Tag Archives: spirituality

Repentance and Forgiveness

Posted on September 15, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

The theme at church this morning was repentance and forgiveness.  I’m not always sure how to respond to that particular theme.  I’m told that I need to believe in Jesus to be saved.  Do I truly believe in Jesus?  How … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Repentance and Forgiveness

Life of Pi (the Movie)

Posted on August 17, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

I watched Life of Pi last night, and I rewatched parts of it this morning.  Life of Pi was a reward-winning movie that was released in 2012, and it is based on a 2001 book by Yann Martel.  It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Family, Movies, Postmodernism, Religion | Tagged , | 2 Comments

“…You Will Turn This Day into a Perfect Surprise…”

Posted on August 11, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

At church this morning, we sang the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  One of the lines of that song is “Morning by morning new mercies I see.”  The song is based on Lamentations 3:22-23, which states (in the King James … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Music, Religion, Theodicy | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peace with Oneself, Others, and God

Posted on June 23, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

My pastor’s sermon at church this morning was one of my favorites that I have heard him deliver.  (I talk about my favorite sermon of his in my post here.)  It was entitled, “It Doesn’t Have to be That Way.”  … Continue reading →

Posted in Asperger's, Church, Prayer, Religion, Television | Tagged | Comments Off on Peace with Oneself, Others, and God

Jesus Loves Introverts, Too

Posted on June 6, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

For its Bible study, my church is still going through John’s Gospel: Wisdom from Ephesus, with Michael Card. I appreciated Michael Card’s depiction of John as someone who was quiet and liked to stay in the background, whereas Peter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Asperger's, Bible, Church, Religion, Social Skills | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Jesus Loves Introverts, Too

“I Come with Joy”

Posted on June 2, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

At church this morning, I enjoyed reading the lyrics of the hymn, “I Come with Joy”, which we sang for communion.  Here are two stanzas that particularly stood out to me, along with my comments. “As Christ breaks bread and … Continue reading →

Posted in Asperger's, Church, Community, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Ascension, Grace, and Intercession

Posted on May 12, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

At church this morning, we celebrated Jesus’ ascension to heaven after his resurrection.  The pastor said that Jesus’ ascension teaches us three points: that Christ’s work on earth is finished, that Christ is in heaven interceding for believers before God … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Ascension, Grace, and Intercession

Peace Is Not Avoidance

Posted on May 5, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

The topic at church this morning was peace, meaning inner peace.  The pastor in his sermon was saying that peace is not people avoiding unpleasant situations.  That reminded me of a sermon that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Religion, Stephen King | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Peace Is Not Avoidance

The Four Stages of Spiritual Growth

Posted on April 16, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

In my latest reading of Further Along the Road Less Traveled: The Unending Journey Toward Spiritual Growth, M. Scott Peck discussed four stages of spiritual growth.  Stage One is called “chaotic/antisocial” and it is a selfish stage, in which people … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Four Stages of Spiritual Growth

Finishing the Bible Study on Romans

Posted on April 13, 2013 by jamesbradfordpate

My church finished its Bible study about Paul’s Epistle to the Romans last night!  We were going through Romans: The Letter That Changed the World, with Mart De Haan & Jimmy DeYoung. This will be a brief post, since I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, Life, Movies, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Finishing the Bible Study on Romans