People often asked how someone could follow Manson to the extreme I once did? My usual reply is that the crazed Manson we see in interviews is not the person that misled us in the '60s. Things that deceive us often do not appear damaging until later.

Think About It!

The youngster smoking their first cigarette doesn't see it as developing into lung cancer. The alcoholic doesn't see their first drink leading to a life on skid row. Who could have seen those seemingly innocent peaks at pornography leading to divorce? And the person tempted with illicit sex didn't see it leading to unwanted pregnancy or an incurable disease.

The third Sunday of this month is Father's Day. Years ago, we discovered that in prison Father's Day is not as popular a day. Hallmark sent our chaplain thousand's of free cards for the men, but we couldn't give them away. We discovered that only a few of the men were in contact with their fathers.

Our Father's Promise

The Old Testament ends this way: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." 1

On the second Sunday this month, we celebrate Mother's Day. One thing we all share in common is that we have a mother. All of us know the importance of this day. We will either be with her, or hold her close in our hearts and minds. She is our love, no matter what!

Our Mom

It would not be right to not mention Eve, who was the mother of all living. 1 Sometimes we forget about her. Some of us blame her or our own mom for our troubles. The Bible says Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 2

Our goal is to affect the way you see God. We intend to reach the lost, the backslidden, the unchurched and the unproductive, and make them whole through the love of God, thereby launching them into productive, personal service. Our desire is to always have others feel loved, and to help them understand that God loves them.

How Do You See God?

How we see God affects the way we see and react with others. If we see God as creating us in His image, we will value the life of one another. If we perceive God as judgmental and always angry, we will reflect a critical heart. If we know and perceive God as love, we will reflect His love to those around us. Mother Teresa said that the greatest disease of mankind is the absence of love. She hit the nail right on the head.

The last Sunday in this month is Easter Sunday. The whole body of Christians will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. With Mel Gibson's film The Passion of Christ still fresh in our minds, we can't help but remember Christ's suffering at Calvary three days prior to His resurrection.

What Is Your View?

Easter was originally the name of a pagan festival honoring Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of light and spring. At the time of the vernal equinox (the day in the spring when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length), sacrifices were offered in her honor.

"Mr. Smith was a man who always clocked in at work on time. He took his job seriously, never missing a day. He always paid his bills on time. He loved his car and was always diligent to change the oil every 3000 miles. His yard was always perfectly manicured. He walked his dog faithfully. He never missed a Sunday at church in all the years we'd known him. He was faithful with his tithes and offerings. He is survived by his wife Betty. They had no children."

How will the eulogy read at your funeral? Will the clergyman talk about all your egocentric exploits, or will he talk of the lives you've touched? What kind of legacy will you leave for others? Will your relatives and friends have anything good to say about you? Or does it really matter, since you will be dead?

What Is "It" That Really Matters?

Many of us take pride in saying, "I don't care what people think!" "It" isn't good to be controlled by the opinions of others, but like "it" or not, "Man is not an island!" We are created to have relationships with others and a big part of healthy relationships is care and concern for one another.

Augustine said, "...the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." Augustine spoke of a void that every man has in his heart that can only be filled by God. In other words, the search for the meaning of life is endless until our life is filled with the righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.

Many people search throughout the Earth trying to find God in sacred artifacts and relics. They become devoted to religious institutions, never obtaining what they are looking for. Salvation, that comes from trusting Christ, is already within easy reach. In fact, the message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." 1

Searching For Answers

For centuries men have continued to search for the Holy Grail. It is defined many ways, but is usually claimed to be the challis Jesus used at the last supper to serve His disciples the night before His death on the cross. Jesus placed importance on the wine in the challis, not the cup itself. He told His disciples that the wine was a symbol of His blood, which was to be given to forgive the sins of many. 2 There has been investigations, which have taken place over many centuries, into the authenticity of Shroud of Turin. It is thought to be the cloth that covered Jesus in the tomb.

December 2004

The world is experiencing an information overload as radio, television and the Internet battle for our time and attention. These devices provide a vision that dictates how we should look at the world around us. We receive these communications through our physical senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Similarly, we communicate with God spiritually with our spiritual senses. Whether physical or spiritual, these sensory views not only create the way we see the world, but the way we see God.

This worldview is our life perspective and determines how we interpret events, situations and circumstances, such as our religious and political views or the war in Iraq. It makes up the thoughts and beliefs that shape our lives, and our relationship with God.

A worldview is the way we see, perceive and understand things. The way we look at the world around us. While growing up in the '50s and '60s, my thoughts were very shallow. I did not understand the importance of having a sound worldview. There was a battle going on in my mind between my worldview, based upon modem, liberal culture, and the solid beliefs and views of my parents. I was searching for what I felt was missing in my life. I was led by what felt good physically. I didn't understand what was missing, nor was I willing to listen to those who offered counsel. I felt misunderstood, and began to medicate my pain with illegal drugs, sex and music. I was self centered, trying to fill a spiritual emptiness through external means.

My life began to spin out of control, lacking character, appropriate feelings and sound reasoning. A quality life was within reach, exemplified by my parents and siblings, but my will was bound to follow a path leading to my own destruction. I ignored a productive view of life, falling prey to those who had perfected the art of destroying their own souls. I succumbed to a path that seemed right to me, but whose end was death.1

My Eyes Were Blinded

My parents used to remind me later in life, how as a child, I would talk to my dog "Collie" and tell him all my troubles. I guess I felt he could understand me when no one else could. Though a trained dog can comfort and help guide the blind, "Collie" could do little to help me with the blindness of my heart. Now, I see that I should have been talking to my parents and God, instead of to my dog.