I have searched for personal answers to the deep and existential questions of life for many decades. (Who am I?\u00a0 Why am I here?\u00a0 What happens when I die?\u00a0 Does life matter?\u00a0 Is there a God?).<\/p>\n
I studied every possible philosopy and religion and world view that I could including Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Atheism, Animalism, Taoism, Hinduism, E.S.T., some witchcraft; many Christian Cults including Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witness, the Faith Movement (“Positive Confession or Name it and Claim it”); and I have attended many Christian Denominations including Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Church of Christ, Anglican, and Methodist.<\/p>\n
I have also read at least parts of many religious and philosophical writings including Darwin’s works on Evolution, the Quran, the Communist Manifesto, the Bible, books by Frankl, Nieche, Plato, Tolle, the Bhagavad-Gita, Chopra, L.R. Hubbard, Peale, Marx, etc.; and I’ve read or listened to countless numbers of “self-help” books and audio tracks.\u00a0 I also tried to find my answers in mathematics and science and legal truth.<\/p>\n
In all my searching and studying over my lifetime I have come to the conclusion that only one of these choices answers all of my questions.\u00a0 My conclusions are that:<\/p>\n
a. There is a God who made us and everything else.\u00a0 He created men and women with free will and free choice.\u00a0 That answers the question of choice and why there is evil and suffering in the world.\u00a0 I don’t believe that was the orignal intent, but it is certainly the result of human interaction.\u00a0 Even the choice to follow Christ into heaven or to run away from him to hell is our own free decision.<\/p>\n
b. All good in the world is the result of us moving towards God and all evil is the result of us moving selfishly toward our self and away from God.\u00a0 I believe that some day this will all be rectified, but for now the planet (and the people on it) are our responsibility.<\/p>\n
c. Jesus Christ is his only Son and the only means to save us from ourselves and the consequences of our sin. There is only one way and one road that leads to heaven.\u00a0 We can’t make our own way or be good enough because we’ve each one already fallen from the mark of perfection.\u00a0 The very best we can be, even if we stand on our tip toes, is still ‘short of the shelf with the cookie jar’.<\/p>\n
d. Everything is about relationships.\u00a0 God wants us to have a real (not pious) relationship with him, with our spouse, with our relatives, with our friends and enemies, and with ourself.<\/p>\n
e.\u00a0 The Bible is God’s word to us written by men and women but inspired by God.\u00a0 The Bible is not meant to be a history book or a science book as the meaning is to show us our shortcomings and lead us to Christ and joy with him.\u00a0 However, in every place that the Bible mentions a specific historical event or scientific fact it is proven to be true.<\/p>\n
Here are some resources that have helped me to get where I am at today.<\/em>\u00a0 I certainly am not a “good person” by my own standards but I consider salvation like one homeless guy finding a source of food and showing other homeless guys where to find it…<\/p>\n Jesus is Alive!\u00a0 I don’t care if you are a follower of Islam, Judaism, Atheism, or any other religion.\u00a0 Even if you don’t believe, just ask him.\u00a0 What can you lose?\u00a0 If Jesus is real, then he will answer you.\u00a0 If he isn’t then he won’t.\u00a0 (But believe me, he WILL<\/em> answer you because he is alive and he loves you.).<\/p>\n Bridge to Life<\/a><\/p>\n