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while digging around for stuff relating perhaps to Rom's recent Najis blog I came across a posting somewhere out in the great cyber-galaxy that was arguing strongly that Iran presented a true and almost irrevocable mortal danger to Israel. Multiple times in his discussion he tossed around the words 'eschatology' and various derivatives. Now this is indeed a word I could not really recollect any real familiarity with. This fact annoyed me, and then after looking it up a little while ago, it was like I felt almost shameful for my ignorance given what the word(s) bear. So, maybe you are already in the know, but I offer to you a clear discussion I found on the topic of Eschatology. I found it interesting and informative.

from: "Eschatology," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008
Eschatology
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_7615...

Although I could only catch a glimpse or two of what the eschatology the alarmed Israeli writer was talking about within the probably skimpy encyclopedic discussion above, I did come away with a clear understanding of what this powerful single word encapsulates.

Sorry, that this might only touch tangentially on the blog discussion, but I thought that it might be a relevant inclusion.

"I do believe religion could inspire..." Personally, I've found that to be true. I am more generous, accepting, tolerant and believe-it-or-not less aggressive (see below) since studying and trying to comprehend spiritual lessons.

So if my personality has been changed, then why wouldn't my political behavior? Makes sense from an individual to a collective, but does it work the other way around...OBAMA!

Confession. I am often intentionally combative in my remarks to try to stir some debate. Trying to make it more spirited and fun for all.

I had a truck like that once.

Seems Ecclesiastes goes over some of that type of thinking (the Byrds song turn,turn,turn). I suppose the Christian Bible is full of duality in contrasting human/divine, good/evil, wise/foolish (Proverbs) and in many parables.

What exactly do you mean about duality? Not sure about that, but I have come to the same conclusion- we do have free will.

John 2000 - enjoyed the link very much. I have read most of the Biblical acounts mentioned on the main page, but had not seen some of the artwork. Thank you.

Erich von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods?": there are two additional books that are very interesting as well.

B. Hamilton Langrehr:

The Hamilton Post: www.thehamiltonpost.blogspot.com

blangrehr@gmail.com

Skye is right about "...name ending in God." I've found many of my ideas about how things are have been clarified or corrected by scripture. Bible/Torah would be relevent texts to Judeo-Christian God.

Referring to the text seems to be the best way to get an idea of the nature of God, the nature of man and develop expectations of what is to come.

Regarding 'why do bad things happen to good people?'... John 9,1-3 Jesus gives some insight.

Bigger picture, since God's nature(Numbers 23:19, James 1:13,Psalm 11:7)is free from sin and man's nature (Gen 3, Romans 3:23)is sinful, it seems God can prevent evil but would have to do away with us. If we exist, then so does evil.

We are free to pursue our desires (we get what we ask for) or accept Christ and God's ways. Comes down to My will be done vs Thy will be done.

Thoughts?

Good points on GOD's demands and suggestions.

Why bad things happen to good people? I once went on a quest to find that very answer out. I even found a book entitled 'Why Bad Things Happen To Good People' by Harold Kushner. It is in it's 20th Year Edition. Accordingly to Amazon.com's Publisher's weekly review:

Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Remarkable for its intensely relevant real-life examples and its fluid prose, this book cannot go unread by anyone who has ever been troubled by the question, "Why me?"

Now, I did read this book years ago and found I was no closer to the answer then I was before reading it. That may have been Kushners way of just presently different examples as to why but never how come they actually do happen, because there are no real answers was the bottom line. Things just happen. The book was an amazing read I have to say.

What I can share, just from 'my own life experience and knowledge' and what one thought form is on this subject is that depending on where you are on your beliefs, one example would be how karma plays a role in each experience and life cycle.

For instance, if you have done something horrible in a past life, you will pay for it in the next one. Sort of like what you sow you shall reap. If you murder someone in a past life, you then in this one will experience what that was like in this life.

I am not sure I believe that.

Here is an example that really hits home for me. Again, I must preface this by saying, for all I know I know nothing...

It seems 'to me' that the richest, greediest people are the ones that have it all 'or so we think.' Completely unattached to reality. The ones who suffer the most are the poor and needy, and those who are continually struggling to get ahead. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why was there a holocaust and all those innocent jews killed? Was it karmic and something that they all had to experience to further their life experience and if so why? How about all those that suffer in Darfur and the ones that suffered in Katrina and so on? Were they all experiencing the same group life lesson to move on? IF so, move on to where? Where are we all going? Are ants a good example of who we are in the bigger scope of things?

No one can write in and say for FACT that the above is or is not truth because for someone to profess they know, I would run the other way because they are not GOD, which then goes back to what GOD's plan is for us all. We don't know that answer, though many profess they do know.

I leave you with the thought of this.

All we have is this moment. Enjoy it. I still struggle with this one myself. Every morning I get up and look at my 2.5 tea cup poodle. I call her my bag of life. I know at some point she will not be with me down the road, maybe ten years top. I can worry about that time coming, or I can enjoy her every day she walks with me on my journey called life and thank GOD for her gifting my life with such joy. Maybe we can stop and smell the roses more than we do, and regardless of what thorns may come our way in the process and they will come, and sometimes prickle us to bleed, don't sweat the small stuff, only the big stuff and even then, know that there is a larger presence around us watching over us, protecting us and keeping us safe in the larger scope of things, even though we may not understand it at the time.

One thing - I would like to honor John 2000 for his thought below. He broad sided me to tears. I would suggest it be read and reread and passed on to all those you know and love. It is such a great reminder of LIFES' meaning. Thank you again John.

Blessings and I look forward to hearing back your comments. Skye

by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

The Interview With God

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled. "My time is eternity."
"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...
"That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived."

God’s hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
"As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here... always."

I believe God created all things. Those we can see and those we cannot. God created things we can understand and those things we do not understand; that means all the stars and planets and yes other forms of intelligent life. I also believe that there is need, in every walk of life, for God, that includes politics. “Love thy neighbor” or “do unto others” works for everyone especially politicians. God doesn’t expect us, he desires us, God doesn’t demand of us, he hopes for us…at least my God does.
I missed you guys, all of you!

B. Hamilton Langrehr:

The Hamilton Post: www.thehamiltonpost.blogspot.com

blangrehr@gmail.com