A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile,
and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his
life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases
to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself
up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against
circumstances, but begins to _use_ them as aids to his more rapid
progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and
possibilities within himself.

Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe;
justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life; and
righteousness, not corruption, is the moulding and moving force in
the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but to
right himself to find that the universe is right; and during the
process of putting himself right he will find that as he alters his
thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people
will alter towards him.

-James Allen

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Post tags: Inspiring Quotes, Life, life advice, Spirituality

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What might happen indeed when God intervenes:
· God stops us from getting sick
· God stops us from dying when attacked by others
· God stops us from sinning
· God stops others from sinning against us

As we might note, if God intervenes, He must consistently do so also in order not to be deemed as imperfect or as evil. And when He does, the Laws of this world He has created shall all be broken by the very One who created it. Freedom and freewill shall no longer be, and He will infringe upon the dignity of the man He has so created in His very own image.

The source of suffering in this life comes from two things-
1. Suffering of the physical body
2. Suffering of the spiritual self

To what suffering then must God intervene for us all that we may deem Him Good and Perfect?

· As to remedying sin (cause of suffering of spiritual self), Love cannot be forced
· As to remedying physical illness and death (cause of suffering of physical body), it would be a curse to give immortality to those who have not learned of love.

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Post tags: evil, God's intervention, good God, is god evil, is there a God, no God, religion, Spirituality, why doesn't god intervene, why doesn't god intervene in man's affairs

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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

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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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I believe there is a way by which we can achieve a perfect balance in all these things, for after all, there is only one truth albeit different perspectives in seeing the truth.  If we can just learn to see things in a new way, maybe we can find a new way in living a better and fuller life we all deserve.

A spirituality that is not practical is no spirituality at all, but an illusion, or a dream that cannot be.  Its powers are nonsense, for it cannot be lived.  True spirituality is practical, and covers the connection between the soul and the mind, the body and the spirit.  True spirituality leads to healing, and from here we can seek much of the answers we are looking for in our daily life.

 What do you seek?  Is it wisdom?  Is it some answer to your long uttered prayer?

Let us learn to seek them here where I shall persist to discuss these things - spirituality, prayer, healing and wisdom for living.

SPIRITUALITY

Together we can ponder the mysteries of life be it so called miracles, near death experiences, the invisible force around us, the law of attraction and art of allowing.

PRAYER

Together let us let to go back to ourselves and utter the true desires and cries of our hearts.

HEALING

Is there any part of you that is in pain and needs healing?  Maybe we can find some of the causes and answers.  Maybe there'll be some words of comfort to accompany you today.

WISDOM FOR DAILY LIVING

No problem is too small if it bothers you.  No solution is too trivial if it can help alleviate your troubles and bring you closer to the better life you desire. 

I surely do not know most of the answers yet, but I know that as the need arises, we shall all be provided for with more than enough to find our way.

BE BLESSED!

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Post tags: daily living, healing, Inspiration, life advice, practical spirituality, prayer, Spirituality, wisdom

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It was kinda embarassing, but I knew the Lord knew my heart and there was no point in hiding anything. I remained true to my feelings, and I asked God for something I've never asked before. I've asked Him to send me a rose, just one. I don't know how it could possibly happen, but I prayed, like a daughter asking something from her dear father. I prayed for a single red rose. I prayed for a small expression of love, a small sign that I am loved, and that I am special as well.

It was a heartfelt prayer, though I never really thought much of it the day after. I guess it was enough for me that I uttered it, and that the Lord heard me. It was already upon God's hands whether to grant the prayer of silly girls like me.

So I went through my activities for the day, attending a seminar in the morning, and meeting my bestfriend afterwards in the afternoon. My friend and I strolled at a mall for a while, and then proceeded to pick up our materials for our upcoming training in Puerto Galera. After picking them up, we tried to find a ride back home. We found it difficult though, and found ourselves trying to find alternative routes.

On our way to EDSA, we chanced upon the Manila Seedling Bank, which we had seen many times before from the outside. A bit curious, we decided to look inside. We were amazed to see such a variety of plants wherever we proceeded. We certainly didn't expect so much there. But it turned out there was even an exhibit at that time from many skilled participants all over the country!

There were plants of all shapes and sizes, of common and rare varieties. There were beautiful flowers everywhere: gerberas, orchids, sunflowers, yellowbells, roses of all colors! Their scent enthralls the senses, their soft and vividly colored petals can't help but delight the eyes. The presentation was just terrific, and it really felt like we've just entered an enchanted garden, far from the harsh activities of men, protected by fairies and elves that guard them night and day.

And suddenly, right in the middle of that garden, I remembered my prayer. My prayer for a single red rose. And I realized, right there and then, that that prayer had been granted far beyond how I expected it to be answered. For right before my eyes lay not just a flower, not just a rose, not just a red rose, not just a bouquet of roses, but hundreds of flowers flourishing, blooming, glorifying the God that answers all of our prayers.

I've only asked for a small emblem of care, but what I received is a mountain of flowers testifying God's immeasurable love for me. I felt so happy. I felt so special and blessed. I believed then that no other girl was able to receive as much that Valentine's Day. No other man could have given as much. But the One who did was the One who loved me, the One who loved me enough to answer that silly prayer for a single lonely rose.

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Post tags: ask, blessing, gift, god's gift, god's rose, Inspiration, Life, personal, prayer, rose, roses from god, Spirituality, valentines

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Some people would insist on conviction, others would say they are those who found the right way.  Yet what is it that prompts us to find these convictions? 

I think that we are most afraid of things that we do not know, and so we try to explain everything, even at the expense of reaching the extreme.  People are most uncomfortable with the mysterious that we'd rather side with an absolute statement than suffer the vagueness of matters we can't resolve.

We don't like the abstract.  And so goes the many beliefs we have now that seems to cast all other things aside-

Beliefs that unless we do this and that, we won't be saved, and we won't reach heaven.

Beliefs that since there are many things we can't explain about God, then there must be no God at all.

Beliefs formed from the wonders we observed in nature, such beliefs that make us worship nature alone.

Beliefs saying that because having desires causes us so much frustration then we should have no desires at all and lose our personal identity altogether.

We cannot connect everything perfectly yet.  And though this should not prevent us from seeking out the truth, uncertainties for the moment need not take us to extreme beliefs either.  I am lead to belief that this line of thinking was what made Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge.  They wanted to know everything that they would do everything even if it is not yet time.  Must we eat the forbidden fruit also?  Can we not be comfortable with the mysterious for the moment and enjoy the wonderful revelations given us one moment at a time?

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed. It was the experience of mystery - even if mixed with fear - that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man." -Albert Einstein

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Post tags: bible, catholic, Inspiration, Life, musings, philosophy, reflections, religion, Spirituality

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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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