Onw of rhe ways in which God's Love becomes real to us -- which leads us into one of the biggest paradoxes of our Faith -- is one that can be extremely difficult to grasp. The paradox is this: many times, in our lives, the very best way to make the inward journey to God is through the outward journey to others.

The compassion of Jesus draws people to Him. This is  the central element to the Christian faith. Christians may disagree on many issues, but the image of the compassionate Christ and the good news of the forgiveness of sins is at the heart of the matter for all believers.

Nostalgia is weird. It fills you with a sense of deep sadness that you are no longer in that place, in that season. And yet it fills you with such deep joy at the goodness you experienced during those years. I find myself often saying, “God was good to us here.”

We remind our fathers on this Father’s Day that they will always need to remember that God has given them a call of responsibility toward their children. Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

There are places in this wonderful world where you will encounter many elements of human ingenuity that are mind boggling. There is a primitive bridge in South America made up of interlocking vines which support a precariously swinging wooden walkway -- hundreds of feet above a river.

Scripture is clear what you keep will be taken from you and what you give away will be given back many fold. Store up your treasures of love, faith, hope, charity, kindness by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned and your reward will be great in the Kingdom.

The inclusion of poppies in the remembrance of Memorial Day is tied to a poem written by Canadian Teacher and Surgeon John McCrae. displaying the grief and suffering of war as experienced in World War I. The NVA petitioned Congress that the “Poppy” be declared as the official flower of Memorial Day 

The important thing for us to remember is God's gift of human life is intentional. There is purpose and meaning to be discovered, lived, and shared.  God intends that our life be carefully lived, thoughtfully fashioned, and purposefully used so that the great, final day of total deliverance can come to every soul.

A little girl was looking at a children's book of Bible lessons when she stopped to gaze intently at the illustration of Jesus standing before the great crowd, breaking bread. er mother explained that this was only an artist's conception of Him. The girl replied, "Well, it sure looks like Him."

With so much turmoil,in the world, a very caring teacher decided to dialogue with her students each morning before the day's lesson. One student. said "If I could choose to be anything," the girl began, "I'd be a dog. They don't have to wake up scared every morning; all they want to do is love you."

Great Spirit, Creator of all, let me pray to Mother Earth who is your gift to the people. Hear your child, As I sit here on your lap of grass, I listen to the echoes of your voice in my brother, the Wind, as he blows from all corners and directions.
The soft and gentle raindrops are the Tears you cry for your children.

In the spring of 1843, a renowned British engineer by the name of Isambard Kingdom Brunel took a rare break from work to entertain his children with a magic trick. Unfortunately, things went awry when he accidentally swallowed a gold coin he had hidden under his tongue.

In his book, "Souls on Fire," Elie Wiesel, suggests that when we die and go to meet our Maker, we're not going to be asked why we didn't become someone important.. Instead, we will be asked, "Why didn't you accept the fire of God's Love into your heart to become the person God intended for you to be?

"When you live in the past,

with its mistakes and regrets,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WAS.

"When you live in the future,

with its problems and fears,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Will Be.

An astrophysicist reflecting on the age of our Universe once quipped, "sure, thirteen billion years is a long time, but it's nothing compared to eternity." We can also say that all of the distance between stars and galaxies is nothing compared to the expanse in the realm of the entire Kingdom of God’s.

Words are not always a accurate as we may hope.  When did everything become “Perfect” if you listen, "perfect" is used all the time. You give your name or address, and the feedback is “Perfect!” Now, which item would you like from our menu? Whatever you answer, the comeback is “Perfect.”

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, 

"I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world -- into the black places in the hearts of men -- and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life."

When babies are born, they are said to be a bundle from heaven. And if this is so, isn't being childlike the nearest any of us ever get to the Creator? As we read in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus reminds us, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Four trees started to grow on top of a small hill. Three of the trees were very selfish, arrogant and proud trees, always boasting how big and tall they would become, teasing each other about how they would live forever. The fourth tree was very happy and content, just to be a tree.

The Zero Star Hotel is a unique hotel that is the work of two Swiss conceptual artists. They explain that the "Null Stern Hotel" — which translates from German to “Zero Star Hotel” -- is purposefully "anti-idyllic." The owners state that the only star in this setting is you.

Isaac Newton once said: "I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space. But I can set it aside and go into my room, shut the door, get down on my knees and see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can be assisted by all the telescopes and material things on earth."

Looking up, beautifully arched over our heads, was a rainbow. The wonder of it all filled our eyes with tears. I held my breath and listened closely, for I knew that at any moment, some great choir would break out in Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." There was peace in the midst of the storm! There was God in the midst of the storm!”

Rabbi Kushner’s main thought is God chooses not to intervene to protect people from tragedies, nor will he punish or reward them for their actions, preferring that humans use their free will without interference. 

As a child of God, you can make every day a beautiful day in the neighborhood because you are to minister to the world. Whatever your secular vocation -- doctor, celebrity, student, educator – whatever neighborhood you live in – country, city or suburban -- whatever your family situation is – big or small, married or single -- while you are there, you are a full-time minister of Jesus Christ.

Dag Hammarskjöld’s lines always seemed like a perfect quote to begin a New Year, this year more than ever before! To thank God for all that has been, even the suffering and pain that we may have endured. To say Yes! to God for all that shall be, without any idea of what that might mean? This is the work of faith, and the work of a lifetime.

This is the day of Epiphany, a word that has come to mean a revelation, a new idea, a clarity in understanding and knowledge, and wisdom from on high. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not here but today is God’s gift - that is why it is called the “Present”! Enjoy each day as God gives it to you ! Now there can be for you today’s epiphany!