Aptiva

"Life is short, death is certain, and eternity is real." What is interesting, dear reader, is that all would agree with the first two parts of this statement. The sadness comes not in that people would disagree that eternity is real, but their self inflicted ignorance of the matter. Life is so short. Yet we fill it with such meaningless tasks. That compared to the eternity of which we will spend, what limited time we have here on earth we squander and quash rather than use it to make informed decisions about where the eternity we are destined for will be spent. So, on the final day of 2008, as a precious new year approaches upon us. I encourage you dear reader to consider, if life is short, and that death is certain, will you not spend some of your precious time in informing yourself about the choice of where eternity will be?

A wonderful fact to reflect upon, dear reader, is this, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. This quote reveals the mystery of the celebration of the Western world calls the Christ Mass in a wonderful way. While this above statement is true for every other human being in the world, it is not true for the son of a carpenter Jesus Ben Joseph. His claim was that he was the Messiah, the hope that Israel had been looking for, the solution that God had provided for not only the individual nation but also of the world in total. In a day, which is now surrounded by so much pageantry and preparation, this essential truth of who Jesus thought himself to be can be easily lost or simply misunderstood. Another interesting concept is that God himself is a secret and a mystery, unless he chooses to reveal who he is. This is yet another major dimension of what the Christ Mass story brings to the earth. God reveals himself in human form. In a

There is dear reader, a silent war going on around us skirmishes taking place, battles being fought, and more often lost that won. The largest problem is that most combatants are completely oblivious to the fact this war is taking place. In happy ignorance they continue, while they continue to give precious ground. This war of course I refer to starts initially with the mind, and very thoughts, but its ultimate goal, through storming the capital city of our heart is to reach the seat of power, our soul. We are so bombarded by ways to think, opinions to hold, actions to either take or disapprove of that we have become massively oblivious to the effect that this is having upon our life. The major weapon of course, is television. Its most blunt yet effective tool, being that of advertising. Moving swiftly behind for a follow up punch is the news. With these two warriors we're told what to purchase, and what to be sad, happy, annoyed, angry, or downright indifferent about. Yet this is

There is a saying, dear reader, that "everybody is exactly in the place with God that they desire to be". For if the divine being is correct in their statement that their character is unchanging, it's therefore the implication that the closeness or distance of any relationship we have with them, is based on our choices. Imagine if you will the ocean, a vast body of water, we can choose to ignore or relate to. Our personal choice does not affect the ocean in any way. Neither does our choice to ignore it prevent it affecting our lives in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. Yet the evidence of the effect on our life, by the ocean will become clear to us the more we concentrate on it and interact with it. The only real difference between a fisherman and a city executive, is that the former acknowledges their full reliance upon the ocean. While the latter, as they drink pure fresh clean water (this selfsame water provided by the weather system, reliant upon these oceans

For many people, dear reader, there is a goal, which is so rarely attained, that of being clean. This can start with physical cleanliness, be extended to the foods we ingest, the clothes we wear, the things we touch. It can then move to places and objects, with the avoidance of going to certain areas in the world or dealing with certain situations. It then moves to people, avoiding those who are considered by the original party to be unclean in and of themselves. It presses upon us, dear reader to consider what being clean is actually all about. It is not unreasonable that when some violent action has been perpetrated upon us we often move to the physical cleanliness provided by scrubbing and cleaning every part of our body. This is an unwitting ceremony designed to remove as much memory of the violence, as is possible. Where the violence itself cannot be reversed, the cleaning of the body at least allows it to be made distant. It is however in the same theme that we as human beings do

There is, dear reader power in the word . However, this is combined with a personage, who gives this selfsame word. This is true of encouragement or criticism. For the closer a person is to our lives, the more effect, they will have on us with the words they give to us. Like some weird amplifier two people saying the same thing, standing right next to us can see the effect of their words penetrate very little, or deep down to our very core. The difference being the amplifier of connectivity. Words of encouragement coming from a loved one can last a lifetime, sadly, so can words of abuse. How many boys have grown into men, still seeking approval from a father, who will never give it. How many girls have sought to emulate their mother, only to find as a fully grown woman that they are still lacking in their mother's eyes. Yet the encouragement of those nearby seems to have such little effect, because the deep relationship does not exist. This dear reader can become a problem, when we

There is Dear Reader a word not oft used in today's parlance, and that is balm. Indeed within the context next employed, it's use is even rarer, for there is a saying that "the word of God is balm unto the soul". One understanding of Balm, is something that has a soothing effect. We only need to have experienced the effects of the sun's rays on our backs one too many times to understand the need for balm. For as our skin cries out for healing with every chafe and scrape of its raw tenderness against any clothing we are forced to wear, it breathes a sigh of relief as upon it we pour a soothing balm of after burn suncream. The audible sighs of relief which come from the body which has experienced this is tangible to those who listen on during these moments. Yet dear Reader our own souls are in as much torment as these blackened and charred bodies can often be, the only difference is visibility. For the anguish and pain is tangible to all as we see the effects of de

There is, dear reader an amazing ability for humans to fool themselves. We put forward this reason and that reason about why we do not believe in a creator. We argue about evolution, or veracity of sourcebooks, which pertain to such deities. Each argument we put forward seeks to make God looks silly, and less than divine. Then we sit from high vantage point of supposedly intellectual superiority mocking those foolish enough to believe in such a being. Yet, I propose, dear reader that many of such arguments are merely a smokescreen. You see, dear reader what keeps many people from faith is the fear of the consequences. To place one's faith is in a creator understandably implies a change in what we have come to term their moral state. This change many do not want to make. To be blunt, many want to continue their lives unexamined. Their doubts about a created being have little to do with theology and everything to do with morality. So my question today, dear reader is simply this ar

Dear Reader, we may often have experienced the friend or relative, who has recently returned from distant shores. Upon this return they start to regale you with this story or that, and soon what was infections enthusiasm can reveal a different side. For in their travels they have altered. Their eyes have open to a new world, one for sure, which existed before, and was just as real, but until then, went unseen and unnoticed by our friend. Yet as technology progresses we may have photo's, recordings of film, even web cams of the area, it still cannot compete with the sense of presence that actually being in the country brings. The sights and sounds, the smells and language. The interaction with locals. This is reserved for those who visit. So our friend finally comes to the old adage, "you really should go sometime". There the evening end's, with all happy and with all friends. However imagine if you will a differing scenario, where the friends insistence that this

There is Dear Reader, funny ways that people approach a life of faith. Some unthinking few, consider the many blessings that a community of faith offers, but accept it like a box of toys, to be played with when it amuses them and discarded when it does not. If activities to their liking are happening, then they are first to arrive and last to leave. Yet these self same people would never appear when spiritual work is to be done. Yet learning and praying, in essence relating to the deity is a business best carried out by others. These people are best deemed as shallow, afraid to move into the deeper life that can be attained, once the free offer is understood and accepted. Preferring the shoreline than the deeper waters This is Dear Reader, not the end of the story, for some unthinking few, spend so much time in the deep water, they forget life moves on the shallow. The eating and socialising, the raising of families and the celebrating of the necessity's of life. Yet this group s

There is dear reader a wonderful illustration about a man who has a cat sat on his lap and his wife sat 20 feet away from him. The man is nearer to his wife than the cat, because the cat is so unlike the man. They have so little in common. In truth, the cat is only closer in proximity, but in no other quality. The same can be true for many who claim to follow a divine being. While they are close in proximity to people within the world, they are nearer to God. They have taken stock of the situation and assessed the reality, concluding that relationship with a divine being is worth more and of higher value than all other relationships within the world combined. The difficulty comes, not for them, but when in effect, the cat realises it is just a cat. Nobody held by the world appreciates been told that they are less important than some intangible unseen deity. So my question, dear reader is simple today, to whom are you near to, and to whom are you just in proximity?

There is Dear Reader an old profession of long ago, which seems in modern day to once again have succumbed like the proverbial dodo, I refer in this case to the Tinker. This person would arrive at one's house and offer and provide all sorts of opportunities to fix pots and pans and the like. The main service, however, was to sharpen one's knives. For in this field this person specialised, carrying the correct tools for the job. Yet throughout history, as people have tried to maintain a sharp blade through either specific whetstones or something even harder, many have fallen back to the basic principle that iron sharpens iron. The simplest thing to keep a sharp blade is another sharp blade. One cleaning away the rust and dullness of the other while having the same service offered to them. The only requirement being contact. In the same way, humans sharpen one another, keeping each other keen and bright. Yet today, as so many knives are bought and used until they are dull and the

There is Dear Reader, a collection of material that leads to suggest wherever you consider your wealth to be, there your heart and interest will be also. This proposition if true I believe works like the seasons. Just as spring blooms, poke and prod their way through heralding the coming and onset of a glorious summer which in turn yields its way to the sharper winds of autumn and the browning of the selfsame leaves that brought life, such short time ago, finally, to a winter hue and a stark landscape indeed. So our understanding of our investment tends to follow a similar pattern. The young full of hope, and with time, firmly planted on their side sow much, in many differing fields and see this first growth come through. Then with their earlier years behind them the true harvest becomes apparent and time and effort is placed on a more focused basis. To yield the maximum from the time allotted within life. Sadly, even as the harvest is being reaped, without any warning autumn arrives.

There is Dear Reader, a shift in the way of thinking in this present age. That despite our technological advances, and amassed wizardry of science, that we have in many ways become paupers. We can seem at times, emotionally stunted, unwilling or unable to give of ourselves selflessly. Many I admit do acts which used to be considered altruistic.Yet now these acts are tinged with self focus. "Forty hour famines"- become an excuse for a party. " Movember " results in many growing facial hair, but little in true change in character. Please understand, Dear Reader, these acts in themselves appear innocent enough, but which is greater for the soul, people who will give money to charity willingly, or those who will only if a raffle is involved? You see the very acts which are meant to enhance the human race have become a barrier, for they feed our sense of compassion, without actually allowing us to comprehend what the word entails. A person completes an act of quasi-compa

It is Dear Reader, in my experience an interesting realisation that people do not like to accept perceived charity. We as humans, would far rather reject help, which could alter the course of our life, and struggle on in dire circumstances than accept. For to accept would mean admitting one thing, at least in our minds, failure. This is the problem, failure is not denoted by charity. However like the old crossed connection of a telephone exchange, we carry on, the person helping saying one thing, the person being helped hearing another. "I love you", becomes, "I'm better than you", "Would this be of use", becomes "Watch me, I've achieved where you have failed" "Let me pay for that" becomes "Your so incapable". So this crazy exchange keeps ringing, becoming louder and louder, stretching further and further, until in some mad crescendo the original message dies and all communication ceases. This then is where we live. I

"If Only", Dear Reader, are two of the most powerful words in human history. They have, when studied carefully, the power to hurt or heal. The first "If only" is pride. We look upon actions of our predecessors , with false wisdom, examining their historical actions, and then we judge, as if sages ourselves. "If only they had done, this or that", options which may never have been clear or easy at the time. So in this term we imply that had we been at the juncture we are examining, we in our magnificence , would have achieved better. If only we would realise that this mostly isn't true. The second "If only", stems from our lack of courage to admit our own character. This example Dear Reader, is shown by those who would choose to change their circumstances, "if only, this item X or Y would change first", and because it does not, instead of change as best we can, we procrastinate and change not at all. Therefore we let our circumstance

There is Dear Reader a basic but little thought of logical deduction about a supreme being. Namely that a supreme being must be all knowing. This is logical, for if dear reader this being, which called itself supreme, was not all knowing, how could it know that it was supreme! To continue, and press the point, only something which knew everything could claim divine right and the associated response which goes with this. Why you may ask is this important, two reason I will leave you with. The first is to show the mockery of the so called pantheons of God's which many in past times claim to exist, and sadly many today continue to worship. For in this very set up of Greek Zeus, Viking Odin, or Hindu Vishnu, they same flaw applies. None of these so called deities meets the requirement to prove it so. Let me Dear Reader use another example to illustrate my point. In a strange and quirky country called England, lies a county called Yorkshire, long history and odd it is. However to offici

We are Dear Reader, far more connected than we realise, our lives, like some giant game of ' jenga ', seem to have such affect on things we thought immune, as our human reason perceives it. This lack of knowledge is further intensified, when sinful nature is added to the equation. For in this situation we deny even obvious connections, or possibly choose to believe the lies sallied forth by the world. Follow my example below: Divorce is seems, according to worldly sources, does not affect children, they are built to withstand it, therefore go right ahead.- If you have accepted this falsehood, then you walk on shaky ground. Dear Reader, look to the many broken souls which wander dream like, through life, unable to function in maturity because of broken marriages when they were a child. Now Dear Reader, please keep with my trail, i acknowledge divorce can and will happen, and many who have gone through it feel all sort of emotion, deep emotions, which may need release on a frie

Muscles must be used, Dear Reader, or face the ignominy of withering and slipping away. Indeed, we are by our very creation doomed to see this effect on all our lives, as time's triumphant and unstoppable march, walks through our own personal exsistence. To acknowledge a final end is one thing, to give hasten to it, by failure of use is quite another. The opposite is also true however, that those who continue in their exercise find strength where once was none and see the onset of physical deterioration delayed. I propose, Dear Reader, that the spiritual realm is no different, except for it's demographic. For in the physical world, we have many bronzed and firm bodies to gaze upon, and many of strength and vitality in older years. The spiritual landscape is very different however, filled with weak and insipid figures, who if they move, stumble slowly as if guided by memories of younger days when their perception of spiritual things were clearer for them to see. Most however

They say that we are a sum of our parts, but more apt would be to say we are a sum of our memories and experiences, for they are the placeholder in our life through which, for good or ill, we view the options in the present to make decisions for our future.Therefore Dear Reader, there can be fewer diseases worse than losing one's memories, for it loses the quintessential self. We start to act in many ways on automatic, like some strange robot off a science fiction novel. The spark of life however seems more dimmed, and as time progresses, is seen less and less, until only a shell remains, where once a person had been. The body in sad regalia continues, but it's owner has long since rendered control to sickness. The effect of this slow death, this long goodbye, is devastating on friend and family alike and once watched would never be wished upon another soul. For the lack of memories, and it's accompany means it effect a lack of choice, the free will has simply..... gone.

Surely Dear Reader, how one handles defeat, must be as equally important, if not more than how how one handles success, for, in the main, we will experience the sensation with greater frequency. Some, more mature individuals look at each lack of victory as a way of growing and stretching themselves to newer heights, propelling themselves towards their preconceived goal which will, in their mind be achieved. Others are so crushed in spirit, that one more loss in life just adds to the junk heap already poured so deep upon them, that like some mythical turtle which carries the world upon it's back, they strain with all to move just a few steps, before collapse. The question then Dear Reader, needs to be reframed. For we now live in a world where success, or namely lack of it, has sapped our self esteem. Consider, if i take an action, with honesty and integrity, but fail in it's endeavour, am i any less a human for trying yet failing to achieve? The world may call me so, and loudl

It is well to note, Dear Reader, that the most powerful of men or women started as a mewling babe. Reliant upon the kindness of some guardian or another. That while they might assume their present position is due to sheer hard work and tenacity , upon reflection, they might find more was offered to them than they at present share with others. For in our beginning, we had not option of choice of mother and father, place of birth or choice of residence for growing up. Some suffer terribly because of this, many others benefit but fail to acknowledge their blessing. The fact we seem in this western world able to choose our own endings, should never deny that we did not choose our own beginnings. Dear Reader, you may wonder at this obvious statement and it's relevance to our lives. It means that we now exist because another willed it so. From teacher and educators, to relations and older siblings, to parents or guardians, and finally i would press to a creator of all. All took part in r

Marriage dear reader, is oft talked about, much maligned, ridiculed and misnamed. For what in many's eyes is seen as merely an institution at best, and entrapment at worst, is I propose instead a blessing and a gift, which can bring enrichment, release and freedom. It may seem strange to include the word freedom with marriage, but that I suspect that is because, dear reader, we have forgotten an essential truth, true freedom only exists, when recognized boundaries have been kept. It is worth noting at this juncture that false freedoms present themselves. In many and varied forms they do disguise themselves. Monogamy is presented as restricting, preventing one from skipping from one partner to the next without such guilt as tends to accompany such activities. Yet nothing is ever mentioned of the loss that extramarital activity brings with it. I need dear reader, to clarify at this point, my meaning of extramarital, for some assume I mean an affair. While this definition is i

We are Dear Reader, all disciples of one sort or another. Some are more obvious than others, i agree. However in truth we all follow something, it just remains to be seen what? or who? For dear reader, a disciple is one who follows a person or idea, and all do so, it is just most do not recognise it. In times past whole countries have followed teachings of now famous leaders and come to be communist in their thinking. Others have stood against this thinking so strongly that far from the freedom they so strongly proclaim, their teachings have led their countries down paths of bigotry and fear, a nations of disciples where any signs of communism was met by loss of work! Now Dear Reader, while we scoff and laugh and consider the foolishness of these extremes, can we pause to consider where and how we live, and ask what are we disciples of? Not what we would loudly proclaim from roof tops as our statement, but that which our lives loudly proclaim by action. For what a person does, that i

It appears , Dear Reader, that one legal definition of covenant is: " covenant no consideration is necessary to give it validity ". To which this means Dear Reader that one or more of the people entering into the covenant can have no benefit in doing so, often in these cases, they are worse off for said choice! A contract one would assume is the opposite, where the parties involved, do have some benefit from joining in this legal document. So then, why does a covenant even exist! What earthly reason is there Dear Reader to make such a joining? This question is answered i believe not on earth, but far from it, in higher and more heavenly realms. For i argue Dear Reader, that all covenants we see are mere copies or in some instances sadly, mockeries, of a spiritual covenant which was pre -existent, and then all others flowed from it. For in our world, divine remnants have left and keep leaving guidance to suggest that our creator although one, is also three, oft called, and o

We can be many things, dear reader, but, for growth to occur, one thing we ought to be is honest. Honest to ourselves, to recognise the truth of the situation we presently reside, be it in splendour, squalor, or a mixture of the pair. For if truth be told, most on this mortal coil reside not in such desperate hell that they cannot abide, yet far from the heaven they so believe they deserve! No we reside in that strange place, that no mans land, which upon reaching, we tolerate. Neither fully enjoying, nor despising both, but vacillating between said extremes on issues which differ wildly from each other. It matters much what culture and circumstance from which we come, but those who find themselves in such affluence as to be lifted from the cares of the normal world must first check, their honesty. I am not suggesting dear reader, that such gain was the result of dis honest work, far from it, merely that such gain removes perspective on such areas as truth needs to be applied. For exam

There are dear reader many things in this world which are fragile. Some deliberately so, because of its design. The very nature of the object in question can only be displayed in its full glory, if it carries with it the essence of its own possible demise. In more than one household, I suspect, dear reader have cries of dismay arose as favourite pieces of pottery, woodwork and such like have smashed asunder by a simple mistake upon its owners part. Yet other things can be just as fragile, for different reasons. Some because they are coming close to the end of their time, and constant use has worn them out. Bringing to breaking point, what once was so secure. The other is opposite in its extreme, and is but newly formed or forming. Like a child in the womb, or a new-found friendship. Where any simple pressure upon these new things, may well bring forth its loss. Yet most insidious of all is something which looks strong, robust, in fact, but in truth, upon closer inspection is fr

There is dear readers some strange fable which often will raise its head to stake its claim a new upon fresh and susceptible minds. Innocuous in its phraseology, it can oft do more damage than all wars combined. This simple phrase is thus "all religions are basically the same. " Once uttered, undiscerning minds accept and move on without giving due consideration to the truth of such argument proposed. Yet forevermore allow their life to be dulled and turn never again their attention to the concept that a divine being so exists and seeks to Council his creation, yet other more malicious minds seek to corrupt the selfsame message. For, like most artful lies they contain the modicum of truth. Let me give you an example dear reader. A cart and horse and an aeroplane, can both be used to transport people. If I chose to advertise "transport available for hire" you would be wise to enquire deeper if I were the owner of the aeroplane or the horse and cart. For each w

Humility dear reader is often talked about but so rarely seen. Obviously, by its very nature it draws not attention to itself. The very greatest of examples for us to emulate being those selfsame people, who false world would think they should deny said attribute, but who in themselves have realised acceptance of in manner of humility is part of the demonstration of the truth of it. So dear reader, it is not that humility has gone from this world, yet rather we, in such prideful state fail to cast our eyes around, with true intent to find and learn. Humility then has become like a lost art, which all agree was wonderful in its time, but has no place in our present life. A humble person is about as sought-after for their knowledge and teachings as a blacksmith, who resides in our great sprawling metropolis, who has many skills to shoe a horse, yet little clientele. Yet like a doppelganger, who imitates and conceals, we find humility, twice hard to find. As so many actions can be d

Beauty, so they say is in the eye of the beholder, and observation lends some strong evidence to support this view. For I have seen in my time, dear reader, things of strange persuasion, which in my mind's eye, when peered upon offer up little in the way of encouragement, skill or beauty. Yet once placed upon the open market command exceptional price from those who would offer and pay. It can seem to me, strange, nay, sometimes......... offensive that such large amounts of money, which for most in this world would represent severe and hard toil, can be so squandered upon something apparently bestial or mundane. And while my offence at such transactions can be blamed upon supposed righteous anger, of the evils of the world which could have been so expunged had this money been redirected. It would be more truthful, though painful to admit that the greater part of my ire, stemmed from simple jealousy, that others resources so far outweighed my own, leaving them this choice denied to

Dear reader the very phrase of "a wing and a prayer" immediately conjures to the mind, a venture taken on the basis of faith. I assert, dear reader, as you read this, you do have faith. It may be the faith of a clear clarion call to worship some recognized deity within this world. For those in this position, please join with me, as we will consider in coming weeks the nature of any such deity. It is however, dear reader, to those who would claim no such adherence, to whom the very suggestion of a higher being or intelligent designer causes consternation, irritation or downright anger. It is to you, that today's question will be placed, "what is faith?". For some, faith must be in the wild and the unseen, the intangible and often in onlookers minds the unknowable. It can dear readers seem, that the more extreme and ridiculous a situation, idea, or deity, a person forces themselves to place their faith in, the happier they are. For those who consider the

Gone is the day when a person's word was their bond. We live in an age where the celebrities of today develop pre nuptial agreements before they give their word in marriage. This seems to me an oxymoron, a person who promises to forsake all others and offer themselves second to the one they love, has no need of back up clauses or documentation in case they don't keep their word. The very existence of such agreements, in my mind disqualify all those who would seek to enter marriage from ever understanding the true gift that marriage is from God. What hope then is there?, For if we now exist when the most personal of promises means nothing, what other levels have we fallen to. I am told in days of old, a spit in the hand and a shake was the required level of trust for major transactions, now lawyers abound, and courts are blocked with ever increasing litigations against one another. So what dear reader has gone wrong? The wrong questions society has asked is "how can we le

We seem to live in a world which thinks that asking questions is wrong, not all questions mind you, just one's that mean something. It's okay to ask inconsequential questions, or questions that no one really wanted answered anyway, we just have to look to gossip magazines for those. However, important questions, questions which affect the way people really think and live their lives seem always to be put on the backburner or ignored. This always seems a great tragedy to me, that the species so gifted; (We can hurtle men through space, discover the depths of our ocean, and create weapons of such destructive force that entire cities are turned to ash), cannot ask without censure, does God exist and if so should the actions we are so apt at doing be carried out. It is not of course that these questions are not asked, it is just that they are asked so infrequently or in a manner so curtailed that the possibility of answers to large amounts of people in this world becomes unlikely