What is faith? In this specific case, what is Christian faith? People have lots of ideas about that. Some think faith is blind. Others may think the reasoning behind Christian faith is circular logic. Others believe Christian faith is the truth.
We have faith that our team will win. And faith that it will rain. Even that we can pick a winning lottery number. In all those cases, faith requires taking a risk on something you can’t see. Faith requires trust. So why do we have so much trouble with trusting God?
Faith requires trust: taking a risk on something we can’t see More
Does God really make sure everything turns out good? Some Christians seem to think He does. But is that really true? What if I tell you the answer is, “It depends”?
Actually, it depends on a whole bunch of things. One of those things is what do we mean by “good”?
Does God really make sure everything turns out good? More
I believe in God. That’s a common answer when someone is asked, “Do you believe in God?” But, is that really true? I’ve been amazed by survey results that appear to show a belief in God but then has so many contradictions in the questions that follow. That’s the reason for the second part of the title – “Yes. I think. Don’t I?”
Do you believe in God? Yes. I think. Don’t I? More
My first radiation treatment showed that God is awesome. That probably sounds weird. Maybe even wrong? I’m getting radiation for prostate cancer. And during my first treatment while I’m inside the Tomograph machine getting zapped by dangerous radiation, I thought about how awesome God is.
My first radiation treatment showed That God is Awesome More
All dogs go to Heaven, don’t they? It probably sounds like a strange question for my site about God and religion. Well, not really. It’s actually very relevant, at least to me. And maybe you’ll think it is for you also.
All dogs go to Heaven, don’t they? More
Since this is about looking at ourselves, let’s look in the mirror and ask the person we see there, Do you want to be immortal? To be honest, if it’s about being immortal in this word, the way it is and where it seems to be going, saying yes is very hard. I think most of us know there’s something wrong with this world. And we want something better, even though we don’t seem to be able to do anything to keep it from getting even worse.
Do you want to be immortal? More
Blessed are those who mourn. Oh yeah. That’s a message we all want to hear. Especially when it’s translated as “happy are those who are unhappy”. But remember, this is Jesus. Everything’s either upside down or backwards. After all, Jesus is the one who said, Mt 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” So what else should we expect?
Blessed are those who mourn More
Are we supposed to be happy? To most people, the answer is probably obvious. At least it may seem obvious. But to others, like me, who have issues with depression – the answer is hardly obvious at all. Being happy can feel like something for other people. Whether happiness is something to experience can be a question for Christians as well.
The preachers who are into the so-called prosperity gospel, which isn’t in the New Testament, say – of course, God wants us to be happy. But what does Jesus actually say about being happy during His time on this planet? Jesus’ words should be shocking to those proponents and believers of that “prosperity gospel”.
I’m asking this question because I’m trying to write this series on The Beatitudes. You know – the part of the Sermon On The Mount where everything starts with “Blessed are …”? Well, if you didn’t know already, that can also be translated as “happy are …”.
When you read it, it sounds kind of odd. Actually – it can sound really odd.
However, there’s another choice – remember the sadness, acknowledging the hole left in our lives – but also remember all the happy times, the things they brought to our lives, and the things they brought and continue to bring to other people’s lives.
Another sad day. And yet, … More
