Three smart@$$ punks were taunting an old bearded man, asking 'Art thou Father Abraham?' Without missing a beat, the man replied 'No. I am Saul, Son of Kish. I am looking for my lost a$$es -- and I have found them!'

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 3 And the a$$es of Kish Saul's father were lost . And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise , go seek the a$$es. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come , and let us return ; lest my father leave caring for the a$$es, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass : now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go . 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go , what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again , and said , Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake , Come , and let us go to the seer : for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer .) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said ; come , let us go . So they went unto the city where the man of God was. 11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said , He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat : for the people will not eat until he come , because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden . Now therefore get you up ; for about this time ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came , saying , 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said , Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said , I am the seer : go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go , and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20 And as for thine a$$es that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. --- 1 Samuel 9:1-20

I'm simply an ''Ol-Sol-Soul' who's so S.O.L. What Would amazon.god Say? I'm honestly trying to bring this thread to a close. I am somewhat embarrassed by it, at this point -- but I will leave it mostly 'as-is' for the record. The bad should probably be recorded along with the good. Despite the silliness, I still think there is merit to studying this thread -- but view it with extreme discernment. I feel very uncomfortable with a lot of it -- and I honestly don't know why I have posted in such a manner. I am very saddened by all of this. I am deeply saddened by my entire life. I really didn't wish for things to turn out this way. I am presently rejecting myself -- and I suspect that I'm not alone in doing so. I'm now attempting to reinvent myself. Wish me luck. I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing -- or not supposed to be doing. This seems like a creepy-secret most dangerous game. I continue to be mystified by the absurdities -- historically and presently. Those who care the least -- seem to do the best. I feel as though I might be in the middle of a really nasty galactic tug of war -- whether I like it or not -- or whether I know any of the details or not. The only truly beneficial conversations I presently engage in are those I have with myself -- as insane as that sounds. I feel as if I have let everyone down -- on all sides. I feel this energy 24/7. No matter how long I sleep -- I wake-up exhausted and miserable. This has been the case for most of my life. All is not well. Not at all. I am presently preparing for the worst -- and I sense that I won't have long to wait for whatever's coming. I continue to attempt to be 'principle and concept centered' -- rather than being 'personality centered' -- although some key personalities are Extremely Important. I desire a harmonization of The Sovereignty of God with Responsible Human Freedom. But I still don't know the REAL circumstances surrounding the Origin, Nature, History, and Destiny of the Human Race. Most of the Key Information Remains a Mystery -- and No One Seems to be Willing to Properly Discuss All of This With Me Within This Thread -- and I Know That Those Who Are Most Qualified to Talk About All of This, Know About This Thread -- Yet Choose Not to Talk to Me -- for Whatever Reasons -- Legitimate or Illegitimate. I have been tired of this game for a very long time, and now I'm trying to transition into lurk-mode, so I might not be doing a lot of commenting (if any), but I will be viewing a wide variety of internet content. Somewhat unrelatedly, it is conceivable that there is a lot of supercomputer modeling going on, perhaps with a supernatural component, which can approximate the future. Unfortunately, the more precisely the future is known, the less freedom exists. I much prefer the 'open' view of God, and the maximizing of responsible freedom. As knowledge increases, the secrets and skeletons continue to tumble out of the confessionals. The horror. If you wish to talk to me, many of you know where I work and live -- and some of you are probably 'invisibly-standing' close to me as I type these words, so the ball is in your court. Again, I am very sorry if I have angered, offended, or harmed any of you (visible, invisible, human or otherwise) in any way. You really need to read 'Jesus: An Interview Across Time'. A Psychiatrist (Andrew G. Hodges) Looks at HIS Humanity. Dr. Robert H. Schuller interviewed Dr. Andrew G. Hodges in the 1980's. This might be an excellent reference book, in light of this thread! Do NOT place God in a Box! He and/or She Will NOT Cooperate! Your God is Too Cool! What Would J.B. Phillips Say? I once held a box next to my head, and told 'Rufus' (from Dogma) that I was 'Thinking Outside of the Box'! Often, a military-looking Humvee was waiting outside. Hmmmmmmm. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_pop_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Andrew%20G.%20Hodges



The following introduction to the Sermon on the Mount is from the preface and first chapter of 'Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing' by Ellen White. This is followed by the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. (KJV) The homily is from 'The Sermon on the Mount' in the book 'Desire of Ages' by Ellen White. Try listening to a Latin Mass - while reading this aloud. Repeatedly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enWiFcsBqIE

The Sermon on the Mount is Heaven's benediction to the world--a voice from the throne of God. It was given to mankind to be to them the law of duty and the light of heaven, their hope and consolation in despondency, their joy and comfort in all the vicissitudes and walks of life. Here the Prince of preachers, the Master Teacher, utters the words that the Father gave Him to speak. The Beatitudes are Christ's greeting, not only to those who believe, but to the whole human family. He seems to have forgotten for a moment that He is in the world, not in heaven; and He uses the familiar salutation of the world of light. Blessings flow from His lips as the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life.

Christ leaves us in no doubt as to the traits of character that He will always recognize and bless. From the ambitious favorites of the world, He turns to those whom they disown, pronouncing all blessed who receive His light and life. To the poor in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the sorrowful, the despised, the persecuted, He opens His arms of refuge, saying, "Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest." Christ can look upon the misery of the world without a shade of sorrow for having created man. In the human heart He sees more than sin, more than misery. In His infinite wisdom and love He sees man's possibilities, the height to which he may attain. He knows that, even though human beings have abused their mercies and destroyed their God-given dignity, yet the Creator is to be glorified in their redemption.

Throughout all time the words that Christ spoke from the mount of Beatitudes will retain their power. Every sentence is a jewel from the treasure house of truth. The principles enunciated in this discourse are for all ages and for all classes of men. With divine energy, Christ expressed His faith and hope as He pointed out class after class as blessed because of having formed righteous characters. Living the life of the Life-giver, through faith in Him, everyone can reach the standard held up in His words.

More than fourteen centuries before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the children of Israel gathered in the fair vale of Shechem, and from the mountains on either side the voices of the priests were heard proclaiming the blessings and the curses--"a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God: . . . and a curse, if ye will not obey." Deuteronomy 11:27, 28. And thus the mountain from which the words of benediction were spoken came to be known as the mount of blessing. But it was not upon Gerizim that the words were spoken which have come as a benediction to a sinning and sorrowing world. Israel fell short of the high ideal which had been set before her. Another than Joshua must guide His people to the true rest of faith. No longer is Gerizim known as the mount of the Beatitudes, but that unnamed mountain beside the Lake of Gennesaret, where Jesus spoke the words of blessing to His disciples and the multitude.

Let us in imagination go back to that scene, and, as we sit with the disciples on the mountainside, enter into the thoughts and feelings that filled their hearts. Understanding what the words of Jesus meant to those who heard them, we may discern in them a new vividness and beauty, and may also gather for ourselves their deeper lessons.

When the Saviour began His ministry, the popular conception of the Messiah and His work was such as wholly unfitted the people to receive Him. The spirit of true devotion had been lost in tradition and ceremonialism, and the prophecies were interpreted at the dictate of proud, world-loving hearts. The Jews looked for the coming One, not as a Saviour from sin, but as a great prince who should bring all nations under the supremacy of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. In vain had John the Baptist, with the heart-searching power of the ancient prophets, called them to repentance. In vain had he, beside the Jordan, pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. God was seeking to direct their minds to Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering Saviour, but they would not hear.

Had the teachers and leaders in Israel yielded to His transforming grace, Jesus would have made them His ambassadors among men. In Judea first the coming of the kingdom had been proclaimed, and the call to repentance had been given. In the act of driving out the desecrators from the temple at Jerusalem, Jesus had announced Himself as the Messiah--the One who should cleanse the soul from the defilement of sin and make His people a holy temple unto the Lord. But the Jewish leaders would not humble themselves to receive the lowly Teacher from Nazareth. At His second visit to Jerusalem He was arraigned before the Sanhedrin, and fear of the people alone prevented these dignitaries from trying to take His life. Then it was that, leaving Judea, He entered upon His ministry in Galilee. His work there had continued some months before the Sermon on the Mount was given. The message He had proclaimed throughout the land, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17), had arrested the attention of all classes, and had still further fanned the flame of their ambitious hopes. The fame of the new Teacher had spread beyond the limits of Palestine, and, notwithstanding the attitude of the hierarchy, the feeling was widespread that this might be the hoped-for Deliverer. Great multitudes thronged the steps of Jesus, and the popular enthusiasm ran high.

The time had come for the disciples who had been most closely associated with Christ to unite more directly in His work, that these vast throngs might not be left uncared for, as sheep without a shepherd. Some of these disciples had joined themselves to Him at the beginning of His ministry, and nearly all the twelve had been associated together as members of the family of Jesus. Yet they also, misled by the teaching of the rabbis, shared the popular expectation of an earthly kingdom. They could not comprehend the movements of Jesus. Already they had been perplexed and troubled that He made no effort to strengthen His cause by securing the support of the priests and rabbis, that He did nothing to establish His authority as an earthly king. A great work was yet to be accomplished for these disciples before they would be prepared for the sacred trust that would be theirs when Jesus should ascend to heaven. Yet they had responded to the love of Christ, and, though slow of heart to believe, Jesus saw in them those whom He could train and discipline for His great work. And now that they had been long enough with Him to establish, in a measure, their faith in the divine character of His mission, and the people also had received evidence of His power which they could not question, the way was prepared for an avowal of the principles of His kingdom that would help them to comprehend its true nature.

Alone upon a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had spent all night in prayer for these chosen ones. At the dawn He called them to Him, and, with words of prayer and instruction, laid His hands upon their heads in benediction, setting them apart to the gospel work. Then He repaired with them to the seaside, where in the early morning a great multitude had already begun to assemble. Besides the usual crowd from the Galilean towns, there were great numbers from Judea, and from Jerusalem itself; from Perea, and from the half-heathen population of Decapolis; from Idumea, away to the south of Judea, and from Tyre and Sidon, the Phoenician cities on the shore of the Mediterranean. "Hearing what great things He did," they "came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and . . . power came forth from Him, and healed them all." Mark 3:8, R.V.; Luke 6:17-19, R.V.

Then, as the narrow beach did not afford even standing room within reach of His voice for all who desired to hear Him, Jesus led the way back to the mountainside. Reaching a level space that afforded a pleasant gathering place for the vast assembly, He seated Himself upon the grass, and His disciples and the multitude followed His example. With a feeling that something more than usual might be expected, the disciples had pressed about their Master. From the events of the morning they gathered assurance that some announcement was about to be made in regard to the kingdom which, as they fondly hoped, He was soon to establish. A feeling of expectancy pervaded the multitude also, and eager faces gave evidence of the deep interest.

As they sat upon the green hillside, awaiting the words of the divine Teacher, their hearts were filled with thoughts of future glory. There were scribes and Pharisees who looked forward to the day when they should have dominion over the hated Romans and possess the riches and splendor of the world's great empire. The poor peasants and fishermen hoped to hear the assurance that their wretched hovels, the scanty food, the life of toil, and fear of want, were to be exchanged for mansions of plenty and days of ease. In place of the one coarse garment which was their covering by day and their blanket at night, they hoped that Christ would give them the rich and costly robes of their conquerors. All hearts thrilled with the proud hope that Israel was soon to be honored before the nations as the chosen of the Lord, and Jerusalem exalted as the head of a universal kingdom.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Matthew 5: 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set , his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying , 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted . 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled . 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy . 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye , when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake . 12 Rejoice , and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour , wherewith shall it be salted ? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid . 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil . 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass , one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled . 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill ; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say , Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery : 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out , and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish , and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off , and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish , and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said , Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery : and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery . 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself , but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool : neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be , Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said , An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law , and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away . 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said , Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye ? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6: 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth : 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly . 5 And when thou prayest , thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you , They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest , enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly . 7 But when ye pray , use not vain repetitions , as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come . Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16 Moreover when ye fast , be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast . Verily I say unto you , They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest , anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast , but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly . 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt , and where thieves break through and steal : 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt , and where thieves do not break through nor steal : 21 For where your treasure is , there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat , or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on . Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap , nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is , and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought , saying , What shall we eat ? or, What shall we drink ? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed ? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 7: 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged . 2 For with what judgment ye judge , ye shall be judged : and with what measure ye mete , it shall be measured to you again . 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold , a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask , and it shall be given you; seek , and ye shall find ; knock , and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened . 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat : 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits . Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them , I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended , and the floods came , and the winds blew , and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended , and the floods came , and the winds blew , and beat upon that house; and it fell : and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass , when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness. In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. He saw the misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness. He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. The truths He taught are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him. We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God.

Christ's first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing. Happy are they, He said, who recognize their spiritual poverty, and feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to the poor. Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit. The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." By these words Christ does not teach that mourning in itself has power to remove the guilt of sin. He gives no sanction to pretense or to voluntary humility. The mourning of which He speaks does not consist in melancholy and lamentation. While we sorrow on account of sin, we are to rejoice in the precious privilege of being children of God. We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.

The worldling may pronounce this sorrow a weakness; but it is the strength which binds the penitent to the Infinite One with links that cannot be broken. It shows that the angels of God are bringing back to the soul the graces that were lost through hardness of heart and transgression. The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness. This sorrow heralds a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul. "Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God;" "and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord." Jer. 3:13, 12. "Unto them that mourn in Zion," He has appointed to give "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Isa. 61:3. And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ.

We are to humble the soul before God. The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself. They appear dark and joyless to our human nature. But God's ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation. Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life, and prayed that he might die. The Lord in His mercy did not take him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent into the dust of death, but the ascent in glory, with the convoy of celestial chariots, to the throne on high. God's word for the sorrowing is, "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." "I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." Isa. 57:18; Jer. 31:13.

"Blessed are the meek." The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character. Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above.

"Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly." Ps. 138:6. Those who reveal the meek and lowly spirit of Christ are tenderly regarded by God. They may be looked upon with scorn by the world, but they are of great value in His sight. Not only the wise, the great, the beneficent, will gain a passport to the heavenly courts; not only the busy worker, full of zeal and restless activity. No; the poor in spirit, who crave the presence of an abiding Christ, the humble in heart, whose highest ambition is to do God's will,--these will gain an abundant entrance. They will be among that number who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." Rev. 7:15.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." The sense of unworthiness will lead the heart to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and this desire will not be disappointed. Those who make room in their hearts for Jesus will realize His love. All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. The pure element of love will expand the soul, giving it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."

The merciful shall find mercy, and the pure in heart shall see God. Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy Spirit. It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. The Lord may and does forgive the repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred. All impurity of speech or of thought must be shunned by him who would have clear discernment of spiritual truth. But the words of Christ cover more than freedom from sensual impurity, more than freedom from that ceremonial defilement which the Jews so rigorously shunned. Selfishness prevents us from beholding God. The self-seeking spirit judges of God as altogether such a one as itself. Until we have renounced this, we cannot understand Him who is love. Only the unselfish heart, the humble and trustful spirit, shall see God as "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Ex. 34:6.

"Blessed are the peacemakers." The peace of Christ is born of truth. It is harmony with God. The world is at enmity with the law of God; sinners are at enmity with their Maker; and as a result they are at enmity with one another. But the psalmist declares, "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Ps. 119:165. Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for the purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will fail of producing peace, because they do not reach the heart. The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension. "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;" and life's desert "shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." Isa. 55:13; 35:1.

The multitudes were amazed at this teaching, which was so at variance with the precepts and example of the Pharisees. The people had come to think that happiness consisted in the possession of the things of this world, and that fame and the honor of men were much to be coveted. It was very pleasing to be called "Rabbi," and to be extolled as wise and religious, having their virtues paraded before the public. This was regarded as the crown of happiness. But in the presence of that vast throng, Jesus declared that earthly gain and honor were all the reward such persons would ever receive. He spoke with certainty, and a convincing power attended His words. The people were silenced, and a feeling of fear crept over them. They looked at one another doubtfully. Who of them would be saved if this Man's teachings were true? Many were convicted that this remarkable Teacher was actuated by the Spirit of God, and that the sentiments He uttered were divine.

After explaining what constitutes true happiness, and how it may be obtained, Jesus more definitely pointed out the duty of His disciples, as teachers chosen of God to lead others into the path of righteousness and eternal life. He knew that they would often suffer from disappointment and discouragement, that they would meet with decided opposition, that they would be insulted, and their testimony rejected. Well He knew that in the fulfillment of their mission, the humble men who listened so attentively to His words were to bear calumny, torture, imprisonment, and death, and He continued: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." The world loves sin, and hates righteousness, and this was the cause of its hostility to Jesus. All who refuse His infinite love will find Christianity a disturbing element. The light of Christ sweeps away the darkness that covers their sins, and the need of reform is made manifest. While those who yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit begin war with themselves, those who cling to sin war against the truth and its representatives.

Thus strife is created, and Christ's followers are accused as troublers of the people. But it is fellowship with God that brings them the world's enmity. They are bearing the reproach of Christ. They are treading the path that has been trodden by the noblest of the earth. Not with sorrow, but with rejoicing, should they meet persecution. Each fiery trial is God's agent for their refining. Each is fitting them for their work as colaborers with Him. Each conflict has its place in the great battle for righteousness, and each will add to the joy of their final triumph. Having this in view, the test of their faith and patience will be cheerfully accepted rather than dreaded and avoided. Anxious to fulfill their obligation to the world, fixing their desire upon the approval of God, His servants are to fulfill every duty, irrespective of the fear or the favor of men.

"Ye are the salt of the earth," Jesus said. Do not withdraw yourselves from the world in order to escape persecution. You are to abide among men, that the savor of the divine love may be as salt to preserve the world from corruption. Hearts that respond to the influence of the Holy Spirit are the channels through which God's blessing flows. Were those who serve God removed from the earth, and His Spirit withdrawn from among men, this world would be left to desolation and destruction, the fruit of Satan's dominion. Though the wicked know it not, they owe even the blessings of this life to the presence, in the world, of God's people whom they despise and oppress. But if Christians are such in name only, they are like the salt that has lost its savor. They have no influence for good in the world. Through their misrepresentation of God they are worse than unbelievers.

"Ye are the light of the world." The Jews thought to confine the benefits of salvation to their own nation; but Christ showed them that salvation is like the sunshine. It belongs to the whole world. The religion of the Bible is not to be confined between the covers of a book, nor within the walls of a church. It is not to be brought out occasionally for our own benefit, and then to be carefully laid aside again. It is to sanctify the daily life, to manifest itself in every business transaction and in all our social relations. True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts. Our profession of faith may proclaim the theory of religion, but it is our practical piety that holds forth the word of truth. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example,--these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world.

Jesus had not dwelt on the specifications of the law, but He did not leave His hearers to conclude that He had come to set aside its requirements. He knew that spies stood ready to seize upon every word that might be wrested to serve their purpose. He knew the prejudice that existed in the minds of many of His hearers, and He said nothing to unsettle their faith in the religion and institutions that had been committed to them through Moses. Christ Himself had given both the moral and the ceremonial law. He did not come to destroy confidence in His own instruction. It was because of His great reverence for the law and the prophets that He sought to break through the wall of traditional requirements which hemmed in the Jews. While He set aside their false interpretations of the law, He carefully guarded His disciples against yielding up the vital truths committed to the Hebrews.

The Pharisees prided themselves on their obedience to the law; yet they knew so little of its principles through everyday practice that to them the Saviour's words sounded like heresy. As He swept away the rubbish under which the truth had been buried, they thought He was sweeping away the truth itself. They whispered to one another that He was making light of the law. He read their thoughts, and answered them, saying, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Here Jesus refutes the charge of the Pharisees. His mission to the world is to vindicate the sacred claims of that law which they charge Him with breaking. If the law of God could have been changed or abrogated, then Christ need not have suffered the consequences of our transgression. He came to explain the relation of the law to man, and to illustrate its precepts by His own life of obedience.

God has given us His holy precepts, because He loves mankind. To shield us from the results of transgression, He reveals the principles of righteousness. The law is an expression of the thought of God; when received in Christ, it becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and He gave us the precepts of the law that in obeying them we might have joy. When at Jesus' birth the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14), they were declaring the principles of the law which He had come to magnify and make honorable.

When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Ps. 19:7.

"Till heaven and earth pass," said Jesus, "one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." The sun shining in the heavens, the solid earth upon which you dwell, are God's witnesses that His law is changeless and eternal. Though they may pass away, the divine precepts shall endure. "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17. The system of types that pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God was to be abolished at His death; but the precepts of the Decalogue are as immutable as the throne of God.

Since "the law of the Lord is perfect," every variation from it must be evil. Those who disobey the commandments of God, and teach others to do so, are condemned by Christ. The Saviour's life of obedience maintained the claims of the law; it proved that the law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop. All who obey as He did are likewise declaring that the law is "holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12. On the other hand, all who break God's commandments are sustaining Satan's claim that the law is unjust, and cannot be obeyed. Thus they second the deceptions of the great adversary, and cast dishonor upon God. They are the children of the wicked one, who was the first rebel against God's law. To admit them into heaven would again bring in the elements of discord and rebellion, and imperil the well-being of the universe. No man who willfully disregards one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven. The rabbis counted their righteousness a passport to heaven; but Jesus declared it to be insufficient and unworthy. External ceremonies and a theoretical knowledge of truth constituted Pharisaical righteousness. The rabbis claimed to be holy through their own efforts in keeping the law; but their works had divorced righteousness from religion. While they were punctilious in ritual observances, their lives were immoral and debased. Their so-called righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ's day was that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experience a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. A jealous regard for what is termed theological truth often accompanies a hatred of genuine truth as made manifest in life. The darkest chapters of history are burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religionists. The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. They thought themselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so-called orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory. The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life. They have not believed and loved it, therefore they have not received the power and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men may profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their influence it is a curse to the world.

The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of heart and life to the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godliness will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms of religion accord with the Christian's internal purity. Then the ceremonies required in the service of God are not meaningless rites, like those of the hypocritical Pharisees. Jesus takes up the commandments separately, and explains the depth and breadth of their requirement. Instead of removing one jot of their force, He shows how far-reaching their principles are, and exposes the fatal mistake of the Jews in their outward show of obedience. He declares that by the evil thought or the lustful look the law of God is transgressed. One who becomes a party to the least injustice is breaking the law and degrading his own moral nature. Murder first exists in the mind. He who gives hatred a place in his heart is setting his feet in the path of the murderer, and his offerings are abhorrent to God.

The Jews cultivated a spirit of retaliation. In their hatred of the Romans they gave utterance to hard denunciations, and pleased the wicked one by manifesting his attributes. Thus they were training themselves to do the terrible deeds to which he led them on. In the religious life of the Pharisees there was nothing to recommend piety to the Gentiles. Jesus bade them not to deceive themselves with the thought that they could in heart rise up against their oppressors, and cherish the longing to avenge their wrongs. It is true there is an indignation that is justifiable, even in the followers of Christ. When they see that God is dishonored, and His service brought into disrepute, when they see the innocent oppressed, a righteous indignation stirs the soul. Such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a sin. But those who at any supposed provocation feel at liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening the heart to Satan. Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the soul if we would be in harmony with heaven.

The Saviour goes farther than this. He says, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Many are zealous in religious services, while between them and their brethren are unhappy differences which they might reconcile. God requires them to do all in their power to restore harmony. Until they do this, He cannot accept their services. The Christian's duty in this matter is clearly pointed out. God pours His blessings upon all. "He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." He is "kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." Luke 6:35. He bids us to be like Him. "Bless them that curse you," said Jesus; "do good to them that hate you, . . . that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." These are the principles of the law, and they are the wellsprings of life.

God's ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning. The tempter's agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.

The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life. Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh. His character is to be ours. The Lord says of those who believe in Him, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2 Cor. 6:16.

Christ is the ladder that Jacob saw, the base resting on the earth, and the topmost round reaching to the gate of heaven, to the very threshold of glory. If that ladder had failed by a single step of reaching the earth, we should have been lost. But Christ reaches us where we are. He took our nature and overcame, that we through taking His nature might overcome. Made "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8:3), He lived a sinless life. Now by His divinity He lays hold upon the throne of heaven, while by His humanity He reaches us. He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character of God. Therefore are we to be perfect, even as our "Father which is in heaven is perfect." Jesus had shown in what righteousness consists, and had pointed to God as its source. Now He turned to practical duties. In almsgiving, in prayer, in fasting, He said, let nothing be done to attract attention or win praise to self. Give in sincerity, for the benefit of the suffering poor. In prayer, let the soul commune with God. In fasting, go not with the head bowed down, and heart filled with thoughts of self. The heart of the Pharisee is a barren and profitless soil, in which no seeds of divine life can flourish. It is he who yields himself most unreservedly to God that will render Him the most acceptable service. For through fellowship with God men become workers together with Him in presenting His character in humanity.

The service rendered in sincerity of heart has great recompense. "Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly." By the life we live through the grace of Christ the character is formed. The original loveliness begins to be restored to the soul. The attributes of the character of Christ are imparted, and the image of the Divine begins to shine forth. The faces of men and women who walk and work with God express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For these souls the kingdom of God has begun. They have Christ's joy, the joy of being a blessing to humanity. They have the honor of being accepted for the Master's use; they are trusted to do His work in His name. "No man can serve two masters." We cannot serve God with a divided heart. Bible religion is not one influence among many others; its influence is to be supreme, pervading and controlling every other. It is not to be like a dash of color brushed here and there upon the canvas, but it is to pervade the whole life, as if the canvas were dipped into the color, until every thread of the fabric were dyed a deep, unfading hue.

"If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness." Purity and steadfastness of purpose are the conditions of receiving light from God. He who desires to know the truth must be willing to accept all that it reveals. He can make no compromise with error. To be wavering and halfhearted in allegiance to truth is to choose the darkness of error and satanic delusion. Worldly policy and the undeviating principles of righteousness do not blend into each other imperceptibly, like the colors of the rainbow. Between the two a broad, clear line is drawn by the eternal God. The likeness of Christ stands out as distinct from that of Satan as midday in contrast with midnight. And only those who live the life of Christ are His co-workers. If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness.

All who have chosen God's service are to rest in His care. Christ pointed to the birds flying in the heavens, to the flowers of the field, and bade His hearers consider these objects of God's creation. "Are not ye of much more value than they?" He said. Matt. 6:26, R. V. The measure of divine attention bestowed on any object is proportionate to its rank in the scale of being. The little brown sparrow is watched over by Providence. The flowers of the field, the grass that carpets the earth, share the notice and care of our heavenly Father. The great Master Artist has taken thought for the lilies, making them so beautiful that they outshine the glory of Solomon. How much more does He care for man, who is the image and glory of God. He longs to see His children reveal a character after His similitude. As the sunbeam imparts to the flowers their varied and delicate tints, so does God impart to the soul the beauty of His own character. All who choose Christ's kingdom of love and righteousness and peace, making its interest paramount to all other, are linked to the world above, and every blessing needed for this life is theirs. In the book of God's providence, the volume of life, we are each given a page. That page contains every particular of our history; even the hairs of the head are numbered. God's children are never absent from His mind.

"Be not therefore anxious for the morrow." Matt. 6:34, R. V. We are to follow Christ day by day. God does not bestow help for tomorrow. He does not give His children all the directions for their life journey at once, lest they should become confused. He tells them just as much as they can remember and perform. The strength and wisdom imparted are for the present emergency. "If any of you lack wisdom,"--for today,--"let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." This is our work. "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Cor. 11:31.

The good tree will produce good fruit. If the fruit is unpalatable and worthless, the tree is evil. So the fruit borne in the life testifies as to the condition of the heart and the excellence of the character. Good works can never purchase salvation, but they are an evidence of the faith that acts by love and purifies the soul. And though the eternal reward is not bestowed because of our merit, yet it will be in proportion to the work that has been done through the grace of Christ. Thus Christ set forth the principles of His kingdom, and showed them to be the great rule of life. To impress the lesson He adds an illustration. It is not enough, He says, for you to hear My words. By obedience you must make them the foundation of your character. Self is but shifting sand. If you build upon human theories and inventions, your house will fall. By the winds of temptation, the tempests of trial, it will be swept away. But these principles that I have given will endure. Receive Me; build on My words.

"Everyone therefore which heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, which built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock." Matt. 7:24, 25, R.V.

I seem to have a morbid fascination with Princess Diana's funeral. It sort of matches the mood I'm in these days. Might there be some sort of spiritual benefit from a repeated viewing of the following video? I tend to think so. Years ago, I listened to a recording of the actual funeral service, over and over. The music and words are inspiring, in a somewhat solemn manner. They make me face myself, and think. That's a good thing, I think. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/90558-1

What do you think about this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNC-kbmpscE&feature=related Surprisingly, I agreed with most of what Justice Ginsburg said in this video clip, however I DO think that the U.S. Constitution should be referred to as the Egyptians seek a constitution. The fact that the U.S. Constitution is old might indicate that it works. The Canadian and South African constitutions were probably not drafted in a vacuum. While I don't know the details, I would guess that the drafters of those documents at least brought up the subject of the U.S. Constitution as they pursued their 'clean sheet of paper' methodology. Also, aren't we sort of operating under the United Nations Charter, by virtue of Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution? I would tell the Egyptians to look deeply into their past, right back into Ancient Egypt, for clues regarding how they might draft an Egyptian Constitution with historical-continuity and evolutionary-innovation. I would also tell the Egyptians to consider having a team of scholars read 'The Federalist Papers' and 'The Anti-Federalist Papers' over and over -- perhaps a dozen times -- as a mental and spiritual exercise -- and then draft a document which articulates their thoughts regarding how the U.S. Constitution came into existence -- and regarding how well that particular document has served it's intended purpose. Perhaps these scholars could then discuss the possible benefits to the Egyptian people which might be derived from a careful examination of the United States Constitutional Experiment and Experience. They might even wish to hire a couple of Ivy League U.S. Constitutional Scholars to assist them in their Quest of the Contemporary Constitution. I wonder what Justice Ginsburg would tell me regarding a Constitution for the United States of the Solar System? I would welcome her participation on the 'United States of the Solar System' thread. The water's warm. Come-on in! One more thing. I would advise everyone to consider ALL available evidence prior to rendering a verdict. Didn't they teach that in law school? On the other hand, perhaps the Secret Government has rendered the U.S. Constitution "Inadmissible" -- pending on Off-World Crackdown on the Human Race?! As horrifying as that prospect might be, what if we deserve it?! You know, "The Wages of Sin" and such. Don't forget Battlestar Galactica 'The Plan'. Once again, we should consider ALL the fracking possibilities before renedering a verdict concerning life, the universe, and everything. Here's some food for thought.

Just a random thought. In '2001: A Space Odyssey' -- notice the full name of the person who disempowers HAL. I find that name somewhat interesting. That was in 1968. I'm afraid. You really have written me off and let me go, haven't you? I've experienced a stone-wall of silence and hostility throughout my life. It really caused me to shut-down. I've tried to communicate with others over the past couple of years regarding things which seemed to be somewhat important, but I don't seem to be worth talking to. I suspect that this has been the case for a very long time. I'm on the verge of pulling the plug on this whole damn thing. I'm tired of the BS. I get the overwhelming impression that the Galactic Powers That Be are NOT happy with Planet Earth and the Human Race. Once again, I feel as if I am in conflict with Myself, Divinity, and Humanity. There will be no peace -- or so it seems. I truly wish for things to work out well for All Concerned -- but this seems to be the Minority Viewpoint. Well, I'm going to do some private writing, and see what comes of it -- but I've pretty much had enough at this point. I shelter myself from a helluva lot -- and still I'm at the end of my rope. My house is colder than my refrigerator (thanks to the IRS) -- and the PTB seem to be colder than my freezer. I really don't think we live in a Nice Universe. We're not in Eden anymore, and I sometimes doubt if we ever did live in a Perfect Paradise. Perhaps I should read Milton's 'Paradise Lost', Dante's 'Inferno', and Moore's 'Utopia'. Or perhaps I should watch porn and smoke pot. Ever wonder where they got the term 'Weed Wacker'? I should stop. It's late.

LOL - Keep on keepin' on Oxy...

Thank-you Mercuriel. Once again, I really have to talk to myself, and use my imagination, to properly deal with the most important subjects imaginable. But this supposedly tags a person with the 'CRAZY' label. Does Ignorance Equal Sanity? Does Wisdom Equal Insanity? Why do we behave as though ignorance were a virtue? I got that last one from 'Flight of the Phoenix'. This process continues to be a learning experience for me. The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know. I'm disillusioned and fatigued, but I don't think I'm insane. I'm simply attempting to face reality via a multidisciplinary devotional and scholarly study of exoteric and esoteric subject matter. All of this is extremely dangerous, but ignoring the evidence is infinitely more dangerous. Once again, there is no easy way to properly deal with the mess we are in. The real solutions are NOT going to be quick and easy. The lasting solutions are going to span decades, and they are likely to be quite painful. Pain is probably the cost of doing business in the universe. Especially if the universe hates us, and thinks that we are genetic-flukes, and that we have no right to be here. I keep feeling as if someone is laughing behind my back -- but then I'm crazy -- don't you know. One more time, consider reading

1. 'The Federalist Papers'
2. 'The Anti-Federalist Papers'
3. 'The 1928 'Book of Common Prayer'
4. 'The Desire of Ages'

while listening to Sacred Classical Music -- just as a mental and spiritual exercise. I suppose I am as interested in the process as I am in the end result. If we have the Best Solar System -- yet have no clue regarding what to properly do with it -- then what good is it? Someday someone might ask 'What Hath God Wrought?' I might answer, 'A New Solar System Republic -- if you can keep it.' I continue to wonder how the general public should properly weigh-in on daily legislation, and whether Properly Qualified Members of the General Public should vote along with the Senators and Congresspersons on a daily basis? What should the proper wording be? I've asked for help -- but I have received none. Surprise! Surprise!

I continue to be very frustrated that I don't know what's really going on at the galactic and theological levels. I tend to agree with Ron Paul and Alex Jones -- yet I have a sinking feeling that if I met with the Bilderberg Group or had an all-night fireside chat with Henry Kissinger and George H.W. Bush -- they might open my eyes in rather unpleasant ways. Things could go so many different ways -- depending upon the true state of affairs, which we the peons are not privy to. I've been reduced to writing risque political and theological science-fiction -- as my twisted way of dealing with the madness. Of course I don't want crack-downs and the damn FEMA camps -- but what if things are so bad at the galactic level, that the crack-downs and camps will be necessary? And how is one to know when they are being told the truth, and when they are being lied to??? I continue to feel like a damn lab-rat, who's in a helluva lot of trouble, without knowing exactly why.

I think ethics are extremely important -- but what is the ultimate ethical standard? Is there an absolute reptilian ethical standard? Is there an absolute human ethical standard? Is there a conflict between reptilian ethics and human ethics? Are humans expected to live by reptilian ethics? Is it impossible for interdimensional reptilian souls to keep the reptilian law of God -- while they live within male and female human bodies? Wasn't this an ancient accusation? Are human beings on trial regarding the keeping of God's Law? What really troubles me is that nobody will talk to me about anything important. It's all about the latest crisis, disaster, scandal, or prediction of doom and gloom. The governments of the world, solar system, galaxy, and universe are probably the most important subjects to contemplate. Is my theory of a Earth Human Island in a Reptilian Universe a valid hypothesis? What if we are an illegal race of beings, who are in major violation of the Law of God, which might've been in effect for trillions of years? Is the Universal Immune System attacking the Virus of Humanity? I think I might have to write a helluva lot of political and theological science-fiction in order to really deal with this subject in a proper manner. How else would one do it? This whole thing seems to be very secretive and creepy to me. I wish to do the right thing -- but doing the right thing seems to be somewhat illusive.

Once again, what about my theory of an Orion-Sirius-Egyptian-Roman Empire -- administered in this solar system by a Reincarnating Osiris-Isis-Horus-Set Royal Family? What if we are in the middle of a Reptilian v Human Royal-Family Feud? I don't wish to repeat everything I have previously wondered about. There continues to be no interest and no response to my repeated requests for help in these matters. Do I need to make more of a big deal about this in order to achieve some sort of meaningful discussion? I really didn't want to make a big deal about this, because I think all of this is potentially highly disruptive and devastating to society and civilization. I'd rather freeze and starve, than write some damn book that makes everyone mad, scared, upset, suicidal, violent, etc, etc, etc. There's enough confusion out there right now. I'm only dealing with all of this because so much is already circulating throughout the world on the internet. I feel compelled to try to bring some sort of order and reason to the table. I intended for this thread to be sort of a low-key back-channel -- but that doesn't seem to be working. I'd join the damn Masons -- but I don't wish to submit to an Evil Deity or become perfectly possessed by a Demonic Entity. Also, I don't wish to get involved in sick and bloody rituals -- and I don't wish to carry out reprehensible orders. I seem to have to settle for a secret society of ONE -- namely the Order of Orthodoxymoron in the Outer!!

It seems as if the Secret Government gets what the Secret Government wants. I continue to attempt to understand the Hidden Solar System Power Infrastructure. A lot of this is probably necessary -- but it seems to be out of control, and in the worst of hands. I'm thinking about spending a lot of my time listening to paleo-conservative and libertarian speakers. I still like the idea of basing the solar system on an uncorrupted and properly adapted form of the U.S. Constitution -- which would render the U.N. Charter null and void -- and would hopefully reign-in the renegade aspects of the Secret Government. But once again, I don't know the whole story, so I continue to fly-blind. Here are some previously posted scholarly political links:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkSlkqrz7SM
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIIo_HCZjV0&feature=related
3. http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertyInOurTime?feature=watch

Sometimes I think I need to overdose on Alex Jones for a while. He has a drive which I lack. He has a quickness which I lack. He has a memory which I lack. He has a fearlessness which I lack. I feel really small when I listen to Alex. But still, I live in a somewhat realistic dreamworld which Alex does not seem to occupy. But really, he probably knows a helluva lot more than he lets on -- and I'll bet he has some very impressive contacts. I don't have any of this. I feel so uptight, fatigued, and even demonically harassed (as opposed to possessed) that I'm probably functioning at around 20% of my realistic potential. This is why I plead with others to study this thread, and then provide educated criticism and feedback. This just hasn't happened to any great extent. When some have interacted with me, I seemed to anger and exasperate them rather quickly. I suspect that this will occur over and over again -- for decades and decades. I often think in tangential and unpredictable ways -- and I can be somewhat stubborn -- or am I really highly ethical and principled, with a rather sophisticated political and theological core? You might be very surprised by what I really think about a lot of things. I try to be honest on this thread -- but honestly, I play a helluva lot of mind-games. This is mostly science-fiction -- and this is mostly a test. This is an ODM Mind Control Experiment -- and you are all Orthodoxymoron Candidates -- awaiting activation, when the time is right. This is 'Project Hummingbird'. Don't fly away until I say to. The secret trigger word is 'Hummingbird' backwards! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LaApCB4l8 Orthodoxymoron Warriors Unite!!!

Things seem to be out of control -- and I suspect that things will get a helluva lot worse. Why can't properly trained agents target terrorist threats in a very low key manner -- and just skip all of this public madness, which pits neighbor against neighbor, and drives the American people to their knees? I suspect all of this terrorist hype has more to do with reigning-in the American people, than with legitimately preventing terrorism. There are many who accuse the Secret Government of being the real terrorists. But on the other hand, who knows what orders the Secret Government receives from off-world? Who knows? The Secret Government might be in more trouble than we are -- from off-world, and from us. Once again, all of this madness could be extremely complex and ugly. I guess this is why I try to remain somewhat neutral, and joke a lot -- even if this seems to be unprincipled, politically incorrect, and insensitive. I'm trying to not burn the bridges between me and anyone -- regardless of how good or evil they might be. However, this means that I'll probably keep making everyone hate me. In a sense, I have no respect for my enemies or my friends. In another sense, I have the deepest respect for my enemies and my friends. Don't take what I say too personally, and don't expect me to stop asking hard questions, or to stop making politically incorrect jokes and posts. I'm not kidding when I say that I feel as if I am in conflict with Myself, Divinity, and Humanity. BTW, I felt a bit like Bartleby or Loki at the Airport, when we went out for coffee. I enjoyed those 'close-encounters' regardless of our reincarnational-identities, ideological-differences, galactic-loyalties, and karmic-debt. Remember when I said that I should probably bring a Bible and a Crucifix -- and start shouting at you -- but that if I did that, I wouldn't be able to talk to you anymore? You never showed me your crucifix -- but you called me 'Michael', and asked me if I thought I might be the one hanging on the cross? Remember when I started reading from the last chapter of 'The Great Controversy' -- but stopped reading when it seemed to bother you? Where are you, and what are you doing? On second thought, perhaps it's better if I don't know. Ignorance is bliss. Now I'm going to have my morning coffee, without using my credit card.

If insituted, would this constitute the establishment of a state church? The model is very simple, but thinking through the pros and cons can be extremely complex. How might the Pope of Rome, the Queen of England, the Queen of Heaven, the God of This World, and God the Father respond or react to this? Even with the best of intentions, would this model quickly become corrupted and subverted -- just like everything else? My guess is that this model would make everyone mad. However, just about ANY proposed governance model would probably make everyone mad. Is a REALLY nasty theocracy inevitable? Might this United States of the Solar System concept be allowed, with the expectation that it would fail horribly within twenty years? Are we headed for a REALLY nasty crash, no matter what we do? I think I might just focus on Political and Theological Science-Fiction, no matter how bad things get. I'm frankly expecting the worst. I like the general idea behind this basic model, but the implementation would probably be a nightmare, to say the least. I'd like to see this sort of thing up and running tomorrow -- but realistically, I'm setting 2112 as my target-date for a completely implemented United States of the Solar System. I'd be very wary of sudden and arbitrary changes -- even if they were changes I would approve of, in principle. I expect a helluva lot of really nasty game-playing in the coming decades. I think the best I can do is to continue to attempt to understand, rather than attempting to implement. Still, I'd appreciate some input regarding this simple preliminary model. BTW -- I'm still looking for some sort of an insider-observer, ankle-biter, pain-in-uranus job. Can you imagine the stares and glares the first day on the job???!!! OMG!!!! I continue to intend this thread as being a study-guide. I recommend going completely through this thread -- over and over and over again. I realize that it's hell to do this -- but I think this might be necessary. Repetition, repetition, repetition. This is going to take time folks. Also, no existentialism for me. Think both idealistically and pragmatically.

Can you imagine meeting with Nazis, Masons, Jesuits, Alphabet Agents, Dracs, Greys, et al -- and engaging in really nasty and heated debates regarding solar system governance??!! This wouldn't be fun at all. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Frankly, there are processes in motion, which are not going to be stopped in their tracks. Some things will probably have to run their course, so to speak. Once again, I have no idea what's really going on in this galaxy. One would probably have to shadow the Shadow Government for decades to have any proper understanding of how to properly participate in solar system governance, to any significant extent. I could be very wrong, but that's my impression. I've spoken rather boldly -- and I do desire significant changes -- yet I wish to be reasonable and rational regarding all of this. Perhaps this thread is similar to the proverbial 'hitting the donkey over the head with a two by four to get it's attention'. That's the easy part. The steps which follow are the hard part. In a very strange sort of way, I'm finding it useful to watch this video link while thinking about solar system governance. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/90558-1 I'm not going to even attempt to explain why. Sometimes I think I'm allowed to continue this thread for purposes of self-incrimination and self-discreditation. In a sense, I seem to be doing this on purpose. I seem to wish to get a certain message out, while keeping myself out of sight. I don't know. I do NOT understand my pathetic life. But still, take the principles and concepts within this thread very seriously. At least read 'The Federalist Papers', the 1928 'Book of Common Prayer', and 'The Desire of Ages' over and over and over -- while listening to the music of J.S. Bach -- as a mental and spiritual exercise. Then, do what makes sense. Fair enough? Wouldn't it be cool to do a comparative study of the following?

1. Human psychology, spirituality, theology, ethics, law, business, economics, governance, history, genetics, sociology, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology, etc.

2. Reptilian psychology, spirituality, theology, ethics, law, business, economics, governance, history, genetics, sociology, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology, etc.

I continue to think that science-fiction is probably the proper arena for all of this -- with a strong emphasis on the scientific-method. Mind you, I still don't know if Reptilians and Greys actually exist. I also don't know the true nature of the soul -- human or otherwise. So really, this proposed project would still involve a helluva lot of speculation and imagination. However, if this hypothetical subject matter has some basis in reality, this might be the most important study imaginable. I continue to think that the City States and the Moon are probably the best conceptual context in which to contemplate all of this madness. I really should move to England -- and proceed to infiltrate and subvert the City of London!

Have you noticed how long Adam and Eve lived -- according to the biblical record? Close to 1,000 years! How long did humans live after the Flood -- according to the biblical record? Close to 100 years! We supposedly use less than 10% of our brain capacity! What the hell happened? What if Adam and Eve weren't really human? What if the creation (or genetic-engineering) of male and female human beings occurred AFTER the 'creation' of Adam and Eve? What if this 'Second Creation' constituted 'The Fall', 'The Original Sin', and 'The Unpardonable Sin' -- resulting in 'The War in Heaven' or 'The War in Eden'? What if Adam and Eve were Hermaphrodite Reptilians -- or at least some variation on that theme? I continue to think that the Bible is an EXTREMELY important book collection -- but that it just scratches the surface regarding who we are, and regarding our true history. I consider the Bible to be a Collection of Possibilities. It's almost as if the Bible is a Galactic IQ Test. How did you do?? How did the Human Race do?? Is Judgment Day really the day we all get our test scores? Will we all have to take the New Jerusalem Admission Test (NJAT)? We might all be VERY surprised by what's in store for us. What if there really is someone like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTD4onNs-U I suspect that there is, but that the reality is probably quite a bit different than the 'V' series. Who knows what the hidden agendas are -- at all levels. The lie is different at every level. Sorry for the cynicism, but I'm rather wary and somber these days. I continue to think that the real truth concerning life, the universe, and everything is not a happy story. I also tend to think that the galactic struggle will be ongoing.

Here are a couple of my favorite songs. I've heard the artists live, and talked with them at least once. These are old, poor-quality recordings, but I love them anyway. I've sung the first one many times in church choirs. I even directed this song once (or was it 'God So Loved the World'?). Dr. Calvin Taylor is also a VERY skilled classical organist -- and he can improvise VERY well! Listen VERY carefully to the words!

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7_10g41wJY

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvshves7l88

When I was around three years old, I 'directed' some of the 'King's Heralds' from the back of an auditorium (standing on the seat, next to my mother) and made all of them smile! I think 'We Have This Hope' was the theme-song of a church conference I attended in Viena, Austria in 1975. The theme was 'Now is the Time'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XrIp6VGM_k&feature=related I used to enjoy singing this one in the choir at the Crystal Cathedral. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWOd94YyIhg&feature=related

Did the Kingdom of God demote Jesus Christ (or a reincarnational precursor) because He was too loving and too much of a free-spirit? "Too bad that you were too good"??? "We're turning things over to someone who does exactly as they're told -- without asking questions or making suggestions"??? I don't know why I keep on asking these types of questions -- but shouldn't the most important topics be examined from all angles? Believe me when I say that I know how to give people what they want, and tell them what they want to hear. I can even make them cry. I really can. I almost became a televangelist, but I'm so glad I didn't. When you people find out who REALLY gives the BIGSHOT PREACHERS their marching orders -- You Will Be Shocked.

I have to ask once again, "What is the True Nature of the Soul?" Do we know what our souls REALLY look like? Someone's young son seemed to be in such a state of awareness, that he could view both a Disembodied Demonic Soul (which was terrorizing him) and his father's Good Soul (which was animating his own physical body) -- but it seemed as if both souls were not pleasant to look at -- and the boy was afraid of the 'attacker' AND his helpful and loving father. I'm not an expert. I'm just speculating. This reminds me of taking a phone-call in a church-office, with the caller requesting someone who could perform an exorcism. That was sort of creepy. Alex Collier (in his 1994 interview with Rick Keefe) stated that reptilians and humans had the same type of soul, and that they originated at the same time, but that they were at different levels of evolution. Please watch the interview for the exact wording and context. I keep thinking that humans are a recent innovation in an ancient reptilian universe. I have no proof. This is just more of my political and theological science-fiction.

I continue to be torn apart by most everything I post. I don't like this process one little bit. I'm really a rather passive researcher, but the more I learn, the more troubled I become. I really don't like the view from my present vantage point. I'm getting the impression of an Absolute Obedience Reptilian Universe -- with a Human Prison Planet in Rebellion (which is seeking to establish Male and Female Human Physicality, and Responsible Freedom) in an unyielding universe which seems to be determined to end this Illegal Experiment with terrible finality. We seem to threaten the stability of the universe. As far as I can tell, this experiment has been a mixed-bag of success and failure. What troubles me the most is that I see evidence of deliberately inflicted death, destruction, and corruption from sources outside of the human family. There seems to have been malevolent interference in the human experiment for many thousands of years. This negative intervention seems to be ongoing. Please read 'The Gods of Eden' by William Bramley -- for starters. What troubles me further, is that I keep wondering if humanity is really in the wrong, and deserves all of the misery which has been seemingly inflicted upon it? Who knows what unresolved ancient issues there might be? Who knows what ancient atrocities were committed? Who knows anything about anything ancient -- for certain? I can't take much more of this. I really can't.

One more thing. I have suggested the possibility of Evangelical Anglo-Catholicism. Yet I am haunted by a prophecy by Ellen White which foretells a threefold union of Catholicism, Spiritism, and Apostate-Protestantism. Is this the sort of fire I'm playing with? I do NOT encourage anything immoral or spooky. I don't do seances, regression-hypnosis, altered states of consciousness (although I seem to be living an otherworldly nightmare 24/7), out of body, strange rituals, strange chanting, sacrifices, etc, etc. I just research and reflect. That's all. I continue to be VERY fearful that my good intentions might be misused and abused in some rather horrifying ways. Focus on the principles and concepts in this thread -- but never focus on me personally. I could be set-up for a terrible fall. I once suggested this to a mysterious individual, who retorted "I could snap my fingers, and you'd be dead!"

orthodoxymoron wrote:Things seem to be out of control -- and I suspect that things will get a helluva lot worse. Why can't properly trained agents target terrorist threats in a very low key manner -- and just skip all of this public madness, which pits neighbor against neighbor, and drives the American people to their knees ?

Thats just It Oxy...

One always find Answers to the crazy stuff They do like this by looking where One has to regardless of how crazy that Answer may be...

In this case - Its only about Divide and Conquer...

So the Operation is now - Divide and Conquer the American People - Fold the Country into Itself after that and then become the Instrument of Force to coerce and / or beat the World into the New World Order by waging yet ANOTHER UNJUST War - As one of It's primary Antagonists...

That said, We cannot allow this to happen - BUT - Until We start seeing EN MASSE that the Answer is usually an uncomfortable one more often than not - We'll continue to have these questions remain unanswered and Their Answers obscure...

orthodoxymoron wrote:I suspect all of this terrorist hype has more to do with reigning-in the American people, than with legitimately preventing terrorism. There are many who accuse the Secret Government of being the real terrorists.

One could almost say It's Freudian actually.

> They wish to find the "Terrorists".
> They classify almost every one as a "Terrorist" at a certain stage.

Now - Why would basically good People be classed as "Terrorists" by Their own Government ?

Because They (The Government) know They're the real "Terrorists" and as an Ideal - They were supposed to have been the Protector of the People. As They are now not - The Freudian slip is that - They are the "Terrorists" - And Their persecution of the People is based on Them being "Terrorists"...

Madness...

-//-

Thank-you Mercuriel. What's really strange about all of this madness, is how I am attempting to deal with it. I am attempting to see things from Everyone's Point of View -- including through the eyes of hypothetical alien beings, living in distant star systems. I continue to think with a somewhat Biblical Mindset, yet in an extremely unorthodox manner. I continue to be interested in the Monarchy, the Papacy, the Queen of Heaven, the God of This World, and God the Father -- often as if I were viewing everything through the eyes of Michael-Horus-Jesus. This is somewhat bizarre, to say the least. I'm also thinking of the possibility that Humanity is a Recent Illegal Subset of an Ancient Reptilian Race. This is even more bizarre. I continue to consider the possible existence of a hypothetical Orion-Sirius-Egyptian-Roman Empire -- adminstered in this solar system by a hypothetical Reincarnating Osiris-Isis-Horus-Set Royal Family -- for better and/or worse. I might have the names and places wrong, but I suspect something like this, going back tens of thousands of years. Might all of the above be the missing-link and common-denominator in understanding life, the universe, and everything? What if nearly all of the governments, religions, wars, economic catastrophies, crackdowns, and terrorist events were designed and ordered by Vengeful Deities? I listen to Alex Jones sometimes -- and sometimes I even get mad -- yet I keep thinking 'What's REALLY behind all of this madness?' The reality of our existence might be stranger and more horrible than most of us can imagine. I keep voicing various viewpoints and possibilities within this thread -- but I'm just another rebel without a clue. I'll keep modeling this basic approach -- not because I think I'm right -- but simply to provide serious researchers with another perspective. The punishment, human-sacrifice, retribution, exploitation, and utter-destruction themes -- at the galactic-level -- keep creeping into my consciousness. How many levels of power and deception really exist? Is some of the transparent stupidity really staged stupidity rather than genuine blundering and incompetence? With all of the available technology and resources, why was 9/11 such a blunderingly transparent mess? Was this by design? I really wonder. I don't trust anyone or anything anymore -- not even God -- and not even myself. Now I just research, reflect, and question -- in a scholarly and devotional manner -- as sort of a back of the room smart@$$ (or is it dumb@$$?).

I'm having a difficult time absorbing my own thread and ideas. Is there any way to really win the infowar. I doubt it. Thrashing Without End! Seriously, I find it helpful to periodically watch 'The Ring of Power'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w-A54h_GQ8&feature=related This is still hard for me to listen to and watch. I still like to believe the best about people. This world is more corrupt than hell, and that's pretty damn corrupt. I don't necessarily endorse the information presented in the documentary, but I think that it should be carefully examined, point by point. Exposure and Resistance is Victory and Reformation.
Our fate might be mentality destruction, rather than a physical one. Are we facing a global psychological, theological, political, and ethical meltdown -- with transitional chaos and violence -- which ultimately results in a Really Nasty Other Than Human Theocracy? I really wonder. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with the Monarchy and the Papacy. They really seem to be a mixed-bag. What if Vengeful Deities ordered the Roman Catholic Church to do all of those horrible historical things? What if they really were being obedient to 'God'? Consider this hard to watch video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8PdvOELvY If that's not enough, read 'Foxe's Book of the Martyrs'. Consider reading 'In God's Name' by David Yallop -- and 'Murder in the Vatican' by Lucien Gregoire. Also, the books by Malachi Martin are balanced and well-researched. I especially like 'The Jesuits' and 'The Keys of This Blood' by Malachi Martin. I look at the intrigue and dark material, with an eye to reforming the worst aspects, and positively-reinforcing the best aspects, of this ancient and contemporary religious and political heirarchical institution. I'm not opposed to BIG BUSINESS -- Even in the Church. I AM opposed to CORRUPT BIG BUSINESS -- Especially in the Church. I have heard that the solar system is run by a 'Bitchy Reptilian Queen' -- but I have no idea if this is the case. However, if we live in a Harsh and Theocratic Reptilian Universe -- might such a Queen be necessary? Would a Galactically Approved United States of the Solar System have to be administered by a Kinder and Gentler Anna (in 'V')? Would Responsible Freedom need to be enforced with an Iron Fist? Would the hypothetical Orion-Sirius-Egyptian-Roman Empire insist on it? A very deep study of solar system governance probably would drive most people to some level of insanity. I support freedom of speech, and I even support the infowar (support our troops) -- yet freedom must be exercised in a responsible manner -- or it will cease to exist.

I will continue to attempt to deal with the reality of an infiltrated and subverted United States of America -- by dealing with an idealistic and hypothetical United States of the Solar System. Perhaps this is a bit of a cowardly and 'head in the sand' approach -- but I think I am attempting to deal with the root and core of the real problems. I think we have a basically good world -- that's horribly out of control. The Feds should end the FED!! My politics and religion are now mostly Political and Theological Science-Fiction. This is NOT the stuff healthy minds and lives are made of. I honestly don't know who the good-guys and bad-guys are anymore, so I just keep asking questions. Here's a further development of my particular brand of sci-fi. Given a particular type of soul -- disembodied -- in a reptilian-vessel -- or in a human-vessel -- there might be demonic, angelic, and in-between versions of this common soul model. Sometimes it seems as if a Malevolent Soul (Sans Container) is the attacker -- and that we are mostly Benevolent Souls in Human Containers. Sometimes these souls seem to be clearly visible (when one is in an altered state of consciousness). Mind you, this is merely theoretical. Perhaps a Renegade Reptilian Queen decided to engage in some Forbidden Genetic and Social Engineering in the Garden of Eden -- for who knows what reasons? Just more speculation. The horror.

I'm not qualified to question or judge the Thuban and Red-Pill material, and I wonder how many individuals (human or otherwise) really understand it? I've had to approach 'knowing' from completely different sources and directions. I fear that a lot of this information might be very true and real, yet it seems to lack a proper introduction and context. It seems to be a truncated section of some vast unified and elegant whole. I have similar difficulty with a lot of the 'modern' science and technology, which is often very cool, yet which seems to lack proper introduction and responsible application. For example, medical technology, medical procedures, and medical personnel seem to be worshipped in the Hospital-Temples of the World -- yet Proper Prevention would yield vastly superior physical and mental health -- for a fraction of the cost. But this might circumvent and subvert the Military-Medical-Space Industrial-Complex. I'm sort of rambling, but do you see my point?

I really need to stop thrashing -- and continue writing. I think I need to let everything settle. I really do not wish to be a 'problem' to anyone. I truly wish to be a 'solution' for everyone. I'm not sure exactly why I said that, but it sounded sort of cool. In a sense, I feel as if I might need to just 'start over', and move in a completely different direction, so as to not sink into an ever-deepening rut. I sometimes wonder who is really more dangerous -- those who know too much -- or those who know too little? I suspect that those who are in-between pose the greatest threat. They know enough to get into trouble -- but not enough to get out (and stay out) of trouble. I'm probably in the middle of the spectrum right now -- so I should probably shut-up.

Regarding a potential book project, while I might welcome 'inside' participation -- this might invite 'insider manipulation'! How would an 'insider' resist the temptation??? I have no idea how to properly do the question and answer thing. There's probably no 'right way' to do it. What might be interesting, is if I continued with my little tempest in a teapot, and eventually published it (with the proper editing and critiquing [as opposed to censorship]). Then, it might be interesting if the 'right' insider or insiders produced 'their' version of question answering. Finally, it might be supremely interesting if the two projects were somehow combined in a complimentary manner by the 'proper' editing and publishing team. I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about. I'm just rambling -- so I should probably shut-up.

One more thing. In the now familiar governance model, what if God and the King and Queen of the United States of the Solar System were mostly Observational, Ceremonial, and Ambassadorial? What if God exercised authority mostly as an Authority of Last Resort? My including specific sources on the Solar System Council of Churches side, is intended to give this concept some substance and direction, in contrast with anarchy or a creepy free-for-all. It does not imply an Official Solar System Religion, which might be enforced by force. It mostly implies ceremonial structure, as a given historical point of reference, if you will. I really need some input on all of this. The silence is unbelievably creepy to me. It's like the quiet before the storm. Things might get a helluva lot worse -- before they get better -- if they get better. Are we approaching a Final Jihad? Don't take your eyes off Damascus! Don't even blink! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJjdbFn5Tgk Sirius A v Sirius B? That reminds me! I need to finish reading 'The Final Jihad' by Martin Keating. I started it a couple of years ago, and then I got interested in some damn conspiracy theory, and stopped reading the book. My life is so complex and confusing. I'm so confused -- so I should probably shut-up.