Have you ever had the experience, especially with reading the Scriptures, where you've read a text more than once ... then someone points out something to you that changes the way you relate to what you're reading?

Do you remember when Grandpa drove real slow while taking you to the tractor pull at the local fair? Now that you're a grandpa, you think nothing of going a "little" faster than the speed limit on your way to see a NASCAR race!

Jesus had a clear strategy! He knew what he was doing; he knew where he was going. He had a plan to enter "every city and place where he himself was going to come." In support of the plan, he appointed 36 teams of two disciples each to journey ahead of him. So, when Jesus arrived in a designated place, it was not by accident, and should not have been a surprise!

As I grew up, the churches I belonged to worked hard to help me come to an informed "faith in Jesus." I learned the stories of Jesus in Sunday School, at home, in the various youth groups, through the education programs designed to show me, and convince me, that faith "in" Jesus is critical. My educational experiences deepened my faith in Jesus; my teaching experiences did the same. OK, can't argue with that ... all of the learning and teaching worked!

I found this video clip to be thought provoking, especially the way this speaker has come to understand "liberals." Don't think of this in political or religious terms, just get an idea of what this guy says and why he says it. Then, listen carefully to those who report the news, preach religion, lead the government, make decisions, announce results, etc. If you don't want to listen the entire presentation, the first 15 minutes should do it.

I've given this some time to sink in. I remember exactly where I was the day President Kennedy was murdered ... did you have the same reaction to the Virginia Tech murderous rampage? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the news? Either way, if you do or don't remember, what does that say about your sensitivity to such events?

After her grandmother died, poet Judith Stafford wrote a poem titled, "Grandmother," in which she reflects on her grandmother's life:

It seems true to me that you gradually become like those who have some influence over you or who have been selected to be in positions of power and authority over you. So, in part, you become like your parents until you make real choices for yourself. And, in part, you become like the teachers who made a difference in your life until you enter your life-learning approaches. And, in part, you become like your friends who lived in your life until you choose a different way. And, in part, you become like TV characters you find satisfying or interesting until you go another direction.

I wasn't sure if I should title this "Seeing the Real God" or "Seeing the True God" or "Seeing the Only God." So, I just put "Seeing God." That seems enough to me since God is going to be more than my ideas or images, my categories or concepts. To "see God" seems like the experience of a life time!

About one in four USAmericans view God as "Distant." This would be a general description of such a God: