12:01 a.m. 1/1/15

Times Square.  Packed with crazy, happy people, just waiting for that ball to drop — the moment 2014 turns into 2015.  A transition from one year that held both successes and failures, into a new year filled with hopes, promises and expectations.

Over your life span, where were you at that point in time when you left one year behind in favor of a new one?  Did that new one turn out as you had hoped, as you expected?  No?  Yes? Continue reading

Faith Thoughts: 103

(Post 3 of 3)

Faith and the “real” world.  How does that work?

A few years ago, two of the Men’s Bible Study groups that I am apart of were looking at Islam.  In one I was confronted with a sense of fear, a fear that for all intent and purpose has prevented a clear and unfettered discussion of Islam.  I failed to keep the conversation focused for there seemed to be such a closed mind, which surprised me. All my brothers seem to be able to concentrate on is violence and what they see as “Allah, the avenger”, out to kill all infidels (Christians, Jews, etc.).  A very frustrating discussion. Continue reading

Faith Thoughts: 102

(Post 2 of 3)

What about the Resurrection?

Christianity without the Resurrection?  I don’t believe so.  Simply put, in my mind, without the Resurrection there is no Christianity!  My wife and I came to believe that, during those early years which we refer to as the real beginning of our Christian walk.  If we could not believe in the Resurrection, then we could not be Christians.  That remains central to our faith.

As I tried to recall the years of my youth, the hundreds of church services I attended (usually under duress), the hundreds of dad’s sermons heard, slept through, and also read, I did not grasp the importance of the Resurrection, which I feel is so key now.  I do see Dad’s emphasis on the ministry of Christ, the power that belief brings to good works, the sense of being a “good” person, and the lessons that Christ’s life teaches us.  But the Resurrection?  Not so much. Continue reading

Faith Thoughts: 101

(Post 1 of 3)

Some years ago I set out to write a “brief” statement of my faith that I could share with my children.  At that time they were adults in their 30’s and who, probably, had a fairly well-formed idea of “religion”, faith and all that “stuff”.  That “brief” statement ended up not being brief at all.  So what follows here, and two other blogs, are faith points that are important for me and are offered here for your consideration.

Over the years I have resolved to have conversations with my children about faith and what I believe, but the time has never seemed right.  Over those years I flirted with that topic, have implied some, have lived out some, but never really gotten into it.  Maybe I was a little fearful, wanting to “say it right” but concerned that it might come out incomplete, or incoherent, or sounding like I’m proselytizing!  But the reality of it is that I probably communicated more than I know. Continue reading