Words Have Power (Parable of the Prodigal Son)

Do you often open your mouth before inserting your brain? Words are powerful. With our words we can speak life or death. With our speech we can put people in bondage or set them free. With the words we think or say we can bring healing or torment. James talks about the tongue being a rudder that steers the whole ship, or a bit in the horse’s mouth.

Is Your Heart Secure?

What are you afraid of? Most of our fear is being afraid of the worst to take place. We can get caught up in the worries and lies in our minds and start to think they are real. Are you fearful of tomorrow? How about the future? Are you afraid of today and what it holds? Maybe you are fearful of the economy, or what people may think of you. All these fears are real. Thinking about them can trap us into bondage and prevent us from living our lives to the full.

Experiencing Joy In Your Life

How often do you hear people say, “Erica is so full of joy”? It’s more like, “Erica seems so happy”. That’s because happiness and joy are two different things, and more often we see people temporarily happy, rather than consistently filled with joy.

The New Planet Earth – My Experience With Attachment

My experience with understanding that attachment to our children is dis-empowering for them and us. Personal examples of how I lost my need to attach to anyone or anything.

E-Bulletin Reflection – The Humble Will Be Honored

When Mark Twain said it wasn’t the parts of the Bible he didn’t understand that bothered him but the parts he did, he may have had this Gospel reading in mind. Luke 18:9-14 is an unambiguous story Jesus told, “to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else” (18:9, CEV).

E-Bulletin Reflection – Culture, Translation and Faith

When my wife Mary and I moved to Manhattan from the Ozark foothills of southwest Missouri, we had to learn many new cultural and linguistic lessons. Moving from the Ozarks to New York City is a case of cultural and linguistic shifts.

E-Bulletin Reflection – What is Truth?

Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, posed this question to Jesus prior to sentencing Jesus to death (John 18:38). Jesus told Pilate that he “was born into this world to tell about the truth” (John 18:37, CEV). Jesus’ testimony to the truth was an indication of his power – a power that confounded those who belonged to the kingdoms of the world.

E-Bulletin Reflection – The Grateful Samaritan

These words are part of the refrain to a song I learned in Sunday School and which we sang whenever the story of the Ten Lepers was told. Indeed, remembering to give thanks and praise to God is at the heart of this story. But let’s probe this story a little more.

E-Bulletin Reflection – Faith is the Victory!

A quick scan of newspapers across the globe tells us that we are plagued on every side by mudslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, terrorism, homicides, and genocides. These are natural disasters and acts of inhumanity.

Love and Fear Are the Spiritual Opposites That Create Your Experiences

Discover the spiritual connection between love and fear. Learn why both are necessary to create your life experiences.

Your Holistic Perspective to Physical and Mental Supremacy

It seems that many of the problems we encounter in our life are due to a misunderstanding. A simple misunderstanding is usually a result of different perspectives. If we become more aware of the perspectives of other individuals, we are able to solve our own problems more easily and quickly. This can lead to the development of greater emotional and mental supremacy.

A Teacher of God – Are You One?

Great love can be manifested by the ordinary person where they are in their life right now. Many think they have to do something dramatic or “big” to make a difference in the world.