Blessed, and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear, God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole ezistence of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether, good or evil. "This final exhortation is not merely an "orthodox " corrective to an otherwise "unorthodox" work. Rather, it is some what a kin to St.Augustine's zen-like dictum, " I love God, and do what you will, Nonetheless, this complaint is not "sexist", noy simplu an old curmudgeon's misogynistic sentiment. A woman in circumstances similar to his, but reversed, might conceivably have written, "I found more bitter than death the man whose heart is snares and nets"and"she who pleases God escapes him," and " one woman among a thousand I found , but a man among all these I have not found. We all made this journey for a reason. It's humbling, in the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of dispair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of politics that's shut you out, that's told you to settle, that's divided us too long, you believe we can be one people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union. This preious life was not easy to get. It has resulted from my practicing dharma in many previous lives, for example, keeping pure morality, practicing generosity and offering sincere prayers for the welfare of others. Thus, it will not be easy to receive again. Therefore, I must not waste this rare chance to benefit myself and others. God gives human beings freedom and power to work and act on their own initiative. The giving and nurturing activity that empowers others is called "enabling power "since it inspires others to act and effectively develop their own capacities. It is different from the kind of coercive power that dominates and controls through external force and fear of punishment. The logic of domination aims to subugate others by force and compel conformity to the powerful agent"s will Enabling or nurturing power is more enduring since it works through free internalization and cooperation that does not require coercive surveillance. As I stood in the driveway wondering where the tow truck was, the driver called and said he had followed his GPS but couldn't find my street number. Hmmmm. I repeated the directions I had given before, and the tow truck was there in no time. I am the way, the truth, and the life.No one comes to the father except through me.-John 14:6