Republics and empires

There are two examples of how republics became empires -

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,

The Galactic Republic was guarded by the Jedi, particularly from the Sith, which were an evil order of Force sensitive individuals that used the dark side of the Force.  Often times a Sith student would kill his master and gain his Dark side powers.  One Sith master in particular, Darth Sideous, also known as Senator Palpatine had several students.  They were Darth Maul and Lord Taranus, known also as Count Dooku.  Palpatine took the seat as Supreme Chancellor, and seduced Obi Wan's padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force.  Palpatine named him Darth Vader.  Vader killed Jedi younglings, as well as killing his own wife, Padme, who was a senator of Naboo.  Padme was once queen of Naboo.  Padme gave birth to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa.  Obi Wan separated them at birth to hide them from Palpatine, who became Galactic Emperor.  There was a rebellion against the empire that lasted several years.  In the process, two Death Stars were built, one that destroyed Alderann in a test fire and one that was incomplete and was destroyed by Lando Calrisian who joined the Rebellion after helping rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt.  Even if this was make-believe, it is an allegory of how evil can take root in a political system and about good vs evil.

Another empire happened on this planet.  It was Rome, and Rome started as a republic.  Emperors were considered divine (none of us are dieties) and their word was law.  They persecuted Christians, the two worst ones were Nero and Diocletion.

Another almost empire started as the Wiemer Republic.  It was formed after World War I.  Hitler rose to power in this case.  He systematically killed 8 million Jews, 3 million Gypsies and countless anarchists and communists in death camps.

We must never have anymore empires.  We considered the USSR the "Evil Empire" and the USA has been involved in wars in Central America, Iraq and Afghanastan.

Faith without deeds

Faith and Deeds

 ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
 ²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
 ²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

My Testimony

I heard arguments between my parents.  I then never wanted to marry.  I never really cared about anything but myself.  I liked heavy metal when I was a teenager, and only looked at women as sex objects.

I then got into Wicca, and that belief system taught me to respect women.  I was only a solitary then, but I watched Captian Planet, and that taught me to care about the planet.  I went to the Central America anti-intervention protests in the 1990's.  I got involved in a coven, and several things changed me.

Then I once took too much LSD at Grateful Dead shows and became mentally ill.  I once had a fearful trip where I was in hell.  When I was comming down off the acid, I later realized I needed to quit LSD, though I still did it.

I ended up in a small town called Enterprise and lived there for ten years, where I met a Native American woman who got me saved.  I did my best with her though she was emotionally needy.  I soon stabbed myself before I accepted Jesus.  Later on I did my best to help Wiccans and Christians understand eachother and care for eachother.  I still had much pent-up anger and had bad fits over cigarettes.  I cried and meditated over it and dealt with it.  Though I listened to heavy metal, I did quit Slayer, a known satanic metal band and I never liked Metalopolis on KUFO.  I still like Megadeth, and beleive they care.  I learned to care for the planet.  I have beleived I was once Anikin Skywalker in a past life, the one who became Darth Vader, and the one who threw the Galactic Emperor down a shaft. (I was pretty good at space-piloting games on computers.  I went back into Wicca for a while, but I do admit I need Jesus.

Lukewarm Christians - A warning

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Revelation 3:14-22

New International Version (NIV)

To the Church in Laodicea

    ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:    These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
   ¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
   ²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus Christ

Jesus loves everyone.  He is Lord and he does discipline his children.  It is totally unfogiveable to say anything against the Holy Spirit.  God strikes people dead for that sin.  I heard about some people at a rodeo that got that for committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  The best way to combat Satan is to praise the Lord.

Dear Church

I am NOT Jesus Christ.  I'm a Christian blogger.

Old Glory