Magyar Egyház, 2009 (88. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2009-07-01 / 3-4. szám

6. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ From Keyword to Keystone. Scripture reading: Matthew 16:13-19. Text: “And 1 tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock 1 will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19. In biblical times already keys were important and had been used symbolically too, please read: Isaiah 22:22 and 33:6, also Luke 11:52, Revelation 3:7, 9:1, and 20:1. In our English language the word: “KEY” combined with another word offers special meanings, like keyboard, keynote, keystone, and keyword. According to the dictionary KEYWORD means: “a word that serves as a key, as to the meaning of another word,” and KEY­STONE denotes: “the wedged-shaped piece at the summit of an arch, regarded as holding the other pieces in place.” KEYWORDS IN OUR DAILY LIFE THAT EVENU­­ALLY WILL LEAD US TO THE KEYSTONE. In the real-estate profession the keyword is: LOCATION, and among the musicians: PRACTICE. Let us see which words could be used as keywords and why are they good to point to the core or essence of a segment of our life. I wish to mention only a few in certain fields, knowing that you can find and add more. In our SPIRITUAL LIFE these are the most important words: salvation, repentance, forgiveness, faith, hope, (divine) love, grace, and spirit. In our FAMILY we would not be able to live without these: harmony, respect (love), empathy, patience, understanding, and cooperation. In SPORT - I am sure your coach will agree: winning, team­work, rules, fair play, and training. In BUSINESS, these are expected to be honored (and not nec­essarily practiced by everyone): honesty, decency, loyalty, depend­ency, diligence, and profit. Concerning our COUNTRY and COMMUNITY consider these words: patriotism and taxes, without them no nation will survive; and in every community the citizens should be friendly, supporting (each other), compassionate, and participating (volunteers). IF WE AGREE ON THESE KEYWORDS, THEN HOW DOES OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE HELP HONORING THEM? The very first question is: are these keywords and what they specify CONNECTED to each other? Is it possible to be a faithful family man (or woman) and be dishonest in business? Can a de­cent father encourage his son to cheat in sport? (Steroids!) Does extra profit justify misleading statement for a professional who attends church regularly? Is a good patriot expected to file an hon­est income tax return? If just one part of our lives (family, social, political, economi­cal, or spiritual) will start to disintegrate, will that part contaminate and ruin the others? Where will basic principles begin and from where will the most important convictions originate? Where do you spend most of your time and who will influence you positively? I would dare to say that family life will affect your sportsmanship and not vice versa. Not the profit in business will make you kneel down to pray, but prayer will encourage you to be honest in business. Many of our leaders see the solution to our moral problems in more and better EDUCATION. I respectfully disagree, at least partially. More education may result in more sophisticated cheat­ers; please think of identity theft, double-dipping, hackers (computer criminals and white-collar crimes). We need people who not only know more but are also more honest, decent, faithful, and dedicated. A few verses from the Bible will become the KEYSTONE in our MORAL and SPIRITUAL LIFE - and I am convinced that these two are strongly interwoven: - “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23. - “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Acts of Apostles 24:16. (Statement made by Apostle Paul.)- Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5. “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.” Hebrews 13:18. To Kill an American You probably missed it in the rush of news few weeks ago, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote the following to let everyone know what an American is,... so they would know when they found one. (Good on ya, mate!!!!) An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God. An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness. An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country.! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists. So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American. Author unknown

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