Pro-life and Mortality

           A thought, God gave us our mortality. We, as a World Religious view, look at murder as something sinful. That is to say, it distances us from God, the God who gave us life. 

          These two, Pro-life and mortality, are important companions in our relationship with God. God gave us our mortality so that we may have a life to live. God gave us the “Commandments” to help guide us in a “Pro-life” manner. This gives us the chance to live a life without considerable fear of a
pre-determined death, or, of a random act of violence. 

          Abortion, the killing of a fetus (Latin for baby), is a planned death. The fetus’s life was not given the opportunity to live. And so it is considered a sin, or separation from God. Respect for life, in general, is a given, regardless of how high or low the life form is considered. 

          In Genesis, (chapter 1), God calls all life “good” until the creation of man, then God calls the birth of humanity, “very good.” Humanity is special to God. God blessed all creation, but gave “dominion” to humanity, to “care of Gods’ creations”. (Genesis 2: 15) 

          To CARE for God’s creations. God blessed Humanity and said “Be fertile and multiply”, and take care of God’s creation. The golden rule (Matt 7: 12), the greatest commandment (Matt 22: 37-40) and 1 Corinthians 13, where love is charity and charity is kindness to all. ALL! 

          It’s almost sad that God had to put in writing “shall not kill” and soften revenge with only “an eye for and eye” (Exodus 21: 24) and finally “turn the other one (cheek) to him as well”. (Matt 5: 39) These, however, are for those of us lucky enough to live and apply Gods word. An aborted fetus has no opportunity. 

          No opportunity to live. An innocent’s death should not be chosen out of convenience. Care should be taken by husband and wife to plan for children, not to plan how to rid of children. We should not be so quick to distance ourselves from God. The road back is hard. But not impossible. 

          The hard road is true for men as well as women. In Matt 1, Joseph wanted to divorce her quietly and not expose her to shame. Exposing her to shame would have meant death by stoning for Mary and her fetus, Jesus. Instead he listened to the angel of God, and married her. And cared for them. 

          We are given our mortality to give us a chance to follow a road in life. OUR MORTALITY to experience life. Which road we choose, with its many forks and diversions, is a freedom God has given us. We must first have a life, before we can experience our mortality and our humanity to make these choices. 

May your choices come from a place of care and kindness. 

David E. Gonzales

Hate’s Design

     

Hate was designed to be destructive. 

Hate has no positives, and yet, it will always exist, as will love.

     Hate exists through its acceptance as a normality, as does love.

Hate is a result of choices made, as is love.

     Hate wants your soul, as does love.

Hate wants your death, love wants your life.

     Hate, through segregation, was designed to keep ‘different’ people, apart.

Hate, through abortion, was designed to keep minorities, minorities.

     Hate, through welfare, was designed to keep the poor, poor.

Hate, through victimization, was designed to keep people, dependent.

     Hate, the projects, was designed to keep ‘others’ invisible.

Hate, through oppression, was designed to suppress speech and religion.

     Hate, selfishness, apathy, is preached by Satan, love, hope, fervor, is exhorted by God.

 

Hate was designed to be destructive.

 

May the peace of Christ fill your hearts, and the love of God fill your soul.

 

David E. Gonzales

…and we still don’t get it!

          It’s unbelievable. 2,000+ years and we still don’t get it. It’s been 2,000+ years since Christ came to teach us, and we still don’t understand the message. 

          Christ came by the power of the Father to teach us there is but one true God, and to be kind to one another. That’s it. He came to teach us that our relationship with God is, as is, our relationship with each other. As we mistreat each other, we separate ourselves from God. 

          And we still don’t get it! 

          As we continue to tear each other apart, regardless of how we self-identify, we drive a larger and larger wedge between us and God. The word used in the New Testament, or Christian Bible, is Love. The “Love” used throughout, is from the Greek meaning “charity” 

          Charity in its simplest form is “kindness”. This is the key to heaven or hell. When we fail in kindness and excel in hate, we fail. We fail completely. There is no room in heaven for hate. As there is no room in hell for love. Christ taught us, “Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”! 

And we still don’t get it! 

          The New Testament may the most nonracial book(s) ever written. It’s about faith. It’s about how to express that faith between we the people, and as a people, with God. This relationship is intertwined. Our interaction with one another is intertwined in our faith without exception. 

       It is without exception, in all functional relationships, there is one foundation. This foundation consists of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual care and mutual support. This is true regardless if the relationship is with the divine or with each other. For they are the same. 

          Mutual, not equal. I define it this way, “Equal can be written in law, mutual is expressed person to person”. Mutual kindness, it’s that simple. And it’s that hard. It’s been 2,000+ years and we still can’t or won’t do it. 

          We still insist in exalting ourselves one over another. We read the Bible to self-justify, instead of with a willingness to learn. We are indeed a “stiff necked people” [Acts 7:51-53] 

          We have been saved by Christ, but we can still condemn ourselves. We can throw away the sacrifice of Christ and the “place prepared for us”, [John 14- 2] or we can chose to live in our faith. We have the option to choose between good and evil, love and hate, kindness and cruelty.         

          Love nurtures love and hate nurtures hate. To me the options seem obvious.

And yet we still don’t seem to get it. 

May the peace of Christ fill your hearts and the love of God fill your souls. 

David E. Gonzales

Mutually Equal

          

        The law is written in equality, but is not exercised in equality. As imperfect humans, the best we can expect is to exercise the law, mutually.         

          We can be kind to each other. However, it is doubtful that we will be equally kind, but we most certainly can be mutually kind to each other.         

          Equality is a noble goal, mutuality is an obtainable goal. Hate begets hate, love begets love. In the New Testament “Love” is used quite often, and quite poorly. Love in the New Testament is better and more appropriately defined as “charity”. This is, to give without an expectation of a return. Kindness is the simplest form of this “charity” or love.         

          The Golden Rule (Matt 7:12) exemplifies this love. Although this also brings Karma into the equation. Be good, or else. 1 Cor. 13 expands upon The Golden Rule and brings it into better focus. The focus of kindness/charity.

          I think Matt 25:35-45 could be the best example of this kindness, love, charity. It rightly expresses, How you treat others is for the Glory of God, not for your Glory. This is a mutual kindness, not equal. Yet, this is the kind of kindness that can bring about equality. Not lawful equality, but, practiced equality. Real day to day equality.         

          Kindness is the simplest form of love. By being kind to one another we can bring about equality, a different kind of equality. The type of equality only we as a people can create. For equality isn’t a law brought down upon us from a government. It’s a law of God that must come from our hearts and souls and be extended to one another.         

          The laws have been written. And they help, but they don’t and can’t change the hearts of people. Acts of kindness, can and do. These acts of love bring about an internal change and a respect for others. Acts of kindness change an individual’s soul. A community’s soul, a state’s soul, a nation’s soul. 

       Hate is strong, but it has to be fed. Kindness is the fuel that feeds our souls and starves hatred. Hate begets hate, Love begets Love. Charity is the path of our salvation. Hate the path to our demise. 

May the peace of Christ fill you hearts and Love of God fill your soul. 

          David E. Gonzales

9-11 / Covid-19

I’m self-isolated. I’m fine, just doing my part. I have a lot of time to think, good or bad, here is some of it.

            I see few aircraft flying through the sky. I see few cars on the road. I smell fresh air. I sense similarities between now and 19 years ago. After 9-11 air traffic stopped. Cars and trucks slowed to a crawl. The air cleared. There was both a calm and a tension.

            That tension was created by an unknown element. Then it was terrorism. Today it’s a virus. Then as now, both are setting a mood of uncertainty. The stock market doesn’t know how to react. Money’s not being made, but the underlining cause isn’t financial. The uncertainty is time and extent.

            The public, us, are also uncertain how to react. Suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar life style. A few weeks ago we were so busy and the virus was so far away, now it’s here. Today many of us have so much idle time. Time to think about “the virus” and all the effects it’s causing. Even those on the front lines, as busy as they are, are thinking about all the effects of this experience.

            In times of stress we could fall back on our favorite activities to help us relax. But now many of these activities are shut down or severely limited. Now we’re down to the core, or at least our core. Our families, our friends and of course our faith.

            Since most, or many, of the spiritual places we congregate are closed, we need to find options to find solace. The “E” world is filling a void, it’s good, but not the same. In reality it’s our faith, that which is in us, that we need to lean on. Not out of choice, but, instead, necessity.

            We have arrived at a time where it’s necessary to draw on the faith we profess. Whatever your faith, it’s time to trust in the promise. It’s time to understand what “living your faith” really means. Take a look at some of your favorite religious texts and see if you find new meaning in them. Or perhaps the solace you/we are looking for and need. I fill my need with ‘1 Corinthians 13’.

            As I read these verses I replace the word love with charity. I understand this is the root word used in the original texts. It reminds me that love and my faith are one of giving. To you it will most likely be a different verse, and it most likely it will just as personal, just as meaningful.

            We trust in the professionals to do their jobs. Now let’s trust in our faith and do our jobs, as well as we can. We are all different as to how we can contribute, some simple and some grand, all are meaningful and all are needed. So stop, breath, read, recite and bring your faith to a higher level of understanding. Bring your faith to a higher level of practice.

God’s peace be with you. God’s blessings, always.

David E. Gonzales