Reflections on Children's Laughter

On children's laughter: How will parents know they have succeeded? 

From a Christian perspective, each baby is a wonderful gift from God.

Suddenly, with a loud cry, a new baby announces its arrival to the world, a world filled with many joys and sorrows. How wonderful that first cry seems to us,  because we know that the baby has arrived safely. 

Hopefully, the infant is born into a family who will celebrate his or her birth and welcome the infant child or the children, in the case of multiple births, with open arms and loving hearts.

This is not an easy time for parents, either for first-time parents, or parents with other children. But, who ever promised that it was going to be easy?

For new parents, this can be a trying time, as everything about babies is so new. For those who are parents again, it can be just as trying, as no two births are the same and no two children are the same. While the parents feel that they know everything that there is to know about babies and that they are prepared for the birth, in reality, each child's birth can be different, as well as traumatic.

All of a sudden, the new mother and father are confronted with a situation unlike anything that they have been through before and they can be frightened, wondering how they will meet the needs of their new offspring.

Consider it from the infant's perspective for a moment.

For nine long months, the baby has been growing and thriving in a warm, comfortable and safe environment. Suddenly, the infant finds himself or herself thrust into a new environment. It is a world that appears to be strange, unlike the womb from which the infant has just emerged.

That environment is not quite so comfortable or warm. The baby is stunned, at first, by the sudden change in temperature. One of the reasons the newborn cries when it is born, is because of the temperature change. It is a shock to his or her system.

Imagine the sound effects. The new world is not a quiet place!

All of a sudden, the infant opens his or her eyes. No one knows at what moment that infant begins to hear and see or exactly what the newborn child hears and sees. How he or she will react to the new sights and sounds is unpredictable.

The newborn baby is cold after he or she is born, because the world into which he or she has been born, is not the same temperature as that to which the infant has become accustomed. Even dressed in appropriate clothing, the infant child may begin to shiver, as the body's way of compensating for the sudden change in temperature. It becomes important that the newborn baby is kept warm.

The infant is used to being as "snug as a bug in a rug" and suddenly, he or she is not feeling secure. Why not? 

What the child would have been hearing is the sounds from the mother's body. The infant knows how it feels to be held tight within the womb, which has been wonderfully comfortable. Suddenly, the baby can move about more freely, but a newborn baby is not used to having that kind of freedom. That can cause the infant to panic, at least momentarily.

Any strange, new sounds may startle or awaken the infant, because he or she is able to hear. Any unusual activity or lights in the room may cause the newborn to become alarmed or frightened. Imagine the reality of touch and textures alone. We live in a world of touch and texture, which can totally overwhelm the newborn.

Virtually everything is new and different. In time, the baby will accept his or her new world and being instinctively curious, he or she will begin to explore that environment.

Remember that the newborn child has been obtaining all of its nourishment without any effort on his or her own part, having been fed via the umbilical cord, while in the womb. Now all of a sudden, that source of nourishment is no longer there. The umbilical cord has been permanently severed.

It is a shock to the infant's system and the newborn child becomes increasingly aware, that he or she is hungry. The newborn infant may or may not have learned how to suck on his or her fingers, while in the womb. Now, it is dependent upon the sucking reflex to obtain food and water.

While there are many natural instincts that the infant is born with that may begin to take over immediately, this is a different world. These instincts still need to be developed further.

And while in one sense, the infant knows his or her mother and father, in many other ways, he or she does not recognize the new parents. Time has a way of taking care of that situation, but in reality, it will take time for both of them to adjust to each other. This is a new relationship that needs to be developed and nurtured.

It is said that ‘we all enter the world alone and in many ways, that is true. The newborn can feel alone, until such a time as he or she becomes accustomed to his or her parents, as well as to others, including siblings. 

So much depends upon how the parents react to the newborn infant, instinctively.

Having another older sibling in the family can create additional concerns, even though for the other sibling, it can be a wonderful experience. Suddenly, the older child's world is changed and he or she is no longer the center of the parent's attention. The older child or children need some time to adjust to the reality of a new baby in the household.

With the birth of an infant, there are so many factors to take into consideration, it is a wonder that any parents succeed in parenting. Take heart, as God has provided all of the solutions. Sometimes it is up to the parents and the children to find the answers. What may work for one family may not necessarily work for another.

Persisting, over time, with love and a patience, the parents and the newborn, as well as other the siblings, will come to know and love each other. All of the newborn's needs will be met, as well as those of the older sibling or siblings.

But how will the parents know that they have succeeded in parenting?

One of the most joyful sights parents will see is the smile on the face of a newborn.

One of the most rewarding sounds that they will ever hear is that of children's laughter. To hear the sound of a new born baby crying and an older sibling's laughter is just one more miracle of life. It may appear to be a combination of joy and sorrow, when it is really a parent's portion of joy with a difference, ie. a double joy.

Living Life is a Proactive Choice

Choose life: Life is to be held sacred, as it is a gift from God.

Living life is a pro-active choice for each one of us to make. We can chose to live or not to live, at least to some extent.

Natural tragedies occur continually, around the world. Millions of people's lives are affected by events like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires. Many times, lives are snuffed out instantly.

Every day, there are other people in various parts of our world, who attempt to survive encounters with tragedies. They try to live life fully, in spite of everything that has happened to them and their families.

This category of survivors continues to seek the highest possible quality of life, no matter what has happened in the past, is happening in the present or at times, whatever their circumstances may be in the future, in any particular time or place. They also seek to help others, by teaching them to regard life as sacred and to live life, as fully as possible.

This part of the world's population has made the pro-active choice of living life and living life fully.

Why do so many make this choice, in spite of the odds against survival in tragic scenarios?

It is because individually and collectively, these people recognize the sacredness and the value of human life. They see not only the value of their own lives, but also the value of the lives of other human beings. Someone, somewhere, has taught them that life is sacred. They have learned that life can still be lived fully.

There appears to be a second segment of the population. These people do not appear to care about life. Living or allowing others to live, seems to mean nothing to them. They do not know the significance of the sacredness of life, the value of human life or what it means to be living life, in its fullness.

These people do not hold their lives, or the lives of others as sacred. Nor do they seek to achieve any reasonable quality of life, either for themselves or for others. If they have never known anything about living life fully, is it because they have not been taught the sacredness of life or how to live life fully?

This group may unintentionally do things that are life threatening to themselves and to others.

A third segment of the population, seeks to kill and destroy human beings. Obviously, they have made a pro-active choice for death, by deciding not to live. They do not allow others to live either.

Think about this for a moment and decide where you stand personally, with regard to the sacredness of life.

Consider the merit of living life fully. Then, ask yourself these questions:

Do you believe in the sacredness of life, your own life and that of others?

Do you know what it means to live life, in its fullness?

Are you making a pro-active choice for life or for death?

Are you teaching others to make a pro-active choice for life, instead of death, as well?

If not, why not?

Should We Fear God?

Another interpretation of the fear of God, in terms of love

The true interpretation of the fear of God, may not be in terms of being afraid of God. The New Testament in the Bible, reveals the reality that, "God is Love."

Love, in its complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expression, can be interpreted in many ways. The fear of God can be perceived in different ways also. It may be understood in a negative way or perceived in a positive light.

Does God want us to live in terror of His divine wrath?

No, God does not require that we be afraid of Him. We are invited to come to know Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we come to know Jesus, we also come to know the message of the forgiveness of our sins. God offers us unconditional love, love that knows no bounds. Our sins are forgiven by God, when we confess them to Him and accept Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior.

The Bible also teaches us also to hold God in awe and to revere Him.

That is the true fear of God, when fear is perceived in a positive light or in terms of love.

We are invited to be the children of God. God loves each and every one of us. We have the choice of accepting or rejecting His love and His divine forgiveness.

Do children need to fear their parents? No, instead when they are taught properly, they follow the right pathway. The Bible teaches us to repent, meaning that we should stop whatever we are doing that is wrong and do what is right. That is the pathway to joy.

"Perfect love casts out fear."

When we understand the true meaning of the fear of God, we know that we can approach Him, at any time. God is always approachable and wants those who He calls His children to come to Him, knowing that their faith and trust in Him, will be rewarded, in a positive way.

Approaching God is as simple as praying to Him. Anyone can pray to him at any time or in any place. God does answer prayer, although it is not always with the answer that a person desires to receive.

Since "all things work together for good," and not evil, anticipating an answer from God is not something to be afraid of, at any time.

Always remember that God loves you!

If you are a parent, you know that you love your children, maybe even more than they love you. You would not want them to be afraid to come to you. You know that you will deal with them rightly, as you should. You want them to be happy and to enjoy their lives fully.

God wants the same thing for you, even though you may have to go through some trials in your lifetime. God may be refining you for some greater purpose that will be revealed to you, in time. Trust in God and wait upon His answer to your prayers.

This is simply another interpretation of the fear of God, one that is positive and constructive.

The Health Implications of Anger

A healthy way to deal with anger

"That is wrong! This is an injustice! I refuse to tolerate that kind of behavior or activity!"

Every one, as normal human beings, gets angry at one time or another, for many different reasons. Is that wrong? No, it is right to get angry about something that we know is wrong or is an injustice to us or to someone else. That kind of a response is a normal, healthy reaction. We are not called to live anger-free lives, although in reality, we might prefer to do so.

Fear is often at the root of our anger. When we are afraid of something, we tend to re-act in several, different ways. We are all familiar with the concept of fight or flight, but never think seriously about it.

When we are frightened or afraid, initially, we can go into a state of paralysis or  be emotionally locked into non-action or non-activity, as an immediate response. At that time, we may also choose to stand our ground and fight, as best we can. Or, we can run away and leave the situation where we feel threatened and head somewhere that appears safer. Our response is invariably determined, at least to some extent, by what is happening.

Our bodies respond to fear and anger by releasing a lot of adrenalin. This influx of adrenalin causes a sudden release or energy or a surge of extra energy.

With small to moderate doses of adrenalin normally being released into our systems all the time, our bodies function well. Without any adrenalin, our bodies could not function properly. We need adrenalin, but not an excessively high level of adrenalin, all the time.

In the fight or flight response, the sudden release of a large amount of adrenalin, gives us the extra energy we need in order to fight or to flee, as in the case of an emergency, for example, our reaction and response to a war, fire or a pending tornado.

Major health problem can arise for us, when there is an excessive amount of adrenalin released into our systems, as this can be harmful, particularly when the energy from that adrenalin is not used up in some way, within a reasonable period of time.

People who are always angry invariably become ill, because there is too much adrenalin released into their physical bodies. It may or may not be used up in their day-to-day activities.

The question becomes one of what we can do in order to stay healthy, once a large amount of adrenalin has been released into our systems, as the result of fear or anger. We know that there will always be things that we are afraid of or angry about. Many of these things, we cannot change or do anything about. This reality can be frustrating for people and more so, for others.

The solution is simple. What we need to do is to find positive and constructive ways, to use the dormant energy that has resulted from all of the adrenalin being released or just been released into our physical bodies.

Now that we realize that the release of adrenalin from fear and anger can cause a surge of excess energy, the answer is self-evident.

Think about our normal, daily activities of life, for a moment.

In order for us to do be able to some of the things that we enjoy doing or may want to do, but perhaps are not able to do under normal circumstances, sometimes we feel the need to find extra energy. We tend to seek that energy in different kinds of foods like carbohydrates, candy, chocolate, pop or other sugar-based drinks, maybe even energy releasing, power drinks of different kinds.

Use this scenario as an example.

Perhaps we know that we need to wash the car and all of the windows in our home. Maybe we find that we don't seem to have the amount of energy that we feel we need, in order to do those jobs. So, we might be tempted to consume extra carbohydrates like donuts, in order to obtain more energy, so that we may be able to complete the tasks at hand.

In reality, a great time to wash the car or the windows in the house, is when we have a high level of adrenalin and energy.

Take this one step further. Perhaps some inward anger is brewing inside us as the direct result of something that is happening or has happened in the family or in the immediate neighborhood or in the world.

At that moment, we have the extra adrenalin in our bodies that has the potential to release energy to spare.

So what if that energy is or was the result of being angry at someone about something. The source of the energy does not matter. What is important is what we do with the energy that results from the release of the extra adrenalin.

Many artists, writers, musicians are creative and productive, when energized by the adrenalin, that results from fear or anger. Many high achievers accomplish major feats of different kinds, because they do know how to use their extra energy in a positive and constructive way.

For example, a group of musicians are fearful of failure. The fear raises their adrenalin levels and they employ the energy that results from that adrenalin release, in a self-challenging way that allows them to accomplish something far beyond what they would normally be able to accomplish. They become a famous rock band.

For all of us, this right use of energy is important, because if that energy is not used wisely, the extra adrenalin will gradually eat away at our physical bodies, over a period of time. When that happens, illness may occur.

The bottom line is that the most important thing we can do for our health is to channel the energy that results from fear or anger, in a positive direction. We must do something that will use up that energy, even if it means going for a long walk, swimming, dancing, biking, doing a heavy task of some kind or whatever.

What also becomes a direct result of the positive use of excess adrenalin and energy is a feeling of accomplishment. That is just one of the extra perks.

So, if you are frightened or angry, do something with your extra energy that results from the release of excess adrenalin, no matter how small the task may be. Don't waste your anger and the energy that results from your it. Channel it wisely. Do something positive and constructive, as soon as possible.

If you can do so, use it to effect change for the better, in our world.

This is a healthy way to deal with anger.

Names of God

Can God really be comprehended in terms of a name or concept like Love?

"God is Love."

In our era, we know that God has many different names. The question becomes one of whether it is acceptable for humankind to take the name of God and reduce that name, or to a mere concept, like Love.

In the early days of ancient Judaism, the name of God was something that was held in awe and treated with absolute respect, at least by the true believers. Of course, in those days, there were the doubters too, as there probably always will be.

For the true believers, the question at that time became one of how to refer to God, whose name could not be spoken, even though the reality of God was apparent to His people.

The name God is now comprehended in terms of many different understandings of what the word God means.

The simplest one of these for us to comprehend is the designation of the name God, in terms of the concept Love. "God is Love." It appears that we do not have any problem accepting that Biblical statement or in understanding God in this light. We can interpret that in many ways.

Note that this is not unlike taking a person's surname like Black, Brown, Green or White, on a human level and reducing it to some kind of an understanding of what that particular word was intended to mean or is intended to convey, either to oneself, or to others.

In this instance, we do not hesitate to accept the words black, brown or white as colors. Colors are conceptual and something that is understood in terms of our perception. No one appears to take offense with respect to using those words in this kind of a context.

What happens though when one takes a surname of some kind and essentially reduces it to a concept? Is it some kind of reductionism? Does it reduce its meaning or signification? Probably not. More than likely, it is being used in a different context.

Should the Blacks, the Browns, the Greens or the Whites be offended?

In response to this, one might ask, this question. Did or does, God take offense when His name was or is still being reduced to the concept of Love? Should those with the surnames of Black, Brown, Green or White be offended, when their surnames are used to designate the colors these words can depict?

What we do become aware of or see in all of this, is an attempt by humankind to comprehend the world in which we all live. Our best way of understanding anything, no matter how large it is or how small it is, is to reduce it to a concept, which we can perceive and then, come to understand.

We do comprehend the concept of Love in a multiplicity of ways. It is used as a name, surname or a family name. No one has a problem with that either, for some strange reason.

If I take the word love and put it into an e-mail address, is that offensive? No, it is not, but personally, I would be rather careful about using the name God in an e-mail address.

How we choose to use the name God in terms of a concept or even as the concept of Love is our own personal choice.

This article is intended to offer food for thought. We probably still tend to regard and to use the name God, in terms of awe and respect, even when His name is regarded as the name or the concept of Love.

The Nature of Addiction and the Journey to Treatment

How to deal with an addiction: Ten secrets to success

Addictions are rooted and grounded in a perception that gives preferences to desires over needs. In other words, what you actually need may not be what you think you desire. In examining this closely, you may find out that you are living your life based purely upon a pleasure principle. Ask yourself if this is really how you want to live your life.

Recognize the reality that the addiction does not own you or control you. You are in control of your life and it is up to you to take full control of your addiction. If you do not, it will quickly get out of control. By then, it may be too late.

Face the reality that the more you feed your addiction, the more it will demand to be fed by you. In other words, while you feel that you only want one drink today, you may feel that you have to have a whole bottle in a month's time, in order to get the same high and then two bottles, three and so on. One package of cigarettes may turn into two or three. Gambling with a few dollars may turn into gambling with your whole paycheck. This can happen quicker than you realize. You have a lot to lose including your spouse, family and friends, your home and belongings, your life or the lives of others.

Realize that when you try to cut back, you may or may not feel that you are able to do so, but know that you are able to do so and cut back regardless. It may not be easy to do but the sooner that you do this, the easier it will be. Know that this is feelings versus knowledge situation and you know that you can quit. Tell yourself that every day.

See that if you are doing something like drinking, smoking or gambling, that it is harmful to you, your family and your friends, although you may not want to accept that fact. Look at the damage it is already causing and consider the future consequences in that light, knowing that these consequences will increase over time unless you take action immediately.

Be aware that the friends who are feeding your addiction may not be friends. You can choose friends from millions of people, all over the world, who can and will help you to break free from the addiction that is harming you and others, including them.

Be alert to the cost factor and look at what your addiction is costing you today, in the light of what it will cost you in six months, a year, five years or ten years down the road, as it continues to grow. Cost can be measured in more ways than just dollars and cents. Look at health and safety issues as well.

Be smart enough to find other ways to satisfy your desires. You may find out that this works well, quite possibly in ways that you never dreamed of. Guess what. You may even be able to afford to do some of the things that you want to do.

Look closely at what kind of an example you are setting for others. Do you want children, teens and adults to follow in your footsteps? Probably not. Do something about now, not tomorrow or a year from now. Start doing something positive and constructive for yourself, before your addiction harms or kills someone else.

Pray this prayer daily, "Lord, I confess that I have an addiction and you know what I am addicted to now. I cannot hide this from you. Forgive me for giving into my desires, instead of having my needs met by you. Break me of this addiction now and keep me free from this addiction forever. Help me to set a good example for others. Help them as well. Fill me, lead me and guide me with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

Losing a Loved One

Appropriate versus inappropriate grief responses

Losing a loved one is never easy, but how one deals with losing a loved one is important in terms of life and future relationships. Many family relationships and other relationships, can be irreparably and permanently damaged by the inappropriate responses by others, who are reacting to the pending death or to death of a loved one.

Many people become cruel and unkind to others, when they become aware of a close family member or a friend, diagnosed with a terminal illness or who   has died. This can be due to their own sorrow, anger, frustration or feelings of helplessness.

In turn, they will hit out at others cruelly, brutally and relentlessly. This may be perceived as a cry for help by them, but in another sense, it is the way they chose to deal with the stress of others dying and how they cope with the actual death, when it happens.

Terminal illness and death are issues every human being has to confront, in his or her lifetime. It may be his or her illness and death that must be dealt with or it may be that which involves others like grandparents, parents, other family members who are close or distant relatives, friends or acquaintances. This can be more difficult when it involves the terminal illness or the death of a child.

Grief is a personal reaction to a terminal illness or a death. It can take on many different faces, phases and expressions, some of which are appropriate, but many which are not appropriate.

Understanding the grief process can help relieve the stressful situation immensely. There is no easy way to deal with grief, but unless it is dealt with rightly and appropriately, it can and will affect the lives of other people, in the future.

The words, deeds and actions of the person who is grieving, can cut to the core with respect to the lives of the person or people, who the grief stricken person feels they need to hurt, for whatever reason. This may or may not be deserved by the other person who is victimized because of the terminal illness or death.

Look at some of the inappropriate expressions of grief.

Hurting others in any way, intentionally or unintentionally, particularly family members, friends or those who you love, is never an appropriate expression of a grief reaction; neither is hurting those who you don't love. Your grief is your grief and not theirs. They do not need to be hurt by you, just because you are hurting. They may be the ones trying to help you. Do not shut them out or cause them emotional pain because you are in pain for whatever reason.

Dredging up old feelings, hurt, frustration, anger, failures, imperfections, flaws, weaknesses, disabilities or painful memories is never appropriate when one is grieving.

Fighting over material things or belongings is not an appropriate expression of grief, but it is common to see families and friends openly fighting over possessions and wills, even before the person who has a terminal illness has passed on.

Failure to notify or not telling certain people including family members, friends or others when someone has a terminal illness or has passed away, is not an appropriate grief response. They might need to say goodbye in their own way. You are not the only one who is losing someone. They are also, even if only from a distance.

Omitting or forgetting to include others intentionally or unintentionally, from services, funerals, family gatherings or dinners, candlelight vigils, or in whatever way others are left out, is an inappropriate expression of grief. Remember that the others who are left out might need to grieve. It is not just you that is grieving a loss.

Scape goating one particular person, when someone is terminally ill or has recently passed away, is not appropriate in terms of an expression of grief. No one person is responsible for what happens with another person's life. If someone is being scape goated, it becomes obvious that there is a problem, but it is probably not with that person. The entire family or community needs to examine what is happening.

Scape goating is an ancient practice that involved cleansing a family or a community by putting all of the blame for whatever, on one person and then driving that person designated as a scape goat, out of the community.

Scapegoating is not a Christian practice and indicates unbelief in Christ and the forgiveness of sins. Christ died for all and for all of time and eternity. There is no scape goating in true Christian circles.

Fighting, arguing, beating others up, isolating them or abusing them in any way, is never appropriate in terms of the grieving process, but it happens all of the time. It is not unusual to see someone who is disabled or someone who has been injured in the past or someone who has just lost their job, being abused by others, when someone is terminally ill or has died.

Quite often children or animals are abused by those who are grieving during the various stages in the grief process. This abuse may be open or hidden by the abuser. Either way, it is not an appropriate expression of grief.

Refusing to allow others to participate in a wake, celebratory meal or vigil can be cruel and is inappropriate in terms of expressions of grief. Everyone should be invited and included and if they are not, there is something wrong with the grief expression of those who are grieving or those who have done the organizing and the planning. It is not unusual to see some family members locked out of services, funerals or dinners, because they are perceived as being unworthy by others.

Remember that you who are grieving might get away with inappropriate responses to grief, but in the long run, you will have to live with what you do to others when you are grieving, so grieve in appropriate ways and you will be glad that you did.

Also be aware that you may need those same people around you, if you become terminally ill. Your family or friends may need them as well, should you pass away.

Find appropriate expressions of grief which manifest love for one another. Teach and help others to do the same.

The most appropriate form of expression is to pray that God will send you and all of the others who are grieving, His Comforter, as He has promised in His Word. Remember the miracle of the Resurrection.

Remember that love always wins and that you will be remembered and loved for the love that you show. 

Your inappropriate expressions of grief may or may not be forgotten and forgiven by others.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can offer a new appreciation of life and the renewal of relationships that we have with others.

The Future For Christianity

A divine, dimino transition

A divine dimino transition siggests that the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ ensures the future of true Christianity

"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."

There are three distinct times when the life of Jesus Christ appears to dimino or go through a transition from non-existence to existence. These include the time of His birth, after His resurrection when He appears to Mary and some of His disciples and later, when He re-appears to humankind throughout the course of history

The dimino stands, while a domino would fall. Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." Either that statement is true or it is not true. If it is true, then Jesus may be demonstrating a dimino personality, or as being someone who comes into being and stands the test of time. He claims to personify the Truth; we know that Truth stands the test of time.

Dimino, may be broken down into the words di suggesting twice, twofold or double which appears to suggest a double meaning of some kind. Mino in an earlier usage goes back to the phrase "to be or not to be". There are two distinct possibilities here, either yes or no to being or existence.

Over the course of history, humankind has taken a stand on both sides. Some accept the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ as an unconditional reality; others refute this, in total. Of course, there are those who take a stand somewhere in between.

For a brief moment, taking the side of the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ as being an unconditional reality, look further into the dimino effect that is demonstrated.

Up to the moment of His birth, He appeared to be in a state of non-existence. There are those who will state that He pre-existed as the Word with God. When He was born, it was apparent to some of humankind that He came into existence. This is the first dimino scenario.

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross and His existence appeared to come to an end, at that point in time, except for the fact that He was resurrected. The purpose of His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension was to ensure the forgiveness for the sins of humankind. After His resurrection, He appeared to Mary and some of His disciples. Again, it would seem that He has gone through a dimino transition from non-existence to existence.

Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, where He was seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Time and time again, throughout the course of history, He has re-appeared to various individuals. This is the third transition from non-existence to existence. Or, is this all part of one greater phenomenon which includes all three of the other scenarios? Is there some kind of a larger, divine dimino phenomenon that includes the other three stages of transition? What appears to be happening is some kind of a spiraling dimino effect with each plateau of existence; every appearance seems to be on a spiritually higher level.

Of course, there are always going to be the atheists who refute His reality and the agnostics who say, yes, no or maybe so, in a skeptical light. The next step up this ladder might be those who suggest that God exists, but they have no actual knowledge or awareness of the reality of Jesus Christ. On a still higher step, there are those who believe in Jesus Christ as a man, but assign less than a divine person role to Him. Above that would be those who perceive Jesus Christ, in His role as Lord and Savior of humankind. On still a higher step would be those who perceive the reality of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

It is on that highest step where one begins to see the true nature of Jesus Christ, revealed in the mystery of the Trinity. On this plateau, one begins to see the possibility of the divine realm being a reality, as well.

True Christians, who know the Truth as Jesus Christ personified, just as He claimed, know that the future of true Christianity is certain. The Divine dimino transition reveals this to be true. Truth stands the test of time and eternity.