WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
Date: 2/08/2012 02:46 - Subscribe
Scripture:
"He taught them with authority" (Mark 1:22).
LIFE
A number of years ago The editors of
"Life Magazine" compiled an inspiring collection
of essays in answer to their question, "What
is the meaning of life?" From more than 25
countries, 200 poets, scientists, philosophers
and just "everyday people" shared their vision
of the meaning of life. The following essays
are just a small sampling from this life-enriching
collection. The first is from Capetown South
Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu who wrote,
in part:
The evolution of the world is a great manifestation
of God. As scientists understand more and more
about the interdependence not only of living things
but of rocks, rivers - the whole of the universe -
I am left in awe that I, too, am a part of this
tremendous miracle. Not only am I a part of this
pulsating network, but I am an indispensable part.
It is not only theology that teaches me this, but
it is the truth that environmentalists shout from
the rooftops. Every living creature is an essential
part of the whole. Our surroundings are awesome.
We see about us majestic mountains, the
perfection of a tiny mouse, a newborn baby, a
flower, the colors of a seashell. Each creature is
most fully that which it is created to be, an almost
incredible reflection of the Infinite, the invisible, the
indefinable. All women and men participate in that
reflected glory. We believe that we are in fact the
image of our Creator. Our response must be to live
up to that amazing potential - to give God glory by
reflecting His beauty and His love. That is why we
are here and that is the purpose of our lives.
The next essay was written by renowned
Grammy-winning composer and recording artist
Quincy Jones, a portion of which I will read:
In 1974 I was blessed to have survived a brain
aneurysm and two brain operations. It is unfortunate,
but sometimes it takes a life-threatening crisis
such as this to get your undivided attention, and this
certainly did. I was given the opportunity to renew my
basic belief in the importance of spirituality, reopening
communications on a one-to-one basis with the
Creator. God has given each one of us approximately
25,000 to 26,000 days on this earth. I truly believe
He has something very specific in mind: 8300 days
to sleep, 8,300 to work and 8,300 to give, live, play,
pray and love one another. We were born to struggle,
to face the challenges of our lifetime and, ultimately,
to evolve to a higher consciousness. When we find
we can unyieldingly bestow our trust to that inner
voice, it is evidence of our divine guidance. The
universal karmic law dictates: "You get what you
give" and "You've got to bring some to get some.
" I would like to believe that the highest state of
evolution in our lifetime is to reach a state where
grace and giving reign and we experience the
oneness of ourselves with the creations of this
universe. We must search for the good in each
of God's creations; it is important to invest our
faith in the best part of humanity.
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BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
Date: 2/04/2012 09:10 - Subscribe
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful
You're the one who held me up
And never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through, through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
The light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
It is amazing to me how this very popular
Celine Dion song best describes my feelings
towards my God.
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THE NEAREST CHURCH
Date: 1/30/2012 07:17 - Subscribe
Scripture:
"Everybody is looking for you" Mark 1:37
There's the amusing story about a convicted criminal --
a rough-looking character nicknamed "Brutus," who
was about to be paroled after serving a lengthy
sentence. Before walking through the prison gates
to his long-awaited freedom, he was paid a visit by
the prison chaplain. "You have paid your debt to
society," the chaplain said, "so I encourage you
to hold your head up high when you walk out of
here. Live a good life and, by all means, join the
nearest Church as soon as possible."
It so happened that Brutus found an apartment
on the edge of the poorest section of town, yet
close to the richest section. It so happened also
that the nearest Church was located on the edge
of the rich area. Old Brutus lost no time going to
see the pastor of that Church and telling him of
his desire to become a member. "My good man,"
said the pastor, "I don't think you would be happy
here, although I appreciate your good intentions.
Really, I think you would be most uncomfortable
among my people and I'm afraid it would be quite
embarrassing to you. I suggest you think it over,
and pray that God will give you some direction."
Several days later, when Brutus happened to see
the pastor on the street, he stopped and said to him,
"Reverend, I took your advice and prayed to God for
direction. And God told me to stop trying to join your
Church. He said that He Himself had been trying to
get in there for years without success!"
(Sunday Sermons on Line)
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ON LEVEL GROUND
Date: 1/28/2012 12:55 - Subscribe
Scripture:
29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient
to God have now received mercy as a result of
their disobedience, 31 so they too have now
become disobedient in order that they too may
now[a] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy
to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to
disobedience so that he may have mercy on them
all.
(Romans 11: 29-32) NIV
Reflections:
I had a friend who grew up in the church with
me. His life was very destructive, and was often
in serious trouble. Even from a young age he
was in and out of juvenile detention. As he grew
older, he was in and out of jail. His parents were
disappointed, sad, and ashamed.
I grew up in the church and had a great record
in high school, college, and graduate school.
I ended up becoming a peace organizer, a
police officer, an ordained minister, and I was
filled with pride and presumption. My folks were
so proud. His parents were sad with a
heavy, heavy heart. The folks in heaven, well
they don't see any difference between us.
WHY?
My destructive friend cried for mercy and
forgiveness from our God and found his slate
clean. My own destruction was that of pride
and presumption and I turned to God for
mercy and forgiveness and my slate was
made clean. Now there is not one iota of
difference in our standing before God.
I find, in my life, that I need to remember this
truth more and more. You know it is really
contrary to my ever instinct, yet it is God's truth.
"For God has bound everyone over to
disobedience so that he may have mercy on
them all."
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please keep reminding me, that
before your we are all on level ground.
AMEN
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PRACTICAL IDEALIST
Date: 1/26/2012 06:47 - Subscribe
I am not a visionary. I claim to
be a practical idealist. The religion
of nonviolence is not meant merely
for the rishis and saints. It is meant
for the common people as well.
Nonviolence is the law of our species
as violence is the law of the brute.
The spirit lies dormant in the brute
and he knows no law but that of
physical might. The dignity of man
requires obedience to a higher law-to
the strength of the spirit...
The rishis who discovered the law of
nonviolence in the midst of violence
were greater geniuses than Newton.
They were themselves known the use
of arms, they realized their uselessness,
and taught a weary world that its
salvation lay not through violence but
through nonviolence.
By M. K. Gandhi.
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