"Instead of plucking us up, like we deserved, he (God) placed his own Son on the cross (John 3:16). Instead of breaking down our pitiful defenses and excuses, he sent his own Son to have his body broken in our place (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Instead of destroying us, he crushed his own Son under his unbearable wrath (Isaiah 53:10). Instead of overthrowing our rebellion and tossing us into hell, he tossed his own Son to the wolves of evil where he was crucified (Acts 2:23)." - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/ask-god-to-rebuild-what-is-broken
creative commons 2.0. attribution: dackelprincess, flickr.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Another New Year Knocks: Where to Take Your Anxiety About Tomorrow | Desiring God
"If we let our anxieties and thirsts lead us to God himself, he will graciously provide what we truly need at the beginning of another new year. As David testifies in the rest of the psalm, God will give us strength, but not our own; hope, but at great cost; clarity, but not control; and glory, but not for ourselves."
Another New Year Knocks: Where to Take Your Anxiety About Tomorrow | Desiring God
Another New Year Knocks: Where to Take Your Anxiety About Tomorrow | Desiring God
Monday, December 25, 2017
creed
I believe in one God,
in three persons,
(1) Father,
almighty,
Creator of all that exists.
(2) Son,
Jesus Christ,
Who was born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried,
according to His Father's will.
He rose from death on the third day.
He ascended into heaven.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
(3) Holy Spirit,
Who was sent by Jesus and His Father,
and Who is always with us.
I believe in Jesus' church.
I believe that Jesus redeemed those,
who lived both before and after Him,
who have faith in Him,
and who are sorry for their sins.
I believe in the resurrection of our bodies.
I believe that,
in the fullness of time,
that Jesus will come again,
in glory,
to judge all of us,
both living and dead.
amen.
in three persons,
(1) Father,
almighty,
Creator of all that exists.
(2) Son,
Jesus Christ,
Who was born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried,
according to His Father's will.
He rose from death on the third day.
He ascended into heaven.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
(3) Holy Spirit,
Who was sent by Jesus and His Father,
and Who is always with us.
I believe in Jesus' church.
I believe that Jesus redeemed those,
who lived both before and after Him,
who have faith in Him,
and who are sorry for their sins.
I believe in the resurrection of our bodies.
I believe that,
in the fullness of time,
that Jesus will come again,
in glory,
to judge all of us,
both living and dead.
amen.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
what protestants don't understand about what catholics believe about Mary
Mary, Did You Know? | Desiring God
catholics don't believe that Mary is God.
catholics believe that there is one God.
God has 3 persons: Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.
Mary is not God.
catholics believe that, other than Jesus, Who became man, died and rose from the dead, Mary is the most obedient-to-God human being who ever lived.
catholics don't believe that Mary is God.
catholics believe that there is one God.
God has 3 persons: Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.
Mary is not God.
catholics believe that, other than Jesus, Who became man, died and rose from the dead, Mary is the most obedient-to-God human being who ever lived.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Dec. 24, 1944--Christmas as a POW in a nazi RR boxcar, Fr. Paul Cavanaugh, SJ
Fr. Paul Cavanaugh, SJ was a chaplain and POW in WWII. beginning on pg. 24 is his account of how he spent Christmas Eve 1944 as a POW in a RR boxcar with 59 other POWs.
https://jesuitonlinelibrary.bc.edu/?a=d&d=wlet19610201-01.2.3&e=-------en-20--21--txt-txIN-------
https://jesuitonlinelibrary.bc.edu/?a=d&d=wlet19610201-01.2.3&e=-------en-20--21--txt-txIN-------
Monday, November 20, 2017
desiring God
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
Desiring God
How Jesus Helped His Disciples Increase Their Faith | Desiring God
Everyone Wants to Be Happy - YouTube
The Strength You Need for Today | Desiring God
The Heart of John Owen’s Hedonism | Desiring God
The Most Repeated Command in the Bible | Desiring God
1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)
2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Desiring God
How Jesus Helped His Disciples Increase Their Faith | Desiring God
Everyone Wants to Be Happy - YouTube
The Strength You Need for Today | Desiring God
The Heart of John Owen’s Hedonism | Desiring God
The Most Repeated Command in the Bible | Desiring God
- slow down
- savor God
- experience His love
- be joyful
- enjoy all that God created, including His human creations
- praise God
1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)
2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
A Generation Passionate for God’s Holiness | Desiring God
"If we let our anxieties and thirsts lead us to God himself, he will graciously provide what we truly need at the beginning of another new year. As David testifies in the rest of the psalm, God will give us strength, but not our own; hope, but at great cost; clarity, but not control; and glory, but not for ourselves."
Another New Year Knocks: Where to Take Your Anxiety About Tomorrow | Desiring God
"If we let our anxieties and thirsts lead us to God himself, he will graciously provide what we truly need at the beginning of another new year. As David testifies in the rest of the psalm, God will give us strength, but not our own; hope, but at great cost; clarity, but not control; and glory, but not for ourselves."
Another New Year Knocks: Where to Take Your Anxiety About Tomorrow | Desiring God
Sunday, November 12, 2017
suffering
Mother Angelica wrote about suffering: Excerpts from HEALING POWER OF SUFFERING
I agree with Mother Angelica that we all suffer evil: death, sickness, pain, mental anguish, addictions, injustice, oppression, deprivations, natural disasters, etc. Life itself is suffering.
Fr. James Gould, a friend of Mother Angelica's, pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Warrenton VA, and an excellent homilist, says that there's merit in "just showing up". With all of the pervasive evil in the world, I hope that Fr. Gould is right--that "just showing up" says that we believe in God and that we're sorry for our sins; and that, despite our sins, that we believe that God loves us. Jesus became man, suffered, died and arose from death. Jesus "paid" for our sins and He wants us to be with Him forever in heaven.
I agree with Mother Angelica that we all suffer evil: death, sickness, pain, mental anguish, addictions, injustice, oppression, deprivations, natural disasters, etc. Life itself is suffering.
Fr. James Gould, a friend of Mother Angelica's, pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Warrenton VA, and an excellent homilist, says that there's merit in "just showing up". With all of the pervasive evil in the world, I hope that Fr. Gould is right--that "just showing up" says that we believe in God and that we're sorry for our sins; and that, despite our sins, that we believe that God loves us. Jesus became man, suffered, died and arose from death. Jesus "paid" for our sins and He wants us to be with Him forever in heaven.
Friday, November 10, 2017
faith is believing in the supernatural
I've heard many priests in my lifetime say "faith is easy". Mother Angelica and I disagree. Why is it so hard to believe?
"You see, our problem is one of perception. You and I operate with finite minds in a material world. This is fine for grocery shopping and putting bandages on children's knees and playing bridge on Saturday night. But the finite mind is somewhat of a drawback in perceiving an Infinite Being in the world of the supernatural."
In the natural world seeing is believing--the good (kindness, generosity, beauty, love, etc.) and the bad (mass murders, oppression, greed, etc.).
There is no natural world "seeing and understanding" ("what you see is what you get") in the supernatural world. There are only what Mother Angelica calls our three little spiritual companions--faith, hope and love--to help us to try to "understand" that God is God, and God's love and will for us.
"You see, our problem is one of perception. You and I operate with finite minds in a material world. This is fine for grocery shopping and putting bandages on children's knees and playing bridge on Saturday night. But the finite mind is somewhat of a drawback in perceiving an Infinite Being in the world of the supernatural."
In the natural world seeing is believing--the good (kindness, generosity, beauty, love, etc.) and the bad (mass murders, oppression, greed, etc.).
There is no natural world "seeing and understanding" ("what you see is what you get") in the supernatural world. There are only what Mother Angelica calls our three little spiritual companions--faith, hope and love--to help us to try to "understand" that God is God, and God's love and will for us.
image by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon
faith
hope
love
Sunday, November 5, 2017
a drop of mercy
"A Drop of Mercy
The idea of hurting God is awesome. It’s hard not to get a little nervous thinking that your petty actions have an effect on the Creator of the universe. Most of the time, we protect ourselves from this truth by living a life of spiritual apathy. We go about our daily business without a care in the world, more concerned about our memos and our electric bills and our summer wardrobe than about our holiness. Thank God that you and I aren’t God, because if it were up to us, we’d probably wash our hands of these selfish creatures called human beings. But our God is all loving. And He’s just a thought away, ready to understand us, accept our repentance, and forgive us, no matter what we’ve done.
I was in California a few years ago preparing to give a talk when I decided to take a walk to the ocean. I love the ocean. I am really amazed at what God did when He created it, and when I see His power in the seemingly endless expanse of water and the rushing of the waves, I always like to play a game. On this day I was, as usual, wearing my brown Franciscan habit, and as I passed by the bathers on the beach, I could see that they didn’t know what to make of me. When I got to a good stopping point, I did what I usually do: I stood about twenty or thirty feet from the waterline and called the waves to me. I figured they belong to my Heavenly Father, so I could call them if I wanted to. The sunbathers looked at me as if I were crazy, but I didn’t mind.
“Come on, you can do it!” I called. And I was so surprised when one wave heard me. Suddenly I realized that I was about to be doused by one of the most gigantic waves I had ever seen in my life.
I was so stunned; I couldn’t move. Everybody on the beach was screaming, “Run, run!” but I could not move. My leg brace was firmly entrenched in the sand.
Suddenly, the wave crashed at my feet. My shoes were wet, my brace was wet, even the hem of my habit was wet.
When I looked up, I noticed that a tiny droplet had hit the top of my hand. It was so beautiful. It glistened like a diamond in the sun.
The droplet affected me so deeply with its beauty that I felt unworthy of it, and to my own surprise, as I stood there, I threw it back into the ocean.
My odd little peace was broken when I felt the Lord say to me, “Angelica?”
I said, “Yes, Lord?”
“Did you see that drop?”
I said, “Yes, Lord.”
“That drop is like all of your sins, your weaknesses, your frailties, and your imperfections. And the ocean is like my mercy. If you looked for that drop, could you find it?”
I said, “No, Lord.”
“If you looked and looked, could you find it?”
I said, “No, Lord.”
And then He said to me, ever so quietly, “So why do you keep looking?”
That episode at the ocean taught me a profound lesson. I think all of us fall victim to rehashing our sins and failings, reliving our guilt long after we’ve asked forgiveness. We fail to realize that once God has forgiven us, those sins are gone forever. Our sins disappear in the ocean of God’s mercy. We need not worry about them any longer — they are permanently enveloped in God’s everlasting mercy.
It is hard to work through our guilt, to be repentant, to seek the sacrament of Reconciliation, and then to accept God’s forgiveness fully. Believe me, I know in my heart what you’re going through, and I know what it takes to stick with it. But you must remember that God’s mercy is just as broad and encompassing as His love for you is deep and personal. He’s looking at you — yes, you — right now, and His arms are open wide. If you can give your guilt to God just as you give Him your sins, you will be healed."
The idea of hurting God is awesome. It’s hard not to get a little nervous thinking that your petty actions have an effect on the Creator of the universe. Most of the time, we protect ourselves from this truth by living a life of spiritual apathy. We go about our daily business without a care in the world, more concerned about our memos and our electric bills and our summer wardrobe than about our holiness. Thank God that you and I aren’t God, because if it were up to us, we’d probably wash our hands of these selfish creatures called human beings. But our God is all loving. And He’s just a thought away, ready to understand us, accept our repentance, and forgive us, no matter what we’ve done.
I was in California a few years ago preparing to give a talk when I decided to take a walk to the ocean. I love the ocean. I am really amazed at what God did when He created it, and when I see His power in the seemingly endless expanse of water and the rushing of the waves, I always like to play a game. On this day I was, as usual, wearing my brown Franciscan habit, and as I passed by the bathers on the beach, I could see that they didn’t know what to make of me. When I got to a good stopping point, I did what I usually do: I stood about twenty or thirty feet from the waterline and called the waves to me. I figured they belong to my Heavenly Father, so I could call them if I wanted to. The sunbathers looked at me as if I were crazy, but I didn’t mind.
“Come on, you can do it!” I called. And I was so surprised when one wave heard me. Suddenly I realized that I was about to be doused by one of the most gigantic waves I had ever seen in my life.
I was so stunned; I couldn’t move. Everybody on the beach was screaming, “Run, run!” but I could not move. My leg brace was firmly entrenched in the sand.
Suddenly, the wave crashed at my feet. My shoes were wet, my brace was wet, even the hem of my habit was wet.
When I looked up, I noticed that a tiny droplet had hit the top of my hand. It was so beautiful. It glistened like a diamond in the sun.
The droplet affected me so deeply with its beauty that I felt unworthy of it, and to my own surprise, as I stood there, I threw it back into the ocean.
My odd little peace was broken when I felt the Lord say to me, “Angelica?”
I said, “Yes, Lord?”
“Did you see that drop?”
I said, “Yes, Lord.”
“That drop is like all of your sins, your weaknesses, your frailties, and your imperfections. And the ocean is like my mercy. If you looked for that drop, could you find it?”
I said, “No, Lord.”
“If you looked and looked, could you find it?”
I said, “No, Lord.”
And then He said to me, ever so quietly, “So why do you keep looking?”
That episode at the ocean taught me a profound lesson. I think all of us fall victim to rehashing our sins and failings, reliving our guilt long after we’ve asked forgiveness. We fail to realize that once God has forgiven us, those sins are gone forever. Our sins disappear in the ocean of God’s mercy. We need not worry about them any longer — they are permanently enveloped in God’s everlasting mercy.
It is hard to work through our guilt, to be repentant, to seek the sacrament of Reconciliation, and then to accept God’s forgiveness fully. Believe me, I know in my heart what you’re going through, and I know what it takes to stick with it. But you must remember that God’s mercy is just as broad and encompassing as His love for you is deep and personal. He’s looking at you — yes, you — right now, and His arms are open wide. If you can give your guilt to God just as you give Him your sins, you will be healed."
Friday, October 6, 2017
only God, not man, can speak for God
"The reformer Martin Luther stated that 'in chapters 9, 10 and 11, St. Paul teaches us about the eternal providence of God. It is the original source which determines who would believe and who wouldn't, who can be set free from sin and who cannot'".[3]*
Romans 9 - Wikipedia
*Preface to the letter of St. Paul to the Romans, by Martin Luther, 1483-1546, Translated by Bro. Andrew Thornton, OSB
Martin Luther said in his Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans that it all begins with vocabulary. I believe that Luther is correct. the "faith" that I was taught in catholic grade school, high school and college was "religion". it focused more on human "interpretations" and "rules" than on "spirit" or "spirituality". it focused on being faithful to religion and its human (and corrupt like ourselves) leaders (priests, bishops, popes, theologians--"chatterers", as Martin Luther puts it), rather than focusing on what God tells us through His Word and His Grace, and in our soul and in our conscience (faith).
Faith is important; religion is not.
God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, took on the punishment for my sins.
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does this sound too good to be true?
of course it does.
however, with faith we believe.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
pray
pray for hurricane victims, for those who are sick, and for those in distress. pray that they may find peace in God's grace.
pray for those who help and comfort those who have suffered loss, are sick, or in distress. it's through their faith, hope and love that God shows us His grace.
pray for those who help and comfort those who have suffered loss, are sick, or in distress. it's through their faith, hope and love that God shows us His grace.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
greatest faith, hope & love
of all who have ever lived, who had the greatest faith, hope and love?
besides Jesus, both God and man, Mary, His mother, had the greatest faith, hope and love of any person who ever lived.
When Mary was a young teenager, she accepted that she would be the mother of God. She didn't know how. She didn't ask why. She didn't ask what was "in it" for her. She simply said yes. What extraordinary faith!
Suffering was what was "in it" for Mary. She stood with Jesus when He was ridiculed, threatened, betrayed by one closest to Him, arrested, tried by a kangaroo court of religious leaders, wrongly condemned to death, denied by another of His chosen, scourged, tortured, and nailed to and hung on a cross until He died. Mary never wavered.
Mary in her life lived faith, hope and love more than any other human being.
Mary, mother of God, pray for us.
besides Jesus, both God and man, Mary, His mother, had the greatest faith, hope and love of any person who ever lived.
When Mary was a young teenager, she accepted that she would be the mother of God. She didn't know how. She didn't ask why. She didn't ask what was "in it" for her. She simply said yes. What extraordinary faith!
Suffering was what was "in it" for Mary. She stood with Jesus when He was ridiculed, threatened, betrayed by one closest to Him, arrested, tried by a kangaroo court of religious leaders, wrongly condemned to death, denied by another of His chosen, scourged, tortured, and nailed to and hung on a cross until He died. Mary never wavered.
Mary in her life lived faith, hope and love more than any other human being.
Mary, mother of God, pray for us.
image by Andreas F. Borchert
Monday, August 28, 2017
are you the "apple of God's eye"?
"Did you know the Bible talks about apples? No, it’s not the fruit that Eve ate and gave to Adam. In fact, the Book of Genesis doesn’t name the fruit. The Bible mentions apples a handful of times. In fact, Moses writes in Deuteronomy about the Lord watching over Jacob and being the apple of his eye. Being a church in the center of the apple capital of Minnesota we should appreciate this phrase, the apple of his eye. To be the apple of someone’s eye means to be something most precious.
Did you know or ever think of yourself as the apple of God’s eye? In Psalm 17, King David prayed: I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. 7Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8Keep me as the apple of your eye; (6-8a)
David understood the wondrous love of God. He lived and was uplifted in God’s great forgiveness. He knew that God was his refuge from trouble and struggle in life. He knew that he was the apple of God’s eye. Was this presumptuous arrogance? No, if we read the rest of David’s psalms we know that he was brought to the depths of despair over his sins. He knew what he deserved for his sins but he also knew and trusted that the Savior who was promised to come was the one who changed David’s status in the eye of God. Because of Christ, David was the apple of God’s eye.
Could you also be the apple of God’s eye? The Savior that David knew and trusted is Jesus Christ. We have to be honest, our status in God’s eye without Christ, if an apple, would be rotten to the core. This is sin. And as much as we polish it, as much as we do to make it look good, as much as we try to remove the sting of death which is the wages of our sin, it doesn’t change our status in the eye of God. We are the apple of God’s eye because we believe that Jesus has changed that status. Jesus’ perfect life in our place and his death on the cross for our sins has won our salvation. Trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life, God’s sees us as his most precious children, the apple of his eye.
Could you also be the apple of God’s eye? Yes you are. Rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for Jesus and the faith to believe. We just celebrated the greatest festival around, that being Applefest. We celebrate the bounty of apples, we celebrate community and friendship. But we should also be reminded and celebrate that through faith in Jesus Christ, God sees us as the apple of his eye. Keep Christ First!"
Pastor Chris Christenson
Pastor Chris Christenson
First Lutheran Church
La Crescent, MN 55947Sunday, August 27, 2017
in God we trust
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
33The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.
Proverbs 3
regardless of one's religious beliefs, the bible is undeniably a significant book in human history in both antiquity and distribution. much like aesop's fables, wisdom can be found in the bible even if it's only viewed as a collection of stories.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
why haters hate
why do people hate? it's a question like "where did the universe come from?". the short answer is that we don't know.
Genesis 4 may provide some clues as to why people hate. Genesis 4 tells us that Cain and Abel were brothers. it says that "...in the course of time..." that Cain and Abel each brought "...an offering to the LORD...".
"The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and dejected. Then the LORD said to Cain: 'Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.'" Genesis 4: 4-7
Genesis 4 continues. Cain kills Abel and God punishes Cain by taking his livelihood (farming) away from him. Cain was forced to "wander the earth" and he feared for his life. God told Cain that if anyone killed him that they would be "avenged seven times".
The remainder of Genesis 4 and Genesis 5 tell the fate of outcast Cain and his descendants and of the family that he was separated from. Cain was cursed; the rest of his family was not.
people hate because they choose to hate. when haters hate, they bring dishonor on themselves and on their progeny. hating breeds hate. it's a choice that has consequences.
footnote: regardless of one's religious beliefs, the bible is undeniably a significant book in human history in both antiquity and distribution. much like aesop's fables, wisdom can be found in the bible even if it's only viewed as a collection of stories.
Genesis 4 may provide some clues as to why people hate. Genesis 4 tells us that Cain and Abel were brothers. it says that "...in the course of time..." that Cain and Abel each brought "...an offering to the LORD...".
"The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and dejected. Then the LORD said to Cain: 'Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.'" Genesis 4: 4-7
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Genesis 4 continues. Cain kills Abel and God punishes Cain by taking his livelihood (farming) away from him. Cain was forced to "wander the earth" and he feared for his life. God told Cain that if anyone killed him that they would be "avenged seven times".
The remainder of Genesis 4 and Genesis 5 tell the fate of outcast Cain and his descendants and of the family that he was separated from. Cain was cursed; the rest of his family was not.
people hate because they choose to hate. when haters hate, they bring dishonor on themselves and on their progeny. hating breeds hate. it's a choice that has consequences.
footnote: regardless of one's religious beliefs, the bible is undeniably a significant book in human history in both antiquity and distribution. much like aesop's fables, wisdom can be found in the bible even if it's only viewed as a collection of stories.
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