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Conspiracy Theorist
Rudyard Kipling on Masonry: "the closest thing to a religion that I shall ever know". “The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: a human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him, a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise,...
Jesus Christ: one can reach god only through him... Is this statement correct?
Jesus Christ: one can reach god only through him... Is this statement correct? Catch the express or the super fast bullet train. If we are able to reach our goal the purpose is served. Talk of Jesus Christ, Mahavira, Gautama Buddha or Prophet...
The Amazing Destructive Power of Tradition
Tradition and culture are revered around the world. We create traditions then we carry them through over the years blindly. If our traditions last long enough they take on an air of holiness. Others will write of our traditions. Some will with...
Tommy Said "Intelligent Design" In School Today!
President Bush unwittingly stepped into a controversy about the study of "Intelligent Design" in schools. This enraged many scientists, who viewed all of life as a random outcome. These were terrains, which even the great scientist, Albert Einstein,...
Witchcraft & Christianity
Why Do Some Christians Fear Witches? During my 28 years as a practicing Wiccan, or "witch" if you prefer, I have had occasion to ask myself this difficult question many, many times. With the recent political controversy over the United States Army...
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IS YOUR LIFE SIGNIFICANT?
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." - Matthew 16:18 (NASU)
The words of Jesus above spoken to Peter conveyed many meanings. They were not only an utterance of prophecy. They were meant also to build up and to give Peter a life of significance. Peter was a man given to impulse, a characteristic that belied an obvious need to be esteemed.
There are many like Peter, people who desire a life of significance. Yet, in this world of increasing materialism, instant gratification and compromised morals, finding significance is more like a search for the Holy Grail.
Still, living a life of significance is possible. It begins with four thoughts we can find in the verse quoted above.
1. KNOW YOU ARE SPECIAL ("...You are Peter"). Jesus wasn't merely reminding Peter of his name. He was, in effect, saying, "You are somebody. In fact, you're no longer Simon the fisherman, but Peter the rock!"
God doesn't create junk. He created you with a perfect and eternal plan in mind that, when fulfilled, will reveal the profound love God has for all mankind. He's given you skills, talents and gifts so you can do your part in that divine plan.
2. KNOW YOUR PURPOSE ("...upon this rock I will build My church"). God's divine plan is fulfilled when we realize that we are in this world for a purpose. Certainly that purpose isn't confined in building our own home, owning the latest car model or wearing the most expensive jewelry.
Our purpose would
definitely have something to do with other people. Thus, we must find our purpose in serving others or meeting their needs. A purpose that seeks to benefit others is not only noble, it is divine.
3. KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES ("...and the gates of Hades will not overpower it"). What defeats divine purpose is our weaknesses, because weaknesses tend to feed the self and cause problems (e.g. Peter's denial of Jesus).
Yet, when we admit our weaknesses and seek to correct them, we consequently mature and become more of a blessing to those we serve or relate with. In turn, we also help others mature. We must not go through life with a defeatist but a victoriuos attitude. This means we must first conquer our weaknesses.
4. KNOW WHO GOD IS ("I also say to you..."). It was Jesus who was addressing Peter, therefore he was trustworthy and believable. But, more than this, he was the Son of God!
And this is the crux of the matter: It is within a relationship with God that we can find significance in our lives. It's not about religion; it's not about doctrines and dogma; it's not about church and denomination.
It's about relationship. In our mundane world, we need to be able to touch the divine. To do so is to begin to live a life of significance.
Copyright © 2004 DF Mapa
About the Author
Dee Mapa has been a writer for over 20 years. His thought-provoking artickes have appeared in various off-line and on-line publications. You can subscribe to receive his weekly messages by sending a blank e-mail to fromthewilderness-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Religion may be defined as the presence of a belief in the sacred or the holy. ... The development of religion is therefore the course of religions aligning ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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religion online |
Full texts by religious scholars. Topics include Bible, Theology, Ethics, Church and Society, Communication, Cultural Studies, Homiletics, Missions, ... |
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Religion and Spirituality in the Yahoo! Directory |
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Virtual Religion Index |
has moved! It is now located at. http://virtualreligion.net/vri/. Note the change of domain & Please notify the source of the link that landed you here. ... |
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Religious News and Information |
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World Religions Religion Statistics Geography Church Statistics |
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BBC - Religion & Ethics |
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BBC - Religion & Ethics - Religions |
An introduction to many of the religions of the world. Includes Jainism, Shinto, Sikhism, Rastafari, Paganism, and many others. |
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Open Directory - Society: Religion and Spirituality |
Kids and Teens: People and Society: Religion and Spirituality (307) ... World Religions and 101 Cults - Contains descriptions and personal commentary of ... |
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Google Directory - Society > Religion and Spirituality |
Kids and Teens > People and Society > Religion and Spirituality (347) ... Contains descriptions and personal commentary of religions, cults, sects, ... |
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Promoting religious understanding, tolerance and freedom. |
Conflicts, evolution, science & religion evaluating each other ... "Study of the world's religions will lead to an understanding of religious diversity; ... |
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Religious Studies Page |
Gene Thursby's extensive collection of information and links for the study and interpretation of religions. Categories include religious traditions, ... |
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Religion -- Philadelphia Inquirer |
Most evangelicals now live in China, South Korea, India, Africa and Latin America, where they are transforming their religion. In various ways, they are ... |
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Religion | The WWW Virtual Library |
Religions and belief systems (ancient and contemporary), religious history, mythology, ethics and humanism. this resource in English is indexed under: ... |
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Religion - washingtonpost.com |
We explore matters of faith and religion on the first Sunday of each month. ... Religion Online Chats. Thursday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. ET: Faiths Condemn Gay Sex ... |
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allAfrica.com: Religion |
All over Africa, religion is big business. In East Africa, I am particularly impressed by the rate of its growth in Uganda. Uganda is also the country in ... |
allafrica.com |
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Obituaries · -- Death Notices · Schools · Detroit History. Nation/World. Nation/World · Politics/Gov · -- Election · Health · Religion · Technology. Sports ... |
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