Poems From A Spiritual Heart: The Long Road, An Easter Poem

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: The Long Road, An Easter Poem: From Denny:  An Easter poem about how sacrifice can deliver unexpected pleasant surprises.  With global protests against oppressive governments, like the Arab Spring in the Middle East, and against greedy Big Business like the Occupy Protests in the West, it is evident there is great need in the world.

When economic times and society get hard pressed what is the one thing you can do about all the wrong going on around you?  You can be a friend.  You can slow down, even come to a full stop on your own life, and look around to see what is happening in your vicinity.

To address the needs, think of offering some real friendship and mentor those around you.  You will be surprised how many people will tell you how glad they are you took time for them as they thought no one would ever notice how much they were struggling.  It could be at work, at church, your neighborhood, the local grocery store, anywhere.  Offering the fact that you care is often the most appreciated.

Caustic Christians Promoting Hate Endorsed By GOP Candidates

Jesus Christ - detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From Denny:  A Louisiana pastor, affiliated with the Rush Limbaugh Hate Merchant class, introduced Rick Santorum at his church when the Republican campaigned here in my town of Baton Rouge.

Of course, my fellow Democrats across the nation erupted in outrage.  I yawned at the fist-pounding rhetoric reminiscent of Nikita Khrushchev pounding his shoe against President Kennedy in the 1960's.  Apparently, shoe slapping is a popular anger release in many cultures.

Southern Baptist Pastor Dennis Terry said when he introduced Sen. Santorum:  "I don't care what the liberals say, I don't care what the naysayers say, this nation was founded as a Christian nation...There is only one God and his name is Jesus. I'm tired of people telling me that I can't say those words.. Listen to me, If you don't love America, If you don't like the way we do things I have one thing to say - GET OUT. We don't worship Buddha, we don't worship Mohammad, we don't worship Allah, we worship God, we worship God's son Jesus Christ."

Caustic Christians are so far removed from what Jesus Christ taught that I'm immune to their constant propaganda because it sounds like the ravings of a mad man.  Think current mad man like former Fox News conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck, who is clearly in need of medication to restore him to a sound mind.

Think of the ravings of the above quote from Dennis Terry.  Clearly, he wants to control what Americans think, feel and how we worship.  This country was founded upon religious freedom for all, not just Christians.  And, no, Mr. Terry, this liberal Louisiana journalist blogger is not leaving.  Neither is the rest of the country who knows what you said was erroneous at best and cruelly unacceptable at worst.  Get used to your neighbors; we are all different, with different ideas, different religions: one America.

Mother Holy Spirit poem - Libations Sunday 23 Jan 2011

What do you know about the - sometimes controversial - feminine principle of God?

Cheeky Quote Day! 20 May 2009

Photo of Nietzsche in 1875, probably before he contracted or showed symptoms of syphilis - suffering the fate of insanity at the end of his life in 1900.

From Denny: OK, who among us has ever thought of Nietzsche as, well, funny? Not many I expect. He was a German philosopher who often contradicted himself and got in trouble by critiquing culture. After his zealously religious Lutheran pastor father died insane, Friedrich Nietzsche soared to new heights as a famous rebel against Christianity. That must have been one psychologically confusing atmosphere growing up as a child with a double dose: heavy religion AND insanity.

Nietzsche’s emotional and spiritual flailing is a fine example of the throes of spiritual development. In all that seriousness, most people don’t realize how many frequently incredible and funny life observations occur along the way! And that, dear friends, is why you keep a journal!

Here are a few of Nietzsche’s wry observations about humanity:

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.

Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called 'Ego'.

Not by wrath does one kill, but by laughter.

Insanity in individuals is something rare -- but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.

Love is a state in which a man sees things most decidedly as they are not.

Is man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's blunders?

The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything.

The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.

The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.

In Heaven all the interesting people are missing.

Below are three videos from Keith Olbermann's Countdown show about real life and truth in politics. Talk about Cheeky Quotes! :)

Funny Mythology

Godchecker.com

From Denny: This has got to be the funniest, yet accurate information, on mythology and ancient religion I’ve ever seen. It will have you laughing so much you will fall off your chair. Definitely a place to visit again and again when the work week gets dull or stressful. These guys are a regular laugh riot!

Here’s a sample of what they had to say about Satan on their page: Satan


"Gods from Middle-Eastern Mythology

Also known as DEVIL, PRINCE-OF-DARKENSS, HA-SATAN, ACCUSER, DIABOLOS, OLD-NICK, STAN

SATAN: The Devil — Mr. All-round Evil Genius and the Adversary of GOD — particularly the Christian variety JEHOVAH.

A rebel angel, he was originally the team leader of the spiritual world, possessing great power and responsibility. But he turned nasty and tried to set himself up as a rival to GOD. As a punishment for his rebellious pride, he was cast out of Heaven, along with a rabble of other rebels.

Now SATAN rules the infernal regions of Hell, with an army of demons to do his bidding. Out of pure malice and vengeance, he aims to overthrow the established order by turning humans against GOD. Using every trick in the book, he spreads evil whispers, plants the seeds of doubt, and tempts the unwary to fall from grace.

SATAN relishes his role of troublemaker and tempter. And let's face it; he's pretty good at his job. No wonder JESUS called him the Prince of this World.

What does SATAN look like? Answer: anything he likes. According to legend, his appearance ranges from the demonic to the smart. He can have the traditional horns, scales, a forked tail, the head of a goat, cloven feet — or turn up as a smooth dude in the latest Italian suit. But there's always more to him than meets the eye; his own eyes can glow like red-hot coals.

As with most things in Christianity, older legends and rival religions had a strong influence on the concept of SATAN. The Persian baddie AHRIMAN was sucked in — and popular Gods such as BAAL were twisted into evil versions such as BEELZEBUB.

This also happened with PAN, a very popular God whose sexual antics horrified the Church so much that they labeled him the Devil. That is why SATAN has goat's legs and horns. If PAN could sue for libel the Church wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Because the Old Testament has little to say on the subject of SATAN, the early Christians were free to speculate as they formulated their new theology. What wasn't already present in Jewish tradition they could plunder from elsewhere or downright

A rebel angel, he was originally the team leader of the spiritual world, possessing great power and responsibility. But he turned nasty and tried to set himself up as a rival to GOD. As a punishment for his rebellious pride, he was cast out of Heaven, along with a rabble of other rebels.

Now SATAN rules the infernal regions of Hell, with an army of demons to do his bidding. Out of pure malice and vengeance, he aims to overthrow the established order by turning humans against GOD. Using every trick in the book, he spreads evil whispers, plants the seeds of doubt, and tempts the unwary to fall from grace.

SATAN relishes his role of troublemaker and tempter. And let's face it, he's pretty good at his job. No wonder JESUS called him the Prince of this World.

What does SATAN look like? Answer: anything he likes. According to legend, his appearance ranges from the demonic to the smart. He can have the traditional horns, scales, a forked tail, the head of a goat, cloven feet — or turn up as a smooth dude in the latest Italian suit. But there's always more to him than meets the eye; his own eyes can glow like red-hot coals.

As with most things in Christianity, older legends and rival religions had a strong influence on the concept of SATAN. The Persian baddie AHRIMAN was sucked in — and popular Gods such as BAAL were twisted into evil versions such as BEELZEBUB.

This also happened with PAN, a very popular God whose sexual antics horrified the Church so much that they labelled him the Devil. That is why SATAN has goat's legs and horns. If PAN could sue for libel the Church wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Because the Old Testament has little to say on the subject of SATAN, the early Christians were free to speculate as they formulated their new theology. What wasn't already present in Jewish tradition they could plunder from elsewhere or downright
invent. This was especially popular in medieval times, when cataloging the attributes of demons and angels was virtually a career. You could almost get a government research grant for it.

Case in point: SATAN is also known as LUCIFER. Why? Lucifer is a Latin word meaning Light-Bearer. St JEROME (4th Century) used it to denote the Greek word Heosphoros when he was translating the Bible into Latin. But Heosphoros means 'morning star', and the Biblical passage in question (Isaiah 14) is really just taunting the King of Babylon. ("You think you're as bright as Venus, but God's gonna get ya!")

Still, the name stuck and legends of Lucifer sprang up all over. From Light-Bearer to Prince of Darkness. Poor old VENUS should sue for libel too.

SATAN seems to inspire an eerie fascination and turns up in the most unlikely places. In his devilish guise he leaves bits of himself all over the landscape. Devil's Elbow, Devil's Footprints, Devil's Hollow, Devil's Chimney, Devil's Dyke... We think he just likes to be noticed.

SATAN: The Devil – Mr. All-‘Round Evil Genius and the Adversary of GOD – particularly the Christian variety JEHOVAH."

From Denny: Who said religion can't be fun? Extensive site on all kinds of ancient mythology and religion facts, help for students too. Humor is an effective way to teach ancient history!

Besides, to hear the Pentacostals tell it: Satan hates to be laughed at as that is the way you gain power over him! Laughter rules! Goodness wins the day through laughter. Works for me!