Struggle Beautifully - UNIVERSAL FAMILY

When athletes or sports teams are doing poorly, it is common to say that they are struggling. But struggle is part of live on all levels. Here’s how to struggle beautifully.

Watch the 7:48 video or listen to the podcast episode.

Living Truth

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 […]

Artistic living with Jesus and others

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 […]

Finding Joy in Life with Jesus and John Muir

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 […]

To Fulfill All Righteousness

It may seem obvious that Jesus would go to be baptized in the Jordan River by his relative and forerunner, John (Mt 3). I do not imagine that Jesus debated in his mind whether or not to go for baptism; but I do believe that he thought deeply about its implications, communed with his Father, […]

Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in God’s Answer to Prayer

You may know a person who is struggling to discern whether an impressive answer to prayer has come from the human mind. This post offers an answer that I think will make you smile. The post Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in God’s Answer to Prayer appeared first on UNIVERSAL FAMILY.

What does it mean to be perfect in this life?

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 post What does […]

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, […]