Nothing on earth will ever supplant human will power. Over and over again I have seen a great idea ignited by a far-reaching imagination bloom as a person refuses to allow negative influences extinguish his righteous vision.. God gave people the ability to think and to act with free will. When human will pleases God, the resulting force reaches miraculous proportions.
My favorite quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to the human obligation to use power with love in any chosen endeavor.
“Power without love is reckless and abusive,
and love without power is sentimental and anemic.
Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice,
and justice at its best is power correcting
everything that stands against love.”
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
History shows the "justice" of a prevailing time may be scarred by evil. Such was the justice of segregation in the days of the civil rights movement. Then, even the law and public officials in many states of America ignored basic standards of equality and goodwill. Instead of seeking the understanding of a loving God, these people recklessly sought to increase their own power by dominating the minority.
When a system of any kind devalues the common good and grows intent on damaging society, it quickly bloats ripe with corruption. Why? Because unjust criminal enterprises gorge themselves on greed, money, and power. In such a case, we, as citizens, have the duty to make right the wrongs. The worst criminal damage and disregard stems from greedy individuals intent on their own personal gains despite the pain they inflict upon those they consider inferior.
Our history of freedom has been perpetuated through the actions of those who understood their obligation to act in the face of Godless oppression and evil. Countless events -- the American Revolution, the Civil War, the passage of necessary Constitutional Amendments, the World Wars, the struggles for social change and human rights -- bear witness to this axiom: "Good will eventually prevail over evil."
Too often, the weak-willed and the weak in spirit decide to remain uncommitted to work for change because they either lack the need to understand the problem or because they lack the desire to choose a position which, undoubtedly, will open them to other people's scorn and discontent. I believe God may allow the meek to inherit the earth. (Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12), but the earth they inherit may be unfit for habitation unless warriors of the time preserve the true principles of justice.
Using power to overcome evil is absolutely necessary. Today, people frequently see power misused and the misuse of power unpunished; thus, they develop negative connotations of the word. But, power in positive social movements enables immediate change, which is often desperately important to save needless deaths.
This idea leads into the Christian obligation to unify and to carry out necessary actions. I believe a faith without action is a stagnant faith doomed to subservience and temporal evil. Is it possible that angels of God have the duty of enforcement?
History recounts that the most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Arepagite in the 4th or 5th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (The Celetial Heirarchy).
"POWERS are the sixth ranking Order of Angels. Powers have been credited as being the first Order of Angels created by God. They are responsible for maintaining the border between Heaven and Earth. Acting as a sort of elite guard, they constantly watch for demonic attack.
"They are the major line of defense and battle during heavenly warfare. It is their duty to protect the world from the infiltration of demons. They protect our souls from these evil beings and act as ministers of God who avenge evil in the world. It was also believed that at death, the Powers guide our transition to Heaven."
For many, this angelic interpretation may present a new meaning of "the Heavenly Powers that be." I maintain that "power" does exist on earth. It can be used for good or for evil. And, when undertaken with the love of God, power can incite righteous behaviors and contribute to good works. Now, I understand, a person's good works won't get him into heaven, but they will certainly make his life and the life of others on earth more heaven-like.
Isn't it true that most people are so busy living their complicated 21st century lives full of work, demanding extracurricular schedules, appointments, home obligations, and stress that they don't care to become involved in movements or work they see as the concern of professionals -- those in enforcement, courts, social science, the health field, large organizations? We all would rather "let someone more qualified take care of things."
When I was young, my parents instilled another axiom in my brain: "The world does not owe you a thing." This advice has echoed throughout my life in so many things I have heard and read. It is incumbent that simple people like you and me rise to the occasion when we identify wrongdoing. We must work to insure our own freedom and peace of mind, not to mention health and welfare. Our powerful human will serves each of us in times of crises. As God solidifies the goodness of our will, our force becomes indomitable.
This "pass the buck" indifference is the nature of those who refuse to help the cause to end drug abuse. When we let statements such as the following fuel our inaction, we perpetuate the suffering of others and of ourselves.
Society is "you and me." All the good things and all the ills in our social structure impact our personal lives. No one in Scioto County can say that drug abuse has NOT affected their lives in very NEGATIVE ways. WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS. We have a population of 74, 499 people, each possessing an unbounded human will. We can solve the problems created by drug abuse if we ALL commit our wills to God, to love, and to our fellow human beings. Just remember one more old axiom: "Actions speak louder than words."
Some "Echos" That Have Affected Me
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -John F. Kennedy
When a system of any kind devalues the common good and grows intent on damaging society, it quickly bloats ripe with corruption. Why? Because unjust criminal enterprises gorge themselves on greed, money, and power. In such a case, we, as citizens, have the duty to make right the wrongs. The worst criminal damage and disregard stems from greedy individuals intent on their own personal gains despite the pain they inflict upon those they consider inferior.
Our history of freedom has been perpetuated through the actions of those who understood their obligation to act in the face of Godless oppression and evil. Countless events -- the American Revolution, the Civil War, the passage of necessary Constitutional Amendments, the World Wars, the struggles for social change and human rights -- bear witness to this axiom: "Good will eventually prevail over evil."
Too often, the weak-willed and the weak in spirit decide to remain uncommitted to work for change because they either lack the need to understand the problem or because they lack the desire to choose a position which, undoubtedly, will open them to other people's scorn and discontent. I believe God may allow the meek to inherit the earth. (Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12), but the earth they inherit may be unfit for habitation unless warriors of the time preserve the true principles of justice.
Using power to overcome evil is absolutely necessary. Today, people frequently see power misused and the misuse of power unpunished; thus, they develop negative connotations of the word. But, power in positive social movements enables immediate change, which is often desperately important to save needless deaths.
This idea leads into the Christian obligation to unify and to carry out necessary actions. I believe a faith without action is a stagnant faith doomed to subservience and temporal evil. Is it possible that angels of God have the duty of enforcement?
History recounts that the most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Arepagite in the 4th or 5th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (The Celetial Heirarchy).
"POWERS are the sixth ranking Order of Angels. Powers have been credited as being the first Order of Angels created by God. They are responsible for maintaining the border between Heaven and Earth. Acting as a sort of elite guard, they constantly watch for demonic attack.
"They are the major line of defense and battle during heavenly warfare. It is their duty to protect the world from the infiltration of demons. They protect our souls from these evil beings and act as ministers of God who avenge evil in the world. It was also believed that at death, the Powers guide our transition to Heaven."
For many, this angelic interpretation may present a new meaning of "the Heavenly Powers that be." I maintain that "power" does exist on earth. It can be used for good or for evil. And, when undertaken with the love of God, power can incite righteous behaviors and contribute to good works. Now, I understand, a person's good works won't get him into heaven, but they will certainly make his life and the life of others on earth more heaven-like.
Isn't it true that most people are so busy living their complicated 21st century lives full of work, demanding extracurricular schedules, appointments, home obligations, and stress that they don't care to become involved in movements or work they see as the concern of professionals -- those in enforcement, courts, social science, the health field, large organizations? We all would rather "let someone more qualified take care of things."
When I was young, my parents instilled another axiom in my brain: "The world does not owe you a thing." This advice has echoed throughout my life in so many things I have heard and read. It is incumbent that simple people like you and me rise to the occasion when we identify wrongdoing. We must work to insure our own freedom and peace of mind, not to mention health and welfare. Our powerful human will serves each of us in times of crises. As God solidifies the goodness of our will, our force becomes indomitable.
This "pass the buck" indifference is the nature of those who refuse to help the cause to end drug abuse. When we let statements such as the following fuel our inaction, we perpetuate the suffering of others and of ourselves.
* You can't get rid of illegal drugs; they will always be there.
* You are fighting a losing battle against a government that profits from the illegal drug trade.
* Just legalize all drugs and let the junkies die because we would be better off without them.
* People make the decision to take illegal drugs, so no one else is to blame.
* My family raised me not to do drugs, and that's the only way to stop drug abuse.
Society is "you and me." All the good things and all the ills in our social structure impact our personal lives. No one in Scioto County can say that drug abuse has NOT affected their lives in very NEGATIVE ways. WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS. We have a population of 74, 499 people, each possessing an unbounded human will. We can solve the problems created by drug abuse if we ALL commit our wills to God, to love, and to our fellow human beings. Just remember one more old axiom: "Actions speak louder than words."
Some "Echos" That Have Affected Me
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -John F. Kennedy
"Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good." -Mohandas Gandhi
"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men." -George Orwell
"Power has only one duty - to secure the social welfare of the People." -Benjamin Disraeli
