An interesting subject to consider that to a Christian has a different meaning than is often attached to it. Simple meaning is…confinement in a jail or prison : the act of imprisoning someone or the state of being imprisoned. For a christian it is the lack of faith or our sinful nature that makes us a prisoner to the evil and bad decisions of this life. We all will at one time or another experience a time in our lives when the situations of this life hold us prisoner to things we cannot control or opt to not control. It is an established fact that we, all of us, value our ability to do our own thing…it is a natural component of the human psyche. The other way of saying that is that our creator has granted us the ability to think for ourselves…we can say or write it much simpler… Free Will. Bottom line, it is up to us to determine the direction we will go in this life and mankind has demonstrated by past behaviors that we don’t always choose the right path. We find in the Bible, a map if you please…that will point the way to a better life, I have come to refer to it as “The Good Way”. None of us will ever be exempt from the temptations we will encounter in our life time. The Apostle Paul referred to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” during his time of house arrest in Rome…AD 60-62…Acts 28:30-31. He often in his letters used the term “Jesus Christ”. Also  According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul and Silas were in Philippi, where they were arrested, flogged, and imprisoned for causing a public nuisance.

The reason The Pew has chosen this path at this time is really simple… there is a better path for those who chose wisely. I hope this blog influences you to seek that path…I call it “The GoodWay”and it is open to all who seek it… the book says  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Simple but to the point…  from the day we were created we were challenged to live a Godly life. Is that the answer to a good life? Yes, but we tend to misunderstand the full intent of such. There will always be things that make for bad times, hardships, illness and hurt and sorrow will challenge all of us…think of that old expression…thats life. God has given us a purpose in life and in Micah 6:8 we have a very simple charge… 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

    And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

    and to walk humbly  with your God

The New Testament leaves no doubt as to the path that follows “The Good Way”.

John 14:6-76 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

As the church came into being many of those who had followed this “nazarene” would come to be called “people of the Way”. Old Testament writings put before the people the best of “The Good  Way”. 

Deuteronomy 31:8—The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Psalm 23:4—Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

We have a reason to trust and believe. No one thing or the devil himself can separate us from our God. The Good Way, seek it and follow it. 

Matthew 22:34-40 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Life is Good

jk