If God Really Existed...

Sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala, Maui, May 2012

January 4, 2014
Day 249

If God really existed, a whole lot of people dying in hospitals and car crashes, only to be revived seconds or minutes later, would be telling us about their incredible visions of Heaven.

If God really existed, people all around the world would be reporting visions of loved ones who have visited them in some otherwise impossible way.

If God really existed, human beings from every race and nation would have some belief in a divine creator, who they'd no doubt call by a variety of different names.  They'd have different rules and beliefs, but they'd all agree in some kind of higher, intelligent power at work behind it all.

If God really existed, none of us would truly die when our bodies did.  We'd connect somehow to the divine, and many would succeed in sending messages back to loved ones through signs as well as mediums, people with the ability to receive messages from these souls on the other side.

If God really existed, messengers would be sent to us over the course of human history to prove the existence of Heaven.  We'd call these spirits by different names and even titles, perhaps even understand some as being family members of the divine, but we'd all agree they were incredible manifestations of spirit far beyond human comprehension.

If God really existed, the majority of people living on Earth would have an absolute knowing that God existed, even without proof, and they'd spend their whole lives trying to comprehend what this God was, and how they could receive more from it.

If God really existed, many would still not believe, despite all the visions, apparitions, near-death experiences, angels, and other unexplainable phenomena of all kinds.  Those with the rock-solid belief, backed up by so many real accounts from real people with real experiences, would feel sad that their loved ones didn't believe them or their beliefs.  Some would react badly to the unbelievers, and bully them into joining their churches, ministries, and other faith activities.  Others, though, would understand.  They'd see the difficulties of life and the challenges we all face, and they wouldn't be so pushy.  They'd simply trust that in the end, we'll all have our answers, and all know for sure if God really existed.

6 quick facts about Ramadan

July 16, 2014
          Day 77

Though there are over a billion people worldwide who already know these facts about Ramadan, most of my readers will probably not, so I thought I'd just lay out a few simple notes for you.  Our brothers and sisters in the Muslim faith are honoring this holy month right now, so try to lock these to memory if you can.  That way, the next time someone asks, you'll be the one to pass on some of this helpful information.

And thank you to Wikipedia and Google for the help!

1) Ramadan is the 9th and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.  It marks the time when the prophet Muhammad first received the revelations found in the Quran. 

2) The word Ramadan means scorching heat or dryness.

3) Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims reflect on many events in the Islamic faith, some of which include crossover traditions from the Jewish and Christian faiths.  Both the Torah and Jesus are referenced on different days of the Ramadan calendar.

4) For about 30 days, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, neither eating nor drinking anything at all (not even water).  Fasting is obligatory, but is waived for those who are sick, pregnant, or diabetic.  They must also refrain from smoking and sexual activity from sunrise to sunset each day.  They wake up early to eat as a family before sunrise, then go through their day without food or drink, reminding themselves what the poor and hungry must feel all the time.  At the close of each day, they break fast together through a shared meal as a family or community.

5) Muslims fast during this month as a way of thanking God/Allah for guiding them, not just through the fast, but through all things.  They also pray more during this month, and give more to charity.  It's seen as a special time to focus on God and purify their souls, just as Lent is in the Catholic Church.

6) In 2014, Ramadan is celebrated from June 28th to July 28th.