Monday, April 29, 2013

Which Voice Should we Listen to?



While I was doing my workout at the gym today, I became aware of this conversation going on in my head.  There was this voice making comments on different people around me. It was going like this: look at this old lady, she trying to keep up with the young ones, so determined but so slow; look at this guy with the many tattoos, he is showing off his muscles; look at this young girl, she is parading her boobs around; and this trainer he’s talking and talking, does he have any clients? 

When I became aware of this arrogant and complaining chatting in my head, I just said: stop, this is not me talking.   And with that the conversation stopped.  I realized that I don’t have to listen to all the negative stuff and for sure not identify myself with it.

This reminded me of the Cherokee Legend I had read about:

 

An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him angry at a friend who he felt had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story...

I too, at times, have felt a great resentment for those who have taken so much, with no seeming sorrow or remorse for what they do. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me engaged in a challenging conflict.”

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.”

He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. He does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

Sometimes, it is a challenge to live with these two wolves inside me; for both of them try to dominate my spirit. The same challenge is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

 

We all have this battle going on inside of us.  As long as we are not aware of this conflict in our mind, by default we are defeated by the negative voice.  It takes discipline and practice to sort out the two opposing forces and make a clear decision, on which side of the fence we want to stand.  Or as the story goes, which wolf we want to feed.

 

It is also important to realize that there is an absolute standard for good and evil.  Unlike opposing forces good and evil are NOT complementary.  They can never co-exist because they go in opposite directions.  While God is the source of good, giving life, multiplying energy, and sustaining us in every way, evil’s source is an ungodly entity which came into existence because of immaturity and selfishness.  We call the source Satan or the Devil.  Satan was the original good angel Lucifer who turned against God, and beguiled Adam and Eve to mistrust God.  In many literature's and religions this is described as “The Fall of Man.” 

 

The thing is that if we don’t believe in the reality of a good God, we sure cannot accept the authenticity of an EVIL being.  There is only ONE purpose for the universe.  Unfortunately, the internal, spiritual life was destroyed at The Fall and only the external, material world was allowed to flourish.  People in pursuit of reason and science became successful.  Religions sprouted up all throughout the world to fill the void of spiritual nourishment but in many ways, they didn’t resolve the confusion and conflict.  We know that communications, negotiations, and/or social interactions are necessary in themselves, but they cannot resolve human problems since rules and regulations are not enough.  Only a deep experience and practice of the heart can make us grow and share it with others.   When we follow the principles of life first, eventually God’s love will flow into our lives and relationships.

Today, more than ever, we have to be modern alchemists by transforming evil, resentment, revenge, etc. into fogiveness and goodness.

 

In order to be good and do good deeds we have to constantly nurture our good side.  I had recently an experience where I was buying mulch in bulk.  The owner had already loaded the black mulch on the truck my son had driven.  When I went to pay for it, the man had made a mistake in adding the yard and a half.  I remembered from last year that it would cost around $30.  I mentioned it the owner, and he was very grateful that I didn’t take advantage of his error.

 

On the other side we have seen countless people play with their fortune by cheating, lying, betraying, and eventually murdering others. 

 

Let’s all feed the good wolf inside us and listen to the small voice which is coming from our original mind.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Why does Evil Exist?

In the light of what happened last week at the annual Boston Marathon we do have to ask, why does evil exist?  Nobody wants to be evil.  Some people believe that God uses evil to accomplish his purpose.  Some people say: “Money is the root of all evil."  That’s certainly a cliché if I hear one.  When I looked through bible verses I couldn’t find anywhere that God created evil.  At the end of creation,


“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.
~ Gen. 1:31.
 
One thing is for sure, we know that evil exists.  We cannot just deny it or wish it away.  I don’t think we can answer this question from a human standpoint.  Evil has existed since the beginning of time.  Therefore, that’s where we have to start looking.  According to Wikipedia, evil is extreme immorality; they also consider ignorance, selfishness and neglect.  Evil is certainly aggressive.   I don’t think we can answer this deep question without looking at spirituality and the stories of the Bible. 

It all started in the family of Adam and Eve.  Evil is first mentioned in Genesis 2:9: the tree of life stood in the midst of the garden and also the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Both of these trees are symbols for Adam and Eve.  After Adam and Eve grew older, Lucifer saw that he was not #1 anymore in the garden and became jealous of Adam.  He also understood that Eve was to become Adam’s wife, and so he thought to tempt her and tell her the first lies: “You will not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil” - (Gen 3:1-5).   It was upon Adam and Eve to decide if they wanted to be good or get involved in evil.  Therefore, it was Adam and Eve who allowed evil to come into existence.  When Cain killed his brother Abel it became manifested in the physical realm. Only through the Fall of Man and the Divine Principle, taught by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, can we learn about the symbolic meanings and the real story of the origin of evil and the birth of the Devil or Satan.  God DID NOT create Satan; he became Satan when he turned against God’s will and beguiled Eve and then Adam.  God DID NOT create evil, he cannot relate to evil because it is not part of him.

I was very moved by the interview Napoleon Hill had with the Devil way back in the 1930s.  He wrote a book about it: Outwitting the Devil which just recently became published.  He rightfully understands that the Devil is not the devilish creature with a pitch fork but rather a spiritual being who can talk.  Even if Mr. Hill made up the stories of an evil entity he talked to for hours on end, his answers and the conversations are very revealing to the deception and the betrayal we all experience at times and blame on each other.
 
Michelle Longo O’Donnell wrote a book called The God we’ve Created.  She describes how men have projected their own ignorance into GOD.  Since man has both aspects – good and evil – inherited, we picture God that way and blame our own shortcomings and sins on HIM. 

Men have been the losers throughout history.  Mainly, we didn’t know that there was another being involved which was hiding by avoiding the truth.  That’s why we NEED the Messiah as our defender.  He is like the lawyer who protects us from all the lies and contortions by reaffirming the truth and giving us encouragement to live a truthful life.  The Messiah is also the one who demonstrates for the first time how to live a righteous life by fulfilling the purpose of God’s will.


What is the Nature of Evil?

* self-interest, focusing on EGO

* feeling a lack of love, jealousy

* feeling alone, abandoned

* denying (ignorance thereof) existence of evil

* believing in lies and false propaganda  

* focusomg on resentment and bitterness

* having lack of self-love, low self-esteem

* seeing self as victim

* being stuck in self-pity

* seeking division and causes turmoil

* causing pain and hurt others

* bullying and terrorizing others

* enslaving others

* willing to kill

 
“Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boast all day long,
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
 You who practice deceit,
your tongue plots destruction;
it is like a sharpened razor.
 You love evil rather than good,
falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
 You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!

 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.

~ Psalm 52:1-5

 
 
What is the Nature of Good?

* practice self-love

* being compassionate


* living for the sake of others

* practicing serving

* being aware of the greater world

* recognizing unlimited potential

* having a good attitude

* listening to the small voice inside

* focusing on love and truth

* believeing in healing

* having conscience focused on God

* comforting others

* seeking unity with others

* having faith in mankind


"Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation."
~ Henry Ward Beecher

 
I believe that we are living during a special time in human history where we can empower ourselves more than ever before.  There is a benefit for this age like never before.  We have to become seekers and not only be satisfied by what others believe or what others tell us, especially the media, the government or any powerful organization. I hope and pray that this article can inspire you to seek the truth, to seek the living God and you will find a peaceful new world.

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Benefits of Vitamin D – the Sunshine Vitamin


With the beginning of spring, I realized how much I craved sunshine.  I like to work in my garden in the early spring when it’s not so hot yet outside.  Temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit work best for me.

During the winter months I followed my doctor’s advice and take 5,000 mg of Vitamin D3 in pill form.  Obviously the exposure to natural sunlight (avoiding the mid-day hours) is the best, but our climate here in Ohio does not allow too much outdoor activities during the colder months.

 

What is Vitamin D good for?

Most importantly it promotes calcium absorption in the intestines which is crucial for bone building.

Vitamin is also significant for the immune system and prevents colds and flu during the colder seasons.

It is also crucial in preventing inflammation in the body.

Vitamin D is essential in preventing cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and even cancer. Another critical factor for enjoying natural sunshine is that it enhances our moods.   When I step out into my yard when the sun shines, I feel immediately uplifted and happy.  Low levels of Vitamin D can cause depression, fatigue, and mood swings.  Sufficient levels of Vitamin D increase Serotonin  
 
 

Unfortunately, there are very few foods which contain Vitamin D.  When I was a child my mother made us take Codliver Oil during the winter.  Today, milk is enhanced with Vitamin D as are some other foods.

As we are starting the warmer season, the best bet is to get outdoors and enjoy both sunshine and fresh air.

Monday, April 8, 2013

What is 'Conjugial' Love?

Rummaging through a used book store I found this little book “The Pomegranate with Seeds of Gold.”  When I looked through it I realized that it contained stories based on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg.  I had heard of him in my religious studies but never knew that he wrote extensively about conjug(i)al love.

Here is one story from that booklet; then I like to explore more about the life of Mr. Swedenborg.

 

“TRULY CONJUGIAL, namely, that love truly conjugial, which is that of one man with one wife, from its origin and correspondence, is celestial, spiritual, holy, and clean above every other love, n.”


 

 

The Grapes with Leaves of Silver

 

The day after his visit to the heaven of the Golden Age, Swedenborg was still in the world of spirits; he was in his home here, and again the angel came to him.  It was the same angel who the day before had guided him to the heaven of the Most Ancient Church, called the Golden Age.

The angel greeted Swedenborg and asked, “Do you wish me to guide you to the heaven of a people who lived in ancient times in an age called the Silver Age?”

Swedenborg was happy to see the angel who was again to be his guide and companion. 

“Yes,” he said, “and we may hear from these people about marriage in those ancient times.”

The angel answered, “As before, we may not come near this heaven, either, unless the Lord permits, but He has sent me to guide you.”  Swedenborg quickly made ready for the journey, and he and the angel set out.

They came first to a hill on the border between the East and the South.  They climbed to the top and saw before them a wide stretch of country, and beyond, a mountain far away.  Between this mountain and the hill on which they stood was a valley, and farther on a field gently rising toward the mountain.

They walked slowly down the hill in order to cross the valley, and as they were passing through the valley they saw on either side statues or images of men, and of various animals, birds, and fish.  Many of these were beautifully carved in wood, and others were cut from stone.

Swedenborg examined them with interest and then asked the angel, “What are these; are they idols?”

“No, indeed they are not,” answered the angel.  “Each of these sculptured figures has a special meaning which the people who live here understand.  Some of these forms represent certain virtues such as telling the truth and unselfishness, others represent truth itself.  Among the people of this age the science of correspondences was known, and as every man, beast, bird, and fish corresponds to some quality, so each of these carved figures represents some particular aspect of virtue or truth.  This is what the Egyptians showed in their art, and in their hieroglyphics.”

Conversing thus they continued on their way through the valley and came to the large field.  Here they saw horses and chariots passing through the country.  The horses had richly decorated harness of many kinds.  The chariots were made in strange forms; some were carved like eagles, and others like great whales of the sea, others were carved in the form of graceful deer with branching antlers, and still others like unicorns with one small horn in the center of the forehead.  The chariots were painted in bright colors, and were magnificent in appearance.

At the other end of the field Swedenborg and the angel saw several wagons, and on one side of the field there were stables.  As they went farther into the field these chariots changed, and strange to say, the horses and the wonderfully carved chariots began to disappear, and in their stead men in couples were seen walking about, talking and earnestly discussing.

Swedenborg was astonished at this change, but the angel told him what the appearance of the men instead of the horses and chariots meant.  He said, “The men appear at a distance like horses and various kinds of chariots because they represent the intelligence of men at that age.  For horses signify an intelligent understanding of truth, and chariots the teaching of truth.  The stables signify schools.  This is according to correspondences, for in heaven we can sometimes see in this way what correspondence is.”

They passed near these men without stopping and climbed another steep hill.  At last when they reached the top they found themselves near a city.  They were at the very gate, which they entered.  Looking about them, they decided to walk through some of the streets and beautiful squares, and to see the houses.  Many of the houses were really palaces, more beautiful than any Swedenborg had ever seen here on earth.  They were built of marble, pure white, and the steps to imposing doorways were of alabaster partly transparent, smooth and white.  On each side of the steps were pillars of jasper stone of a dark green opalescent color.

The visitors stopped to gaze with awe at a temple.  It was built of precious stone, the color of sapphire a rich clear blue.

They wandered on through the streets enjoying the beauty of the buildings, the trees, and the gardens.  Thus wandering about they saw also some of the people of the Silver Age walking in pairs, and as they were husbands and wives, the angel said to Swedenborg, “Let us wait a little.”

“Yes,” answered Swedenborg, “We can hope that perhaps one of these couples will ask us into their home.”

They were thinking about this and at that very moment the door of a nearby palace opened and a young man with his wife came out and down the steps.  They called Swedenborg and the angel, and when the young couple came to where the visitors were standing they invited them into their home.

Swedenborg and his companion were delighted and accompanying the husband and wife they went up the alabaster steps.  They stood there a moment while greetings were exchanged.  When they entered the reception hall, the angel speaking on behalf of Swedenborg, told the young couple why they had come to the heaven of the Silver Age.  He said, “We have wished to lean about marriage among those ancients who now live in this heaven.”

On hearing this, the husband and wife gave them a cordial welcome, and the man said, “We are from a people in Asia, and have lived in this heaven for many hundreds of years. The constant study of our age was truth.  From this and the study of correspondences we became intelligent.”

The angel then asked, “Will you tell us something about marriage in the Silver Age?”

The husband replied, “From our study of correspondences we learned that truth and good of the Church can only exist with a husband and wife who are in love truly conjugial.  For there is a correspondence between spiritual marriage which is of truth and good , and natural marriage which is of one man and one wife.”

The wife then said, “But let us go in this room.”  She let them from the reception hall into a large and magnificent room.

The walls were decorated with paintings, which were splendid works of art.  The visitors admired these decorations, and then Swedenborg turned to see on the table by which he was standing some exquisite little figures cast in silver.  There were other similar figurines on tables and stands about the room.

“What are these?” he asked.

The man replied, “Each of these little silver statues has a special meaning that has to do with our live together.”  He took one in his hand, “This one,” he said, “represents the unity of our souls.”  He put it down and took another, showing it to Swedenborg.  “This beautiful little figure,” he said, “represents the harmony of our hearts.”

While they were looking at this figurine, Swedenborg happened to glance at the wall, and to his astonishment he saw a rainbow.  This had not been there before.  It was in three brilliant colors, royal purple, sea blue, and dazzling white; and as he gazed in wonder and admiration, he saw that the colors did not remain fixed, but seemed to flow one into the other.  He saw the royal purple color pass through the sea blue, and tinge the beautiful white with blue, while the white flowed back through the blue into the purple and raised it to a brightness as of flame.

“Do you understand these changes of color?” the husband asked, observing Swedenborg’s wonder.

Swedenborg answered, “No, will you please instruct me?”

“The royal purple color,” their host replied, “represents the wife’s love and the dazzling which the intelligence of the husband.  The sea blue represents the beginning of a true love in the husband, which is from the wife.  The blue with which the white is tinged corresponds to the husband’s love.  The flowing back and forth of the colors in the rainbow appears on our walls when we think about true love and are looking at the rainbow that you see glowing there.”

Swedenborg listened to this intently, and then said, “At the present day such things are more than mystical, for they represent the love of one man and one wife.”

The husband answered,” The flowing colors in the rainbow do represent this love, but to us here in this heaven it is not mystical.”

Just as he said this they all saw through the open door, a chariot at some distance.  It was drawn by small white horses.

The angel guide then said, “The appearance of the chariot and the small white horses in the distance is a sign for us to say farewell.”

Swedenborg and the angel with the husband and wife then came out of the palace and began to go down the alabaster steps between the blue pillars, the husband was holding something in his hand which he gave them as they stood there for a moment, it was a cluster of white grapes which the leaves still attached.  To their wonder the leaves were turning to silver.

This beautiful gift was a sign to Swedenborg that he and the angel guide had visited the heaven of the Silver Age.  And they left for the journey home.

 

From The Pomegranate with Seeds of Gold and other stories from the writings of Swedenborg collected by Amena Pendleton Haines (1961)

 

 

Note: in the writings of Swedenborg, he describes 4 metal ages: gold, silver, bronze and iron which correspond to the Most Ancient Church, the Ancient Church, the Israelitish Church, and the Christian Church.

 

Emanuel Swedenborg was born and lived in Sweden from 1688-1772.  He was a scientist, philosopher, theologian, mystic and spiritual explorer.  In his early years, he travelled through Europe, researching and developing scientific projects and inventions that was his scientific period.  He also involved himself in the study of the human anatomy.  Since he himself had a speech-impairment, he chose to write about most of his research rather than presenting it in public.

At the age of 53 he entered into his spiritual phase.  Around Easter 1744, he started to have dreams and spiritual visions, which led him to a spiritual awakening which he believed to come directly from Jesus.  He became the inspiration of many well-known historians in the following years, being the voice which would prepare people for the Second Coming.  He often entered the spiritual world and conversed with Jesus, the angels, demons and other spirits.  He founded the Swedenborgian Society and his teachings influenced writers and poets like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Immanuel Kant and Helen Keller.

 

What astounded me was his awareness of the meaning of married life which he called conjugial love.  He himself never married but he considered erotic love of divine origin, truly pure and holy.  He also made us aware that human beings can easily pervert it to selfish love with evil endings. 

 

From his writings we can clearly see that Emanuel Swedenborg was way ahead of his time.  That’s why his teachings are still relevant today.  His spiritual explorations correlate with the many near death experiences (NDE) people have.  I read Raymond Moody’s book Life After Life with great interest.  Dr. Eben Alexander just recently released his story in: Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Near Death Experience and Journey into the Afterlife.  Or the very touching story of Dr. Mary Neal, a woman who had a NDE by drowning and was revived only to experience her son’s death a few years later: To Heaven and Back.  
The teachings also reveal to us the meaning of married love and the beauty of the exchange between a man and a woman.  It is not only the physical intimacy which binds the two together for procreation and building a family, but it also shows the higher dimension of spiritual love by being connected to the creator which will continue for eternity.

 

Man is born to meet woman and woman to meet man.  And man and woman together are born to combine together with a higher level of love which is God’s love.  Neither man nor woman can touch God’s love alone.  If a man or woman alone tried to unite with God’s love, it would just be a one-sided love.  Neither one would be able to combine with a three-dimensional, spherical love.

Therefore, man and woman must get married in order to jump into the realm of a higher-level three-dimensional love.  In the original world, the more man and woman become united, the greater the center of the activating power becomes, forming a sphere.  Therefore, the more and more man and woman become connected horizontally, the more God, who is the maternal womb of the vertical power of love, becomes connected.  Then our mind and body become united.”
Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Blessing and Ideal Family – Why we marry

 

There is a Divine Eternal Truth which we have had only a small glimpse to know.  The spiritual world is alive and most of all, God our Heavenly Parents are alive, and waiting for us to start a living relationship with.

Let’s start a true conjugal relationship with God.

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Life of Jesus

 
I never had a personal experience with Jesus.  Even though, I was baptized and had confirmation classes at 16 in the Lutheran Church I didn’t not understand about Jesus’ life.  Not until I heard Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s teaching about Jesus could I appreciate what Jesus went through and what he accomplished for us.

From the beginning Jesus’ life was controversial.  Most Christians believe that Jesus was born by virgin birth.  Some believe that Joseph was the father even though he and Mary were only engaged.  If we study the bible, we can learn what really happened (Luke 1:38) When Rev. Moon had his visitations from Jesus, he revealed many truths to him.

The fact is that Jesus started a history-changing revolution to the point that we started a new calendar beginning with his life; B.C. for before Christ and A.D. for Anno Domini.

 


The Life of Jesus as taught by Dr. Michael Balcomb, president, Family Federation for World Peace

For the last couple of months I have read over many essays and sermons on the life of Jesus which I like to share here:
 

Who is Jesus?

I purposely ask ‘who is he’ because he is still alive in the spiritual world.  Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one, the savior, and the Son of God.  After he resurrected, he appeared to his disciples (John 20:1-29) in his eternal spiritual body which he could manifest in a substantial form because of his Divine nature.  For the first time in all of human history, we learn about the eternal spiritual world, which Jesus opened the path to paradise (Luke 23:39-43).  Because of his complete obedience to God, he gave up his life on the cross and accomplished our spiritual salvation.
 
 
Where did Jesus live?

Jesus lived in Judea the land between the Mediterranean and the Dead Seas.  At the time of his birth it was a Roman province.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger.  When the ruler Herod heard about the birth of the “King of the Jews” he sent for Jesus to be killed.  That’s why Mary and Joseph with the newborn baby had to flee to Egypt and stay there until Herod died. There is not much biblical record about the time ‘the holy family’ spent in Egypt. Author Paul Perry wrote a book about that time.  The next account of Jesus’ life is that he entered the temple in Jerusalem at age 12, (Luke 2:39-52) talking with the priests.  Again, for the next 18 year until 30, when he started his public ministry, we don’t know where Jesus lived.  During the three years of his public ministry he went all over Judea, eventually entering Jerusalem where he was captured and then executed.

 

How did the people of his time receive him?

After the incident at the temple we don’t know much about Jesus’ life until he started his public mission at 30.  There are many speculations including that he traveled to India.  The Bible only mentions that he worked with Joseph as a carpenter.  His public mission started at 30 as recorded in Luke 3:23 From then he traveled for 3 years all over Judea, teaching the Good News, the Gospel.  Initially, Jesus was welcomed by the common people.  His cousin John the Baptist testified to his mission and baptized him at the river of Jordan.  He gathered multitudes, he performed miracles, and he forgave people’s sins when he saw their belief.  The Scribes and Pharacies became jealous of Jesus’ popularity and eventually, he was handed over to the Roman authorities, and Pilate condemned him to die.

 

When did Jesus’ destiny change?

There were dual prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the mission of Jesus.  One was for him to be accepted to become the ‘Lord of Glory,’ the other one was in case Jesus would be rejected, and he would become the ‘Lord of Suffering.”  

When Moses and Elijah appeared to him on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17) Jesus learned of his shortened life.  The disciples who were with him were afraid because they had never seen ‘spirits’ (Moses and Elijah had passed to the other world long before).  Jesus told them not to share this experience with anybody until he would also go the spiritual world. 

Because Jesus was the Messiah, he insisted on a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Even though he knew he had to die, he wanted the people to know who he was and that this was the time for the Kingdom of Heaven to be built as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 and recorded in Matthew 21:5.  He wanted to proclaim to all of Israel and the future generations what could have been.

 
 
What could Jesus have accomplish if didn’t have to die?
 
We know that Jesus forgave sins while he was preaching and witnessing to the people (Matt. 9:1-2; Matt. 9:22; Mark 10:49-52).  According to the Divine Principle, the teaching of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Jesus came as the second Adam.  As such he was to restore what Adam missed to do because of the Fall of Man. Adam was to become a mature man (be fruitful) and get married to Eve (multiply).  Together they were to be good shepherd over the earth (have dominion over the earth – Genesis 1:28)


Just recently there was news about The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife, discovered by Harvard professor Karen King.  She announced that archeologists had found a fragment of an ancient Christian-Gnostic papyrus in which Jesus mentions his wife and defends her before the other disciples as most worthy.  Dr. Andrew Wilson, Professor at the Unification Theological Seminary, wrote a lengthy article about the perspective of the Divine Principle on these findings.


Surely, the descriptions of lineages in the bible are a proof of the importance of lineage.  It was God’s desire to establish his pure lineage here on earth and create ideal families.  Also with Jesus’ untimely early death, he was able to bring spiritual salvation, but talked about his return in order to bring salvation to both the spiritual and physical realm and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
 

I like to finish with a reference to a website: “Real Deal Easter” which just recently opened up by Bob Selle.  Mr. Selle gives some very crucial guidance for anyone who is seeking a personal relationship with Jesus. 

If you have question regarding spiritual experiences or near death experience (NDE), I like to refer to Eben Alexander, M.D.’s The Easter Question.  Dr. Alexander is the author, 'Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife'

 
As I mentioned before I belief that the greatest accomplishment of Jesus is that he showed us the possibility for eternal life.  Through his resurrection and appearances to his disciples as well as many of his followers and believers over the centuries, Jesus is alive and we can have a living relationship with.  The salvation he brought us is unique.  There is no other teaching that brought that kind of freedom and enlightenment, and it shows that Jesus in all his glory and grace can give to us forgiveness and peace.