Category: Inspirational


I will base this article on the non-Canon Book, the Gospel of St. Philip, Luke 8:26-37. These are passages that deal with demon possession. In Luke, we read that Jesus asked him. “What is your name? Legion, he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.” I introduced this passage to establish the notion of demon possession during the time of Jesus Christ. Also, it provides the concept that demons are spiritual beings and they don’t die. 

St. Philip, one of the Apostles, wrote in great detail about the nature of the demons and who they desire to attach and possess. Before Noah and the flood, several angels left their station in Heaven to take beautiful women for their wives; the result was the birth of the Nephilim, who were described as giants. The fallen angels were captured and placed in a prison during the flood. The bodies of the giants died in the flood, but since they were also part angel, God had Mercy on them, but they were left to walk the earth as spirit beings. In time, they desired to occur in human bodies once again. 

Verse 65 of the Gospel of St. Philip writes, “The forms of evil spirits include male and female ones. The males are they that unite with the souls which inhabit a female form, but the females are they which are mingled with those in a male form.” Here, we have the explanation for someone to say, “I am a female inside or a male inside.” The person is unknowingly confessing to the fact that a demon spirit of the opposite gender has attached itself to their body. 

Modern-day psychology ignores the notion of demon possession and will make claims of being wired differently as if humans are robots. Their line of thinking only cements the demon’s possession. In contrast, the correct treatment is spiritual understanding and development, resulting in union with the Holy Spirit. Only reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ can cast out a demon once it has been attached. People who claim that they identify with a gender that is inside them and not their external physical body are like the man possessed by a demon called Legion. It was the demon that spoke out the man possessed. They are opening, admitting that the demon has a hold on them. 

While standing during a mass while a priest read from Mark 10:51-52 About a blind man that that was calling out for the Son of David. Jesus stops and asks him. “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Now has the priest read this, I thought to myself “I want to see.” I have my eyesight but I wanted to see better. It was then that I recalled what Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20 KJV) I then looked around thinking.This church is now full with people that are gathered in his name. The priest is saying Mass rising the Eucharist before the community of believers whom have faith in what he is doing. Jesus is therefore present and turning the Eucharist host into His body. The miracle of Transubstantiation has taken place. The bread is now the body of Christ, and the wine His blood.

This opening of my eyes to see the Mass in a whole new light made the event more meaning full and powerful because the community of the church is part of want takes place because of our faith.

Have you ever considered the analogy of God as a landlord and us as the tenants? It’s a fascinating concept. Imagine God as the owner of a two-family home representing our bodies, and we are the stewards of an apartment representing our bodies. God, the owner only enters their apartments when called first to set up an appointment to visit. The tenants possess the apartment’s use for a fee. In ten years, neither of my tenants has invited me to a dinner or a party. However, when something breaks, I quickly get a call; this is true for most people and Christians. Suddenly, when something breaks or isn’t working, not enough of this or that the phone call to God is now ringing off the hook. I often imagine what it must be like to have 8 billion calls at once. God must have an operator directing your call to the proper department: this example came to me by the Holy Spirit. No wonder why Catholics pray to Saints and Angels. They have the extension to the correct department; with all the calls to God and Jesus, it’s no wonder some dial Mary the Mother of Jesus directly. When you think of a Kingdom, the King does not perform the mundane chores for the Kingdom. Someone has to filter the calls. The Holy Spirit has a sense of humor, but it makes sense. It makes a person think God is saying, “You never invited me in. Now you want something.” “What you did not do for the least of my brothers, you did not do to me.” (Matthew 25:45 NIV)

Consider this: in many cases, the landlord often pays for some of the utilities, such as the water bill. The tenants would only live there with running water. The same is true about our bodies; without the breath of life, our bodies are lifeless. So God is investing in you whether you believe in God or not. In the case of Jesus, Peter and Paul’s shadows land on a faithful person, causing a healing or touching of the garment, which is the result of the degree of the Holy Spirit’s presence in them. 

Another example that is left out is not all properties are the same. Some are small shacks, while others are massive mansions requiring different amounts of energy to keep them warm or cold. The same builders have built many homes and things like Trump Tower. They each have other uses for different tents. These different tents also have larger spaces that they rent, greater pay, and more excellent abilities to host the landlord in their home. Someone living in a shack may only be able to offer you a beer while the one living in the mansion fine Champaign; of course, the landlord can also bring the tenet a gift. Not everyone is a Paul or a Peter; indeed, there is only one Jesus. We arrive at the author pointing out the shadow of Jesus, Peter, or Paul’s healing, and even pieces of the garments would heal due to people’s faith.

Mark and Bill seem to have either humans in control of our lives or the Holy Spirit, God, in control of our lives. The Spirit that dwells in me seems to disagree with those extremes; yes, God can use me to do His well even when I disobey Him, but is that the relationship God desires?  The more I thought about the tenet landlord relationship, the more I realized that it isn’t one or the other that occupies the house, meaning our body, but God is seeking a roommate. Scripture references Israel as a Wife to God and the Church as a Bribe to Jesus. A husband and a wife share the same home; they are roommates and partners; scripture tells us they become one. God wants to be roommates. He already occupies our bodies with the breath of life but wants a more active team role. God wants us to be One. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 NIV) With the Holy Spirit, we can be that Oneness, a team effort that works together.

On Judgement Day, the first person whom God will asks about children is not going to be their mother; it’s not going to be their priest or pastor, it’s not going to be their youth group leader, it’s not going to be their teachers, it is going to be the fathers of children from every possible situation. Mothers of aborted children will face Judgment. They will try to argue with God that it was their body and they had a right, but God will say I put the soul there and gave it life. However, the Roman Rite of Patria Potestas (the father’s rite to kill his child) is still with us today. Oh, fathers don’t order their children to be killed, as in the days of ancient Rome. Instead, they stand by and do nothing and think they got away with not having to support a child because the baby’s mother had an abortion; after all, it was her body. But God will hold those fathers just as responsible, if not more so because God holds fathers accountable for children.

Fathers who abandon their children, divorce, or refuse to help raise the children of single women who did not abort their children. Every man who fathered a child is to love the child the way God loves His Son and the way that God loves each one of us by giving us His only Son to die for our sins. Therefore, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1,4). Fathers are to love their children and teach them to be righteous in the eyes of God. Men must be responsible for their children, for Jesus will judge fathers on how they treat the most minor of His Brothers and Sisters, the defenseless children.

Mozzarella

Many priest, pastors, and theologians also claim that Jesus Christ felt forsaken while hanging on the cross. However, how can God in the flesh feel forsaken? The fact is that Jesus was trying to share Psalm 22 and the people when that he was beginning the words to a Psalm which is song. Today if someone said, “Let it Be, Let it be” He would think of the lyrics of a song. When Jesus said this words the Pharisees and the people watching Jesus die would have know He was stating David’s prophecy about Him. Here is Psalm 22 and you see it describes the every event of Jesus Christ on the cross.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. 11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near; For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax;It has melted ]within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.18 They divide My garments among them,And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! 20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.

25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to [k]the dust
Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive. 30 A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, 31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.” (Psalm 22 NKJV)

Here is a review of my book Protect and Serve available on Amazon by Dylan Ward of The US Review of Books.

“They began to pray that something would take place very soon so that they could change their lives for good.”

Author Raimondo returns with an intriguing second novel based on two Bible verses, Matthew 25:40 and 25:45, weaving together a surprisingly uplifting tale of spirituality exploring the ramifications of crime and punishment. The Lord walks among the city streets disguised as a “Homeless Man,” wearing white shoes emblemed with blood-red crosses on their sides. He keeps a close watch on two Italian detective cousins, fresh from a big win in a major case but inexplicably nicknamed with “infamous monikers”—Alfonzo Hitali (Hitler) and Mose Dalini (Mussolini). The detectives patrol while engaging in deep debate as they protect and serve their city. One night, after meeting two prostitutes, the four encounter the Homeless Man. It is a life-changing moment that develops unexpected relationships and positive futures.

Meanwhile, recent crimes against children anger Al and Mose’s mafia uncle, Chich the Key. As the detectives become embroiled in a major new case, their uncle enacts a plan of revenge against the potential perpetrators. As Raimondo steadily builds the tension, Al and Mose find themselves walking a fine line between loyalty to their careers amid their uncle’s nefarious dealings and embracing new loves.

Though plot-heavy and action-driven, Raimondo’s book is a convincing, atmospheric detective mystery with fleshed-out characters who discover more about themselves and their beliefs when thrust into difficult situations. Clearly, the author’s faith factors into this tale full of drama and romance, especially with the fascinating and thought-provoking debates of good and evil between Al and Mose. As Raimondo states in his acknowledgment, this second book of the Least of Brothers series is just “part of an ongoing saga,” so readers and fans certainly have something to look forward to with the next stimulating book in this growing series.

My article is not a request for money for Wounded Warriors but about a different type of Warrior with wounds. Christians often are wounded spiritually. They may not have physical injuries though some do; in most cases, there is a wounded spirit. Unfortunately, the churches have failed to strengthen the characteristics of the Soldier for Christ. They have done this by constantly imagining Jesus Christ as the Lamb, a docile animal. Jesus, however, was the Lion of Judah with courage and strength to do His Father’s will. He prayed that the cup of pain should be given to another, not as He willed but as God willed. The act of prayer was more for us that we will face times of trial and tribulation, and we are to grin and bear it, for it must always be God’s will and not ours. 

The enemy of God, however, will tempt us with three things, for he knows that one of them, if not all three, will have us choose our will and not God’s. These temptations are Riches and whatever makes life comfortable; Pleasure of every kind that makes it enjoyable; Honor to be famous, administration, all that makes consequential. Any one of these is a trap to lure us from God. Like, bait on a hook to capture a fish. When you don’t take the bait, the enemy comes to destroy you with pain and suffering so that you blame God and even reject the idea of God. What the enemy could not do with his three imagines of a beautiful life, he now does with its absences. You are now wounded, discouraged, Satan’s greatest weapon. He gets you to quit serving the Lord Christ and God. However, it is at this point if you stand fast and thank God for the trial and accept your destiny as Jesus Christ did in the Garden that the Holy Spirit will descend on you and give you the strength you need to overcome the enemy. 

A true Christian is to follow his King Jesus Christ into the same battlefield as his Lord commends. Jesus commands us this; “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26 NIV) We are only true Christian when we are prepared to die for Christ.  

Negative Affirmation

There is an old saying, “Be careful of what you wish for.” Well, what it means is what you affirm is what you will get. People today are stating and protesting things without thinking about what they are saying and thinking. They are setting in motion for their lives the very thing. Let’s examine the recent protest by women over the reversal of Roe vs. Wade. What are they affirming with their protest? What is that they want? They want the freedom to have an abortion. What does that represent if you want the freedom to have an abortion? 

Women who resent being told that abortion is wrong are protesting the right to be promiscuous, to enjoy sex whenever and with whomever without using any form of contraceptive. And even to experience what it is like to get pregnant and then abort it without any remorse. We have a total breakdown of moral behavior, a result of a lack of disbelief in a God and the consequence. The result is they are affirming the want for an abortion and the trauma that comes with it. Without realizing that their protest is saying I want an abortion. Is that what they really want? Affirmations should be more positive. 

Risk Your Life 

I want to ask everyone in America, especially members of the Media, Hollywood Celebrities, Congress, and Governors, these questions. Would you go into battle and fight for this kind of Commander-and Chief? Would you risk your life for a leader who cares little or nothing about the babies of his citizens? Would you risk your life for a leader who supports illegal aliens and not his wounded soldier? Would you risk your life for a leader who let people cross American borders unchecked? Would you risk your life for a leader who supports those who refuse to work at the expense of those who do? Would you risk your life for a Commander who gave the enemy nearly a trillion dollars of military equipment? Would you risk your life for a President who would rather manufacture products in China instead of at home? Would you risk the lives of your family for a leader creating food storage and rising cost of goods and services by ending oil production? Finally, would you risk your life for a Commander-and-Chief who cares little about the health and welfare of his citizens? The answer is no; you would not risk your life for such a leader. However, at present, you’re forced into such a position.

I ask why the media and our leaders support such a person? The answer is for power and greed. Illegals voting to keep them in power back door deals for more wealth. These corrupt and evil deals are foolish because a Great Commander-and-Chief will cause people to risk their lives to help create a nation that supports its citizens, provides for those who work, and take care of their wounded heroes and the families of those who gave up their lives for the nation. Close its border to uninvited individuals and create a self-dependent country on no other nation for products. Anyone who rejects these concepts is a traitor and should be treated as one. Leaders in DC who put others before the American citizen should be removed since they are not representing the American citizen and the oath they took to uphold the office.