LOVELIGHT
Magazine
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
CELEBRATE LOVE!
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February 2008*** Vol. 4, no. 2
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Managing Editors: Adamaria
Francis and a Franciscan Taoist
*******
Special thanks, and public
acknowledgement, to the great contributors to this issue, who are: Jim Dwyer, Maureen Dwyer, Carol
Espelage, Sandra Grubb, Teresa Ramsey, Ty Scharrer, Geoffrey Stoermer, Frank
Tyrrell
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LOVELIGHT
MAGAZINE: WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
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CHUCKLES AND SNORTS:
HUMORTHERAPY
LOSING YOUR LOAD, sent in by Teresa Ramsey
As a trucker stopped for
a red light, a blond caught up with him. She jumped out of her
car, ran up to his truck, and knocked on his
truck-door. The trucker lowered
his window, and she said,
"Hi, I'm Heather, and you are losing some of your load."
He ignored her and
proceeded down the street.
But when he stopped for another redlight, she caught up again. She jumped out, ran up to his door. Again, he lowered
his window. As if they've never
spoken, she said, "Hi,
I'm Heather, and you are losing some of your
load!"
Shaking his head, he
ignored her again and continued down the street. At the third light, the same thing
happened. Again she said,
"Hi, I'm Heather, and you are losing some of your load!"
He revved up and
raced to the next light. When he
stopped this time, he hurriedly got out, and ran back to her. He knocked on her window, and as she
lowered it, he said, "Hi,
I'm Kevin; it's winter, and I'm driving the saltruck!"
***
DON'T THROW STONES! sent in by Teresa Ramsey
While on a road trip, a couple stopped at a restaurant. After finishing their meal, they left. But the woman left her glasses on the
table. She didn't miss them until
they had been driving about twenty minutes.
By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance
before they could find a place to turn around -- to retrieve her glasses. All the way back, her husband became
grouchy.
He fussed, complained, and scolded her all during the return trip. The more he chided her, the
more agitated he became. He just
wouldn't let up one minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.
As the woman hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, he yelled, "While
you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."
***
CONFUSED ANGEL?
Sent in by Ty Scharrer
Shanksville, Georgia, Dec.
23rd.--An avenging angel called down from Heaven during a chaotic Saturday
night "Holy Ghost Revival" to strike a serial adulterer dead missed
her mark! Instead, she hurled a
flaming bolt of righteous lightning directly through the heaving chest of
Pentacostal Holiness Pastor Billy Jim Bob, causing the highly- regarded house
painter turned fundamentalist Bible preacher's instant death.
With Pastor Bob's smoldering body slumped
over his small crossroad church's pinewood pulpit, revival services continued
well after midnight, conducted by assistant pastor Deacon Bob Jim Billy.
Funeral services for Pastor Bob were
scheduled for this morning, with now-Pastor Billy presiding.
The avenging Jehovist angel was, at last
report, rather wobbly on her feet.
The avenging angel who responded to Pastor Bob's invocation of Jehovah's
righteous wrath is reportedly a novice in her first tour of duty wreaking
earthly vengeance for infractions of Jehovah's laws, and was inexperienced with
the volatility of refreshments often served to Pentacostal congregations.
Following the angel's sampling of the
evening service's liquid refreshments, she appeared to become unsteady on her
feet, then folded her wings to sit slumped in a pew next to members of the
Boacious family, who reported that the heavenly messenger appeared disoriented,
and to be mumbling incoherently about "these crazy crackers." The senior Boacious, Lewt, who had
provided several jugs of the evening's refreshments, took no offense,
commenting that, "Our local corn ain't to ever pilgim's taste," and
is best, for beginners, "cut with clear crick water and sipped real slow
like." The visiting angel apparently partook of refreshments at full
strength.
At the revival service's emotional peak,
Pastor Bob called upon Jehovah to strike dead Mr. Ray Ray, a successful local business
man whose extra-marital conquests reportedly included Pastor Bob's own wife,
Camelia, two of Camelia's older sisters, three of Camelia's older sisters'
younger sisters, and City Councilwoman Cousin MayBelle, Pastor Bob's first wife
by marriage. Yet when the tipsy angel rose to hurl her flaming lightning bolt,
it was Pastor Bob himself who was pierced through the heart, and fell dead. Mr.
Ray Ray, seated in a front pew with Pastor Bob's housekeeper's older sister's
younger sister's cousin, was uninjured.
At press time, the avenging angel whose
aim was tragically off the mark was reportedly demoted from dealing death to
authentic sinners and reassigned to the U.S. Dept. of the Army's Afghanistan
mobile response unit, to assist shooting innocent civilians.
NINETEEN LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE,
sent in by Maureen Dwyer
1. My husband and I divorced over
religious differences. He thought that he was God and I
didn't.***2. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.***3. I
Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!***4. Some people are alive
only because it's illegal to kill them.***5. I used to have a handle on life,
but it broke.***6. Don't take life too seriously; no one gets out alive.***7.
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.***8. I'm not a complete idiot --
Some parts are missing.***9. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.***10.
NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.***11. The gene pool could use a little
chlorine.***12. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.***13. Ever stop
to think, and forget to start again?***14. Procrastinate Now!***15. A hangover
is the wrath of grapes.***16. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless
dead.***17. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.***18. Ham and
eggs. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig!!***19. The
trouble with life is there's no background music.
*****
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GENTLY GUIDING WORDS
"To put the world in order,
we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put
the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal
life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts
right." -- Confucius
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*****
LOVELETTERS FROM PALS, FRIENDS, AND BUDS
From Frank Tyrrell:
ÉLet's just say that unless
stated otherwise, you may fully, in part, or in whatever other way you like,
use anything I send to you for whatever purpose you devise. Who knows, perhaps
something sometime may act like a koan on some seeker somewhere. Consider
yourself confirmed in full. With many thanks.
*****
From Barbara Reaman:
Hello, Richard! Ah, what great fortune for us! A wonderful invite and this time,
nothing to stand in its way! Plan
on us being there, and thank you so much for thinking of us! Love, Barbara
FINDING THE SPIRITUAL PATH, by Frank Tyrrell
Jesus said that the "Kingdom" of heaven is within
you (certainly not "in your midst" as unbelievers would have it). It follows to many that his statement
identifies the place to search. Having
identified the location, then, the task becomes one of technique whereby this
can be accomplished. And the
technique is identified in other of The Master's sentiments, especially in,
"you must give up your self to find your Self." That is, one must conquer the
belligerent ego self in order to discover or reveal the "Kingdom"
within, the inner Divine, the inner light, the Atman, or whatever your
particular culture calls this inner and higher Self.
It is imperative that the ego self be conquered, as it is the source of
negativity. Indeed, how can the
Spirit act if the stage upon which it is to perform is already occupied by
anger, hatred, envy, fear and all the other negative emotional responses of the
ego self? When the interference of
the ego self is eliminated, then the pre-existing Light of the Spirit can shine
through. And, as light does not
come from a window, but through a window, so this inner Light comes through the
individual who has removed all obstacles to its shining.
Personally, I find more direction on the techniques necessary to achieve this
state in Eastern religions, especially ancient Taoism, than in the organized
religions of the West. Meditation seems essential and has proven so to me, at
least. I might point out that
organized religions actually have a stake in preventing this approach, in
attempting to conceal this path. After
all, if enlightenment is available to individual seekers alone, if one's relationship
with God is direct, as it is, then what need is there for self-interested
organized religion?
ÉIf one is ready to help someone else escape a cult, or a sect, or any
organized religion, one must also be ready to replace these things [irrational
teachings] with a higher truth, to help that person first place his foot on
that infinite Razor's Edge.
I don't believe that "usurping" is quite the right word to apply to
Christ's attitude toward Judaism, as it has the flavor of seizing and holding,
to take without right. The
Master's message was one of individual conversion. There is no sense of converting forcibly by the sword if
necessary, which I understand is a feature of Islam.
And I might also point out that because Christianity came after Judaism with a
higher truth, it does not follow that because Islam came after Christianity
that it's truths are higher. In
fact, I believe the Sufi mystics do not necessarily claim to be Islamic, but do
claim not to need any book. This is apparently infuriating to
Muslims, since they are The People Of The Book, the very one that Sufis no
longer require.
I no longer claim to be Christian, since "Christianity" has come
largely to mean "business without ethics." And [it is a] religion without morals. These days I claim only to be awake. And I'm aware of much more than I
practice, sad to say.
In the end, I think this advice is sovereign: "Have you faith? Then have it unto yourself."
*****
*****
WHAT IS IN YOUR "CUP"? sent in by Geoffrey Stoermer
A group of graduates, well
established in their careers, decided to go visit their old professor, now
retired. Soon, the conversation
turned to stress in their work and lives. Offering hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen
and returned with a large potful.
He also brought an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some
plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite-- telling them to help themselves.
When they all had a cup, he said:
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving
behind the plain ones. That is the
source of your problems. The cup
from which you drink adds nothing to the quality of the drink. It is just more expensive, and hides the
drink. What all really want is the
chocolate, not the cup; but you went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each other's
cups.
"Life is the hot chocolate; your job,
money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to contain
life. The "cup" does not
define, or change the quality of, your life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy
the hot chocolate that the universal Mind has provided us.
"The Universe makes the hot
chocolate. Human beings choose the
cups. The happiest people don't
have the best of everything. They
just make the best of everything that they have.
***
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And,
enjoy your hot chocolate!
*****
*****
A MINIPARABLE: A
QUILT OF HOLES, sent in by Jim Dwyer
As I faced my Maker after death, before me lay the events of my earthlife like
the squares of a quilt. An angel
sat before me sewing my quilt squares together into a tapestry. But as he took each piece, I noticed
how ragged and empty each square was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been
difficult, the challenges and temptations with which I was faced in everyday
life. I saw hardships that I
endured, which were the largest holes of all. I gazed upon my tattered life and grew disheartened.
The angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and
empty, like binding air. Finally,
the time came when my life was to be held up to the Light, the scrutiny of
truth. The angel looked upon me,
with eyes filled with tears-- of sadness or joy, I could not tell. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.
I had had no wealth in my
earthlife, no fame, no famous accomplishments. I had had "only" Love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness,
temptations of wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I
knew it. I had had to start over
many times.
I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster
the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights in silent, interior prayer, asking for
help and guidance in my life. I
had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time
offering it up to my sweet Lord in hopes that I would not melt within my skin
beneath the judgmental gazes of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it
was.
I slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the Light. An awe-filled gasp rose from the angel.
I gazed at him, in wonder myself.
He stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded through the many holes, creating an image, the
face of Christ. Then our Lord
stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time
you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My
struggles.
"Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let
Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you!"
***
May all our quilts be threadbare
and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
***
When there is nothing left but
God, that is when you find out that God is all that you need!
***
Take 60 seconds and give this a
shot: All you do is simply say the
following small prayer: Mother/Father
God, please bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know that they need
today! And may their lives be full
of Your peace and Power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.
*****
*****
WORDS OF WISDOM, sent in by Jim Dwyer
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL!
***
We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.
***
God promises a safe landing, not a calm
passage. If God brings you to it, She/He
will bring you through it.
*****
*****
DREAMY, BEAUTIFUL QUOTATION, sent
in by Carol Espelage
"Far away, there in the
sunshine, are my highest aspirations. I might not reach them, but I can look up and see their
beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
-- Louisa May Alcott
*****
*****
COMMENTS FROM 1955, sent in by Jim Dwyer
These are
some incredible, but real, comments actually documented to have been made,
often by people otherwise known for their "smarts," or even wisdom:
"I'll tell you one thing, if things keep
going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries
for $20."
***
"Have you seen the new cars
coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000 will buy only a used
one."
***
"If cigarettes keep going up
in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.
***
"Did you hear the post
office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"
***
"If they raise the minimum
wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."
***
"When I first started
driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon?
Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."
***
"Kids today are
impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay
groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as
the girls."
***
"I'm afraid to send my kids
to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying "damn"
in "Gone with the Wind," it seems every new movie has either "hell"
or "damn" in it."
***
"I read the other day where
some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the
century. They even have some fellows they call "astronauts"
preparing for it down in Texas."
***
"Did you see where some
baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play
ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the
president."
***
"I never thought I'd see the
day all our kitchen appliances would be
electric. They are even making electric typewriters now."
***
"It's too bad things are so
tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to
make ends meet."
***
"It won't be long before
young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can
both work."
***
"Marriage doesn't mean a
thing anymore. Those Hollywood
stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."
***
"I'm afraid the Volkswagen
car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."
***
"Thank goodness I won't live
to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I
sometimes wonder whether we are electing the best people to congress."
***
"The drive-in restaurant is
convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch
on."
***
"There is no sense going to
Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend,
it costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel."
***
"No one can afford to be
sick anymore. At $35 a day in the
hospital, it's too rich for my blood."
***
"If they think I'll pay 50
cents for a hair cut, forget it."
*****
*****
A TASTE OF LITERACY
It is good for the people of Love and
compassion to speak and write as literately as possible. For words, and their correct arrangements,
are always important to the maintenance of Love. So, words have been indispensably crucial to mystics since
the great classics of mystical literature were penned. Some of these go back to centuries
before the birth of Jesus.
Some examples of
profound classical mystical literature include the Upanishads, the Sutras of
Buddhism, The Book of the Great Mind and Its Expression (a classic of Taoist
mysticism, available from Love Ministries at rmfrancis@juno.com), much in the
Christian Scriptures, and the great Bhagavad-Gita, among others.
Because words are so important in clear
communication, and because Love is impossible without communication, we need to
pay attention to the use of words.
How you use words can also influence people either to listen to your
message, or to ignore and dismiss you.
Our word-study this month is a word that
refers to one of our simian brothers/sisters. He/She is usually called an "orangatang." Does this really imply that they drink
Tang? Don't think so, for
"tang" is not really even a part of the word!
For the correct and literate form of the
word is "orangutan." To
remember this, picture the critter getting a suntan! For there is no "tang" in "orangutan." It originates with two African words,
orang+ utan. These two words mean,
"wild man of the woods."
***
DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YEAR IT IS?
Most would answer this apparently simple
question with absolute certainty, and say, "two thousand eight," but
they would be dead wrong-- at least, gramatically!
For no date ever contains the word
"thousand."
For two examples, no English-speaking person would ever dream of reading the
year 1945 as "one thousand nine hundred forty-five." For many, this is so illiterate as to
be even amusing! Nor would the
average educated person read the year 2145 as "two thousand one hundred
forty-five." No. In the first case, all literate people
would read, correctly, "nineteen forty-five," and in the second,
"twenty-one forty-five."
But, in our society, and in others around
the world, we are displaying our ignorance and confusion by the way that we
state the early years of the twenty-first century.
For example, as a year,
"2001" is not correctly, "Two thousand and one," but
"twenty-oh-one." In exactly
the same way, "2008" is never "two thousand eight" unless
you are discussing quantity. If
you say, "I have two thousand eight cars in stock," this tells only
how many cars you have on the lot.
It says nothing about the year, make, or model of the cars.
A new car is a "2008 car," the number
of the year said, "Twenty-oh-eight." There simply is no other correct way, according to the rules
of English, to say a year. So,
remember, if you care how you speak, if you want to be truly literate, no date
ever contains the word "thousand."
Let's practice: How do you say the year 2007? If you said, "Twenty-oh-seven,"
congratulations! You are speaking
as a more educated person! Our
children's children will find our use as amusing as we would if our ancestors
had called the year 1904 "one thousand nine hundred and four"! Again, make it easy: If a number contains the word
"thousand," it is not a date!
(For "thousand refers to counting a quantity.)
***
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "MAY" AND "MIGHT"
Almost everyone gets this one
wrong! Most, including most
professionals, have never even been instructed re the difference between
""may" and "might." So, don't bother asking local writers, teachers, or others;
chances are, they will not know.
And almost no one ever thinks about it. Like the date, discussed above, almost
everyone, with very few exceptions, believes that "may" and
"might" are interchangeable; only, they feel, "may" has a
smoother sound!
Actually, the two words are very
different. Here is the rule for
literate usage: "May"
implies permission, "might" implies probability.
The sentence, "We may see three
robins today," implies, incorrectly, that someone has given permission
for us to see the robins! What the speaker or writer really meant
was, "We might see three
robins today," which means that it is probable that this will happen.
Writers everywhere, with a microscopic
exception, use these two words incorrectly. So, if, in the future, you carefully watch your usage, you
might be glad that you did so! And
you may begin right now!
***
THE WORD IS "ESCAPE, NOT "ECSCAPE"
I started life by pronouncing the word
"escape" as "ecscape," but this is incorrect. "Ecscape" is not a word in
the English language, and its use betrays either illiteracy or just
carelessness. The word in question
is pronounced, "ess-cape' and not "eks-cape'."
THE ODD ORIGIN OF "HOCUS POCUS"
The pseudomagical and pseudological
(fake-word) phrase, "hocus pocus," originates from a statement made by
Jesus in a Latin version of the Christian Scriptures. His words were, Hoc est corpus meum," which means, "This is My
body." These words were
uttered in reference to the breadsymbol of Communion.
THE "OUIJA" BOARD
This is a system for contacting the deeper
Unconscious, and also, for "communicating" with Souls and
spirits. Some claim that, for
unstable people, it can be dangerous!
At any rate, the name "Ouija" is
fascinating. It combines the
French and German words for "yes," and so, means, "yes-yes
board." It's original
pronunciation was "we'-yah."
But the correct pronunciation in modern English is "we'-jah"
board. It is never, under any
circumstances, a "weejee board"!
***
The word "government"
is pronounced, "guv'-urn-ment," and NEVER "gumment"
***
The word "business" is
pronounced "biz'-ih-ness," or "biz'ness," but NEVER
"bih'-ness."
*****
*****
THE RIDDLE OF "EVIL"
How can the person of Love, of the
Enlightenment Tradition, explain how our world is so permeated with
"evil" and yet controlled by a perfect Mind of pure Love? Is this not a radical, indeed
insuperable, obstacle?
At first, it looks as if there is no answer to
this complicated mystery. Among
the poor "non-explanations" given by traditional religion are: 1) God wants to change evil, but
cannot; 2) God does not want to change evil. Both of these "excuses" explain absolutely
nothing. So, they are unacceptable
to a thinking person. And, instead
of leading to an increase in faith, they demolish faith in the omnipotent Lord
of Love, deep within the Mind.
A third, often repeated, excuse is that "it
is God's will." This is so
ludicrous that it would be funny if the question were not so serious. Excusing evil as the "will of
God" also explains exactly nothing.
So, intelligent people also turn away from this simplism; it is only an
excuse, not an explanation!
Since these traditions are a big fat
goose-egg, leading nowhere, we must look at the real and profound explanation
provided by the saintmystics of the Enlightenment Tradition: "Evil" is an illusion.
This implies that, instead of carelessly labeling
the entire universe as crazy, chaotic, or "evil," we stop criticizing
the entire universe! Instead, we
begin to suspect our own minds.
This demonstrates genuine humility. We look within ourselves to find an answer.
The things on earth that we call
"evil," we often label so because they lead to death. This implies that death is the greatest
evil of all; death is the "king," or "father," of evil, the
absolute zenith of unfairness and horror.
And, indeed, when a friend or other loved
one dies, we who are left on earth must endure much suffering due to our great
loss. But we must re-examine here
a very basic inquiry: Is death a
true "evil"?
The
mystical/spiritual perspective is astonishing! It is mindbending!
It calls upon us to question all the programs fed into our heads by
parents, religion, and Western society in general. For death is inevitable. It is absolutely unavoidable. Even the young, when instructed about reality
("truth"), learn that birth is a guarantee of death, and that every
biocreature that has ever been born must die.
With this absolute inevitability staring
us in the face, mystics say, death must somehow serve Love (God).
It does. For death is not the end of Mind. How can we know?
By using the very best tradition of science: Observation. We
can interview the dying, and, through modern biotech, actually speak with those
who have died and returned to earthlife.
Those who can remember anything (and some
cannot) tell a stunning story:
They, whether Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, or avowed atheist, all
recount the same account. The
Mind, the ability to think, the idea of an "I" or Self, continues
after death!
And it gets even better: Death, they say, in chorus of
unanimity, is an extremely sweet, blissful, even ecstatic state. At once, all the fears, hassles,
complexities, obligations, negative memories and feelings of earth drop
away. The Soul soars into the
Milky Way of the Mind, and feels nothing but joy and total freedom!
If mystics are right-- and real clinical
evidence is accumulating to prove them right-- death is not a hideous nightmare
to be feared. This is an illusion
in a world of illusion. And
illusion stands completely opposed, one hundred eighty degrees away from,
Reality or "truth." And
if death is indeed liberation to a new life, a new beginning, as Jesus came to
prove and demonstrate, then all the things that lead to death-- disease,
hurricanes, injustice, war, and a list of the most horrific "evils"
are seen not to be "completely, absolutely, or totally evil." For death is not only natural, but is a
real pleasure and delight. It is
not oppressor but liberator.
The mysticsaint is not morbidly obsessed with
death, and knows that "suicide" has no place in the life of
Love. For it is precisely as
terrible a mistake as killing another.
For no one really belongs entirely to her self. We also "belong" to
life-companions, friends, parents, children, family in general, and, finally,
to the human family. It is just as
wrong to kill yourself as it is to kill a neighbor! But the person of Love can relax into the death-process when
it arrives, knowing that death is indeed a part of the will of pure Love, that
it in no way harms us, and is indeed renewing and liberating!
*****
*****
THE GNOSTIC (EARLY CHRISTIAN MYSTIC) SILVANUS AND UNIVERSAL SALVATION
"Universal salvation" is
scandalous to the modern orthodox Church!
Catholics, Protestants, and cults alike regard it as a major
heresy! For it is the teaching
that God's beautiful, amazing grace covers everyone. No one, in the end of time, is outside of the Power of this
infinite grace. Each and every
sentient (selfaware) being is
"saved" by the Lord/Lady of pure Love.
Actually, in order not to believe this,
the official Church is placing a limitation on God/Goddess, the Infinite and
Illimitable. For they are saying
that sins exist that are greater, more powerful, than God's immeasurable
Love! And this is just plain ol'
blasphemy!
There is good evidence, in the Christian
Scriptures, that Jesus taught universal salvation. (John 1:7; 12:32; Romans
5:18; 1 Tim.2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11)
During the first couple of centuries after Jesus, most of his original
and subsequent followers were mystics.
They called themselves "gnostics," which means that they had
experienced a personal, interior "knowing (Greek, gnosis) of
"God" as Love.
One early Christian gnostic writer,
Silvanus, repeatedly refers clearly and plainly to the universality of
salvation for all.
He says, for example, that
"everyone" will "shine" with the "brilliance" of
enlightenment. He says that when
Christ was manifest, He provided "life" for
"everyone." He writes
that "all" were renewed through the Holy Spirit. God, he writes, gives "glory"
to "save everyone." He
agrees with Christian official Scripture that God wants "everyone" to
be "saved." (1 Tim. 2:4)
In another place, he says, very simply and
clearly, this summary of a famous mystical principle: "All dwell in God." God instructs "all men" [meaning, "all people"]
as to goodness. This God,
"revealed to everyone," is also paradoxically
"concealed." This same
God, mystics wrote repeatedly, Silvanus says, has "become all for
everyone." He pours
Her/Himself into the cosmos, including each and every human heart, as Love.
*****
SIXTY CHILDREN'S BOOKS SENT TO INDIA
Love Ministries is very happy to announce that,
from the next publication of our children's book, Kami and Kamu: A Love So
True-blue, sixty copies are being sent,
free of charge, to orphans and needy children in India. Love Ministries is working through our
agent in India, David Hem Sagar, who also coordinates the efforts of the Love
and Compassion Charitable Society of India. (http://www.lacindia.com) Later, we also plan to send some free copies to orphans and
poor children in Africa. We will
keep you up-to-date!:)
*****
THE "UNIVERSAL LOVE DIGEST"
Readers of Lovelight magazine often ask,
"Where can we find related spiritual material, perhaps a little more
profound?" Love Ministries,
the producer of Lovelight, also produces a regular (every two or three days)
infosheet. This is very easy to
read; it is a "quick read" for "busy people." Each infosheet is one or two pages, and
this infosheet, the "Universal Love Digest," (uld) contains between
one and six small articles, each between one and six paragraphs long--
usually. So, the uld can be as
brief as one article with one paragraph, or as long as six articles.
Like Lovelight, the uld is free for the
asking. Like Lovelight, it will
appear automatically on your inboxscreen when you subscribe.
But content, although related, is slightly
different. The uld contains deeper
spirituality, and, often, political and social commentaries, especially when
these interface with compassion or Love, as well. At times, it also contains comments on religion, the
traditional Western Bible, and other faiths.
Like Lovelight, the uld advocates and
defends universalism-- acceptance of all Lovebased faiths throughout the
world. It examines Buddhist,
Hindu, Taoist, Jewish, Sufi, and nature-based forms of mysticism (the
Enlightenment Tradition).
If these ideas "flip yo' switches,"
please write, right now, for your free subscription. Also, please feel free to recommend any friend (from your address
book, etc.) who might be interested in a free subscription. No obligation! Please write: rmfrancis@loveministries.com
*****
*****
THE BEAUTY OF GROWING WISER, sent in
by Jim Dwyer
Fact 1: Each of
us on earth ages one year for every
year that we are inside these biobodies. Fact 2: The
fact that these bodies are illusions, and even the fact that we recognize this,
does not change the first fact:
Like all material things in this timeworld, our bodies also tend to
age. It is simply hoped that, with
this process, wisdom also makes an appearance!
Viewed this way, the process, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always
wanted to be. Oh, not necessarily
only this body! I sometimes
despair over my body-- its many imperfections! And often I am taken aback by wrestling with this bod! But I don't agonize for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving
family, simply to be "younger"!
As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my
own best friend!
I don't chide or criticize myself for
eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I
didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. For I am entitled to an occasional treat, to be messy once
in a while, or to be moderately extravagant!
I have seen too many dear friends
leave this world too soon-- before they understood
the great freedom that comes with growing wiser.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4
AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to wonderful interior songs
of my mind and Soul! I will walk
the beach in a swim suit of my own choice! And I will dive into the waves with abandon
if I choose to!
I know that I sometimes forget things. But some of life is just as well forgotten.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken a few times.
How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child
suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But
broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding, and compassion. A
heart never broken is pristine and sterile; and it will never know
the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have learned many of life's
most delightful, and difficult, lessons.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before they could
learn the lessons of Love in this life!
As you get wiser, it
is easier to be positive. You care
less about what other people
think. I don't question myself anymore.
I've even earned the right to be wrong.
I like the person whom I have become. I am not going to live
forever, but while I am still here, I will
not waste time lamenting what could have
been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every
single day!
***
MAY
OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!
May you always have a rainbow of smiles on your face, and in
your heart, forever! Friends
forever.
*****
*****
A FEW HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS, sent in by Jim Dwyer
How many of these did YOU
know about?
A sealed envelope
- Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap.
The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)
Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can
write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn
dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.
(wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a
few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax
will fall out.
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off
with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing
alcohol on paper towel.
Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut
each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and
unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more
economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely!
In fact, I have notice d that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this
way! It also sharpen the scissor.
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and
proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to
put the body?) LOL
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside
windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight
vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a
sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to
create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell
freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the
salt will absorb all the dust and dirtand leave your artificial flowers looking
like new! Works like a charm!
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough
water t o cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.
Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there
won't be any stains.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the re frigerator and it will keep for weeks.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your
forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces
....... Left over wine? What's that? :)
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and
you will experience instant relief.
Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk
line. So,
get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to
march. See for yourself.
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the
shine
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put
the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters
painlessly and easily.
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer........
Clean a toilet.
Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush.
The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
Clean a vase.
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water
and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for
two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer
tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain
followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the
hot water.
Do your friends a favor. Pass this timely (and some not-so-timely)
information on to a friend! I just did.
Makes you wonder about ingesting Alka Seltzer, doesn't it?
THE LATEST NEWS
FROM SCIENCE!
* Genes affecting generosity may be found: One gene underlying altruism is an ancient
strip of DNA also found in rodents, a study indicates.
http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/071028_altruism-gene.htm
* At 400, clam may be longest-lived animal known:
A venerable mollusk could shed light on the mysteries of aging, researchers
say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071030_old-clam.htm
* Humans go into heat after all, strip club study finds:
Mammals go into heat. Except humans -- it's just for animals, right? Wrong, a
study suggests.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071027_estrus.htm
* Drastic diet may extend human life: study Researchers
knew it worked in animals, but whether it would in us has been unclear.
http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/071115_caloric.htm
* Monkey embryos reported cloned: The work
could lead to a way to produce
patient-specific stem cells for curing disease, researchers say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071114_clone.htm*
*What's in a name? Studies link initials to success:
If you like your name too much,
even unconsciously, you might be in trouble, scientists
suggest.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071114_initials.htm
*Alzheimer's "vaccine" seen to aid mice:
Immunization might blunt or even prevent
the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, researchers predict.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071113_alzheimer.htm
From the world of science:
*Science gives
beauty some of its mystery back --
for now: There might be more to good looks than averageness after all, new
research suggests.
http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/071222_beauty.htm
*Is humor
tied to male aggression?: A doctor's hobby of unicycling turned into a
study
of human nature, that offers a new perspective on why we joke.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071221_humor.htm
*Whales
evolved from raccoon-sized creature, study
finds:
The "missing link" for whales and dolphins was a small hoofed mammal,
researchers say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071219_indohyus.htm
*Search for ET
beefed up -- with your help: A search for radio signals from alien
civilizations is set to become 500 times more powerful, investigators say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080202_seti.htm
*Anthrax
might be ally in cancer war: Most people wouldn't consider anthrax helpful.
But its toxin may someday be a cancer therapy, scientists claim.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071229_anthrax.htm
*"Unprecedented"
results after new Alzheimer's
treatment: Researchers claim an already approved drug reverses symptoms of a devastating
illness.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/080109_alzheimer.htm
*Why poor kids might make sicker adults: Scientists
believe they're starting to understand why the poor suffer worse health and
shorter lives than the rich.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071107_income.htm
* Breakthrough may let scientists make stem cells on demand: Researchers
say they appear to have success- fully turned ordinary human cells into
powerful stem cells, which could permit breakthrough medical treatments.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071120_stemcell.htm
*First reversal of aging in an organ claimed:
A short-term success in rejuvenating the skin of mice points the way to future
progress againstaging, scientists say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071128_skin-aging.htm
*Scientists hope to give artificial limbs "feelings":
New findings suggest a way amputees could gain sensation in their prostheses,
allowing greater control, researchers say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071126_prosthetic.htm
*Humans lose to chimps in number memory game:
Young chimps have an "extraordinary" ability to remember numerals,
scientists report.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071203_chimp-memory.htm
*Life's building blocks formed on Mars: study
Organic molecules might be able to form on any cold, rocky planet, researchers
claim.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071211_mars-organic.htm
* Global warming to worsen malnutrition: report
Amid rising concern over climate change, three U.N. agencies issued a stark new
warning.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071212_warming.htm
*Why we feel "slow motion" during crisis:
Why does "time fly" as you get older -- or seem slower during
accidents? Scientists say they
have an answer.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071211_time.htm
*****
*****
THE
GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN,
sent in by Sandra Grubb
Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered,
half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful!***Between 23 and 30, a woman is
like Europe, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with
cash.***Between 31 and 38, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed and convinced
of her own beauty.***Between 39 and 47, a woman is like Greece, gently aging
but still a warm and desirable place to visit.***Between 48 and 55, a woman is
like Great Britain, classy and with a glorious and all conquering past.***Between
56 and 62, a woman is like Israel, has been through the wars and doesn't make
the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.***Between 63 and 70, a woman
is like Canada, self-preserving but open to meeting new people.***After 70, she
becomes Tibet, wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the
ages. Only those with an
adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.
*****
*****
Natal
Report for
Barack Obama
August
4, 1961, 12:00 PM. Honolulu,
Hawaii
Sun
12 Leo 15
Pluto 6 Vir 58
Moon 29 Tau 26 N. Node 27
Leo 19
Mercury 1 Leo 43 Asc. 2 Sco 39
Venus
1 Can 26 MC 3 Leo 04
Mars 22 Vir 23
2nd cusp 1 Sag 52
Jupiter 0 Aqu 54 3rd
cusp 1 Cap 57
Saturn 25 Cap 21 5h cusp 4 Pis 48
Uranus 25 Leo 15 6th cusp 5
Ari 15
Neptune 8 Sco 36
Natal
Report
for Hillary Rodham Clinton
October
26, 1947
8:00 PM
Chicago, Illinois
Sun
2 Sco 48
Moon 29 Pis 12
Mercury 21 Sco 19
Venus 16 Sco 51
Mars 14 Leo 16
Jupiter 0 Sag 37
Saturn 21 Leo 21
Uranus 25 Gem 55
Neptune 11 Lib 22
Pluto
14 Leo 51
N. Node 23 Tau 32
Asc. 29 Gem 49
MC 5 Pis 07
2nd cusp 19 Can 30
3rd cusp 10 Leo 03
5th cusp 8 Lib 41
Love
Ministries is happy to announce the publication of the new book Soaring on
Sunshine: A Abiography of a Mystic, by a Franciscan Taoist. Please order from: rmfrancis@ juno.com