Holy Pontiff,

I am not a saint, neither am I Paul, but I also have a penchant for the writing of epistles. O thou Commander of the faithful, although you may be small in your own eyes, are you not the leader of the largest block of Europe’s population. Your Holy See, if democracy is all about numbers, then you carry the voice of Europe and so I beseech thee with due humility to speak to your followers and their political leaders.

Holy Father, I am sure you do know about the never-ending episodic massacre of African youths off the coast of Europe. My fingers shudder as I type these words for my mind is drawn to my cousin who perished on this same journey a couple of years back. A neighboring village close to my hometown lost three young lives this week and the death toll keeps rising. Every time I log on Facebook, a friend is announcing or lamenting the loss of a loved one close the doorsteps of the Vatican.

Holy Father, although you are not holding political office, the Church’s mission to bring the message of Christ to our continent came in tandem with the political domination of our people, so your office and that of EU President are no strange bedfellows. Certainly, I got a cue this week when Cuban leader Raul Castro thanked you for his country’s current rapprochement with the mighty West. A good word from your blessed tongue will surely not hurt the course of our young innocent lives daily wasting in the seas of our former colonial masters. Speak thou Holy Father for your message shall be heard.

Like Amos, speak Father that your voice may roar from the sacred halls of the Vatican and echo in the chambers of David Cameron and the EU President. Tell them, Holy Father, that the Day of the LORD is near and that it will not be a day of joy for those “who oppress the poor and crush the needy”!

You can warn Europe of the consequences of inaction and chastise David Cameron for the counter-productive moves he has been making against the meek African youths. Even as Europe is rushing to make amends, David of all Kings, is refusing a just quota system for these poor African youth. Perhaps you can remind Mr. Cameron that the meek he is rejecting are the children of the people whose economic, social and political systems were raped by his very own forebears, the British Empire.

Just when I thought this madness is already out of hand, I chanced upon a Ghanaian outfit, Joy Online’s report of sex camps in Italian forests hosting African women. The report laments: “The eerie makeshift atmosphere of the sex camps represents a clear sense that the economic and social crises are degrading the condition of everyday life for a vast range of people in many parts of the world and that the global elites’ answers to these crises cannot provide any solutions, regulations or reprieve in the near future.”

Truly, the elite and political leaders are failing in solving this problem; I was flabbergasted last night when I heard the Italian Foreign Minister proffer as solution to this crisis the destruction of boats from Libya! How dare Europe to wage war against Prophet Noah’s bequeathal to us all. The Economist magazine wrote about this same issue in their April 25th edition: “In a hastily arranged summit… EU leaders set out to do something about the drownings. Before them was a ten-point plan designed to enhance rescues, suppress people-smuggling and spread the burden of taking in refugees. Yet, even if Europe’s leaders embrace the plan in full, it would still fall short.”

So I can assure you Holy Father, this problem is not going away anytime soon. Do not trust the political animals in Brussels for a solution to this global shame.

Holy Father, Scripture teaches that when Adam was introduced to the world Up there among the angles, they were all asked to prostrate before him. Satan refused; Sounds like Satan was querying: “Hey not me; the stranger in our midst is not worthy of my respect; he is an illegal immigrant and I am a citizen!” And then he invaded the dwelling place of Adam and his wife. So he, the accursed one, tempted Adam and what followed was the archetypal migration the earth first witnessed. Since the story of this world started with migration why is it that your flock is being an obstacle to the movement of people?

Let me confess, Holy Father, the killing of African youth is not committed by your flock alone. While we lament the deaths at the Mediterranean, thousands of lives have also been lost in the vast deserts of North Africa; the Berbers are equally guilty for their betrayal of the very people they accept money from for smuggling. They do not only abandon these youths, they sometimes kill them and take their resources. Moreover, the countries sharing these deserts seem not to care, either.

Unfortunately there is no central authority in the Muslim world to address my cry to; and I do sincerely pray that ISIS fails in their mission. So, to you then is my plea: why is Christian Europe (and the Muslim Berbers) collaborating to kill our African Youth? The Arabs and the Western Nations came to Africa to baptise us, only to corrupt the Holy missions with political domination and economic exploitation. Why do they think that our youths are not fit to set foot on their lands?

When Pope John Paul II visited my country in 1992, he advised the youths to know ourselves and to be ourselves.

In a super-connected world, how can we find ourselves without travelling through God’s land? Father, I submit my plea to Your Holy countenance: plead thee for the youthful souls of our African brothers and sisters. Say unto Europe and to David Cameron in particular the words of the Wise King, David, the father of Solomon: Deal gently for my sake (with these young African souls)!

I bow!

Yours Faithfully,

1. The Real Saint Valentine Is Shrouded In Mystery

Even though he lived in the third century AD, almost nothing is known about this saint or the life he led. It’s not even clear how many holy men named Valentine there were, or which one is honored on Valentine’s Day.

Regardless, bits and pieces about the saint have made it into the realm of legends. The consensus is that he was a priest who broke the law doing what he believed in. Some stories say he conducted marriages between soldiers and their beloveds. In Rome during that time, this was against the law. Soldiers were not allowed to marry. When Valentine was caught, he was imprisoned and put to death for defying Roman rules.

Another story also involves his imprisonment, but this time for practicing his faith and refusing to worship the emperor. While in prison, he became friends with the jailer’s daughter. He prayed for her, and she was healed of her maladies. On the night of his execution, Valentine gave his friend a note to comfort her. It read, quite simply, “From Your Valentine.”

2. Matchmaking Was An Ancient Roman Tradition That Preceded Valentine’s Day

Lupercalia was a festival that took place each year in ancient Rome between the 13th and 15th of February. Its purpose was to cleanse and protect the community. Some of the festival traditions were meant to get rid of evil spirits and bless crops.

There was also a matchmaking component to the festivities. Women put their names in an urn. Men picked names from the urn. The couples formed by this lottery system were expected to stay together for a year. Surprisingly, many of these random matches resulted in marriages.

Centuries later, this ancient celebration merged with the newer tradition of honoring Saint Valentine on February 14. The newer holiday was much more subdued, but some of the festival’s romantic aspects carried forward.

3. Valentine Cards Became All The Rage In Victorian England

In the Middle Ages, noblemen wrote (or hired others to write for them) impassioned love notes to their dear ones. But it wasn’t until the Victorian Era in the mid-1800s that sending valentine cards became a popular custom.

First it was handmade cards embellished with lace and ribbon. These were fancy cards with intricate designs that included cutouts and pop-ups. The tradition was popularized in England and made its way to the U.S. several decades later.

With advances in printing technology, cards began to be mass-produced. Today 180 million valentine cards are exchanged each year in the U.S. alone. Designs continue to evolve, but heart and floral themes remain as popular as they were in Victorian times.

Marriage is a sacred institution, which has been in existence for centuries. People select their life partners on their own or through the recommendations of their family and Church and enter the holy bond of marriage. Christian marriages are typically governed by the Bible that lays certain rules to preserve the sanctity of the marriage. All true Christians usually get married in wedding chapels or churches to tie the bond in the presence of the Holy Bible.

To get married in a church, partners need to acquire the services of the priest or the minister who performs the marriage ceremony and may have to pay certain amount as rent of the church. While some churches may provide decoration arrangements, some may not offer any extra services. Several churches offer different packages to individuals instead of charging separately for individual services. Most of them allow individuals to bring along their own minister. All churches may have different rules and policies and it is advisable to clarify these issues in advance. Most churches offer discounts to members of that particular church.

The couple to be married exchanges their holy vows and promises to nurse each other in sickness and in health. They agree to honor their commitment and stay with each other until death. The priest or minister, and close family members stand testimony to this wedding. It is customary in Christian weddings to serve the wedding cake following the wedding ceremony. Wedding cakes are generally large and can be heavily decorated and multi-layered.

People can choose to get married in a wedding chapel of their own choice. Individuals can choose from a wide range of wedding chapels depending on their seating capacity and their location. While plenty of chapels can be found in cities, many opt for chapels situated in scenic locations.

There are people who prefer to have their wedding ceremonies at outdoor locations such as parks, beaches or in other exotic locations. Outdoor ceremonies offer them the freedom to arrange their weddings in unusual styles. Plenty of event organizers make marriage arrangements based on a particular theme.

1 John 5:16-17 (KJV) If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

The same two verses from the Greek MSS, a transliteral version:

1 John 5:16-17 If-ever anyone may-be-perceiving the brother of-him missing [harmartano] (sinning), missing [harmartia] (sin) no toward death he-shall-be-requesting he-shall-be-giving to-him life to-the ones-missing [harmartano] (ones-sinning) no toward death is missing [harmartia] (sin) toward death not about (concerning) that I-am-saying that he-should-be-asking. 17 Every (all) un-justness (injustice) missing (harmartia) (sin) is and is missing (sin) not toward death

I have to say from the outset that this is what I reluctantly call a ‘nuisance’ passage of The Holy Scriptures and not because it actually is a nuisance, but because of the idiots and numb skulls that misinterpret it and construe all manner of lying perverted nonsense around it and from it, making it a nuisance for those of us who know what it’s about or know what we are talking about.

So what do these people do that makes it such a nuisance? Quite simply, they say that there are some sins that lead to death and others that don’t. Hello, excuse me, shall I write that again, ‘cos it’s a cracker? Yes I will: They interpret this as John saying that there are some sins that lead to death and other sins that do not lead to death. DOH!

Having said that there are two slightly different Greek words at play here, so this means that two types of sin are being described but, unfortunately, these differences are not being translated into the English of the KJV (now there’s a surprise). However, we’ll deal with the simple stuff first by asking this question: Is John countering what Yashua Anointed said right at the beginning of His Word regarding the sin issue:

Gen 2:16-17 (KJV) And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

OK, let’s be very clear about this, because if we sin we die, and deserve to die, the eternal death with no new life in the first resurrection, and no matter what the sin, so what is John talking about when he says there is a sin unto death and a sin that is not unto death and, even more interestingly, there are those that do sin but NOT sins unto death? Is sinning now OK?

Now as I have already stated there are two kinds of sin at play here and both are worthy of the eternal death penalty, but has John created a conundrum whereby one kind of sin is forgiveable and another kind that is not forgiveable? Well there are some very weird people out there who think that he has, but in Truth, if we are of The Truth, Yashua Anointed, we know that that cannot be, because sin is always sin, so what’s going on and where do we start in order to gain true understanding of these verses?

Right here in 1 John 1, John’s first epistle, where we learn that John’s letters were worded appropriately, where necessary, to non-believers and likewise appropriately, where necessary, to believers. Please revue and study my article entitled: “1 John 1 – Chapter 1 of John’s Letter Explained,” for all the details. Moreover, to make things easier I will copy one or two verses here to make my point:

1 John 1:1-3 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (Emphasis mine)

Pay careful attention here, because John is making a declaration: “that which was from the beginning” and that means it’s NEW NEWS and he is making it plain to these NEWBIES that they also may have fellowship with that congregation. In other words these were people who were not yet in fellowship with the brethren of that congregation. They were sinners, lost and unsaved, and what were their sins??? Easy, they were sins that were unto death and in the Greek language they are known as ‘harmartia’ sins which means to sin or to do evil or to break The Law (The Commandments).

And Paul confirms this:

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin (harmartia sin) is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Brackets mine)

Notice, eternal life is through Yashua Anointed, not through fear based obedience to The Law i.e. salvation rather than slave-ation under The Law.

1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in The Light, as He is in The Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we walk in The Light, and who is The Light? Yashua Anointed is The Light. If we walk in The Light we then have fellowship with Yashua Anointed and with those who also walk in The Light, and we, and they are forgiven all of their sins. Now what if these people sin? Would their sins be sins unto death i.e. ‘harmartia’ sins? God forbid, because they are now forgiven ALL their sins, and they live under Grace, so their sins are sins that are not unto death. How come, I hear you ask? Again that’s easy, because being Born Anew they already have eternal life:

1 John 5:11 (KJV) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Eternal Life is in The Father’s Son i.e. belief in Yashua Anointed and in no one else, nor in anything else. There is no eternal life in fear-based obedience to The Law or for anyone attempting to save themselves by obedience or thinking they can remove sin from their lives – none.

So what are these sins that are NOT unto death? They are ‘harmartano’ sins, not ‘harmartia’ sins, otherwise known as sins of “missing the mark” or sins of “falling short,” not sins of doing outright deliberate evil. The thing is, are these ‘harmartano’ sins, sins? Yes of course they are sins, but they are sins that only a certain kind of man or woman can commit i.e. a saved man or a saved woman. The lost and unsaved cannot commit sins that would be deemed as “missing the mark sins.” i.e. ‘harmartano’ sins. How is that so? Easy, because a Born Anew believer now has an innate desire not to sin knowing that he already has sinless perfection as a sinless being, being born of God. This is a condition he or she already has through salvation and belief and faith in Yashua Anointed. Hence John says elsewhere:

1 John 3:9 (KJV) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Hey, but that doesn’t make any sense to me, I hear you say. If someone who is Born of God cannot sin, what’s John talking about when he says there are sins, albeit ‘harmartano’ sins, not ‘harmartia’ sins, that are being committed by those who are Born of God? Again that’s simple, because Born of God believers still reside in dead bodies of sin that still occasionally sin. Whilst we remain in these vile bodies of death, we will sin. This, though, is not the issue, because the Born Anew believer, as a new creation – a new man or woman, perfect and sinless has an innate desire not to sin. The unsaved and lost man or woman has no such innate desire because they still reside in LIVING bodies of sin. They will sin and make excuses with virtually no regrets whatsoever, some remorse maybe or carnal sorrow, but that’s about it.

So if we see our brother in The Faith committing a ‘harmartano’ sin, we should pray and ask The Father to point it out to him, wake him up, and get him back on the straight and narrow. If, on the other hand, we see a lost soul sinning a sin unto death, by all means pray that he or she might be called of The Father and saved, but do not request that they be forgiven, because The Father will definitely not hear that prayer request.

I hope I have made this tricky, ‘nuisance’, issue plain for ALL to understand.

In less than a decade, mezcal, Mexico’s iconic spirit with a history dating back at least over 400 years, has emerged from the doldrums, finally garnering a reputation as a quality sipping spirit. Until now its history, nuances, regulation and innumerable incarnations has been essentially ignored in English language popular non-fiction literature, in favor of treatises focusing upon the more well-known other major agave based spirit, tequila. In Holy Smoke! It’s Mezcal! The Complete Guide from Agave to Zapotec (Mezcal PhD Publishing, 2014), John McEvoy does much more than distinguish the two Mexican spirits in a detailed and concise manner. He pays homage to mezcal, while at the same time provides both its aficionados and novices with a wealth of information in an entertaining and often light-hearted manner.

The chapters are titled and laid out in an organized easy to delineate fashion, allowing the reader to quickly find a selected area of interest. Despite this being the case, since Holy Smoke! is a fast read one is more apt to pick it up and not put it back down until finished. The photos, plates and illustrations are well placed and captioned so as to enhance one’s ability to use them as a tool in capturing the essence of the text’s minutiae and McEvoy’s message.

McEvoy’s enumeration of the history of Mexico’s alcoholic beverages puts mezcal in a clear and understandable context. He rightfully dedicates a significant portion of a chapter to pulque, the most popular fermented drink during pre-Hispanic times, then traces its use to the present, along with that of other Mexican distillates such as sotol, bacanora and raicilla.

McEvoy’s coverage of the breadth of agave species and sub-species which are distilled throughout the country is admirable. Yet he does not get bogged down in the ongoing discussion of nomenclature. Rather, he acknowledges disagreements, and in chart form lists species, then alongside them several of the sub-species and common names depending on the locale where the distillation takes place. McEvoy would readily agree that it is a no-win situation for any aficionado, distiller or even so-called expert in the field to try to definitively resolve issues upon which botanists and taxonomists cannot arrive at a consensus. In any event, although he states that species (and to my thinking by implication sub-species where there is agreement) is the major determinant of flavor profile, with the plethora of other influences on aroma and nuance, dogmatism in terms of identifying species and sub-species does not take us very far in our quest to profile aromas and flavors.

There are three sections of the book which stand out more than the rest. McEvoy’s treatment of aging is admirable. He is in favor of lauding a good reposado or añejo, and gives short shrift to those who would be dismissive of anything but a joven. Similarly, without mentioning by name others who simply discount the concept of mezcal cocktails, he rallies around the Manhattan cocktail crowd, going so far as to include a chapter on mezcal cocktail recipes.

I’ve been around mezcal for a quarter of a century, and have written about both its sustainability, and how mezcal’s nuances are innumerable and unbridled. McEvoy’s sections on maintaining a healthy industry for all, and his detailing of the myriad of influences brought to bear on every produced batch of the spirit, provide food for thought… for all of us. The modern era of mezcal is still so young. To a number, each of us should continuously be open to learning, even those who live and have lived mezcal and nothing more. It is indeed refreshing to have witnessed seasoned palenqueros such as Douglas French (Scorpion Mezcal, as well as bright up-and-coming youths within the industry such as Judah Kuper (Mezcal Vago), both eager to be taught by others. And so those who think they know it all, should at least acknowledge that a quick read of Holy Smoke! might just serve as a refresher concerning aspects of the industry not having been considered for some time.

I would be remiss if I did not point out shortcomings in Holy Smoke! For me at times the book was too anecdotal, referencing matters having nothing to do with mezcal. On the other hand, McEvoy’s excellent use of citations from industry insiders was both valuable and illustrative of the breadth of research which went into the book. However, following an absolutely wonderful, extensive quote by Stephen Myers (Ilegal Mezcal), wherein he romanticizes mezcal in a somewhat sensuous manner, McEvoy states “Yeah. I like that. I might have added, ‘and it’s f—– g awesome!'” simply detracted from what he was attempting to convey.

At times McEvoy unwittingly fell into the trap of others, stating absolutes where there are none, to the extent that it would have been more accurate using qualifying words such as “approximately,” “mainly,” “by and large,” and so on; in one instance he simply pigeonholes mezcal as artisanal and tequila as industrial. Finally, while McEvoy does an admirable job explaining and synthesizing COMERCAM’s complex regulatory scheme, he does get it wrong stating that “mezcal must be bottled at the distillery,” and at one point confusing COMERCAM’s export numbers with sales figures. But as suggested at the outset, his primary target readership is not those integrally involved in the industry, or those with visions of becoming exporters, but rather hobbyists; whether spirits aficionados, tequila enthusiasts or novices to mezcal and other agave based alcoholic beverages, as well as bartenders, mixologists and restaurant owners interested in advancing their knowledge with a view to better serving their patrons.

Holy Smoke! It’s Mezcal! The Complete Guide from Agave to Zapotec should be included in the personal library of everyone interested in Mexican fermented or distilled beverages. The breadth of coverage is impressive. While the depth does not rival that of certain topics contained in the third (and first bilingual) edition of Ulises Torrentera’s Mezcaleria Cultura del Mezcal The Cult of Mezcal, John McEvoy’s thorough treatment of an extensive range of topics relating to mezcal and agave is unmatched. To this extent it stands as an important contribution to the growing body of mezcal literature.

Do you know Jesus Christ as ‘The Resurrection and The Life?’ What you believe the Lord to be is what is manifested in your life. The names of Jesus explain what He can do. This post encourages you to exercise your faith in the Lord as the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? – John 11:25-26 (NKJV).

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly – John 10:10 (NKJV).

In this season of Easter celebration, Jesus has more to offer than just remembrance and celebration of His resurrection. He is ever ready to resurrect what is dead or dying in and around you. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Do you believe it?

Martha said that she knew that Lazarus would rise again in the resurrection at the last day, but Jesus’ reply tells her she doesn’t have to wait till the last day; the Resurrection Himself is around – Jesus. Jesus is still around in the person of the Holy Spirit to give life to anything dead or dying in and around you, you don’t have to wait for the resurrection at the last day.

However, it takes faith in Christ as the Resurrection and the Life to have anything rise again. No matter how impossible the case may be, if only you will believe you would see the glory of God (John 11:40). Jesus came that you may have life and that in abundance. He is available to fulfill your number of days and cause you to enjoy your blessings for a longer period of time.

So as you celebrate Christ’s resurrection, also receive Him as the Resurrection and the Life. Exercise your faith in Him to receive back to life what is dead or dying in and around you. Believe in Him that you may see the glory of God in your life.

On the other hand, also believe in Him to have abundant life, to have every part of you working in perfect health because of the life of Jesus in you. This is superior to something dying and coming back to life. Jesus is Life! Believe Him to keep everything in and around you alive, so that you will not experience any breakdown and it shall be so.

I believe that Paul walked in the consciousness of the life of Jesus in him such that he had the power to choose whether to die or to stay alive for the sake of the brethren. Death came in many ways but it couldn’t take hold of him (2 Corinthians 11:23) because he believed in ‘The Life’ in him.

Therefore, in this Easter season, embrace the Lord as ‘the Resurrection and the Life’ and enjoy abundant life.

Happy Easter Celebration!

Masters of the world say communities have to be voracious readers for civilization to progress. As I came across this book, “Cities of the Dead,” by Joseph Roach (1941), I thought there was something special about the topic, because we are the living and soon, we would all die. Of course, everyone must savor the life we have because life is a gift from God. Yet, life is a balanced equation. It comes complete with death. Birth is equal to death. That is why Jesus Christ came for us, to give us more, that we may be worthy and happy of the present. The present will be tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the next past. Such is the cycle of time. Death has many uses.

Cities of the Dead showcases murals, cemeteries, burials, festivals, historical monuments, art, and pictures of cities that convey no words but a heritage. Codes, symbols, and issues suggest functions to be deciphered by scholars. The forgotten dead but not gone opens a collective memory for the living.

Moreover, poets sing about death. Writers tell stories about death. Going back James Joyce “The Dead” and a kids tale “The Selfish Giant” spark brilliance of sentimentalism and paranoia about a history that must be restored and a memory that must be redefined.

The light of the dead would not leave the living unfulfilled. The living has to fulfill something for them. The common ceremony of the nine-day prayer connects a process of life and immortality.

The book “An Echo in the Bone” (1974), a play by Jamaica dramatist Dennis Scott, describes the structure of the Nine-Night Ceremony, which through the ritual magic of the Jamaican practice of obeah, welcomes the spirit of a deceased person back into his or her home on the ninth night after death has occurred. Here the playwright shows how the voices of the dead may speak through the bodies of the living.

Chinua Achebe (Things Fall Apart, 1958) shares to readers a story that dramatizes the regularity of an ancestor’s return, not as supernumeraries to the apocalypse but as an annual board of visitors. Here shows that memory circulates and migrates, passing like gossip from location to location as well as from generation to generation through the hands of those who possess it and those whom it possesses.

On the other hand, the rites of Christian burial, inserts a living memory. Catholics celebrate death in codes and observance of holy days, feast days and other ceremonies. These remembrances show the participation of ancestral spirits called “Saints” inspiring the present world.

Manco Cápac:

And the Sickle of Death

(1)

Manco Capac lived a long, long life,

If measured, longer than any man alive

But even to him came the cup of death

The Master of the Sun, the Sun God

Called to ‘The son of no race,’ bright

As the sun and most, most handsome:

“Commander, go down and tell

Manco Capac about his death to be,

So he may arrange for deposition…

A declaration of his possessions

For I have made him a rich man–

The wealth of servants and plenty”

Thus, the commander left his abode

Earth bound, and went down to

Manco Capac at the foot of the Andes

There he found this righteous man

In the nearby fields with his servants:

“Hail, hail, hail, Father of the Incas!

“I come from the Golden City of the

Sun, sent by the Great King of Heaven,

To provide for your successor (departure)

Manco Capac and the Commander

Walked by a huge rock, it talked, said,

In a human soft spoken voice:

“Holy, holy, is the God of the Sun,

For He summons you, and loves you–

Loves and wants you to come home!”

Manco Capac pretended not to hear

To hear, as he and the Commander

Walked, and talked, in the courtyard…

(2)

Manco Capac’s servant said (with awe),

To Mama Ocllo (his devoted wife):

“The Commander who is with your husband

…is not of our race, nor lives on this earth.”

Manco Capac then washed the feet of

The Commander; after that, saw a wonder:

The tears of the Commander turned

Into drops of silver and gold–mixed.

Pure silver and pure gold–mixed.

(3)

Then the Commander rose in a clap of an

…eye, and stood in front of God and said:

“Master, Lord, I cannot bring death

…upon the house of Manco Capac;

For he is the mot gracious, truthful

And merciful man alive on earth–“

The Lord said to the Commander:

“Go down and keep him company;

Eat with him, and do as he asks…

I will give you an all devouring spirit

–and I will send the Holy Spirit of God

And a dream unto his servant (to interpret)”

(4)

And so it was, the Commander sat

With Manco Capac, at his table and

Prayed and ate with him according

…to custom; and they rested the same.

And so it was, the servant wished to

Remain with Manco Capac, but could not

…he was told to go rest, it was his wish.

In the middle of the night the servant

Woke up on the fourth hour, in fright

…he had had a vision, heard Death talking;

Thus, he run to Manco Capac, and cried:

“Death has come!” and Manco cried…

and so did the Commander cry–.

Mama Ocllo then left her room,

Found everyone in tears, and she cried,

but asked: “Why is everyone crying?”

When Mama Ocllo heard the Commander

Speak she knew he was set apart, holy.

(5)

Said Mama, to her much-loved husband:

“Do you not know who this man is?”

Then Manco Capac thought and spoke:

“I have lied; I know he is very sacred–

A Holy Messenger, from the Sun…

I see his brightness, of all things.”

And Mama Ocllo knelt down and cried:

“Glory be to God, who is bright–

With wonders–; and husband,” she asked,

“Let us now look at the revelation

Before us; be it for good or evil? and

Glory be to God, who is like the sun–“

(6)

Then Manco Capac left his wife to talk

…to his servant about his vision;

Said the servant with fear and wonder:

“I saw all the stars turn into the sun;

I saw the sun turn into a man;

And he was, descending to earth.”

And Manco Capac, knew all the stars being one

Was his God, and the sun was the light

The Commander was bringing to him…

from the Almighty. And the Commander

Said, “It is time for you to leave earth…

Journey to God in the form of your soul”;

Said Manco Capac: “Is it you then

Who desires to take my soul from me?”

Said the Commander with estrangement:

“I am God’s messenger, announcing

…God’s intentions.” Then the Commander

Disappeared; went back into the heavens!…

(7)

The Commander told the Almighty Master

All that took place, and all that was said.

God then told the Commander, “Ask him

Why he is resisting Me; and not one of my

Prophets have escaped the mystery of death.

All have been gathered by the Sickle of Death (?)”

(8)

And with the Commander God sent Death

And it came to pass, soon after Manco Capac

Seen Death dressed up in Great Beauty…:

And Death greeted him, as if to seduce

Him with beautiful words; but Manco Capac

Call Death, “Liar, Death is not beautiful.”

But Death said, “To the righteous

I am beautiful, to the sinner–decay…,

Do not be deceived, to the sinner

…I bring much fear, destruction, dismay;

And to you, blessed man, a crown of honor!…”

And Death showed him two heads; one called

…decay, it had a dragon’s face. The other

Like a golden Tumi, bright as the sun.

And Death said, “Go with the Commander.”

(9)

And Manco Capac, said to Death, “Show

Me now your hands,” and Death did. In

One hand he had a Golden Tumi, and

…in the other was the keys to the gates

Of the Sun; then the Inca prophet knelt

Prayed to the Almighty, closing his eyes;

And Death called to God, clutching the

Moment…: as God looked down, He snatched

His soul, and drew him up to his kingdom.

∆

Notes by the Author [note #1]: “In l993, I had two heart attacks–one bad one, and bad stroke, the stroke I had during surgery that doctors said, “You were a fruitcake,” meaning, I was destroyed by the stroke on the operating table, at that time, and afterwards, my left side paralyzed and much more. Each day for three days, I saw a huge man standing at the end of my bed, thinking it was the doctor, only to find out, it was not; he was there early in the mornings, about 5:00 AM., by himself; I was able on the third day to read again, prior to this, words and letters were distorted, nor could I figure out the numbers on a telephone. It took me three months to learn how to play the guitar again, and at the time, I had played the guitar for 35-years; the point being here, is that Death perhaps was waiting in a white gown? There are 72-deaths, so it has been written. And as we all know, it has been appointed to man to die, be he a believer in God or not; somebody has made this decision, or something. And so in writing this poetic story, I knew how death would knock on Manco Capac’s door; and perhaps this was how it happened.”

Note #2: It should be noted also that, Manco Capac ordered the construction of a structure, consisting of three windows, at his birth site, so legend would have it; such as one might see at the archeological site of Machu Picchu; thus, it had been pointed out, he most likely came from there.

#784 8/6/2005

Partly Written in Bayfield, Wisconsin 8/2005

While resting, otherwise in St. Paul, MN

By Dennis L. Siluk

Versión en Español

Manco Cápac:

Y la hoz de la muerte

(1)

Manco Cápac vivió una vida larga, larga,

De ser medida, más larga que cualquier hombre

vivo. Pero aún para él llegó la copa de la muerte.

El Amo del sol, el dios Sol,

Llamó a “El hijo de ninguna raza” brillante

Como el sol y más, más hermoso:

“Comendador, baja y dile a

Manco Cápac acerca de su muerte que será,

Así él puede organizar su relevo.

Una declaración de sus bienes

Ya que lo he hecho un hombre rico–

El más rico en sirvientes y abundancia.

Así el Comendador dejó su morada

Y se dirigió a la tierra, y fue hacia

Manco Cápac a los pies de Los Andes.

Allí, el encontró a este hombre honrado

En los campos cercanos con sus criados:

“¡te saludo, te saludo, te saludo, Padre de los Incas!”

“Vengo, desde la Ciudad Dorada del Sol,

Enviado por el Gran Rey del Cielo

Para proveerte de tu sucesor (por tu partida)

Manco Cápac y el Comendador

Caminaron por una enorme roca, ésta habló, dijo

En una voz suavemente humana:

” ¡Santo, santo, es el Dios del sol, por

Emplazarte, y amarte- Amarte

Y querer que tú vengas a casa!”

Manco Cápac, pretendió no oír

oír, mientras él y el Comendador

Caminaban, y hablaban, en el patio…

(2)

Los sirvientes de Manco Cápac dijeron (con temor)

A Mama Ocllo (su esposa fiel)

“…el Comendador quien está con tu esposo

…no es de nuestra raza, ni vive en esta tierra.”

Manco Cápac luego lavó los pies

Del Comendador; después de esto, vio un milagro:

Las lágrimas del comendador se volvieron

En gotas de plata y oro–mezclados.

Pura plata y puro oro–mezclados.

(3)

Luego el Comendador se elevó en un guiño de ojo…

Y estuvo enfrente de Dios y dijo:

“Amo y Señor, no puedo traer la muerte

..sobre la casa de Manco Cápac;

Por que él es el más amable, honesto

Y misericordioso hombre vivo sobre la tierra–“

El Señor le dijo al Comendador:

“Ve abajo y mantén compañía con él,

Come con él, y haz lo que él te pida–

Yo te daré todo un espíritu devorador

–y enviaré al Espíritu Santo de Dios

Y sobre sus servidores un sueño (para interpretar)”

(4)

Y así, esto fue, el Comendador se sentó

Con Manco Cápac, en su mesa

y rezó y comió con él según

…sus costumbres, y ellos descansaron igual.

Y fue así, que el sirviente deseó

Permanecer con Manco Cápac, pero no pudo

…él fue dicho ir a descansar, éste era su deseo–

En el medio de la noche, el criado

Se despertó, en la cuarta hora, en temor

…él había tenido una visión, oyó a la muerte hablando;

Así, el corrió hacia Manco Cápac, y gritó:

“La muerte ha venido” y Manco Cápac, lloró…

y así también el Comendador lloró–.

Mama Ocllo luego dejó su cuarto,

Encontrando a todos en lágrimas, y ella lloró,

pero preguntó: “¿Por qué todos están llorando?”

Cuando Mama Ocllo oyó al comendador

Hablar, ella supo que él era santificado, santo.

(5)

Dijo, Mama, a su esposo muy amado:

“¿Tú no sabes quién es este hombre?”

Luego Manco Cápac pensó, y habló:

“he mentido; yo sé que el es muy sagrado–

Un mensajero santo, del Sol…

Veo resplandor, de todas las cosas”.

Y Mama Ocllo se arrodilló y lloró:

“Gloria sea a Dios, que es radiante–

Con maravillas–; y esposo”, ella pregunto,

“Déjanos, ahora mirar la revelación

Ante nosotros; sea eso para ¡bien o mal! y

Gloria sea a Dios, Quien es como el sol–“

(6)

Luego Manco Cápac, dejo a su esposa hablar

–con su sirviente acerca de su visión;

Dijo el sirviente con temor y maravillado:

“Vi todas las estrellas convertirse en sol;

Vi al sol convertirse en hombre;

Y él estaba, descendiendo a la tierra”.

Y Manco Cápac, supo que todas las estrellas siendo uno

Era su Dios, y el sol era la luz que el

Comendador estaba trayendo para él…

del todopoderoso. Y el Comendador

Dijo, “Este es tiempo para ti, de dejar la tierra…

Viajar hacia Dios en forma de tu alma”;

Dijo Manco Cápac, “Entonces eres tú quien desea

tomar mi alma”

Dijo el comendador con extrañeza;

“Yo soy el mensajero de Dios, anunciando

..las intenciones de Dios”. Luego el Comendador

Desapareció. ¡Regreso al cielo!…

(7)

El Comendador dijo al Dios todopoderoso

Todo lo que ocurrió, y todo lo que fue dicho.

Dios entonces dijo al Comendador, ” pregúntale a él

Porqué esta resistiéndose a Mi; y ninguno de mis

Profetas ha escapado del misterio de la muerte.

Todos han sido atrapados por la Hoz de la Muerte (¿?)”

(8)

Y con el Comendador, Dios envió la muerte

Y ésta vino a pasar, pronto después que Manco Cápac

Vio la muerte vestida en Gran Belleza…;

Y la muerte lo saludó, como si lo sedujera

Con palabras bellas; pero Manco Cápac

Llamó a la muerte “Mentirosa, la muerte no es bella”.

Pero la muerte dijo; “para el honrado

soy bella, para el pecador–podredumbre..,

No seas engañado, por el pecador

…Yo traigo mucho miedo, destrucción, consternación;

Y para ti, hombre bendito, ¡una corona de honor!…

Y la muerte le mostró dos cabezas, una llamada

.. putrefacción, ésta tenia la cara de dragón. El otro

Como un Tumi de oro, brillante como el sol.

Y la muerte dijo, “Ve con el Comendador”

(9)

Y Manco Cápac, dijo a la muerte “Muéstrame

Ahora tus manos”, y la muerte lo hizo. En

Una mano él tenia un Tumi de oro, en la

….Otra mano estaban las llaves de las puertas del sol;

entonces el inca profeta se arrodilló

Rezó al Todopoderoso, cerrando sus ojos;

Y la muerte llamó a Dios, agarrando el

Momento…: mientras Dios miraba abajo, El

arrebató su alma y lo elevó hacia su Reino.

The Tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon lay before us a pathway into God’s presence that finds its fullness and reality in the New Testament.

The Tabernacle comprised:

The Brazen Altar: This was a place of judgment, picturing the cross of Christ.

The Brazen Laver: A place of cleansing, picturing for us the washing of water by the Word.

The Seven Branched Candlestick: Pictures for us the light of revelation and the seven fold Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11)

The Table of Shewbread: Picturing for us Jesus, the bread of life, the sustaining Word of God.

The Altar of Incense: Symbolising prayer, praise and worship being lifted toward God.

The Ark of the Covenant: Picturing the place of God’s presence and habitation, where He speaks intimately to us.

Through the blood of Jesus this whole avenue has been opened to us. We are invited into the very intimate presence of God – the holy of holies.

Tabernacle prayer explains how the born again Christian can come into this present reality. Through the death and resurrection of Christ the holy of holies has been opened to all who will believe.

The Tabernacle pictures a pathway of approach to God’s presence which now finds its reality in the New Covenant through Christ. Through application of New Testament reality to the Old Testament picture in the Tabernacle of Moses, a profound and holy pathway of prayer is opened to the believing soul, which when practiced transforms the pray-er and ushers him or her into the very presence of God to hear Him speak intimately to their heart.

Are the Europeans about to restore the power and influence of their respective Royals? In Rome’s mind, only an IMPERIAL RESTORATION can save mankind! That explains why the present pontiff has proclaimed that he’s on a mission from God to unite Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. How? By remodeling Europe after the grand design of the “Holy Roman Empire.”

Recently, the Roman Catholic cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler from Austria, an advisor to the pope, reflected this position when interviewed by the German newspaper Schwabische Zeitung. When asked what ails our society, Stickler responded: “The principles that were once personified in the aristocracy of the past are now gone…The unconditional willingness to fight for the doctrines of the Holy Roman Church…” Will such a romantic view blind Europe? Will nostalgia for Europe’s Catholic past soon sweep them off their feet?

Cardinal Stickler, speaking loftily of Europe’s aristocrats, praised them as “loyal and devoted to the pope, politically neither right or left, only guided to realize the will of the pope and the Catholic honor…Aggressive Catholicism…only these aristocrats can save the world from moral decay.”

The Vatican’s working out a deal with ten European kings, with seductive offers of restoring them to political life upon their now dormant thrones, in exchange for their allegiance to the pope. Will Archduke Karl von Habsburg claim his “divine right” to the Austro-Hungarian throne? He is the heir to the “Holy Roman Empire.” Will the pope soon call upon him to serve as a figurehead, an emperor of sorts, over the United Kingdoms of Europe?

What crisis will coerce Europe to hastily accept the pope’s indecent proposal to recreate the continent in his image? Yeltsin’s death? An economic collapse? An Islamic threat? Surely GERMANY stands ready to defend “Western Christian civilization,” even if means starting World War III!

This article was originally published in The National Messenger, November/December 1996