Remember the Holocaust

Subject: Fw: IRENA SENDLER IS DEAD   We must never forget . . . . .      The prize doesn't always go to the most deserving   Irena Sendler There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the WarsawGhetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive' ... She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German.) Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids..) She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize ... She was not selected.   Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.     Powerful message, especially the "cartoon."  Let us never forget! 63 years later In  MEMORIAM  - 63 YEARS LATER Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. Then read the comments   at the end.   I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll consider   doing the same. In Memoriam  It is now more  than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended This e-mail is  being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the  six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10  million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests  who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned,  starved and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other  way!  Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, claiming the Holocaust to  be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.  This  e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!  Join us and be a link in the  memorial chain and help us distribute it around  the world.  Please send this e-mail to people you know and ask them to continue  the memorial chain.. Try our new free toolbar at: http://ULCSeminary.OurToolbar.com/

Halloween Sermon

By Rev. Nick Federspiel

THIS Halloween through to Christmas many should consider their faith, value foundation and philosophy of life – then make that New Years resolution.  Here is what I think based upon two months of offering Sunday morning services at the M-FLC chapel.

Those of you that have attended my inaugural sermon series of God's Country Fellowship Church at the M-FLC Chapel know that I intended to communicate to FLC students Biblical facts vs. myth, fantasy and media entertainment marketing hype in regards to the Bible and Christian history.

Facts brought forth were selected based upon their cornerstone characteristics relative to the Christian religion without regard to the limitations of any particular organized doctrine. 

Points made in the initial September and October M-FLC Chapel sermon series included:

The first sermon on September 13^th was about science vs. Genesis' creation.  Biblical Hebrew dictionaries (Strong's, etc.) provides an alternative translation of "sixth" specific to the feminine gender of  H8345 shishishy to Genesis 1:31 thus my translation is: that the 'sixth part' of creation took more days than you can count – an 'over-plus masculine six'-  i.e. indicating some large number more than the five fingers of your hand can help a person count. Is there then a conflict between science and God's creation or a miscomprehension of paleo-Hebrew grammar vs. contemporary English? 

Next we read word for word ancient literature associated with Biblical Egyptology by third century BCE Greek and Egyptian historians including an Egyptian pagan priest writing of Moses.  Their collective documents strongly support the hypothesis that the departure of the Hyksos was at least in part the foundation for the Exodus of the Pentateuch. Was there a great Egyptian named Moses who led "my people" out of Egypt?  Certainly. In any event, no other literature of equal merit has been discovered bringing forth evidence to the contrary!  Thus Moses is a credible cornerstone for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions.  Moses, is sound, solid, and supportive of those facts and philosophies that the Old Testament and the Quran convey to their respective faithful.

Old Testament era artifacts from Assyrian (Sennacherib-Taylor Prism, etc) and the Shishak wall in Karnack, Egypt were selected from hundreds of Biblical Archeological 'discoveries' and brought to the congregation's attention as both were directly associated with Biblical history naming names and deeds as within the text of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.  The Old Testament as a history book of the "Holy Lands" 1500 BCE to 300 BCE enjoys the support of Biblical Archeology's discoveries and, when applied, competent analysis.

The print and movie media has enjoyed great economic success blending religious history with engaging fiction to develop entertainment products like the well written The Bloodline of the Holy Grail and the da Vinci Code whose marketing strategies depended on the hyper sensitivity that many of the two billion Christians have towards organized religion. I separated the facts from the fictions so that the congregation would be comfortable and remain resolute in their faith and devotion yet 'enjoy' those compositions for what they are – 'contemporary' entertainment.

The Nag Hammadi's "Lost Books" now in the Cairo Coptic Museum were not selected in 397 AD to be in the New Testament canon of Carthage, Africa.  I read excerpts from several of these codices published in the "Lost Scriptures", by B.D. Ehrman to explain why each did not satisfy the canon tests of Apostolic content and the Lord's will.  Other sects like the Gnostics and Egyptian Coptics edited "Christian books" to serve their purposes but thus by their deeds the content became incongruent with first century Christian codices destined to become scripture compliant with 2 Timothy 3:16.

One does not have to accept the canon, as wise a choice as that may be, as twenty percent of the world's population shares hundreds of alternative religious philosophies.  Said another way four fifths of the planet's peoples state that they identify with one of the 'top ten' religions.   One truly sympathetic to the social norms of a compassionate society does not need to condemn other's religions (nor should they) to themselves adhere to the precepts of another – Quran Sura 109 and the Gospel's eleventh commandment John 13:34. The New Testament commandment is not, murder the unsuspecting to intimidate others, but to love one another…" When I am in Texas I put it this way:  You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

The "Q" Gospel and Mark vs. the synoptic gospels of Matthew and Luke were a tutorial sermon subject discussed along with the writings of the first and second century "church fathers" who were in-person disciples of the Apostles.  Their surviving reviews of the gospels and New Testament text indeed showed that documents have been lost – most likely due to catastrophic events.  Libraries were lost by the application of the torch such as the Roman sack of Jerusalem in 70 and 135 AD and the Egyptian pagan temples (and thus their archives) by Theodosian decree in 391 - 394 AD.  Subsequently, the Roman libraries were lost to the empire's enemies including the Vandals in 455 AD.  Cumulatively, historical texts by the tens of thousands from Heliopolis to Alexandria to Jerusalem to Rome were reduced to ashes over four and a half centuries of conflicts. These events were far greater tragedies for today's historians than the decisions of a small group reflecting on the content of 400-600 sectarian codices then existent that may have been candidates for Old Testament and Biblical canon between the first century events of Christ and the councils of the fourth century AD.

Selected verses from the Dead Sea Scrolls per Wise, Abegg Jr, and Cook were read to show how text authored between 300 BCE and 68 - 70 AD correlated to the translations of the Bible Old and New Testament that we consider "authorized" today.  Today's translations hold up well in analysis.

Perhaps not many locally subscribe to professional trade media such as Biblical Archeology Review. The November/December, Vol. 36, 2009 issue features an examination of  the "Secret Gospel of Mark" (pg 49) and the comments of second century Clements of  Alexandria that were discovered with it. The article is about forgery vs. Biblical Archeological discovery.  Those of the God's Country Fellowship Church congregation will find familiar almost every point made in the thirteen page feature. Also in the issue is "How did Israel become a People?" Its facing page is of the 1250 BCE Israel-Egyptian stele discussed in the sermon on Biblical Egyptology. 

My objective was to help God's Country Fellowship Church attendees to become aware of their religion's history so that they would be comfortable with their selection of Christianity as their religion regardless of any preexisting specific doctrine and affiliation,.   Further those who have / had questions about religious philosophy and the merits of being a believer vs. an observer heard facts and had an opportunity to ask questions germane to their issues.

Out spoken Apostles and Church Fathers were devoted to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.   Many of these evangelists succumbed to inhuman suppression and yet ironically their Christianity became the state religion of its most powerful suppressor overcoming not only the swords of suppression but the imbedded concepts of paganisms.  Ultimately Romans, pagans,  and the politics of sectarian interests not withstanding they confirmed from volumes of documents the Holy Bible that now guides two billion faithful – a book conveying a history and philosophy I proudly support to the best of my ability.

Sadly, only one Fort Lewis College student attended any of the above services held at the McPherson Fort Lewis College Chapel on Sunday mornings so far this semester…  As sadly, their loss is also ours.  Academics and religion can coexist as can science and Genesis as can Egyptian historians and the Torah and the Assyrian artifacts with 2 Kings 20.  Science has no answer for the creation of non biological matter in the universe existent in quantities beyond human comprehension.  Atheism is said by some observers to be the fastest growing 'religion' in America yet it does not by definition answer any social, philosophical, spiritual or creative issues as do the teachings of  the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Asian disciplines.   The absence of religious knowledge and commitment on the part of anyone is regrettable, but reversible.

Would we all be happier in this world if our neighbors, associates, politicians and government administrators all were devotees and practitioners of the eleventh commandment?  Few if any of the 'organized religions' are void of editing of their original beliefs and of exploitive acts.  But throwing away the bushel due to the discovery of a bad apple is as illogical as believing this whole universe has no purpose and thus was created from nothing by nothing or endowed by and for the forces of evil.  Devotion to any major faith is not an insurance policy against the omnipresent occasions of joy and sorrow inherent in life.  But miracles happen to many every day and yet when hurt happens it still hurts. In most philosophies it is not whether you win or lose but it is indeed all about how you play the game of life.

Greek mythology is not a contemporary religion. We are not toys of the gods procreating for their amusement.  We were all made in "our God's image" which does not mean we are blondes or six feet tall or white or black. The image means we all have within us an element of the Holy Spirit that can be nurtured and expanded so we can identify what is good and achieve for the benefit of the one and all. 

So now that the goblins are out of the closet let the fresh air of knowledge in. God certainly appreciates the devoted as well much as he welcomes the newcomers.  The doors of the churches around Durango are always open to those who seek the ministry of their staffs and congregations.  Knowledge is power and faith is good and the knowledge of one's faith's and its heritage is power supreme.  Today is a good day to reflect, the holiday season a good period to devote to learning and New Years Day is a good day to commit. Why commit to what?  If that is your question ask your local ministers. First century religion is timeless and timely; think not that it is not.

God's Country Fellowship Church

  Rev. Nick Federspiel, DCS, Minister

Ph: 970.403.1700

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

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Mystical Christianity

Lesson 22 = Mystical Christianity = Spirituality and Sexuality:

1. My path of spirituality (the path that eventually chose me not the other way around) is not always the easiest one to follow successfully. Being a good Christian is something which I have to work hard on everyday. Add that to the information about "chakras" and I realize just how unintegrated my life is at this point in time. Unintegrated and unbalanced, more influenced by situations beyond my apparent control than I should be. I pray to be able to thrive in difficult circumstances and recognize my strengths (not to dwell on my short-comings). When the chakras are in balance, your power is more easily tapped into and weaknesses are pushed into the background or just plain eliminated. To return to the Christian aspect because that is important to me = you think passivity is the Christian way? Through prayer (hopefully, this will help to align and balance the Chakras and help along my understanding) I have discovered assertiveness which never existed before and a lot of previously untapped spiritual energy. Some might label it, the "Holy Spirit", the Comforter, whatever it is called; I have called its guidance into my life. I need to work on so much to achieve healthy, positive balance.

2. Most people's views of sexuality are influenced by up-bringing in one way or another. Families may discourage the topic while other parents display its healthier aspects (to a point of course) in loving, respectful relationships and open, honest discussion. Sexuality, a natural function of the human being can run the gamut from strictly procreative (void of pleasure) to favorite spectator sport (excessive, possibly dangerous (diseased etc.).Somewhere in between is GOOD SEX = freedom, abandonment to your earthly senses, enjoyment and exploration. Sex is always better with someone you trust and can talk to after the fact as old-fashioned as it sounds. Sharing the experience and caring about your partner's needs (if he reciprocates), these things are vital. All of this does not have to occur in a committed relationship or in the context of traditional marriage. I believe that responsibility, trust and love help out a lot but to each their own. Tuning your senses and relaxing to be able to enjoy pleasure are important. Your body responds more readily when physicality and mental attitudes are in sync.

3. Shadow selves are the image that you present to the world, not necessarily what an individual is truly like on the inside. In difficult times, a wrong word thrown into the ring could make a situation worse and as the lesson states, "we should have known better". Our shadow selves make the affront and our inner beings try to remedy it. The trick is balance and if I understand correctly, that's why the Chakras are so important. To be happy in our world, we do need to fine tune each aspect of physical, emotional, spiritual power and set them to work in harmony. I really need a "Chakra for Dummies" handbook because right now, my grand-daughter, an Anime (check out 'Naruto' episodes) fan could explain more about it and even some pretty complicated eastern philosophy!

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The Universal Life Church offers free online ordination and an extensive seminary program,

where we offer a course in Wiccan Studies, one on the Four Gospels, several courses that are based on A Course in Miracles, several Christian Studies courses and a variety of courses on Spiritual Awareness and Spiritual Development. 

Religious Philosophy

Universal Life Church Seminary Master of Religious Philosophy Lesson 4 ~ Organized Religions Rev. Fr. A. R. M. Manley Q. 1): If those zoo keepers are right in thinking that gorillas "get something" out of a wake when one dies, what does that say about religion? Does it diminish faith and make it "just biological" if we were to discover that the great apes do it also? What do you think: are these gorillas expressing some type of proto-faith, or are the zoo keepers 'anthropomorphizing' (assigning human attributes to animal behavior) the gorilla behavior? A. 1): This statement refers to the great apes as being "some what human". In reality they are not, they are however, animals that have some human traits. The old adage "monkey see, monkey do" comes to mind when I precive the notion that apes are religious by some fluk of nature or natural aspect. It is inconcivable that this concept or trait can be construed as a form of religious intent. I know and have seen animals from many forms of life take notice to one of their own that has passed on or better yet sat by and grieved the loss of life from their companion. This trait does not in my opinion give or even should be given in respect to the idea of religious interruption. Yet it is an understandable trait of compassion that is noticed when we have the ability to witness the act of grievous intent. As for the questions references to "proto-faith or anthropomorphizing" is absurd for the reason I have mentioned. The act of grievance is an outward expression of compassion. Q.2): If Karl Marx was correct, and religion is only useful in maintaining the political and economic status quo, does it really matter whether that religion believes in Heaven and Hell or whether it accepts reincarnation? How could religion work as this "opium of the people" in each type of society? A.2): Faith is the aspect of believing in what is not tangible, but excepting it on the merit of the level of enlightenment by the Devine powers that reveals its truths to the individual believer. The existence of "Heaven and Hell" by faith must exist in order for the believer to be truly faithful and or fearful in the spirituality of the unknown. By keeping the aspect of morality and conciseness in the forefront of the mind and heart of one's particular belief we can presume that they do exist because of the many studies and translations by prophetic individuals of past cultures that now influence our understanding of reality and spirituality. If it is to be classified as the "opium of the people" then I say we as a world society need more of it. Q.3): Finally, what if Sir Frazer and Sir Tylor were correct (being American, it does sound strange to refer to people as "Sir" and mean knighthood)? They considered religion to be the end result of enough people accepting the "answers" offered by some savage philosopher – someone who had thought about the 'great questions of life' and had come to some conclusions. Can you think of anyone from the 20th century who might be thought of in this way? You don't need to agree with them; but, they would need to be someone who had pondered these questions, come to conclusions, and then had others follow their teachings – eventually organizing into a structured religion. Anyone come to mind? If not, how about the 19th century (1800s)? A.3): One that comes to mind would be Joseph Smith and Brigham Young the founder of the Mormon Church also known as the Church of Latter Day Saints and also the cult factions of Jim Jones leader of the Peoples Temple movement and also there is the incident at WACO, Texas with the followers of the Branch Davidians of David Koresh. Even though these are not all cults they have had a profound impact on individuals and communities. Some would even say that Charles Manson is a prophetic man that has his own following. -- Reverend Father Andrew R. M. Manley *******************************   The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.  Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.   The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.     Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church

A Few Words from a Police Officer Hi Everyone I have never sent an email like this to everyone on my list before so I hope you all take the time to read it and think about it for a minute. Because of what is happening all around me right now I wanted to give everyone on my email list "My Friends" something to ponder. There has been a lot of talk in the newspaper lately about police departments and how expensive they are.  I hear a lot of talk about how much money cops make and how they are taxpayer dollars being wasted. Recently I watched a movie in which the main character (a cop) said "We spend our lives protecting 99% of the people from 1% of the people. The problem is we have to spend our lives around that 1% and if we do our job 99% of the people think they don't need us." It really hit home for me when I heard that phrase.  I think about all the homes I have entered in the last 10 years and how much crap I have seen that no normal person (the 99%) would believe. I know that the people living in those homes (the 1%) don't think there is anything wrong with how they live. It has taught me how blessed I am.  It has also taught me that if you have the blessing of living your life thinking that your police department is a waste of your money, you should be thanking your police department. Every cop has seen things they can't talk about to anyone who is not a cop. My brother asked me why I would risk my life for what I get paid. I told him I don't. I risk my life for the people that I might protect. Those people are you. Is that worth what you pay? Think about it. For whatever it's worth. Bill *******************************   The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.  Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.   The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.     Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysical Healing

1.) a.) The Human Aura looks like a collection of translucent colors that surround the body.  The word "Aura" comes from the Greek word "avra" or "breeze." People with auric sight, say they can see what looks like a rainbow of colors, softly draped around the physical. This field has senses of its own which are far more powerful than those of the physical body.  It has the ability to see, hear, think, feel, sense and to heal. One of its functions is to protect us and this is why we can sense when someone creeps up on us from behind.       b.) We have this as a protection for the physical body.       c.) Physical Body          Etheric Body          Emotional Body          Mental Body          Astral Body          Etheric Template          Celestial Body          Ketheric Body          Auric Sheath        d.) They are highly sensitive and provide protection by picking up signals from surroundings, which at an intuitive level, cause us to be careful.        e.) There is a flow of pulsating energy that moves up and down the Spinal Cord.  It extends out above the physical body, through teh crown chakra and out below the coccyx, at the base of the spine. This is called the Etheric Spine and has its own Subtle Nervous System, comprising of filaments, chakras and all the subtle bodies.   2.) Circulatory System Carries oxygen and nourishment to the tissues and waste products away from them. It is the chief transport system. This consists of the following: heart, Blood, Blood Vessels, Tubes consisting of Arteries, Veins, Capillaries.   3.) 4th Chakra Position Heart No. of small Vortices 12 Color Green Endocryn Gland Thymus   4.) The Physical, the Etheric, the Emotional and the Mental body collectively create the Personality and the "Physical Aura."   5.) This is the first of the subtle bodies and looks exactly like the physical because it contains everything the body does. Only difference being that it is the matrix in which the body grows. It looks like a luminous, grey mist surrounding and interpenetrating the body.   6.) The Emotional Body consists of a much denser substance than the Etheric and roughly follows the outline of the physical.   7.) It is the function of each chakra to absorb the color it predominates in, to transform it and then to transmit it into the physical body via the blood stream.   8.) Rose Pink in color.   9.) It is the "Bridge" between the "physical" and the "Spiritual" Auras and between ourselves and higher plains of consciousness.   10.) We need a Silver Cord to keep our Souls anchored to our Physical Bodies during Sleep, so we don't experience Physical Death during sleep.   11.) The Spiritual Aura - Three Subtle Systems: The Etheric Template-   Looks very much like an Architect's Blueprint, This is the outline for the Etheric and looks rather like the Negative of a Photograph. It provides the framework for the upper chakras and controls the activity of the lower etheric.   The Celestial Body -   This enables us to experience the Spiritual Ecstacy encountered when in a deep state of meditation or through chanting or other practices. This is the most beautiful of all the Subtle Systems and has a shimmering , perarl - like appearance that radiates luminously away from the body, susally brilliantly illustrated around printings of Angels and the heads of Saints and Masters.   The Ketheric Template -   The equivalent of the lower Mental Body, the shimmering Golden Grid provides structure for the physical and the subtle fields plus all the chakras. It also acts like a Hall of Records for all of the experiences the individual will undergo during their present incarnation. The Auric fibers weave together at this point to attach the grid to the Auric Sheath. This molds all the fields comfortably around the physical in an Oval shape. Try our new free toolbar at: http://ULCSeminary.OurToolbar.com/

Religious Philosophy

Masters degree program ULC Seminary  Religious Philosophy Is the Marine Corps a cult? Lesson # 3 (Organized Religions)     Rev. Fr. Andrew R. M. Manley Assignment; 1) The anthropological tests provided to determine if something is a cult really said nothing about religion. In other words, with those 5 questions as a test, virtually any group might be considered to be a cult. So, let's consider one that clearly isn't a religion: the US Marine Corps! Is it a cult? Consider each of the 5 questions posed above, and see how many of them you think the Corps meets. Does that make it a cult? Probably a cult? Maybe a cult? Probably not? No way? How about the Parent-Teacher group at your local school? How many of the 5 questions do they meet? How would you classify them? Answer; The question being is the U.S. Marine Corps a cult. Well with my prior experience in a branch of the U.S. military, I feel strongly that the Marine Corps is not a cult. Although they do meet several aspects of the criteria that would suggest that they could be, to some degree. But unless they meet all of them plus the one that is missing due to bias and for the fact that they are not a religious entity although I'm sure that there are folks out there that would love to debate this and other forms of Governmental agencies till the end of time however, I don't see the purpose being resolved to a defining conclusion ether way. As I understand the comments of this statement I would have to conclude that most any organization, company or government agency would border on the qualifications of being labeled a cult. Most any group mentioned above or even those that you can think of, would meet at least several if not all classifications mentioned in this lesson. -- Reverend Father Andrew R. M. Manley ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link. Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church.