Thoughts about Happiness.

In my 20's I was searching for love and acceptance, like most of us are doing at that point in our lives. Living consciously is a term that can have connections to eastern religion, and I hesitate to talk about it, as I am still struggling with the loss of a community of friends. They are still here with us, but something has changed in my theology. When I was 21, I became a born again Christian, but quickly learned that my faith in God in my life was something to be tested. It was tested further in 1999 when I had a mental health crisis. Life is short, and there is nothing that we should regret. I'm not saying the purpose of life is to have as much fun you can, but being happy is a clear indication that you are on the right path.

Happiness is not conditional. What that means is that my happiness is not dependent on your happiness, yet, I cannot be happy in my life if I am making others miserable. My happiness is conditional on my ability to live by the truth. Ignorance is the enemy of happiness, I cannot remain in an ignorant state of mind and make others happy, let alone myself. Wisdom or enlightenment can bring the mind into a state of inactivity, but it is through this inactive or "calm mind" that one can transcend common wisdom, and live by faith. One doesn't have to know all the reasons why somethings exist, but one must have an an actualization of their soul.

Suffering can make someone aware of the deeper mysteries of life, and it can be through vicarious suffering that one truly understands the deeper meaning of their existence. One can have an experience of faith apart from suffering, and one can fully experience God without suffering. Suffering is a part of our human existence, and can lead to a fulfilling life. Fulfilment is possible only as long as we are willing to change. This is Mike.

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Matthew 25:1-13 I have discovered a remarkable interpretation of this parable that I would like to share with you. The story in the Bible goes like this: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy som...

Age of Brokenness.

We are living in an age of brokenness, no matter what age you are, you probably have been touched with relationships falling apart, which causes more and more people to live in isolation. In this generation there is less of an incentive to heal and reconcile relationships, but that doesn’t excuse the amount of people who are broken. Why people don’t seem to be motivated to heal relationships is because our beliefs about faith and God have changed, really giving us less of an incentive to do what our religion says. If I act from my personal beliefs, but the person that I am responding to has abandoned religious beliefs, than the response to my wanting things to be better can be misinterpreted and rejected then by someone else. Generally when a society has expectations about broken relationships, loneliness and isolation, and the beliefs are generally accepted, society becomes a more compassionate society, because all value the same things. When religious values are undermined and ...

The Biblical Meaning of “Life in the Spirit.”

“Life in the Spirit” is an example that the Apostle Paul gives in the book of Romans starting in chapter 5 and going through to chapter 8. He begins by telling us we are justified by faith (5:1), and have gained access by faith into the grace of God (5:2). We have been delivered from God’s wrath (5:9) and we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son (5:10). He goes on to explain that through Adam all die (5:12), and that the free Gift of God brings justification and righteousness to the believing sinner (5:15-17). Through our conversion we are baptized into Christ and into his death, which frees us from the law and makes us dead to sin (6:2-4). He explains that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we are given new life in Christ (6:4). Our old unregenerate self was crucified with Christ so that our body of sin might be done away with (6:5-6). Because we have died to sin, we now submit ourselves to God being that we are now under grace, not the law (6:8-1...

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