Choosing "a" God

        There is only one God, but there are numerous conceptions of him out there. Personally, I would choose the God who is love, teaching us to never judge, always forgive, and love even our enemies, and has demonstrated this love by coming down to us from heaven in person and dying on the cross for our salvation. Any other "versions" of God that fall short of this one, I can not and will not accept.

Wake Up to Death

        Another young man I used to know has died of cancer. People around the world are tragically getting killed everyday ~ look at the current Charlie Hebdo incident. We all know that we are going to die one day, yet so many of us still live as if they are going to live forever. Perhaps they are afraid to face death? Anyhow, to wake up to death is to face reality. Then know God through Jesus the Son and you'll live forever, making death a nonissue.  

God Indispensable

        When we find it difficult to love others, we enter deep into God and he fills us with his love to be poured out on others. When we have sins to overcome, we go deep into God and he fills us with his pure love, banishing all evil desires. When we seek peace and freedom, we go deep into God and he fills us with his sweet love, dispelling all our anxieties and attachment to the world. When our hearts are troubled, we enter deep into God and he fills us with his love that heals the soul. The Lord fights all the battles for us! Absolutely, we cannot live (or survive) without him.   

How We Die Matters

       The current big news story is the mass killing of 12 people at Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Charlie Hebdo is a satirical magazine whose cartoons have mocked politicians, bankers, the police, and religion (both Jesus and Pope Benedict were targets). Apparently, the published mockery of the Prophet Muhammad has triggered this horrible attack by some extreme Islamists.  

        I am not judging anyone, but I'd like to point out that making fun of others may be fun, but as Christians, we must always respect others' feelings. We live in an evil, dangerous world ~ all the more we need to be holy. One day we'll face God and he's going to ask us not just how we have lived, but also how we died. Would you feel comfortable telling him that you got killed for making fun of others? Be holy so that you'll be blameless when he asks you that question.

Hidden Prejudice

        I have sensed in myself that there are certain things I see, or hear or read about I just don't much care for, for no apparent reasons. Since they are minor, I don't bother to analyze what the underlying reasons might be. But today I ask the Holy Spirit to wipe out all my hidden prejudices so that I may be more perfect in God's love and be completely fair in dealing with others in all things.

Jesus Not to Be missed!

        With a God who created the infinite universe and died for us out of love, who am I to question or reject him? Do you question him because you've been conditioned to never trust anyone? Do you question because you believe that science can explain everything? Perhaps you reject God because you've been seduced by the world? Do you reject him because you are looking for a god to your liking, if you are looking at all? Jesus is not to be missed ~ remain open and still to let him gather you in his arms. Life is short, and you'll never have another chance again for all eternity!

Believing in Infinity

        The Hubble Space Telescope has taken some amazing pictures in space. This link http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30699647 takes you to a report on BBC News today. The second picture is a shot of the Andromeda Galaxy, our own Milky Way's big neighbor, two million light-years away. Just how far away is two million light-years in miles? A little calculation gives the answer: 11,756,999,620,000,000,000, almost 12 billion billion miles! As far as today's astronomers know, there are billions of galaxies out there. I have no problem with a universe that is infinite, knowing that our God is infinite in every way. 

God Comes to Me!

        Today's Communion experience. God came to me. I was called to his supper and fed the living bread that came down from heaven; I didn't even have to be in heaven! 

Message of Love

        In today's 1st reading from 1 John 4, the Apostle made it clear that God is love. We all more or less know how to love, but God showed us what love should be like when he sent his only Son into the world to die for us. I can now say that God came to purify our love and show us that life should be all about learning how to love. This is the message for all, Christians or non-Christians.

Sin Disturbs Peace

        As long as we sin, we will not experience inner peace, for sin causes unrest and turmoil within us. This is how God has made us. That's why when we repent of our sins and become reconciled to God, we gain inner peace again.