• This is my newest thought but I decided to add this thought to the top of my list. Regretfully we tend to judge other religions on our petty human terms rather than see them through God's eyes. I have read some accounts by so called Christians concerning our Muslim brothers and sisters which are deplorable and really lacks an understanding of the Muslim religion and the souls of the devout Muslim. It is my desire to give an insight into these beautiful souls which I believe to be most pleasing to our God and their God whom they loving refer to as Allah. I received these very insightful thoughts from a very dear Muslim friend, who by the way was my room mate in college: it is titled, Ten things Allah (God) won't ask on Judgment Day. We should read these thoughts and in prayerful reflection take stock as to how we are living our lives. If all of us conform our lives accordingly as a good Moslem, Jew, Christian, Hindu, those of any beliefs, or those of no beliefs, then we would surely plant the seeds for world peace and very possibly take up our individual residence in the Heavenly mansions God/Allah has already waiting for us. We are our brother's keeper!!

• I love reading articles from one of my favorite authors, Father John Murray, in the Catholic Review, a weekly newspaper in Baltimore.  I like reading them because he always seems to say the things that I need most to hear at the time I need to hear them.  Get my drift.  In one article, he gave what he called,  Murray's essential ingredients of happiness.   He did one fine job of giving a recipe for happiness, an ideal code for all of us to follow.  Read it and give me your thoughts.  More recently he wrote a "Spirit" filled article called, Live simply, even in spiritual life, which gives us a gentile reminder that what we consider important may not be what God thinks is important.

• Pain and suffering is something all of us have trouble understanding.  One day a very good person was recovering from a serious cancer operation.  His name was Doctor Tom Dooley.  He had a very special love of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people whom he served as a doctor.  A little nun came, paid him visit and gave him a note containing some thoughts about the  Cross. Click on this word and read it, especially if you have a very heavy cross to carry yourself.  If you do just consider it as your Creator's special note of love to you.  Also, if you are perplexed about why pain, I suggest you read the next article called Pain is Necessary .  It is written by a man who devoted so very much of his life in influencing world leaders to making this world a better place for all of us.  He is Mr. Wallace Haines who has been the heart and soul of the international "Fellowship".  I have never seen such a insightful description as to the place of pain in our lives.

• I have developed a close friendship with a Christ Like and Godly man who by trade is a Mechanic, Phil Dawson, and a good mechanic who keeps my poor old cars running.  He shared with me the recent loss of his brother.  His brother died of cancer.  Two weeks before his going Home to Heaven, he wrote a beautiful explanation of the reasons for suffering.  Phil and his Family gave me permission to post this last testimony of Garland Dawson called, A Summary of Reasons for Suffering, on this web page.  One can see the Holy Spirit speaking through this man of God.  One can see Jesus in this man.  Are not all of us to become like Jesus?

• There seems to be something happening in the world.  Do you see it?  It is an unsatisfied hunger for the spiritual.  I noticed it beginning to grow with my customers in my business, especially the young.  Now I am beginning to notice it in businesses and the general public with the popularity of books that addressed higher values, principles.  God given principles.  Books like: M. Scott Peck's "A Road Less Traveled", Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People".  People and businesses are recognizing that just as there are unchanging principles of the physical world/universe, there are unchanging principles of the human and spiritual element.  Conflict arises when we violate these human principles.  Great minds of the past recognized this going all the way back to Confucius ("Man must first be at peace with himself, then establish peace within his family, then community, then the nation, and then the world").  I am particularly pleased at how Covey's seven habits, based on solid principles, are finding their way to the business communities and all levels of certain governments.  Something great is happening; I like it and I want to be a small part of it.  We then had a book that helped all of us appreciate the differences between men and women, "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus".  We had Mother Teresea who showed the value and beauty of Women.  Do you remember what she said, "A woman is the heart of the home".  I also believe that a woman can be the heart of the work place also provided she is allowed her femininity.  And now we have the promise keepers who I believe are inspired by the Holy Spirit to show men their value and place according to God's plan.  Did you see the "Seven Promises" of the promise keepers.  So beautiful and so according to God's plan.  God gave us Mother Teresea and Bill McCartney to show us his plan and value for men and women.  None is no more or less important than the other; it is just each has a unique God given mission that is ingrained into each.  Conflict arises when either goes against that mission and the internal principles that is imbedded in their souls.

• When it is all over and we have finished our mission on this earth, the bottom line is how we lived.  One of the visitors to this site, Lutul Farrow of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Class of 2002 has a personal motto we all should strive for.

• Here is a thought on truth expressed by Pope John Paul II in a visit to the US say it all.

• Lately I have been in awl of God. I wish to make amends for all the times I and mankind have offended this wonderful Creator of ours. I have this burning desire to make restitution for all of these offenses. What can I do? What can I give this supreme being? I can at the very least give Him my appreciation. This little prayer says it all. I love it so!

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