Christianity is a marvelous religion. There are five truths which are worth mentioning:

1. It’s known for its timelessness of ideas
2. It’s eternal concepts greet believers
3. God shows his all-encompassing nature
4. He reveals his interconnectedness of creation
5. Humankind is shown to have natural limitations

Timelessness of Ideas

Throughout the millennium of our existence such notions have evolved which are traditionally and culturally bound. From age to age, these ideas have been passed down orally and have become part of the world’s literature. About timelessness, Paul Rand (1914 – 1996), art director and graphic designer, wrote, “The principal role of a logo is to identify, and simplicity is its means … Its effectiveness depends on distinctiveness, visibility, adaptability, memorability, universality, and timelessness.” Inevitably, Rand, although he was referring to graphics, touched on the characteristics of Christianity, which have lasted throughout the ages.

Eternal Concepts

In all cultures, there’s a belief in an eternal existence. From the beginning of time, people from different faith traditions debated and expressed confidence in this reality. Christianity stands out prominently as one of these faiths, where our creator is worshiped and adored. Clearly, the promise of living in an afterlife is central to this faith. In Jesus Christ – the son of God, our greatest teacher, who died on the cross at Calvary, rests our eternal hope. Henry Adams (1838 – 1918), historian and member of the Adams political family, reminded us: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Undoubtedly, Jesus was the premiere teacher of all time, his life’s history, and teachings are vividly recorded in the Gospels.

God’s All-Encompassing Nature

Christian religious leaders focus on the omnipresence of God. Jesus Christ is part of the Trinity and a monotheistic God. Because of him, Christians can deduce, according to Albert Pike (1809 – 1891), attorney, writer, and Freemason: “One man is equivalent to all Creation. One man is the World in miniature.” Interestingly, it was sin that came into the world through Adam and Eve, when they both ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. To this day, as their descendants, we continue to be harmed by their defiance. It was through Jesus Christ – the new Adam, who later became the pioneer of our salvation.

Interconnectedness of Creation

There are linkages all around us that clearly demonstrate our interconnectedness, to all living, and non-living entities. Such matters appear simple, but still they are complex. Just image the existence of energy fields, the air we breathe, the water we drink which sustains us, and our relationships with other animals, creatures, insects, and plants. Let us celebrate the solar systems, galaxies which are vital to our lives, and existence. What a great God he is, who has brought into existence the elements, landscapes, of the earth – mountains, valleys, seas, oceans and rivers, putting our unique ecological systems in place.

Limitations of Humankind

Humans are finite beings, unlike our creator who’s infinite in every way. Our minds are limited. Individuals who depend only on their logical minds in making decisions are considered by theologians to be rather foolish. Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943), Serbian American inventor and futurist, explained, “It is paradoxical, yet true, to say, that the more we know, the more ignorant we become in the absolute sense, for it is only through enlightenment that we become conscious of our limitations. Precisely one of the more gratifying results of intellectual revolution is the continuous opening up of new and greater prospects.” It’s clear that men and women tend to stress their minds, as the primarily seats of knowledge, and learning, but God looks at our hearts. This is why the Bible reveals how God bases his knowledge of us, in determining the condition of our souls, concerning if we’ll be fit for his eternal blessings, in heaven.

In life it’s necessary to build bridges of love vertically and horizontally. A vertical bridge must be to God above – Our Heavenly Father. A horizontal one is by loving our families, neighbors, friends and strangers. Jesus who is love died on a cross at Calvary for us. Let such love begin flowing from above and around us, for it unites and sustains us. At its summit, it’s creative, and brings out the best in this broken and divided world. Its flames are indestructible, sweeping across nations, and transforming cultures. It’s also inspirational to love and be loved. Blessed are those who love even their enemies. They are a courageous and merciful lot. Love never discriminates and Christians know how to reach out passionately, with love.

Elisabeth Elliot (b. 1926),Christian author and speaker, observes, “To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss. The great symbol of Christianity means sacrifice and no one who calls himself a Christian can evade this stark fact.” True love is the cross, an ideal bridge to spiritual maturity, because Jesus showed us where there’s loss, there’s truly gain.

Inspire Hope

A bridge is love for it transports and inspires hope. It calls us to do so to all persons, while proclaiming the risen Christ. By doing so, Christians are strengthened by the Holy Spirit, a fundamental principle of hope. It, like love, has to be fervent and a lamp to light. It awakens justice for all, and especially those who are marginalized in society. Christians are able to find their inspiration through the Bible which speaks directly to their hearts. Brad Henry (b. 1963), member of Democratic Party and 26^th Governor of Oklahoma feels, “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” Learning is the foundation for progress in a country which serves as unique ways of building bridges of hope.

Father – Church’s Pastor

The church is a missionary body. Through its ministries, a pastor constantly builds bridges to his parishioners and community. They reach out to villages and towns around the world. Much of this is done through the religious awakening of the flock. Parishioners and community workers become literally on fire for Christ, when serving their fellowmen and women. In believers’ minds a biblical spirit lingers. Such folks are humble that live according to the teachings of Scripture. They proclaim the Word of Truth to those who hunger for justice. When witnessing they acquire spiritual depth. These men and women are prudent in discernment, embracing pastoral challenges, with vigor and enthusiasm. Known for their charitable works, their presence extends to overpopulated slum areas, of major cities. Robert C. Shannon (b. 1930), retired preacher living in North Carolina, expresses his gratitude for missionary work when he says, “Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is – – where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.”

Obstacles & Misunderstandings

Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997), Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary in India, commented, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” Christians must work with and anoint the poor and dialogue with people of different cultures, when seeking ways of bettering their circumstances. There should be more inter-religious meetings with believers of different faiths.

No longer must the center seems as though it isn’t a part of the whole. Osmosis between the center and the periphery must be promoted for everyone to become involved. Access to the sacraments have been a sticking point among some Christian denominations. Why must this be? Since we’re one, in the body of Christ. There are disagreements too, over family rights issues. In some conservative congregations, the definition of marriage has led to splits, and break away denominations. These Christians must realize that they are all concerned about Christian values, although some may be more traditional than others. Isn’t it true that we shouldn’t judge, for only God knows the contents of our hearts? With these controversies, building bridges might not be, as simple as it appears. Our journeys are laden with impediments which continue to divide us. It’s imperative Christians make a greater effort to reach out in their murky landscapes of doubt. Let the Holy Spirit show us the way.

Through character building we ought to share God’s transforming love with others. In providing these blessings to the unloved, let them see that our hearts are filled with goodness. When doing so, we are declaring to the world our love of lives. This is one of the faces of love which is glorious to live by.

Dennis Prager (b. 1948), political conservative, nationally syndicated radio talk show host and author explains, “That goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.” As the old saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.” We have to love people to treat them right. This must be one of our foremost goals in loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968), Baptist minister and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement was certain when he declared, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.” To our nation, King’s challenge to us is to form benevolent characteristics concerning race relations. People matter regardless of their race, religion, or national origin.

True love inevitably faces challenges – some good and bad. Walter Anderson (1903 – 1965), painter, writer, and naturalist, foresaw, “Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.” As our characters continue to take shape as we journey through life, consideration has to be given to the ways we respond to adversities. Some have experienced these difficulties and concluded, it was truly those difficult times which motivated them to higher levels of understanding in their lives. These were defining moments which helped shape their attitudes towards others.

These realizations were supported by Helen Keller (1880 – 1968), author, political activist, and lecturer, who observed, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Keller was realistic about challenges in our lives. We are essentially pots in our Maker’s hands to be shaped in the ways he wishes.

To love deeply is to be faithful in love. That’s why love and friendship go together. Signs of God’s love are often expressed in our families. Billy Graham (b. 1918), evangelical Christian evangelist and Southern Baptist minister was of the opinion, “The greatest legacy one person can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” In truth, character is treating others the way you want to be treated. When children and grandchildren see these in our actions, their visions about life become clearer in their relationships with family members, friends, and strangers.

In addition to living and doing for others, try to be loved for your good works. Let people see love in your lives when you reach out in our broken world. Let us celebrate love in action and rejoice in the Lord. John Wooden (1910 – 2010), basketball player and coach reminded us, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Your major goal in life is to build a fine character, of service to others. We are here on earth to help each other build up the body of Christ. These are some of the amazing gifts which come with living in obedience to Christ’s teachings. We must be open to giving and receiving love. These my friends are our abundant blessings.