“For my name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”  Ps 25:11.  Like the psalmist a believer can call upon God to pardon their iniquities.  He or she does this by seeking the Lord’s grace.  God is infinite and pardons sins as soon as we ask. With his divine majesty the supreme governor and judge dispenses amazing grace.

Charles Stanley (b. 1932), the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in northern Atlanta, Georgia, observed, “The amount of time we spend with Jesus – meditating on His Word and His majesty, seeking His face – establishes our fruitfulness in the kingdom.”  Stanley’s quote showed that God, although willingly pardons our sins continues to bless us with his fruitfulness.

Pardon

God forgives our wrong-doings when we ask.  As we seek bread he feeds us.  Every day he willing renews our encounter with him.  Often he greets us with a redeeming embrace for faithfulness and considers us his disciples.

Voltaire (1694–1778), a French Enlightenment writer and philosopher remarked, “What is tolerance?  It is the consequence of humanity.  We are formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other’s folly – that is the first law of nature.”  Like how God pardons us we ought to do likewise to our brothers and sisters.  This is a divine requirement.

The Blood of Christ

Through Christ’s blood all people have hope.  His blood cleanses us, makes us holy, and guides us into bringing the Word to others.  This Christian tradition has been passed down from generation to generation.  We commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ with the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Desmond Tutu (b. 1931), a South African and retired Anglican bishop said, “Hope is being able to see there is light despite all of the darkness.”  When believers participate in the Eucharistic rite it’s a demonstration in the hope to come that isn’t yet seen.  This is a powerful expression of Christianity.

 Our Mediator

Christ is our ideal mediator chosen by God for our salvation.  Through his goodness and grace he blesses us.  Christians honor his holiness and work at imitating him.  They know God’s justice is free from any blemish.  Jesus himself is full of compassion as we practice a Christ-centered spirituality.

Norvalis (1772–1801), a poet, author, and philosopher believed, “Nothing is more dispensable to true religiosity than a mediator that links us with divinity.”  This was the role of our mediator Jesus Christ and priests who intercede for us.

Any God-fearing person can be a mediator.  Their qualifications are based on the fact that they are humble, devout, obedient, and walk in the ways of the Lord.  Such a mediator will always be there for us, praying, encouraging us to walk in righteousness, and being an example for the flock to follow.

 

Media’s professionals and educators have a responsibility to serve, lead, instill, and demonstrate attributes that enlighten their respective audiences.  How they carry out these responsibilities in “seeding” and “feeding” have consequences that can be a blessing or curse.  Bill Richardson (b. 1947), a governor of New Mexico observed, “Ignorance has always been a weapon of tyrants; enlightenment the salvation of the free.”  To “seed” and “feed” communities the right way calls for knowledge blended with love.  Ignorance is therefore a curse to any community.

 Essentials

Things “seen” and “unseen” have come down through the ages for us to pursue.  Christians in reciting the Nicene Creed attests to this divine truth.  It’s the foci of creative genius expressed in Christian literature.  Prayers of our dreams, hopes, and aspirations are demonstrated in religious writings and may be read in the catechism of the Catholic Church.  These truths play pivotal roles in our lives and have different meanings.

Like other professionals around the world Christian journalists must be free to investigate stories about poverty, famine, drought, and exploitation of the poor.  As gatekeepers it’s their responsibility to guard us.  As for “seeding” and “feeding,” journalists are like “bread and butter” in this century.  Cultural advancements are attributed to their diligence.

“Seeding”

In considering countries of Africa, Asia, or Latin America media and spirituality are allies having roles to play in their development.  Howard Schultz (b. 1953), chairman and CEO of Starbucks wrote, “When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.”  Journalists dedicated to bringing about change in our society have to have the right vision for hope, and future growth.

Since November 1945, the United Nations, Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established in London, specialized in promoting global peace, and promoting educational and scientific research has made it possible for such realities around the world.  Crucial international issues affirmed in its charter were:

Citizens’ freedom of speech and religion

Freedom of the press

Individuals’ right to vote

Promoting democratic institutions

The equality of all persons

Since the mid-1940s, the UNESCO’s charter remains relevant today.

“Feeding”

James E. Faust (1920–2007), a religious leader and counselor in the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints remarked, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.  It is an expression of humility.  It is the foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.”  By reporting of such virtues journalists have to continue feeding their audiences.

To accomplish these goals call for media’s administrators supporting those journalists who are pursuing stories that uplift us.  These same individuals must view themselves as role models who are fair, decent, and progressive.  It’s therefore hoped that media’s enterprises reflect the diversity of their communities.  Good journalists must abide by community standards in promoting the cultivation and enlightenment of its citizenship.

In positive ways how can we touch and impact the lives around us?  These may very well be poor and destitute.  Some of us live affluent and carefree lives and we often fail to remember those at the bottom of the barrel.  They are those that live simply and haven’t given up on life.  It’s love that gives and enriches us in our daily walk to reach out to individuals of need.  Make it our duty to do caring acts for them.  This must be the greatest Christian blessing we provide.  Be sure  we’re not robbed of this justice and hopefulness, and must persevere to do good.  Dalai Lama (b. 1935), the 14^th and current Dalai Lama and the longest serving incumbent observed, “My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness.”  He was right on target.  In a nutshell, kindness in every way is a loving, giving, and caring spirit.

 A Clean Mind

People can only do good deeds by having pure and clean minds.  It’s these gifts that reflect our spiritual lives.  When people thoughts are polluted often they descend into the depths of despair.  But true love makes us live more passionately and effectively.  We’ll be living with hope-filled minds as we experience God’s mercy.   Being faith-filled we’ll offer others blessings when we light the flames of mercy.  It’s inspiring to walk in this certainty.

Tony Dorsett (b. 1954), who’s a former football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys remarked, “To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.”  But this success begins with having clean minds and clear objectives about what to do.

Survival of the Fittest

We hear talk about the survival of the fittest.  But as we stop and think about the frailties of life we begin hoping for the life to come.  Competition only exists in our earthly plane of life.  Many men and women are crushed by life’s troubles, and are trapped by the complexities of modern-day culture.  It’s good to remember that there’s hope on the horizon for us.  We must never lose faith, but be reawakened by the amazing graces our future holds.

Howard Cosell (1918–1995), a popular sports journalist wrote, “The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you have to give.”  In real terms we ought to compete with ourselves.  It’s for us to set our standards and discover what we’re best able to do.

A Rich Life

In the trying moments we’re able to tap into our inner strengths.  This is the true reality and authentic way how we must live.  It’s the grammar of a Christian lifestyle.  As men and women of hope we’ll be living according to the Gospels.  Bertrand Russel (1872–1970), a British philosopher and political activist wrote, “The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”  True love comes with the Holy Spirit.  Knowledge of God makes for the understanding of the principles of life.  Concerning a spiritual text that speaks about every aspect of life there’s only one source, and that’s the Holy Bible.  Pray, read, and understand it.

But how can people prosper in life?  They can only truly do so by living according to God’s Word.  For if he provides for the lilies of the fields and the birds of the air, how much more would he not care for us.  Adam Smith (1723–1790), a Scottish moral philosopher and political activist said, “The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations.”  It’s for all loving Christians to build up the body of Christ.  We’re all a part of his body – rich and poor alike.

Physically, psychologically, and spiritually poor people have been beaten down and exploited.  It’s for Christians to bring them hope.  They ought to work tirelessly in the vineyards to see that the poverty of their aspirations becomes blossoms of success.  We must realize that with Christ all things are possible and all lives truly matter.

Successful marriages have God at its center.  Marriage is “a give and take” between couples.  At times there’s much joy and peace, but in instances there can be sadness, and trials with a variety of problems.  However, if a couple’s faith is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, rest assured they would be able to live triumphantly, and weather the storms of life.  Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983), a journalist and author was sure: “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”  This is quite true.  McLaughlin recognized that there won’t always be happiness in a marriage.  There will be ups and downs, disagreements and arguments, but at the end of the day a couple realizes no one’s perfect.  They know the power of forgiveness.  It’s certain that after a misunderstanding they’ll never fail to be reconciled.

The welfare of the home has to be a top priority for a marriage to be successful.  That’s why loving couples put their family first.  A husband and wife are sensitive to each other needs. This is seen in building a loving home.  A family recognized as C.S. Lewis (1898–1963), a British novelist, poet and lay theologian, “The homemaker has the ultimate career.  All other careers exist for one purpose only … to support the ultimate career.”  It’s best that homemaking responsibilities are therefore shared by both couples.

 Mariella Frostrup (b. 1962), a UK based journalist and television presenter said, “The point of the feminist movement wasn’t simply to set our underwear on fire and muscle into small spaces in the male-dominated workplace, but to create a world where the contributions of both sexes was equally valued and no one’s worth was judged on their take-home salary.”   Such a concept is still alive today.  But these views might not be well received in some fundamental Christian denominations.

Children in Marriage

In marriages our children may be influenced positively or negatively.  In the American society it’s often believed children raised in single-family homes aren’t considered as a desirable form of parenting.  Some of these children find themselves with more problems unlike those in two-family households.

David A. Bednar (b. 1952), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, observed “A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met.”  Bednar stressed the love and loyalty of a couple in providing the ideal setting in raising children.  Yet today, there are quite a few single-family homes, and more than fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce.

Marriages are further complicated by same-sex couples with rights to adopt kids, as well as blended family structures.  Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), a German philosopher wrote, “Morality is not the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness.”  It’s certain that worldly desires aren’t the answer.