In a world that presents a mix of truths, half-truths, errors, deliberate distortions, and outright lies, truth is a basic value. It orients daily living and puts mind and soul on solid ground. Although most of God is beyond human understanding, truth is a value that we can comprehend to a significant degree. For those … Read more
Artistic living with Jesus and others First, an excerpt from A Taste of Joy and Liberty. Jesus was a master of the art of living. He was alive, fresh, down-to-earth, imaginative, original, spontaneous, creative, vividly expressive, good-humored, and joyous. Watch the 7:15 video or listen to the podcast episode The Arts Jesus would have enjoyed this … Read more
This blogpost begins with some ways that we can find Jesus’ joy by doing what brought him joy (chapter 10 in A Taste of Joy and Liberty). But I also want to share part of a chapter from my 2016 book, Living in Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. Watch the 7:53 video or the podcast episode . Finding … Read more
Many people have legitimate objections to the idea of perfection as a goal. But what did Jesus mean when he said, “Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect”? The present-tense imperative has implications for this life. Come and see. (There’s also a story about the photo of Jesus.)
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 … Read more
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 as ourselves. How does this teaching relate to Jesus’ description of the basic relationship of God and humankind?
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more