Self-Improvement I was asked the question why I don’t seem to advocate “self-improvement”. And, I understand that if someone is poised to commit a heinous crime or has other such proclivities to hurt others, wouldn’t I want them to “improve themselves” and not do whatever they are likely to do? Well, the answer is yes – I don’t want anyone to hurt another. As a matter of fact I would like all to live in peace, harmony and love. Fat chance, but that would be nice. The problem is that that is really not what...
The Power XIV Sometimes in the face of “apparently” overwhelming evil our only first step is to agree with Joseph and say, “God did this”. The explanation may or may not come later. By the same token, if you have the ability to change the apparent evil – do something - that is Him in action, moving you into action. When you can affect the change – do it – as Him doing it. Never stand by silently, inactively, when others need you. That is why you are there, precisely at that moment. We have all faced a situation...
The Power XIII So, I posed the question of how it was possible for Joseph to get the correct perspective that, regardless of the intent of his brothers or the appearance of evil, that it was God that purposed the events of his life. Well, for one, Joseph was no more or less human than the rest of us. So, without a doubt he didn’t get it immediately. Initially, probably, all he could see was the evil and a world controlled by the devil – with the “forces of good and evil” fighting it out. All of which is incorrect...
The Power XII “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” [Gen. 45 .5] What did Joseph mean? Several things, probably – but most important – God had purpose in what appeared to be evil. From Joseph’s perspective, it would appear that he knew the true underlying reality of his brothers selling him into slavery – an apparently evil act – was, indeed, not God’s afterthought, but His well-conceived, purposeful act. Our basics...
In the Beginning As you know the Horowitz family are long-time members of the Mount Sinai in the Land of Goshen Ultra Reformed Synagogue in my hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, where Rabbi Irving Silver presides. About two weeks ago, William and Edgar Horowitz, ages eight and ten, the mischievous sons of Hymie and Sadie Horowitz, had some serious questions about their origins. So, the Horowitz boys asked their mother, Sadie, “Where do humans come from?” Sadie answered, “God made Adam and Eve and they had children...
The Power XI “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” [Isa. 45.7] I say the statement is “curious” because of the “create evil” part. Some say “create the possibility of evil”. I won’t. I do have a problem with God creating evil, so I default to my framework - He has His purpose in everything. We do not live in the “Garden”. Who would really want a life like that anyway? We would remain immature babies if life was wonderful and easy all the time...
The Power X Okay, how do we deal with the appearance of evil? That’s a tough one. And, I say “appearance” because we like to categorize, perhaps incorrectly, everything into “good and evil”. Just turn on the news. Innocents die and suffer needlessly every day. The world “seems” to be going to hell. We have our own personal hells. We suffer. We get sick. Our loved ones suffer – lose their jobs – die - homes get foreclosed. Isaiah [inspired] makes some very basic statements about reality: “I am the LORD...
The Power IX Christianity has allowed – permitted, satan to have great influence in the day in, day out, normal life of Christianity. Just consider the amount of time spent in the pulpit, Sunday after Sunday, where we are warned about the “power” of satan. His purported power and influence are extolled constantly for our consideration. Let me be perfectly clear – this is not Christianity. This is not of Him. This exaltation of satan is of satan and not of God. We must sharpen our understanding and clarify...
The Power VIII Despite the temptations, satan posed to no threat to Jesus – never did, never will. “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:30 Satan was just an agent used by God to force Jesus to consider His true identity and become settled in that identity – namely, the Savior and Lover of the world. Should we consider satan to be different for us? Of course not. He has his purpose. He’s just a liar. We must hone our skills at lie...
The Power VII Okay, so who is this created being to whom we ascribe independent power? “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down...
THE POWER VI Do you see satan needed permission to work over Job? God gave satan the idea and then set the boundaries – telling satan what he was allowed to do and what he was not allowed to do. Apparently, he also needed permission to work over Peter. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” [Luke 22.31] Satan is different than us in that he has seen God and, apparently has rejected Him in a way that no human ever has. I say that because he has...
The Holy Meeting of the Bored Last Sunday, as Father Shamus O’Brien, priest of the Holy Offering Plate Roman Catholic Church, in my hometown of Stamford, Connecticut delivered his homily, among the faithful sat Mary Maureen O’Sullivan and her young son, Egbert. Her husband, Roger, attended a different church, the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Inner Springs and Mattress. On this particular morning, as he explained the implications of each “Station of the Cross”, Father O’Brien was particularly long-winded...
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