Dale Cresap's blog

Is there an ending for every beginning? Yet endings are usually followed by another beginning. Does this seem like an endless cycle to you, in which one lesson follows another, and one grade follows another, and the same is true for trials and character refinement?

In most schools material is presented according to a curriculum. This organizes a complex course of study into individual lessons. There is too much to assimilate all at once, but the curriculum divides it into manageable pieces.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord. Your culture has a strong but distorted sense of beauty.

If you are in need of healing, does it strengthen your faith to see other people healed? Yet what if many others are healed and you are not? This may reinforce your belief in the power of God, but does it give you a crisis of faith regarding my love and intentions toward you?

Are you afraid of money? Do you know anyone, including yourself, who isn’t eager to have more? Yet my word warns those who would be rich and says that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.

You are familiar with the concept of getting to know someone. Everyone presents a public image, usually of superficial politeness, for casual encounters with other people. You don’t consider that you really know someone until you can look beyond that.

Is there anyone that you would send to hell? My own disciples asked for my approval to call down fire from heaven on some who rejected me, and I rebuked them. I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and I am not willing that any should perish. Neither should you.

Do you do your best work for your boss? Are you aware that you are really working for me? My word warns against eye-service for the purpose of pleasing men. Do you view it as a burden to be called to a higher level of diligence?

Are you alarmed by times of economic crisis? These are widespread and painfully obvious, but they start in a way that is subtle and unobserved. They start as a crisis of faith and values.

Have you ever had times of high creativity and effectiveness, when every decision you made was correct and timed properly for action? Did progress seem to come easily in this condition? To what did you attribute this time of high ability?