Tuesday, July 15, 2014

LOTUS CROSS

THE LOTUS CROSS


WHEN THE APOSTLES
WERE ASSIGNING MISSION FIELDS
THEY GAVE THOMAS
INDIA

THERE WERE JEWISH COMMUNITIES THERE
COURTESY OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

HE WAS SUCCESSFUL
THEY WERE KNOWN AS ST THOMAS CHRISTIANS

IT EXISTS STILL TODAY
IT HAS GONE THROUGH CHANGES
FROM APOSTOLIC
NESTORIAN
CATHOLIC
ORTHODOX
SPLIT OVER IOTAS

BUT ALL ALONG
PREACHING GOD’S WORD
DOING GOD’S WORK
HIS NAME BE PRAISED




IN THE EAST THE LOTUS FLOWER IS IMPORTANT
TO ITS MAJOR RELIGIONS
IT STANDS AS A SYMBOL
THAT MAN CAN TRIUMPH

IT STARTS IN MUD
IN MUDDY WATER
GROWS
TILL IT STANDS ABOVE THE WATER
THEN BLOOMS
DISPLAYING A BUDDHIST SAYING


RISE
ABOVE THE MURK
TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT.
.
SO STRONG IS THE ATTACHMENT IN THE EAST
THEY USED IT IN THEIR CHRISTIAN LOGO



THE LOTUS CROSS

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Lacking the effigy of Jesus, the St. Thomas Cross presages the discovery of the empty tomb, glorifying the Resurrection of Jesus
  The four edges of the cross are floral in shape, symbolizing fruition and life.
  The lotus flower beneath the cross is a symbol of Buddhism and India. A cultural adaptation of local imagery, the lotus is the national flower of India and the cross fixed on the lotus would symbolize Christianity in India in the first century. The lotus is also a Puranic holy flower, an offering to God in the Hindu tradition; anything offered on the leaves of lotus is considered to be auspicious.
  The three steps below the Cross represent Golgotha, symbolically referring to the death of Jesus
  Finally, the dove above the cross represents the Holy Spirit, the third aspect of the Holy Trinity according to the Christian tradition. It is this spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and bestows gifts upon the Church's faithful.






THE CHURCH WAS SUSTAINED BY THE SILK ROAD
A TRADE ROUTE KNOWN TO THE ANCIENTS
RUNNING FROM CHINA TO ROME
IT HELPED SPREAD CHRISTIANITY
ALONG ITS ROUTE

CHRISTIANITY OF ALL FLAVORS

WHY DO THEY TREAT THESE PEOPLE AS ENEMIES
WHEN THEY WERE DOING GOD’S WORK

THOMAS THE DOUBTER
REASONABLY
COULD ASK
WHY


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Thursday, July 10, 2014

WHO SPEAKS FOR CAIN

 
WHO SPEAKS FOR CAIN
 
 
THE TROUBLE BEGINS
WITH YAHWEH NOT TELLING ADAM’S FAMILY
HE WANTED BLOOD SACRIFICES ONLY
IF HE DID IT’S NOT IN THE TEXT
 
A TEXT WRITTEN MANY MILLENNIUMS
SINCE THE FIRST MAN
IT’S NOT A TRUE REPORT
BUT A RECOLLECTION OF FOLK TALES
 
REFLECTING THE TIMES
WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN
 
A TIME WHEN CRUDE NOMADS
WERE TAKING OVER THE CULTURED CANAANITES
 
WITHOUT SOME MEANING
THE STORY DOESN’T HOLD TOGETHER
AN ENGLISH TEACHER
WOULD TURN IT BACK
AS INCOMPLETE
 
SCHOLARS HAVE TRIED TO GIVE IT MEANING
THAT IT WAS FRICTION
BETWEEN HERDERS AND FARMERS
BUT IT’S CONJECTURE
IT’S NOT IN THE BOOK
 
BIBLICAL FAIRY TALES
HAVE BEEN CREATED
LIKE SATAN SPAWNED CAIN THROUGH EVE
THAT CAIN AND ABEL WERE BORN AS TWINS
THAT EACH MARRIED THE OTHER’S TWIN
 
BUT IT’S CONJECTURE
IT’S NOT IN THE BOOK

 
WHICH ISN’T TO SAY
THAT CONJECTURE
AND FAIRY TALES
HAVEN’T BECOME GOSPEL
AND PREACHED AS SUCH
 
BUT WE ARE LEFT WITH A GOD
WHO APPEARS CAPRICIOUS
FICKLE
PERSNICKETY
 
BUT IN THE MIDST OF THIS CONFUSION
THERE IS A JEWEL
WHEN GOD ASKS CAIN
WHERE’S ABEL
 
HE COMPLAINS
AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
 
THE ANSWER
THOUGH NEVER SPOKEN
THUNDERS EVEN TODAY
 
YES
 
ALL OUR RELIGIOUS THINKING
STEM FROM THAT THOUGHT
 
THE QUESTION LINGERS
WHEN WE SEE THE INEQUALITY OF WEALTH
WHEN UNJUST WARS ARE FOUGHT
WHEN FAMINE EATS THE HUNGRY
WHILE OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE GO TO THE GYM
 
THE QUESTION THUNDERS
AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER
THE ANSWER THUNDERS
EVEN IF WE WON’T LISTEN
 
YES
 
 
FRANK A VOLLMER