Grasp the Sorrow of Jesus in Your Own Life

Join us for the STAR Interfaith Leadership Training Conference November 24 to 26 in Harpers Ferry, WV.
This conference details the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual benefits of a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage.  Your children under age 19 can attend with you for free!  What a great opportunity to discuss crucial issues with your children!
Informed choice between a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage and one of non-abstinence is a crucial issue for societal stability and personal happiness.
This conference provides a practical and Biblical framework for understanding the benefits of practicing sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage.
Register or find out more:  http://www.urbanlifetraining.org/index.php/281-star-interfaith-leadership-training-conference

Revelation 5

11 As I looked, I heard the voices of a lot of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12 and they were saying in a loud voice,

“The Lamb who was killed
    is worthy to receive power,
riches, wisdom, strength,
    honor, glory, and praise.”

Jeremiah

13 I am the Lord God of Israel, and I made an agreement with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, where they had been slaves. 14 As part of this agreement, you must let a Hebrew slave go free after six years of service.

Your ancestors did not obey me, 15-16 but you decided to obey me and do the right thing by setting your Hebrew slaves completely free. You even went to my temple, and in my name you made an agreement to set them free. But you have abused my name, because you broke your agreement and forced your former slaves back into slavery.

17 You have disobeyed me by not giving your slaves their freedom. So I will give you freedom—the freedom to die in battle or from disease or hunger. I will make you disgusting to all other nations on earth.

Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
April 13, 1958

Therefore, we must not see Jesus as the figure of a bygone era. We must seek and attend him as Jesus of the present reality. When Jesus was going around to different villages and being persecuted, he found enemies everywhere he went. His path became more perilous and rough. Among the people God had been grooming for 4,000 years, Jesus could not find even one friend who welcomed him gladly. You have to feel this situation of Jesus in the present.

Although many sects, countless people and priests had waited for the Messiah, when he actually appeared there was no one who welcomed him. How would God have felt observing this situation? If you were living in the age of Jesus 2,000 years ago, how can you guarantee you would not become like the Pharisees and Sadducees? You have to reflect upon yourselves. If the Jesus who came in the past is the Jesus of the present and the future, then only when you can fathom and be connected to the heart of Jesus of the past can you welcome the Jesus of the present and of the future at the time of the new world. Continue reading “Grasp the Sorrow of Jesus in Your Own Life”

Jesus Did Not Have A True Friend

Join us for the STAR Interfaith Leadership Training Conference November 24 to 26 in Harpers Ferry, WV.
This conference details the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual benefits of a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage.  Your children under age 19 can attend with you for free!  What a great opportunity to discuss crucial issues with your children!
Informed choice between a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage and one of non-abstinence is a crucial issue for societal stability and personal happiness.
This conference provides a practical and Biblical framework for understanding the benefits of practicing sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage.
Register or find out more:  http://www.urbanlifetraining.org/index.php/281-star-interfaith-leadership-training-conference

CSG 1644

The entire creation is interconnected
through the structure of the pair sys-
tem. This is true even for the mineral
world. Everything operates either posi-
tively or negatively. Despite the earth
having its own gravitational pull, we
can clearly see the workings of a pow-
erful magnet because its pull is locally
stronger than that of the earth. All ele-
ments also work positively and nega-
tively, though not strongly enough to be
seen. Certain clearly determined move-
ments occur when an electric current
flows between the positive and nega-
tive poles of a circuit. What is the cen-
ter of the pair system? It is the central
axis which connects the two elements in
a principled way, namely the axis of love.
Thus, the chemical elements of the min-
eral world fuse together according to the
laws of attraction. Elements that repel
each other cannot become one, even at
God’s command, and even if the master
of the laboratory made strenuous efforts
to bring them together for thousands of
years. (197-164, 1990.1.13)

CSG 1346

esus did not just have twelve apos-
tles and 70 disciples. On the day of Pen-
tecost after his ascension, 120 follow-
ers gathered to begin their worldwide
missionary work. They are represented
by 120 nations. At the time of the 120
Couples Blessing, the United Nations
had 124 member states. The number of
couples actually blessed was 124, out
of which four had been criminals from
the four directions of north, south, east,
and west. Included among 124 couples
are criminals who were convicted once,
twice, thrice, and even four times. Why?
It is because we have to save even those
who are in hell. We need to save those
who are imprisoned. (215-129, 1991.2.6)

Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
April 13, 1958

You have to understand that the more Jesus felt that all things of creation in heaven and earth are bound by the bitter grief of the fall, the more he realized God’s sadness, in looking upon this situation, pierced into all things. He then became more serious. Growing up as the son of a poor carpenter, unable as yet to emerge as the Messiah, he led a life of silence, making preparations to proclaim the will of Heaven. Even as he did that, he possessed an unchanging, singular heart toward Heaven, a heart that reached out to all people. The more intense became his heart of love toward Heaven and humanity, the more concern he felt, which he could not express to anyone. No one then realized that he bore such great concern alone. The members of Joseph’s family could not feel this determined heart of Jesus as the distress of Heaven, the heart which yearned to save humanity.

However, even in this environment, Jesus had the mission to reveal the words of the Gospel to the Israelites and have them lift high the signal light of a new revolution. Therefore, he needed someone who could become one in heart with him. Jesus had to point out the direction of the heavenly principles and reestablish the way of the human principles centering on Judaism. More than any other factor, the fact that Jesus did not have anyone who could represent the heart of Heaven and the historical heart of humanity is the crucial reason he could not fulfill the providence of the restoration of God. Continue reading “Jesus Did Not Have A True Friend”

Jesus is Needed Throughout All of History

1 Thessalonians

19 Don’t turn away God’s Spirit 20 or ignore prophecies. 21 Put everything to the test. Accept what is good 22 and don’t have anything to do with evil.

23 I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.

Psalm 91

19 Don’t turn away God’s Spirit 20 or ignore prophecies. 21 Put everything to the test. Accept what is good 22 and don’t have anything to do with evil.

23 I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.

Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
April 13, 1958

Jesus, who came 2,000 years ago, is not someone who was needed only by the Jewish people at the time. He was needed by humanity, throughout the 2,000-year course of history after that. He is not only someone you need today. He is needed for the construction of the garden of peace which God desires on the earth. Consequently, all people and all things are still yearning for the time when all can become one, centering on the returning Jesus. Appearing before the throne of the Father, with the song of victory, they will offer a glorious welcome. In other words, Jesus is an essential person for Heaven, for human beings on earth, and for all things of the creation. Continue reading “Jesus is Needed Throughout All of History”

Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn

Happy Veterans Day.  Thank you to all of our Veterans!

This conference details the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual benefits of a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage.  Your children under age 19 can attend with you for free!  What a great opportunity to discuss crucial issues with your children!

Join us for the STAR Interfaith Leadership Training Conference November 24 to 26 in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Informed choice between a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage and one of non-abstinence is a crucial issue for societal stability and personal happiness.
This conference provides a practical and Biblical framework for understanding the benefits of practicing sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage.
Register or find out more:  http://www.urbanlifetraining.org/index.php/281-star-interfaith-leadership-training-conference

CSG 2372

The seventh verse says, “Our Fam-
ily Pledges to perfect a world based on
the culture of heart, which is rooted in
the original lineage, through living for
the sake of others, by centering on true
love.” You must be rooted in the origi-
nal lineage. You must perfect a world
based on the culture of heart rooted in
the original lineage. Nothing can stop
you from doing anything once you have
reached there. You are free even in hell
as well as in heaven. The Family Pledge
not only covers the general outline of
the providence, but includes the pref-
ace, main contents, and conclusion. It
is the encapsulation of the entire Princi-
ple. I am sure your thoughts will change
after hearing such words from me. This
will become the contents you tell your
descendants after having established the
heavenly kingdom. (280-35, 1996.10.13)

CSG 489

What kind of couple are the ideal
husband and wife we speak about in the
Unification Church. They are a married
couple who can turn the highest art into
reality. They are a couple who can turn
the highest literature into reality. Before
we come into contact with the highest
level of art in the world, the highest and
sweetest love shared by the husband and
wife has to be the best work of art in the
world. It has to be the best work of lit-
erature and the real body of literature.
(22-269, 1969.5.4)

Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
April 13, 1958

Matthew 27: 1-56

27 Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation’s leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.

Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders and said, “I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong.”

“So what? That’s your problem,” they replied. Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the money and said, “This money was paid to have a man killed. We can’t put it in the temple treasury.” Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. That’s why people still call that place “Field of Blood.” So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,

“They took
    the thirty silver coins,
the price of a person
    among the people of Israel.
10 They paid it
    for a potter’s field,[a]
as the Lord
    had commanded me.”

11 Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Those are your words!” Jesus answered. 12 And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing.

13 Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear what crimes they say you have done?” 14 But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.

15 During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. 16 At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas[b]was in jail. 17 So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, “Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous.

19 While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. 21 Pilate asked the crowd again, “Which of these two men do you want me to set free?”

“Barabbas!” they replied.

22 Pilate asked them, “What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”

They all yelled, “Nail him to a cross!”

23 Pilate answered, “But what crime has he done?”

“Nail him to a cross!” they yelled even louder.

24 Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands[c] in front of them and said, “I won’t have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!”

25 Everyone answered, “We and our own families will take the blame for his death!”

26 Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

27 The governor’s soldiers led Jesus into the fortress[d] and brought together the rest of the troops. 28 They stripped off Jesus’ clothes and put a scarlet robe[e] on him. 29 They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, “Hey, you king of the Jews!” 30 Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.

31 When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 32 On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.

33 They came to a place named Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull.”[f] 34 There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it.

35 The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 36 Then they sat down to guard him. 37 Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.

39 People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and 40 shouted, “So you’re the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God’s Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

41 The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him. 43 He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God’s Son.” 44 The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.

45 At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o’clock. 46 Then about that time Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”[g]which means, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”

47 Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”[h] 48 One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus.

49 Others said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah will come[i] and save him.” 50 Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died.

51 At once the curtain in the temple[j] was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. 52 Graves opened, and many of God’s people were raised to life. 53 Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people.

54 The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”

55 Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. 56 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John[k]were some of these women.

The title of the sermon I am going to give is, “Let Us Become Someone Who Can Hold Jesus’ Body and Mourn.” You must feel once again that Jesus, in whom you believe, was sent as the great prophet of the heavenly principles, with the mission from Heaven to restore all things. He is the center of hope for which all things, human beings and Heaven have longed.

Discern Who the Lord of the Second Coming Is

Did you know that West Virginia is one of only three states that do not allow religious or conscientious exemptions for mandatory vaccines for school admittance?
Dr Chanda Adkins, expert on Vaccines and Vaccine Choice will speak at the opening session of STAR Interfaith Leadership Training via Zoom teleconference on November 24th, 2017 in Harpers Ferry, WV.  This session is free and open to all community members. Registration is required.  Register here for Dr. Chanda Adkins only.  Click Here to Register Now for Dr. Adkins presentation, only.

Join us for the STAR Interfaith Leadership Training Conference November 24 to 26 in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Informed choice between a lifestyle of sexual abstinence before marriage and one of non-abstinence is a crucial issue for societal stability and personal happiness.
This conference provides a practical and scriptural framework for understanding the benefits of practicing sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage. 

Genesis 45

14 Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and started crying. 15 Joseph was still crying as he kissed each of his other brothers. After this, they started talking with Joseph.

Proverbs 1

These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
    the son of David.
Proverbs will teach you
    wisdom and self-control
    and how to understand
    sayings with deep meanings.
You will learn what is right
    and honest and fair.
From these, an ordinary person
    can learn to be smart,
    and young people can gain
    knowledge and good sense.

If you are already wise,
    you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
    proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom
    and all kinds of riddles.
Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
    of knowledge.[a]
    Only a fool rejects wisdom
    and good advice.

The True Shepherd and His Flock; the False Shepherd and His Flock

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
April 6, 1958

What must you become? You must become God’s flock of sheep. For the last 6,000 years, God has been calling for and looking for a flock of true sheep over whom Heaven and earth can rejoice. Moreover, He is seeking that flock of sheep today. He will seek them tomorrow too.

Where is the flock of sheep God and Jesus can rejoice over? If you want to become a true flock of sheep, you must be able to discern the voice of the true shepherd. In the same way that there are two worlds representing the internal and external ideology of God, there is an appeal for the truth which represents the internal world and an appeal for the truth which represents the external world.
Continue reading “Discern Who the Lord of the Second Coming Is”