Best of Spirits

Posts
Best of Spirits webworks in full, latest on top
Page 9 of 20, posts 41 - 45 of 98
Best of Spirits

Jesus Among the AmerIndians

Just always seemed t'me just like something Jesus might do.

Mormonism's idea that the risen Jesus appeared to people in the Western Hemisphere has always tickled me. Just always seemed t'me just like something Jesus might do.

I believe sometimes the Spirit tries to coalesce a concept in the mortal mind, and all kinds of imaginary thoughts are generated in consequence. One great truth may be accompanied by much dross. Not saying this about Smith or Mormon, specifically.

I have no idea when or how or why anyone thinks he may have done it, but I always figured it would be easiest during his time as the Risen Jesus. He hung around for nearly six weeks, and he reportedly was materially free to travel.

Maybe it's just that I so like thinking the Master would have reached out, just as he taught, to all the world. And since no other disciple of his at the time could possibly get there....




Best of Spirits

Isolated World

Caught in the battlefield

The War in Heaven, initiated a third of a billion years ago by the rebel administrator Lucifer, is long settled, and the betrayer is incarcerated and new, loyal administrators have replaced him and his rebellious associates.

His subordinate administrator in charge of this world was removed from official status two millennia ago, but that did not end the battling. The devilish former prince of this world is not yet rounded up, and though greatly disempowered, is not without willing allies still.

The final struggle for souls on disrupted planets, the very destiny of the world, continues. Those who seek Truth know the ultimate outcome.

It's all about spirit. Every major topic is about Reality and its opponents.

True Disciples of the Prince of Deception have the mark of the beast in their shifty eyes and nervous speech and endless body tells.

Mere Followers of the Lie cannot reason effectively, instead responding propagandistically, and their morals and principles are, at best, confused, at worst, non-existent.

It's not about different ideas or reaching across the aisle or getting along. This is the ongoing War in Heaven begun eons ago. No fence-sitting possible.

Truth. Accept no substitutes.

Paradise Lost - Gustave Doré



Best of Spirits

Extremely Inhabited Universe

They're not Out There. We are.

"One In Five Milky Way Stars Host Potentially Life-Friendly Earth Like Planets"
Yahoo News headline [cached], h/t to BenK on Ace of Spades

What study really said, Irene Klotz reporting for Reuters:
"One out of every five sun-like stars in the Milky Way galaxy has a planet about the size of Earth that is properly positioned for water, a key ingredient for life...."


Actually, it's obvious to any reasoning person:

The Extremely Inhabited Universe is watching us closely, helping us, as much as the rules allow (respect of individual relative free will, independent planetary cultural development & all that), and will contact us when we are decided.

As a world.

So, it may be a while yet.

Kepler Candidates
More than 3,500 potential inhabitable worlds known in our galaxy



Best of Spirits

Puny god

Different levels of authority.

Levels of Authority
My cats are mad at me for letting it rain when they want to go out. I try to explain, I am but a lowly god with gods above me, but since I (with Mrs lowly god) cause fish to appear in their bowls, can remove and change our fur, and do marvelous miracles with those divine thumbs, we must be in charge of the rain, too.




Best of Spirits

Plan A from Heaven

You give it your all.

Imagine looking at the world a couple millennia ago, a messenger was looking for the best place to be born as a human (by means, and for cosmic reasons, beyond our fathoming, much less our purposes here).

Looking down on earth from space

If the message were to spread the word of one just, moral, loving Father in Heaven (and associated truth), and spread that message as widely as possible among the planet's inhabitants, among what people would such seeds find rich soil?

Would be nice to have a religion with a long grounding in monotheism, with a powerful ideal of justice and morality and duty, and with a good sense of mercy and love of heaven - even if divine justice part tended to be loudest. A sectarian cohesiveness, but a sense of personal relationship with the Creator would also be helpful. Being stable economically and wise in business as a people would be a solid grounding.

If these people were united through their beliefs and common home of a central holy site, yet were maximally dispersed among humankind, trading and living among all civilizations from West to East (of the Old World, anyway), that would greatly facilitate the spread of the message.

Lo and behold, here's this carpenter fellow and his lovely bride right where you need them.

Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus

Okay, but...

What if, when the time comes, They might not accept the message. They - the corrupt Establishment, the Powers That Be, the politically poor and confused whom we seem to have with us always - They might just try to squelch the message, even connive to do in the messenger. It happens all the time.

Good plans can encounter setbacks, anticipated results can be delayed, and this is never more true than when you can't win over qualified people you were counting on. You have to search out others, and maybe train them up more Doesn't mean the project is finished. Sometimes you just have to shift tactics.

Because, people are free to choose.

In Real Life, one doesn't know until one tries. Or, okay, really, maybe one does know, but has to try anyway. (Good parents especially experience this.)

So, where once an enthusiastic young new citizen traveled to the holy city with his parents and gazed in wonder at the gleaming temple, later, the more sober and experienced teacher traveled to the holy city with his students, and wept for his people and the beautiful city and all the possibilities lost. Yet into the city he went.

Jesus Weeping by Tissot

When the arrest warrants were sworn out, Alexandria would have been safe harbor.

When the future destruction of the city became obvious to anyone who could see the storm coming, flight was reasonable.

When the enemies swore the teacher's destruction, they were confounded while he rode into town to the celebration of loud crowds, and walked around freely. so they plotted to take him in secret. So, there was ample time to get away.

Then, in the night, in the Garden, it was still possible to avoid the painful, poisonous cup that was prepared. So easy to just walk away, right up to the moment of the betrayer's arrival with the cops.

Knowing what was coming every step of the way, but never shirking the duty to complete the attempt. What a profound, utterly human struggle.

Rejected by the same hosanna-singing masses that were such welcoming voices a week before, could the brutal torture and execution feel any worse?

The leader buried, the movement scattered.

Everything about what happened, long, long ago, to that little movement in that little place, which place itself would be destroyed soon, should have been forgotten by history.

What answer to prayer came when the prayer was to let the cup pass? "Sorry. No." Apparently.

And why was that okay? There's a backup plan. Always. Count on it.

Jesus Christ - The Chief Cornerstone



Pages