Please note that I am not now able to use colors to differentiate between excerpts and my narrative... Using quotes and indentation, both...
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Of all of the Psalms, this one seems to have become the most popular, especially for songwriters and musicians... (Don't forget to read my Introduction by clicking on the right column spotlight.) I have not found any that I like as well as the one I first sung, but that is me, making a choice, based upon my life, my preferences, This following one, though, provides the soul of the song, don't you think...?
Stanislaw opens his book providing the "cosmologists' vision of the beginning of the world... You know, the "big bang" theory... For this "doubting thomosino," plus a Trekkie from my early life who looked to the future as opposed to constantly analyzing the past; or, like now, some are doing wanting everything to go back as it was--you know which political party candidate is doing that--I knew one thing. Earth could not have been created by accident...
I can deal with fluctuating time periods, say, "created in 7 days" versus, many millions of years being equal in God's time... But the basic common sense that God had provided me necessitated that there was a creator somewhere... So, I went out to Google and did a search and learned that the word God was first created/coined in the 6th century... What that means is that quite some time had gone by before, God became the name for who He called Himself--I AM--which turns out to be quite a statement that clearly shows "I existed before you called ME your new word...God!" (That was me pretending to say what God may have said at some point...LOL
Stan's words are much more eloquent--lovely even-- with just a touch of snark for fundamentalists, which made me grin... As his words move us, what he is saying is quite logical! In fact, it makes more sense than you might imagine if you have ever thought about, read, or been taught the "how" of the beginning...
"Enter Metaphysics. No, metaphysics is not mumbo-jumbo. It is a branch of philosophy that attempts to find the truth behind... physics. And the rest of reality which physics does not answer adequately. Like the big bang or any bang happening out of nothing. Now that really is mumbo-jumbo. And, after all, it is a little hard to believe that Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras, Kant, Descartes, Nietzsche, Confucius, Averroes and a host of other great men might have been wrong. Have you noticed that not one of them created a religion? (Nor, did Jesus.) Not one. They developed metaphysics. So... back to the Big Bang. Or even further back. Back to the pre-bang time when there was no time. There was no becoming. There was only Being. Before time, and space was born in the phenomenal Universe. The phenomenal, ephemeral, ever-changing, illusive Universe. The Universe which Albert Einstein called an illusion. A state of constant metamorphosis. Most scientists finally agree that the Universe is not only phenomenal but eternal. In fact, the phenomenal Universe is a process. Whatever happens now may have happened many times before. What really matters is life, the journey, more so than the destination. After all, life is defined by constant change..."
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Beginning an Interpretation of Psalm 23 means exactly that... Once he establishes the terminology supporting the metaphysical/scientific reason behind the words, Kapuscinski begins by taking each phrase of the total 23rd Psalm and provides an interpreta- tion, first establishing an overview of the Psalm itself and, then, how it all began. Each section of the book builds on each of the earlier teachings....
Still, I had in mind sharing Verse 4, the one I think many of us wonder most about...
"4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Why did I choose to spotlight this statement? Because I know that many of us are afraid about what is happening in America... Our women will be more prone to die during childbirth given the changes pulling back health care... There are many moving toward a violent response to everything... more and more of our children in schools are being murdered! Is there really comfort in God, anymore?
As God created man, he came into each of our lives, to a smaller or larger extent. Some of us choose to acknowledge and move forward in that awareness. I hope you all accept that as a basis of your faith. In recognizing that reality as is learned in this book, we should and can fear no evil. Yet, we have learned that the bodies in which we live are not immune to danger of any sort, including, merely old age! But this verse states clearly that God is with us. We can have no fear... Notice that I said we "can" have no fear... Because of course, that is indeed a freedom of choice isn't it...
Let me use a specific life example. Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment, pulled in to a handicapped space in front of the door and was checking the time. Almost immediately a big truck pulled in the handicapped space beside me... His window was open, the music loud, but not loud enough for me to hear the words... I got out and went in. I passed the truck and saw two posters on the back, one related to second amendment... The other about (his feelings) which I choose not to repeat. I discovered that they needed me to wait until 10 to be able to register, given that I had arrived early. I went back to my car... and sat, deleting messages... As soon as I got in the car and just waited, the man zoomed out of the parking lot... as if disgusted I was going to be awhile and he wasn't going to wait! LOL Given I recognized a possible MAGA, I might have become afraid...but I wasn't...
I know the inseparability of my body and my God... even as I choose my own words, which may be a little different than Stan uses in his interpretation... as is David's use of the words--thy rod and thy staff comfort me... are more lyrical as a poet's would be, and also of those used at that time...but, they really all mean one thing, don't they? I thought so...
Stan goes on to say that David also recognized that what happens to us in life are corrective measures to guide us forward... Using my example above, and, as you know I've been outspoken about MAGA's violent activities... Yet, if, indeed, that man was following me which was suggested by his actions, then I weighed the threat and found it baseless for my life... and went on to deal with the reality of my continuing aged body becoming even more broken...and how to fix it!
Through Stan and so many other writers during the last 20 years or so, and presently, I am finding that more and more people are questioning "religion" as being the problem issue in today's world... Yet, I have found that those who dwell on having a relationship directly with God who dwells within us, have a much closer and positive relationship and awareness of his greatness and yet his, thankfully, knowing that each of us automatically allows our lives to always move forward... learning, using that knowledge to expand and increase all that we are and who we can become...
This is an excellent book for somebody who has never even thought of exploring what exactly the Bible they have read so often, is actually saying to us. After all, Neither God Nor Jesus wrote any part of these religious books. (That's why I've always called them Inspired). Even Jesus' words have been translated from different languages... You may find the use of new words a little strange, but you quickly get used to it as Stan moves slowly, but precisely... I recommend this book for curiosity's sake... Take a look and open your mind to the wonderful possibility of the great I AM who existed before human named him God...
And, so, I want to move on within this article and spend a little time with Stan's Dictionary! Essentially providing the front material provided by the author. The author also provides guidance on how to use the book and then proceeds directly into words in alphabetical order...
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FOREWORD:
430 B.C. Around 430 B.C. Democritus of Abdera said: Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.
Today, some two-and-a-half millennia later, the same can be said of the Old Testament of the Bible: Nothing exists but a lot of Hebrew words arranged in a linear fashion; everything else is an opinion.
Why? Because the ancient Hebrew had been written in capital letters only, in continuous lines without any breaks for paragraphs or punctuation. No proper names of either people or places had been identified in any way. All we have is a flood of words, flowing like a beautiful stream, perhaps a mighty river... All else is an opinion. For centuries self-proclaimed experts imposed their opinion on what those words mean. In extreme cases, those who disagreed with the scholars approved by the Orthodoxy had been burnt at the stake.
You needn’t worry. In most countries murder and torture for religious belief is now illegal. Today, in most countries, you can dare to think for yourself. And you must. In the Age of Aquarius, religions, all religions, have entered a protracted, lingering period of inexorable demise.
Dogmatic authoritarians are rapidly loosing their credibility. We have entered an Age of individualization. We shall be forced to think for ourselves. It is with this sentiment that I am offering my Dictionary of Biblical Symbolism. Everyone who so desires will be able to study ancient Scriptures and attempt to understand the secret, perhaps sacred knowledge, hidden in their pages. And the knowledge of the ancients is staggering. On closer examination I found no evidence of any dogmas, no promises of unearned rewards now or hereafter, but also no dire threats of eternal damnation.
But this is only my opinion. I shall not repeat the mistakes of the past by interpreting the Scriptures for you. I’m offering you the means to find your own wisdom. The rest is up to you. Good luck!
INTRODUCTION The desert, near Nag’ Hammadi 365 A.D. As the dying wind sighed and heaved among the undulating dunes, a single dark shape, a hood pulled well over his face (the desert has many eyes), made its way towards the distant cliffs. Even from afar, brother El’zaphan could detect the agonizing whimpers of ghostly howling as it slithered low over the sand from the mountain ahead—the eerie mountain they called the Jobal al’Tarif. Its jagged slopes and contorted innards, ridden with countless forbidden caves and tunnels, held many secrets. For twenty-five centuries the dark, mysterious caverns guarded the scant remains of the noblest people. Perhaps some... not so noble. They said that the spirits of the unworthy howled, aye, howled and whimpered in the desert night air. Brother El’zaphan shrugged his narrow shoulders. He knew better. He was among the few who shared in the Secret Knowledge. Soon the caves would serve once again as nature’s sarcophagus to hold and protect the most noble remains.
Those sacred volumes, or what remained of them, containing the Secret Knowledge which the inspired brethren had committed to papyrus. With such selfless love, such steadfast perseverance. At the risk of their lives. And just as well. The original Greek texts, those now translated into Coptic language, had been destroyed long ago.
By whom? By the misguided ignorant men jealous of the secrets contained within the gospels. “Gnostic gospels,” they called them. “Pseudo-knowledge!” they sneered... “The ravings of drunkards... Yes, of drunks and heretics... The knowledge of the devil!” Brother El’zaphan quickened his pace. His robe, the color of the whispering sand, gave him only partial protection from the lurking ungodly. He inhaled deeply. The cool night air filled his lungs with fresh strength after the scorching heat of the merciless desert sun. Yet the Books were heavy. It wasn’t far now. Brother El’zaphan had been chosen go alone to Jobal al’Tarif, at night, and hide the thirteen books before the bishop’s men made a burnt offering of them to their jealous god. Thirteen books containing more then fifty manuscripts that the scribes had consigned to paper with such determination.
He, El’zaphan, had helped to cover them with the very best leather. To help them last. Who knows for how long? “These are the secret words which the living Jesus spoke, and which the twin, Judas Thomas, wrote down.”(1) His parched lips moved in silence recalling the sacred stanzas. He did not really need the Holy Books anymore. He had committed them all to memory. Long ago. But what of those who will follow? It was only a question of time.
Brother El’zaphan knew that ever since Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons had written his hateful dissertations some 200 years ago, calling for “The Destruction and Overthrow of Falsely So-called Knowledge,”(2) it would only be a question of time before the Orthodox Church, the fundamentalists, would lay their hands on his beloved Books and have them burnt as heresy.
Ireneaus and his cohorts served a very jealous god. Soon the Manuscripts would be safe. Safely hidden among the caves of the dead. The Books of Life, Logos, among the silent corpses. Even the orthodox priests and deacons were afraid to enter the hollows of the departed. The wandering spirits would protect the sacred stanzas from the ungodly. For as long as it took. Until people were ready. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(3) FOOTNOTES: (1). Gospel of Thomas, gleaned from The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, thereafter referred to as TGG. (2). Irenaeus, Libros Quinque Adversus Haereses 3.11.9. Gleaned from TGG. (3). Matthew 7:6; [The Holy Bible, King James Version] Jobal al’Tarif near Nag’ Hammadi 1945 A.D.
Many years have passed since brother El’zaphan risked his life on that lonely mission across the desert sands. Perhaps he was lucky. He had managed to avoid the needle of the deadly scorpion, the prying eyes of the Bishop’s men and even the bandits who were ever ready to pounce on anyone within reach of that dreaded mountain, the Jobal al’Tarif. Even in his day some had dared to rob the graves of the departed. Perhaps brother El’zaphan had been lucky, perhaps under a Special protection.
Some 1580 years later, Muhammad ‘Ali’s mallet struck a tall earthenware jar. Quite by accident. “Gold!” he exclaimed. Then, after glancing at his brothers, he bit his lips. He would have to share his find with them. In the name of Allah! Is there no justice in this world? His mallet struck the jar first, he must get the lion’s share of the riches. But there was no gold. There were just some books, wrapped in old-looking leather. But no gold. Perhaps he could sell them for a few piasters. If not, his mother could burn them in her cooking stove. And his mother did burn some of the loose sheets. But only some.
The rest must have been well protected. Just like brother El’zaphan. It took another twenty-seven years before the first volume of photographic edition was released for publication. Nine more volumes were to emerge over the next five years.
In 1977 the first complete, English language edition was published in the United States. Perhaps it was meant to be that way?
We have now reached a stage in the history of the world when the whole of the human race as a body, or at least a large majority of people of every kind and of every race, are ready for the Second Coming of the Christ.... it is beginning to happen.... (it) is taking place now in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people.
(1) “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you”
(2) It would seem that the time is ripe for the next step in the development of the human psyche, or as the Bible prefers to call it, the human soul.
About fifteen years ago, I came across some books written by the late Emmet Fox. I read them avidly. Later, I spent a good many years trying to find out if anyone had taken up the work, which Emmet Fox had began. I could find no one. I began looking for a dictionary that would explain to me the symbolism, which, according to Emmet Fox, served to conceal or rather to protect the mysteries of Truth and Wisdom, perhaps from those who might want to destroy them as heresy.
The experience of Nag Hammadi had proven that whoever had chosen to leave over 3000 words of the King James Version of the Bible untranslated, must have done so for a good reason. I have not the slightest doubt, that if orthodox religions had the key to Biblical Symbolism, all the volumes would have been destroyed long ago as heresy. Or altered beyond recognition. Orthodoxy demands conformity and obedience and doctrinal conformity defines the orthodox faith. Effulgent diversity defines Divine creation.
The two are at odds. I have no degree in theology nor a doctorate in Divinity, though I had been offered the latter title, for $10 U.S. by post, when I visited Florida in 1982. I also lay no claims to divine revelations, though I believe that we all serve as channels through which the Divine reveals Itself to us. I do claim to have read a number of books and done some considerable research which, I hope, will serve the reader to look beyond the letter of the law and recognize the spirit thereof.
I offer no more than a few brief examples of the manner in which the Dictionary of Biblical Symbolism can be used, or applied to the original Biblical text. The examples are to serve as illustrations of how symbolism can be applied to unravel the allegories, and to increase our understanding of the original authors’ intent. In my opinion the Dictionary works. Whether it will work for all the Books of the Bible, I have no idea. If not, I hope the readers will contribute additional information, which will augment and complement the work I have done to date.
I firmly believe that anyone who lays claim to possessing the final key to the total wisdom hidden in the Bible is both presumptuous and absurd. After all, those who will venture on this exciting journey of discovery should bear in mind that the Bible (Gk. biblos, a book) had been written by and for ancient people, living mostly in the Orient, under very different conditions and needs to ours and, perhaps most of all, for people who could neither read nor write.
The Books had been written in the ancient languages of Hebrew and Greek, the first of which did not even make use of vowels, as we know them, and the second of which few of the present day Greeks can understand.
Furthermore, the Truth, or the deeper sense that the authors intended to convey, is hidden behind symbol, while the allegories are typical of their time, their customs and their spiritual needs.
It has been said that Truth is One for all time. I have no intention to dispute this thesis but, if so, than I am sure that it must be constantly rediscovered. I
t is my contention, however, that there is Secret Knowledge in the biblical writings. Furthermore and in spite of innumerable difficulties, the Truth seems to flow in great abundance to him, or her, who takes the trouble to look beyond the obvious.
All too often the principle problem seems to lay not in the translation or the etymological origin of the word per se, but rather in our inability to rise above the belief in our own limitations to cope with such problems. But most of all, we seem to refuse to let go of our established mindset, our preconceived ideas.
Of one thing I am certain. Should we put as much effort into the pursuit of Truth, biblical or otherwise, as we do into almost any other facet of our day to day existence, we would advance on the scale of spiritual evolution at the same pace as we presently advance in physics, or chemistry, or medicine, or any branch of pure or applied sciences.
Principal Rules Governing Biblical Symbolism There are very few such rules. 1. All the names of geographical locations, cities, towns, deserts, even houses, dwellings and tents symbolize conditions in which a soul may find itself at the particular moment when the story is being recounted. The names therefore refer to different states of consciousness the soul or psyche may enter on its path towards Self-Realization.
2. The personal names of the biblical characters, including their titles: mean something. There are over 3000 proper names (of places, tribes or individuals) in the Bible which have been left untranslated. Why? To protect the Truth? Possibly. In the Bible the name always describes or symbolizes the nature or the principle traits of character of the person so named.
3. The Bible appears to assume that every person on earth is an Individualization of the Infinite Consciousness. As such we all must define and express a different aspect of the One Truth. “We are all children of God”.(3) Therefore, as there are no two identical blades of grass, it would be absurd to assume all souls are identical. We must postulate that each of us take charge of our own spiritual growth and find our own interpretation of those parts of the Bible, which are necessary for our individual development.
4. It is of absolutely no consequence whether the events or places described in the Bible have a “real” i.e. physical background or a recognizable geographical location. Whether or not they are historically valid is of absolutely no consequence. Spirit knows neither place nor time. The interpretation of biblical symbolism and allegory neither denies nor confirms the “physical” meaning contained therein.
5. Often a number of actual or apparently divergent or even contradictory meanings are given for the same word. One of the reasons for such apparent confusion is that, according to the English translation, the same Hebrew word is used to name a mountain, a city, a man or a group of people. The student must decide if and when to apply any of the meanings suggested. [In my research, I also found instances where more than one Hebrew spelling is given for the same English translation]. The countless scholars responsible for the superb body of knowledge comprising the bibliography which often inspired, and equally as often confirmed my own years of study attest to a proven scholarship and erudition far greater than any to which I, or anyone alone, could aspire. Yet those diverse sources, more often than not, disagree on the precise translation of any particular word. In fact, on occasion, the sources provide either more than one possible meaning, or offer an answer with a question mark. And these gentlemen are acknowledged experts in the field!
Why such subterfuge? The Bible has been written essentially in two languages; the Old Testament in Hebrew, and the New Testament in ancient or classical Greek. Greek is a relatively easy puzzle to resolve, but Hebrew? To find the meaning of the Hebrew words the scholars had to reach back to etymological roots of over a dozen ancient languages. In my studies I came across references to: Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic, Assyrian, Avestan, Babylonian, Egyptian, Ethiopic, Greek, Hebrew, Masoteric Text, Old Persian, Sanskrit, Syriac, Ugaritic... I am sure the list goes on. And even then, before the scholars could reach out to the etymological roots of comparative sounds, they had to decide on the Hebrew letters or phonetics. And that could not have been easy. The prophets may well have been divinely inspired, but the scribes were eminently human. Consider, for instance, that the Hebrew letters “y” and “w” (often transliterated as “i” and “u”) are so similar in appearance and in the manuscripts are virtually indistinguishable.
But my work is not intended to baffle a curious reader. If the scholars could not agree on the ‘correct’ translation of any particular proper name, I decided to offer both, or three, or four of their best efforts. Whatever I accumulated over the years. After all, whatever the translation, the Dictionary is intended to inspire the readers to discover spiritual truth, not to impress them with the etymological roots of unpronounceable words. The Dictionary does not necessarily offer the meanings but rather the ideas that the words, sites, places or people symbolize. I repeat that I am not in the least concerned with the geographical location of a city called Bethel, but with the symbol the word represents. The translation of the word Bethel is: house of God, but the symbol behind the meaning refers to a state of raised consciousness. Furthermore, I do not mean to imply that all the “names” must invariably carry a “hidden” meaning. More often than not, the translation itself provides the key to the spiritual intent of the inspired writer.
Finally, a word about the methods which many biblical scribes have used to protect their ancient revelations. For some reason there are people who imagine that although Jesus taught using, almost exclusively, the form of a parable or allegory, this teaching method was not known to the people of the Old Testament. These present-day adherents to orthodoxy [a somewhat questionable title derived from orthos: correct, and doxa: opinion] choose to retain their belief in spite of abundant references to the allegorical method of teaching in both the New and the Old Books of the Testament (see below). The Hebrews were always steeped in tradition, probably more so than any other race in the world. We can rest confident in the knowledge that if we cannot detect an allegory in the traditional Hebrew writings, than there is an excellent chance that we cannot, as yet, understand the true meaning of the scriptural teachings.
Let us at least try! In the Old Testament there are no less then nineteen references to the use of parable as a tool for teaching. We find those references widely spread in the Books of Numbers, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ezekiel, Micah and Habakkuk.(4) But even this abundant proof is greatly surpassed in the New Testament. Here we find no less then forty-four references to the parable (Gk. parabole) in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.(5) The gospel of John avoids reference to the word as such, but not to the teaching method itself. Thus if we had any doubt that allegory or parable are the normal teaching methods employed in most if not all of the Bible, then surely, such doubts must now be totally dispelled.
What remains now is to recognize the parables as such, then to interpret them. Judging by the literary output of the orthodox religions over the last one or two thousand years, no one will do it for us. A question begs to be asked:
Should the whole Bible be translated into a modern day language? I most sincerely hope not! To lose the flow of the inspired poetry, the lyrical beauty of David’s Psalms, the sheer enchantment of so many stories told in the most vibrant allegories... to lose the thrill of great expectation... to lose all that—only to convert this compendium of mystery and vision into a dry, impersonal, long-winded, religious mystification would be a crime. And after all, let us not forget what Jesus said some two millennia ago, when his disciples had asked him why he spoke in parables. His response: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (6) Why? Perhaps only a few were ready—then. Before we plunge headlong into the new adventure, it is important that we all agree and attach the same meaning to the words: symbol, allegory and parable. Noah Webster defines them as follows: (7) symbol, n. [Fr. symbole; L. symbolum; Gk. symbolon, a token, pledge, a sign by which one infers a thing, from symballein, to throw together, compare; syn., together, and ballein, to throw.] (further Webster definitions follow...) allegory, n. [L. allegoria; Gk. allegoria, description of one thing under the image of another; from allos, other and agoreuein, to speak in the assembly; agora, a place of assembly.] 1. a story in which people, things and happenings have another meaning, as in a fable or parable: allegories are used for teaching or explaining. 2. the presentation of ideas by means of such stories; symbolical narration or description. (other examples follow... ) parable, n. [O.Fr. parabole, from Latin parabola, from Gk. parabole from paraballein, to throw beside, to compare; para, beside, and ballein to throw.] 1. a short, simple story from which a moral lesson may be drawn; it is usually an allegory. 2. an obscure or enigmatic saying. The King James Version of the Holy Bible defines a parable as a religious allegory.(8) Having established the semantics, let us briefly consider the broader meaning of a ‘symbol’. Is not every word a symbol? Is not a symbol that which invokes a certain image in our mind? If so, then the best I can hope to do is it to offer to you an “up-to-date” symbol with which you are conversant for one with which you might be less familiar. On the other hand, the symbols employed in the Bible are of a universal nature, as though ingrained deep in the human psyche. We respond to them at a subliminal level, without conscious awareness. Or, as Carl Jung would have it: “a word or an image is symbolic when it implies something more that its obvious and immediate meaning.” And later he qualifies: “As the mind explores the symbol, it is led to ideas that lie beyond the grasp of reason.”(9) The ideas are not ‘unreasonable’, they go beyond reason, or as a student of the Bible could say, into the realm of the unconscious—onto the threshold of spirit. This is the principle reason why every person (who is interested in self-knowledge) must engage in their own interpretation of the Bible, as the unconscious is a personal, subjective, individual property of every man, woman and child. Joseph Campbell issues a second warning. He asserts that: “Symbols are only the vehicles of communication; they must not be mistaken for the final term, the tenor, of their reference.”(10) I choose to assume that Mr. Campbell refers to the communication between our conscious and unconscious mind. Perhaps even with our spirit, our Higher Self. Today, the desert wind blowing from Nag Hammadi promises to raise the veil of mystery it has held for a duration. The powers of orthodoxy no longer wield the authority to burn a heretic [from Gk. haireticos: able to choose] at the stake, nor even to effectively threaten with fire and brimstone the soul which is ready to embark on the glorious path of self-discovery. Yet now, even as two millennia ago, we shall find that we all must make a very special effort. For the real veil hiding the Truth is neither in the desert sands, nor in the allegory nor symbol. It is drawn across our own eyes. Perhaps, if we try just a little harder, if we muster just a little more courage, if we have just a little more faith in the Silent Voice whispering in our soul, the mysteries of the Kingdom shall be given to us. As always, there is no free ride. I offer you the best key to the Pearly Gates I could find. The rest is up to you. We have entered the age of Aquarius. The symbol of the age is a man watering his garden. His own garden. The garden of his own consciousness. Good luck. FOOTNOTES: (1). Diagrams for Living by Emmet Fox, (2). Eleine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels. From the Introduction pg. xiii [Gospel of Thomas logion 70] Another translation: Jesus said: If you bring forth that within yourselves, that which you have will save you. If you do not have that within yourselves, that which you do not have within you will kill you. [The Gospel According to Thomas, Publ. Leiden E.J. Brill] (3). Galatians 3:26; (4). The actual examples are provided in the Analytical Concordance to the Bible, [ACB] on pg. 730 (5). Matthew 13:11 (6). pg. 98 of the CONCORDANCE; HB. (7). WEBSTER'S New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged, Second Edition, (8). Matthew13:11
Kapuscinski's Dictionary is approximately 230 pages based upon his research, as well, as the use of the Bible itself and other sources, including as above, Webster's Dictionary. I have made no real use of this book; however, I can attest to its intent, based upon his opening. He provides exactly what the reader needs to know as to whether he wishes to take on the monumental task, which for me, and even Stan, may be too late in our lives...
On the other hand, I think Stan, especially, and I, as even more recently, have opened our hearts, our mind to the reality of being "ONE" with God... May we always strive to move forward to the future of what He, Himself, has in store for each one of us. And may we be open to all that the possibility means to us, to America, to the Earth and to the Universe...
God Bless Us All,
May We Find Each Day
How to move Forward...
GABixlerReviews
Note I was able to use 2 different colors for the second book because I planned to do so...The first one would have required an ability to introduce color as needed. At present this is not functioning. I have reported the change, seeking support.
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