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Posts Tagged ‘faith in Jesus’

FINDING PEACE

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I didn’t watch the 2000s TV comedy Malcom In The Middle, but I knew about the show’s star, Frankie Muniz, and a recent web article on his spiritual life grabbed my attention.

In 2020 Muniz was driving across the United States and things were definitely not going well. The article, in Relevant magazine, doesn’t identify the problem(s), but it does make it clear that Muniz was deeply distressed. Seeking solace in music, Muniz found only one radio station in his remote location and it was playing music about Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God.

Two songs hit him right where he was at emotionally. “It was the perfect moment,” he said. “I haven’t turned off that radio station since (it’s also available on the Internet). I started going to church and really being involved in my faith. It’s definitely become a big part of my life because of that trip.”

Muniz spoke about how following Jesus gives him a sense of peace. “Even though I had a lot of good in my life, I felt like I was still in a very anxious place,” he said. “My faith puts me in the right frame of mind.”

Let’s shift gears for a moment to another interview, this one involving Northern Irish mathematician and bioethicist John Lennox. Earlier this year, the Oxford-educated author and speaker spent an hour with Steven Bartlett, covering a wide-range of subjects.

I zeroed in on a few moments near the end when Bartlett (who doesn’t follow Jesus) told Lennox “you have a peace and contentment that I rarely see in people I interview, but I often see it in Christians I’ve interviewed.”

“That peace is very important to me,” Lennox responded. “Also, when I look at you, I see someone of infinite value made in the image of God, so what I say to you or think about you is hugely important to me.”

Do you see the common denominator between these Jesus followers and why I’ve linked them in this blog? Both have an anchor in something – or, more importantly, Someone – that holds them steady in the midst of life’s many challenges.

They’re able to avoid the despair that so often grips us when personal, financial or relational crises sweep through our lives. Jesus spoke to his followers about this, noting “I have told you these things that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

You may have peace right now, but what about a month from now? What if you lose your job or a loved one gets sick or a family struggle starts spinning out of control?

Given these uncertainties, I suggest checking out Jesus – his remarkable life and teachings, his death (that makes up for ALL the wrongs committed by His followers) and triumphant resurrection. Prepare yourself for what’s inevitably coming!

You’re a spiritual person – otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog – so I’m confident you’ll realize this is worth your time and attention. In fact, it could change your life for the better – and for all eternity.

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A WHIFF OF TRUTH

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2026| 1 Comment »

I do love these atheist memes that make sweeping generalizations. They provide such inspiration for telling spiritually-open people like YOU a positive — and very credible — alternate to consider.

First, let’s talk about a “whiff of science”. That whiff absolutely, 100 percent FAILED to make atheists out of such scientists as:

  • Francis S. Collins (who helped map the human genome)
  • Don Page (a Canadian theoretical physicist who focuses on quantum cosmology)
  • Rosalind Picard (a professor of media arts and sciences at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

There are many, many more who follow Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God) — more than 60 living thinkers in the fields of engineering, physics and astronomy, chemistry and biomedical sciences, according to Wikipedia. I wrote about just a few of them here: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-e9

What is also interesting is that science has, indeed, killed off an entire host of so-called gods. In fact, Reddit lists THOUSANDS who are no longer worshipped around the world. My eyes glazed over just trying to take in the hundreds of Greek gods that have been dumped in the garbage bin of history.

This leaves just ONE God. The creator of time, space and the universe. Despite many, many claims made by secular scientists and celebrity atheists (such as Bill Maher, Ricky Gervais and Keira Knightly), this god and His Son remain.

Seeking another perspective, I passed this meme to my pastor friend Ross Carkner. Check out his thoughts:

Since science is always evolving, making discoveries and updating what the truth of a situation appears to be, to which understanding of scientific truth is Chapman Cohen referring to? Well, it depends!
And common sense … based on whose perspective? If I get punched while minding my own business, is it common sense to punch back or walk away? Well, it depends!
Science and common sense speak of a reality outside of ourselves … a reality to be discovered that doesn’t depend on anything, but instead depends on someone … namely THE God, creator of the universe and everything in it.
Does my life depend on the always-changing understanding of scientific truth or the uncertain opinion of what identifies as common sense? The God of the universe never changes, can be intimately discovered and can be depended on to lead us into the fullness of life.

At this point, you might be thinking “ok, fine. So this God exists. But that whole Jesus thing…I don’t know about that.” Good point. Lots of secular folks claim Jesus either never existed, or He absolutely was NOT what the Bible claims Him to be.

Well, most of that is covered in this blog: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-g3, so I won’t waste space going over it again. Just consider this: perhaps you’re reading this because your life is going along just fine, but there’s something…..missing.

There must be more to life than 75 years of sleeping, eating, working, raising children (who grow up and leave you with an empty nest) and then dying.

I’m here to tell you there IS more than that. Look into Jesus — His remarkable life, unmatched insights on truth and the human condition, His death and, finally, His resurrection. It could change your life.

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THINKING FOR MYSELF

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 23, 2026| 1 Comment »

Yes, there definitely are people out there who believe in a creator because they’ve been told that by an authority figure and they’ve yet to explore the idea independently.

I confess to feeling sorry for those folks.

Thankfully, that isn’t my story. And it doesn’t have to be your story, either.

I was raised in a nominally Christian home where we attended church weekly and that was it. I can’t recall any spiritual conversations at home, nor do I remember a single time when a Bible was cracked open. So it’s hardly surprising that when we became teenagers and were offered the choice of whether or not to continue attending church, we all immediately declined.

While the rest of my family never became followers of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God), something stuck with me. God, seeing the opening in my heart and mind, stuck with me.

Like many spiritual people, I read up on various faiths, had conversations with brave people and checked out the claims made by Jesus about Himself, His Father and this universe. In other words, I started thinking for myself.

Today, I’m a very, VERY imperfect (just ask my wife) Jesus follower and making that decision back in 2004 changed the direction of my life — from my career path (I finished my working life working for organizations that tell people about Jesus) to the woman I married, to creating this blog back in 2012.

So why did I do this? It certainly hasn’t made family relations easier, but that hasn’t surprised me. Jesus told anyone willing to listen that following Him would create a divide with those who ignore Him and obey (if subconsciously) the directives of our culture.

I became a Jesus follower because I needed to make sense of me — my mental and emotional struggles — and I needed to make sense of this world that even the most optimistic person must admit is not doing well. This decision has helped me to do so — and knowing there’s a creator who LOVES me (and YOU) has given me a quiet joy that life’s inevitable setbacks cannot destroy.

There are many other people, including esteemed scientists who have definitely thought for themselves and have made Jesus of Nazareth their Lord, Saviour and best friend. Without shame or apology. Here’s what I wrote about just two of them: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-3o.

So, is this a good time for YOU to think for yourself and explore who this Jesus guy is and, maybe, decide if He’s the Way, the Truth, the Life? Yes or no, type your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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TEMPLES OF LEARNING

Posted in Me & The World, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 21, 2026| 1 Comment »

My wife thinks I have too many books. With three loaded-down bookcases in our home, she’s probably right. But if we’re to take this atheist meme seriously, then I — a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God — should only have one book. The Bible.

So how to explain me and so, SO many other Jesus followers around the world who have extensive fiction and non-fiction libraries cluttering up their homes?

I have biographies and books on Irish history (I’m a student of that country’s 1916-23 revolutionary period), Canadian history, photography, hockey and music. In addition, I have lots of books that help me better understand what it means to live and pray as a Jesus follower.

On the fiction front, I have most of novels written by Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, Jan Karon, Star Trek writer Peter David and Canadian fantasy writer Guy Gavriel Kay.

I think you get my point. This atheist meme is a simplistic stereotype with little credibility. But it does make this subtle charge that’s worth exploring: Jesus followers are unthinking slaves to whatever the Bible says.

Maybe you, a person open to spirituality, find yourself agreeing with that claim. So why are there so many books written about the Bible? I’ll tell you why: because it’s open to so much exploration and interpretation. Consider just this point: The Bible says God created the world in six days. But what are days? Another part of the Bible says that to God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. See what I mean?

My point is this: yes, some people are, indeed, unthinking slaves to whatever the Bible says. Just as some atheists are unthinking believers that all Jesus followers are less intelligent than atheists. But many aren’t.

If the claim made by the atheist meme resonates with you to the point of dismissing Jesus of Nazareth, then I hope this blog persuades you to reconsider your position.

There is all kinds of room for Jesus-following scientists, bus drivers, farmers, PhD candidates, journalists, waiters/waitresses, university professors and stay-at-home moms. That means there’s room for YOU — and I regard that as one of the many great things about following Jesus.

Interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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MEANINGFUL or DESPERATE?

Posted in In The News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 17, 2026| 1 Comment »

Was it a real, meaningful life decision? Or a desperate and cynical way to manufacture hope in the face of impending death?

That’s the question that occurred to me when I read about the last few months of Scott Adams’ life. The American author, cartoonist and media personality, best known as the creator of the comic strip Dilbert, died earlier this month after a very public battle with bone and prostate cancer.

Not long before his demise, Adams, 69, revealed that he was abandoning his agnostic worldview in favour of Christianity.

“Adams explained that his evolving perspective was shaped in part by interactions with Christian friends and supporters who had been praying for him and sharing their faith during his illness,” said an article on the Beliefnet website. “Their examples, conversations, and care influenced Adams to reconsider questions of God, eternity, and salvation.”

The article went on to explain that Adams “indicated the Christian vision of hope beyond death, combined with the moral and relational framework of the faith, had become increasingly compelling to him as he grappled with his own mortality.”

I can imagine some folks will roll their eyes and opt for the ‘desperate and cynical way to manufacture hope in the face his impending death’ explanation for all this. And I understand their skepticism.

But even if you’re not the cynical type, there’s something else to consider — an important point made by my pastor friend Ross Carkner.

Noting that he didn’t intend to denigrate Adams’ decision, Ross pointed out it’s not about comparing and selecting one spiritual belief system over another. That strikes me resembling a business or government tendering a project and picking the cheapest, most advantageous bidder as the “winner”.

It’s about a man — Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God. During His physical time on Earth, Jesus taught us how to live our best lives, showed us who God is, then paid the price for all the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do. Put plainly, Jesus told anyone willing to listen that He is “the way, the truth and the life.”

Jesus also said this: “Anyone who hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.” In other words, eternal life begins RIGHT NOW for people who commit their lives and their future to Jesus.

Did Scott Adams understand this and accept this? Or did he commit his final days and his eternal future on a system of beliefs and morals? I hope you, as a person open to spirituality, can fully understand the difference and what it can mean for YOUR life.

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THE FOUND COIN AND FOUND SHEEP

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 10, 2026| 1 Comment »

Imagine a woman who has ten valuable coins and loses one. Won’t she scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it, you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbours and tell them: “Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!”

If a farmer has 100 sheep, but one of the sheep is lost, what will he do? He will leave the other 99 sheep on the hill and go look for the lost sheep. Right? And if he finds the lost sheep, he is happier about that one sheep than about the 99 sheep that were never lost.

I heard these stories, called parables, the other day and they stuck with me. They were told by Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God) to anyone willing to listen and understand. I’m telling them to you now because, as a reader of this blog, I believe you’re open to spirituality.

So here’s the deal: Jesus used these parables to illustrate one of His key beliefs: that the creator and master of time, space and the universe wants ALL His human creations to become His children, living with Him forever in Heaven.

(Before you ask, there is a significant difference between creation and family member. I explain it in this blog: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-vC.)

For many years, I was that lost sheep and that lost coin of great value. I lived my life knowing there was some sort of creator, but I acted as if He didn’t exist. I looked, spoke and lived like an atheist, which – from my 60+ years on this planet – is how I perceive a majority of people function in the developed world.

My life was going just fine like this, but somehow it wasn’t enough. There was something – a sense of purpose and meaning – missing.

Thankfully, that’s where I met not just the creator of the universe, but the creator of ME. And YOU. Just as important, I met His Son and came to understand that Jesus came to this planet to

  • show us all how to live
  • show us who His Father is and how we connect with Him
  • do what we couldn’t do: pay for all the wrong things we’ve done and all the right things we’ve failed to do.

As I learned this, I came to understand that Jesus is God’s gift to ANYONE willing to accept Him. And it’s a life-changing gift because it opens the door to a purpose-driven, meaningful life that doesn’t end when this life concludes. It goes on and on and on in Heaven. With Jesus and His Father. YOUR father, if you accept the gift.

Jesus Himself put it like this: My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival.  I will be there to greet you and welcome you home, where we will be together.

Sound good? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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THE CONUNDRUM OF COMPLEXITY

Posted in It's Not About 'Religion', tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 6, 2025| 1 Comment »

When the actor famous for portraying Harry Potter says he has a “problem with religion,” I just nod my head in silent agreement.

I’ll bet when you think about religion, the most you can come up with is judgmental, stone-hearted people telling others they’re going to hell, correct? Well, I’m right there with you.

So let’s talk about something that I regard as quite different: faith/spirituality. I can tell you that as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God), I DO NOT have all the answers and I don’t know of a single honest Jesus follower who thinks any different.

That said, Jesus followers DO have answers to many of life’s most pressing questions, like why are we here (to have a relationship with our creator and tell others about Him), and is there life beyond death (yes!). But many, many others remain unanswered. And that’s OK because God is God and we are NOT.

Are humans complex? Heck YES. Just consider all the denominations in the Christian faith: Roman Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Alliance, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran and many more. Regardless of what they think of each other, that certainly proves that Jesus followers are an example of the complexity Daniel Radcliffe mentions.

When Radcliffe, an atheist, says we humans often change our minds on issues, I agree. And that’s a GREAT reason, in my opinion, to follow Jesus of Nazareth.

Without an unchanging moral centre upon which to base your life, consider these questions:

  • How do you know if your opinion on any issue is right?
  • How do you know that you won’t change your mind on something important, then embarrassingly wonder how you ever believed the opposite viewpoint?
  • How do you know if your actions are really, REALLY correct? If it’s just your opinion, then it’s based on nothing but your subjective worldview.

I’m not wise enough, virtuous enough or mature enough to have a worldview that’s solid enough to base my life upon. Let me be bold and declare I think the same way about Radcliffe’s worldview. And YOURS.

By following Jesus of Nazareth, I know there’s lots of room for complexity (unlike religion) while still sticking to the objective truth of doing the good things for other people that you would want them to do for you (the “Golden Rule”). The truth of setting aside my selfish, self-centred ego and trusting something (Someone!) bigger and better than me. The truth of accepting Jesus’s radical statement – made to anyone willing to listen – that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

If you give any credibility to Jesus and His statements, what are you going to do about the previous paragraph? Our culture insists you should ignore it and go shopping, but I bet that if you’ve read this far, you’re ready and willing to resist that siren call.

I suggest looking reading the four original accounts of Jesus’s life, ministry, death and resurrection (the “Gospels”). Take your questions to a Jesus follower (my email: fdking@hotmail.com) and keep your mind open. It could change your life for the better!

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FROM CHILDREN TO FAMILY MEMBERS

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 18, 2024| 1 Comment »

British comedian and atheist Jimmy Carr asks a good question and, since you might be asking the same thing, I appreciate the opportunity to answer, .

First of all, as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God), I believe God created every person who ever was, is and will be. So yes, we are His children.

But there’s a difference between being His children and being in His family. And we are definitely NOT all in His family. You might ask, quite, rightly, why not?? Because it’s not an automatic thing. We’ve all separated ourselves from God’s family because of the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do.

In other words, we’ve put ourselves ahead of our creator. We’ve either declared He doesn’t exist, or we’ve forgotten about Him or we’ve made the shallow, ultimately meaningless priorities of this world our main focus.

The results of this error are sadly obvious: broken families, addictions, crime, human trafficking and so much more. Jesus followers like me are not immune to this error; sometimes, I forget about God and mess up quite spectacularly. Just ask my very forgiving wife.

So what’s the solution? How can we be adopted into God’s family? The answer is simple: follow Jesus. Read the four original-source biographies of His physical life on Earth (they’re simply called the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, named after their reputed authors). Investigate the claims Jesus makes about Himself and His Father.

Once you do that, my hope and prayer is you’ll come to understand who God is, who you are and who Jesus is. Then, as you apologize for all the wrong things you’ve done and the right things you’ve failed to do, and pledge to make Jesus your priority, God will welcome you into His family. And that will change your life NOW and for all eternity.

One of Jesus’s earliest and most influential followers, a missionary named Paul, put it this way: “You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.”

Got questions? Things you don’t understand? Then keep searching. Or, email me (frankdmking@gmail.com) and I’ll do my imperfect best to help.

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WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR?

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 15, 2022| 9 Comments »

I think most of us can agree on the ideas advanced in this meme. The question in my mind focuses around hope.

It’s natural to “hope for the best” in all things. To hope our children will do well. To hope our parents live a few more years. To hope our finances survive the latest economic challenge. To hope that rap/hip-hop goes away (sorry, that’s just my hope ;-)).

But what about something bigger? Something beyond the 70 or 80 years we spent on this planet?

We live in a culture that constantly, subtly discourages us from pondering the BIG questions. Go shopping, get a tatoo, pursue another promotion, buy the newest smartphone. THAT, our culture insists, is what we should focus on.

Maybe you’ve done that for awhile. And maybe you’ve come to realize your soul is hungry for something more. Something deeper. (Perhaps that’s why you’re reading this blog).

I wanted something more, and that led me to Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God. I follow Him because He offers a precious HOPE to everyone – including YOU – regardless of who they are or what they’ve done (or not done).

  • Hope to be the person you were created to be
  • Hope for this world, which even the most optimist of us must admit isn’t doing very well
  • Hope for something beyond this life

How can one guy do all this? Consider these quotes from ancient writers:

  • He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
  • The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.
  • The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

And these words, from one of Jesus’s earliest and most influential followers:

  • The Lord is true to His promises; He will hold you up and guard you against the evil one.
  • I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope.

There it is. HOPE.

So how can you get in on this? Simple. God offers Jesus as a gift to anyone willing to accept Him. All you need to do is say yes to Jesus. Declare, with honest sincerity, that He is your Lord, Saviour and best friend. Ask Him to forgive you for all the wrong things you’ve done and all the right things you’ve failed to do. Ask Him to give you the HOPE only He can provide.

When that happens, Jesus comes into your life and starts to make you who you were created to be. It’s a long process that won’t end until this life ends. When that happens, trusting in Jesus means that God will see you like He sees His Son: perfect in every way. And you’ll be welcomed into Heaven to spend eternity with Him.

Sound good? Yes or no, post your comment below and let’s have a conversation. 🙂

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WHO’S ON WHAT SIDE? AND DOES IT MATTER?

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2022| 6 Comments »

Most of us know who Stephen Hawking is. For younger readers, Kirk Cameron was a swoon-worthy idol during his time acting on the 1980s TV comedy Growing Pains.

You might also not be aware that during the show’s seven-season run, Cameron decided to follow Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God. Since the show ended, Cameron, now in his 50s, has starred in and/or produced many faith-themed movies and documentaries.

So why is he being mocked in this meme? Well, many of his productions have been….underwhelming. And some of his socially conservative public statements have made him a target of criticism from media, atheists and many celebrities.

What’s interesting about the meme that sparked this blog is how it singles out one controversial person while ignoring other Jesus followers who are widely admired for their intelligence and accomplishments.

Immediately, I can think of several:

  • Academy Award-winning actors Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington
  • Country singers Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood
  • Scientist Francis S. Collins, who led the way in mapping the human genome (I wrote about him here: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-3o)
  • U.S. talk show host Stephen Colbert

There are many, many more Jesus-following notables – I listed a few in this blog: https://wp.me/p2wzRb-e9.

Here’s the thing, though: it’s not about who’s on what side, it’s not about popularity contests and it’s certainly not about anyone’s IQ. All these “measurements” are distractions, designed to prevent us from thinking about the big questions: who am I? Why am I here? What happens after this life ends?

If you’re willing to consider these questions, then consider this: you’re a creation of God. And one of the original-source biographies of Jesus says “God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost, but have eternal life.”

Maybe you’ve read that statement before. Did you know it applies to you? God so loved YOU that He gave His only Son, so that if YOU believe in Him then YOU will not be lost, but have eternal life.

If this doesn’t make sense, then let me ask: do you believe there’s something beyond this life? Maybe even a “good” place and a “bad” place? If yes, then ponder these words that Jesus told anyone willing to listen: “you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.”

So that’s the ticket we need to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus and His Father. None of us have any hope of achieving perfection, so what to do? Simple. Trust in Jesus. Declare Him Lord, Saviour and your best friend.

If you do that with serious sincerity, then He’ll come into your life and start to make you more of the person God created you to be. And when this life ends, God will see you like He sees His Son: perfect in every way. And the doors of Heaven will be opened to you.

Sound interesting? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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