Man was created to have a relationship with his Creator. The Father desires to have and is in the process of creating an eternal spiritual family. Mankind was created just for that purpose with Jesus Christ as the captain and author of eternal salvation: "But one testified in a certain place, saying: 'What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him … [Read more...] about Reconciliation with God
Repentance
Healthy Attitudes
I want to look at the concept of attitude and see just what kind of potent force it is. An attitude is a manner of acting, feeling or thinking that reveals one’s disposition, opinion, and overall mindset. One’s attitude is a mental disposition. How we are inside. Our approach to life. It’s the way we view the world in general terms and how we look at other individuals. A good attitude means different things in different circumstances. Generally, it signifies an approach … [Read more...] about Healthy Attitudes
Willing or Willful?
In his book written in 1637, entitled Discourse on the Method, René Descartes published a phrase in Latin that became one of the central tenets or teachings of Western philosophy. That phrase in Latin is cogito ergo sum. In English it is: I think, therefore I am. The main theme of the book addresses skepticism, a philosophical school of thought that questioned whether knowing something was “for sure” is possible. Everything is relative. Descartes refused to accept the authority of previous … [Read more...] about Willing or Willful?
Self-Examination: Are We in the Faith
We are subjected to all kinds of tests throughout our lifetime. Some are routine, but others are unavoidable, deeply personal tests: peer pressure, emotional suffering, financial upheaval, and temptation. With a fear of failure, we usually don’t consider these as positive experiences. However, with good preparation we can face self-examination confidently. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is … [Read more...] about Self-Examination: Are We in the Faith
Getting Out of the Mess We’re In
There is one thing we have in common with everyone else. And it’s not just something we have in common with people who are just like us or our friends, but it’s something we have in common with people we don’t even know—with people very much unlike us. Make no mistake; we all have a mess in our lives. And even if you’re lucky enough to be between messes right now, you’re still just a decision away from creating a brand-new mess. We are all good at hiding our messes. In fact, we usually are … [Read more...] about Getting Out of the Mess We’re In
Viewpoints from the Prodigal Son
The parable of the prodigal son, which is found in only one gospel account (Luke 15), appears to be a simple story of redemption. After a son wastes his inheritance and finds himself in a hopeless, oppressive situation, he comes to himself, returns to his father, and enjoys a joyous reception. The parable acquired its name from the one son who fell into extravagant and reckless, or “prodigal”, living. There are important lessons to be learned when we view the parable from a certain … [Read more...] about Viewpoints from the Prodigal Son