For some time, there has been a philosophy floating around that wishful thinking creates a flow of energy that will fulfill your dreams. Such thinking is equal parts incredibly insightful and incredibly naive. Yes, a positive attitude can certainly have an impact on your ability to succeed at accomplishing your goals, but it isn’t magic, and it can easily be linked to effective behavior modification. So, in a sense, the new, more confident and efficient you can attract more opportunities. So, that Law of Attraction has a definable cause and effect factor.

But, a much more powerful Law of Attraction exists, and it contributes a powerful message about the validity of God and Christianity.  Continue reading →

As much as science and faith seem to be at odds, sometimes science and logic contribute to faith. When it comes to the functioning and capacity of our brains, science may provide the clues to understanding how our faith is justified.

Science has come a long way in understanding how the brain functions. Over the years, it has become possible to identify the specific areas of the brain that are responsible for particular functions like eyesight, hearing, taste, or any number of bodily activities. What is less understood is the capacity for memory.

How can we remember so much, and what has that to do with our faith? Continue reading →

There is probably nothing more universal in human experience than the fear of death. It is a fear that knows no boundaries, no language, no nationalities, no political labels. It is a fear of something that is inevitable. It is also a fear of the unknown. Ultimately, we struggle with the persistent feeling that all that we are, all of our memories, all of our accumulated knowledge cannot simply cease to be. There must be more. There must be an afterlife where our consciousness continues to exist.

So, what is the truth?

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Sometimes our language becomes so internalized, that we forget to question the meaning of a word or phrase. Take the phrase “life after death.” If we really think about it, that doesn’t even make sense. Maybe a better phrase would be “life after life.” Or maybe “existence” after death. Either way, we are quick to wrap it up in the heaven-or-hell package that is central to most of the Christian community.

It is the concept that most of us grew up with. We live, we die, and, if we have fully embraced the Christian message, we go on to heaven. Somehow, that whole package is wrapped up in our minds as just that – a package. We seldom, if ever, stop to dissect that package and analyze the components – the language. And what is language, but a representation of an image, thought, or action?

If we truly reflect on it, we will recognize that we have blindly accepted the image or definition of any number of the words we use to describe our understanding of Christianity. Hundreds of years of the usage of those words have solidified them in our minds. Meanwhile, artists and Hollywood movie-makers have served to amplify those images until they become fixed in our mental vocabulary.

Consequently, when we use the expression “life after death,” we are tapping into that universal memory that defines heaven as a place rather than a state of existence. Likewise, we visualize an existence in heaven as an extension of our earthly, human experience, because that is all we know. Yet, to do so is a denial of the possibility that the spiritual being that continues after physical death occupies a realm that cannot be sensed, described, or understood by the human form.

Is it possible that the “afterlife” is, at least, partially comprised of the expectations of the spiritual being that is released and has transitioned from the physical life in the process we call death?

One hint of this concept is the reports from those who have described experiencing death and then returning to life. While most of these reports contain some common elements such as a brilliant white light or a feeling of being loved, there is another element that seems unique to each individual. The setting, or scenery, or furnishings of their temporary visit varies. The implication is that the spiritual realm may actually be partially composed of the vision or desire of the occupant of that realm. In that sense, perhaps each of us creates our own version of heaven.

If we are to fully appreciate our “life after life,” perhaps we need to begin to design our spiritual future home by embracing love and gratitude in this life.