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The Pursuit of Perfection and the Thrill of Victory!

Every few years the Olympics comes around and becomes the centerpiece of global culture. In a world filled with crime, war, poverty, and injustice, the spectacle of seeing people who have dedicated major portions of their lives to excelling at a physical discipline and rising to the highest levels of human achievement is not only a welcome distraction.  It is inspirational, uplifting, and even awe inspiring! Seeing someone spin in the air more times than you can count, then land on a slippery surface on 1/8" wide blade of steel and do it with grace is a stunning sight to see! Watching people sled on ice at 90 mph with no real steering mechanism and their face inches from the ground seems surreal... or downhill racers going at similar speeds standing on two high tech beams at the hairy edge between control and disaster...  it makes you wonder what drives them to put everything on the line with such rare abandon. While motivations vary and are often deeply personal, attaining the 'perfect run' and experiencing the 'thrill of victory' is one common fuel that keeps them focused and driven. There is something in us that longs for perfection, whether we experience it ourselves or see it in others.

There is a paradox of human experience that few people can really explain. When we see something so beautiful, powerful, wondrous and moving that we are filled with joy... why is it a very common response to weep... to be moved to tears? Tears are typically associated with sadness, yet in our most transcendent and happy moments, we often cry. While still in high school, I came across (and wrote a paper on) the writings of a French (first a Protestant, then agnostic, then Catholic) philosopher named Jacques Maritain who had the best explanation I had ever heard before or since. As I recall, his explanation was that we all long for Heaven, for God's reign, for perfection.  When we get a glimpse of perfection in this damaged world, that deep and potent connection with everything we long for is made for a moment, then broken. In that moment of transcendent joy we weep with sadness as we begin to experience the inevitable loss of what we know is slipping through our fingers, knowing that we are powerless to stop it. We have touched Heaven itself, and now we are being torn from it kicking and screaming as the world pulls us back to it's harsh reality. It all happens in a moment, an instant, faster than we can comprehend, and we are left wondering what just hit us as we wipe the tears from our eyes. 

One thing that is interesting about this is that it has a lot in common with 'near death experiences' (NDEs).  Quite often when people 'die' and go to Heaven, they are so overwhelmed with the love and joy and perfection they experience, when they are asked (or told) about coming back to their earthly existence to finish out their purpose, that is the last thing they want! Despite being separated from family and friends and all of their 'stuff', they most frequently want to stay, and are sad, and even angry, when they have to leave Heaven to come back to life. Wanting to understand and experience the joys and wonders of Heaven myself (if not experientially, then vicariously), I started collecting videos of people who have had NDEs (or waking dreams) whereby they went to Heaven and then came back to tell about it. I put together a YouTube channel (check it out here) with this collection which currently has over 50,000 hits and counting, so I guess I am not the only one intrigued by this phenomenon. 

So what does it all mean? How can we use this information to bring more meaning and purpose to our lives? How can we tap into that powerful force that drives athletes in their pursuit of excellence? How can we 'touch Heaven', achieve that 'perfect run', and experience 'the thrill of victory' again and again in our lives? The first Olympics were held in Greece in 776 BC, so the Apostle Paul (being a Roman citizen and speaking Greek) would have been well acquainted with the Olympics (although 'Winter Olympics' hadn't been invented yet). He states, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air", and "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." He also said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace", and, near the end of his life, proclaimed, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." Paul saw himself and us as spiritual athletes striving for rewards that will last forever!

Bottom line? Jesus endured the most difficult course (of events) ever imagined... the cross. How?  Like top athletes, by keeping his eyes on the prize of the joy that was set before him (sitting at the right hand of God). We are encouraged to follow His example and keep our eyes on Him, the one who will reward us for all the good we have done as we stand on the podium. A true athlete feels reward from discipline, progress, and incremental success, but ultimately strives for that 'Gold Medal' (historically it was a victory wreath or crown). Christ reminded us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Getting to Heaven is one thing... gathering crowns and other rewards to be held until you arrive is another. Paul refers to a number of 'crowns' (or victory wreaths) to be attained for things like self-discipline, perseverance in difficulty, spiritual leadership, witnessing and discipleship, faithfulness even unto death, and looking forward to the return of Christ. Christ saves us by His grace if we make him Lord and Savior, but if we are faithful in doing good no matter what, we will have great reward in Heaven! We can strive for 'perfection' in our walk with God each day... with our ear open to the guidance of our coach, the Holy Spirit, we can live in faith, hope and love, following the example of our Lord and his most committed spiritual athletes. We can raise our sights toward our heavenly calling and keep our eye on the ​heavenly rewards that not only will outshine anything this world could offer, but they will last for eternity! Perfect everlasting rewards are within our grasp! Lift up your eyes and go for the gold!

But wait... There's more! We who have faith also have daily access to experience perfection, to get a glimpse of Heaven, to live under God's reign through a living relationship with our perfect Creator... through prayer, through study of God's Word, and through Holy Spirit inspired action. We can experience perfection every time we seek and find His holiness. When the Love of God is real to you, you will keep coming back again and again, and find strength, power and wisdom (when you need it most) by dwelling in His presence. As Isaiah said,

"He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,    

they will walk and not be faint."

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

GOD's 'Navy Seals'!

As we sit in the comfort of our warm homes, our quiet existence of 'picket fences', cable TV, home shopping networks, of fun times, parties and vacations, there are men and women who have forsaken all of that to go into months of incredibly difficult disciplined and often painful training and then go into battle, face the horrors of war, and risk injury or even death in order to confront and overcome enemies that threaten our freedoms, our liberties, our way of life. Why would they do that? When life could be so much easier, they jump with amazing courage into the front lines of the battle without hesitation. Whether we agree with their cause or not, we have to admire their courage, their bravery, their willingness to face enormous hardship in order to protect that which they believe to be right   and good.

In that context, imagine, if you will, an alternate reality where there are thousands of different races, species, and planets. Imagine that we are 'beings of light' who have been given an opportunity to enter the physical realm and either live a simple easy life of basic comfort on one of those planets, or, alternately, join the battle between good and evil, to become part of an elite force, to fight against demons, to either fall before an evil enemy or cut them down with the sword of the Spirit! What would you do? Would you take the easy road and live a simple good life, or rise up, put on the armor of God and go into battle? The few, the courageous, the willing, run headlong into battle, knowing that, if they survive, they will be rewarded with honor and positions of authority and noble responsibility, having proven that they can overcome evil and therefore having the qualifications required to rule and reign with Him.

Now imagine that YOU have made the choice to take the hard road. Imagine that you chose to be dropped into battle with the additional knowledge that you will have to face that battle with no memory of your mission, of your past, of your heritage, and that only faith in God can lead you to victory. It's a high stakes gamble, because if you lose, the consequences are severe, but if you win, the prize is beyond earthly comprehension. Imagine that you are living this now, that your journey in this evil, corrupt, magnificent, amazing world is your time to shine... your time to prove what you are made of, your time to rise up against the odds and snatch victory from the forces of darkness! What if this is not just a wild fantasy? What if you are a 'being of light' that has chosen to become part of God's 'Navy Seals'? If you became aware that you had chosen to live life on the front lines (and often behind enemy lines), if you awakened to your true identity, how would you live your life differently?

Would you be a warrior for good or just sit on the sidelines? Would you fight with all you have for love, right, truth, and justice or retreat to your sofa watching audio visual junk food while the world around you descends into chaos? Would you wake each morning seeking the wisdom and guidance needed to confront the challenges of the day or be just too busy to spend time with God? Would you stand tall as a faithful ambassador of Christ, living with honor, courage, integrity, and character, reaching out in love and helping those in need, honoring and giving praise to God, or would you live life for your own aggrandizement? Would you open the eyes of the spiritually blind, heal the spiritually lame, and lead the lost to the way, the truth, and the life, the Lord of Creation? Christ himself promised that if we are faithful in the small things given us to do in this world, we will be given great responsibility and authority in the new kingdom.

Could this be one possible explanation as to why we live in such an often difficult and challenging world? Is life tough? So is boot camp. Does life seem unfair? War is not fair... we are in an epic battle between good and evil! Are you wounded and in pain? Seek the great medic, healer and bringer of life. It's not just about you and your 'prosperity'. It is about the choices you make and how you impact those around you. Will you seek to serve God with honor, or serve yourself? Whether this is the real back story or not, we may not know until we cross over, but we do know that this life is our testing ground. We will show what we are made of... for better or worse. Worried that you have fallen short? That is why Jesus came and died for us sinners, so that we could be set free from sin by repenting and changing for the better, so stand up and get back into the fight! Now is the time. Awake, you that sleep. Arise, and fight the good fight. When that final day comes and your life is laid bare for all to see, may you, like Paul, be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Here is a challenge...  Ask yourself right now, how would you live life differently if you knew that you were a member of God's 'Elite Force', His 'Seal Team 7'? Take out a piece of paper and write down at least 5 -10 things you would do to sharpen your spiritual skills, increase your effectiveness at overcoming evil and doing good, and be the best you can be (i.e. like New Years resolutions... if you will), then commit to it! Make this an ongoing, periodic, progressive process, becoming better every day!

You are God's Warrior!

 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." 

II Timothy 2:3,4

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

II Corinthians 10:3,4

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.

I Corinthians 16:13,14

The Most Powerful Force in the Universe!

What is the most powerful force in the universe? A hurricane? A volcano? Stars? Black holes? Supernovas? Gamma bursts? The simple answer is, 'none of the above'. The most powerful force in the universe is L-O-V-E.  Why?  Stars burn out. Black holes suck. Supernovas and gamma bursts are a flash in the pan of eternity.  All are subject to the ravages of time and will eventually fade away... but Love is eternal. Love never fails. The one who made the trillions of stars, the Creator of all creation, the one who started it all identifies Himself as Love. Take it from the Good Book...'God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them.'

The idea that Love is the greatest power in the universe seems paradoxical, as we think of love as soft, gentle, kind, compassionate, and associate Love with images like flowers, hearts, puppy dogs and enamoured couples... hardly the stuff that shakes the cosmos. It is clear that we have a small minded view of Love. Why is the moon's orbit perfect, so that it does not fly off into space or crash into the earth destroying all life? Love. Why isn't the earth's orbit just a little off causing it to crash into the sun? Love. Why are the rings of Saturn 180,000 km in diameter and less than 1 km thick.. what keeps them in their beautiful form? Love. Why does the sound of crickets slowed down sound like angels singing (check it out.... this is amazing!!!)? Love. Why are flowers beautiful? Why do birds sing? Why do leaves go out in a blaze of glory, rather than just wither and die? Why are the most beautiful scenes on the planet scenes of natural beauty? Love. The invisible nature of God's love is made known by the visible beauty and wonder of the universe that He created.  Because God is Love, because God loves, He made you and me.  Whether you were your parent's heart's desire or an 'accident', God made you because of His Love... you are loved by God more than you could ever imagine! Whether you had a great childhood or suffered neglect and abuse, God loves you and has deep compassion for you.  He understands you better than you understand yourself and loves you far more than you could ever love yourself! Don't worry... be happy!!!

Having studied hundreds of near death experiences (I have a YouTube channel with virtually nothing but NDE testimonies.... check it out!), I can tell you that universally the most powerful, overwhelming, awe inspiring, humbling, enlightening awareness that people experience when they transition into the higher reality is the awesome power of God's Love. It changes people. They come back and tell about God's Love to anyone that will listen. They stop focusing on money and career and looking for 'a good time', and instead start treating those around them in profoundly new ways. Every opportunity to do something kind for another is a little victory. It is living who we were meant to be, because we were meant to be followers of God.

Feeling fearful? Perfect love casts out fear. Feeling powerless? Love. Give. Do for others. Speak encouragement to family, friends, and even strangers that cross your path... maybe God brought them near to you because they needed encouragement, a word of kindness, or just to know that somebody cares about them. Are you blessed with financial abundance? You have the opportunity to consume it on self or use it to bless others... which do you think will reap eternal rewards? One blessed young man did just this by the simple act of giving $100 to random homeless people... the results were powerful and moving. Give to the poor and help them in their distress. Can't think of what to do? Pray for others. No selfless act of kindness will go unnoticed or unrewarded. Of course the greatest gift that any person could offer another is entrance into God's holy family and eternal life by introducing them to Jesus Christ, the one who exemplified Love in his every action as an example for us to follow (a well known atheist - Penn of 'Penn and Teller' - once met a man who showed him the love of God. Penn was both appreciative and deeply moved, and said, "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?"). Tell them! It is the most powerful Love we can give!

It is only fitting that I close out with the beautiful and majestically poetic 'Chapter of Love",  I Corinthians 13:

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Love."

"This is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 
I John 3:10,11

Love. Ka-BOOM!

Adventures in the Matrix... Who Are You?

Who are you? Who am I? Are we just humans struggling to get by in a difficult and challenging world? Are we to simply suffer the injustice and abuse that this world throws our way? Are we no more than a victim of our circumstances, of our own weaknesses and shortcomings? How we live our lives will be dependent on our choices and our perspective.

First, the fundamentals. Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Have you accepted him as your Lord and Savior? Have you made him your king and committed yourself to be a faithful champion for his cause (that is what it means to accept him as Lord)? If you have, BRAVO! Good news to come. On the other hand, if you have not done that, then the above is actually not far from the mark, regardless of the prosperity or success that you may appear to have. Why is that? Let me explain...

If you know the first thing about quantum physics or understand the variables of Einstein's formula E=MC2  (energy = matter x a constant, therefore all matter is really just concentrated packets of energy that give the illusion of being 'solid') then you know that matter does not really exist in the sense that we experience it... that all matter has no true substance. In addition, it has been scientifically proven that photons, electrons, and sub-atomic particles behave differently, depending on whether we are observing them or not (our consciousness and awareness affects the apparent nature of the "matrix" in which we live, so how real could it be?), therefore life is not as it seems. In reality the things of this world do not really matter because matter does not really exist... its existence is an illusion, a dream from which we will awaken when it's 'game over' and we pass from this dream state and transition into the real, timeless and eternal world. We are living in a Star Trek holodeck and don't even know it... our visit to this material existence shorter than the blink of an eye in the context of eternity. That is why all the possessions and material prosperity in the world are meaningless... they are an illusion, a dream, a vapor... they do not really exist. 'Vanity, vanity... all is vanity'. That is what Solomon was talking about. So what matters? So what is reality? Reality is in another dimension... a dimension that is eternal and timeless, not temporary and decaying. The only enduring and true reality is the spiritual dimension. In the true reality, God is on the throne, Jesus Christ is both Lord over all and Savior who gave all. There is a higher realm that is incredibly beautiful, vibrant and alive with music, filled with light and stunning natural beauty of which this world is but a pale reflection! There are millions of angels, and those who have committed their lives to him on earth are with him even now in the eternal kingdom that will last forever! In that true reality, there are also demons and a semi-impenetrable wall behind which is an outer darkness of pain, suffering and separation from God. Behind that wall is rebellion, pride, disrespect, abuse, hatred, and all that is not pure, good and light. We are born into God's kingdom as innocent babies but fall into that darkness the moment we have a knowledge of good and evil and knowingly choose evil. From that time forward Jesus is calling for us... knocking at the door of our heart, calling us to come back to him. Only when we choose to accept Christ as Lord, Savior and Redeemer is Jesus Christ able to reach through that 'impenetrable' wall and pull us back into his Kingdom of Light!

In that context, for those of us who have committed our lives to the Lordship of Christ, who are we? (if you have not, here's step one). Humans struggling to survive? Victims? No! Why not? Because we chose God over goods and choose to build up treasures in Heaven instead (we can't serve God and stuff ... not that stuff itself is good or bad, it is just a fleeting puff of smoke and not worth building your life around). When we choose to live instead as spiritual beings, as empowered sons and daughters of the most high God, He causes us to become more than conquerors! We have been raised up from death and hell and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. In addition, God  has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Not only this, but we were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  Isn't this amazing!?!  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

How are we to respond to the knowledge that God has been so gracious to us? Here is a clue... Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  When we truly understand who we are, then we will do good to everyone we meet, clean up our act, and live good, godly and holy lives. How? By the powerful force of God's grace (not as a license for sin but as a force for good)... For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Living life right is no longer a battle when God has already won the battle for us. When we see who we are in Christ, we naturally choose what is right. Our key to victory is knowing our identity.

As direct decedents of the Creator of the Universe, as children of the Most High God, being a part of the royal spiritual bloodline of Jesus Christ, can we do any less than rise above the evils and temptations of the world? Tempted to give in?  You're better than that! You are royalty with a divine blood line! We have been made truly free from addictions like alcohol, pornography, drugs, ego gratification, etc., because the love and peace we are really looking to fulfill have already been given to us in enormous abundance by God! The need for those weak substitutes drops away because we have the real thing. Time spent in prayer and biblical meditation and study is time in sweet and precious union with our Father being filled with the very substance of GOD... refilling our love bank so we have to give! Since God is love, it is in our true nature to be that love as well... to give to those in need, to care for our brothers and sisters, and to do unto the the least of these all the good that we can, for that is our purpose. Giving is not only material (though it includes that)... it is also spiritual... giving love, light and truth to those blinded by the darkness of this world. Be a radiant light of God in this world. That is who you are! Don't settle for anything less. Rise above, and live victoriously! You can do it because you're God's descendant! Stand on who you are. Do that and you will be victorious! Once you understand your true identity, you will be empowered to fulfill your destiny!!!

The Most Important Thing....

Spring is one of my favorite times of year... a time when that which seemed dead 'springs' to life again. Wooden skeletons bud and the green leaves that follow bring life and fullness to the formerly sparse and barren forests and meadows. Beautiful and fragrant flowers spontaneously burst forth from trees and gardens. It is a time to appreciate the joys and wonders of God's creation... to 'stop and smell the roses', per se. It is a time of renewal, of new life, and of new beginnings. I am convinced that it is no coincidence that the Lord of Creation was resurrected from death to a new and transformed life during the spring... it is as if the seasons were invented to remind us of the new life that sprang forth from the grave outside of Jerusalem, twenty centuries ago, still so fresh and powerful these many years later.

I recently reformatted my YouTube channel to focus exclusively on people that have 'temporarily died' and visited Heaven (and sometimes hell), then were 'resurrected'... or is some cases visited Heaven/hell sans NDE. In sorting through which videos to post, I have watched countless hours where time and time again, people described a world so much more alive, present, beautiful, and full of love than the world in which we live today.  For all of its wonder and beauty, the physical realm is a mere shadow and reflection of the spiritual world that those who have been there will tell you without hesitation, is ten times more real than the world in which we currently seem to exist. It is also a world where angels and demons are in bold opposition, and where Jesus Christ is simultaneously loving and and approachable, as well as being Lord and King of the Universe. I encourage you to visit the channel and share in these amazing and telling experiences. My channel handle is Truthrabbit, as I have lived in the rabbit hole of truth for a while, and this is a dimension that many have no clue about.

The adventure and drama of the greatest movies ever made (greatest books, greatest video games, etc.) cannot compare to the power and impact of the spiritual realm. The good and evil of this present matrix is magnified a hundred trillion times in the spiritual realm. The place where God, Jesus, the angels, and the redeemed live is called 'the third Heaven'.  This is not sequential in time, but rather layered in space, as it were. The 'first heaven' is the atmosphere around earth... the air we breath, the blue sky. The second heaven is primarily the realm of Satan and his demons (though they frequent the first heaven, the earth, and under the earth), and reaches out into the stars and galaxies (Are 'aliens' actually demons? That is the subject of a separate study). The Third Heaven is a place beyond the known universe, in another dimension, and a place where Satan and his demons cannot go. Some tell of traveling through the stars to get there, while others are there in an instant, so time and space are actually made irrelevant by its unique nature.

As full of love, joy, peace and light the kingdom if Heaven is, the realm of hell is its polar opposite... full of darkness, pain, anguish, and regret, and completely devoid of love. Though I have doubted the existence of hell in the past (and still am not sure of its permanence, at least in its current state, as hell itself is cast into the lake of fire which is called the second death), I can no longer doubt that hell is real, based on the consistency of the 'eyewitness testimonies'. Once a person is there, there is no escape, no redemption, no second chances. It is a place so horrible and frightening that no description can fully capture the hopelessness, fear, agony and emptiness of this realm. What is even more alarming (per numerous accounts) is the number of people that thought they were going to Heaven that end up in hell! Our Lord was not just being dramatic when he declared, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it... Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" In this age of the church of Laodicea only a small percentage will actually make it to Heaven (one 'traveler' estimated that it worked out to about 2.5% of the population). If that is not a wake up call, I don't know what is!

People plan for vacations, they plan for retirement, they plan for the future... but few people plan for eternity. Of primary concern, above all the sandcastles of this world, is your final destination!  Commune with those who have visited Heaven and hell, and the preferred option and the importance of making sure you get there is crystal clear. One cannot take it for granted, and get lazy and lukewarm. First of all, make sure Jesus Christ is you Lord. That means you put Him in charge of your life, that you seek above all things to do His will... not (if it contradicts God's will) the will your father, your mother, your husband or wife, your kids, your boss, and specially yourself... the will of these are secondary and subservient to the will of God. How do you do this? Consistent time in His Word, consistent prayer, consistently seeking his direction, looking for opportunities to help others, to be kind, to be a blessing, to do good, to share the gospel, and then doing it. If you screw up, sincerely repent, commit to never doing it again, do your best to 'make it right', and then continue to be 'transformed by the renewing of your mind'.  Remember, only he that DOES the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of Heaven.

There is nothing more important in life than securing your final destination, and secondly, positioning yourself for the best possible outcome when you get there. Once there, your status is pretty much established, and there is not much more you can do to change it. Your choices now determine your destiny in eternity... whether you live forever in a glorious mansion living a life beyond your wildest dreams, or not. This is our 'final exam', the clock is ticking, and the bell could ring anytime, so stay focused on your heavenly treasures. The greatest achievement is bringing others into the kingdom and helping them to achieve spiritual maturity, and living a godly, holy life of praise, worship and communion with our Creator. When you finally get to Heaven, what could be more important, more wonderful, more fulfilling, than hearing the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"!  That is ultimate apex of existence!

In Praise of Praise

One day a year is proclaimed as a national day of Thanksgiving, however most people gobble down their turkeys and squabble with their families without a second thought about what the day really means or how it began. Unable or unwilling to break the word down into its two parts (and perhaps reversing them for clarity), driving, parades, cooking and football become the focus, instead of "Thanks giving"... i.e. giving of thanks (to God).

Why is giving of thanks important? What does a parent who has made great sacrifices for the good of their children hope for in return? Simply that they appreciate their love and efforts to care and provide for them, and live good and honorable lives that reflect the values they hold in high esteem. Similarly, God, the Father of Creation, who sparked great galaxies with the utterance of His Word, and who, for our benefit, suffered the abuse and awful murder of His precious Son (who was then raised again) waits with baited breath for you, his wandering lamb, to reach out to Him in love and thanksgiving. It gives God joy when we praise Him! Do you realize what power you have?  You can give the God who created the universe joy! You have the power to bring a smile to His heart, and to share that joy with him! What an honor. What a privilege. What a shame that we don't do it more often.

While the importance of giving thanks and praise to God is a prevailing theme from Genesis to Revelation, it is in the latter that we can peer through an open window into the very throne room of God Himself. If we look past the scary stuff and focus on what is going on in the throne room, what do we see? The seemingly sole focus of the inhabitants is the continual praise of God and his Lamb, Christ Jesus. Consider, for example in chapter 5, "...the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped."

Wow.  When we really see the glory of God and His Son, we can't help but be awestruck with wonder and overflowing with praise and thanksgiving. It is only our spiritual blindness that keeps us from doing otherwise.

Paul summed it up nicely: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Accept, with joy, His gifts of love, then live life with the attitude of gratitude and make God smile!!!

The Big Lie Nobody Challenges, and How to Have Eternal Life!

We don't need to look far to find scandal, abuse, adultery, the use of pornography, lying, drunkenness and other types of reprehensible behavior among people that are supposed to be living good Christian lives. People that call themselves 'Christian' are many times the opposite of what one would consider a Christian to be (I include myself in this group, in times past). While there is an aspect of human frailty and weakness that we all will struggle with to some extent, there is a doctrine that has become a 'pillar' of the vast majority of Christian churches which is not Biblical and has led to a proliferation of immoral behavior among so-called Christians. Worst of all, it risks the eternal destiny of millions, yet it looks so good and has such mass appeal that most don't even think to question it. It is time to face this false doctrine head on, so that people can make enlightened and informed decisions about their lives.

Have you heard the phrase, "Once saved, always saved"? Have you heard preachers talk about how, once we 'accept Christ', we are forever cleansed of all of our sins, so that, no matter how we live our lives, we can be secure that we will go to Heaven? It sounds nice doesn't it? Very appealing... no rules, no self-discipline... just live our lives like we always have but add a little prayer and, voila, we have a free ticket to Heaven. So what is the problem with that? Consider the martyrs who went to their death rather than deny Christ. If one could do anything and be forgiven, why didn't they deny Christ then ask for forgiveness later? The problem is that it is not based on what the Bible clearly teaches. The problem is that people are taught to believe that they can commit all kinds of immoral acts and still get to heaven... that, no matter what sins they commit, they get a free pass (it is often taught that all of their sins will be cast 'as far as the east is from the west', leaving zero accountability) , so sin abounds unrestrained, and the name of God is disgraced. The problem is that millions of people that considered themselves Christians will stand before the throne of Judgment, and will be shocked and horrified to hear the words, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'. I am sure you don't want to be among those caught by surprise!

So where did this doctrine come from? The most likely source is an early heretical splinter group that broke away from Christianity called the 'Gnostics'. In the book of Acts there is a man called "Simon the sorcerer". As described in Wikipedia (under 'Gnosticism')..."Charges of Gnostic libertinism find their source in the works of Irenaeus. According to this writer, Simon Magnus (whom he has identified as the prototypical source of Gnosticism, and who had previously tried to buy sacramental authority of ordination from St. Peter the Apostle) founded the school of moral freedom ('amoralism'). Irenaeus reports that Simon's argument was that those who put their trust in him and his consort Helen need trouble themselves no further with the biblical prophets or their moral exhortations and are free "to do what they wish", as men are saved by his (Simon's) grace and not by their "righteous works." Eventually, as with many other pagan beliefs, in an attempt to 'win over the pagans', the 'Christianized version' of this doctrine slowly worked its way into the thinking of mainstream Christianity. In addition, Martin Luther's focus on the texts referring to being 'saved by grace through faith and not by works', while true up to a point, is not the complete message. There is more to salvation than a single act on a single day. There is more required than an experience of being 'Born again'. While the 'new birth' is an important first step, and it is the point at which all of our past sins (done in ignorance) are cleansed (and the most poignant demonstration of God's grace in Christ), it is just the beginning. Jesus clearly teaches that, unless we bear good fruit (and stop bearing bad fruit), we will be cut off.

John 15: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” In Matthew He repeats a very similar analogy with the same message: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'." (For further clarification on the Biblically accurate position, consider Hebrews 6:4-15 and 10:22-39). 

So what is ‘good fruit’ and ‘bad fruit’? I think the book of Galatians says it most clearly. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh [i.e. the bad fruit] are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Friends, brothers and sisters, we cannot live a life full of sinful behavior and think God is OK with that. He is not. While sin in ignorance is bad, willfully sinning after “accepting Christ as Lord” is far worse (it has  become deliberate betrayal), and it is clear evidence that we have not truly accepted Christ as Lord… if we had, we would not continue in willful sin. It is to God’s glory and to our benefit that we ‘bear good fruit’. If you have considered yourself a ‘Christian’ but have continued in willful disobedience to God, you still have a choice. Thank God for the story of the prodigal son! We can diligently seek God's mercy in prayer and turn from our self-destructive path (remember the father in the story said  “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.") and live a life striving for holiness and goodness. When we fall, repent (which means being truly sorry and committing never to do it again… then not doing it again!  As Jesus said, “Go, and sin no more”), then rededicate yourself to living right before God. You can do it!

Let us live lives that glorify God! Let us do good to all we meet. Let us love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength! Let us bear the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ by ‘walking in the spirit’. That, my dear friends, will be assurance of Heaven!!!

Up, Up, and Away!

I think most of us have had childhood dreams of flying. I used to dream that I could lift myself up off the ground and float around... that I could move forward and fly just above the ground, or float up and touch the ceiling. It was a wonderful feeling, being free of the constraints of gravity, the burden of matter.

Imagination could be just that, or it could be rooted in an alternate reality, a different dimension, a future state, a passion of the soul. We long to be free of constraints, of critical, judgmental eyes, of condemning judgments by the unenlightened, to do what is right and to feel accepted and appreciated. We long to play unconstrained by the usual suspects. We want to be free, to float above the din, to have the power to make a difference.

We were meant to be enlightened souls. Our spirits do not need to be constrained by gravity. We long to fly because we are not matter having a spiritual experience; we are spirits having a material experience.

Alas, many have become lost in the clamor of existence, consumed by the material. The day to day can become crushing. Not enough time, not enough money, not enough stuff. Got to get more. Got to do more. Busy, busy, busy, too busy to pray, too busy to be still and listen, too busy to rise above. STOP! This is the road to nothingness, or worse. What are we going to do with all this stuff when we are gone? He with the most toys loses the most toys. Life is wasted. Time is up. The ride is over and nothing remains. When your life and mine is over, what we did will be tested by fire. The fire will consume anything that is made of straw and wood... only that which is built of rock (i.e. on "The Rock") will remain. Did we comfort the broken hearted, did we give when we saw someone in need, did we feed the poor, did we clothe the naked, pray for the sick, visit those in prison (literal or figurative)? Did we do it quietly, without seeking any recognition for our works? When we did it unto the least of God's children, we did it unto Him (and vice versa!). Did we pray often, praise often, study the Word of Truth daily, and seek to do His will? Those are the rocks. Those are the things that will last.

We are coming into a time in history when we are seeing many of the things the prophets foretold would happen in the 'end times'. 44% of Americans now believe the natural and man-made disasters could be (or are) a sign that this is the case. The cover of Newsweek this week boldly proclaimed "Armageddon Now". The very thought of this can be a shock to the soul... some protest violently against the idea, but if we are in the end time, things will happen, regardless of their protests. Many people 'come to Jesus' when they come down with a fatal illness, or are mortally wounded, when they can no longer deny their mortality. If we are in the end times, we may experience the mortality of all of humanity at once, and, if the prophets are right (and true prophets always are... that is the test of a prophet), it will be a violent and painful death for much of mankind. Is there an escape? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me". According to the texts, those who are the true believers will be taken "Up, up, and away!" before the really nasty stuff goes down. They will be "rescued from the wrath to come".

Who are the true believers? I used to think it was anyone who 'confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, and believed God raised Him from the dead' that would go to heaven, regardless of how they lived the rest of their lives. It was an immature faith that is all too common in Christian circles today, much to our disgrace. The truth is that unless we daily work to purify our hearts like glass, to seek God's will with all that we have and all that we are, we have not made Christ Lord of our lives... it was just talk. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". We will probably never (in this life) be perfect, but if we want to fly like superman before the big crash, we need to be committed. When the trumpet blows, I want to be on that rocket. By God's grace and mercy, the ticket to heaven is just above our heads. We need to reach up and hold on with everything we have, and never let go. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we [the faithful] will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (I Cor 15). "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thes 4) If these are truely the last days, we could be the only people in history that did not have to pass through death to get to heaven. We could fly to heaven in transformed spiritual bodies! Up, up, and away!!!

Joy Unspeakable!

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” So said the Master of Life. I can tell you, He knows what He is talking about. What could be more joyful, more playful, more creative, more expressive, or more spontaneous than the heart of a child? To play, to laugh, to imagine, to sing, to dance... to experience the joy of living... that is heaven on earth. To have a pure heart that is thankful and full of reverence is more precious than fine gold. To know that we are loved by our Creator is nothing less than joy unspeakable, once we deeply comprehend what that means.

I have been reading a book called "Heaven is so Real!" by Choo Thomas. It is an international best seller, translated into several different languages, with over a million copies sold. It has transformed the lives of countless people by making real a place that people had barely been able to imagine. Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? In this wonderful book, she tells how she was taken there numerous times by the Lord of Life Himself, and she describes it in glorious detail. Streets of gold are just the beginning. There are mountains and crystal clear rivers and colorful fruit trees and playful animals and majestic mansions. It is a place beyond all that we could imagine, and it is there for those who seek after goodness and truth and the Creator of all things with the heart of a child. The author sings and dances and laughs and wonders at the joys and beauty laid out before her. It is this kind of heart that is rewarded. Selfishness, materialism, jealousy, power trips, ego, fear, worry, doubt... these lead to the destruction of the soul. Goodness and godliness are health to the soul. We choose the path we walk and bear the fruit of our choices. I highly recommend getting this book and reading it for yourself. Her testimony and the 'book on tape' are also available as videos for free on Google if you search "Heaven is so Real". Don't miss this chance!

Have you ever had a puppy? They know joy!!! They love to play and are so happy and joyful. It is a pleasure to come home and have them leap for joy when we arrive. They have such amazing love... it pours out of them like a fountain. I want to be like that. I want to have that kind of joy and love in my heart. I want to have the heart of a child, to sing, to dance, to play, to laugh and to love. What could be better than that?

Living spontaneously, joyfully, with an open and pure heart is what we were made for. To appreciate the Creator as well as the creation is our purpose. To do good, to care for the needy, to help the hurting, to heal the sick and wounded, to have compassion and understanding is our calling. To speak the truth in love to those than need to hear it is our mission. We can be creative and expressive and loving and live a life that is not only rewarding now, but also in the higher level of existence that the faithful will attain in the future. We live in the matrix... the material realm is a crumbling illusion. The true reality is spiritual. When we seem to be surrounded by earthquakes and floods and nuclear disasters and the world seems to be spinning into chaos, the answer, the freedom, the liberty, the peace we seek will not be found in matter. It is found in a simple song of praise that elevates you above the matrix. Joy unspeakable is yours if you have the heart of a child!

Spaghetti Sandwich

Creativity involves putting together elements that are not usually associated with each other and coming up with a surprising result. The two conditions necessary for being granted a patent are 'novelty' and 'non-obviousness'. The invention needs to be 'new to the world', and it needs to be a bit of a surprise. The other day, I had some leftover spaghetti, but it wasn't enough for a meal. I thought I'd have some bread with it (the idea came from restaurant dining, where bread is often served with a meal), but I didn't have any butter. Then (bing!), I thought, I can put the spaghetti between two slices of bread... that would be just enough food, the bread wouldn't be dry, and it would be neat and easy to eat. I did, and the result was actually quite tasty (sort of like an eggplant or chicken parm sub with pasta instead). Now this invention was new to me (I had never heard of a spaghetti sandwich), but was it new to the world? I typed "spaghetti sandwich" into Google images and got several pictures of spaghetti sandwiches and quickly found out the invention had been thought of previously. It therefore lacked 'novelty', and could never be patented (not that I would... this is just a silly example).

Now a lot of people might go,"Yuck!" at the thought of a spaghetti sandwich, but only because it is unfamiliar and seems strange. When I was a young child, one of my favorite books was "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss. It was all about breaking the paradigm of unfamiliar being bad... at first the Cat in the Hat refused to eat the green eggs and ham, but after lengthy persuasion, agreed to try it... only to find that he actually loved it!

When I was in college at WPI, I minored in 'Creativity and Creative Problem Solving'. As part of my education, I put together a 3 day course on how to be more creative, which was held during winter break. In order to promote the course, I put up flyer around the campus that said (with the words formed into a question mark that covered the page), "Are you strange? Would you like to be stranger?” followed by enough info to know how to sign up for the course. I got 18 students to sign up. If you want to be creative and inventive, you really have to be excited about adventuring into the strange and unknown. You need to look at things from a different and unusual perspective. You need to be comfortable with ambiguity and willing to mix and match things that are at most tangentially related (i.e. at least 2-3 degrees of separation). Often, when I am trying to find a solution to a problem, I will isolate one aspect of the problem, generalize it, and then explore how others have solved the general problem. After finding some interesting solutions, I bring them back to the original problem and see if they unlock a novel solution. Often, they do.

Another common element of creative people is that they will use what is already around them in new ways. Creative people will tend to collect things and educate themselves about all kinds of things so that when that opportunity arises, the needed components and information will be readily at hand.

One important distinction to recognize is that there is an important difference between innovation and creativity. Creativity is fun and play and surprising and humorous and joyful and rewarding... but, more often than not, the outcome is rapidly forgotten. Innovation is where creativity produces something that has social, economic, emotional, or some other form of value, and that value is recognized, and the invention is subsequently duplicated, distributed, and adopted because of its clear value.

Often the innovation will be improved upon as people tailor it for their particular application. This is user innovation on top of existing innovation, and it takes place because (a) people have a specific need that the invention (in its current form) does not fully address, (b) they typically have at hand the tools that can be integrated into the invention, and (c) they have a certain expertise in that field. These user innovations frequently becomes the next generation of the invention. A research study done at MIT found that approximately 3/4 of innovations come from users. Users really understand the need (often better than the manufacturer), and, often by serendipity, will have some skill or talent that enables them to modify the innovation in a way that makes it better for them. It was somewhat shocking to me how often a product would be launched without the marketing person ever using the product themselves. If we are to be really good at innovation, we need to be personally involved to get the richest solutions, and we need to learn new skills and achieve new levels of understanding so that we can apply that to future innovations. Finally, understand the users, and look for unique and interesting applications and modifications to your innovation. That could be your next generation success story!

Metamorphosis

When we think of metamorphosis, the image that immediately pops to mind is the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly. While that is a powerful and almost shocking example of transformation, there is another type of metamorphosis as well, which is more gradual, such as the transition from a tadpole to a frog. In a sense, one is like a revolution and the other is like an evolution. Both are valid means of reaching a desired end. In each case there is a dramatic difference between the 'before' and 'after'.

Curious about the word, I learned that during the pupa stage, a caterfly butterpillar will actually emit digestive fluids that cause the cell death and dissolution of its own former body, and the dissolved components are then recombined into a brand new living structure... literal death and rebirth. Other species, in more evolutionary metamorphosis, undergo dramatic transformations of their organs, such as the flounder, for example, whose eyes start on opposite sides of the fish larvae and end up together on the same side of the adult fish.

Another revelation came upon seeing that the antonym for metamorphosis is 'stagnation'. As growing, learning, evolving human beings, surely metamorphosis is preferable to stagnation!

A common but less cited example of metamorphosis is one that we have all gone through. We started off as two separate single cell organisms in two entirely different ecosystems. One merged into the other, and in an unbelievably complex microscopic dance, the DNA of both individual organisms combined to form a brand new and totally unique single cell organism. This organism then began replicating itself in another miraculous transformation. Then groups of identical cells began to express differentiation from other cells, eventually forming organs. Our form evolved visibly as we were transformed from a blob to a fish-like form to a human form, and then, pop! we went from liquid breathing to air breathing. Next, we are transformed from helpless babies into fantastically creative learning beings as children, and then into teen and adulthood.

Finally, as adults, some people go through a metamorphosis in their personal, psychological and/or spiritual makeup. Once successful businessmen can get addicted to drugs or alcohol and undergo a dark metamorphosis, at the end of which they wake up on a street corner homeless and penniless. Some will undergo another metamorphosis by going into a 12 step program, kick the habit, take the 12 steps to heart, and will emerge as a kinder, healthier, more ethical, stronger and more humble individual than they were before they started. Other people will find God and will be transformed from self-centered narcissistic individuals to loving and spiritual giants. The walk of faith is truly one about transformation... metamorphosis. It is about putting to death the 'old man' (fallen, sinful, corrupt), being born of the spirit, and bringing to life the 'new man' (enlightened, connected to God through Christ). In the central and pivotal verse of the New Testament, Romans 12:2 ("And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."), the Greek the word from which the word 'transformed' is translated is 'metamorpho'... look familiar?

It is said of businesses, that if you are not growing, you are dying. A business that is not innovating and progressing will soon be outflanked by its competitors and eventually become an annotation in the history books. The same is true, to a certain extent, with us as individuals. We need to continue to grow, to learn, to innovate, to change, to rise above. Some may go through radical, revolutionary transformation, while others may evolve more slowly. If we stop moving, we will stagnate. If we don't try each day to be better people, to answer our higher calling, to give more and to love more, then we are slipping into mediocrity and anonymity.

You can achieve great things! You can undergo a daily renewal and transformation so that you become stronger and healthier and wiser each day. As you grow, you will be able to accomplish more. Never stop learning. Never stop discovering. Seek the source of light and truth, then seek the transformation of your very soul. As you do, you will find yourself accomplishing things you never dreamed possible, reaching unimagined heights, and appreciating with renewed humility and joy the creative expression of God!

Innovation Nation

In less than a brief 200 years (3 average lifetimes), the United States of America went from a ragtag republic to the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth. We are now on the brink of losing the good that we have accomplished in the world, as we gaze with wonder and confusion while the world around us begins to unravel. How did we get to where we are today? How can we get back to where we were a few short years ago? The answers are varied and complex, but here, I think, are a few big pieces to the puzzle.

The USA was founded on some basic beliefs that, at the time, were aspirational goals which were largely untested. Almost all governments up to that time were based on a ruling class that made decisions for the 'ignorant masses'. Government (typically a monarchy) was centrally based and handed down the rules that everyone had to live by. Having seen how this usually ended up in tyranny, the Founding Fathers sought to establish a form of government that was 'for the people and by the people', based on the assumption of innocence until proven guilty, a fair trial by a jury of one's peers, and a firm conviction that all men are created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government was to respond to the will of the people, not the other way around. The goal was to minimize the infringement of the government on the rights of the individual. They believed that if we were given the freedom and opportunity to achieve great things, it was the nature of man to do so, and we would. They were right.

The trick was to find the right balance between anarchy and tyranny. Through much prayer, blood, sweat and tears, inspiration came as they rested on the values that they had learned as a result of their Judeo-Christian heritage. Much like the government of Israel in the Old Testament, as much power as possible was delegated to local representatives, who were closest to the problems and, generally could do the most good. Bigger and more difficult problems were elevated upward, and only the most challenging issues were addressed at the highest levels. The greatest leaders were to be the greatest servants (modeled by Jesus washing the feet of the disciples). Liberty was a gift from God, not to be taken lightly. As the ink dried on the US Constitution, the grand experiment took flight.

No longer constrained by burdensome rules and regulations and excessive taxation, innovation became the hallmark of this young nation. Benjamin Franklin, besides being a founding father, was a tireless inventor (bifocals, the Franklin stove, the lightning rod and daylight savings time were a few of his inventions). Thomas Jefferson was also a prolific inventor. Their efforts helped assure that the fledgling government was also innovation friendly.

Strong faith and reliance upon God was the norm of the day. The Master of Life had declared in his mortal frame, "Allow the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God." Having a childlike spontaneity is the greatest single key to creativity and innovation. A selfless desire to do good and help people motivated men like George Washington Carver, who's epitaph read,"He could have added fortune to fame, but, caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world." In an atmosphere of freedom and adventure, questioning one's assumptions was a virtue, not a vice, and living with ambiguity was a way of life in this rapidly evolving nation. These are all strengths common to the giants of creativity and innovation. This can-do culture gave wings to men like the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell, Nicola Tesla, Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, and many more.

So what happened? In the US today, only about 3% of students receive college degrees in engineering or the sciences... in China, that number is around 42%. A recent study ranked the U.S. sixth among the top 40 industrialized nations in innovative competitiveness, but 40th out of 40 (dead last!) in “the rate of change in innovation capacity” over the past decade. In 2000 the U.S. exported $29 billion more high-tech products than it imported, but by 2007 that had turned into a $54 billion trade deficit, and it has only gotten worse since then. In 1960, one in three jobs was in manufacturing. Today, it is less than one in ten. Our country is surviving largely on money we borrow from the Chinese. How far we have fallen...

Why? God and the foundation of morals and ethics have been driven from our schools and the halls of government, the traditional family is nowhere to be found, and life is no longer valued. The desire to invent something that will help our fellow man has been replaced by corporate greed, leading to endless outsourcing. Government control seems to be becoming more and more invasive every day, so that things that were once simple are now increadibly complex if not impossible. Instead of teaching people how to think for themselves, our education system teaches rote memorization and conformity to a single standard. Other countries reward innovation... ours regulates and/or taxes it to death.

Can we turn this ship around? I don't know. But I do know each individual can turn themselves around. If enough individuals turn themselves around, maybe, just maybe, it will make a difference. Maybe we can restore a bit of the shine on the tarnished liberty bell. I can't speak for my country, but I can speak for myself. I can choose to think more creatively. I can choose to see a need and try to figure out how to make other's lives better. I can, and so can you. Make somebody else's life better, and then ask them to pass it on. Every bit of good we can do is a step in the right direction. You can make a difference... believe in yourself, believe that you have a higher calling, and with a prayer for divine guidance go out there and rock the world!