Heaven – What Is It, What it will be, and Who are we?

April 7, 2024 by admin 1 Comment

“Heaven” – “What Is It”? / “What Will It Be”? – “Who Will We Be?” – And How Do We Get There?

The 1st two questions, “What is Heaven like?” and “What will Heaven be Like?” have two different answers. The present, intermediate Heaven is in the “Angelic Realm”, distinctly different from Earth. By contrast, the “Future Heaven” will be in the “Human Realm”, on Earth. Then, the dwelling place of God will also be the dwelling place of Humanity, in a “Resurrected Universe”.

(Revelations 21:1-3) – “I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth…I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down, out of Heaven from God…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with Man, and He will live with them. They will be His People, and God Himself will be with them, and He will live with them.”

Heaven, God’s Dwelling Place, will one day be on the New Earth.

The Bible says that “The throne of God and of the Lamb is in the New Jerusalem, which is brought down to the New Earth.” (Revelations 22:1) Theologian, Anthony Hoekema, writes “The New Jerusalem does not remain in a Heaven- far off in space. But it comes down to the New Earth. There, The Redeemed, will spend an Eternity in Resurrected Bodies.”

That God would come down to the New Earth to live with us fits perfectly with his “Original Plan”. “God came down to walk with Adam & Eve in their World (Genesis 3:8). “My Father will love him (disciple), and will come to him, and make His home with him”. (John 14:23)

This is the picture of God’s Ultimate Plan – Not to take us up to live in a Realm made for Him. But to come down to live with us…in the Realm He made for Us. The Incarnation is about God inhabiting “Space & Time”, as a human being. The New Heaven & New Earth is about God inhabiting Space & Time” as His New Eternal Home. (That doesn’t diminish God as Less Infinite – just as Christ was not Less Infinite inhabiting Man).

The Answer to the Question, “Who Are We?” (during this time in a New Heaven), is:

Disembodied spirits are who they once were. Continuity of Identity requires “Bodily Resurrection”. We are physical Beings. Just as our genetic code is Unique today, we should expect the same of our new bodies. Individual Identity is the essential aspect of Person-hood. God is the Creator of individual identities & personalities. (Not even Identical Twins are “Identical”).

Individuality preceded Sin & The Curse. “Individuality was God’s Plan from the beginning. Heaven’s Inhabitants are different from each & every person.” (Luke 15:4-7, 10). That’s powerful affirmation of separate persons in Heaven. When Moses & Elijah appeared with Christ at His Transfiguration, the disciples recognized each of them as distinct individuals – the same men they were on earth.

In his book, “The Problem of Pain”, C. S. Lewis expressed his awe at the diversity in which God Created us: “If God had no use for all of those differences, why should God have created more souls than One?… Your Soul has a Unique shape because it was made to fit the particular infusion of Divine Substance – A Key to unlock the door of the house among many mansions. It is not Humanity in the abstract that is to be Saved – But You. Your place in Heaven was made for you, and you alone, because you were made for it – as a glove is made for a hand.”

In the Final Resurrection, all of your facets will be restored and amplified–untarnished by sin & The Curse. When you are on the New Earth, you will be the Person that God Created You to Be.

The Last Question, “How Do We Get To Heaven?” is Answered in the blog post, “The Experiences of the Sanctuary of Our Soul” – (A summary of the 10 lecture sessions by Franciscan Priest, Richard Rohr, about the Letters of St. Paul). The Letters of St. Paul eschew “Ladder Theology” – that we Earn our way to Heaven by Keeping Commandments & Dong Good Deeds. We get to Heaven by accepting that God accepts us “AS IS”. As a “Result”, we will keep His Commandments & Do Good Deeds – Clearly, the “Redemptive Cross” is sufficient Forgiveness. God Accepts us “AS IS” – Imperfect Sinners.

Combined, the 2 blog posts are the Recipe for enjoying the Companionship of God on the “New Earth” – Forever. Indeed, the “New Heaven” on the “New Earth”…with God walking among us…”Is a Wonderful World”:

Reflect upon it…Accept it…Enjoy It.

The “Polish Mule”

August 14, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

The “Polish Mule”

Christmas was “The Best of Times, and the Worst of Times”, for my 17-year-old friend.

The “Best of Times”, was dreaming about a New Set of “Hogan” Golf Clubs -The “Woods” made from Persimmon. The “Irons” with stiff steel shafts & forged club faces milled to perfection. Balls hit correctly on the “Sweet-Spot”, felt like hitting butter. The possibility of getting Foot-Joy leather golf shoes was beyond imagination.

The “Worst of Times’ was dreading to deliver boxes of his father’s Homemade “Kielbasa” to dozens of his Father’s Business Customers. These wealthy, cultured Industrialists couldn’t possibly welcome Julian’s “Little Bags of Mystery” into their homes. (Pork Parts, Seasoned with Onion & Garlic (and Julian’s secret spices), encased in animal intestines). It’s disgusting just to describe “Kielbasa”.

Much more to have a 17-year-old self-conscious son deliver it in person to distinguished gentlemen, or their sophisticated wives. (Dozens of deliveries in the city, suburbs, and Southeast Wisconsin were required before Christmas.) The body odor, from a car filled with dozens of boxes of “Kielbasa” in the back seat, lingered well past Christmas, regardless of the number of showers taken, or soap, used. Teenage girls stayed away in droves. They called him, “The Polish Mule”.

My friend’s Ego was scarred for Life.

At his Father’s Funeral, Customer after Customer, shook my friend’s hand to offer their condolences. Each Man & their Wife (without exception) said, “We will miss your father. He was a kind & generous man. We will also miss his wonderful, delectable “Kielbasa” Christmas Gift. It was a delicacy that All of our family & friends waited for with great anticipation at Christmas.”

Now it was the “Best of Times. And Worst of Times”. Again. It was the “Best” to hear the Captains of Industry & their cultured wives praise his father. It was the “Worst” to be embarrassed for being embarrassed about delivering his father’s “Kielbasa”. His father taught him an invaluable Lesson: “Esse quam Videri”: “To be, rather than to appear.” Substance over style. People admire what is True, and Good, and Real. They Thirst for the Genuine Article. (They spot the “Knock-Offs” a mile away.)

The customers knew the enormous Effort and Love that was required for Julian to make his homemade “Kielbasa”:

The kitchen table was stretched to its limit.
Then rolls of brown paper covered the table.
Platters of “Choice” pork products were hand-stuffed into a large meat grinder.
The ground results were spread onto fresh brown paper.
Onion, Garlic, and Julian’s “Secret Spices” were hand-spread over the ground meat with the precision of a “watchmaker”.
The resulting product was hand mixed and stuffed into another machine that pushed the ground delicacy into long tubes of animal intestines, that were twisted & bound, at 8-inch intervals.
The finished product was wrapped in Butcher’s paper, and boxed for delivery.

Julian spent incalculable man hours making enough homemade “Kielbasa” for ALL of his customers. Perhaps, St. Peter got a whiff of “Garlic & Onions” when he shook Julian’s hand, and said, “Merry Christmas, Julian. And Welcome Home, in Heaven.”

The Self-Destruction of the Catholic Hierarchy

March 8, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

The Self-Destruction of the Catholic Hierarchy

The charity of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in the 1200’s and the devotion of Mother Theresa to the Outcasts of Calcutta are the “Faces” of the Gift of Grace flowing through the Body of Christ.

But our Transformation is a journey, with several forks in the road. Our Free Will can choose to turn our face from God and take the path of least resistance (selfishness), on the Road to Perdition.

The selling of Indulgences in the Middle Ages was the Catholic Hierarchy’s loss of Moral Virginity. Her Progeny was the Protestant Reformation. The Decades of Directing the Spread of Pedophilia Worldwide are the Catholic Hierarchy’s (Bishops & Cardinals) Loss of Moral Legitimacy – to be the “Keepers of the Keys to Heaven”.

“Better for a man to have a millstone tied around his neck and cast into the sea, than to harm one of these (child)”, Christ said. And for clarity & emphasis, Christ repeated, “Better that a man not be born, than to harm a child.” For decades, the Catholic Hierarchy deliberately destroyed the innocence of tens of thousands of trusting children, worldwide – that’s the Face of Satan.

At the beginning of the Pedophile Priest Problem, the Bishops & Cardinals had the opportunity to teach the world about the Power of God’s Grace. God’s Grace was more than sufficient to identify the Pedophile Priest’s 1^st abuse of an innocent child. The Bishop could’ve removed that priest from the Parish, and reported the incident to civil authorities. The pedophile priest would then have received punishment or treatment, protecting innocent children from future abuse.

God’s Grace would have been evident to all for providing the clarity of mind & tenderness of heart of the Hierarchy to identify a problem and provide an effective remedy for all parties concerned.

Instead, consumed by Pride to cling to the Power & Privilege of their Pointy Hats & Crooked Sticks, the Bishops & Cardinals were obtuse to their Destruction of the FAITH IN CHRIST, in the Sanctuary of Souls, of millions of children, their parents, and disgusted Catholics – worldwide.

For example, Archbishop Weakland stole $240,000 from Church Funds to pay “Hush Money” to conceal his relationship with his homosexual Lover and to conceal his Crime & Sin of Transfers. There was no concern for his victims. (It was all about him.) There was No “Nathan to David” – “Moment of Truth”. There was only Self-Serving, Self-Righteous, Self-Acquittal in the Protective Catholic Hierarchy Bubble, insulated from outside scrutiny.

Weakland’s successor, Archbishop Listecki, never bothered to legally collect the stolen church funds, which may have forced Weakland into Bankruptcy. (A poor bank teller goes to Jail for Stealing $900 from her cash drawer). Instead, Listecki continued to invite Weakland to a place of honor in important Community Church Functions. NO Penance. NO Remorse. Just the Embarrassment of being Caught.

The Catholic Hierarchy is the modern-day Judas. There is No Distinction between Judas betraying Christ, and the Catholic Hierarchy betraying the innocent Altar Boy’s Trust in Priests. That blatant betrayal in Trust cost the children’s’ Faith in God, and all things Holy.

Bishop Barron wrote a laughable defense that “The Devil made them do it”. (That was Flip Wilson’s joke in the 70’s). The Hierarchy didn’t need a Satanic nudge to commit their heinous WORKS to keep their Power & Privilege. The Hierarchy’s Arrogance to ignore God’s Grace to resist temptation (for 20 years) is the “Good Old Boys’ Club” Defending the Indefensible. Shame on Bishop Barron. The Hierarchy’s disgusting actions speak so loudly, that I can’t hear what Bishop Barron is saying.

The “Anguish of the Abused” pains God’s Heart.

The loss of millions of souls betrays Christ’s standard “To Love one another, as I (Christ) love you”. The Bishops & Cardinals were more concerned about people kissing their rings, than about washing the people’s feet. The Hierarchy forfeited their Positions of Power because their WORKS ignored the Gift of Grace to love others.

The Pastor of Lumen Christi Catholic Church held an “Open Forum” for parents of Children who suffered from the Previous Pastor’s Pedophile Abuse. The Universal Parental Painful Lament of that Previous Pastor’s Heinous Sin & Crime Filled the Room. Their Grief, Palpable. The Presiding Pastor of the Forum agreed with the Group’s Consensus For Necessary “Structural Changes” to the Catholic Hierarchy.

Based on the Fact that the Parish’s 100 Ministries are run by Parishioners.
The “Office Staff” has all Parish Women working for Less Than Market Wages.
The 3 Deacons came from the ranks of Parishioners

The “Keys to the Kingdom” Need to be transferred to the Parish Pastor & Priests and Parishioners, as Members of the Mystical Body of Christ, (with Christ, thru the Pope, as its Head) ministering to one another – by administering & receiving the Sacraments. ALL of the Hierarchy’s Functions can be performed by Priests, Deacons & Laity. It’s just a matter of Organizational Management Change.

The Gift of Grace is the gyroscope of our soul that returns us to the “Road less Traveled” (Love of God & others), by Repentance. Repentance asks God, “To create in me a new clean heart”. God does. No sin, no matter how vile or frequent, can exceed the Forgiveness, of the welcoming embrace, of the outstretched arms, of the Redemptive Cross.

All of the Catholic Hierarchy Participating in the Perpetuation of Pedophilia worldwide (including those who knew what was happening, but remained silent & did nothing are “Accessories after the Fact”) will have their sins forgiven through Genuine Repentance. But they Must NEVER Have Their Power or Prestige Positions RESTORED, because their WORKS were cast to the bottom of the sea.

The Gift of Grace forgives our sins and continues to transform us to love God & others, in the Mystical Body of Christ – (Horizontally, as Originally Constructed. With No “Vertical” authority – except Christ as it Head). The Hierarchy eschewed Christ’s disdain for those seeking personal places of Honor. Christ told the Apostles, “The First shall be Last, and the Last, First”, in response to the Apostles jockeying for the “Best Seats of Honor” around the table with Christ.

That’s why Christ organized the Mystical Body of Christ, Horizontally: ALL MEMBERS with different Talents, performing different functions, are all valued the Same by God. The Only Vertical Member was Christ, as the Head of the Body. The power of Gods Gift of Grace flowed through each member, one to another, sufficient for each to perform their function. Because Grace is a Gift from God, there is No Personal Honor performing more complex, important duties. All functions, great or small, Honor God.

Like the Flash Mob Below, of various musicians playing a variety of instruments, accompanied by a chorus of professional singers & audience participants, ALL producing ONE Harmonious, Honoring Praise of God. No musician greater than another.

The above YouTube music video is a functional definition of the Mystical Body of Christ.

“Success Is Not Final. Failure is Not Fatal.” – Winston Churchill

September 18, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

“Success Is Not Final. Failure is Not Fatal.” – Winston Churchill

In addition to his quote in this blog post title, Churchill’s Commencement speech advised college graduates to, “Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Give UP.” Then, he sat down. Churchill’s wisdom mirrors Kipling’s advice in the Poem, “If’: “If you meet with Triumph & Disaster, treat those two imposters, just the same.”

Churchill’s formula for “Success” applies to many human endeavors.

It applies to Our Life’s Purpose described by the diverse observations below. To wit:

In the song, “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”, Andrew Lloyd Weber had Evita sing, “Fortune & Fame are not the solutions they promised to They are illusions.”
Solomon, who tasted all the world’s pleasures & treasures, concluded, “ All is Vanity.”
Job, in pain & loss, sitting on a dunghill, on the outskirts of town, within view of his burning barns & dead sons in his fields, after thieves stole all of his possessions & murdered his sons,with his wife & friends jeering him, said, “God knows me.” And, “My Redeemer lives.’
In prison, Paul wrote, “I consider everything so much rubbish, that I might gain Christ.”

Clearly, Treasure, Pleasure, and Fame are transient things. Requiring more, more often, to satisfy a fragile ego, pandering to the Social Mores du jour. Fueled by the gratuitous gravitational forces of Pride, Lust Greed, etc. that fester in the soft underbelly of our humanity. That’s the “Opium of the Masses.” And Not, Religion, which Marx labeled.

The word “Religion” comes from 2 Latin words, “Re Ligo” – “To Link Again”. Religion “links again” our relationship with the peace & joy of the companionship of God. We were made in the “Image and Likeness of God” to be “Children of God” & “Heirs to Heaven”.

But Satan exists. Man has Free Will. Adam sinned. And the perfect relationship with God was broken. So, God sent His Son, Jesus, to become man, and suffer & die on the Cross, to re-graft His “Broken Branches” into the “Living Vine”. Then, the original relationship with God was restored.

The sanctuary of our soul experiences the presence of God within it, by simply accepting that God loves us “As Is”. And accordingly, we will love God & others, asking nothing in return.

“Religion” is Not choosing the “Correct One” of the thousands of Christian Denominations, or Islam, or Catholicism, or Buddhism, or any Other “Ism” claiming to be the “Only Way” to know the will of God, by adherence to their Creeds, or keeping commandments, or doing good deeds.

The “Re-Linking” of the relationship with God is an Experience. A Mystical Experience. Well beyond any human enterprise. (“We don’t have a soul. We are a Soul. We have a body.” – C. S. Lewis). It’s our Soul’s Spirit experiencing the infinite Love of God. Reflecting that Love back to God & Others is the gyroscope for our Soul. We will keep Commandments and do Good Deeds by reflecting God’s Love.

The Successful restoration of our Soul’s relationship with God is Not Final: Our flawed Humanity will sin, again and again. But our Failure is Not Fatal: No sin, no matter how vile or frequent, can exceed the forgiveness, of the welcoming embrace, of the outstretched arms, of the Redemptive Cross: “Father forgive them for they no not what they do.” So, “Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up.”

We can repent again and again, “creating in us a new clean heart”. Then, our heart will lie peaceful & calm, when it’s laid to its rest, experiencing the Peace & Joy of the Companionship of God, forever.