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Text Box: THE SNEAKY LIARS WILL TELL YOU THEY WILL DO YOU NO HARM BECAUSE OF YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND THEN “GET YOU” LIKE THEY “GOT” SAINT MARINUS In the first three centuries after the Resurrection, there was an almost constant persecution of Christians. It did happen, however, that some emperors, more benevolent than others, revoked the severe decrees against Christians, but this did not prevent local governors from bringing them to trial if not directly for their faith, then for insubordination. For example, when a soldier entered the army or received a promotion, he had to take an oath, invoking the names of pagan gods, and sometimes he had to take part in pagan rituals. Christians could not agree to this, and they were given over to punishment for disobedience. There were many such cases under Emperor Gallienus (ruled 260268), who forbade persecuting Christians for their faith. St. Marinus belonged to a noble family of Caesarea, in Palestine and had been an excellent soldier in the army. He was about to be honoured with the new title and position of "Centurion. Suddenly another soldier who was eager for the same position, rushed forward, crying out, "Marinus is a Christian, and he would not sacrifice to the Emperor!" Marinus lost his new position and was immediately questioned by Achaeus, the Governor. Marinus spoke up "Yes, I am a Christian and it is true, I did not sacrifice to the Emperor." Achaeus was very bold, "Then I give you three hours in which to change your mind and give up your beliefs." As Marinus left the judgment hall, he met Bishop Theotecnus of Caesarea. The Bishop lead him to the Church and made him stand close to the altar saying, "Choose between the sword that you carry by your side, and the book of the Gospels." Marinus immediately stretched out his hand and took the

Text Box: book of the Gospels, holding it firmly. "Hold fast then to God, commanded the Bishop, that strengthened by Him you may obtain what you have chosen! Go in peace." Marinus returned to the judge stating firmly, "I am a Christian and I wish to remain so!" He was immediately led away, to be killed. St. Astyrius (Asterius), a Roman Senator, was present at the martyrdom. Taking off his cloak, he wrapped up the body of Marinus. Astyrius carried the body away on his shoulders and buried it with great honour. Later, in the year 260 A. D., Astyrius also became a martyr. Evil people are just that - evil. They may seem to honor your desire to be holy, but eventually they will harm you because you pursue holiness, they pursue evil, and the two, holiness and evil, are mutually exclusive. A politician who supports government policies or laws which are or support evil, especially intrinsic evil, will, by that very support of evil, support government policies or laws which attack and harm both those who oppose evil and those who pursue holiness. The same is true of business people. The same is true of all people, in every station in life - even clergy and, yes, even your mother. This is just one more reason to always, always, always, only support that which is holy, and always, always, always, block evil and its supporters in every moral manner possible. And if you experience the result of practising Faith that St. Marinus experienced, count it as a blessing. +++

Text Box: there also seems to be no viable, consistent, universal means of imparting the importance of God and of following His instructions. Failing to follow God’s instructions because one falls to temptation and commits sin is understandable and can be comprehended. But failure to accept and acknowledge that one has so fallen is neither understandable nor comprehensible if the sinner also expressed belief that Jesus is God, or even that there is a God. How is it that a married women can have several lovers, a man can seek different women every evening with whom to have sexual relations, perverts can seek out each other and others for despicable sexual acts whether with individuals of the same or different gender or multiple participants or animals, individuals can rob others, deal narcotics and other drugs, defraud the government, businesses, and other individuals or groups, and yet profess not only a belief in God, in Jesus Christ God, but also state with assuredness that when they die or a friend or family member who also engages in such activities dies - often in a hail storm of bullets while engaging in multiple acts of immorality - how can there be an expression of assuredness that the deceased is now, “in a better place,” that they are in heaven with God, with Jesus? One of the main answers to this question is that a significant number of those who express the erroneous belief that there really is no such thing as sin or that there are no consequences to the commission of sin, or that everyone goes to heaven, have been taught to believe these errors. They have not been taught the truth. God the Father kept His teachings simple. So did God the Son Jesus Christ. Since the Resurrection there have been many explorations into the energies of God, the nature of God, the interrelationships of the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity which is God, the Sacraments, and numerous similar

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