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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 38</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-38/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fruit of God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ritual]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Christ and The Pharisees Image via Wikipedia <p>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 [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Pharisees.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="Christ and The Pharisees" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Christ_Pharisees.jpg/300px-Christ_Pharisees.jpg" alt="Christ and The Pharisees" width="300" height="213" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Christ and The Pharisees</span></div></dt>
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<p>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. &#8220;Good teacher,&#8221; he asked, &#8220;what must I do to inherit eternal life?&#8221; &#8220;Why do you call me good?&#8221; Jesus answered. &#8220;No one is good—except God alone.</span> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Matthew 23:1-7<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup><br />
1</sup>Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: <sup>2</sup>&#8220;The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses&#8217; seat. <sup>3</sup>So 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. <sup>4</sup>They tie up heavy loads and put them on men&#8217;s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.</span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup> 5</sup>&#8220;Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; <sup>6</sup>they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; <sup>7</sup>they love to be greeted in the</span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Matthew 23:25-28<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>25</sup>&#8220;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. <sup>26</sup>Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. <sup>27</sup>&#8220;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&#8217;s bones and everything unclean. <sup>28</sup>In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.</span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Wu Ch&#8217;eng<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;">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. &#8216;That&#8217; refers to the flower. &#8216;This&#8217; refers to the fruit. Those who embody the Tao choose the fruit over the flower. </span></p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 37</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:39:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eternity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GOD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Christ Driving the Moneychangers from the Temple<p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p> <p>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 [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_024.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class=" " title="Christ Driving the Moneychangers from the Temple" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_024.jpg/300px-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_024.jpg" alt="Christ Driving the Moneychangers from the Temple" width="300" height="411" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Christ Driving the Moneychangers from the Temple</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>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 &amp; 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>5</sup>Those 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.</span> 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.  <sup>c</sup>John 16:12-16, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>12</sup>&#8220;I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. <sup>13</sup>But 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. <sup>14</sup>He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. <sup>15</sup>All 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. <sup>16</sup>&#8220;In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.&#8221;</span></p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 36</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-36/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-36/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:12:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caiaphas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Spirit]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Sanhedrin]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate<p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p> <p>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, &#8220;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.&#8221; Therefore [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eccehomo1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class=" " title="Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Eccehomo1.jpg/300px-Eccehomo1.jpg" alt="Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate" width="300" height="231" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>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,<sup> <span style="color: #ff0000;">9</span></sup><span style="color: #ff0000;">But he said to me, &#8220;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.&#8221; Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ&#8217;s power may rest on me. <sup>10</sup>That is why, for Christ&#8217;s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>2</sup>&#8220;Are you the king of the Jews?&#8221; asked Pilate. &#8220;Yes, it is as you say,&#8221; Jesus replied. <sup>3</sup>The chief priests accused him of many things. <sup>4</sup>So again Pilate asked him, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.&#8221; <sup>5</sup>But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.</span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Matthew 26:59-68<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>59</sup>The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. <sup>60</sup>But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.  Finally two came forward <sup>61</sup>and declared, &#8220;This fellow said, &#8216;I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.&#8217; &#8221;  <sup>62</sup>Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, &#8220;Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?&#8221; <sup>63</sup>But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, &#8220;I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ,<sup> </sup>the Son of God.&#8221;  <sup>64</sup>&#8220;Yes, it is as you say,&#8221; Jesus replied. &#8220;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.&#8221;  <sup>65</sup>Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, &#8220;He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. <sup>66</sup>What do you think?&#8221; &#8220;He is worthy of death,&#8221; they answered. <sup>67</sup>Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him <sup>68</sup>and said, &#8220;Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?&#8221;</span></p>
<p>It is the Grace of God who given up his only Son to be the sacrifice for our sin. John 7:37-39, <span style="color: #ff0000;">On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, &#8220;If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. <sup>38</sup>Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.&#8221; <sup>39</sup>By 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.</span> 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.</p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 35</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:46:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lao Tzu]]></category>

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<p>To hold the Great Image is the state of illuminated oneness. The greatness of God&#8217;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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=7535fc4b-a586-44aa-8671-14a6e131e11b" alt=" Taoism   Tao Te Ching Chapter 35"  title="Taoism   Tao Te Ching Chapter 35" /><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution"><script src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></span></div>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 34</title>
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		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-34/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 May 2010 21:48:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lao Tzu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Giotto. The Crucifixion. 1304-1306. Fresco. Image via Wikipedia <p>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&#8217;t depend on it for life, and yet it never seek reward [...]]]></description>
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<p>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&#8217;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.</p>
<p>The Spirit leads us to the miracle of salvation that came from the sacrifice of Jesus through faith. John 14:6,<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Jesus answered, &#8220;I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>37</sup>On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, &#8220;If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. <sup>38</sup>Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.&#8221; <sup>39</sup>By 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.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">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; </span>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”.</p>
<p>Jesus (God, Son, or Spirit: Trinity) fulfills the promise of his Father without taking credit or glory for his work. John 8:54, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>54</sup>Jesus replied, &#8220;If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.</span> 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&#8217;t control them; like streams returning to the sea, and yet it doesn&#8217;t control them (Ecclesiastes 1:7). John 14:10, <span style="color: #ff0000;">Don&#8217;t you believe that I am in the <strong>Father</strong>, and that the <strong>Father</strong> is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the <strong>Father</strong>, living in me, who is doing his <strong>work</strong>. All things are created by him and all things will return to the Father and Son.</span></p>
<p>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">Jesus answered, &#8220;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.&#8221;</span> 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.</p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 33</title>
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		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-33/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 May 2010 18:08:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Death]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Lao Tzu]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Eliseus is a prophet of the Hebrew bible. Image via Wikipedia <p>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 [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eliseus-Prophet.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="Eliseus is a prophet of the Hebrew bible." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Eliseus-Prophet.jpg/300px-Eliseus-Prophet.jpg" alt="Eliseus is a prophet of the Hebrew bible." width="300" height="303" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Eliseus is a prophet of the Hebrew bible.</span></div></dt>
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<p><strong>Consciousness of “self” is wisdom.</strong> 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.</p>
<p><strong>Consciousness of “others” is knowledge.</strong> 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,<span style="color: #ff0000;"> <sup>6</sup>For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. <span style="color: #000000;">Unfortunately, most of us may not have true wisdom, but misleading wisdom of the flesh to sin. </span>Proverbs 14, <sup>6</sup><sup>7</sup> Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. <sup>8</sup> The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.</span> Without knowledge of the spirit, the flesh finds fault in people and use deception to obtain it&#8217;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,<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup id="en-NIV-29332"> 10</sup>Finally, be strong in  the Lord and in his mighty power. <sup id="en-NIV-29333">11</sup>Put on the full armor of God so that you can  take your stand against the devil&#8217;s schemes. <sup id="en-NIV-29334">12</sup>For 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. <sup id="en-NIV-29335">13</sup>Therefore  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. <span style="color: #333300;">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&#8217;s Kingdom. Eventually, we no longer accept </span></span>ourselves as God&#8217;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.</p>
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 250px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:240px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66621355@N00/508302228" target="_blank"><img class=" " title="Holy Spirit Dove" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/508302228_ae37586ce9_m.jpg" alt="Holy Spirit Dove" width="240" height="211" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Holy Spirit Dove</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by hickory hardscrabble via Flickr</p></div>
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<p><strong>The essence of “power” is of the Spirit.</strong> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup id="en-NIV-29261">4</sup>There is one body and one  Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— <sup id="en-NIV-29262">5</sup>one Lord, one faith, one  baptism; <sup id="en-NIV-29263">6</sup>one God and  Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.</span> 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).</p>
<p><strong>The essence of “force” is of the flesh.</strong> 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&#8217;s limits. Psalm 73:26, <span style="color: #ff0000;">My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. <span style="color: #000000;">Our body in mortal and our spirit lives on forever. </span><br />
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:240px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79434558@N00/751221191" target="_blank"><img class=" " title="For 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. 1 Timothy 6:10" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1203/751221191_fdb8eae75c_m.jpg" alt="For 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. 1 Timothy 6:10" width="240" height="240" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>For 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. 1 Timothy 6:10</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by TW Collins via Flickr</p></div>
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<p>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,<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Jesus answered, &#8220;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.&#8221;</span> 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 &#8220;love&#8221; 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>16</sup>&#8220;For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,<sup> 17</sup>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through h<span style="color: #ff0000;">im. </span></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"> that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. </span>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>10</sup>I 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. <sup>11</sup>I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. <sup>12</sup>I 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. <sup>13</sup>I can do everything through him who gives me strength.</span></p>
<p>Those who persevere and can endure vigorously through uncertainties have the spirit of faith at work in them. Hebrews 11:1, <span style="color: #ff0000;">Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. <span style="color: #000000;">Salvation is given to us as a gift from God, so we can be saved through faith.</span></span> Ephesians 2:8-9,  <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>8</sup>For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— <sup>9</sup>not by works, so that no one can boast. <span style="color: #000000;">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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>29</sup>Then Jesus told him, &#8220;Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.&#8221;</span></span></span></p>
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<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 110px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:100px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ScriptureSeedsLogo.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="Scripture Seeds" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/ScriptureSeedsLogo.jpg" alt="Scripture Seeds" width="100" height="87" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Scripture Seeds</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>37</sup>He answered, &#8220;The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. <sup>38</sup>The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, <sup>39</sup>and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. <sup>40</sup>&#8220;As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. <sup>41</sup>The 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. <sup>42</sup>They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. <sup>43</sup>Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>13</sup>And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.</span> We are not our own body, but a vessel for the spirit to deliver us to the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).</p>
<p>Some may say to &#8220;die&#8221;, 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">&#8220;Why do you call me good?&#8221; Jesus answered. &#8220;No one is good—except God alone. </span>Romans 8:12-14, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>12</sup>Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. <sup>13</sup>For 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, <sup>14</sup>because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. </span>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.</p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 32</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 15 May 2010 21:55:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lao Tzu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nelson Mandela]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator ... Image via Wikipedia <p>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. [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator ..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg/300px-Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg" alt="Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator ..." width="300" height="336" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator ...</span></div></dt>
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<p>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 &#8220;simple&#8221; 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,<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup> 17</sup> Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, &#8220;What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?&#8221;  <sup>18</sup>He replied, &#8220;Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.</span></p>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:146px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nelson_Mandela.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="President Bill Clinton with Nelson Mandela, Ju..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Nelson_Mandela.jpg" alt="President Bill Clinton with Nelson Mandela, Ju..." width="146" height="185" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>President Bill Clinton with Nelson Mandela, Ju...</span></div></dt>
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<p>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;">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;</span> 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,<span style="color: #ff0000;"> 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,</span> Matthew 23:12, <span style="color: #ff0000;">For whoever  exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be  exalted. </span>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)</p>
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<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 185px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:175px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52725601@N00/197083599" target="_blank"><img class=" " title="Free Youself From Worldly Desires" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/197083599_81a7ecce71_m.jpg" alt="Free Youself From Worldly Desires" width="175" height="240" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Free Youself From Worldly Desires</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by * Honest * via Flickr</p></div>
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<p>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&#8217;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).</p>
<p>Matthew 23:1-7,<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup> 1</sup>Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: <sup>2</sup>&#8220;The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses&#8217; seat. <sup>3</sup>So 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. <sup>4</sup>They tie up heavy loads and put them on men&#8217;s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.</span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup> 5</sup>&#8220;Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; <sub><sup>6</sup></sub>they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;<sup> 7</sup>they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them &#8216;Rabbi.&#8217;</span></p>
<p>Matthew 23:27 <span style="color: #ff0000;">&#8220;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&#8217;s bones  and everything unclean.</span></p>
<p>Matthew 25:41-45, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup id="en-NIV-24047">41</sup>&#8220;Then he will say to  those on  his left, &#8216;Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the  eternal fire  prepared for the devil and his angels. <sup id="en-NIV-24048">42</sup>For  I was hungry and you gave  me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you  gave me nothing to drink, <sup id="en-NIV-24049">43</sup>I 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.&#8217;<sup id="en-NIV-24050"> 44</sup>&#8220;They also will answer,  &#8216;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?&#8217;<sup id="en-NIV-24051"> 45</sup>&#8220;He  will reply, &#8216;I tell you  the truth, whatever you did not do for one of  the least of these, you  did not do for me.&#8217;<sup id="en-NIV-24052"> </sup> </span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>2 Chronicles 7:14<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>14</sup>if 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.</span></p>
<p>Luke 12:32-34<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>32</sup> &#8220;Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. <sup>33</sup>Sell 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. <sup>34</sup>For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</span></p>
<p>2 Peter 1:3-10<br />
<span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>3</sup> 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. <sup>4</sup>Through 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. <sup>5</sup>For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; <sup>6</sup>and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; <sup>7</sup>and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. <sup>8</sup>For 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. <sup>9</sup>But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. <sup>10</sup>Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, <sup>11</sup>and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p>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. <em> </em>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, <sup><span style="color: #ff0000;">14</span></sup><span style="color: #ff0000;">if 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.</span></p>
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		<title>The Intelligent Design and Darwinism (Accidental Changes)</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/intelligent-design-and-darwinism/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/intelligent-design-and-darwinism/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2010 11:12:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Creation & Evolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darwinism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Evolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intelligent design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural selection]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Animation of the structure of a section of DNA...<p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p> <p>Darwin’s theory was introduced over 100 years ago in 1859 and scientific theories have evolved way beyond Darwin&#8217;s time. The basic premise of Darwinism is that changes in evolution occur by accident and then selected by the environment. It allows some [...]]]></description>
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 300px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:290px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DNA_orbit_animated.gif" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class=" " title="Animation of the structure of a section of DNA..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/DNA_orbit_animated.gif" alt="Animation of the structure of a section of DNA..." width="290" height="477" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Animation of the structure of a section of DNA...</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
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<p>Darwin’s theory was introduced over 100 years ago in 1859 and scientific theories have evolved way beyond Darwin&#8217;s time. The basic premise of Darwinism is that changes in evolution occur by accident and then selected by the environment. It allows some organisms that have particular accidental changes to live and reproduce while other accidental changes of organisms may not be as viable and die. However, living organisms’ DNA does not change by accident and if it does change, it repairs itself. Therefore, DNA is able to sense changes in the environment that demand changes in DNA. Scientists have discovered that lactose intolerance bacteria survived after placing it in a Petri dish containing lactose as the only food source. According to Darwinism theory, the bacteria should have died due to the lactose food poison. Instead, scientists discovered bacteria’s DNA can rearrange its own DNA to fit environmental conditions. They did this specifically, consciously, and quickly, making it possible to survive in a lactose environment. However, the prediction of Darwin’s theory states the outcome of DNA rearrangement should have been &#8220;random&#8221; and &#8220;taken place in several generations&#8221;. As you can see in this experiment, it does not support Darwin’s predictions.</p>
<p>Many scientist believe that consciousness is a later product of evolution from a non-living universe and non-living planet, in which life evolve from accidental changes. It is much more plausible to argue that consciousness comes first as a source for material creation or material evolution. It does not make sense that non-consciousness can develop itself into consciousness. Evolution does not proceed by accident. Life does not evolve from simple, step by step, to complex systems. Irreducible complexity does not support the idea that organism can evolve from a step by step process. Irreducible complexity is based on a number of different parts that all have to fit together to work. For example, if any parts of a mouse trap are missing, it won’t work. Natural selection needs to work on something that has a function, but the use of a complex system only works when put together. Scientist found the bacteria flagellum is like a propeller connected to a rotating motor that allows the bacteria to move. This tiny machine requires about 40 different protein parts and any of these parts missing will stop the system. How such a thing can be put together in a gradual, step by step process is beyond understanding and has been unsolved. In other words, every single species in an ecosystem has its part. If we take out one species, the entire system deteriorates similar to the way our organ system function.</p>
<p>Are we basically the material in our body, which is the world view that Darwin suggest? If so, then we are nothing but interconnecting chemical reactions. What if somebody told you that your IQ was less intelligent than a fly some time ago? What about a frog turning into a prince millions of years later? How do you test and explain the origin of intelligence? An alternative belief is the spiritual component to human life, a purpose for existence. It’s hard not to see an intelligent design at work in nature among the intricate relationships of all the creatures and living systems. Faith in God is the reasonable belief behind creation that explains how everything can be skillfully and wisely put together.</p>
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		<title>It&#8217;s Up To You!</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/its-up-to-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/its-up-to-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:43:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p></p> <p>I found something interesting by an unknown author. I hope you like it.</p> <p>I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you. I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you. I can allow you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30030574@N03/4348937873" target="_blank"><img class="  alignright" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; border: 0pt none;" title="I AM" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4348937873_8b6b690ceb_m.jpg" border="0" alt="4348937873 8b6b690ceb m Its Up To You!" hspace="5" width="240" height="240" /></a></p>
<p>I found something interesting by an unknown author. I hope you like it.</p>
<p>I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you.<br />
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.<br />
I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you.<br />
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.<br />
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.<br />
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot decide for you.<br />
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.<br />
I can teach you to be a friend, but I cannot make you one.<br />
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.<br />
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.<br />
I can grieve about your report card but I cannot make you study,<br />
I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you.<br />
I can teach you about sex and the facts of life, but I cannot decide for you.<br />
I can tell you about drinking, but I cannot say &#8220;no&#8221; for you.<br />
I can warn you about drugs, but I cannot prevent you from using them.<br />
I can teach you about goals and dreams, but I cannot achieve them for you.<br />
I can teach you kindness, but I cannot force you to be kind.<br />
I can warn you about sin, but I cannot make your morals.<br />
I can love you as a [daughter] son, but I cannot place you in God&#8217;s family<br />
I can pray for you and your future, but I cannot make you walk with God.<br />
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=ecbc2124-8787-4ad7-a50b-dbb6cd2da571" alt=" Its Up To You!"  title="Its Up To You!" /><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution"><script src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></span></div>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 31</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-31/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-31/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:11:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lao Tzu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Word of God]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ Michelangelo's Piet in St. Peter's Basilica<p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p> <p>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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Michelangelo%27s_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img class=" " title="Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica i..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Michelangelo%27s_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned.jpg/300px-Michelangelo%27s_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned.jpg" alt="Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica" width="300" height="314" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
</div>
<p>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 <span style="color: #ff0000;">&#8220;Yes, it is as you say,&#8221; Jesus replied. &#8220;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.&#8221;</span> Matthew 6:2-4 <span style="color: #ff0000;">&#8220;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.</span></p>
<p>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&#8217;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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong><br />
Jeremiah 9</strong></p>
<p><sup>1</sup> Oh, that my head were a spring of water<br />
and my eyes a fountain of tears!<br />
I would weep day and night<br />
for the slain of my people.</p>
<p><sup>2</sup> Oh, that I had in the desert<br />
a lodging place for travelers,<br />
so that I might leave my people<br />
and go away from them;<br />
for they are all adulterers,<br />
a crowd of unfaithful people.</p>
<p><sup>3</sup> &#8220;They make ready their tongue<br />
like a bow, to shoot lies;<br />
it is not by truth<br />
that they triumph in the land.<br />
They go from one sin to another;<br />
they do not acknowledge me,&#8221;<br />
declares the LORD.</p>
<p><sup>4</sup> &#8220;Beware of your friends;<br />
do not trust your brothers.<br />
For every brother is a deceiver,<br />
and every friend a slanderer.</p>
<p><sup>5</sup> Friend deceives friend,<br />
and no one speaks the truth.<br />
They have taught their tongues to lie;<br />
they weary themselves with sinning.</p>
<p><sup>6</sup> You live in the midst of deception;<br />
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,&#8221;<br />
declares the LORD.</p>
<p><sup>7</sup> Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says:<br />
&#8220;See, I will refine and test them,<br />
for what else can I do<br />
because of the sin of my people?</p>
<p><sup>8</sup> Their tongue is a deadly arrow;<br />
it speaks with deceit.<br />
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,<br />
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.</p>
<p><sup>9</sup> Should I not punish them for this?&#8221;<br />
declares the LORD.<br />
&#8220;Should I not avenge myself<br />
on such a nation as this?&#8221;</p>
<p><sup>10</sup> I will weep and wail for the mountains<br />
and take up a lament concerning the desert pastures.<br />
They are desolate and untraveled,<br />
and the lowing of cattle is not heard.<br />
The birds of the air have fled<br />
and the animals are gone.</p>
<p><sup>11</sup> &#8220;I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,<br />
a haunt of jackals;<br />
and I will lay waste the towns of Judah<br />
so no one can live there.&#8221;</p>
<p><sup>12</sup> 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?</p>
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		<title>Taoism &#8211; Tao Te Ching Chapter 10</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-10/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/taoism-tao-te-ching-chapter-10/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:21:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taoism - Tao Te Ching]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.spiritualcycle.com/?p=1481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Holy Spirit Image via Wikipedia <p>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. [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_nowrap" style="width:300px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pietro_Perugino_077.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img title="Holy Spirit" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Pietro_Perugino_077.jpg/300px-Pietro_Perugino_077.jpg" alt="Holy Spirit" width="300" height="408" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>Holy Spirit</span></div></dt>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>7</sup>Be 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.</span></p>
<p>The Bible reminds us to be humble and worry free like children. Matthew 18:2-4, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>2</sup>He called a little child and had him stand among them. <sup>3</sup>And he said: &#8220;I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. <sup>4</sup>Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. </span>Psalm 131:1-2, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>1</sup>My 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. <sup>2</sup>But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.</span> 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, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>20</sup>Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.</span> 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), <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>7</sup>That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, &#8220;Ask for whatever you want me to give you.&#8221; <sup>8</sup>Solomon answered God, &#8220;You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. <sup>9</sup>Now, 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. <sup>10</sup>Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?&#8221; <sup>11</sup>God said to Solomon, &#8220;Since this is your heart&#8217;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, <sup>12</sup>therefore 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.&#8221;</span></p>
<p>Mark 10:18, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><sup>18</sup>&#8220;Why do you call me <strong>good</strong>?&#8221; Jesus answered. &#8220;<strong>No</strong> one is <strong>good</strong>-except <strong>God</strong> alone.</span> 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.</p>
<p>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<sup> (</sup>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.</p>
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		<title>Is There a Difference Between Spirit and Soul?</title>
		<link>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/spirit-soul-difference/</link>
		<comments>http://www.spiritualcycle.com/spirit-soul-difference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:31:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Religion and Spirituality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Spirit]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The spirit and soul are interchangeably used in the bible meaning the same thing. It is the immaterial part of our body which intercedes for us beyond words of understanding. [...]]]></description>
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<p align="left"><strong>What is the Spirit and Soul?</strong></p>
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 182px"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="width:172px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15925384@N00/4006192513" target="_blank"><img class="  " title="The Anointing of the Holy Spirit" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/4006192513_6cf4fd00d1_m.jpg" alt="The Anointing of the Holy Spirit" width="172" height="240" /></a><br style="clear:both" /><span>The Anointing of the Holy Spirit</span></div><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by Loci Lenar via Flickr</p></div>
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<p>The spirit and soul are interchangeably used in the bible  				meaning the same thing. It is the immaterial part of our body  				which intercedes for us. The  				spirit/soul 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  				&#8220;Spiritually Alive&#8221; and unbelievers are &#8220;Spiritually Dead&#8221;.  				The Spirit is the immaterial facet of man allowing us to have an intimate relationship with God. Mankind has a spirit but we are not a spirit.  When we use the word spirit, it refers to the immaterial part of man, including his soul. Man is a soul and the word soul simply means life, thus life is removed at the time of death.  Soul refers to the material and immaterial of man. In Genesis, Man’s sin tainted our soul but God already had a plan to wash away our sins. Whenever soul is used, it can refer to a person alive or after death. Soul and Spirit are the same in the manner they are used but different in reference.The Soul is man’s horizontal view of the world and Spirit is man’s vertical view of the world. Both refer to the immaterial part of man but Spirit refers to man’s walk with God and Soul refers to man’s walk with the world, both material and immaterial.  The bible  				show man&#8217;s eagerness to sin and man&#8217;s naturally evil works  				against the spirit/soul as a result of Adam&#8217;s sin.</p>
<p>1 Corinthians 2:11<br />
<sup>11</sup>For who among men knows the thoughts of a man  				except the man&#8217;s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows  				the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.</p>
<p>Hebrews 4:12<br />
<sup>12</sup>For the word of God is living and active. Sharper  				than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul  				and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and  				attitudes of the heart.  (Only scripture mentioning the spirit and soul can be divided only by God)</p>
<p>James 2:26<br />
<sup>26</sup>As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith  				without deeds is dead.</p>
<p>1 Thessalonians 5:23<br />
<sup>23</sup>May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you  				through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be  				kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>Spirit is the Greek word &#8220;pneuma&#8221; which means &#8220;breath or breeze&#8221;  				referring to a human &#8220;spirit&#8221; the rational &#8220;soul&#8221;. The<strong> </strong> soul is the Greek word &#8220;psuche&#8221; which means &#8220;breath&#8221; and by  				implication &#8220;spirit&#8221;. Thus, the use of the two words does not  				indicate the immaterial part of man could be divided, but rather  				used simply for emphasis. There are not three parts to humans  				(body, soul, and spirit) but only two parts (body and &#8220;soul or  				spirit&#8221;). Throughout the scriptures we see the two terms  				&#8220;spirit&#8221; and &#8220;soul&#8221; used interchangeably.</p>
<p>Hebrews 6:19<br />
<sup>19</sup>We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm  				and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,</p>
<p>1 Peter 2:11<br />
<sup>11</sup>Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers  				in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against  				your soul.</p>
<p>2 Peter 2:8<br />
<sup>8</sup>for that righteous man, living among them day after  				day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he  				saw and heard</p>
<p>Genesis 2:7<br />
<sup>7</sup>And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the  				ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and  				man became a living soul.</p>
<p>Luke 10:27<br />
<sup>27</sup>And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy  				God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy  				strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.</p>
<p>In Peter we find the word &#8220;soul&#8221; can also be the &#8220;spirit&#8221;, the  				eternal part he put into us when we were conceived (made alive).  				In Genesis, the Lord breathed into man the breath of life which  				is the &#8220;spirit&#8221; or &#8220;soul&#8221; that our body can be made alive and  				breath the air. In Luke, the word for &#8220;heart&#8221; refers to the  				mind&#8217;s thoughts or feelings. It does not refer to the flesh of  				the heart that pumps blood but the &#8220;mind&#8221; in the sense of our  				&#8220;soul&#8221; or &#8220;spirit&#8221;. The Greek word for mind is &#8220;dianoia&#8221; which  				refers to our &#8220;deep thoughts&#8221; or &#8220;the exercise of our minds&#8221;.  				The heart and soul is use for emphasis referring to the same  				thing, the spirit. We are to love our God with our actual  				thoughts. In summary, the &#8220;spirit&#8221; and the &#8220;soul&#8221; are one and  				the same, two words meaning the same thing: the eternal  				immaterial part of each person.</li>
<li>
<p align="left"><strong>How is the Spirit or Soul created?<br />
</strong>Creationism holds that all spirits/souls are created directly by God  				(with Eve&#8217;s substance, material and immaterial, being taken from  				Adam). God creates a new soul/spirit when a human being is  				conceived. The scriptures that differentiates the origin of the  				spirit/soul from the origin of the body.</p>
<p>Ecclesiastes 12:7<br />
<sup>7</sup>and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and  				the spirit returns to God who gave it.</p>
<p>Isaiah 42:5<br />
<sup>5</sup>This is what God the LORD says-he who created the  				heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all  				that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life  				to those who walk on it:</p>
<p>Zechariah 12:1<br />
<sup>1</sup>This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The  				LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of  				the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares:</p>
<p>Hebrews 12:9<br />
<sup>9</sup>Moreover, we have all had human fathers who  				disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more  				should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!</p>
<p>Traducianism believe an individual spirit or soul is derived  				from  				the spirits or souls of the parents. This implies the spirit or soul of Adam was  				created directly by God with Eve&#8217;s substance, material and  				immaterial, being taken from Adam. The scriptures below reads  				the body, soul, spirit came from the parents.</p>
<p>Genesis 2:7<br />
<sup>7</sup>the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the  				ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and  				the man became a living being.</p>
<p>Genesis 5:3<br />
<sup>3</sup>When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his  				own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.</p>
<p>Genesis 2:2-3<br />
<sup>2</sup>By the seventh day God had finished the work he had  				been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 				<sup>3</sup>And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,  				because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he  				had done.</p>
<p>Both Creationism and Traducianism agree that the soul does not  				exist prior to conception. God creates each individual soul at  				the moment it is need.</li>
<li>
<p align="left"><strong>Is the spirit/soul mortal or immortal?</strong><br />
The human spirit/soul is immortal whether they are saved or lost will  				spend eternity someplace in heaven or hell. Our spirit/soul will live  				forever either in the presence of God in heaven if we are saved  				or punished in hell if rejected by God&#8217;s gift of salvation. Our  				spirit/soul will live forever and our bodies will resurrect. God is the  				only one who can  				restore our spirit/soul to the body after death.</p>
<p>Psalm 23:3<br />
<sup>3</sup>he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of  				righteousness for his name&#8217;s sake.</p>
<p>Ecclesiastes 12:7<br />
<sup>7</sup>and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit  				returns to God who gave it.</p>
<p>Daniel 12:2<br />
<sup>2</sup>Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some  				to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.</p>
<p>Matthew 25:46<br />
<sup>46</sup>&#8220;Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous  				to eternal life.&#8221;</p>
<p>1 Corinthians 15:12-19<br />
<sup>12</sup>But if it is preached that Christ has been raised  				from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no  				resurrection of the dead? <sup>13</sup>If there is no  				resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 				<sup>14</sup>And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is  				useless and so is your faith. <sup>15</sup>More than that, we  				are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have  				testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he  				did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. <sup>16</sup>For  				if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised  				either. <sup>17</sup>And if Christ has not been raised, your  				faith is futile; you are still in your sins. <sup>18</sup>Then  				those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. <sup>19</sup>If  				only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied  				more than all men.</li>
</ul>
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