tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55386284197662295582024-02-07T20:34:30.572-08:00FiresideA Baha'i Fireside is where a group of people get together to discuss some aspect of the Baha'i Faith. Firesides are open to all, so they are great for those seeking information about the Baha'i Faith. This on line fireside is designed for many contributors and many readers. If you have questions or comments about any of the post, feel free to click on the comment link at the bottom of the post. You can remain anonymous if you want.George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-64735439895007395802020-05-03T13:51:00.002-07:002020-05-03T13:54:14.692-07:00What Motivates Us in a Time of Need?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am doing quite well, at the moment.</div>
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This pandemic, and the resulting economic strains, it has put on some people has not affected me the way it has many others. I have been collecting OAS and CPP along with the guaranteed income supplement, so my income has not changed. The fact that I am getting the supplement shows that I am in the lowest bracket for those who depend on those age benefits, but it is enough and I believe I am living better than I ever did while employed. I have always lived below the poverty line, but I have never faced starvation and was only homeless for short periods. When it comes to government handouts, I am satisfied with what I have, and I really do not need more. At a time of crisis, let us concentrate on everyone having enough before we go on demanding more.</div>
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It seems that a time of crisis brings out the best and the worst in people. Many are working hard to bring this crisis under control. People are struggling and others are helping. People are risking death to keep others from dying. Some are doing without so others will have enough. These are the selfless ones that put others before themselves.<br />
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On the other side, we see the greedy. These ones are only concerned with their own well being and could care less if you starve or die of the pandemic. They are the ones who have earned and saved enough, often at the expense of those less fortunate, that they can now afford to go out and hoard goods so they will have plenty at a time of shortage. This action has effected a shortage, so they have caused the event that they prepared themselves for. Our economy is based on supply and demand, so, when demand is high, prices will naturally increase. The ones who could not afford to hoard will now have to pay higher prices if they can get their supplies at all. Manufacturers will benefit from this as the public turns from asking, “Can I get this at a good price?” to “Can I get this?” In this way, we see money siphoned from the poor into the hands of the rich.<br />
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Greed also appears among many as they attempt to seek financial benefit from the pandemic. If others are getting aid, they feel they are also entitled, although they do not really need it. It seems strange that those forced out of employment should get more from staying home than those on a fixed income, but, perhaps, their needs are greater. Since I live on a fixed income, I am renting a townhouse with low rent that is within my means. Someone who is paying a much higher rent, or paying off a huge mortgage, may be at risk of losing their homes. They may need temporary help in dollar amounts more than my fixed income. Perhaps, when they are back working again, they should be required to pay a little back each week, but first, let us get through this crisis and see where we stand at that time.</div>
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One common thing about people who have succeeded in the financial world is that they tend to turn setbacks into opportunities. Perhaps we do the same with a pandemic. If I start a charity to help those in need, I will look like I am a great guy, and I can pocket some cash myself. That sounds like a win, win situation. Therefore, many false charities arise that earn a lot of money for the charity, but very little gets to the people who need it. This is the epitome of greed. These are ones who take advantage of the disadvantaged for personal gain.</div>
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For everything, there is a purpose. Many times, we do not realize what is happening until we analyze it later. During a crisis, our energies are bent on ending the crises. After it is over, we can take time to reflect on what we have learned from it. If we learn our lessons well, the test will not need to be repeated. Unfortunately, humans can be slow learners, and it will take many disasters before we learn our lessons. My greatest fear is that we will not learn what we must at this time and other pandemics, much worse than this one, will fall upon us.</div>
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Scripture has foretold of times like these. As I was writing about how this crisis is bringing out the best and the worst of human nature, I could not help but think of the following scripture.</div>
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<i> When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Then shall they also answer him, saying, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.</i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup>(Matthew 25: 31-46)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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God already knows our hearts. This dividing is for our benefit. By looking within our own hearts, we learn of our true nature, and, if we are wise, we will learn from it before it is too late. We must examine our every action and determine our motivation for such action. Are we working toward self-benefit or are we doing what needs to be done to help everyone? Are we willing to sacrifice to help others or do we expect others to sacrifice for our benefit? Do we see ourselves as individuals or are we a part of a greater whole?</div>
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This is not meant to be an easy test where everyone passes. It is tough and it will determine if we have made the grade.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-43447031570540316662020-03-28T03:17:00.001-07:002020-03-28T03:17:49.048-07:00Armageddon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA">The Common Enemy<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Nothing unites people faster than having a common enemy. Today, we have that. It is so small we can’t see it and so horrible that it kills without remorse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Mankind has had wars and rumours of wars. Although one country, established by war, has been at war through most of its existence, they could find no enemy worse than themselves, and it was the civil war in the 1860s that caused the most devastation to themselves. But have we learned our lesson?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Throughout the world, we have seen war and disaster. Both natural and manmade catastrophes have caused mayhem in various areas. Yet many of us were comforted by thinking, “It can’t happen here.” Now there is a virus. It started in a small area but has spread worldwide. It is happening everywhere, and if there are pockets of people that have not been affected, they are consumed in the fear of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I am not sure what is worse, the virus or the fear of it. I am more afraid of the fear and what that has done, and may yet do, to people. The fear has led to panic and panic leads to doing unreasonable things. At this time, it is more important than ever to remain calm, so I am not going to talk about the evils of this enemy, but I want to concentrate on how it is bringing us together in a world unity never before seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">What has kept me calm is the knowledge that God is in control. Yes, I may catch the virus and I may die, but this life on earth is for a short time and we have eternity to think about. When God decides that it is time to call me home, I will be thrilled to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Yet, such days as these have been prophesied in the traditions of most religions. It is a sign of God’s displeasure. At a time when so many have turned their backs on God, when some deny His existence, and others start wars in His name, is it not the time for a wakeup call? He has, more recently, sent us a message of love and unity. He has told us he doesn’t want us to fight and that we must learn to get along together. Those of us who have heard the call have been given the task to spread it to others. Yet denial and stubbornness have resisted the call, and apathy has caused us to turn elsewhere for answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Have we finally reached the days of Armageddon? We were expecting a great foe but not one that was so small we couldn’t see it. We did not know it could hide on friends and relations. Those on the front lines of the most dangerous war we ever fought must constantly screen themselves to be assured that the enemy is not taking a ride on their own bodies. Without training, they are finding themselves thrust to the front line fighting an enemy that they know little about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">This is an amazing unity that the world has never seen. All over the world, the scene is being played out. Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and everyone else in the medical profession has been called to the front to combat the enemy. All others stand in support of these fighters. In this, the whole world stands as one. Yet there are a few who would sow seeds of dissension. I have heard the rumors of conspiracy, seen the actions of greed, witnessed panic-stricken individuals out the protect themselves without thought of how it would affect others. But let us not concentrate on that. These are seeds sown by the enemy. We need to stand united to win this war. This time it is the entire population of the earth that is under attack and we must unite in our efforts if we want to eradicate the enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">In Matthew 24 verse 22 we find these words of comfort. “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” We know that God loves us. Although we may be witnessing the results of our error, we know that God will intervene and protect us from our own selves when necessary. He is patiently waiting for us to return His love. Unless we love Him, we can never feel the love He has for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Social distancing means that we can no longer gather for prayer, but we can still pray. More and more online prayer meetings are being arranged, so we can still pray together. Those who have been housebound due to injury or illness, and not been able to attend physical meetings, can now join us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">This current crisis has given us an opportunity to unite. Let us now take advantage of this so we can shorten the days and prevent future crises. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-50804607340032175192019-01-04T18:33:00.000-08:002019-01-04T18:33:10.544-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3l9ALSNC1_Ojawsb4vWFfldFpHK0185ltGSKGszAOyrvx8IK705UeWPr_nMxcbOjpmv2H-ncX565N_86z1BQfMHDu4CrzCjsR1EYXUgux4hY2zp-KyGHvBLZ-h7UqZG4uJAqrsIEB5g/s1600/wwifp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3l9ALSNC1_Ojawsb4vWFfldFpHK0185ltGSKGszAOyrvx8IK705UeWPr_nMxcbOjpmv2H-ncX565N_86z1BQfMHDu4CrzCjsR1EYXUgux4hY2zp-KyGHvBLZ-h7UqZG4uJAqrsIEB5g/s320/wwifp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As Humans, are we spiritual beings with physical bodies?
Many believe that, yet, to often, the spiritual nature of mankind gets
neglected.</div>
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To make any significant change in
the progress of humanity, we must begin with prayer. True prayer is communicating
with God. When we couple prayer with the reading and meditation of Divine Revelation,
we both talk to God and hear His Word. If we eliminate selfish desire and pray
purely for the Betterment on the World, we will see results beyond our
imagination. </div>
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Thus, I am starting an interfaith
prayer group where we can join together in prayer and the study of God’s word.
Everyone is invited, regardless of religious affiliation, to join together in
UNITY in order to bring together the opposing factions of humanity and make the
world a planet of peace and understanding. This will not be a venue to push one’s
understanding of God on another, but one where we can all strive to understand
each other’s point of view. In this way, it is hoped that we will all come to a
clearer view of what we believe while allowing others to pursue Truth on their
own terms. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-61704362654391248702018-11-06T10:28:00.001-08:002018-11-06T10:28:05.693-08:00Peace Fest 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hopefully, Peace Fest will be revived in 2019. I will be living in Forest, Ontario at that time so I will scout out a nice park and hold Peace Fest there. Hopefully, friends and strangers will join me to promote peace across the planet.<br />
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June 29, 2019, will be a Saturday, so it should be a good day for a great get together.<br />
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Leave comments if you have any ideas for the event.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-80200229346921521932017-04-23T15:47:00.000-07:002017-04-23T15:47:51.440-07:00Peace Fest June 29, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With May fast approaching I am thinking about June 29 and
Peace Fest. I usually hold this event in a local park on that day every year.
The last couple of years I was very disorganized and I was the only one who
attended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year I am not even certain
that I will be in London, Ontario on that day, however I can celebrate Peace
Fest anywhere. I you are interested in celebrating with me, send an email to </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">george@sowingpeace.ca</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> or leave a
comment here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On June 29, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave
a Unity Feast in New Jersey. During his speech, he stated that his very words
would be repeated in assemblages held in the future to commemorate that event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Below is a translation of the
entire talk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">29 June 1912</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk at Unity Feast, Outdoors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">West Englewood, New Jersey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notes
by Esther Foster</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.1</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a delightful gathering;
you have come here with sincere intentions, and the purpose of all present is
the attainment of the virtues of God. The motive is attraction to the divine
Kingdom. Since the desire of all is unity and agreement, it is certain that
this meeting will be productive of great results. It will be the cause of
attracting a new bounty, for we are turning to the Kingdom of Abha, seeking the
infinite bestowals of the Lord. This is a new Day, and this hour is a new Hour
in which we have come together. Surely the Sun of Reality with its full
effulgence will illumine us, and the darkness of disagreements will disappear.
The utmost love and unity will result; the favors of God will encompass us; the
pathway of the Kingdom will be made easy. Like candles these souls will become
ignited and made radiant through the lights of supreme guidance. Such
gatherings as this have no equal or likeness in the world of mankind, where
people are drawn together by physical motives or in furtherance of material
interests, for this meeting is a prototype of that inner and complete spiritual
association in the eternal world of being.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.2</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">True Bahá'í meetings are the
mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected.
In them the lights of the most great guidance are visible. They voice the
summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of the angelic hosts to every
listening ear. The efficacy of such meetings as these is permanent throughout
the ages. This assembly has a name and significance which will last forever.
Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall be held to commemorate this occasion,
and the very words I speak to you today shall be repeated in them for ages to
come. Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of
God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and
the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.3</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for the heavenly table is
prepared for you.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.4</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for the angels of heaven
are your assistants and helpers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for the glance of the
Blessed Beauty, Bahá'u'lláh, is directed upon you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.6</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for Bahá'u'lláh is your
Protector.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.7</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for the everlasting glory
is destined for you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.8</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, for the eternal life is
awaiting you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.9</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How many blessed souls have longed
for this radiant century, their utmost hopes and desires centered upon the
happiness and joy of one such day as this. Many the nights they passed
sleepless and lamenting until the very morn in longing anticipation of this
age, yearning to realize even an hour of this time. God has favored you in this
century and has specialized you for the realization of its blessings.
Therefore, you must praise and thank God with heart and soul in appreciation of
this great opportunity and the attainment of this infinite bestowal -- that
such doors have been opened before your faces, that such abundance is pouring
down from the cloud of mercy and that these refreshing breezes from the
paradise of Abha are resuscitating you. You must become of one heart, one
spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of
the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in
order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the
world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of
unity among the nations of the earth.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.10</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, you must become united and
agreed among yourselves. You must be exceedingly kind and loving toward each
other, willing to forfeit life in the pathway of another's happiness. You must
be ready to sacrifice your possessions in another's behalf. The rich among you
must show compassion toward the poor, and the well-to-do must look after those
in distress. In Persia the friends offer their lives for each other, striving
to assist and advance the interests and welfare of all the rest. They live in a
perfect state of unity and agreement. Like the Persian friends you must be
perfectly agreed and united to the extent and limit of sacrificing life. Your
utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one must be the
servant of the others, thoughtful of their comfort and welfare. In the path of
God one must forget himself entirely. He must not consider his own pleasure but
seek the pleasure of others. He must not desire glory nor gifts of bounty for
himself but seek these gifts and blessings for his brothers and sisters. It is
my hope that you may become like this, that you may attain to the supreme
bestowal and be imbued with such spiritual qualities as to forget yourselves
entirely and with heart and soul offer yourselves as sacrifices for the Blessed
Perfection. You should have neither will nor desire of your own but seek
everything for the beloved of God and live together in complete love and
fellowship. May the favors of Bahá'u'lláh surround you from all directions.
This is the greatest bestowal and supreme bounty. These are the infinite favors
of God.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>('Abdu'l-Bahá,
The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 213, 215)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-45309337170516968502017-02-07T14:16:00.003-08:002017-02-07T14:16:39.280-08:00Just released, Singing in the Chapel / My Name is Margaret Harman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have just released my second book. It contains the short story, "SINGING IN THE CHAPEL," along with the play by Jason Rip, "MY NAME IS MARGARET HARMAN." Jason started with my story and went a different direction with it. Ordering information is at <a href="http://www.singing.9li.ca/">www.singing.9li.ca</a>.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-2838599817086374292015-12-23T21:33:00.003-08:002015-12-23T21:33:49.740-08:00THE ALTERNATIVE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My new book, "THE ALTERNATIVE," is now available. Go to <a href="http://www.alternative.9li.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.alternative.9li.ca/</a> for more information. <br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-12980859605168911912015-06-24T13:21:00.000-07:002015-06-24T13:21:08.913-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 72pt; line-height: 115%;">Peace Fest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first London Peace fest in 2012 had 22 participants. In 2013
there was 3. In 2014 there was only myself. This year I am late and more
disorganized than usual. I have been busy with many other things, but I feel it
is important to remember the date. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">On
the 29<sup>th</sup> of June 1912, 'Abdu'l-Bahá Talked at Unity Feast, Outdoors
at West Englewood, New Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Near the beginning of his talk he said </span><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">True
Bahá'í meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme
Concourse are reflected. In them the lights of the most great guidance are
visible. They voice the summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of
the angelic hosts to every listening ear. The efficacy of such meetings as
these is permanent throughout the ages. This assembly has a name and
significance which will last forever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall
be held to commemorate this occasion, and the very words I speak to you today
shall be repeated in them for ages to come. Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye
are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the
bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is
breathing upon you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of
Universal Peace, p. 213)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">'Abdu'l-Bahá did
not prophesy, but he predicted that this Unity Feast would be commemorated at
many meetings in the future. 103 years later I will be doing that and in the
process try to promote the core activities that the Universal House of Justice
is encouraging us to engage in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Past years I had said
that I would bring a bag of chips and a bottle of pop to share with anyone who
would join me. My finances this year will not permit me to do this, however I
will go to a park and read the speech of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'Abdu'l-Bahá . If anyone wants to join me,
that would be wonderful. If you want refreshments, you will need to bring your
own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the past year I
have found other interesting facts. I found that the first Canadian to accept
the Baha’i Faith, Edith Magee, was born on June 29, 1879. She was living in the
New York area in 1912 and may have celebrated her 33<sup>rd</sup> birthday at
the Unity Feast. However Edith accepted the Faith in Chicago in 1898 and was
not Canadian born, but her mother and sister were both born in Canada and are
the first to become Baha’is in Canada. Since the Magee’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lived at 625 Wellington Street I think it
would be safe to say the first two Canadian declarations occurred at that address
when Edith’s mother and sister heard the news and accepted the faith upon Edith’s
return from Chicago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Past years we gathered
at Queens Park, near the fair grounds. I have been thinking about changing the
venue to Victoria Park since it is only one block from the house were the first
Baha’is in Canada accepted the Faith. I am aware that London Food Fest is
happening there this weekend so I am not sure if the clean up will be done by
Monday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However I will go and try to
find a spot near the North East corner of the park. (Wellington and Central). I
will be there from 6pm to 7 pm on Monday June 29, 2015. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to join me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-5366334781508588052015-03-16T08:22:00.001-07:002015-03-16T08:22:42.998-07:00The 19 day Fast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 Núr 127 - June 15, 1970.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I became a Baha’i on the eleventh day of Núr in the year
127. That gave me some time before my first fast during the month of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">‘Alá’</span> that year. How I anticipated
that event and wondered how I would do. I would often go for long periods
without food, but even a glass of water was not allowed during the fast. Worst
of all, I would have to wake up and have breakfast before dawn each day. Not
being an early riser, this would likely be the greatest challenge. But I met
the challenge and proved to myself that I could do it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the years I gained the
knowledge that fasting was relatively easy for me. At first it was meeting the
challenge that drove me to do it, but that soon ceased to be a reason. I
learned that I could do it. Now I needed to learn why I should do it. I was relatively
isolated from other Bahá’ís and no one would know if I took a sip of water. But
I wasn’t doing it for other Baha’is. I learned that there were some health benefits
to fasting, but I wasn’t doing it for my health. I learned that it was a part
of the Baha’i Teachings and Baha’is all over the world were fasting, but I wasn’t
doing it just because everyone else did. So Why was I fasting? It came down to
the fact that God commanded those who love Him to fast so it was only my love
for the Almighty God that urged me to deprive myself of food and drink for 12
hours each day.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then there was all the other
commandments of God. Pray every day. Read the writings day and night. Teach,
teach, teach. Was I doing all those things? If I wasn’t, what good would it do
to fast? If I didn’t take time to pray as I should, then fasting was all for
nothing. Would my solution be do give up fasting or would I make a greater
effort to find time to pray? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fasting is part of a spiritual
life style, and in a material world it is difficult to find reasons to do it. To
fast faithfully and for the right reason, we must strive to become spiritual
beings. Fasting may weaken the body, but it strengthens the spirit. When the
spirit deprives the body of food for a period each day it becomes a victor over
self and desire. We turn our thoughts away from the material and towards the
spiritual. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I am now approaching the end
of my 45<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> fast I am wondering what I have learned from it. Do I now
pray enough? Am I studying the writings every day? Am I teaching and leading
one new soul to the Truth each year? It is beginning to look like I need
another 45 years to make improvements. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These things are very difficult
to do in isolation. I keep hoping I’ll find another soul that would be
supportive of my efforts that we may form a team to teach God’s word. Someone
who would go through all the Ruhi books with me and team up with me to do all
the practices. Someone who needs my help as much as I need theirs. Someone who
can help me be a Baha’i. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">'Abdu'l-Bahá says that “it is
impossible for the loved ones of God to receive assistance unless they teach.”
I desperately need assistance so I desperately need to teach. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">209. O ye servants of the Blessed
Beauty!... It is clear that in this day, confirmations from the unseen world
are encompassing all those who deliver the divine Message. Should the work of
teaching lapse, these confirmations would be entirely cut off, since it is
impossible for the loved ones of God to receive assistance unless they teach.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Under all conditions, the
teaching must be carried forward, but with wisdom. If the work cannot proceed
openly, then let them teach in private, and thus engender spirituality and
fellowship among the children of men. If, for example, each and every one of
the believers would become a true friend to one of the unheeding, and,
conducting himself with absolute rectitude, associate with this soul, treat him
with the utmost kindness, himself exemplify the divine instructions he hath
received, the good qualities and behaviour patterns, and at all times act in
accord with the admonitions of God -- it is certain that little by little he
will succeed in awakening that previously heedless individual, and in changing
his ignorance to knowledge of the truth.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Souls are inclined toward
estrangement. Steps should first be taken to do away with this estrangement,
for only then will the Word take effect. If a believer showeth kindness to one
of the neglectful, and, with great love, gradually leadeth him to an
understanding of the validity of the Holy Cause, so that he may come to know
the fundamentals of God's Faith and the implications thereof -- such a one will
certainly be transformed, excepting only those seldom-encountered individuals
who are even as ashes, whose hearts are 'hard as rocks, or harder still.'[1]</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">[1 Qur'án 2:69 ]</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If every one of the friends
should strive in this way to guide one soul aright, the number of believers will
double every year; and this can be accomplished with prudence and wisdom, and
no harm whatever would result therefrom.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, the teachers must
travel about, and if spreading the Message openly should cause a disturbance,
then instead, let them stimulate and train the believers, inspire them, delight
them, rejoice their hearts, revive and refresh them with the sweet savours of
holiness.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>('Abdu'l-Bahá,
Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 264 - 266)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-90291982517072665342015-01-21T10:06:00.000-08:002015-01-21T10:06:26.889-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Welcome to <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Sama Rahimian as an author of this blog. We look forward to seeing his posts. If you would like to become an author, send an email to <a href="mailto:george@sowingpeace.ca">george@sowingpeace.ca</a>. Send a sample of what you will post and the email you used to sign up for google. (if you don't have a google account you will need to sign up before you can make a post) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Also enter your regular email into the follow by email box to the right so you will be notified by email each time someone makes a post. </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-27199670409408013152014-10-31T08:07:00.000-07:002014-10-31T08:07:03.694-07:00Seeking the Truth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therefore, the seeker must be
endowed with certain qualities. First of all, he must be just and severed from
all else save God; his heart must be entirely turned to the supreme horizon; he
must be free from the bondage of self and passion, for all these are obstacles.
Furthermore, he must be able to endure all hardships. He must be absolutely
pure and sanctified, and free from the love or the hatred of the inhabitants of
the world. Why? because the fact of his love for any person or thing might
prevent him from recognizing the truth in another, and, in the same way, hatred
for anything might be a hindrance in discerning truth. This is the condition of
seeking, and the seeker must have these qualities and attributes. Until
he reaches this condition, it is not possible for him to attain to the Sun of
Reality.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <a href="http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-10.html" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-10.html" target="_blank">('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some AnsweredQuestions, p. 38, 39)</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first condition of a seeker
is to be just and severed from all except God. How often it is that one is
barred from the Truth because one is attacked to a particular religious form or
a past Prophet. When Truth approaches from a different angle it is rejected.
Those of one religion fail to see the Truth in all others. Christ said, “I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5538628419766229558#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Yet Christ is rejected if He approaches from unfamiliar ground.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5538628419766229558#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Yet His followers fail to see the timelessness of Him. When He appears at a
different time in a different person, He is rejected. His followers will say, “this
is not Christ who was born of a virgin, was crucified and rose from the dead.”
Unless Christ returns again in the body of Jesus, they will not accept Him.
What will He look like. They have all seen pictures of Jesus, so it is obvious
that He is a white Anglo-Saxon protestant with long hair who will confirm
everything they already believe. If He was to appear otherwise, He would assuredly
be rejected. Thus attachment to the form, no matter how imaginary it is, causes
them to reject the Truth when manifested in an unexpected way.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When people make up a God, they
tend to make Him agreeable to all they believe, willing to do whatever they
want Him to do, and of the same ethnicity as they are themselves. Such a God is
their best friend and cannot do them any wrong, no matter how corrupt they are.
It is very difficult to break anyone away from such a belief and when the One
True God sends another Messenger with that same Christ Spirit that existed from
the beginning that had no beginning and will be with us until the end that will
never end, (in other words, He is with us for eternity), He is assuredly
rejected by the masses because He does not conform to human expectation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus it is only those who are
detached from such belief who recognize Him. We see in the Bible how the
religious leaders of the day rejected Him, yet the devils recognized and feared
Him. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And when he was come to the other
side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with
devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by
that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee,
Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?</span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Matthew 8: 28, 29)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is clear that we must detach
ourselves from pride, learning, religion, persons and anything at all that
could bar us from recognizing the Truth. When Jesus said, “I am the Truth,” it
was the Christ within Him that was speaking and whenever we find the Truth, we
find Him. They will be known by their fruits. If the fruit is Truth, assuredly
the Tree is Christ.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5538628419766229558#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(John 14: 6)</span></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5538628419766229558#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(John 8: 58)</span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-66987179471743220922014-09-08T09:50:00.000-07:002014-09-18T15:37:31.946-07:00Baha’is follow the Truth. But what is Truth?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baha’is follow the Truth. But what is Truth?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As human beings we are inclined to
error. At one time everyone believed the earth was flat. Did that make it true?
All the earth once believed that the sun circled around our planet. If all believed
it, was it the truth? In the future we may be astounded at how many things we
believe to be the verifiable truth that will, one day, be disproved.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Humans are subject to error, but
God is unerring. Once in about every one thousand years, God sends us the embodiment
of Truth in the form of one who manifest His own being. Thus it is that “Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Baha’i’s we believe in the
latest Manifestation of God who brought the Truth for this day. We also accept
all the past Manifestations of God who brought Truth into the world. Moses
brought to us the ten commandments and many of these are yet today embodied in
civil law. The Word of God said “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) and throughout
the world there are laws against murder. Moses led the people in Truth away
from the land of bondage and to the land of the free.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus said, “And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.” <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(John
8: 32) When Jesus was on the earth He found the people in bondage to sin. He
confronted the Jews with these harsh words. “Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:
44) The shining light of Truth as manifest by Jesus is still visible today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mohammad <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>revealed in the Qur’an, “And those who believe
in Allah and His messengers -- they are the Sincere (Lovers of truth), and the
witnesses (who testify), in the eyes of their Lord: they shall have their
Reward and their Light, but those who reject Allah and deny Our Signs -- they
are the Companions of Hell-Fire.” (The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali translation),
Surah<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>57: 19) again a Manifestation of
God came to lead the people out of the darkness of error to the Light of Truth.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá'u'lláh urges us, “Be a home
for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the
fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the
erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of
fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body
of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of
virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge,
a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light
in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.” (Bahá'u'lláh,
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In past dispensations there were
parts of the world that were unknown. In this age we have not only discovered
every part of the world but technology has advanced to the point where we know
what is happening in every quarter. Communication flies around the world at
lightning speed. Someone posts to a blog and instantly it is available all over
the planet. Today, Truth can be Manifest in all parts and we can all come
together under its power. No longer do we need to hate each other and lash out
in fear of what we do not know. Truth has come to us in a Omnipotent way and we
can all follow it in unity. If we love Truth it will set us free and we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will be free to love. Hatred and error are
darkness. Truth and love are light. Today the light of Truth shines so brightly
that even the blind can see. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you agree? How do you see the
Truth? Is world unity and peace now possible? Please leave your comments or
send me and email to </span><a href="mailto:blog@sowingpeace.ca"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">blog@sowingpeace.ca</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
If you are committed to peace, let the world know. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-15432547361858782562014-07-29T06:54:00.001-07:002014-07-29T06:54:58.036-07:00the most laudable of all acts.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">O HUSAYN! God grant thou shalt ever be bright and radiant,
beaming with the light of the Sun of Truth, and mayest unloose thy tongue
in magnifying the Name of God, which is the most laudable of all acts.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah,
Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 234)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 70.95pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">laud·a·ble<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">ˈlôdəbəl/)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">adjective</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">adjective: <b>laudable</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 70.95pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">(of an action,
idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">"laudable though the aim might be, the results have been
criticized"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt 1.55pt 0.75pt 0.75pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">synonyms:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+praiseworthy&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CB8Q_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">praiseworthy</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+commendable&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCAQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">commendable</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+admirable&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCEQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">admirable</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+meritorious&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCIQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">meritorious</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+worthy&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCMQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">worthy</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+deserving&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCQQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">deserving</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+creditable&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCUQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">creditable</span></a>,
<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&q=define+estimable&sa=X&ei=fabXU4ryE86HyATYiIEY&ved=0CCYQ_SowAA"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">estimable</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-11102581754563512182014-07-27T12:59:00.001-07:002014-07-27T13:24:37.302-07:00Addition vs Subtraction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Celebrating 1,000 views.<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I Started my fireside blog on 26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of October
2012 and as of today, July 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, 2014 it has had 1,000 views. My
more popular blog, the <a href="http://londonpeaceforum.blogspot.ca/">London World Peace Forum</a> was started on June 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
2011 and it would take a year to break the 1,000 views mark. Then, in July of
2012 it had 602 view followed by 1,996 in August that year. Currently, at time
of writing, it stands at 19,607 views.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I made a post on the <a href="http://londonpeaceforum.blogspot.ca/">Peace Forum blog</a> on July 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>, 2012 that got a lot of
attention. To date 2,047 people have viewed this post alone. I titled it “Addition
vs Subtraction. I compared the Teachings of God to Mathematics and likened the
rejection of God’s latest messenger to be the same as rejecting new concepts of
math. The student that has just learned to add is now being asked to subtract
and he wants nothing to do with it. There is an uprising among additionists as
they try to squash the influence of subtraction, but the subtractionists
explain that the full purpose of addition can never be realized without
subtraction. I have repeated the argument below for your convenience. </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Addition vs Subtraction <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 24pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">One and One is Two</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Addition vs Subtraction</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Additions
argument: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I just love addition and I do not
want to see it corrupted by subtraction. We all know from the very beginning of
addition that one plus one is two. Now subtraction wants to confuse the issue
by saying one minus one is zero. Tell subtraction to get a life. What good is
zero? What do we do when there is nothing left? With addition we will always
have more. Whatever we have we can add to it and get more. There is power in
addition, but subtraction wants to take that away. If you love addition you
will not allow subtraction make a negative impression on you. And if
subtraction does take hold, what’s next? Multiplication, division or perhaps
even fractions; we don’t need these. Addition serves all our needs. It gives
and never takes away. Don’t let our pure methods of addition get corrupted with
these new age ideas.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Subtractions
argument:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Addition is good, but it doesn’t do
everything. Addition is getting, but if we keep adding and never taking away,
we will become bogged down in materialism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Subtraction is giving and sharing. If I have ten apples and give five
away, I still have five. Addition can’t do that. Without subtraction there
would be no room for addition. Our storage facilities would be full and we
would starve to death. Subtraction is necessary for live. If we have ten apples
and we eat one, we have just subtracted. Yes, with addition we can get all we
need, but we can’t use it without subtraction. If the additionalist would
examine the principles of addition they would see it was just a first step leading
to subtraction and beyond. Yes it will progress to multiplication, division and
even fractions, but this is a fulfilment of addition and not a corruption. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is plain to see that the Divine
Teachers teach us what we are capable of learning at the time, but if we reject
the Divine teachings of the present because they introduce new ideas that we
are not familiar with and were not taught in the past, we lose big time. The
new teachings do not negate the teachings of the past, but they add to it. It
is not a denial of the past but a fulfillment of it. When we close our minds to
the new ideas, we become handicap and the old ideas will no longer work for us.
If we don’t learn to subtract, addition will lose its power and be of no use to
us.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Moses brought the revelation of God
to humanity in His age. He brought social and spiritual laws to help us live.
Among them was the law of the Sabbath that was designed to give us humans a
break and a day of rest. By the time Jesus appeared the followers of Moses had
interpreted the law in such a manner that people became slaves to the law.
Moses led the people out of slavery and Jesus found them in a new kind of
slavery.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">When Jesus introduced new spiritual
and social concepts, He was rejected by the majority of the followers of Moses.
When He explained that the law was made for man and not that man was made for
the law, He was accused of blasphemy and corrupting the law of God. Have the
followers of Jesus suffered for accepting His teachings? No, they went on to
found great governments and establish kingdoms on earth. They did not reject
the teachings of Moses, but added the teachings of Jesus to them. Many more
became acquainted with the teachings of Moses through the efforts of the
Christians and there was no harm whatsoever done to the law of Moses.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Again humanity progressed and became
in need of new ideas and teachings. The people of the Arabic area were nomadic
tribes living in a constant state of war. God sent Mohammad and the tribes were
united into a great nation. The Muslim universities became renown over the
world and even many Christian leaders were educated in these Muslim
institutions. If you doubt the advantages of these new ideas, try balancing
your bank account or filing your tax return using roman numerals. Our present
number system and mathematics is an outcome of Muslim educational techniques.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Over the last few hundred years we
have seen the world increasingly being ravaged by war. Each nation wanting to
protect its way of life would rise up against anyone perceived to be a threat
to its ideals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Politics, religion and
materialism all contributed to the greed of expanding territories and defeating
the enemy. Christ’s injunction to “love your enemies” was forgotten as even one
Christian ideology would rise up in war against another. At such a time, God’s
twin Messengers, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh came with a message of love and
unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bahá’u’lláh annulled the rule of
the sword and replaced it with the power of utterance. He says;</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1in 10pt 63pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Know thou that We have annulled the
rule of the sword, as an aid to Our Cause, and substituted for it the power
born of the utterance of men. Thus have We irrevocably decreed, by virtue of
Our grace. Say: O people! Sow not the seeds of discord among men, and refrain
from contending with your neighbor, for your Lord hath committed the world and
the cities thereof to the care of the kings of the earth, and made them the
emblems of His own power, by virtue of the sovereignty He hath chosen to bestow
upon them. He hath refused to reserve for Himself any share whatever of this
world's dominion. To this He Who is Himself the Eternal Truth will testify. The
things He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men's hearts, that He may
cleanse them from all earthly defilements, and enable them to draw nigh unto
the hallowed Spot which the hands of the infidel can never profane. Open, O
people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance. Thus have
We, according to a pre-ordained measure, prescribed unto you your duty.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah,
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 303, 304)</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We see in the past how, despite
insurmountable odds and extreme opposition, the law of God was established and
human society was advanced. We also see that, without these new ideas, human
society was doomed and its destruction would have resulted. Now, more than ever
we see the destruction of the human race looming on one side while the
revelation of God is rushing in on the other to save it. The world is waiting
for the life giving Message that has been entrusted to those faithful followers
who have recognized it. The veils must be rent asunder, the clouds dispersed
and the hearts unlocked so the revelation of Glory may shine with its life
giving rays on all of humanity. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Yes; many problems can be solved with
addition, but we need subtraction, multiplication, division and many other
aspects to solve all the problems. Even so, the past revelation of God was good
and sufficient to solve the problems of the Day in which it was revealed, to
solve the problems of today we need the current revelation of God and we must
learn the rules and conditions of the future world order which is currently
being established. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span> </span><br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-27649194852512719252014-07-21T09:04:00.003-07:002014-07-21T09:04:56.503-07:00The religion of God is for love and unity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: center 3.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From KITAB-I-'AHD (Book of
the Covenant), Bahá'u'lláh states.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O
ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not
the cause of enmity or dissension. In the eyes of men of insight and the
beholders of the Most Sublime Vision, whatsoever are the effective means for
safeguarding and promoting the happiness and welfare of the children of men
have already been revealed by the Pen of Glory. But the foolish ones of the
earth, being nurtured in evil passions and desires, have remained heedless of
the consummate wisdom of Him Who is, in truth, the All-Wise, while their words
and deeds are prompted by idle fancies and vain imaginings.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 220)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many wars have been fought and
often the opponents both <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had the belief that
God was on their side. As they attempted to rid the world of evil forces they
forgot to ask God if it was what He wanted them to do.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá'u'lláh makes it clear that
the religion of God is for love and unity. Many people see God as a warring God
that divides humanity against itself and inspires people toward hatred and
strife. Many atheists cannot believe in such a God. A friend of mine would
often tell such people that she did not believe in the God that they didn’t
believe in either. She explained that, in order to not believe in God they must
have some concept of God that they don’t believe in, and that concept of God
she did not accept either. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Religion of God, in its pure
form, is a very powerful thing. Unfortunately, even watered down, it can be
very powerful and have a great influence. Thus evil men have used the religion
of God to promote their own interests. By watering down and distorting the
facts they come up with a new religion that resembles Truth but promotes hatred
and division. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Matthew 7:15-20)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus the wolf comes in sheep’s
clothing intent on dispersing the flock and devouring the weak ones. If we
remain united, the wolf does not have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>chance, so he must first divide the flock and scatter it into sects,
religions, cults and other divisions that will weaken the True religion. Be
assured that if anyone is attempting to divide God’s sheep, he is not the True
Shepherd. When we realize that all of Gods Messengers taught us to love, we
will all embrace the Ancient Faith of God and be in unity. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let
your principal concern be to rescue the fallen from the slough of impending
extinction, and to help him embrace the ancient Faith of God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 316)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzFFlk-8I3RSGuT9cz5wuPHgbLv-68c6mtqScKT72PFb16A5Q-4qeIHxh4XvbrESNZ91Omc25QMh7UgwmbU1hX_NJL6ygsE3Hje-Fsmmnqe0ulvcQDLSmgW_kmdN12oHRGvoon2qGYJk/s1600/ancientfaiths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzFFlk-8I3RSGuT9cz5wuPHgbLv-68c6mtqScKT72PFb16A5Q-4qeIHxh4XvbrESNZ91Omc25QMh7UgwmbU1hX_NJL6ygsE3Hje-Fsmmnqe0ulvcQDLSmgW_kmdN12oHRGvoon2qGYJk/s1600/ancientfaiths.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Did you find something in your scriptures that caught your attention? Why not share it with us. Click on comments below to leave your comments. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-6464755125651080662014-07-18T09:52:00.001-07:002014-07-18T09:52:33.613-07:00Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For I say unto you, Ye
shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord.</i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew
23:39)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every one that asketh receiveth; and he
that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. </i><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew
7:7-8)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who know the truth do not
need to seek the truth but those who seek the Truth find the Truth. This common
theme runs through all religion. Those who consider themselves learned and
righteous feel they have no need of knowledge or forgiveness. Therefore they go
on assured of salvation while despising the sinner. Yet, when one acknowledges
sin and continues a lifelong search after Truth, he or she is rewarded
abundantly. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But go ye and learn
what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.</i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew 9:13)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until we say “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord</i>,” we can in no
wise recognize Him. This is evident throughout scripture. How many Priests,
Rabbis, Mullahs, Ministers or clergy of any religion have failed to recognize
the one sent by God when they came face to face with Him? This is repeated
throughout history. Those who believe they have perfect knowledge feel they
need no more and therefore reject the Word of God even if they meet Him in
person. Yet the true seeker recognizes His voice even if he or she is hearing
His words hundreds of years after they were revealed. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt 67.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me: </i><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(John 10:26-27)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If we love the Lord, Our God, we
thirst after His Knowledge while ever mindful of our own shortcomings. We love
our neighbor and, desiring that he suffer no shame, we hide his deficiencies
any praise his attributes, but for ourselves, we must scrutinized our lives and
always be working on bringing it more in accordance with God’s Will. We have
only one live to control and that is our own. If we do that in accordance with
the will of God while intently listening for the Voice of God, we will hear Him
calling us into the unity of the One Fold under the One Shepherd. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear
my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. </i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(John 10:16)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now we have a challenge set
before us. Can we do as the Holy Spirit guides us? Will we follow the Spirit of
Truth when he comes to us with All Truth? When we go forth in humbleness to
accomplish that which God has ordained our reward is beyond our imagination. We
are being watched from the Heavenly Realm and He knows us better than we know
ourselves. He knows our capabilities and when He says to try He knows we can
succeed even if we feel the task is impossible. Yes, we need to look at our own
shortcomings, but only so we can correct ourselves and learn how to lead a more
Godly life. If we use these shortcomings as an excuse to fail, then we are not
relying on our Almighty God to see us through. He will aid us so long as we
try. He will bring a passage of His word to our minds when we need it most if
we but take the time to read His Word. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 63pt 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let your
principal concern be to rescue the fallen from the slough of impending
extinction, and to help him embrace the ancient Faith of God. Your behavior
towards your neighbor should be such as to manifest clearly the
signs of the one true God, for ye are the first among men to be re-created by
His Spirit, the first to adore and bow the knee before Him, the first to circle
round His throne of glory. I swear by Him Who hath caused Me to reveal whatever
hath pleased Him! Ye are better known to the inmates of the Kingdom on high
than ye are known to your own selves. Think ye these words to be vain and
empty? Would that ye had the power to perceive the things your Lord, the
All-Merciful, doth see -- things that attest the excellence of your rank, that
bear witness to the greatness of your worth, that proclaim the sublimity of
your station! God grant that your desires and unmortified passions may not
hinder you from that which hath been ordained for you. </i><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bahá'u'lláh,
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 316 - </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">317</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still there are some who doubt the
Power of God. They see evil in the world and think that God has lost control.
We find ourselves in difficulty and doubt that God can help us, however at such
times we are taught to pray:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 63pt 10pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is there any
Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His
servants, and all abide by His bidding! </i><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The Báb, Baha'i Prayers, p. 27)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all abide by His bidding.”</i> It
is hard for us to understand. He gives us free will and with that free will, we
suffer the consequences of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the decisions
we make, yet we are powerless to work outside of His will. He has perfect
knowledge and therefore knew everything we would do even before He created us,
so we wonder why. Why does He allow wars? Why does He allow little children to
be abused? We cannot understand because we only see this earthly plain, but in
His perfect Wisdom and Knowledge, He knows how much pain we need to correct our
ways. We suffer when we turn away from Him and He allows that suffering in a
measure that will help us to turn back to Him. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of us, with imperfect
knowledge, would like to advise God and tell Him a better way of doing things,
but He has perfect knowledge and knows what is best for us. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can already hear the cry of the
people. They will tell me that I don’t know what happened to themselves or
their loved ones and how could I believe that was the will of God and I need to
make clear that all that happens is not necessarily His will, but since it is His
will to give us free will, we must also be allowed to suffer the consequences of
our actions. Therefore, when people commit terrible acts there is terrible
consequences. Many times innocent victims are hurt, but the recompense for their
hurt will come. If not in this life time, it will surely come. Those who did
the evil things will have to live with the knowledge of the results of what
they did and they too will receive the recompense for their actions. And yet,
we have a forgiving God. When we learn to be forgiving we will suffer much
less. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors.</i> <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew 6:12)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How are you feeling today? Let me
know your thoughts. Leave a comment.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-39021702371382503792014-07-08T08:28:00.000-07:002014-07-08T08:28:42.323-07:00Qualifications of the Truly Learned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.75in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O
foolish one! Know thou that he is truly learned who hath acknowledged My
Revelation, and drunk from the Ocean of My knowledge, and soared in the
atmosphere of My love, and cast away all else besides Me, and taken firm hold
on that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of My wondrous utterance.
He, verily, is even as an eye unto mankind, and as the spirit of life unto the
body of all creation. Glorified be the All-Merciful Who hath enlightened him,
and caused him to arise and serve His great and mighty Cause. Verily, such a
man is blessed by the Concourse on high, and by them who dwell within the
Tabernacle of Grandeur, who have quaffed My sealed Wine in My Name, the
Omnipotent, the All-Powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.75in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.75in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of
Baha'u'llah, p. 207, 208 )<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This quote is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from a
tablet written to Shaykh Muhammad Baqir. However I still wonder if the address,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“O foolish one!”</i> may also apply to
myself. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Know thou that he is
truly learned who hath acknowledged My Revelation,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have acknowledged the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, so am I
truly learned? Wait! There is more conditions.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“and drunk from the
Ocean of My knowledge,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I’ve taken a few sips from this Ocean. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“and soared in the
atmosphere of My love,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know Bahá'u'lláh loves us, but am I soaring in the
atmosphere of His love?”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“and cast away all
else besides Me,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is tough. I’m not sure I’ve done that. If I’ve cast
away most other things, does that count?”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“and taken firm hold
on that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of My wondrous utterance</i>.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am trying. I am desperately trying to grasp every word
that comes from Bahá'u'lláh, but can I say I have taken firm hold of it? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The words of praise that Bahá'u'lláh has for the truly
learned makes one long for such a position, and yet how unworthy we feel. And
this for a good reason. The qualifications for the truly learned are tough. Is
there anyone who can honestly say they have met all those qualifications? I
wonder what qualifications there would be for the fifty percent learned.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-55175179545327798842014-07-03T08:07:00.001-07:002014-07-03T08:07:28.726-07:00What is the changeless commandment of God? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question : What is the changeless commandment of
God? </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1in 10pt 63pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Indeed
thou didst grasp the significance of rendering assistance unto God and didst
arise to achieve this through the power of wisdom and utterance. Say: To assist
Me is to teach My Cause. This is a theme with which whole Tablets are laden.
This is the changeless commandment of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the
future. Comprehend this, O ye men of insight. They that have passed beyond the
bounds of wisdom fail to understand the meaning of assisting God as set forth
in the Book. Say: Fear ye God and sow not the seeds of dissension amongst men.
Observe ye that which hath been enjoined upon you by your Lord, the Almighty,
the All-Knowing. He knoweth the reality of victory and hath taught it to you
with an utterance that the vain imaginings of them that rove distraught in the
wilderness of doubt can never corrupt.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
(Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 196)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Question. <span style="color: black; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Why is the changeless commandment of God to teach
His Cause?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt 63pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Say:
If it be Our pleasure We shall render the Cause victorious through the power of
a single word from Our presence. He is in truth the Omnipotent, the
All-Compelling. Should it be God's intention, there would appear out of the
forests of celestial might the lion of indomitable strength whose roaring is
like unto the peals of thunder reverberating in the mountains. However, since
Our loving providence surpasseth all things, We have ordained that complete
victory should be achieved through speech and utterance, that Our servants
throughout the earth may thereby become the recipients of divine good. This is
but a token of God's bounty vouchsafed unto them. Verily thy Lord is the
All-Sufficing, the Most Exalted.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt 63pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p.
197)</i></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 10pt 63pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-22862386804324445702014-06-27T11:21:00.001-07:002014-06-27T11:21:20.928-07:00Every deed has its own reward.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Every Deed has its Own Reward</span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 58.5pt 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As to Paradise: It is a reality and there can be no doubt about it, and
now in this world it is realized through love of Me and My good-pleasure.
Whosoever attaineth unto it God will aid him in this world below, and after
death He will enable him to gain admittance into Paradise whose vastness is as
that of heaven and earth. Therein the Maids of glory and holiness will wait
upon him in the daytime and in the night season, while the day-star of the
unfading beauty of his Lord will at all times shed its radiance upon him and he
will shine so brightly that no one shall bear to gaze at him. Such is the
dispensation of Providence, yet the people are shut out by a grievous veil.
Likewise apprehend thou the nature of hell-fire and be of them that truly
believe. For every act performed there shall be a recompense according to the
estimate of God, and unto this the very ordinances and prohibitions prescribed
by the Almighty amply bear witness. For surely if deeds were not rewarded and
yielded no fruit, then the Cause of God -- exalted is He -- would prove futile.
Immeasurably high is He exalted above such blasphemies! However, unto them that
are rid of all attachments a deed is, verily, its own reward. Were We to
enlarge upon this theme numerous Tablets would need to be written.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 58.5pt 10pt; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of
Baha'u'llah, p. 188)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá'u'lláh says that, in this world, Paradise is "realized
through love of Me and My good-pleasure."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He also says, " For every act performed there shall be
a recompense according to the estimate of God." And "unto them that
are rid of all attachments a deed is, verily, its own reward."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I began to think, what greater happiness is there than to do
good deeds and be rewarded for them. And since the deed itself is the reward, there
will always be a reward. Sound s so simple, but why then did Bahá'u'lláh say,
" Were We to enlarge upon this theme numerous Tablets would need to be
written."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I started thinking of specifics. Let's say we have a
friend who is going through a hard time. We help him out and cheer him up. Now,
we feel rewarded and feel we have done something good. But what if that friend
is unappreciative and refuses to be cheered up? Was it really the deed that was
the reward or was it our friends response to the deed that rewarded us. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However we know our friend needs help, so we go back and
help him again. He comes to expect our help and takes it for granted, but he is
still downcast and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in misery. He never
smiles and he shows no appreciation. How many of us would give up at this point?
We may start to wonder if he wants our help. We may feel we are laboring for
nothing. Is this deed its own reward?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This reminds me of the story of the Boy Scout who came home
and told his mother that he had a hard time doing his good deed for the day.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Why, What did
you do?" his mother asked.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I Helped a little old lady across the street." He
replied.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What was so hard about that?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"She didn't want to go."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes we do need to determine if our help is wanted before we
act. That is why it is important to listen. But also, if our help is
conditional of the recipient showing some appreciation, then we must examine
again our motives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>" However, unto
them that are rid of all attachments a deed is, verily, its own reward."
Are we truly rid of all attachment?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just something to think about. As Bahá'u'lláh says, "numerous
Tablets would need to be written" if we are to enlarge on this theme. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To sum up there are a few basic questions we need to ask
ourselves.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Does the little old lady really want to cross the road?"
If we are helping someone to do something that they don't want to do it does no
one any good. Perhaps the little old lady needs to catch a bus and is trying to
find a bus stop. We can ask and listen to her to find out what her needs are.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"What is our motivation for performing the deed?"
If we expect a show of appreciation we may have the wrong attitude. Actions
speak louder than words, so what are your actions saying. Perhaps the one you
are trying to help hears, "I, your rich benevolent friend am helping you
poor unfortunate scum <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and you better
show me some respect because I have powered over you and can turn my help off
at any time." Any time we are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>helping someone because they are less fortunate than ourselves, we are
vaunting ourselves over them. Friendship should always be on equal terms. Yes,
I see your need and since I have more than I need I want to help you, but you
also have things that I need and would love to accept your help as well. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O ye rich ones of the earth! Flee not from the face of the poor that
lieth in the dust, nay rather befriend him and suffer him to recount the tale
of the woes with which God's inscrutable Decree hath caused him to be
afflicted. By the righteousness of God! Whilst ye consort with him, the
Concourse on high will be looking upon you, will be interceding for you, will be
extolling your names and glorifying your action. Blessed are the learned that
pride not themselves on their attainments; and well is it with the righteous
that mock not the sinful, but rather conceal their misdeeds, so that their own
shortcomings may remain veiled to men's eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt; text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah,
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 314, 315)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If we have never had the opportunity to live in poverty, we
do not know what it is like. By listening to those who are so afflicted we can
gain an understanding of their needs and wants. We can gain much useful
knowledge that would otherwise be unavailable to us. Everyone loves a fairytale
with a happy ending, but not every story in real life has a happy ending. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we listen to those sad stories and not be
moved to do something about them? Perhaps the ending of the story is up to us.
Can we give the story of someone else a happy ending. First we need to hear
their stories. Maybe the chapter where they meet us will be a turning point. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These points are much to vast to enlarge on. We can only
handle a little at a time. Perhaps the earth could not contain the number of books
required to exhaust such a subject.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-33479425696358455382014-04-01T08:58:00.001-07:002014-04-01T08:58:30.376-07:00neither cast ye your pearls before swine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Sermon on the mount Christ
is reported to have said, “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.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew
7:6)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also read in the Bible how
Christ was accused of associating with sinners. “But when Jesus heard that, he
said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are
sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Matthew 9:12,13)<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It appears that Christ would give His
Holy utterance and cast His pearls of knowledge to the sinners, but when these
same words got to those who considered themselves righteous, they turned on His
Holy Person and had Him nailed to a cross.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few months ago I heard a radio
broadcast about “Absolute Moral Authority.” The discussion on this subject
involved instances where individuals or groups exercised such authority to the
detriment of others. The residential schools in Brantford were cited as an
example. In these schools, the government and churches joined forces and
decided what was best for the aboriginal population. They enforced their plan
with brutality and in the process damaged a society to the point where it will
take many generations to heal. I was married to a product of those schools and
witnessed firsthand the damage they had done. It is now recognized how this experiment
went bad and steps are being taken to correct the damage, but those so damaged
are unlikely to trust the judgement and the motives of a society that caused
such damage. The leaders and organizers of this experiment meant well. There
concern was the betterment of the people in their charge. Their only fault was
in that they sincerely believed they had superior knowledge and absolutely knew
what was best for another culture.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If there is any words I dread
hearing said about myself it is, “He meant well.” Usually when you hear this
phrase it means that somebody really messed up. However there is lessons to be
learned. Just as the Scribes and the Pharisees during the time of Christ felt
that they knew the absolute truth and therefore had no need of the teachings of
Christ, there are many throughout history who took a similar approach and
caused great loss to themselves and others. It is a continued reminder that we
are fallible servants and God is the All-Knowing Master. When we start to
believe we can act as gods and dictate the lives of others, we are in big
trouble. We become the Swine that will turn and tear God’s Servant apart when
we hear the Pearls of Wisdom coming from His lips. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus it is that we must take a
humble approach when we disseminate the Teachings of God. We offer them as a
gift to a king, and if it is not accepted, we move on. We know not who the
swine are and it is not for us to judge, but if we try to force the Pearls of Knowledge
on those swine, we risk being torn apart. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The scariest part of this is that
those who fall into this category do not know and I must be on constant guard less
I become one of the swine mentioned by Christ. If I find myself becoming so
sure of myself that I turn in anger towards one who disagrees I may very well
believe my knowledge is absolute. Instead I must take the approach that we must
together look at the facts and determine the truth. If you believe differently
than me, I must discover why you believe differently. Perhaps you have seen
things from a perspective I haven’t. I need to honour your culture and your
past that led you to such a belief, then together we can discover the truth.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lady that first taught me the
Faith of God taught me a pearl of wisdom. When someone would tell her that they
did not believe in God, she would reply that she did not believe in the God
that they did not believe in either. She would explain that, in order to not
believe in God you must have some concept of God that you don’t believe in.
Since this concept must be a distortion of the truth in order to produce a
concept of God that one could not believe in, it must therefore be a false
concept. She could now tell the person about the God she believed in without
arguing if their God was real or not.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is one example of how we can
take the time to hear the other persons perspective before we judge them is
being in error. If we start with differing definitions of key words we will
never come to an agreement. First we must learn what a person means, then we
can work on determining truth.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I know that you understand what I
said. What you don’t understand is what I said is not what I meant.” This is a
quote that I heard many years ago and have no recollection of where it came
from, but it rings true very often. Let us first determine what we mean. Then the
steps we can take to reconcile differences will flow more easily.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I prepare to go for eye surgery,
and for the first time in my life consent to have a part of my body cut by
another person, one may wonder why I took time to write the preceding. I
decided to join my wife at the church for prayer and she was leading a discussion
on the Sermon on the Mount when I arrived. Thus, when I arrived at work and
turned my thoughts to God, this was fresh on my mind.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another interesting thing happened
as I walked to the shop. As I walked I was distracted be something floating in
the air. At first I thought it was a butterfly, but as it got close I
recognized a leaf. Then, as it fluttered a few inches from my face, a sudden
gust of wind blew it against my forehead. Being today, the first of April, it
has been a long time since the season for falling leaves, but a few leaves
always seem to hang on to the branches of trees throughout the winter. As I
thought of such a stray leaf falling just at such a time to display itself mid
air in front of me and then for this gentle gust of wind to cause it to touch
my forehead, it made me think that perhaps I had just been touched by the hand
of God. Perhaps, from the beginning of time, he had arranged things so that
that leave would fall just as I was walking by. Many will think it was mere
coincidence and that God is far to busy to pay attention to such details, but
still, it makes one wonder.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I have been blessed I will pray
for the blessings of all. I hope today God will guide you in all you do. I pray
that the hands and heart of my surgeon, and all other surgeons who are
performing surgery today, will be guided by God’s will. Next time I see you I
will actually see you instead of seeing a blur that resembles a human being.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Namaste </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">George<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-59414329371680561812013-09-17T10:47:00.001-07:002013-09-17T10:47:21.034-07:00Who Is Trying to Exterminate Mankind?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who Is Trying to
Exterminate Mankind?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We learn how animals are guided by
nature to eat foods that are good for them. When sugar levels are low they
crave something sweet and equilibrium is realized. And so the animal maintains
health by allowing his cravings to guide his eating pattern. Everything in
nature is good for him. He craves what his body lacks and health is maintained.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then along comes man with his
scientific knowledge. Rats and mice become a menace to his lifestyle. Mosquitoes
and other insects annoy him. These unwanted creatures are a menace to our
health so we attempt to exterminate them. We do this by creating foods that
these creatures will crave but they will not keep them healthy. In fact they
contain deadly poisons that are designed to kill them. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems logical that this approach
would not be used on humans, but we see increasingly foods being developed to
which we can become addicted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
cravings for these foods but they do not increase our health. In nature, the
foods we crave have ingredients that satisfy this craving by restoring the body
to a healthy equilibrium. When artificial foods are created they do not satisfy
the body and the cravings do not go away. This is a very good marketing scheme,
but very bad for our health. We have become like rats being enticed by rat
poison. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It would appear that the food
industry does not what to exterminate us. They need us to keep buying their
products and have therefore limited the poisonous effects of the food they sell
us. In that way we can look forward to poor health and a long agonizing death,
but up to the last we will continue to support the industry that has produced
the foods we have become addicted to. One thing the food industry is not
counting on is the fact that humans have intelligence and may figure out their
strategy. Now that we have figured it out it is time for change. Unless the
goal is to rid the world of humanity, we need food and medical professionals to
develop food that will satisfy our cravings while maintaining health. This will
be very good for humanity but not so good for capitalism. Instead of eating
more food we would eat less. Instead of keeping doctors busy keeping our obese
unhealthy bodies alive, we would have lean healthy bodies that do not need
medicine. The money that is not spent on excess food and medicine could then be
used to fix many of our other world problems. Everyone could live a more
relaxed life style as employers would see less sick days taken by their employees.
Working hours could be reduced as more people become available to work and, being
healthier, they will be able to work more efficiently. This would create more
jobs in the leisure activity field as people would need to do things during
their leisure times. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is my belief that cooperation is
better than competition. The capitalistic view that we must compete to earn
more money and that will bring happiness is completely wrong. Those who believe
that money brings happiness are engaging in another addictive behaviour. When
they have money and are still not happy they believe that more money is the answer.
Just as in the case of foods that do not contain the ingredients that our body
needs, money can never satisfy our craving for it. Money, although sweet to the
taste, does not satisfy our craving for happiness. Happiness comes from caring
for others and being sure that the needs of all are met. Those who amass wealth
by exploiting others to do so become the most miserable of people. Wealth itself
is not bad. If we have money it gives us control to do good or bad. What we
choose to do with it is what makes the difference in our own lives. How we earn
it also makes a great difference in our enjoyment. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My uncle was a farmer and a great
philosopher. He told me that there were two ways to make money. One was to work
to earn it and the other was to take it from those who had worked to earn it.
It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seems the harder we work to earn
anything the more we enjoy it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was much younger I had
helped my uncle bringing in hay one day. I worked alongside my cousins all day
heaving bales of hay. At the end of the day I participated with them in the
greatest meal I ever had. The work of the day made this meal taste so much
better. I do not remember what was served but that didn’t matter. The main
ingredient that made it taste so good was the hard work I had done to earn it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If modern society can work hard to
cooperate with one another, this would be conducive to happiness. If medical
and food industry professionals could cooperate to give us healthy food that
satisfies our cravings, this would lead to happiness. If nations that are dying
of obesity could cooperate with those dying of starvation, this would go a long
way to solving the world’s problems. Happiness for all is within our reach. We
just need to exert a little effort to achieve it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The world has exerted a lot of
effort into destruction and war. Let us turn that around and use that energy
toward building and peace. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The food industry has put a lot if
effort into making the industry profitable by making foods addictive. Let us
see that effort turned to providing healthy food for all the world.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The medical industry continues to
put a lot of effort into keeping us alive. Let us see if they can put as much
effort into keeping us healthy.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happiness is within our reach. When
someone comes to us with a grievance, we need not go to war with him. We can
hear him and reason with him. We need not assert our superiority and the
correctness of our ways. We can humbly defer to others at times and choose the
best from all the world. A part cannot exceed the whole an we are at a time
when knowledge can be derived from all the world so long as we are not so proud
as to reject truth when it comes from another source. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started by asking the question, “Who
is trying to exterminate mankind?” If we look only at the bad we may think that
humanity should be exterminated. However we all have good and bad attributes.
We can choose which we want to bring out in ourselves and which we want to
encourage in others. We can criticize and condemn the world for all its wrongs
or we can see new beginnings of goodness and encourage that to prosper. When we
choose to destroy evil we end up with destruction. When we choose to build
goodness it will naturally replace evil. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this I issue a challenge to all.
Use your talents for good. If you are in the food industry do your best to make
your food healthy. You can still make it taste good but be sure it has the
nutritional ingredients to satisfy our craving. Whatever industry you work in,
use your work to the best of your ability to the betterment of mankind. If you
are a garbage collector, be the best garbage collector you can be. If you see a
garbage collector doing a great job, be sure to compliment him on his efforts.
Yes, we need to encourage one another to bring out the best in each other.
Constant criticism only brings a person down to a point where the feel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that life is not worth living. Encouragement
is needed to bring out the best and to let each individual know that he or she
is appreciated. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are spiritual as well as
physical beings, and just as our bodies need to maintain a healthy equilibrium,
our souls also need to maintain a healthy balance. In order to do that we need
to encourage others and surround ourselves with encouraging people. We need to
know our work is appreciated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to
strive to do our best and be encouraged to keep striving for perfection. When
someone comes to us with a problem we need not criticize him for getting
himself into such a mess, but offer encouragement to help him see the way out. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading this one may be inclined to
think that I am one of the happiest well adjusted people alive, but this is not
the case. Necessity is the best teacher. I come not offering solutions out of
my abundance of knowledge, but asking for solutions out of my abundance of
needs. Not being purely selfish I desire these things not only for myself but
also for others who may be in similar or worse conditions. Yet I am thankful
for my needs as they have pointed out to me the needs of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way I can solicit encouragement is
to offer encouragement to others. The only way for me to avoid being criticized
is to refrain from criticizing those around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I try my best to use my own situation to teach myself to be a better
person. If I can shed any light on the subject to others, that is a bonus. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I find the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to
be very encouraging and it is the following passage that got me started on this
present writing. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HEALING BY MATERIAL
MEANS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday at table we spoke of curative treatment and
spiritual healing, which consists in treating maladies through the spiritual
powers.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now let us speak of material healing. The science of
medicine is still in a condition of infancy; it has not reached maturity. But
when it has reached this point, cures will be performed by things which are not
repulsive to the smell and taste of man -- that is to say, by aliments, fruits
and vegetables which are agreeable to the taste and have an agreeable smell.
For the provoking cause of disease -- that is to say, the cause of the entrance
of disease into the human body -- is either a physical one or is the effect of
excitement of the nerves.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the principal causes of disease are physical, for the
human body is composed of numerous elements, but in the measure of an especial
equilibrium. As long as this equilibrium is maintained, man is preserved from disease;
but if this essential balance, which is the pivot of the constitution, is
disturbed, the constitution is disordered, and disease will supervene.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For instance, there is a decrease in one of the constituent
ingredients of the body of man, and in another there is an increase; so the
proportion of the equilibrium is disturbed, and disease occurs. For example,
one ingredient must be one thousand grams in weight, and another five grams, in
order that the equilibrium be maintained. The part which is one thousand grams
diminishes to seven hundred grams, and that which is five grams augments
until the measure of the equilibrium is disturbed; then disease occurs. When by
remedies and treatments the equilibrium is re-established, the disease is
banished. So if the sugar constituent increases, the health is impaired; and
when the doctor forbids sweet and starchy foods, the sugar constituent
diminishes, the equilibrium is re-established, and the disease is driven off.
Now the readjustment of these constituents of the human body is obtained by two
means -- either by medicines or by aliments; and when the constitution has
recovered its equilibrium, disease is banished. All the elements that are
combined in man exist also in vegetables; therefore, if one of the constituents
which compose the body of man diminishes, and he partakes of foods in which
there is much of that diminished constituent, then the equilibrium will be
established, and a cure will be obtained. So long as the aim is the
readjustment of the constituents of the body, it can be effected either by
medicine or by food.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The majority of the diseases which overtake man also
overtake the animal, but the animal is not cured by drugs. In the mountains, as
in the wilderness, the animal's physician is the power of taste and smell. The
sick animal smells the plants that grow in the wilderness; he eats those that
are sweet and fragrant to his smell and taste, and is cured. The cause of his
healing is this. When the sugar ingredient has become diminished in his
constitution, he begins to long for sweet things; therefore, he eats an herb
with a sweet taste, for nature urges and guides him; its smell and taste please
him, and he eats it. The sugar ingredient in his nature will be increased, and
health will be restored.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is, therefore, evident that it is possible to cure by
foods, aliments and fruits; but as today the science of medicine is imperfect,
this fact is not yet fully grasped. When the science of medicine reaches
perfection, treatment will be given by foods, aliments, fragrant fruits
and vegetables, and by various waters, hot and cold in temperature.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This discourse is brief; but, if God wills, at another time,
when the occasion is suitable, this question will be more fully explained.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Abdu’l-Bahá,
Some Answered Questions, p. 257 - 259 )</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-27033032139663375332013-03-09T10:00:00.000-08:002013-03-09T10:00:57.630-08:00The Most Great Assurance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">O
my friend, were the bird of thy mind to explore the heavens of the Revelation
of the Qur'án, were it to contemplate the realm of divine knowledge unfolded
therein, thou wouldst assuredly find unnumbered doors of knowledge set open
before thee. Thou wouldst certainly recognize that all these things which have
in this day hindered this people from attaining the shores of the ocean of
eternal grace, the same things in the Muhammadan Dispensation prevented
the people of that age from recognizing that divine Luminary, and from
testifying to His truth. Thou wilt also apprehend the mysteries of
"return" and "revelation," and wilt securely abide within
the loftiest chambers of certitude and assurance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p.
147, 148 )<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">The Most Great Assurance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are living in
a world of doubt. At one time we knew the world was flat. That knowledge turned
out to be false. We knew that the earth was the center of the universe and all
other planets and stars revolved around it. False again. How many things do we
know today that will be proved to be false in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there is
the issue about God. Is there a God? Can we prove that God exists? We were
likely told about God when we where children, but we were also told about the
Easter Bunny and Santa Clause. We soon learn that reindeer don't fly and fat
men don't come down chimneys, so are the stories we heard about Jesus true?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now it is quite
easy to prove the fact that there was a creator. No one believes that a house
just happens by accident, or a watch found in a forest just naturally occurred there.
We know that something as simple as a pencil had to have someone to make it, so
how could anyone in their right mind think that something as magnificent, so
huge and so intricate as the universe just happened all on its own. The fact
that the universe exists proves that there must have been a superior, all
powerful, intelligent being that created it. But that doesn't mean that this Omnipotent
Being pays any attention to us or even cares if we live or die. For all we know
we could just be an unwanted by-product of this magnificent universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then comes the
Revelation of God. Each of the Revealers of God's Word could be denied. It
could be passed off as a crazy person who was delusional and believed that He
had a connection with the Almighty God. But when you put them together it
becomes too great to be passed off as mere coincidence. Are we to believe that
these Holy Beings who appeared once in about every 1000 years, endured great
suffering to deliver Their Message and caused revolutionary changes in the
planet were just some crazy people. Then add to that the fact that thousands of
martyrs gave up their lives in order to promote the Teachings of these Divine
Beings. If that had occurred once we may be able to say that the advancement of
society was coincidental to the ravings of a mad man, but every time a Divine Being
appears there is great changes and advancement in Science, Spirituality and
Social Conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even the enemies
of God cannot deny the influence of the Divine Manifestations of God. Those who
do not believe at all and those who hold on to a past Revelation while not
accepting the latest will acknowledge the influence of the Holy Ones. Yes they
will acknowledge and fear them. Otherwise why would they be doing everything in
their power to stop them? Why Crucify someone if you think He is insignificant?
Why persecute a crazy man? It is because these Divine Messengers where changing
the society they were living in and making learned men doubt what they knew to
be true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The things we
have been taught by previous generations has a powerful hold on us. When
someone presents us with evidence, or even a suggestion that we might be wrong,
we often get defensive. If we know that what they are saying is a lie, it will
not bother us to much, but if it begins to cause us to doubt then let the
fireworks begin. At this point there is only two possible courses of action.
The one many people take is to do everything in their power to discredit and
otherwise prove false the information that is causing them to doubt. They will
intimidate, hate, fight and even kill the ones that are causing them to doubt
what they have always believed to be true. The result of this action, if they
succeed, will be that they are able to continue to believe a lie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Plan two is the
one I recommend. If someone causes me to doubt something I believe, I find it
is time to investigate and examine my belief. Is it possible that I have been
misinformed? Could it be that the sky is green when I have always believed it
to be blue? Let me hear your reasoning. Why have you come to your conclusions?
Let is discuss freely why each of us believes as we do and see who is right. Perhaps
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we will find that truth lies somewhere
between our understandings. Perhaps we will find we are both right, but are
just viewing the situation from different perspectives. By consulting each other
and investigating thoroughly we will both come to a greater understanding of
the Truth and we will not need to kill each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My purpose here
was to present the Most Great Assurance; The <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">undoubtable Truth that no
one can deny. I can see that, no matter how convincing the proofs or how
conclusive the arguments, each of the religions on earth today could be doubted,
but the cumulative effect is undeniable. The fact that the story repeats on a
regular basis, that it advances at each stage and that it heals the ailments of
each age proves beyond any doubt that, not only there is a God, but that there
is a God who loves us and cares for us. Indeed He is a God who wants the best
for His Creatures that He created in His own Image. This is the Most Great
Assurance and the undeniable Truth. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-2201263043974981462013-01-12T11:58:00.002-08:002013-01-12T11:58:22.680-08:00The proof of the Manifestation of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What motivates us to action? For
many it is greed, or a desire for peace, security, comfort or well being. The
manifestations were only motivated by the compelling force of God to do His
will. They did not receive money or any earthly gain for their action. There
was no comfort as they were often subject to torture, ridicule, imprisonment or
exile. There was absolutely no earthly reason for them to do what they did, so
their motivation had to be purely Heavenly. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Epistle to the Son of the
Wolf, Bahá’u’lláh addresses the Shah of Persia in these words.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These
perspicuous verses have been sent down in one of the Tablets by the Abha Pen:
"Hearken, O servant, unto the voice of this Wronged One, Who hath endured
grievous vexations and trials in the path of God, the Lord of all Names, until
such time as He was cast into prison, in the Land of Ta (Tihran). He summoned
men unto the most sublime Paradise, and yet they seized Him and paraded Him
through cities and countries. How many the nights during which slumber fled
from the eyes of My loved ones, because of their love for Me; and how numerous
the days whereon I had to face the assaults of the peoples against Me! At one
time I found Myself on the heights of mountains; at another in the depths of
the prison of Ta (Tihran), in chains and fetters. By the righteousness of
God! I was at all times thankful unto Him, uttering His praise, engaged in
remembering Him, directed towards Him, satisfied with His pleasure, and lowly
and submissive before Him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah,
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 78, 79)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was prefaced by;</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"My grief
exceedeth all the woes to which Jacob gave vent, and all the afflictions of Job
are but a part of My sorrows!"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah,
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 77)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We see this Manifestation of God
afflicted with great tribulation, yet His mandate is to manifest the Word of
God for this day. How can He do that. Bahá’u’lláh cried out in the FIRE TABLET;
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 5pt 40.5pt 5pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #003377; font-size: 16pt;">Thou seest Me forbidden to speak forth:
Then from where will spring Thy melodies, O Nightingale of the worlds? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I look at my puny mission to
the World and my puny difficulties and put them into perspective. How can I
accomplish my mission to spread this Message of Peace to the World? I have no
means. My knowledge is limited. My earning power is almost non-existent, but I
am not in jail being tortured by my tormentors: At least not yet. So I continue
to plod along on this divine path relying only on God as my helper. I pray that
He will guide me, show me what to do and give me the right words to say. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those who follow Christ, He
has given us a sure way to recognize Him when He would return in His New Name.
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and I will write upon him my new name.</i>
Rev. 3:12) He says;</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Matthew
7:15 - 17)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it is clear that a prophet
that gives forth good fruit is of God. If the teachings lead us to God, compel
us toward goodness and bring God’s people together, this truly is of God and no
doubt can entertain our minds.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Gospel of John Jesus is
quoted as saying;</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 10pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And other sheep
I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear
my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(John 10:16)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later on He tells the Jews that
were questioning Him;</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 40.5pt 10pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But ye believe
not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(New
Testament, 04 – John 10:26, 27)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it is clear that, if we want
to recognize Christ we have to be familiar with His voice. When we read the
quotations of His words, what do they sound like? If we hear or read other
quotations that sound like these ones, should we not investigate to see if
these are coming from the very same source?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To me that is it. That is the
essence and the end of my argument. No more can be said. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I leave it to you and I have
absolute faith that you, as one created by God, have the capacity know and
recognize the Creator and the Source or His Revelation. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-44133958696218549852013-01-05T14:54:00.000-08:002013-01-06T14:14:19.549-08:00Introduction to The Revelation of Saint John the Divine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Revelation of Saint John the Divine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The introduction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quoted from King James Version of the Bible. (Words in brackets are my thoughts)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(When John wrote this down he was expecting the prophesies to be fulfilled very soon. Many were expecting the return of Christ during the same generation as when He ascended.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">( This is a record of what John saw without interpretation. He did not understand the meaning of much of what he saw.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Again the emphasis on this happening very soon.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(John addresses this to the seven Churches in Asia and says it is from himself and the seven Spirits)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(He also includes Jesus Himself in the salutation. First begotten of the dead perhaps because He rose from the dead. Prince of the kings because He is the True Sovereign. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus loved us so much that He offered up His life. Symbolically He died so that we could be cleansed from sin, the symbolic washing in the blood.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(We are to carry on and spread His teachings as we watch for the day of His return.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(The clouds symbolically obscure our vision. All see the light but some may be slow to recognize its source because of the clouds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(He was, He is and He shall be. Eternity is a concept we cannot grasp. Time and space are limitations of the physical world. In the spiritual we do not have such limitations. Christ, the Messiah was manifested in the physical body of Jesus, but He was much greater than that body. Christ was never limited to a single physical body. He has always existed and will always exist and He can Manifest Himself whenever and however He chooses. None have the right to question His choice. However in His kindness to us He tells us how we can know.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the Gospel of John we read;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">>>>>>>>>>><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:30 I and my Father are one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(The true sheep of Christ will recognize His voice wherever it comes from. They follow Him because they hear His voice. Many are the wolves in sheep’s clothing who try to lead the sheep astray, but they recognize the voice of their Lord and Saviour and the follow Him. Even though they are faced with calamity and death they will not turn away from their Lord. Even though all the earth becomes their enemy, they will gladly be slaughtered by an earthly army so they can go to their Heavenly Home. They have been given eternal life and they understand this temporary physical life is not important. They lay down their physical life with joy so they can be with the Good Shepherd.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(In the last days (in which we are living) Christ is gathering all His sheep into One Fold. )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(We are now witnessing the gathering of the sheep. People of diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions are being called by the Lord and Hear His Voice. Excitedly they tell others, and although the clouds of superstition, tradition, and false education obscure the light of the Revelation of God, once one <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recognizes the source of the Light and Hears the Voice of the Lord, he or she cannot go back but must remain a part of that Great and Glorious Sheepfold.) </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538628419766229558.post-73666279816546839752012-12-11T09:13:00.003-08:002012-12-11T09:13:32.392-08:00What is a Baha'i?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is a Baha’i?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stated simply a Baha’i is one who believes that Bahá’u’lláh was the latest messenger or Manifestation of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baha’is understand that God has given us laws and guidance to improve our life. These laws are a great gift from God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Baha’i Faith there is no clergy and no rituals. Obedience to the laws is left up to the individual. Only if disobedience is directly harming the Faith will the administration step in to correct the situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Central Figures and chain of authority:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unity is the most important principle of the Baha’i Faith. Bahá’u’lláh has initiated laws to prevent the Baha’i Faith from splitting into sects. Whenever differences arise, there is an authority that can settle the question. Individual thinking and initiative is encouraged. The administration only becomes involved when someone insists that their way is the only way or if they try to undermine the authority of the administration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Báb</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Báb is a title meaning the gate. He founded an independent religion. His main purpose was to prepare the way for Bahá’u’lláh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá’u’lláh, The Glory of God</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are often referred to as the Twin Manifestations. They each brought a revelation direct from God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá’u’lláh says:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The essence of belief in Divine unity consisteth in regarding Him Who is the Manifestation of God and Him Who is the invisible, the inaccessible, the unknowable Essence as one and the same. By this is meant that whatever pertaineth to the former, all His acts and doings, whatever He ordaineth or forbiddeth, should be considered, in all their aspects, and under all circumstances, and without any reservation, as identical with the Will of God Himself. This is the loftiest station to which a true believer in the unity of God can ever hope to attain. Blessed is the man that reacheth this station, and is of them that are steadfast in their belief.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 166)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baha’is believe that all the Manifestations of God brought the authoritative Revelation of God. It is as though God is directly talking to us through His Manifestations. When His followers adhere to the principles set down by any of the Manifestations, there can be no disagreement. Differences occur only when man introduces his own ideas and undermines the Religion of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Abdu’l-Bahá says;</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is that religion must be the source of fellowship, the cause of unity and the nearness of God to man. If it rouses hatred and strife, it is evident that absence of religion is preferable and an irreligious man better than one who professes it. According to the divine Will and intention religion should be the cause of love and agreement, a bond to unify all mankind, for it is a message of peace and goodwill to man from God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 181)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá’u’lláh appointed His Son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of His covenant and the One to which all should turn when He ascended from this earthly plain. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the only one authorized to interpret the Words of His Father. Thus the unity of the Cause of God was assured.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian of the Faith. He was the authority to which all Baha’is turned when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left this earthly plain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bahá’u’lláh also laid out the plans for the Universal House of Justice to be elected by the Baha’is when the Cause of God had grown enough to support it. In 1963 the first Universal House of Justice was elected. It is now the authority to which all Baha’i turn and its guidance is considered infallible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are also Local Spiritual Assemblies and National Spiritual Assemblies that will one day be known as Local Houses of Justice and National Houses of Justice. Although not considered infallible these institutions are to be obeyed. Again, Unity is the key word. We are told that obedience, even if in error is better than disobedience. Since all is in unity the wrong will be made right and the error will be corrected. However disobedience would lead to disunity and would lead to a thousand wrongs even if the one being disobedient was in the right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A constant flow of guidance comes from all levels of our administration. It is in the form of love and guidance to help us adhere to the principles laid down by Bahá’u’lláh. We must remember that love and unity are the most important and all measures are used to avoid or remove estrangement. All mankind are considered the members of one family, the flowers of one garden, and the fruits of one tree. The Baha’i see diversity of thought, culture, social standing, and race as a beautiful thing that adds to the colour and structure of our garden. A garden with flowers that were all the same kind and same colour would be monotonous. By using various forms and colours we add charm and beauty to the garden. Differences are celebrated, not avoided. But all the differences contribute to a unified whole that makes up the family of mankind. It is like parts of a body. We may think the brain is important, but if the body was all brain it could not function. The body needs a heart, lungs, feet, hands and many other parts to function properly. When all these parts work together as a unified whole, the body excels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you would like to know more about Bahá’u’lláh, His teachings or any other aspect of the Baha’i Faith I would be most happy to discuss them with you. My knowledge is not one hundred percent so many times we will need to learn together. There are many resources available through internet, books and Study Circles. There are also devotional gatherings that you could attend, or you can host one of your own. There are many Baha’i who like to do home visits and would love an opportunity to visit with you and answer any questions you may have. For more information email me at <a href="mailto:george@sowingpeace.ca">george@sowingpeace.ca</a> . I will do my best to put you in touch with Baha'is in your area. You can also check out <a href="http://www.sowingpeace.ca/links.html">http://www.sowingpeace.ca/links.html</a> for links to some great resources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you now agree that Bahá’u’lláh is the messenger of God for this day, then you are welcome to join us. There is a short registration process just so we can keep track of you and be sure to send you news and invite you to events for the Baha’i. For instance, every 19 days the Baha’i community holds a Feast were the members of the community can consult with the Local Spiritual Assembly, make recommendations and receive guidance. As a member of the Baha’i Community you would be expected to participate in any way you feel comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t worry if you feel you don’t know enough. None of us do. We are all learning together. That is why your input would be most valuable to us. It is like each of us has a piece of the puzzle and together we can complete it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since we have no clergy, each Baha’i is expected to teach the Faith. Again, don’t worry if you feel you don’t know enough. We are assured of the guidance of the Divine Concourse if we make the effort, plus you can call on other Baha’is to help. Teaching in the Baha’i Faith is different from the way teaching is usually perceived. In the Baha’i Faith we don’t have teachers who are considered learned while their students are considered ignorant. It is more like we are all students and we are all teachers. All of us have something to offer and all of us have something to learn. When we teach the Faith to others it is one of the greatest ways we can learn for ourselves. Of course we also need to study the writings on our own so we can answer questions. In fact we are expected to read something from the writings of the Baha’i Faith twice a day. Bahá’u’lláh says;</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 295)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we read the verses of God aloud, even though it is in the privacy of our own room, it will have a far reaching effect and will affect our own souls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also Baha’is are required to pray every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are three obligatory prayers. We can choose any one of the three. They can be found in many of the Baha’i Prayer Books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The short obligatory prayer, if chosen, is to be said once a day between Noon and Sunset. When we wish to recite this prayer we perform our ablutions, (the washing of our hands and face) and turn to the Qiblih, (the resting spot of Bahá’u’lláh which from Canada is to the East) and we say:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order to enrol in the Baha'i Community we just need to get a little information from you. The enrolments process may be slightly different in different parts of the world, so if you email me <a href="mailto:george@sowingpeace.ca">george@sowingpeace.ca</a> I will do my best to put you in touch with Baha'is in your area if you don't know any already. Feel free also to email me if you have any questions or suggestions. You may also post a comment on this blog. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Feel free to leave a comment or question.</div>George McNeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18039968727739118477noreply@blogger.com0