I Believe

All stand to benefit when we are grounded and rooted in truth. Any person who endeavors to live a Godly life is bound to encounter opposition. Blaming God for our troubles is like being on a dead-end street. It doesn’t take you anywhere. Christianity grows with love, not violence. Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Do not give me your list to live by and I will not give you mine; instead, follow God’s list.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Faith is not about understanding; it is about trusting. Giving thanks and praising God for our many blessings should be an ongoing act. God’s law has not changed because God does not change. If we are not careful, pride, security, cowardice, wealth and reputation can become our gods. It is difficult to always do what is right because we tend to trust in ourselves rather than God. Keeping our minds on Godly expectations is not easy.

Many people are influenced more by the surrounding culture than the truth. Nobody can please everybody all of the time. No amount of sin in our lives prevents God’s acceptance of us. Of making and reading many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Often the very traits that most annoy us in others are ones we possess. Pleasing our peers can easily take us down the wrong road. Rather than cling to certain old ways, we need to embrace the new. Responsible people do not elevate their interests above others’ needs by taking advantage of them. Some people may possibly entertain angels without knowing it. Suffering will come to everyone. There should be no difference between what people believe and their actions. What we say at any given moment reveals the condition of our heats at that time.

Self-reflection is always a good exercise. What I believe is a work in progress, not limited to these statements and subject to change. What do YOU believe? 

Daniel Taddeo

Longtime Parma Hts. resident and educator in the Parma School district.

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Volume 10, Issue 12, Posted 10:52 AM, 12.01.2018