What motivates you to choose to do right when the temptation to lie, to cheat, to get angry or to be jealous is strong? What goes through your mind in those mini-seconds before you actually say hurtful or unkind words? What helps you to apologize, to confess, to speak words of kindness rather than to…… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Lessons
FEELING OVERWHELMED? – Intro Lesson 10 – Nov. 10 – 17
When is the last time you felt overwhelmed? Quite often the reasons for these feelings are negative. Perhaps you may have looked a list of tasks that you needed to finish and were overcome with the impossibility of accomplishing all of them in the time you had available. Maybe the amount of sickness or tragedy…… Continue Reading
PREDICTING THE FUTURE – Intro Lesson 9 – Nov. 3 – 10
Why is it that some individuals believe they have received a special ability to foretell the future or even to predict the date of the return of Jesus? Even more surprising is that these people are able to convince others that their ideas and forecasts are reliable. Certainly, there is scientific, as well as historical,…… Continue Reading
WHAT IS AN “ADAGE”? – Intro Lesson 8 – Oct. 27 – Nov. 3
Did your mom or dad have some wise old sayings, sometimes referred to as adages, that they would repeat to you under certain circumstances? Perhaps you heard one of these from time to time. “Beggars can’t be choosers.” “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Every language seems to…… Continue Reading
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “WORSHIP”? – Introduction Lesson 7 – Oct. 20 – 27
What do you think about when you hear the word “worship”? Does it refer to the moments when you are standing up in church and singing great songs of praise and adoration? Is it when you are deeply moved by the beauty or grandeur of God’s creation? Is it when you turn to God for…… Continue Reading
CURIOUSITY CAN BE A GOOD THING! – Introduction Lesson 6 – Oct. 13 – 20
Do you remember the stories about “Curious George”? Since those books, written and illustrated by Hans and Margret Ray, were first published in 1941 children have been fascinated by the adventures of that inquisitive and courageous little monkey and his friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat. Why is it that children find these stories…… Continue Reading
WORDS + or – ACTIONS – Intro Lesson 5 – Oct. 6 – 13
A famous old saying goes “actions speak louder than words.” Have you ever heard it said like this? “Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.” These truisms have been passed down through many generations and are no doubt easily translated into similar sayings around the world. We all…… Continue Reading
FEAR, AWE and FAITH – Intro Lesson 4 – Sept. 29 – Oct. 6
Did you know that “Yirah”, a Hebrew word that is usually translated “fear”, is considered to be “the principal religious Biblical virtue, according to Abraham Heschel, a leading Jewish theologian of the 20th century? He suggested in his writings that this word had two meanings: fear and awe. “Fear is the anticipation and expectation of…… Continue Reading
ARE YOU EVEN LOOKING? – Intro Lesson 3 – Sept. 22 – 29
If you were asked to make a list of the “discoveries” you have made in the last week, what would be on your list? Sometimes there are life impacting realizations, such as learning something new about your own abilities or you sense a new depth of courage or strength. At other times as relationships deepen…… Continue Reading
CHILDLIKE WONDER – Introduction Lesson 2 – Sept. 15 – 22
Why is it that the human capacity for wonder and awe often diminishes with age? Some researchers claim that 99% of those magical and memorable moments occur during our childhood years. Is it because our increased knowledge and experience makes us so wise? Is it because we no longer have the energy or interest to…… Continue Reading