Love…is the revelation of God,. And th

Love…is the revelation of God,. And the revelation of God is Jesus Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sabbath – Where Did It All Come From?

“Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.” – Richard Rodgers
I absolutely love this line from the movie The Sound of Music. Of course in the movie the context is about love, but for me it sums up the idea that nothing can come from nothing. Everything at one time or another has been created. The chair I am sitting on, the desk I am writing on and the computer you are reading this on came from somewhere. Everything has been created…even us.

I was talking the other day to a person who told me straight up that they didn’t believe in God. An interesting concept I thought so I asked where they thought we came from. Their response was an interesting melding of science, sparks, explosions, atoms and life force. Not being a scientist I said that I didn’t know the science behind all of that but if in fact that was the reality of creation where did that first spark come from? I then got another list of scientific stuff which led me back to my question…that is all fine and good but where did that all start? They looked kind of perplexed so I said to them that however they thought the world and man began there had to be something that started it all, nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could. As it does with most of these conversations the person had no answer to that and we continued to discuss other things going on in their life.

My intention was not embarrass the person I was talking to. I am always very interested in what people truly believe about life, the creation and God. If I ask 100 people about how it all began I could get 100 different answers. Even when I ask people who practice the same religion I get many different versions of the same story. I also find a lot of people who do not believe in God, a god or creator. When I was in college I needed to take an upper level science class to finish my degree. The class I took was called Evolution and was taught by one of the most respected scientists in the field. The class was interesting and the professor was an amazing teacher. One day after class he and I left the room together and he turned to me and said “You are obviously not a science major, why are you taking this class.” He was right I wasn’t a science major; I was on a very different course at that time in my life. When I told him that the answer was a long story he suggested lunch. Over lunch I told him the journey I had been on that brought me to finishing up my degree later in life and how I ended up in his class. At one point I said to him “Studying evolution is fascinating to me, where do you think this all started?” He said “God of course.” When I said that I was surprised he said “When I see the complexity of life and look at this world, how could I not believe that there is a God. There is no way this just happened. It had to be created.”

As I have studied religions from around the world and cultures that never knew anything about each other, there is one thing that ties them together, the idea that there was a creator. Whether you are a person of faith or not, on this Sabbath take a few moments and think about how this all began. Below I have listed some of the names of the creator from many cultures in religion. Can they all be wrong? You decide. “Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.” And don’t forget, Life if a journey, not a destination!

Abba
Abonsam
Absolute
Abstract Being
Abstract One
Ada
Adelphia
Adonai
Afra
Aglibol
Agni
Ahriman
Ahura Mazda
Ahuramazd
Akongo
Aksobhya
Ala
Alatangana
Alfalfa
Alaha
All Embracing Love
All Light All Darkness
All Soul
Allah
Allmighty
All There Is
All There Is and All That Will Be
Alochem
Alpha and the Omega
AM
Amaterasu
Amaterasu-Ohmikami
Amerissis
Amitabha
Amma
Amoghasiddhi
Amon
Amora
Anat
Ananta
Ancient of Days
Anna Short
Anubis
Anuket
Aondo
Apap
Aphrodite
Arebati
Aries
Arion
Asase Yaa
Ash
Asherah
Ashtoreth
Aslan
Astarte
Astrea
Ataa Naa Nyongmo
Atete
Athena
Atum
Augusto
Augustus
AUM-EN-RA
Aurora
Babaji
Balaji
Balaramaji
Bast
Beautiful Great One
Bes
Bhaga
Bithala
Bob White
Brahma
Brahmi
Brother
Bumba
Cagu
Cghene
Cha Ara
Chi
Coach
Conflict
Conquering Lion of Tribe of Judah
Cosmic Consciousness
Creation
Creator
Creator of The Universe
Dad
Daniel
Death
Deidad
Demeter
Deprivation
Desire
Despotas
Déu
Deus
Deva
Devi
Dios
Discipline
Discord
Divine
Dumnezeu
Durba
Durga
Duty
Edeke
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh
Ekanetra
EKNATH
Ek Ong Kar
El
El Hai
Eloah
Elohim
Elohim El Elyon
Elohim El Olam
Elohim El Roi
Elohim El Shaddai
Energy
Enki
Enlil
Enoch
Enundu
Eos
Epimetheus
Eurynome
Eve
Everlasting God
Everyone
Every Thing
Father
Father of Lights
Father of my Father
Father of the Poor
Fidi Mukullu
Fire
Freya
Friend
Ganesha
Gaunab
Gauri Matta
Gautama
Gayatri
Geb
Gibini
God
God Almighty
God Most High
God Over Troubled Water
God Sees
Gott
Govinda
Grand-father
Grand-mother
Great Mother
Great Spirit
Great Unknown
Gurudeva
Hail the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: Jesus Christ
Ha Shem
HaShem
Hadad
Hades
Hanuman
Hao
Hari
Harmony
Ha’shem
Hathor
Hatred
He Who Has No Name
Health
Heh
Hehet
Hemantadevi
Hiranyagarbha
Holy Trinity
Hu
Huang Ti
I am
Imana
Inanna
Infinite
Infinity
Io mataaho
Io matangaro
Io matanui
Io matua
Io matua te kore
Io nui
Io roa
Io take take
Io te pukenga
Io te toi o nga rangi
Io te wananga
Io te whiwhia
Ishi
Ishtar
Ishwara
Isis
Itonde
Jah
Jahmanjah
Jave
Jehovah
Jehovah Gibbon
jehovah Mish-En
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus Christ
Jove
Joy
Jupiter
Justina
Ka Tyeleo
Kali
Kalisia
Kalunga
Kalyopee
Kami
Kartikeya
Kek
Keket
Kesava
Khnum
King of All Kings
King of Heaven
Kotisri
Krishna
Kronos
Kuan Yin
Kuladevata
Kurios
Kwoth
Kyumbe
Lakshmi
Lao-Tzu
Legba
Lesa
Libanza
Life
Lifter of Everyone
Light of the World
Light of Light
Logos
The Listener to the Space Between Words
Loki
Lord
Lord God
Lord of Hosts
Lord of the Universe
Lord our Master
Love
Love N,Hope
Lover
Ma Kiela
Maat
Mahaveera
Maiterya
Manjushri
Masri
Mbomba
Mbongo
Mbotumbo
Meresger
Michael
Minerva
Mizu-Ha-No-Me
Money
Most High
Mother
Mother of God
Mukulumncandi
Mungu
My Creator
My Resting Place
Mysterious Knowledge
Na Ngutu
Nana
N’nami
Natural Order
Nature
Naunet
Ndaula
Necessity
Neith
Nekhbet
Nephthys
Ngai
Niamye
Nut, Mother of rebirth
Nyame
Nzambi
Oak
Odin
Oduduwa
Ogiuwu
Oi
Omichle
One
Onuris
Ophion
Orunmila
Osanobua
Osho
Ostara
Our Father
Our Heavenly Father
Our Heavenly Mother
Oversoul
Padma Sambhava
Padmanabha
Pain
Pallas Athena
Paramatama
Parvati
Patar
Pavan-Suta
Pemba
Pestilence
Phyi-sGrub
Poseidon
Powers That Be
Prime Mover
Prince of Peace
Prometheus
Providence
Ptah
Purusottama
Queen of Heaven
Quetsalquatl
Quintessence
Ra
Radha-Krishna
Rain
Raluvimbha
Rama
Ramakrishna
Rastafari
Ratnasamhava
Ratri
Rebecca
Reason
Rubanga
Sa
Sahra
Sarasvati
Sati
Saule Donna
Satyanarayana
Sekhmet
Self
Sesanag
Shaddai
Shankpana
SHEKINAH
Shiva
Shiva Baba
Shri Rama
Shu
Sia
Sister
Sky
Son of Air
Sovereign Lord
State
Success
Suchinito
Suffering
Suku
Sun-Teleia
Supreme Being
Surrender
The Supreme Fascist
Takkiraja
Tao
Tar
Tara
Te Kore
Tefenet
The Purpose of my Life
Theos
Thonar
Thor
Thunor
Thy Maker
Toro
Torout
Truth
Tsunigoab
Tzevaot
UnChanging One
Umvelinkwangi
Universal Mind
Unkulunkulu
Un-nameable One
Unumbote
Vairochana
Vaivasvata Manu
Vajrasattva
Vamana
Vayu
Venilateshwer
Venkatachalapath
Venkateshwara
Vighneshwer
Vinayail
Virat
Vishnu
Vishwa
Waka
Wakan Tanka
War
Water
Weri Kumbamba
Within You Without You
Wind
Woden
Ya ‘Aahad
Ya ‘Aakhir
Ya ‘Aazalee
Ya ‘Aallah
Ya ‘Aawwal
Ya ‘Aadil
Ya ‘Azeez
Ya ‘Azeem
Ya ‘Alim
Ya ‘Ali
Ya Ba’eeth
Ya Baaqiy
Ya Baari
Ya Barr
Ya Baseet
Ya Basir
Ya Batin
Ya Fatih
Ya Ghaffaar
Ya Ghanee
Ya Ha’iy
Ya Hadi
Ya Hafiz
Ya Hakim
Ya Hakim-al-Mutlaq
Ya Halim
Ya Hameed
Ya Haqq
Ya Hasib
Ya Hatim
Ya Jaami
Ya Jabbar
Ya Jaleel
Ya Jameel
Ya Kareem
Ya Khabeer
Ya Khafeez
Ya Khalaaq
Ya Lateef
Ya Majid
Ya Malik
Ya Malik-al-Mulk
Ya Manee’
Ya Mannaan
Ya Mateen
Ya Mu’akhherr
Ya Mu’idd
Ya Mubdee
Ya Mughnee
Ya Muhayim
Ya Mujeeb
Ya Mukeed
Ya Mukhbeer
Ya Mumeed
Ya Mumeen
Ya Muntaqim
Ya Muqaddeem
Ya Muqsit
Ya Muqtadir
Ya Musawwir
Ya Muta’alee
Ya Nafi’
Ya Noor
Ya Qadeer
Ya Quddos
Ya Ra’oof
Ya Rabb
Ya Raffee
Ya Raheem
Ya Rahmaan
Ya Raqeeb
Ya Rasheed
Ya Razzaaq
Ya Saboor
Ya Salaam
Ya Samee’
Ya Sammad
Ya Shaakir
Ya Shahid
Ya Shakoor
Ya Tawwab
Ya Waahid
Ya Waarith
Ya Wadood
Ya Wajeed
Ya Kabeer
Ya Muhyee
Ya Qawee
Ya Qayyoom
Ya Quahhar
Ya Wahhab
Ya Wakeel
Ya Walee
Ya Walee al-Ahsan
Ya Waliy
Ya Wasi’
Yah
Yahweh
Yahweh Adonai
Yahweh Elohim
Yahweh Elohim Israel
Yahweh God of Israel
Yahweh Jireh
Yahweh Maccaddeshcem
Yahweh Nissi
Yahweh Our Banner
Yahweh Our Commander
Yahweh Our Healer
Yahweh Our Peace
Yahweh Our Provider
Yahweh Our Righteousness
Yahweh Our Shepherd
Yahweh Roi
Yahweh Ropheka
Yahweh Sabbaoth
Yahweh Shalom
Yahweh Shammah
Yahweh Tsidkenu
Yaro
Yehowshuwa HaMashiyach
Yemekonji
Yezdan
Yogananda
Yukiyu
Zarathustra
Zeus
Zurvan

Jesus calls men, not to a new religion,

Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“You have to make the decision to let go

“You have to make the decision to let go of the past if you want to move forward.”
― Bryant McGill

“It’s impossible to sprint into the pro

“It’s impossible to sprint into the providential arms of what is ahead…if we continue to trip on what is behind.”
― Jason Versey

“The choices you make from this day forw

“The choices you make from this day forward will lead you, step by step, to the future you deserve.”
― Chris Murray

A Life Coach can… http://ow.ly/i/6Bxcm

A Life Coach can…
http://ow.ly/i/6Bxcm

“Real transformation requires real hones

“Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward — get real with yourself.”
― Bryant McGill

Collecting Memories

I was flipping channels the other night and came across a show about extreme collectors. It showcased people who collected one type of thing like tiki’s, early machines or some other obscure things. An appraiser came in and looked at the collection and the end gave an appraisal of how much the items totaled. On one hand it was interesting to see what some people collect and on the other hand I thought there was a lot of stuff taking up a lot of room some with no real purpose other than just to own them.

I think we all collect one thing or another in our lives. If you came into my office you would see a set of 1964 World’s Fair glasses that I have collected over the years. I put the collection together because I grew up in NYC in the 60’s and I remember the World’s Fair with some fondness and I have memories of my parents having a similar set of glasses in our house while I was growing up. They have no real value except they remind me of my youth and my family. I bet that if you collect something it is probably because it touches you deep inside for some reason.

So you may be asking yourself why am I talking about collecting things today? As we approach this holiday weekend I have found myself thinking about the importance of creating memories in our lives, that even more important than collecting “things”, a long weekend gives us the opportunities for your family to create collective memories to cherish forever. Here are some ideas:

1) Do something different – Instead of the usual weekend activities or bar-b-que why not try to do something very different? Plan a family scavenger hunt that takes you from place to place in your neighborhood. Recruit neighbors to help by hosting clues and don’t forget to have a food stop along the way. Or how about setting up the family tent in the backyard and have a backyard camping experience with roasting hot dogs and s’mores?

2) Create a family meal – Get the family together and decide on a theme for a family meal, plan out a menu and who is going to do what to make it a family experience. Having a Hawaiian theme? Buy some lei’s and get some small drink umbrella’s to decorate your tropical juice drink. Thinking of going Mexican? Google an easy homemade salsa recipe and let the kids mix up the ingredients. It’s fun and healthy.

3) A rainy weekend? – If your weekend gets washed out by the rains gather the family for a movie day where everyone gets to pick their favorite movie to watch or watch a trilogy from start to finish. Make some popcorn, put on your pajamas and gather round and enjoy. My wife would suggest that rainy weekends are a great time to play family games. One of our favorite would be starting a Monopoly game that sits out over the weekend and gets played on and off throughout the weekend.

4) Have a date day – We have all heard of date night. Going out to dinner is a great way to get away from the house. But instead of a date night why not plan a date day? You’ve been wanting to try something new like Paddle Boarding? Check out the latest deals on Groupon and see what you can find locally that is new and different. Take the bikes out of the garage and go for a ride that ends at a local restaurant for lunch or better yet pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful day outside.

As I was watching the extreme collector television show I was struck at the amount of money invested into these collections. At the end of the show my wife and I talked about the idea that at some point someone will inherit all of those collections and probably dispose of it in some way. Collecting things is not a bad thing, but collecting family memories can have a much deeper, meaningful impact on you and your family. So this weekend go out there and collect memories. They will last a lifetime.

Don’t forget I am here to journey with you. I am just an email, phone call or Skype away. A life coach may be one of the best investments you can make in yourself. Have a great weekend and don’t forget: Life is a journey, not a destination!

“Any defensiveness is a sign of failure.

“Any defensiveness is a sign of failure. You can’t move forward if you are defensive.”
― Bryant McGill