By MaryJo – A Pilgrim Ponders

All of us want to be happy. What stops us from achieving lasting happiness? This article: Jesus and the Psychology of Happiness by Shayne Looper caught my attention as a topic that could mean a lot to many people. Do the teachings of Jesus help us to find happiness? I’ll share some of my experiences with those teachings from The Urantia Book, but first here are some nice snips from the article, which is well-worth the read:

“In recent years, research in the field of psychology increasingly has turned toward the light rather than away from the darkness; that is, has turned its attention to gaining happiness rather than to treating pathology. This is not just pop psychology going through a phase. A quick search of Google Scholar will confirm academia’s growing interest in positive psychology.

“John Ortberg points out that psychologists who focus their efforts on helping people achieve happiness will inevitably find themselves using values-laden language. They cannot help but enter the arena of ethics and morality, where the experts have not been scientists but philosophers and religious authorities. They frequently cite the Buddha, Aristotle, Confucius, and others.

“Although Jesus did not talk about happiness as such, he did talk about joy, which he saw as the result of the good life.

By MaryJo – A Pilgrim Ponders

Where do YOU find Jesus? This article called: ‘The Church is a living sanctuary where we encounter Jesus’ – Archbishop By Monique Agius, asks the faithful to believe that they should encounter Jesus in the sanctuary of the Catholic Church. I was brought up to believe this in my Catholic schools, but things change – especially when we know better. My blog is below, but first, here’s a snip from the article:

“Archbishop Charles Scicluna reminded the faithful that the Church is a living sanctuary where one encounters Jesus and warned against turning the Church into a marble museum or a crystal or art museum. Mgr Scicluna was presiding over Mass at the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck in Valletta on Sunday. Mgr Scicluna explained that the Church gives the faithful the opportunity to strengthen unity within the community. The Archbishop stated that Sunday Mass was the criteria to overcome injustice.

“The Archbishop reminded that the earliest reference to the “Lord’s Supper”, a rite traditionally identified with the Eucharist is found in the Letter to the Corinthians which was written before the Gospels. He then spoke of the need to be a witness of Christ in one’s daily life, saying that St Paul gave one hope.”

By MaryJo – A Pilgrim Ponders

Are you a Bible-believing Christian? A Urantia Book reading Jesusonian? Do you believe that the Spirit of Truth is real? Do you believe that this Spirit inspires us to act in Godly ways and minister as Jesus did: as we pass by? This Christian-oriented article: A thrilling Christianity vs. a boring one by Nolan Harkness caught my eye. My Urantia Book-based blog follows below. But first, here’s a tantalizer from the article, which I recommend…

“To me there is nothing more exciting in all of Christian-dom than to be led by the Spirit of God. The scriptures declare that “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 KJV)

“…how sad it is to see professing believers stuck in a religious rut. Boring, boring, boring! I was asked some time ago to teach the Adult Sunday School class in my home church. The topics were revival and being revived by the Holy Spirit in our personal lives. One morning I asked the question, “How many of can aremember when God recently impressed on our hearts something specific He wanted us to do?”

Click to read the article

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We are his hands; we are his feet

A dear friend and spiritual sister of mine who has since passed away said something to me once that has stuck with me for many years.

By MaryJo – A Pilgrim Ponders

I love this article about Jesus early years, about which the world knows so little: Don’t forget the family of Jesus by Leslie Criss. My Urantia Book-based blog is below, but here’s a charming little snip from the article:

“Interesting, isn’t it? “Someone had to change his diapers.” Someone had to teach him Scripture and prayer. And yes, he had to learn love from somewhere. “Jesus grew wise and became strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people” (Luke 2:52). And it’s safe to assume it started because of what he learned from Mom, Dad and others. Wonder how the story might be different if Jesus had not grown up in a loving home?”

Click to read the article

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One of the best things about The Urantia Book is its revelations regarding Jesus early life – the years of his infancy, childhood, adolescence, young manhood, and adulthood – all before his public ministry which is pretty well-known.

I love the mental image in the paragraph above of Jesus having his diapers changed, his years of schooling, the loving home life that he enjoyed with Mary and Joseph. And it was a loving home.