Spiritual Ponderings

What is your basic problem? Sometimes this is an exclamation of frustration with someone who irritates us. But at a far deeper level this is a question that must be answered by every person regarding how they relate to their eternal existence. Our beliefs about the real root issue in our problem of sin affect and shape our opinions about salvation and determine how we answer this question for ourselves. As I currently see it, there are two ways of answering this question – other than attempting to live in denial that God even exists. Either I will believe that God is my problem who must be placated in order for me to be saved, or my own choices, beliefs and resulting behaviors are out of alignment with the principles of cause and effect created by God to serve as the undergirding of all of creation. This is not just an exercise to discuss religion or philosophy. Rather this is a vitally important question with the potential to clarify what direction we are...

As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again--but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you ? Yes, you are our glory and joy! (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20) I am starting to sense some thing big emerging into my consciousness, something existential in nature. We sometimes ask why we are alive, what is the purpose of our existence? We offer all sorts of attempted explanations for this, many distorted by our natural selfish desires. But what I am starting to perceive is something far bigger, far more deeply satisfying, rich and meaningful. We were created to live life on this earth primarily to leverage opportunities to form bonds of joy with as many other people as possi...