Doubting Faith Posted: Nov 02, 2010 Quick, here is a short True or False quiz. TRUE OR FALSE: I believe in God. Absolutely true. Every fragment that makes up the whole acknowledges this truth. The flesh, the soul, the body, the mind, the spirit: my entire existence accepts and proclaims that God is real. TRUE OR FALSE: I believe in the Truth as revealed by the Bible. True, at least on most days. Some days I am bombarded with questions, and it is on those days that my confidence wavers. Those days are rare, but I would be dishonest if I did not admit they were as much a part of my life as the days where I accept every word of Scripture as inspired by God Himself. TRUE OR FALSE: I believe Jesus is who He and the rest of Scripture say He is. True. I believe Scripture and history are in agreement. Jesus lived and breathed two thousand years ago. He taught and had many followers. The Bible says that He died on a cross and rose again on the third day after His death. Awesome story there; one that has moved my heart more times than I can recall. But it has also been the source of many sleepless nights and totally unproductive days. God in the flesh dead? God in the flesh raised to life again? Any adult that claims those truths are easy to accept is a liar. Scripture speaks to it. History speaks to it. But sometimes, my mind cannot fathom it. Sometimes, my unbelief is too strong to ignore. It is at those times I think about faith.

Christmas Time Is Here . . . Almost Posted: Dec 09, 2009 I am very willing this time of the year to be vocal about God, spirituality, and all the rest. It's the meaning of the season, after all. Most people lower their defenses this time of year and that makes it much easier for me to be honest and truly express what God is doing for me, to me, and with me. I don't have to hide behind my well designed façade; I can let it all hang out in a manner of speaking. For most of the year I am a very reserved fellow, but you get me close to Christmas and I sort of lose my mind. Food tastes better. The air is purer. Life is richer. There is a feeling of rebirth or starting over that is intoxicating and it is impossible for me to ignore it or hide it. I have a light and it must and shall shine!

MORE: Moments of Revelatory Exhilaration Posted: Oct 14, 2009 I was driving home from work late last year. The traffic was bad, as usual. The heater in my car doesn't work that well and, needless to say, it was cold. And oh yeah, I had a headache. All in all, I wouldn't describe my mood as good. It wasn't a horrible day, so don't assume I was angry or bitter about life. I just wasn't "feeling" that Tuesday afternoon, if you know what I mean. But all of that changed when I got hit by what I like to call a Moment of Revelatory Exhilaration. God didn't audibly speak to me. I didn't get a vision from heaven. But I did catch a glimpse of something beyond me and my immediate circumstances. Scripture tells us He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11); I'm sure there are many different ways that verse can be interpreted or explained, but I'm not going to exegete the passage. I know what that verse says to me; God has made everything beautiful in its time and He created humanity with an innate ability to appreciate truth and beauty. He did this so we could and would recognize the Originator of that Truth and Beauty.