(In response to those who requested a taste of the message in the book that inspired this website, here is an excerpt from the book – “Faithful Logic, Logical Faith.”)

The first barrier we need to overcome is the subject of language. We all have had experience in seeing our language change, even in the course of our own lifetime. If you were able to speak to your great-great grandparents, imagine their reaction if you were to describe someone as “really cool.” They would probably interpret that as a person who was cold and indifferent, or perhaps needing a blanket. You would probably find yourself struggling to explain how that term actually describes an admirable character trait.

Now, apply that concept to the language of the Bible. Mix in the task of interpreting between several languages, add a few thousand years rather than a couple of generations, and you can begin to see how confusing things can get.

Dedicated biblical scholars may spend a lifetime analyzing the oldest texts of the books of the Bible, trying to deliver the “right” interpretation. Considering all the factors, we can appreciate that, despite their best efforts, they are truly giving us their best guess.

Perhaps we are looking at the Bible from the wrong perspective. Instead of asking “is the Bible true” we should be asking “is the Bible truth.”

There is a difference.

Let’s go back to our logic for a moment. If we owe our existence to a supreme being with the ability to create the universe and the complex life forms and balance of nature that keeps us alive – is it too big a stretch to imagine that God would also devise a means to communicate with us through the ages?

Is it possible that God directed the recording of symbolic tales to make a point, much like the parables that Jesus used to make His points. Is it possible that God delivered His messages in a form that would be understood by less sophisticated humanity, yet still pertinent to people of our age? Is it possible that we put forth so much effort analyzing the accuracy of the Bible texts that we fail to grasp the larger message?

Perhaps nothing is more damaging to the image of a loving God than the death of a child. The universal refrain following such an event is “how can God allow that to happen?” Whether it be by violence, accident or illness, many a believer, pastors included, have found their faith severely tested when a child dies.

Our human logic struggles to reconcile the concept of loving God with the anguish of witnessing the death of an innocent child. It seems inconceivable that such a God would not only allow the pain and suffering, but would deny that child the joys they would experience as they grew to adulthood. The thrill of that first romantic kiss, getting a drivers license, cashing that first real paycheck, walking across the stage to receive her diploma – how can a loving God deny those pleasures?

Somehow the phrase, “everything happens for a reason,” rings hollow and false.

Perhaps the answer can only come to us in less stressful times. Perhaps the answer is to build up a reserve of faith and trust before it is needed.

If we are true to our logical minds, we must acknowledge that we cannot come to an accurate conclusion or understanding without all the facts. In anything related to the plans, purposes and intentions of God, we are undoubtedly lacking in information.

The best we can hope to do in difficult circumstances is to fall back on the reserves of trust that we have accumulated. In doing so we may recognize that there may indeed be elements of God’s ultimate plans for humanity that we are incapable of understanding or appreciating.

Everyone’s life contains some degree of pain, suffering, and tragedy. These are normal elements of the human experience. Perhaps it is the price we must pay for one of God’s greatest gifts-  free will-  and perhaps random events are part of God’s gift of human experience.

Those of us who are parents will recognize that there are times when we allow our children to experience some pain when we know from our older/wiser perspective, that such pain serves a greater purpose in our child’s growth into adulthood. Perhaps, from God’s perspective, our pain, in losing a child, serves a greater purpose than we can understand or recognize in our journey of spiritual growth.

Certainly an all-powerful God could intercede in human events, but perhaps he only does so when it serves a specific purpose in His plans.

Perhaps death, no matter how tragic in human terms, is merely another brief stop on the road to eternity. And perhaps the glory and joy that await us beyond death’s door make even the most painful demise nothing more than a mosquito bite in this life. And in that hope, we can mourn our loss, and at the same time celebrate in the knowledge that our lost child has earned a head start on the journey to spiritual bliss.

Recently, there was a story in the news about a 10-year-old boy who claimed to have had a previous life. The evidence he provided in giving details of an obscure individual’s life were compelling. As might be expected, such a tale stirs up an old debate regarding reincarnation. The Bible makes no mention of such a possibility. Does this mean there is no such thing?

Believers tend to fall into two camps. One camp believes that every word in the Bible is to be taken literally. There is no room for symbolic interpretation. The other camp recognizes the possibility that many statements in the Bible are intended to evoke an image or understanding of a principle rather than to be taken literally.

Those of us who struggle to embrace Christianity fall into the second camp.

We need to recognize that the Bible is both a history and a guidebook. If we study a chemistry book, we don’t discount it because it doesn’t mention geography or artistry. The Bible too doesn’t get too much into physics or meteorology. That doesn’t mean those topics don’t exist – merely that they are not important to the discussion at hand.

The fact that the Bible doesn’t mention reincarnation doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t exist.

If we deny that possibility, are we putting limits on how God operates? Is it possible that there is a larger plan at work that we cannot comprehend?

Logic suggests that we may be denying ourselves an opportunity to get closer to God if we insist on applying our own interpretation to His powers when the Bible clearly states that all things are possible. If God should choose to allow a human spirit to return to an earthly experience, who are we to deny that possibility? Who are we to judge His purpose or His plan?

Accepting the possibility of reincarnation doesn’t mean rejecting the Christian message. To the contrary, it means accepting that through God, all things are indeed possible.