If you are asking this question, you probably already know why it is boring… It is boring to you because you think it is not very entertaining to watch a priest or minister recite prayers, with a congregation reciting a script back in unison, often with minimal expression. It is boring to you to hear music and singsongs that you would never listen to anywhere else but in church. It...
In today’s culture of moral relativism, where all viewpoints are considered equal and truth is subjective, the concept of sin means many things to many people. Most people associate sin with doing something wrong, whatever it may be. Others push back against the idea of sin, claiming that it is a fictional tool used by hypocritical religious zealots to control others, or at least to make them feel guilty for...
Here it is, late-August, and it’s back-to-school time again. As exciting and anxious as it is for all kids, it is even more so for recent high school graduates heading to college for the first time. Moving away to college is a big step and an opportunity for personal growth. Meeting a diverse group of people and seeing the world from new perspectives can be a great thing, and colleges...
The Book of Genesis is awesome because it appeals to all ages and to people of all levels of spiritual maturity. There is something truly for everyone; it is woven together so perfectly that the divine inspiration is bursting at the seams. Some may consider the book to be merely stories, or something geared toward small children, but nothing could be further from the truth! The wisdom embedded within is...
Once during a discussion with an atheist acquaintance, I was told that it is impossible to truly know Jesus. No one, he said, can know for sure if Jesus is real. Basically, he said that we as Christians can only hope that our beliefs are correct. After all, how to know Jesus seems like too much of a vague concept. Soon after, I listened to a homily by Fr. Larry...
Recently the media turned its great eye to the situation on the US – Mexican border in the wake of President Trump’s “Zero Tolerance” policy on illegal immigration. The coverage was what you would expect being that division, controversy and outrage drives ratings, clicks and profits. Images of crying children apparently separated from their parents graced magazine covers and smartphone screens, as the left attacked Trump and his supporters, while...
If God is the creator of everything, then who created God? This seems like a fair enough question, if we assume that nothing can come to be on its own, that nothing can just become out of nothing. Christian teaching is clear that no one created God – God was, is and always will be, with no beginning or end. But this is impossible to fully comprehend – believing that...
One of the most difficult things that all Christian faiths require is to forgive. Human nature would have us seek revenge, or at least hold grudges, against those who have hurt us. This is very easy for us and comes naturally. The world will often tell us that we should not forgive, and that the offending party is only getting what is due to them. However, Jesus has a very...
What are some of the images that you think of when picturing what Heaven is like? Maybe angels floating around on clouds, playing harps and just hanging around? It is tough to say what Heaven is like exactly, but scripture does provide several clues and insights. Let’s start with the words of Jesus, since his apostles wondered and asked about the same questions (and well, He has been there, He...
One common misconception about heaven today is that getting into heaven is based on a sort of “test”, basically that if we are good enough people on earth, then our reward will be to be with God in Heaven when we die. Many people leave it at that, not really worrying about, going about their daily lives as always. But if we believe that there is even the slightest chance...