1.God wants us to love others more than we love ourselves.

On the contrary, Jesus invoked us to love others as we love ourselves. He didn't say that we must give up our own good. Without a right relationship with ourselves, without knowing how to love ourselves, we won't even have the standard by which to follow Jesus' commandment of loving others as we love ourselves.

2.The more suffering we undergo, the more God will love us.

God is not a sadistic God who derives pleasure from our suffering. If we ever suffer, it is to be strengthened and avoid further suffering later on.

3.God hates us when we are not perfect.

More than anybody else, it is God who knows everything. He clearly knows we are not perfect yet, and that's why He is helping us. Why allow us to be imperfect only to hate us?

4.God will send us to an eternal hell due to a technicality.

There have been many religions built by virtue of the fear of being technically disqualified from heaven. These beliefs tell us that if we fail to perform certain things exactly as God wanted it to be, we would forever be cast into hell-fire as though God tricked us, wanting us to be condemned.

5.There is a clear division between good people and bad people.

Judge not so as not be judged. This myth clearly denotes exclusivity, that only one kind of people can be good and the others have no right whatsoever to be children of God.

6.God plays favorites.

This myth tells us that God only grants favors to a favored few, that He doesn't perform miracles for all, that He cannot or will not heal us all because He doesn't love us all equally. That's just not true. He makes it rain both on the just and the unjust. He makes the sun to shine not only for a few people, but for all. Karma applies to all. The Law of Attraction applies to all. Love is available to all.

7.God can't love rich people.

Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, even Job, they have lots of material possessions. But does God hate them?

8.People will do nothing in heaven except pray, sing and play harps.

If all that God ever wanted were musicians, he'd have just enrolled us all in music schools rather than dying for us, teaching us what it is to be fully human and fully Divine.

9.Our ultimate goal is to die and qualify for heaven.

“I am the way, the truth and the life”, Jesus said. A religion that points only to death will only lead to death and forfeits the gift of life given us by God.

10.Salvation refers only to the saving of the soul.

If all that God ever wanted were souls, He wouldn't have allowed human birth into the physical form. It would have been easier because if we were spirits, we wouldn't have been exposed to so many temptations like lust, greed, gluttony. If God doesn't care for our physical well-being, Jesus wouldn't have healed the blind, the lame, and all those begging him for another chance at life.

Why don't you check your beliefs? Where is it based? Is it really based on the unconditional love of God for all His children? What's keeping you from forming a good relationship with God?

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Post tags: beliefs, destroy relationships, God, religious myths, spiritual errors

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I've learned that the Lord does not desire to rush me. Rather, He wants me to grow in His time, and so I must be patient.

Before He sends me forth, I know that there are some things He wants to deal with first. Though I thought I was prepared, He showed me I wasn't ready yet. He made me come face to face with my weaknesses and I knew that it will take time.

I trust in Him however, that He will finish the good work He had begun!

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Post tags: God, god does not rush, in due time, in God's time, in the right season, one thing at a time

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-CITY OF GOD, ST. Augustine

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Post tags: augustine, city of God, false virtue, God, pride, true virtue, where there is no religion there is no true virtue

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If man can help himself
he would have helped himself
a long time ago

but man is trapped
in a duality
that is so easily imbalanced on one side
which is that of darkness

how so you may say
how was a conclusion
leaning on to the negative
arrived at
in a world of duality
where both light and darkness
should have had an equal pull on all things?

If it is not in truth
leaning towards the negative,
why then the corruption
that follows all things born of the flesh?
why is death the fate
of all men after his birth?

Children are born with infirmities
and sickness follows man
all the days of his life
til the grave

It's as though there is but an appointed time
given him
to live
to choose
to be redeemed

Before a final destiny is reached

A destiny that has only been delayed
so he can be lifted up
so he can avoid the complete fall
where he has been heading to all along...

‘However greatly the soul itself labours, it cannot actively purify itself so as to be in the least degree
prepared for the Divine union of perfection of love, if God takes not its hand and purges it not in that dark fire.
-St.John of the Cross

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Post tags: can man save himself, corruption, death, duality, fall of man, God, need to be redeemed, redemption, salvation

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God was there
from the very beginning
but I knew Him not
and I turned away

I looked at the world
and beheld its splendor
til that same splendor
snatched me
and I was thrown
amidst its cold brightness
and I yearned for the warmth of home

In despair I wept
and I cried out to my God:
Rescue me for I desire not these things
and I will have none of this beauty
if only to be back in your arms

And my God heard me
and ran to me
and snatched me away from the world
and took me even
within His heart

Therein only
did I find joy
and peace
and LOVE
atlast!

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Post tags: God, Inspiration, Life, poem, redemption, religion, salvation, salvation poem

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VISIONARY:
I see the Primeval Light, which is LOVE, encompassing the world, sustaining everything in it, offering Absolute Joy and Peace to all who will open up their hearts for Him.

INQUIRER:
How about darkness? Whence did it come from? Was it from the Light?

VISIONARY:
Light has nothing to do with darkness. Even in the beginning, light was separated from the darkness. Darkness is not created, only Light is, yet many choose to remain in darkness rather than be made part of the Light.

INQUIRER:
Why is there so much darkness in the world?

VISIONARY:
Light has come unto the world, but the world refused Him and chose to remain in Darkness. Nevertheless, the Light did not abandon the world, but provided a Flame that will seek out all who desire to come out of the darkness that they may be a part of the Light in the appointed time, when a separation of the Light from the Darkness shall be made once again.

INQUIRER:
When shall this separation commence?

VISIONARY:
The Time shall come like a thief in the night.

INQUIRER:
And what of this thief? How shall he separate the Light from the Darkness?

VISIONARY:
Those who have set themselves apart for the Light at the time appointed them shall be duly harvested, no one can snatch them away from their Lover.

INQUIRER:
And what of those who have not known their Love?

VISIONARY:
Their Lover awaits them, even unto the beyond. He will make known unto them that which had been concealed by the Darkness. He will wipe away the tears from their eyes and He will vanquish all their fears.

INQUIRER:
Does it mean then that all shall be saved?

VISIONARY:
Salvation is for all as Light is for all. Yet even in the beyond not all men look towards the Light. In stubbornness, men persist in their darkness and hide from the very One, the Only One who can bring True Light into the darkness of their hearts where they are.

This article was written by Jocelyn Soriano at http://itakeoffthemask.com  You are free to republish this article as long as the author and the site  are duly acknowledged.

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Post tags: a vision of light darkness and eternal damnation, God, heaven, hell, Jesus, paradise, purgatory, vision heaven, vision hell

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The occult may not be evil in itself
for there are many truths that can be found therein
Truths that have been concealed
from many
In order to be used
for the benefit of a few

But the evil therein
that lurks behind its splendor
is the blinding light that has lured a whole many
away from the very love of God

They have turned away
and exchanged the warmth of His bosom
for the luster of gold
the mystery of the moon
and the brightness
of the stars

For free stuff and ebooks, visit http://itakeoffthemask.comYou are free to republish this article as long as due credit is given to the author (Jocelyn Soriano) and a link back to the website http://itakeoffthemask.com is provided.

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Post tags: allowing, attraction, dangers of the occult, evil, God, lure of light, manifesting, mystery, new age, new thought, occult, religion, Spirituality, the lure of the bright light

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Just then, Jesus arrives and is quickly approached by the boy's father, asking for the healing of his son. Jesus asks the man if he believes. The man answers, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Jesus commanded the spirit to depart, and at once, the boy was healed!

After the crowd had left, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't drive out the evil spirit. Jesus replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

But wasn't it prayer that the disciples uttered when they tried to heal the boy? Why didn't it work? Did they not have enough faith? And why was their faith lacking? What prayer finally drove out the spirit away? It isn't just the prayer of Jesus, but the prayer of the father's child when he proclaimed that he believed.

But what's the difference between his prayer and the prayer of the disciples? Shouldn't the disciples know more of faith than the suffering father did?

The disciples may have had more experiece in their work, but when they came across a difficult case, they themselves started to doubt. And when their hearts were gripped by fear and worry, there was nothing within them that urged them to persevere in their work. They lost their faith, and then they lost their hope, and they had nothing more.

But the father of the child, though he admittedly lacked also in faith had something more. Something that urged him to persevere. Something that urged him to come to Jesus and to try once again. He couldn't just give up. He couldn't bear the sight of his very own son suffering that way. No, he will do everything he can so he can save the boy he loves so much.

And alas, through the hands of Jesus, his son had been saved. Through the hands of Jesus, his prayer had been answered. His was the only prayer that prevailed, the only one who was able to overcome his unbelief. And what prompted him? It was his unquestionable love for his son. It was love.

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing... Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13:1-2,8)

This article was was written by Jocelyn Soriano at ITAKEOFFHEMASK.COM

You are free to republish this post in your website or email as long as proper recognition is given to the author and a link back to the site ITAKEOFFTHEMASK.COM is provided.

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Post tags: effective prayer, God, mountain moving faith, powerful faith, prayer, secret to mountain moving faith

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But does God really create evil? There are many times when I've asked myself if everything that God creates is really good. Because if God is good and everything that He created is good, where could all the bad things be coming from? Why is there evil when all that God creates is good? Why is there Satan and all the fallen angels? Where did their pride come from?And what about us people? If God created us to be good why do we keep on sinning and doing evil things? Have you ever asked yourself why is it that it seems so difficult to do good and it seems so easy to sin instead?

Then there's the story of Adam and Eve. They were in Paradise! They were in God's company! They had everything they needed. Why the hell then did they ever listen to that malicious snake that brought them all their troubles?

But of course, my Religion teacher in highschool said that the story of Adam and Eve was just a myth. That it was not true literally. Just imagine my shock upon hearing that blasphemy! I even thought of reporting that teacher for disciplinary actions for telling such a big lie to the entire class. But then again, I had no sufficient evidence then that He was lying, so I just kept my mouth shut and saved myself from trouble. Who am I to say that what's written in the Bible are all literally true? The fact is, there were many passages in the Bible that are indeed symbolisms of the truth, and not the actual manifestations of the truth. In the Book of Revelations alone, the author spoke of dragons and monsters that merely represent future events, and not actual figures that will arise according to the prophecy. And so I learned that the truth may come to us in many forms. I also learned that there are still many things I have yet to know and discover on my own.

Years later, as I reflect on the story of Adam and Eve, I came across this weird idea. The idea of the story's symbolism! Having been created by God, Adam and Eve are indeed good in themselves. After all, they have been created after God's own image! However, what if we think of it in this premise, that God is not yet finished in His work? In a sense, He is still in the act of CREATING. And if He is, then we have not yet seen the final product, which is supposed to be GOOD!

Considering this, is it not true that in the New Testament (Philippians 1:6), Paul wrote that the good work God begun in us will be carried on to completion until Jesus Christ comes again? He isn't finished with us yet. The GOOD thing HE wills to CREATE is yet to be! The Paradise being referred to in the story of Adam and Eve is not the Paradise prepared for us at the end of time; the Paradise being referred to is the very womb of God where both Adam and Eve came from. Upon being born, man soon reaches awareness by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. From there begins his awareness of good and evil. From there begins his journey to explore the world, to battle with the imperfections of this life, only to be perfected in the end and to return in the arms of the God who created him. God indeed makes all good things. God does not create evil because evil is not created at all. Evil is the absence of good. Evil is darkness, which is the absence of Light. In time, God will make His Light shine forth to the furthest corners of the Earth and darkness shall be no more. There will only be goodness. There will only be the things of God!

Note as of May 7, 2008:

In effect, all things evil in the end shall exist not, in a way as though they have not existed at all. 

Light has nothing to do with darkness.  God separates Light from the darkness.  It is only this Light which God has made.  In earth time-space reality, we are still in the process of being separated, and it is the chance given us to choose whether we shall avail of the Light or remain to be in the dark.

As to the story of Adam and Eve, recent insights on the matter brought realizations of the Truth of the story which shall be discussed in another article.

As for the evil in the world that we see at the moment and the intervention a good God should have made, kindly read the following articles:

 "How does God intervene without breaking His Laws?"

"Why doesn't God intervene in man's affairs?"

This article was was written by Jocelyn Soriano at ITAKEOFFHEMASK.COM

You are free to republish this post in your website or email as long as proper recognition is given to the author and a link back to the site ITAKEOFFTHEMASK.COM is provided.

© Jocelyn Soriano for I Take Off The MASK!, 2007. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: does God create evil, God, god evil, is god bad, is god evil, Spirituality

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