Finding Father

  Before my little spoof of that gastrointestinal interlude, we were talking about two, of the three great religions of the world. The missing one, Christianity, we didn't discuss at all, as I figured it would be better, closer to Christmas day. Chronologically, that first Christmas when Jesus was born, came after the Jewish religion, but before the Muslim religion. Also, I wanted to save the best for last! Besides the fact that I am a Christian, why would I say Christianity is best? First, you should know, that all religions, including Hinduism and the Eastern philosophies, all come in one form or another from the three. Just as a little factoid, all three lay claim to Jerusalem, a city in the small nation state of Israel. What would be the odds on that? I hate even using the word religion as a way to reference Christianity, but it simplifies it I suppose?
  God's plan, is the reason Jesus was born. The short of it is, that he came into this world to die. I suppose there are some who still do, but ancient religions required a blood sacrifice. One of the things that sent Jesus into a tirade at the Temple court was that they sold doves and other small animals to people so that they'd have an animal to sacrifice, but that's another story. The problem with actual blood sacrifices, was that you had to do it more then once. Jesus came to be a sacrifice for all, once, clean and done. He was the perfect sacrifice as he was pure, and only purity can approach God. Think of it as the purest water in all the world in a clear glass, and then dump some black ink into it, the two just don't mix. That is why we need an arbiter, a go between, a bridge to the Father. Jesus is that link to God, and he came to earth as a uniter. Though he was a Jew and a Rabbi, Jesus, being one with the Father, has no religion. He then, is the link for both the Jew and the Muslim, and even though both of them stubbornly refuse to admit that Jesus is the son of God, Jesus still is that bridge, as he is for all people everywhere.
  Jesus Christ is a gift from God, an offer to stubborn man, to be able to come before God the Father. Jesus is the uniter, not the divider, for he doesn't care what religion you call yourself. God doesn't want your religion, he wants you. He is the way given by God as a way, the only way to himself. The disciplne that comes with the law can not save you, only the Spirit can do that. He calls just as he always has. The offer still on the table, even above the clamor for war. As the two sides ready themselves, still he speaks to each one personally, and says, Come, let us reason together.
  Merry Christmas everyone, from our family to yours. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. The offer is still there. Give yourself a Christmas present, and give yourself to him. Peace..

It's all about Carbon

  It may have been in high school biology, but at some point, I came to believe that we are mostly made from carbon? Seventy-five parts water, and the rest carbon? Speaking of course from a basic element state of mind, CO2 hydration and the like. But anyway, whether my assumption is correct or not is irrelevant, as it got me to thinking about this whole poison air thing, in a funny kind of way. Looking at things in a funny way, is my way.
  But before I had the funny thought, I had an unfunny one. One about a story. A story about two industrialists, who are discussing whether or not to invest in this new company, who came out with this new type of coal scrubber, scrubber. Perfa-Clean is it's name. There device, takes the emissions that would normally come from smoke stacks, and reinjests it into the factory or turbine. This would take the would be smoke, and run it through high speed piping, subjecting it to differing temperatures, speeds, and other stimulai, converting it back down to it's most basic element. But obviously, that isn't funny, and so I definitely digress.
  As for the funny part, that came to mind as a remedy of sorts, as the government has gotten so bad, that if you didn't laugh, you'd cry. Obviously, as we are already talking about carbon, the funnier story would have to stick to that script. The question that came to mind was, because we are carbon based, are we a threat too? The environmental crazies are dead serious about farts. Farts contain methane, and so farts are a noxious fuel. Not to worry though, as our government is already on this problem of farting,  they are already on cattle, cattle who do a lot of farting that is. But why cattle first, and not pigs? Surely pig farts must be more obnoxious? But surely, the smelliest, and therefore the most dangerous, must come from humans, as our diets are so rich and diverse. Now I'm not one to brag, but I've cleared a room or two in my day! So I find myself in a strange place, I find myself with al the environmental crazies, and I say, because living things fart, that it is us animals that are the problem, and I stand proudly with the global warming crowd when I say, down with all that farts, down with life.

What is a spiritual war?

  Family is the short answer, if you understand the depths of emotion which can come only from family, then you will know that it is a family matter. Family you see, makes it personal. How family, you might ask? First and foremost, we are all part of God's family. It doesn't matter if you don't believe in God, for He either exists or not, and I can tell you that He does. We speak now of another dimension, one of spirits. Also, as we can all agree, there is good and there is evil, and so, because God exists, so does his counterpart, Satan.
  But back to our story. When we think about family, no one but your family can make you feel more love, and no one can piss you off, and hurt your feelings, more then family. Because, it is personal. But in order to explain family, I'm going to explain it with an American family, two families actually. The Hatfields and the McCoys, two families from the hills of Kentucky, just after the Civil War.  The two patriarchs were neighbors, and fought together for the Confederacy. Something happened between the two men during the war, and they came home hating each other. After that, it got to killing and revenge, an endless circle of violence. To complicate matters, there were inter-marriages between the families, and so there was betrayal to add to the fire. There is a movie about it if you are interested. With all these neighbors had in common, it is from these, the term "blood feud" became popular. You see, because it's about family, it's a matter of honor, making it a family matter. Family, it can cause the greatest of love and devotion, and yet, the other side of that, the greatest treachery and hatred.
It's a Family Matter:
  So what does the story of a couple of hillbilly families have to do with what goes on today? Family. It really is that simple, and yet so difficult to understand. If you know anything about the Bible or the Koran, you would know that both sides are in agreement, and both rightfully claim Abram, later to be known as Abraham as the Patriarch of their families, their clan, their tribe, their blood. You can read the story yourself in Genesis 16 and 17, but here it is, paraphrased into a nutshell. Abraham and Sarah his wife, are in their mid eighties, and have no children. So Sarah says to her husband of fifty plus years, Honey, seeing as we have no children and we are old, please go into my maid servant Hagar, have sex with her and make a son. Now, with my devious mind, two things come immediately to mind, first, God bless Abraham that the little man could still pay attention, and then, he thinks to himself about making love to this beautiful, twenty something virgin, an absolutely gorgeous Egyptian girl, and well, I'll bet this is one order she didn't have to say twice! Abraham and Hagar gave berth to Ishmael, and years later after much conflict, the Lord blesses Sarah who is nearing 100 yrs., and Abraham and Sarah his wife, give berth to Isaac. Brothers, and God blesses both of them, telling each that they would have descendants by the million, and from them kings and princes would come. Two brothers, one's descendants to be the Jews, and the other whose descendants would be Muslim. The bridge between them, the bridge that can settle it all. This bridge still exists, ahis name is Jesus Christ, he is the everlasting bridge, the true bridge, and the only bridge to the Father.

The Deceiver

  Look, the deceiver comes, he waits in the wings. His lies sound new, but they are the same lies told in the ancient days. Subtle is his deception, he speaks lies with ease. He is an ancient one this deceiver, he twists the lies of old into phrases of today. Calm and collected is his demeanor, but watch him folks, for he is a sly one, and will stab you in the back!

  He speaks from a place of honor, but there is no honor in him. The truth he manages as a magician, with smoke and mirrors, he is the master of misdirection. He will fool many, as he will speak as if with a caring heart. But he has no room for caring, he cares only for himself. Some will say, Just a man of means, and all he craves is power.

  Arrogant in his ways, as his disappointments have been few. But he thinks to himself, that his ways are greater then that of the people, because he thinks his thoughts to be much greater then theirs, and he scolds them as if little children. This war that has begun, is a spiritual war fought now in our time, did you think that he wouldn't come? The spiritual has become reality, did you not think he would speak?
  No, the deceiver has come, and though the folly of his lies will be believed by many, the Truth will only become stronger.