This is a dialogue with Evan, the evangelist; Syd, the scientist; Sophia, the philosopher; mature Miguel; Nate, the nature-lover; Alicia, the artist; and Abe, the activist. 

Universal Family

Flying Pete

Self-respect, or the lack of it, can be based on superficial things. But true self-respect can be hard for us who evolved from animals. But when we engage ideals that are divine, spiritual, and eternal, it brings a new kind of respect. And the golden rule leads us to have a profound respect for every person we meet.

Profound self-respect

This is a passionate proclamation of discovery. It comes in the form of comments on two teachings, one about the supreme desire for righteousness and the other about how in liaison with God, nothing is impossible. 

Want the core of strong character as a gift?

This list of rules deserves to go viral. Please help creatively. The text is in the blogpost on my website.  Fishing for souls means attracting people to join the universal family of God. 

Ten Rules of Fishing for Souls

Politicians and partners can do it. "Be merciful as you Father is merciful." The more we discover the mercy of God, the more we want to extend that by forgiving others. Thank you for forgiving me.

Let's be merciful

Those who would spread a message of light: Be lucid about our current plunge and preserve the torch of truth for the planetary teachable moment.  

The planet and step one

Ethiopian philosopher Zera Yacob (1599-1692) was forced at age 27 to flee for his life from the king. He lived in a cave for two years until the death of the king; but during that time he began to piece together his philosophy. Here are excerpts and a bit of commentary. I find his thoughts very timely, and superior to what his Enlightenment contemporaries in Europe achieved. 

Wisdom from an African philosopher

The commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength has enough complexity to it to call for love in its simplicity.

Loving God in simplicity

A hackathon is a problem-solving event involving teams that compete in a fast-paced, high-tech "marathon." This episode describes four manifestations of divinity in the process as I experienced it. 

Hackathon divinity moments

Civilization is a wagon train, and Jesus is the master wheelwright. A wheelwright is a person who builds and repairs wooden wheels. This episode explains the analogy. 

Jesus, the master wheelwright

How do we nourish ourselves on the bread of life?  This is a string of word pictures with a thread of meaning running through. 

Nourishment and output

After Jesus healed ten men with leprosy, they went forth joyously, but one man turned back, and came to Jesus to give thanks and worship.  This episode tells how we can break through the momentum of lazy appreciation and activate worship.

Tenth Leper Club

A reflection framed by prayer distinguishes the justice of God; the justice that we look forward to in our planetary destiny when the kingdom of God will have come in its fullness; justice that is already established here and there; and justice that is evolving.

Justice: divine, destined, established, evolving

A reflection on the contrasting media images of response to the murder of George Floyd. An invitation to keep pondering. 

Contrasts and blends

70 diverse high school students are gathered for a three-day weekend at Camp Anytown (lots of details in the blogpost). After three days of organized interaction, they have confronted and exploded their prejudices and emerge as loving, mutually supportive, inspired leaders for positive social change. The last portion of the video presents comments/questions/criticisms that suggest paths of growth to add a layer of quality thinking to an already strong program.  

Camp Anytown dismantles stereotypes

A spiritual, religious, and philosophical podcast . . . presenting a philosophy of living in truth, beauty, and goodness . . . centered on the concept that we are all brothers and sisters in the universal family of God.

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Universal Family

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