4.05.2004
Have you read 'The Da Vinci Code'? How truly excellent! There is a ton of interesting tidbits for the religious mindset. Ever wonder how the bible came to take its current form? Or maybe wonder if there was something missing? Read this book! Then get a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi Library (both available at amazon.com). It is even more amazing than I thought, and I've had my doubts about the Catholics for quite a while now.
Maybe this is my calling? I mean, Catholics are great ones for preaching "Do No Evil" yet they constantly subvert themselves! Why? Because the Roman Catholic faith was founded on a lie! Actually, several lies, but one huge one - the Council of Nicea. Cute how one group of 300 plus Emperor Constantine (himself not even a Christian) could dictate the direction of the Church - heck, there wasn't even an 'organized' Church to begin with. And why did they decide to destroy any chance of a woman's role in the church? I mean, nuns? Please! Mary M. was as good as married to Jesus of N., if they weren't in fact married (which I think they were).
So when will the church release the original writings of the 4 'holy' gospels? (As opposed to the gospels not included at Nicea.) Probably never, but if enough emphasis is placed on the Nag Hammadi writings, we may see a dramatic shift.
Where is our mother figure?
Rev. Ray
Maybe this is my calling? I mean, Catholics are great ones for preaching "Do No Evil" yet they constantly subvert themselves! Why? Because the Roman Catholic faith was founded on a lie! Actually, several lies, but one huge one - the Council of Nicea. Cute how one group of 300 plus Emperor Constantine (himself not even a Christian) could dictate the direction of the Church - heck, there wasn't even an 'organized' Church to begin with. And why did they decide to destroy any chance of a woman's role in the church? I mean, nuns? Please! Mary M. was as good as married to Jesus of N., if they weren't in fact married (which I think they were).
So when will the church release the original writings of the 4 'holy' gospels? (As opposed to the gospels not included at Nicea.) Probably never, but if enough emphasis is placed on the Nag Hammadi writings, we may see a dramatic shift.
Where is our mother figure?
Rev. Ray
3.14.2004
Well, I'm home from Iowa and took the long way - Quad Cities to Minneapolis to Ft Myers to Dallas to San Jose - don't ask. I will say this: when you are ready to book your next flight, DO NOT USE AMERICAN AIRLINES! I will explain in a later post. Be excellent to each other.
3.02.2004
It's too late and I'm too tired - have a nice evening!
3.01.2004
This one will be short:
Why haven't you seen The Passion yet? If you have faith, this will make it real. If you had faith and lost it, this will guide you home. If you don't have faith yet, this will give you some. Not that I'm a big fan of organized religion - I'm not. But we all need to have faith. Jesus can give you faith through his suffering - I mean, anyone who would willingly put themselves through that for a belief is a truly amazing person, whether you believe he was the Son of God or not.
Why haven't you seen The Passion yet? If you have faith, this will make it real. If you had faith and lost it, this will guide you home. If you don't have faith yet, this will give you some. Not that I'm a big fan of organized religion - I'm not. But we all need to have faith. Jesus can give you faith through his suffering - I mean, anyone who would willingly put themselves through that for a belief is a truly amazing person, whether you believe he was the Son of God or not.
2.28.2004
I keep forgetting to leave contact info:
Email me!
If you have questions, comments, or just need to talk.
Rev. Ray
Email me!
If you have questions, comments, or just need to talk.
Rev. Ray
2.27.2004
Okay so far? Good. Now, why should we believe that a Democrat will be a better president than a Republican (or vice versa for that matter)? They all say the same things, only Dems want to tax you more so they can spend more on saving you from yourself, and the Reps want the rich to get tax breaks so that crass consumerism can save you from noticing that you aren't rich.
Of course, politicians have no personal stake in whether we are successful as a country/people. So they can stand up and say "I'll do this for us!" then do nothing. I have a proposal (not an original idea - I read it somewhere and it makes sense):
All elected politicians must liquidate all holdings and turn the cash over to the US Treasury. The government will pick up the tab for housing them, feeding them, etc. - they can live like the rest of us (won't cost much - we probably spend more on toilet paper at the Pentagon). At the end of their terms, they get the money back either with interest if the country made money, or the same percentage loss as the country's economy declined ! Think that won't motivate them to stop wasting our money? The only people that will get elected are those who really don't want to, those with the most to lose, because they will be nominated by us because they are successful! What do you think?
Rev. Ray
Of course, politicians have no personal stake in whether we are successful as a country/people. So they can stand up and say "I'll do this for us!" then do nothing. I have a proposal (not an original idea - I read it somewhere and it makes sense):
All elected politicians must liquidate all holdings and turn the cash over to the US Treasury. The government will pick up the tab for housing them, feeding them, etc. - they can live like the rest of us (won't cost much - we probably spend more on toilet paper at the Pentagon). At the end of their terms, they get the money back either with interest if the country made money, or the same percentage loss as the country's economy declined ! Think that won't motivate them to stop wasting our money? The only people that will get elected are those who really don't want to, those with the most to lose, because they will be nominated by us because they are successful! What do you think?
Rev. Ray
2.26.2004
Is it just me or is this whole "Passion" business being blown out of proportion? I've seen the movie, I nearly cried when Mary ran to Jesus' side while he was carrying the cross and have felt the shame of taking God for granted. I feel no ill will towards Jews - sure, they crucified a man who preached peace, but that was then, this is now. Times and people change and world history is full of tales of the righteous being persecuted.
So what is the deal? I'll tell you - sensationalism rules, and sheeple can't discern the truth because they don't want to. So they believe whatever the media spins for them, whether left or right, and blithely go on about their daily routines. It's been said that ignorance is bliss yet I don't believe it. If it were true, Americans would be the happiest people on the planet!
Oh yeah . .
So why is it that the dive into socialism in America isn't complete yet? I mean, we had FDR, LBJ, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton, so why aren't we good little socialized human idiots by now? We're close, I can tell you that, but not quite there yet, and I don't know why.
People already believe that:
. . .the rich should pay a higher percentage of their income to the IRS
. . .it is their legal duty to sue anyone and everyone who refuses to save them from themselves
. . .it is the government's job to find them jobs, and then pay them for not keeping the job
. . .it is also government's job to provide healthcare for all
. . .social security (oxymoron alert) is a birthright framed in the Constitution somewhere
. . .God and anything not privately funded must not mix (except on our money, though that's under fire as well)
. . .everyone must conform to the "acceptable" norms in behavior or be medicated
In other words, the "have's" must support the "have-not's" which is the basic underlying belief structure of all socialist behavior. Where did we as a people go wrong? When did we decide that the right to make our own mistakes must be taken away? Most importantly, how do we break the tyranny of the minority?
There will be a Revolution. Oppression cannot be abided and will be overthrown. Socialism cannot work in a society of free individuals - but you have to be free to be an individual! Do not let the social agenda be the one we get forced to live by - be individuals!
Be free!
Rev. Ray
So what is the deal? I'll tell you - sensationalism rules, and sheeple can't discern the truth because they don't want to. So they believe whatever the media spins for them, whether left or right, and blithely go on about their daily routines. It's been said that ignorance is bliss yet I don't believe it. If it were true, Americans would be the happiest people on the planet!
Oh yeah . .
So why is it that the dive into socialism in America isn't complete yet? I mean, we had FDR, LBJ, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton, so why aren't we good little socialized human idiots by now? We're close, I can tell you that, but not quite there yet, and I don't know why.
People already believe that:
. . .the rich should pay a higher percentage of their income to the IRS
. . .it is their legal duty to sue anyone and everyone who refuses to save them from themselves
. . .it is the government's job to find them jobs, and then pay them for not keeping the job
. . .it is also government's job to provide healthcare for all
. . .social security (oxymoron alert) is a birthright framed in the Constitution somewhere
. . .God and anything not privately funded must not mix (except on our money, though that's under fire as well)
. . .everyone must conform to the "acceptable" norms in behavior or be medicated
In other words, the "have's" must support the "have-not's" which is the basic underlying belief structure of all socialist behavior. Where did we as a people go wrong? When did we decide that the right to make our own mistakes must be taken away? Most importantly, how do we break the tyranny of the minority?
There will be a Revolution. Oppression cannot be abided and will be overthrown. Socialism cannot work in a society of free individuals - but you have to be free to be an individual! Do not let the social agenda be the one we get forced to live by - be individuals!
Be free!
Rev. Ray
