Preserving Paradise (3rd edition)

Gehenna was a foul place of pain & suffering, to be sure ... it was indeed a
form of “damnation” for those living in Jesus‟ time. And yet Gehenna was also a
place of transmutation – it was also a gateway through which one could pass to a
place of purity & calm … Fittingly, modern-day visitors to Israel can witness
firsthand that the valley of Gehenna herself has been reborn, for she has
successfully transcended the centuries of being a center of torture & disgust, and
has today become a lovely garden of peace & tranquility.
So too, my Friends, can our own lives be reborn. So too, can we all – in any
moment we choose -- depart from Hell and enter into Heaven.
But how can we do so? Rest assured, it is indeed possible, though not in
the ways traditionally believed. Merely being “devout” or “zealous” worshipers in
church won‟t cut it, and merely being or “nice” or “friendly” or “tactful” or
“polite” or “tolerant” towards others is not nearly enough … Indeed, even
performing mere “good deeds” sufficient.
No, to enter Jesus‟ “Kingdom of Heaven”, it is necessary to face your fears
in a fashion much more radical, and enliven a Kindness that is far more complete.
In essence, in order for us to enter this “Kingdom of Heaven”, it is necessary to
sacrifice ourselves in some way for the betterment of others ...
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