MORALITY

The Webster definition of moral is: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior. : expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior. For most people the definition of right and wrong comes from their parents or environment growing up. Society then begins to cause people to make adjustments to their beliefs or definitions of right and wrong. Each culture varies on what issues are wrong, and what is acceptable.

A recent Pew Research Center study called "Social Trends" ranked 10 issues to create a barometer of modern U.S. morals. 88% of people believe that married people having an affair is wrong. 79% of people say that not reporting all income on your taxes is wrong. That was higher than the 61% who said drinking alcohol excessively is wrong. Only 52% said having an abortion is wrong, more than the 50% who said smoking marijuana is wrong. The same result, 50%, said homosexual behavior is wrong, while 43% said telling a lie to spare someone's feelings is wrong. Only 35% said sex between unmarried adults was wrong, the same percentage that said gambling is wrong. 32% said overeating is wrong, meaning 68% must think it's not wrong.

The same Webster defines ethic as: the discipline dealing with what is good and bad with moral duty and obligation. The set of moral principles or values defines if we are ethical based on what society accepts. This is all about measuring behavior, but the underlying precept is determining what is right and what is wrong. Situational ethics, tolerance, and a lack of absolute truth are being foisted upon our society to it's demise. Josh McDowell, in his book "Right from Wrong" points out our young people are confused about truth. He points our that in Sevres, a suburb of Paris, the headquarters of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures establishes standards for units of measure. If two people disagree on the length of a meter, the objective and universal standard comes from Sevres. A standard exists outside, above, and beyond ourselves for morals as well. The basis of everything we call moral is the eternal God who is outside us, above us, and beyond us. What is God's standard of morality?

I submit to you that if the specific subject is mentioned in the Bible, there is never a "gray" area for confusion. If it's not specifically mentioned, there are precepts and principles that can be studied and applied to clear up any confusion one may have. It is also not appropriate to add to the biblical principles with cultural beliefs, regardless or how good they may sound. If we are to be ethical, a discipline and obligation is required of us to be right in our behavior 24/7.
Failure to do what is right is called sin. The Bible says all have sinned. God sent the law to ensure we understood we are not righteous. The 10 commandments covers a lot of territory, then Jesus came with the 11th commandment. He also brought a plan of salvation so that through his death, burial, and resurrction we might meet God's standard of morality (since we could not on our own). He left us the Holy Spirit to empower us to be right in our behavior, and provided the Bible to clarify any issue or subject we study. Go through the 10 issues the Pew research measured and see what the Bible says. Culture and society should never determine our morality. If you are doing or not doing something based on your personal standards or what someone else says is their standard, STOP. Ethics that are accepted by society are only moral if they are also biblical. Absolute truth never changes.

CULTURAL EFFECTS

The subject of this month's web log is the incredible pressure our American culture puts on our spiritual beliefs. Numerous areas of research point to changing public opinion about subjects as diverse as abortion, homosexuality, smoking, obesity, war, and even automobile mileage. People are fickle, as the creators of entertainment media discover with a second episode of a popular show or movie. Technology speeds up the process. Teenagers who instant message each other have no patience for E-mail. Young adults, who E-mail each other have no patience for US Mail (snail mail). I heard recently that CD sales are dropping by 20% each year with the growth of MP-3 players, including I-PODs. CD's had previously totally replaced cassettes, who had completely replaced LP records with some 8 Track memories in between.

Our modern culture with jet airplane travel, world-wide internet, and growing economic impacts on other countries is also affected by the many cultures around the world. Americans are made up of people who moved here from another country, or children or even grandchildren of people who moved here from another country. Only a few Indians, now known as Native Americans, can claim many centuries of existence in the land we call home. Webster's defines culture as the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties, or an enlightenment of taste acquired by training. A further definition claims culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.

So how does culture affect my beliefs as a Christian? I was surprised to find the issue is many centuries old. In the third and fourth centuries Socrates and other Greek scholars began to influence the Church in ways that were different from the Hebraic roots of the early Church. The Greek influence appeals more to the intellect, whereas the early-Church Hebraic model appealed to the heart. The Greek influence resulted in more emphasis on oratory skills and cognitive knowledge of God. Over the many centuries, this influence has shown itself in a more programmatic approach to the gospel rather than a process of living out our faith. I grew up being taught that smoking, drinking, dancing and going to the movies was a sin. Ironically, I was taught this by folks who used God's name in vain, complained bitterly about other people in the church, and opened their Bible's only on Sunday. The Ten Commandments were given to show us as humans how far we are from righteousness. Jesus added the 11th, commanding us to love others as we love ourselves. While many Christians fight over the "SIN LIST", the transparent relationship we're called to have with God and others stagnates or dies from lack of focus. This does NOT make the evils of this generation right. About 15 years ago a tolerance movement swept the country and all "politically correct" people believe no one should be criticized. I am not one of them. That being said, the final words of Jesus as he left the earth was "Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations.....teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you". Cultures come and go, but his Word lives forever. Making disciples of Jesus Christ starts with their heart, not their head.

If my intellectual and moral faculties (culture) prevent me from accomplishing the goal (my commission), change is required. The same goes for you. All the things you know are bad, are taught are bad, or even believe are bad can be as much of a hindrance as all the things that you
perceive as good. There is no relative truth, only truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the life, and the truth. No one comes to the Father except by me". That's the same right now in every culture on earth as it was 2000 years ago in any culture. For me, the measurement to discern cultural
beliefs from never changing truth is found in the Bible. As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.

BALANCE

A recent business seminar I attended reinforced my need for balance in my life. While many people recognize the areas of life as mental, physical, spiritual, personal, family, financial, business and even leadership, the importance of balance is rarely communicated. A quotient is the number obtained by dividing one quantity by another. That ratio is often used to determine our IQ (intelligence quotient) because standardized tests are available to determine our mental age in comparison to our chronological age. Due to a lack of standardized tests, our EQ (emotional quotient), and SQ (spiritual quotient) are not as well known. Balance, however, is only achieved by considering these quotients.

The combination of the quotients, along with a measurement of our physical condition (we'll call PQ) provides for a measure of balance. This is because all the other aspects of life such as family, business, church, financial, friendship, leadership, romance, fame, "success", and even happiness are a result of the 4 key areas that balance must be maintained. The physiological affects the psychological. Achievement involves one or more of the 4 key areas, but balance is achievement in all areas simultaneously. You probably know of people who are considered great achievers in one aspect, but live miserable lives due to deprivation in other aspects. Financial "success" without hope has no lasting value. Working to be the best at anything is useless without balance.

Character based life enriching principles allow a successful balanced life, and can be found in the best selling book of all time. The Bible was written and compiled by men, but those words and inclusions were divinely inspired by God. The creator of each of us is the logical source for an owners manual that covers all aspects and areas of life. Our culture today, as cultures in previous time, attempts to focus us on some areas, but not all. If we fall for this diversion we live our lives without purpose and joy, always searching for more. With the same 24 hours each day available to all, life becomes a choice of how each day is spent. We are all free to make the choices that will determine our destiny, both in this life and eternity. A prioritization plan that include all 4 areas (IQ, EQ, SQ, PQ) is helpful.

As we all have the same 168 hours to spend each week, we start out with the same amount of time, but choose to spend it differently. It's probable that your best score from the IQ, EQ, SQ, and PQ measurements is something you've previously focused on. An action plan to reduce effort in one area should free up time to focus on the low score(s). Activities are not always bad, just not the best for you at a specific time. I encourage you to give this idea a try. Let's say my IQ is 110 and I want to improve it. Try reading. If my EQ is 90. Try some B vitamins and a class to de-stress what's causing emotional outbursts. My SQ might be 105, but the Bible says without works faith is dead. Volunteer some at a church. PQ is at 85 due to being overweight like 90% of Americans? Diet and exercise is the ticket. The numbers are made up, but you already know which areas in your life need work.

Getting started is the first step. Write down your plan and a timeline you think you can achieve the improvement in a balanced life. Reward yourself as you progress. Tell someone you trust about this and be persistent. As I age it becomes easier except for the PQ. I'm striving to get all my scores over 135 at the same time. How about you?

OFFENDING AND OFFENDED

It's OK to offend, be offended, learn to comprehend why, and have rational discussions about the differences. Of the billions of people on the planet, it is reasonable that others would have political, spiritual, cultural, moral, and personality differences from my view of the world. Political correctness had a media focus last month with "Happy Holidays" being offered for "Merry Christmas" in an attempt to not offend the approximate 10% of the population that does not observe Christmas traditions. I sent an E-mail to many people I work with, both at the company I work at and the companies that do business with the company I work at. I also included members of my Toastmasters group that include many other nationalities, political and religious persuasions. I pointed out that as a Christian, the observation of the birth of Jesus is different for me than an atheist, but we all have Christmas on our calendar (think about where the year was measured from). When I express Merry Christmas to them it does not demean them in any way. If they are offended by my right, it is most probable that I would find their expression offensive. If we never say anything that someone else MIGHT find offensive, we'll never say anything. A large number of responses to my E-mail expressed agreement with this stance and none that disagreed (if any) wrote back.

We become uncomfortable discussing subjects we find offensive, so avoiding the subject is just easier. That is how political correctness has grown to be considered good manners. Being sensitive to the stance of others, regardless of their position, is now being taught in school as tolerance. The tolerance being taught says that acceptance of the view of another is crucial, since their equality with you provides the same rights. This misses the whole subject of the truth in their perspective. In it's most outrageous extrapolation, the views of a child molester on child care is equal to mine and must be considered equally when providing for the care of a child. It is far preferable that I'm offended by the molester's stance, and he mine. Civility is what is required. The rational discussion mentioned earlier is what should be taught, not only in school but also in community settings. Why am I offended? Why does someone find my statement or belief offensive? Talking about things that make us uncomfortable leads to new comfort levels. Manners need to be redefined as demonstrating respect and civility in the discussion, NOT AVOIDING subjects.

Where do you get your viewpoints? How much has your background affected your beliefs? Did the education system you were exposed to create factual understanding of the past? Is the Bible the source of truth as I believe, or is truth so relative that we can each make up our own? Is one political system right for all people, or are there needs for multiple versions? How are past atrocities linked to today? Become offended at what is said by someone. Say things that are offensive to someone. It's the discussion that is so critical for our thinking. It's OK.

LOVE LANGUAGES

One of the most profound books I've read is "The 5 Love Languages", by Gary Chapman. The concept is that each of us measures how much we are loved by our love language. According to Dr. Chapman the five are: Quality time, Words of affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical touch. We each have one of those as our primary language, so that if gifts is our love language we believe someone giving us a gift loves us more than someone who says nice things.
We also tend to demonstrate our love in the language most important to us. As an example, my love language is acts of service, so when I do something for someone it is showing love. If their language is gifts, the act of service doesn't have the same impact. The concept of his book is to learn the love language of those around you so you can demonstrate your love in the language they understand and appreciate.
Each member of my family has a different love language, so this understanding was crucial to our relationships. My perception of "hanging out" was that it was a waste of valuable time, until I recognized that my wife's language of quality time made this an important activity. Even though these truths have slowly sunk in over the years since I read his book, it's only been recently that it dawned on me that the opposites made up what irritated me.
If someone has a love language of words of affirmation, words that do not affirm has a far greater effect on them than other people. In my language of acts of service, not doing small things that I expected were more powerful than negative words or non-existant gifts. So that's why the things people do and say affect each of us so differently. It requires more than this recognition to do something about it, but it is a start.

SPEEDING UP MATURITY

Speeding up Maturity
For the longest time I was convinced that the growth process we call maturity had it's own speed for each person that could not be changed. Maturity happens physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The combination of all these aspects is the maturity I'm speaking of, and they used to be on similar timetables.

Examples from people joining the armed services and "growing up", to couples having their first child and dramatically changing were all around me during my formative years. It is said that the hormones and chemicals in our food today is causing more rapid physical maturity, which is quite possible. Or it could be the widespread knowledge of nutritional advances, especially in the early years of growth. It is said that the amount of information made available in the last decade is more than many centuries combined in the past. The mental capacity to process information is not necessarily maturity but it is a higher requirement at an earlier age than ever before. Emotional and spiritual maturity has not been able to keep up with the speed of physical and mental, resulting in many of society's woes. The emotional maturity "catch-up" is what's noticed in the aforementioned armed service and parenting examples. Spiritual maturity has been relegated by society as an option, or perhaps no longer necessary.

There are those that work to slow down the ever increasing speed of physical and mental growth in our youth. There are those that work to pick up the pieces of broken lives in youth that couldn't emotionally and spiritually handle what they physically and mentally could do. There are those that preach against the activities that cause the broken lives, hoping that the increased mental capacity will bring self-control to damaging activities. All of these pursuits are noble, many are needed, but in my opinion they will ultimately fail.

The reason I believe they will fail is that they don't recognize the holistic aspect of humans. Unlike animals, we have souls so the spiritual dimension sets us apart. Spiritual maturity is the key to balancing the other areas of maturity. It is also a key component of emotional maturity. I now believe it can allow overall maturity to speed up. So, the question becomes, how is spiritual maturity obtained? Unlike physical maturity it, it isn't automatic. Unlike mental maturity, it isn't the capacity to process ever increasing amounts of information. Unlike emotional maturity, it isn't gaining control of the feelings that rage in us. Spiritual maturity is the process of changing our focus from ourselves to God, and in that process to others.

A person of any age that can be described as spiritually mature, will therefore be more emotionally mature, will be more mentally mature and in many ways more physically mature. To speed up maturity, take the focus of the moment off yourself. To speed up maturity move the focus of each moment to your creator and his purposes. To speed up maturity move the focus of the moment to those around you (part of God's purposes). The key to this is so simple many people miss it entirely. The Bible says the key is to ask (which puts the focus on God). It does not say the key is to try (which puts the focus on self) harder.

It is crucial that the youth of today capture this vision earlier in life, as the physical and mental changes in their life happen earlier in their chronological progression. This truth must be added to the work that care for the youth of our society. In a day of self-help books, Rick Warren had this message in his best seller The Purpose Driven Life. However, for many centuries it was available in the best seller of all time, THE BIBLE. Availability is not all that ot takes, however. Asking seems so simple. Check this blog's entry for May.

ABSORPTION

ABSORPTION
We are a foolish people. Like sponges, we absorb what's around us from the time we spent in a womb. Everyone agrees little children absorb what they're exposed to, and most competent parents control those circumstances and atmosphere to protect the child. Our society even dictates compulsory education (and at younger and younger ages) so the vast amount of known information can be taught to each of us. It's also a truth that we move toward what we think about. Motivation experts teach focusing on your dream and activating your achievement plan by visualizing the end result coming out the way you dream. You absorb the thoughts, actions, and activities until you "own them". We absorb what we are exposed to.

We are a foolish people. The lie that is foisted on us is this: as you mature, you are able to discern what parts of your exposure will be absorbed. Movies and video games even have a rating system (allegedly to help parents) that indicates which subject matters would be appropriate for select age groups. Laws are passed to prevent purchasing cigarettes before 18 and alcohol before 21. Politicians, and even the courts, insist that you have the freedom to do everything except what they pass laws to disallow. Apparently the government knows which activities will be bad for you (and others), and which you can safely absorb without it changing you. The rest they leave up to you to decide.

We are a foolish people. We absorb what we are exposed to for our entire life. IT CHANGES US. The media knows that repeating anything over and over will make it "true", a lesson taught by many including Hitler. Satan knows that exposure to anything bad to you will result in you absorbing it. Why would we purposely expose ourselves to things that will harm us, harm our families, and harm others? Because we've convinced ourselves that we are old enough, strong enough, and wise enough to control what that exposure does.

We are a foolish people. Lifestyles encouraged or dictated by all major religions address it. Evangelical Christians are known for taking a stand against activities that end in our harm. Sadly, this biblical worldview is trumped by our sinful culture and liberty focused society, so that most Christians and especially youthful Christians believe they can be exposed to sin and they won't absorb the effects. Huge parts of each life is spent learning the painful lesson that we are to be disciplined in what we expose our minds to, and in some cases it is never learned. We are a foolish people.

WATCH

Watch your thoughts they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

BORROWED BITS OF WISDOM

1. The secret is not managing your time but leading your life.
2. Success is only possible when one comprehends delayed gratification.
3. No matter what it is, it's not about you.
4. When growth stops, decay begins.
5. Relationship trumps knowledge.
6. Mankind's chief purpose is to glorify God and enjoy the relationship.
7. Attitude may not be everything, but it's close to it.
8. The best predictor of the future is the past.
9. We are what we think other think we are.
10. Emotional intelligence is more relevant to success that intellectual intelligence.
11. Life will come out the way today went, unless you change it.
12. Time is everything to a relationship.
13. Excellence is not a act, but a habit.
14. People will be led but not pushed.
15. The greatest risk is not taking risks.
16. Hire tough and then manage easy.
17. Stay organized so everything has it's place.
18. When I open my Bible, God opens his mouth.
19. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
20. Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice.
21. Information available is not information used.
22. The difference between good and great is attention to detail.
23. Keeping up appearances is the most expensive thing in the world.
24. Hate in it's worst form is called indifference.
25. The only measurement of what you believe is what you do.
26. Not everything that can be counted, counts.
27. Carve praise in stone and write criticism in sand.
28. Impossibilities yield the best opportunities.
29. There are no shortcuts to maturity.
30. Selling is getting rid of what you have, marketing is having what will sell.
31. Never confuse furious random activity for progress.
32. There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
33. Don't expect something back that you're not giving out.
34. A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie is a lie.
35. Focus on interests rather than positions when negotiating.
36. Figure out early if the juice is worth the squeeze.
37. One person's courage makes a majority.
38. It;s never too late to give up your prejudices.
39. Perfect practice is actually the only practice that makes perfect.
40. The heart has eyes that the brain knows nothing about.
41. People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care.
42. The longer you carry a grudge, the heavier it gets.
43. Go to bed and get up on time every day.
44. You can measure a person's character by how difficult it is to discourage them.
45. The way you are at home is probably the way you really are.
46. Don't compare your strengths to others weaknesses, nor your weaknesses to others strengths.
47. Daily exercise, nutrition, stretching, praying and flossing are the disciplines to have.
48. You are, or become, whom you associate with.
49. If it is to be, it's up to me.
50. Talk less and listen more.

SOUND MARRIAGE ADVISE

Marriages die from isolation. Divorce is the final product of prolonged isolation. Sometimes this is referred to as communication issues. The busyness of life makes married couples married singles without a commitment and action plan to prevent it. Oneness or intimacy comes from spending time, sharing emotions, listening to each other, praying together so that things that can only be talked about with God is overheard by the other, and more. The choices you make determine the oneness you'll enjoy. Spiritual intimacy, physical intimacy, intellectual intimacy and emotional intimacy all comes from an action plan. It does not happen accidentally, it is a choice. It takes courage, work, faith, forgiveness, understanding and most of all time. There can't be any areas of life where you are isolated from each other.

Resolving conflict begins with a commitment to listen and understand. You have to decide to fight for your marriage and forgive each other. Forgiveness also means giving up the right to punish each other. The Bible is clear about marriage and how men and women should conduct themselves. It is also clear about humility, forgiveness, self-control, love and purpose (Titus 2 and 3, 1st Peter 3, James, Hebrews, and of course most of Ephesians). The sooner these steps are taken the smaller the pain, hurt, damage, confusion and regret there will be in the future.

Nobody likes rules as we are all born that way. However, the "rules" that we learn through a life of hard knocks has always been found in God's Word and his relationship with us. The same is true of marriages. Ephesians 1:4 says "long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love". Mark 12:30 says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul...". Life really is all about love. 1st Peter 4:8 says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins". John 15:7 even says "This is my command; love each other". Marriage really is all about love. Both in life and marriage we get into trouble by loving the wrong things. 2nd Timothy 3 describes the last days when God can't tolerate any more sin and brings the final judgement. Verse 2 says people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving... So the love that matters is loving others, putting others first. In a marriage relationship that is more defined. Ephesians 5 lays out how we are to live. Verse 21 says "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ". Sometimes counselors will describe this as leaving the 50%/50% relationship behind and moving to a 100%/100% relationship. It's not easy, which is why we need strength from God to get that focus off of us or our worry that our 100% will be met by a far lower number in response. God said the entire law can be summed up in "love your neighbor as yourself". Imagine the requirement for loving a spouse in comparison.

1st John 3:18 says our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. My personal battle with this can correctly be defined as prioritization. We all have the same 24 hours each day, and the pressures of busyness are constant. I have desires to do things, be involved in things, remember important events and dates, but the reality is that a review of what I DID DO is how my life is prioritized. Take a look at your past week or month or even year and write down what you did. Surprised at where your time, attention and actions were spent? That's what you love. Does the percentage of time spent on each other say "You're Important"? The divine order of priority is Christ, spouse, children (if any), extended family, personal friends, church relationships (believers), work acquaintances, strangers (all of whom God calls upon us to love). Does the percentage of time spent with Christ say "You're Important"? Relationships take time and where time is not spent there will not be relationships.

I grew up in a poor family and in my childhood almost everyone I knew had more than me. Credit was a huge focus in my early adult life, as that was a path to more things than I could afford with the income from the positions I chose. Relationships, on the other hand, were more difficult and I was never taught their value, except by life. My relationship with church somehow got confused with my relationship with God. The poor relationship with my father (in hindsight) also affected my relationship with Jesus, as well as my mother, when they remarried after being divorced while I was a teenager. 1st John 4:19 says that we love because he first loved us, meaning we learn what LOVE is from God himself. 2nd John, verse 6 says this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. John 15:12 says "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you". Revelations chapter 2 has some great things to say about people from Ephesus, then in verse 4 God says "Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love". Your first love from a priority standpoint is Jesus Christ.

The Bible is clear in the instructions about everything including marriage. In 1st Corinthians chapter 7 Paul talks about marriage and in verse 10 says " But to the married, I give instructions, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not send his wife away". In Mark Chapter 10 Jesus explains that divorce is caused by the hardness of the heart, but what God has put together man is not to separate. The society we live in today usurps God's authority and provides a culture where relationships are temporal. Marriage is an expression of Christ and the church and Hebrews says that marriage is to be held in honor among all.

• - The Bible has needed instructions for us all !!
  - Damage can't be undone quickly, so don't expect it !!
  - Satan's tool to kill relationships and marriages is isolation !!
  - We all choose our priorities, but there is a divine order !!
  - Love in marriage is the same as Love in life !!
  - Things will never satisfy - Relationships are all that last !!
  

10 PRINCIPLES FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

1) Maintain an attitude that the best is yet to come.
2) Define how much is enough and write it down (so you'll know when you've "arrived").
3) Recognize that relationships are the most previous commodity.
4) Strengthen yourself spiritually and physically on a regular basis.
5) Treat your spouse and children as if they were perfect.
6) Write out a personal mission, philosophy, and values statement.
7) Do what you fear most, over and over.
8) Set aside funds regularly so compounding works in your favor.
9) Set and attain educational (learning) goals continually.
10) Start or expand a relationship with Jesus Christ.

CLIFF NOTE CHRISTIANITY

GC³ (Christianity Cliff Notes)

1) GREAT COMMITMENT

1) ADMIT
1) God exists
2) Sinfulness
3) Eternity

2) BELIEVE
1) Jesus' blood
2) Cross sacrifice
3) Hope

3) CONFESS
1) Pray
2) Accept
3) Repent

2) GREAT COMMANDMENT

1) LOVE
1) Worship
2) Obedience
3) Passion

2) GOD
1) Love - Grace
2) Purity - Righteousness
3) Truth - Judgment

3) NEIGHBOR
1) Others
2) Church
3) Forgiveness

3) GREAT COMMISSION

1) DISCIPLE
1) Ministry
2) Morality
3) Evangelism

2) BAPTIZE
1) Trinity
2) Faith
3) Heaven - Angels

3) TEACH
1) Bible
2) Spiritual warfare
3) Tithe

FIRST POSTING

This is the beginning of a BLOG journey for me as I contemplate gray hair and wrinkles in my 50's.