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If beauty is recognized a
Then ugliness arises a
If good is recognized b
Then bad arises b
Spirit and Flesh forms each other b
Difficult and easy produces each other b
Long and short measures each other b
High and low define each other b
Music and tone harmonize each other b
Front and back follow each other b
Therefore, the Master:
Achieves his purpose but without ado c
Gets his message across but without words c
Holds all things together but without controlling c
Creates all but without possessing c
Serves all but without seeking glory c
Fulfills the Promise to all but without claiming c
Since He does not claim anything c
Nothing is ever lost c
a(1 Peter 3:3-5) b(Ecclesiastes 9:2-3, Job 30:26) c(Colossians 1:15-23)
My Thoughts: The universe is now full of dualities, where one descriptive concept creates its own opposite. Read More on Dualities Chapter 2
Translated & Produced by Keith Hoang
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If you can talk about it a
It is not the eternal God a
If it is worth naming b
It is not the eternal name b
The nameless, is the origin of Heaven and Earth c
The namable, is the Mother of all things d
Free from desire, one observes the Spirit e
Filled with desire, one observes the Flesh e
The two merge and become one of the same body but differ in name. f
The unity is the Mystery of God e
Mystery of mysteries a
The gateway to wonders a
a(Job 36:26, Job 37:5) b(Exodus 3:13-15) c(Genesis 1:1-2) d(Genesis 3:20) e(Romans 8:9-18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 4:4) f(1 Corinthians 6:19)
My Thoughts: After reading 40+ different translation of the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1 of the Tao is probably the most difficult to understand but is the foundation of all the other chapters. Please don’t let this discourage you from reading the other chapters. Click here to read more: Biblical Translation of the Tao Te Ching Chapter 1
Translated and Produced by Keith Hoang
Truly good people keep their mind on what is eternal and seek out the spirit for guidance. They are not concern about the material world, the opinions of others, and do not make their achievements known. Mark 10:17-18, As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. They are in alignment with God going about their life effortlessly, yet nothing is left undone. Living in harmony and abundance is a gift from God who endures forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Unlike foolish men who work vigorously to achieve and leave more undone. They gain nothing from their toil because God has made everything beautiful, but yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end. Those who are falsely good constantly have to remind themselves to uphold their image and/or act good. Their actions often lead toward personal agendas to improve their public image, gaining authority, and nullifying their guilt or wrongful doings.
From high virtue to the low: Goodness, Kindness, Righteousness, and Ritual, respectively. These are the four virtues believed to measure our true character. Whenever God is lost, good people anticipate the goodness of God that flow naturally. For the appeal they make does not spring from error or impure motives. When goodness is lost, then kindness appears. Kind people try to remain loving, be compassionate toward others, and free themselves from personal agenda. When kindness is lost, then righteousness appears. Righteousness can be a trap for self-righteousness. People who possess self-righteousness feel strongly justified in themselves that their actions may reflect their own motives. They are not guided by love and compassion, instead they act based on creativeness and justice. Their beliefs become very complex and confusing like the laws today because right and wrong can be subjective. When righteousness is lost, then rituals appear. Unfortunately, many ritual people act unnatural, showing great politeness and modesty. They believe to posses foreknowledge and devise formulas for human action and try to trade the spirit for the letter. Thus, they fall back on protocol and rules to mask their true intentions. If they fail to obtain their goals upon others, they use physical and aggressive means to force their view points. This may be artificial and wrong, but they have something to follow if nothing else works. Those who practice artificial rituals are nothing more than a shell without substance, pretending to be trustworthy and genuine while possessing neither quality. It is the husk of true faith and the onset of confusion and chaos.
Matthew 23:1-7
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the
Similarly, people who possess knowledge without any of these virtues are also shells lacking substance. Like the pleasing appearance of flowers, they possess none of the fulfilling goodness of the fruits. Their “flowery knowledge of God” represents their own superficial knowledge of this world. They look upon the beautiful surface and not the fruit or substance. In other worlds, the flower is a metaphor of an individual who look good on the outside but lack substance. Thus, people who possess knowledge without virtue may project a knowledgeable image but are ignorant in fundamental ways. Unlike truly good men who dwell in the depths of God and not the surface. They look upon the fruit and not the flower. They prefers what is within to what is without.
Matthew 23:25-28
25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Before Goodness, Kindness, Righteousness, and Ritual, there is God who just “IS”. If we lose God, what we have left are the four virtues to uphold. When people are living in the Spirit of God, they do not have to uphold these virtues because everything is in alignment with God and comes naturally without effort. It is like the perfect image of God, a Spirit that cannot be measured by any means of virtue.
Wu Ch’eng
The Tao is like a fruit. Hanging from a tree, it contains the power of life, but its womb is hidden. Once it falls, it puts forth virtue as its root, kindness as its stem, justice as its branches, ritual as its leaves, and knowledge as its flower. All of these come from the Tao. ‘That’ refers to the flower. ‘This’ refers to the fruit. Those who embody the Tao choose the fruit over the flower.
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God makes no attempt to be in action and yet is the source of all action. Nothing is left undone and nothing is beyond his power. His eternal nature is the unchanging principle of the past, present, and future of effortless achievement. God has made everything beautiful in its time and set eternity in the hearts of man; yet we cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. It is better for us to be happy and do good while we live. Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. When we embody the principle of effortless achievement, our environment, circumstances, relationships, family & friends will naturally transform into alignment with our goals. The Lord’s divine power has given us everything we need for life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. He has given us his very great and precious promises, so we can participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. We must make every effort to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. If we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us in alignment with our Lord Jesus Christ. However, it is our strong desire to be the captain of the ship and take control of our own direction in life. Our transformation may lead to chaos if left unchecked; derailing us from the simplicity of God. Romans 8:5, 5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Thus, our own thoughts and emotions, once aligned with God can result in being self-absorbed due to the pure excitement for success and drive for fame. The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. We must not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. cJohn 16:12-16, 12“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
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According to the way of the world, the weak is inferior to the strong; however this is contrary to the Bible. 2 Corinthians 12:9, 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Thus, people should not abandon weakness, just as fish cannot leave deep waters. When fish leave the depths, they are caught. When people abandon weakness, they join the league of the dead (spiritually dead). God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. It is also Lao-Tsu’s belief that the weak can conquer the strong by letting the strong exhaust themselves until they become weak. Those who live according to their spirit speak softly and act with care. They do not argue about right and wrong, better or worse, good or bad, but understand the harmony of Heaven and Earth. They perceive and adapt to the hidden light that is the invisible power of the natural order for Heaven and Earth. Mark 15:2-5, 2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. 3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
We know that Jesus reached his highest limit of greatness in the eyes of man and goes beyond our understanding. Because we cannot add to the greatness of Jesus, the only way we know how to treat Jesus was lowering or condemning him. It is similar to the way we treat the fall of raising stars who reached their limits, such as Michael Jackson. We attract attention to gain popularity at the cost of another person before knowing the facts and soon become experts in our field. In fact, we may be afraid to look in the mirror at ourselves and can be very defensive when others do the same. We shrink, weaken, and cast legendary people down to what was once expanded, strong, and honored. This is how Jesus was treated when he was arrested and sent to Caiaphas, the high priest where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
Matthew 26:59-68
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”
It is the Grace of God who given up his only Son to be the sacrifice for our sin. John 7:37-39, On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Jesus gave up his Spirit on the cross to live in you, whom you have received from God. For that reason, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are not your own. Though, we have received the Holy Spirit, but it must first be given by God to whom he chooses. If our sovereign God knows the value of giving, how much more should we do it? In order to receive, we must start by giving. In order to be treated kindly, we must start by giving other kindness. If we wish to make friends, we must start by being friendly. This is the natural order of God’s nature who is circular; the principle underlying all interaction that is one of dynamic, universal energy exchange. It is impossible to fully understand laws of nature (secret wisdom of things) because God have hidden these things from the wise. All things have been committed to Jesus by his Father and no one knows except the Father and Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Just as fish keeping its depths, so too are the unrevealed weapons of the Heavenly Kingdom.
To hold the Great Image is the state of illuminated oneness. The greatness of God’s nature attracts people to congregate as One Body. We can be part of this Oneness when our soul is aligned with God. The Body of Christ has no harm nor protection because there is nothing harmful. All good things will come to us when we are living in the Body of Christ because we are one with all things. Whether it is the force of nature or law of attraction, the living spirit inside us is the same spirit in the Body of Christ that attracts the things we desire in our life.
The body is a unit made up of many parts. Although all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ, for we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body. God has arranged every part in the body just as he wanted them to be. In fact, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable and the parts that we think are less honorable He treats with special honor. And the parts that are not presentable are treated with special modesty while our presentable parts need no special treatment. Thus, God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there is no division in the body but that its parts have equal concern for each other. If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it; and if one part of the body is honored, every part rejoices with it. All parts find their place and there are none that are not at joy and peace. Unfortunately, every person stumbles in many ways and separates from the Body of Christ. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God’s likeness. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of the dark. We must put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm in faith against evil.
The sound of music and good food represents the physical pleasure of the material world which delights the senses; unlike God who seems colorless and flavorless, because He cannot be seen nor heard by ordinary man. God does not seem to offer much but if we pause in our travels (daily life) and search deep within our hearts, we will discover true joy and peace. Perhaps music and good food attracts the attention of travelers, but we must remind ourselves it is only momentary pleasure. When the people saw that Moses was gone for a long period of time, they gather jewelry and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They indulge in revelry to the sound of music and feast like wild animals. The travelers turned away from God commandments and they bowed down to a gold calf and sacrificed to it. Their own selfish desires made them stiff-necked people, unable to hear the Words of God who brought them out of Egyptian slavery. The Israelites believe God’s commandments sounded plain, without a taste for life.
These travelers where not in a state of illuminated Oneness, thus the secret knowledge of God was hidden and silent. Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. They will be ever hearing but never understanding; they will be ever seeing but never perceiving. Therefore, we must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, just as we were called to one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Those who can stand firm in faith and be One with the Lord, will enjoy limitless blessings. The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. With the measure we use, it will be measured to us and even more. God will never grow tired or weary and his understanding cannot be fathom.
The Spirit of God (Light of God) is like the streams of rivers flowing impartially to everyone. Like water, the spirit continues to nurture without expectations or making demands. There is nothing that doesn’t depend on it for life, and yet it never seek reward or speaks of its power. Nothing happens without its presence, an yet it never mentions of its work. It models, shapes, and becomes anything you ask of it. The Spirit has no borders, goes in all direction, it is not one-sided, and present to all. Where ever we turn, the Spirit is there for us to use. You can not categorize it weak nor strong, yin nor yang, because the spirit has no limits, responding to all things and in all direction. It gives birth to all things through the mystery of doing nothing. It causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Every good and perfect gift we see below is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. Everyone is dependent on the spirit (Light of God) to live and anything is possible with it.
The Spirit leads us to the miracle of salvation that came from the sacrifice of Jesus through faith. John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. It was not until the sacrifice of Jesus we received the Spirit of God who is intimately living in us as One body. John 7:37-39, 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. It is only through Jesus Christ we see the gateway of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Though, the unseen spirit may seem distant, it is very much alive and working inside our hearts. 1 Corinthians 6:19, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; We cannot take anything away from its greatness nor add anything to it. The spirit has a basic humility that we observe and emulate in order to act accordingly with God. It keeps us rooted in our foundation and endures all the body experiences to regenerate, indwell, restraint, and provide service. Only believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit are said to be “Spiritually Alive” and unbelievers are “Spiritually Dead”.
Jesus (God, Son, or Spirit: Trinity) fulfills the promise of his Father without taking credit or glory for his work. John 8:54, 54Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though he is Master of all and Sovereign, He came down from heaven and lived in the flesh among us; feeding the poor and healing the sick without mastering over them. Jesus acknowledges his future and surrendered himself to the authorities only to be beaten and killed. Ever desiring nothing of this world, not even his own life, Jesus does what the Father tells him. Jesus knows all things that are created by the Father will return to him, and yet He doesn’t control them; like streams returning to the sea, and yet it doesn’t control them (Ecclesiastes 1:7). John 14:10, Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. All things are created by him and all things will return to the Father and Son.
His sovereignty does not demand control of our freedom or display dominance. Many find Jesus imperceptible or small because He seek and possesses nothing of this world. When He seems small to us, He never stop being Great. And when Jesus is Great, He never stop being small. Matthew 19:21, Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Jesus is the perfecter of our faith and the heir of all things. He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of his being, and the transcendental force of nature. Jesus draws no attention to his sovereignty over nations and angels who worship him. He achieves his miraculous and unnoticed greatness and does not regard himself as Great. This is how he receives his Greatness. Let us fix our eyes on the Spirit living in us, hidden in our hearts, and is the author of our past, present, and future.
Consciousness of “self” is wisdom. Wisdom is the consciousness that enters the heart; and can only be given to us by God. It unfolds the deep and hidden things of the heavens and earth. The “self” in this context is referencing the spirit that lives in us. The spirit keeps us rooted in our foundation and endures all the body experiences to regenerate, indwell, restraint, and provide service. Only believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit are said to be “Spiritually Alive” and unbelievers are “Spiritually Dead”. Those who are spiritually alive will be able to withstand the trials, but those who are spiritually dead will collapse under pressure. You are your own worst enemy and can take advantage of your vulnerabilities. By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established.
Consciousness of “others” is knowledge. In other words, perception of others is external knowledge. How we interpret the world starts from our inner consciousness of self. If we have true wisdom of the spirit, our knowledge of others is in the eyes of God. Proverbs 2:6, 6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Unfortunately, most of us may not have true wisdom, but misleading wisdom of the flesh to sin. Proverbs 14, 67 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Without knowledge of the spirit, the flesh finds fault in people and use deception to obtain it’s selfish goals. Instead of building God’s church filled with eternal and rare treasures, they fill up the hall with worthless possessions that don’t last. These are the small cracks in the church walls that leak with all kinds of evil and deception concerning Christian members of the faith to tarnish the church image. Ephesians 6:10-13, 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Thus, it is the evil powers of darkness and evil spirits contaminating our flesh to do evil. It creates a false image of the world to desire the abundance of this world instead of God’s Kingdom. Eventually, we no longer accept ourselves as God’s loving creation without having to compare and be above others. In fact, many of us cannot be very objective when it comes to self-assessment because the fear of realization; however we can see others quite clearly.
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The essence of “power” is of the Spirit. The power or energy of the universe that cannot be destroyed or created “IS” the presence of God everywhere. If we breakdown our body to the smallest known substance, we observe energy. Scientists do not understand the components of energy; however we do know everything is connected by energy each producing different levels of frequencies. Ephesians 4:4-6, 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Someone you find very fun to be around and excited about life will have a higher energy frequency in comparison to someone who is always down. A Buddhist monk that can withstand freezing temperatures for weeks meditating on mountain peaks are capable of harnessing energy to very high levels. The same type of energy that fuels desire, jealousy, aggression, and violence can on the other side fuel self-discipline, truthfulness, generosity, and kindness. Similarly, the same type of energy that fuel evil spirits can on the other side fuel good spirits. God is the source of this energy and is in complete control. It is our decision how we choose to use our energy in the light (Light of God) or dark (power of darkness).
The essence of “force” is of the flesh. Force or strength is centered on external control, unlike the inner power of the spirit. An alcoholic or smoker who overcomes his addiction possesses inner power of the spirit, even if he isn’t a body builder. If we want to maintain a healthy body, it is our inner will power that keeps us consistent to achieve results in a healthy way. When we are healthy, our physical body can apply a higher level of force or strength to sustain an active life. The spirit is the fuel that drives the flesh to go on, but the flesh still has it’s limits. Psalm 73:26, My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Our body in mortal and our spirit lives on forever.
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What is financial freedom? Is it debt free, an automatic money generator system to never work again, or can it be a billion dollars in our bank account? In truth, financial freedom is the ability to be completely detached from the need of money. To be content with what you have and not desire anything worthless in the eyes of God. You cannot be completely free if you have some kind of attachment to money or materialistic things. Matthew 19:21, Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” How can we be so sure if we sell our possession, the world will be in a better place? Don’t we have responsibilities to make money? Now, take an average loving family and consider how they support each other. No money is required to do work for each other because the currency is “Love”. Imagine what the world would be like if “love” was the currency for our service. This is the unfathomable love God had for us when he sacrificed his only Son on the cross to pay for our sins with his blood. John 3:16, 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It is time for us to return the love God has given us by following the Word of God. Stop worrying about the outcome of your future and have faith. Free yourself from the desires of this world and use your blessings to serve others who are in greater need. For God will protect and bless those who love and serve him. He has given all of us a special gift to change the world with our special and unique talent. Philippians 4:10-13, 10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Those who persevere and can endure vigorously through uncertainties have the spirit of faith at work in them. Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Salvation is given to us as a gift from God, so we can be saved through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9, 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. You cannot purchase it, sell it, or give it away. The bible calls us to have faith so we can begin discovering a world of mystery, inner essence, living in the light and goodness of God forever. Our faith is not a question of scientific theory and we should not reduce the bible down to a book of historical facts. John 20:29, 29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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To uphold our faith, we must be deeply rooted in our foundation by sowing the Word of God in our hearts. Matthew 13:7-43, 37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ lives in our hearts and can intercede for us. As it is with the Son of Man, it is also with us that we know the Spirit of God is always at work in us (John 5:19). 1 John 4:13, 13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. We are not our own body, but a vessel for the spirit to deliver us to the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Some may say to “die”, but not perish means the memory of the deceased lives on in the hearts of people who were admired for their good works. This was a noble goal for Tao cultivators to live a rich life with meaning and happiness. However, the bible reference death according to our sinful nature. Instead of taking glory for good works, the bible proclaims that there is no Good but God. Thus, it is the work of the spirit in us that others remember eternally in their hearts; we truly have nothing to boast about. Mark 10:18, “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. Romans 8:12-14, 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Therefore, those who live according to the sinful nature of man have their minds set on selfish desires against their own spirit. The mind of a sinful man must be put to death, then the Spirit of God can freely live in us. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God, thus must be born again.
God is infinite, exists outside of time and space, and has no limitations. No beginning and no end, but “IS” the unchanging God of the past, present, and the future. We call him “simple” because he can not be cut or polished. Thus, to follow the son of God is the way of simplicity because he gives rest to the weary and burdened; for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. His simplicity, although imperceptible, is hidden from the wise. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Simplicity is the state of God’s Nature. When it expands, it is everywhere. If people embrace the “simple” and work without effort and without burdening their true nature with material goods and selfish desires, all things will come together on their own. They will discover God by their own inner goodness and worship him. However, when powerful rulers act, their first course of action is to institute names. Now that the way of Jesus is gone, names and reality have become more confusing. What is simple has no name, but when we make something of it, names give rise to more names. Where does it end? When do we stop chasing names? In the beginning of creation, names were not important to God and did not exist until the creation of man. Early names were simple, but man’s sinful nature used names to differentiate people to signify their power, wealth, and education. Judges 13:17-18, 17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” 18He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.
Today, we have taken the simplicity of names and made it more complex. Names are no longer enough, but require a “title” before the name. A title (CEO, Dr. PhD, President) is simply another way of naming a person to better identify his/her status. It is sometimes used as an effective and silent method to position ourselves above others. Names with prestigious titles give us a sense of establishment, driven by the opinions of others, and help form quick opinions without a voice. If names are used for empowerment, it may lead to the danger of distinction or segregation. Luke 6:26, Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. This approach of self identity focuses on the outer appearance and overlooks the spiritual inner being that animates our true being. 1 Corinthians 6:19, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; We are made from the inside out and covering up our insecurities with a blanket full of ego cannot carry the true joy from God. Identifying the self-ego that separates us from the less fortunate is wasted time and energy. It only shows the lack of substance which is fueled by the opinions of others who have power over you. Educated or uneducated, white collar or blue collar, employed or unemployed, we are equal in the eyes of God. 1 Peter 3:18, For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, Matthew 23:12, For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. There is no righteous and no one who understands the true nature of God. Our righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. We are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that came by his Son, Jesus Christ. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. Nelson Mandela is a prime example of a man who brought his country together in peace. An anti-apartheid activist who was not defeated by his 27 years imprisonment. After his release on February 11, 1990, he became the first elected president in a fully representative democratic election and achieved the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” (Ronald Reagon)
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In addition, with increasing numbers of names comes along with more desirable things that are valueless to God. No amount of money or single object (oil, land, homes) is greater than one’s life. As it is with many different classes of humans (white, black, rich, poor), it is also with many different classes of material things (homes, private airplanes, cars, money). When we start classifying our life based on our worth in dollars or assets, it is a danger to humanity. With great wealth comes great responsibility (Bill Gates).
Matthew 23:1-7, 1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.
Matthew 25:41-45, 41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Names and titles will be long forgotten after humans are gone, thus it is more important to understand what God has in store of us that is eternal. A homeless person doesn’t care if you are the president, Doctor, CEO, but only cares what you can do for him. If high power men can hold onto the working spirit living in them to live a simple life, they will serve the people righteously. The people will worship God, the heavens and earth will be harmonious, and good fortune will rain from above to all who have written the Word of God in their hearts. He who follows his Spirit, God will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Luke 12:32-34
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2 Peter 1:3-10
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When we do not know what we ought to pray for, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We must search our hearts to know the mind of the Spirit and know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose. When we realize the spirit is living in us, everything seems to fall into place. Plans for the future progress smoothly and people come together to serve one another. The existence of God in our hearts is as important as streams to great rivers and oceans. God pours water (the Spirit) on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. And whoever believes in God, streams of living water (the Spirit) will flow from within him and they will be blessed and glorified (Isaiah 44:3, John 7:38-39). The Spirit of God resonates powerfully within us and we gravitate toward him naturally when we are walking in spiritual paths. Chronicles 7:14, 14if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
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The need for more power using military weapons results in misfortunes and tragedy no matter which side is the victor. Violence and aggression are associated with military forces and is not the way of the wise. The ancient Chinese associated the right hand that wielded military weapons to be violence and the left hand with peace. Though, this is quite the opposite from the Bible and Western understanding, which associates the right side as the good and left side as the bad, it has the same literal meaning. Matthew 26:64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 6:2-4 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
If we lived by the standards of God, there would never be Kings and Presidents leading military forces. Wasn’t it the Israelites in the book of Samuel who asked for a King to rule over the land? It was never God’s plan to have war among each other, but our lack of faith and selfishness. Now God has to intercede and fight our battles against evil doers. We learn in the book of Revelation God already won the war between good and evil and is the sovereign power forever and forever. Thus, we must learn to trust God in all his workings and be still against our enemies so we don’t act aggressively or violently. People of God do not wage war as the world does. The weapons they fight with are not weapons of the world, but weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds. If we are confident that we belong to Christ, then all arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God will be demolished. Anyone who possesses the wisdom of God knows it is better than the strength of an army with military weapons. They hear the Word of God and from the fruit of their lips will enjoy good things. On the contrary, the unfaithful crave violence and speak rashly against their enemies and gloat at their death. They may think they conquer their enemies, but history shows they invariably fail to achieve their ambitions. They only dominate by force temporarily, but will never win the hearts of people. The unfaithful will only breed quarrels and come to ruin.
The wise recognized the Word of God as the fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler or weapons of war. When the wise must fight, they know it is better to be still before God and wait patiently for him. They don’t make irrational and emotional decisions and surrender their need to fight. And when they achieve victory, they do not consider it glorious.
It is our understanding that ancient Chinese view joyful occasions on the left symbolizing harmony and sad occasions on the right symbolizing force. The lieutenant general, responsible for peacetime training of the military is situated to the left of the emperor. The major general who is responsible for leading the attack is stationed to the right. Because they both represent the military, we can regard them as fixtures in a funeral. In this context, a funeral conveys a place of mourning for many lives that are lost in battle. We grieve for these lives no matter which side is victories or which side the rival fought on. The victory parade is the aftermath of war as a funeral march.
Jeremiah 9
1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water
and my eyes a fountain of tears!
I would weep day and night
for the slain of my people.
2 Oh, that I had in the desert
a lodging place for travelers,
so that I might leave my people
and go away from them;
for they are all adulterers,
a crowd of unfaithful people.
3 “They make ready their tongue
like a bow, to shoot lies;
it is not by truth
that they triumph in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
they do not acknowledge me,”
declares the LORD.
4 “Beware of your friends;
do not trust your brothers.
For every brother is a deceiver,
and every friend a slanderer.
5 Friend deceives friend,
and no one speaks the truth.
They have taught their tongues to lie;
they weary themselves with sinning.
6 You live in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the LORD.
7 Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says:
“See, I will refine and test them,
for what else can I do
because of the sin of my people?
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks with deceit.
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
9 Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the LORD.
“Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?”
10 I will weep and wail for the mountains
and take up a lament concerning the desert pastures.
They are desolate and untraveled,
and the lowing of cattle is not heard.
The birds of the air have fled
and the animals are gone.
11 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,
a haunt of jackals;
and I will lay waste the towns of Judah
so no one can live there.”
12 What man is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the LORD and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross?
Our body is important to God. If we honor God with our Body, then we must be free from immoralities committed outside or against our body. We are members of Christ himself, the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, our body is united with God in Spirit and becomes “One” with him. However, our temptations and sexual desires can disconnect our body from embracing the Oneness of God. The bible asks us to keep watch of our body and pray so we can remain strong in Spirit and not fall into temptation.
Our body is in harmony with the Spirit when the mind is still. Uncertainties, fears, and worries fog the mind to think clear, disconnecting us to God. When we are Spiritually Dead, the Body’s desires is to act on its own which may result in sin or doing immoral acts. We become consumed with our own self-desires to fulfill our needs and take things in our own hands. When trouble comes, we waste a lot of energy fighting our own battles whether it is for the right or wrong reasons. Psalm 37:7, 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
The Bible reminds us to be humble and worry free like children. Matthew 18:2-4, 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Psalm 131:1-2, 1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. When we are free from worries and uncertainty, our mind begins to think clearly. Young children tend to be worry free, have no ego, do not concern themselves, and have no need to be better. Their innocents are the qualities God wants us to imitate and not their thinking. 1 Corinthians 14:20, 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. Whether our life is wonderful or troubling, a still mind will open the door for the Holy Spirit to Act for us. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the body is Spiritually Alive. The Spirit enables us to live accordingly to the Word of God. Instead of wasting energy, we draw the highest energy into our body from the Spirit that restores your Body. As a result, we are loving toward others, generous givers, kind, respectful, and joyful. Leaders of nations indwelt by the Holy Spirit can rule a nation with righteousness. During King Solomon’s power, he was able to judge righteously according to God’s Law because he was “One” with the Spirit. What he spoke were not words taught by human wisdom but words taught by the Spirit of God, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. King Solomon became the greatest Kings because he didn’t ask for power, wealth, or honor but Wisdom and Knowledge. 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (Solomon Asks for Wisdom), 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 8Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Mark 10:18, 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good-except God alone. If there is anything good to boost about, it is the Holy Spirit working in you. We are hand picked by God as vessels to serve and fulfill his purpose. The spirit endures all the body experiences to regenerate, indwell, restraint, and provide service. The Spirit is the immaterial facet of man allowing us to have an intimate relationship with God. The “Opening and Closing Gate of Heaven” is the gateway to our soul for God to intercede in our life. When the gateway to the soul opens, the mind is in motion; when it closes, the mind is at rest. In the opening and closing of this gateway, can we keep the principle of serenity and quietude? Our mind animates the body to act accordingly to our thoughts. If our thoughts are “serenity” and “quietude”, the body will imitate those thoughts. Moments of serenity and quietude keeps us still so the Spirit can Act for us. Our bodies feel re-energized by the Spirit when we are One with the Spirit, the highest level of energy we can receive. However, when we are down and depress, the gateway to our soul closes and the mind is at rest. We become restless because the Spirit is no longer in motion to energize the body. Instead, we disconnect with the Spirit and use our own energy until nothing is left. Depriving the body from re-energizing itself has negative effects, such as depression, loneliness, aging, and early death.
God is the Creator of all things, living and non-living. We are born again as imperishable seeds, through the living and enduring Word of God; the Word that stands forever. God nourish us with the living water. Anyone who drinks this water will never thirst again and will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. For everyone born of God and believe that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. Thus, when we have nothing, but yet possess everything. In our achievements, there is no need for arrogance for God will exalt the humble (Matthew 23:8-12). God is impartial, who judge the world in righteousness and govern the people with justice (Psalm 9:8). God grace overflow to the many who are in Spirit with him.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.
Filling your stomach up with riches, keep sharpening your sword, and the love money can excite the fascination of “getting excessively rich”. It is too great a temptation to resist potential wealth when we don’t keep our faith in God. The body do not have the ability to do anything above our mental and physical capacity. Unfortunately, some desire to live above their means to cover up their insecurities which may lead to stress, anger, violence, and possibly suicide. These excessive behaviors start to shape our life and soon become destructive habits.
Living in moderation can be quite a challenge when you have the opportunity to live like a wealthy celebrity. Let’s say, you won 2.3 million dollars and a bracelet at the World Series of Poker. What about $21,000,000,000 playing the lotto? If that isn’t enough, what about an inheritance of 1.3 billion dollars? Do I need the money to be happy? If you were content without it, then what purpose does excessive wealth serve you? Do you plan to keep it all for yourself or give a portion away? Of course, the money can buy many desirable things; however, the true essence of who we are is to “Give” and not receive. This is the basic foundation God created us to be for true happiness. Acts 20:35, 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ Immediate wealth weakens our ambition to learn new things in life. What do you have to look forward too if everything is at hand? All the special moments of your incremental success are now replaced with money. In fact, the vast majority of lottery winners who won a large sum of money are in a worst financial situation. Many of them claim to be playing the lottery so they can give to the church or good cause, but few, if any, truly give.
Do I need to earn excessive amount of money? Money does not create happiness and desiring too much are the reasons for the housing and stock market to collapse. The Rich gets richer and the Poor get poorer at the expense of another person. This is the excessive greed along the higher chain of people who live to improve their status quo. The chances of excessively gaining wealth are extremely small, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined. God does not need your money to fulfill his Promise for us. He is the Sovereign God who provides for our needs, especially to those who ask in his name. John 14:14, 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Build your wealth honestly in increments you can appreciate and give to the poor what God has given you. Proverbs 13:11, 11Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. To whom much is given, much is expected! Luke 12:47-48, 47“That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Hebrews 13:5, 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ,6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Matthew 6:24 , 24No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Many professionals “Require” the use of their “Title” named accordingly by their profession to fulfill any insecurity they may have. It is a primary fragment of what they “Come To Be” and not who they really are. The “Title” gives them an edge above everyone else and becomes the grounds of their identity. These titles may include Dr., PhD, DDS, MD, CEO, CFO, President, Bishop, Pastor, Father, Rabbi, and many more. Matthew 23:5-13, 5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Though we may be the CEO of a fortune 5 company or the top surgeon in the world, God ask us to do our work and remain humble. Let the people around you, honor you. There is no need to sit on a pedestal above everyone else. “Live To Give!”
