Saturday, November 12, 2011

What I Believe


I believe that God is great and glorious and good. I believe that God loves everyone, that God loves us truest and best, and that Jesus is the greatest expression of that love. I believe that knowing God is the most wonderful and joyous part of life. We all need God and knowing God is the Great Story—the most epic of all adventures and the most beautiful of all romances. With my life, I want to know God more each day and to love God and others well.

I believe that every person, no matter how young or old and regardless of who they are in life, deserves to be taken seriously and treated with love and respect. I believe that each person is unique and has a purpose for good in life should they choose to follow God and live into that purpose.

I believe that both good and evil exist in the world and that our daily choices bring about one or the other. We can choose to follow God and do what is good and right or we can choose to rebel and go our own way. As Gandhi said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

But we cannot do that alone because no one is perfect or righteous on one’s own. We all make mistakes and need God’s grace and forgiveness and the forgiveness of others. When we screw up, we should confess, receive forgiveness, and do our best with God’s help not to make the same mistakes. Even so, God is always there to catch us when we fall. We are freed from guilt and shame, and, in God, we are free to be ourselves and to let knowing God transform us for the better. God is the One who helps us live well—abundant and fulfilling lives.

Lastly, I believe that words and stories matter. I want to write words that pierce the soul and draw people to the heart of God. With my life, I want to encourage others to know God, who loves us truest and best; to realize their special gifts and talents; and to live into their unique calling and purpose for good—their unique stories that contributes to the larger story being told.