On Ash Wednesday, as I applied ashes to the foreheads of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I said: ”Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This was based on Psalm 103:13: 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. I would like to offer to you the same suggestion that I made to those gathered for Ash Wednesday service. Embark on a fast during the 40 days of Lent. Howeve
Some interesting research has been done recently on how spirituality can affect the brain and vice versa. A lot of research has been done on the frontal cortex, the rational part of the brain, and the Amygdala, the “fear center” of the brain associated with emotions. However, new research is coming out about the Anterior Cingulate, as it is related to spirituality. The development of the Anterior Cingulate can help balance the basic emotions of the Amygdala, and the raw logic of the Frontal Cortex. When we approach God from a place of only emotion, whether that be fear or joy, the emotion does not last, it shifts and changes causing distress in personal faith. If our faith in God is only b
In American society, religion is demonstrably practiced on the courts and fields of professional sports, often when players point to heaven thanking God for that home run, touchdown, basket, or knockout. This has been brought home to us exponentially this football season, as the world has seen how faith has been publicly shared, demonstrated, and lived through the Philadelphia Eagles, both on the field and off. Everything from Carson Wentz who publicly shares about his faith, to his special relationship with the Dutch Destroyer, to the team fully acknowledging that Christianity is the binding force for the team’s cohesiveness, to defensive end Chris Long donating his entire salary to educa