Does God help those who help themselves? There’s no such verse in the Bible. Do all good things come to those who wait? Possible interpretation. Does God help only the helpless? We can be so misled but so close to the truth. The answer is yes and no. If you ask God for patience, it just means you’re going to wait longer. Don’t ask. Beyond the Simple Question: Divine Intervention vs. Human Effort God empowers us to act and work... Read more
What does this mean to me? In marketing and sales you learn that people don’t buy features. They buy benefits. The gadget can have all kinds of bells and whistles for features, but if they don’t benefit from those bells and whistles in any meaningful way, only people attracted to glitz and glamour buy. We don’t sell Christianity. But we do help people see the benefits through love. Relevant questions from new generations – what’s the benefit? What does eternal... Read more
Bridging the Divide: A Path to Unity Some things keep me awake at night because they are bringing us all down, yet we can conquer them. Our nation’s deep division is evident in our increasingly polarized political landscape and rising social unrest. While differences of opinion are inevitable, it’s crucial to find common ground and foster respectful dialogue. Majority rule with minority rights is a cornerstone of democracy, but we must strive to avoid oppression and promote peaceful coexistence. Our... Read more
Spirituality series As explained in my previous article on Discerning Truth in a World of Spiritual Ideas, we know that every individual has some ability to transcend their physical boundaries. But the accuracy of information may be questionable. Many people have really good mystical abilities. Mysticism concerns the preparation of the person for, the consciousness and the effect of a direct and transformative presence of God or divine love through contemplative practices. Sometimes we get bogged down in the details... Read more
Transcendent spirituality Many seeking a spiritual connection initially envision dramatic encounters with the divine, such as signs or profound feelings. However, these experiences are often elusive. While this might be disappointing, it’s important to understand that spiritual growth often follows a different path. Many people find that a deep-seated intuition guides them toward a spiritual path. This inner knowing often reveals that divine guidance is superior to our natural impulses, which can lead to difficulties and strained relationships. Life experiences... Read more
Halloween special Are there ghouls and vampires among us? Living dead who want to eat our brains. Soul suckers? Yes. And they’re disguised as real people. Reference verse: “But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”” – Matthew 26-28 (NASB) I believe that some people feed off... Read more
What determines what we become? We become what we think and do. If our thinking aspires to higher goals, we become that. If our thinking focuses on rolling in the gutter, that’s what we become. Our experience is the feedback that cements our thinking into who we become, and comparison tells us to change. Through spiritual growth we become children of God or children of evil. Spiritual Growth series Reference verse: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,... Read more
Spiritual Growth – a peek inside Spiritual growth is our transformation. “Spiritual growth is a process of awakening to one’s inner self, exploring the deeper meanings of life, and establishing a connection with something greater than oneself, which is understood as the divine, the universe, nature, or one’s higher self.” – Ministry Brands In this blog article series, we first look inward. Reference verse: “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God... Read more
Is Religion Spiritual It depends. Some listen for the voice of a living God. Some assign the voice of God to only what was said in scripture from 2000 to 3200 years ago. I like the UCC slogan, God is still speaking. I’m in favor of new generations building their own spiritual communities. However, religion offers valuable discoveries as well. Let’s compare spirituality with religion. Reference verse: Jesus said: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in... Read more
Christians and Jews all recognize that they aren’t worthy of God. We all broken. We’re all human beings full of faults and learning to be better. God showed he doesn’t call the perfect, but the imperfect as messengers and leaders, such as Moses. Yet we’re called to a higher purpose. Not because we’re better than others, but because we have a message from God to others. To the Jews: “’… and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In