Jeff, Author at UNIVERSAL FAMILY

Is it a friendly universe?

May 5, 2014 by Jeff

As part of scientific living, we provision ourselves with a broad perspective by integrating inputs from science, philosophy, and religion into a broad concept of evolution. This concept includes some idea of (1) the evolution of our universe from its origin down to the present and into the future; (2) biological evolution, including ecology and … Read more

How shall we learn to focus better?

May 1, 2014 by Jeff

Scientific living engages our full capacities of body, mind, and soul as we focus on the task in hand. But often we find ourselves distracted, or the mind is thinking too much, and we are unable to stay focused. As the decades pass, the average attention span gets shorter, and there are many causes. To … Read more

An overview of scientific living

April 28, 2014 by Jeff

Today we begin our seven-fold path that leads through the dimensions of truth, beauty, and goodness. Considering the truths of science and asking what their significance might be in a philosophy of living, I have begun to develop a concept of scientific living. This concept involves several phases. Please aid in the ongoing development of … Read more

Truth: Core, periphery, and bridge

April 24, 2014 by Jeff

Our conversation has been vastly extended and deeply nourished by the 45+ comments on living at our best and the way of simplicity. These comments make it clear: to live in the way of simplicity is to live the truth. Truth is first and foremost a living, spiritual reality—divine truth. But that is not the … Read more

Paths of thoroughness

April 21, 2014 by Jeff

This philosophy of living weaves two complementary approaches: the way of simplicity and paths of thoroughness. The way of simplicity you have illustrated in your comments on the first two posts. A path of thoroughness is an excellent map for a careful inquiry or course of action. We can walk these paths in the degree … Read more

The way of simplicity

April 17, 2014 by Jeff

In response to the first post, people sent in descriptions of living at our best, providing an enduring resource for our conversation. (The post remains open for added comments for 20 days, and you can comment on others’ comments.) These descriptions also provide a good introduction to today’s topic. Soon this weblog will enter a … Read more

Ink Dots Art

September 6, 2019April 6, 2014 by Jeff

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam bibendum, libero eu rutrum feugiat, urna orci porta magna, id scelerisque neque nunc sit amet felis. Donec pellentesque tempus mauris, et feugiat magna pellentesque quis. Mauris in ultricies arcu. Vestibulum dolor ipsum, pretium et mollis sed, sollicitudin ac mi. Aliquam euismod erat in nunc suscipit auctor. … Read more

Ink Dots Art

September 6, 2019April 6, 2014 by Jeff

Standard Image Post

September 6, 2019March 31, 2014 by Jeff

Revisit Galilee (revised)

A dozen years ago I went with about twenty-five believers on a pilgrimage to Israel and beyond. I was greatly moved to discover how seeing places of Jesus’ ministry enabled me to remember, ponder, interpret, and commune. One thing that I brought back home was a placemat which I have on the dinner table. It […]

Jesus’ Scientific Knowledge: Scientific Living and Spiritual Living in the Teaching of Jesus

Jesus was not only an idealist. He was also a realist. He had his feet on the ground, and his knowledge of facts was excellent. And excellent knowledge includes some scientific knowledge. I believe that as the human Jesus grew up, he learned to be Watch the 3:50 video or listen to the podcast episode. […]

The Treasure in your Field

The kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found. He covered it up again, and in his joy he went out and sold everything he had and bought that field. What was this treasure in the field? I think it’s what Jesus was talking about when he said, “The […]

A man with a funnel in his head

A few years ago, on several occasions, when I looked out from the window in my study, I would see, across the street, my tall neighbor standing in the middle of his front yard. His little girl, about two years old, was running around in the yard, staying fairly close to him. Every few minutes, […]

A workshop, a reflection on truth and love, and a correction

There is some business that I want to mention at the end of this post, and it connects directly with some of the most important teachings of Jesus. Here is the question that I want to answer today. Jesus taught that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—and our neighbor […]

With all our strength

I’ve been on a quest to live–and write about–loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Yesterday I sent to my editor friend a revised section on strength. She discovered weaknesses in it. It didn’t take long for me to realize (this is a pattern) that she had uncovered a fresh, hungry need […]

Faith child

The faith of a little child not only enables us to join the kingdom family of God, it also continues to guide us as we progress. Jesus’s teachings and interactions on this theme are marked by a wonderful simplicity. And the variety of these teachings touches on several concepts that are part of the whole […]

Sean finds God

A 21-year-old computer whiz embraced the concept of the wonderfulness within, but rejected the idea of the spirit of God within–until two weeks ago. How did philosophy help? Watch the 9-minute video or listen to the podcast episode. For the video, I simplified the philosophy so much it’s hardly recognizable. I have organized some ideas […]

Falling across the Pentecost finish line

After acknowledging the failure of an experiment in the last class meeting (falling across the finish line), I summarize a five-week class, "The Journey from Easter to Pentecost." Then I distinguish garden-variety spiritual experience from the taste-and-see variety. The post Falling across the Pentecost finish line appeared first on UNIVERSAL FAMILY.

The Journey from Easter to Pentecost

"Lazarus, come forth!" Imagine Jesus saying this to you, and you saying this to others. Here's class that has embarked on that venture. The post The Journey from Easter to Pentecost appeared first on UNIVERSAL FAMILY.