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Sunday, February 18, 2018

thoughts and prayers ... The Way to a Wonderful Life

                    If someone has not heard a politician utter the words "thoughts and prayers" then they have probably have no interest in news.  The phase has become the mantra for those in leadership positions in our country to deflect from their lack of action on anything that might resemble a solution especially to the ever-growing problem of guns in America.  Amazingly enough every time there is a domestic terrorist attack in America gun sales increase.  More guns that become available to those who can obtain them legally and those who burglarize homes and businesses to obtain them.  To purchase a gun legally in many states in the U.S. is easier than getting a driver's license and someone not legally at the age to purchase alcoholic beverages can legally buy a gun.  There is a graphic spreading across the Internet and Social Media of an Australian church sign which reads:  "WHEN WILL THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS MORE THAN THEIR GUNS" ... it is a startling indictment of the culture of America.

                      I have often wondered why the phrase "thoughts and prayers" became so often used.  My conclusion, and mind you this is just my opinion, is that those who use the phrase foolishly believe it lets them off the hook for coming up with intelligent solutions or taking action in some way.  It is like saying I have feelings about these people who are being murdered even though I don't do anything that might prevent future murders.  It is almost like saying "this is God's responsibility and not mine."  In other words, we are offering prayers to the Big Guy In The Sky God to do something so we don't have to.  It is in reality a form of blasphemy.

         As the American Mystic Ernest Holmes
writes: "Spirit responds to us by corresponding to our states of thought. We enter into Spirit in such degree as we comprehend It. It enters into us through correspondence in such degree as we comprehend It. Prayer, communion with Spirit, and meditation or contemplation are for the purpose of unifying our minds with the Universal Mind, opening up the avenues of our thought to a greater influx."  In other words, our prayers should be that the Intelligence which is G-d will bring into our mind the right solution, the right action to take, and the courage and integrity to follow through.  It seems our government leaders are mostly all ignorant of this.  The Infinite has endowed us with intelligence but it is up to us to choose to use this intelligence and to choose to take intelligent action to solve the issues of our world.

          These words from the Master Mind Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew 18:2-6 should give the government leaders of America who tell us how Christian they are something to consider: 
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
           "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to be harmed, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."


             The American President, Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and the NRA funded Marco Rubio need to decide, which do you love more? ... the money you receive from the NRA or our children?  The Intelligence that created these men will guide them to the right decision, if they let It.

Keep the Faith!

Henry Lee Bates
(Reverend Dr.)

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