Salutation #79

The freedom of Man

and the freedom of Angels

are not unlike each other!

Therefore,

Let us always remember that the liberty

of all the nations of the children of Mankind

is established not for the taking but for the giving -

for it is in giving that we receive;

it is in giving that all Men are set free.

- selah -

(Religion in the Public Domain)

Don't be a hypocrite.

Don't be afraid to say it - "Merry Christmas!"

How can we respect other religions if we can not respect our own?

Remember,

a genuine respect for the power of faith - in any person -

only comes from a genuine experience of religion.

So if you are afraid to practice your own - for any reason,

how can you hope to understand

what substance of truth there is to be had

in the exercise of your own faith?

If you do not understand

- with a knowledge of the truth -

the blessings bestowed upon you by your own religion,

how can you understand the hope

that other people must invest

in the free exercise of theirs

however different they may be to you?

There is a place for religion in the public domain -

for so long as (1) it does compete,

one against the other - to the confusion of many,

for a position of dominance in the civic sphere;

for so long as (2) the Spirit of God is given a free hand

to work the work of completion He intends in all human hearts ;

for so long as (3) the spirit of War is denied entry into the heart of our nations;

for it shall be natural for all truth to come together -

not so that all things may be the same - conformity without diversity,

but so that the purpose of God in all things may be fulfilled.

Merry Christmas!

---<--@

Can you see through the cartoon -

If you love humanity, say to thy own soul:

Drink deeply, O my heart, we have much to do...

---<--@

Think about it -

"People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things." (Anne Frank, July 6, 1944)

Take note of how my Anne described the activity of faith in religion - a gift.

---<--@

Shalom, Salaam, Peace - Maligayang Pasko!

Mabuhay po tayong lahat ngayong Pasko at kapayapaan sa darating na taon.

Sinag Tala

Sisikatan din tayo ng sinag araw - bayan ko -

kapag isa na uli ang ating puso at buo na uli ang ating bukas.

Pero bago ang lahat - habang madilim pa rin ang gabi -

ang sinag tala muna ang dapat nating malaman at masilayan sa isa't isa.

'Pagkat kapayapaan ang tunay ang himig ng Pasko

- ngayon at magpakailanman ang katotohana'y laging ngang ganito -

sana'y mapagnilay-nilayan natin ito.

---<--@

Maghari po sana ang kapayapan ng Diyos sa lupain ng Pangako.

20110904

Sunday Evenings

Good evening, Philippines - mabuhay!

Well, we're four days into the first of the four "ber" months. If you are familiar with this, you are Filipino. We have the longest Christmas season ever!

We are indeed, a people of expectations, are we not? It's true. And we have every right to have these expectations. It is a reflection of our hope for better things and for better days.

If there is a reason why we are a people upon the earth, it is these hopes. And we keep these hopes close to us every Yuletide season because Peace is the reason for the Christmas season. And this has been so since that first Christmas day 2011 years ago.

The Angels say so and we now know so - Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace!

I do not expect this will change.

Now, I want us to remember this - here and now - because Christmas 2011 is the Christmas before Christmas 2012. Peace is the reason for every Christmas season!

- selah -

My brothers and sisters in Christ the Lord, let us work to make this Christmas 2011 a very good one - for all our nations. Most especially, let us pray God bless the Holy Land with Peace.

Let us extend our hearts and our hands to those who are affected by the presence of War here in our own Country and everywhere, especially in the Middle East.

If any of you can make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem this Christmas, please do so. And do not forget to go to Jerusalem and pray God bless our world with Peace.

So let us work for all of this as we continue on - together - right into the new working week... Everybody have a great week ahead!

---<--@

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! God bless us all.

Christmas Greetings!

Peace among the nations.

Good will to all men and women of peace.

Please see our monthly challenge for the month of September - click here.