans: "a hunter or trapper who catches a plague-infected rabbit, coyote, bobcat or other animal and then skins the animal."

Nature's Sacred Vibrations


Swanstar Essences bring a gift of healing (remembering the forgotten whole that we are) from sacred sites, flowers, and Spirit. Nature Beings, devas, angels volunteer to assist us in human, animal, plant and planetary self-healing. Essences are tNature's Sacred Vibrationshe vibrational or energetic pattern of the flower, star or gem. Swanstar Essences offer two choices for essence use: 1) new multi-dimensional single essences from sacred sites, flowers and Spirit and 2) selection and blending of these and carefully selected essences from other makers into personalized soul weaves.
Essences are an adjunct, not a substitute for medical therapies.
Essences are useful at bringing to consciousness the emotional and mental causes of disease that are shrouded in the unconscious. Essences also provide useful support during times of stress or powerful growth/change curves, such as moving, separation, or loss. Other benefits may include: greater integration and enlivening of higher aspects of personality or spirit, reduced stress, flashes of insight, crisis support, and overall improvement in well-being.
Essence makers all over the world co-create flower, star and animal essences with Nature and bring them to market so more people will have access to them. Edward Bach, M.D., developed the first flower essences 50 years ago. While they have received more recognition in Europe than in the United States, many are familiar with the Bach Flower Remedies. As a branch of homeopathy, hundreds of makers now provide thousands of essences.
Essences are generally preserved in brandy, distilled water, or vinegar. As with homeopathics, drops can be taken under the tongue, or in a glass of water, placed in the bath, sprayed, or can be "beamed" telepathically.
I create a weave or blend of essences for each individual as suggested by my "still small voice." The stock I draw from has been carefully selected by inner guidance from various locations and makers. Once blended in a sterile bottle, I add a preservative such as distilled water, and record definitions for each one in a report, so you have personalized information describing your essence. This may be helpful in identifying areas for self-study, surrender, affirmations or noticing the essences' effects on your process.
Please note: Swanstar Essences are complementary to medical care - not a replacement for it. Flower essences offer emotional, mental and spiritual support. Selection can be made by intuition, muscle testing dowsing, or any other method based on your deep wisdom.
Also Note: In the definitions below "God" refers to the Source or Creator, as you understand it, whether It be Father, Mother, Great Spirit, Universal Source, Goddess, Tao, Allah, Shiva, the All-Self, the One, Mind, Consciousness, or others.