How Can I Get My Faith Back?

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor

Question: I’ve been struggling with a lot of difficulties. I don’t even think I have faith any more. How can you get faith back once you’ve lost it?

Answer: I wouldn’t worry about your “lack” of faith. You probably have more faith than you realize. Faith is just the willingness to imagine new possibilities. There is probably something in your life that you can imagine being different, in which case you are not totally without faith.

The other day I was feeling a little annoyed about something when suddenly, out of the blue, I remembered a very funny story and I immediately laughed out loud. I went from irritable to joyous in the blink of an eye! Why? Because I stopped thinking for a moment about something that made me miserable and started thinking about something that made me happy… it was that simple and I physically felt better after I changed my thoughts to something happy. We can choose our thoughts, and we can choose the ones that feel good. We really do have that power.

Psychologist Holden says: “happiness is only ever one thought away at most. One fresh perception, one new belief, one innovative thought, one powerful decision, one moment of surrender, one instant of complete openness is all it takes to experience a world of difference.” Can you imagine anything in your life being different? If so, then you have faith. Use that faith to consider something that brings you joy. Even if the joy only lasts for a moment, then you have a wonderful moment to remember and that may bring more joy. I wish you many blessings.

---

If you have questions about faith, the bible, the church, or sexuality & spirituality, you can email your questions to durrell@sunshinecathedral.org, or go to the Ask the Reverend Durrell Watkins page and click on the link there. Rev. Durrell Watkins will answer your questions and publish the answers here and in the weekly SunBurst. Your name will always be withheld, so only the actual question and the response will be published.

God Sees Goodness

A Progressive, Positive, Practical Weekly Reflection by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, M.A., M.Div., D.Min.

“Thou, God, seest me perfect.” The Upanishads

It makes me sad to see people trying to earn God’s favor. The Creative Power of Life expresses through us. It doesn’t merely put up with us; It needs us. We are how the divine Presence knows Itself. We are how It expresses Itself. God doesn’t look at us from far away and see sin and depravity. God looks at all of creation as we might look in a mirror; and God smiles approvingly at the beautiful reflection.

We make mistakes, of course. We don’t always remember our divine potential. We don’t always live in the power of Love that we are. But the truth of our being is that we are enough. Transcendent Life expressing in, through, and as us is always enough. We are good enough. And as we embrace this truth, we experience more hope, more joy, more freedom in our lives.

Let’s pray this week, “Dear God, you see goodness when you see me. May I see that same goodness and live into it and trust its truth now and always. Thank you, God! Amen.”

Durrell+

© Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral, 2009

If God Isn’t the Author of the Bible, How Can It Still Be Important to Me?

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor

Question: I grew up believing that God actually wrote the bible and that it was literally true from the first page to the last. I now doubt those assumptions, but I wonder what importance the bible has. I don’t want to throw it out, but I can’t believe what I once did about it. Can you help?

Answer: The bible has many authors covering more than a millennium and touching at least three continents. The writers spoke a variety of languages and none of them knew our continent even existed. The bible writers were clearly influenced by their own cultures and experiences and we’ve learned some things since their time. However, they honestly struggled to find meaning in life and to embrace hope in difficult times. They faithfully and creatively recorded their ideas and as we read the songs, poems, sermons, letters, legal documents, and stories they created we find inspiration to ask our own questions and to pursue truth and meaning as courageously as they did. We may come to different conclusions and we may express our findings differently, but that doesn’t mean their journeys can’t have a positive impact on our own. The bible writers (none of whom knew they were writing anything that would eventually be included in a “bible”) were trying to know, serve, and share God. We are inspired, comforted, challenged, and encouraged by their efforts, even as we recognize God has much more to say to our hearts than we may find in any collection of writings.

---

If you have questions about faith, the bible, the church, or sexuality & spirituality, you can email your questions to durrell@sunshinecathedral.org, or go to the Ask the Reverend Durrell Watkins page and click on the link there. Rev. Durrell Watkins will answer your questions and publish the answers here and in the weekly SunBurst. Your name will always be withheld, so only the actual question and the response will be published.

Are We Enough?

A Progressive, Positive, Practical Weekly Reflection by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, M.A., M.Div., D.Min.

“I know that I am enough. There may be religions and philosophies that agree with me, but that’s not why I am enough. I am enough because I was born to express life, and life is always enough.” Dr. David J. Walker

We have goals, of course (and we need them). And we are proud of our achievements (and rightfully so). But let’s not let our achievements define us. There are times when we have false starts or when we make mistakes or even when we fail. Are we no good at such times? Of course not! We’re the same people we were in the times of success, accomplishment, and celebration. We can keep our trophies polished and admire them from time to time, but we learn good lessons from the mistakes, and we bounce back from the failures, and the disappointments don’t last forever (and sometimes they turn out to be blessings in disguise). The point is there will always be ups and downs. We can appreciate the ups, but our value doesn’t depend on them. We are Life in expression, at all times. In good times and bad times we have sacred value and enormous potential. We are enough. When we believe that, the ups won’t leave us conceited and the downs won’t leave us in despair. At all times, we are enough. And that’s enough to know, isn’t it?

How Do We Know There Is a God?

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor

Question: I am… a scientific person (civil engineer)… [To me] everything has an equation, an answer that can be proven… My question is: How does one know that God really exists if we cannot physically (visually) see Him?

Answer: If God is a person on a throne in the sky, then “He” will always feel distant and perhaps even unreal to us. But there are other ways of understanding God. Theologian Paul Tillich described God as the “Ground of Being”. Jesus said that God is “spirit”, and the word he used for spirit is the same word that can be used for wind or air or breath. St. Paul, quoting an ancient Greek poet, said that God is That in which we live and move and have our being. The writer of the New Testament book of 1^st John said, “God is love…”

If we think of God as just a bigger person with magical powers who answers some prayers and punishes misdeeds, then obviously the scientific mind (or any critical thinker) will have trouble embracing that image. But if as the mystics have always said (including Jesus and Paul), God is the Source of life, then we can see God in ourselves, in nature, in our loving relationships, in our creativity, in beauty or peace or joy.

I think of God as All-that-is, and I know that the Whole must be more than the sum of Its’ parts. God is what I call this All-in-all, but that is my choice. I could call It Spirit, or the Inward Light, or That in which we live and move and have our being, or the Ground of Being, or Love, or a thousand other things. God is simply my word for ultimate reality, and I believe in reality because I experience it.

My guess is that you see God (or Love or the Energy of life or the Web of existence… what’s in a name?) every day. Reason tells me that there is a Source, and faith tells me that that the Source is good. My choice is to call it God, but whatever you call it, I bet you already experience it in profound ways.

---

If you have questions about faith, the bible, the church, or sexuality & spirituality, you can email your questions to durrell@sunshinecathedral.org, or go to the Ask the Reverend Durrell Watkins page and click on the link there. Rev. Durrell Watkins will answer your questions and publish the answers here and in the weekly SunBurst. Your name will always be withheld, so only the actual question and the response will be published.

Sharing the Light: A Progressive View of the Way, the Truth, and the LIfe

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Senior Pastor Durrell Watkins speaks with Light University Academic Dean Robert Griffin. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Why aren’t my prayers doing any good?

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor

Question: None of my prayers seem to work anymore. I’ve prayed for people to get well, and they’ve gotten worse! I’ve prayed for financial blessings but I still struggle. I’ve even prayed for my love life but I’m still alone. Why aren’t my prayers doing any good?

Answer: Abraham Heschel wrote, “Prayer cannot bring water to parched land, nor mend a broken bridge, nor rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.” If we think of prayer as a magic bottle that will release a wish granting genie, then we may find ourselves disappointed when the wishes don’t come true. But if prayer is the change of attitude that helps us change for the better, then the better “us” can create a better life for ourselves.

Begging creates desperation, and a desperate spirit is not a receptive spirit. Prayer, rather than begging, is more of a release. Try sitting in the Silence. Just breathe. Feel gratitude for the solitude of the moment. Know that at least for that moment, all is well. Just relax and experience the peace of quiet breathing. That is centering prayer, and it will almost always leave you feeling better. I find such prayer to be effective.

Another formula you might try is affirming your good rather than begging for it. Affirm that Good is at hand, and then allow it to come however it may. It may not look exactly like your desire, but sometimes it will, and sometimes it will even be better. Such a prayer can be very simple: “Dear God, I relax in your presence and know that your grace is enfolding me and my dear ones now. I trust your grace to provide for every need and to bring wonderful blessings into manifestation at the perfect time and in the perfect way. Thank you, God. Amen.”

When I was in college, I complained to a wise older friend that my prayers weren’t working. She could tell I was quite anxious. Her answer to me was brilliant. She said, “Never pray hard. Always pray easy.”

If your prayer helps you experience a moment of peace, then it is a perfect prayer. And once you achieve a peaceful state, you may find that specific blessings find their way to you as well.

---

If you have questions about faith, the bible, the church, or sexuality & spirituality, you can email your questions to durrell@sunshinecathedral.org, or go to the Ask the Reverend Durrell Watkins page and click on the link there. Rev. Durrell Watkins will answer your questions and publish the answers here and in the weekly SunBurst. Your name will always be withheld, so only the actual question and the response will be published.

Avoid Desperation

A Progressive, Positive, Practical Weekly Reflection by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, M.A., M.Div., D.Min.

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” Jesus, Matthew 6.34

Have you ever been desperate? Perhaps you were looking for a lover, or even just a date. But you were so anxious about finding someone that you actually spent more time worrying about not finding someone than meeting new people. People aren’t attracted to desperation. But, once you “gave up”, and relaxed, suddenly people started noticing how attractive some of your qualities are. People noticed that you are funny, or charming, or kind and they wanted to spend more time with you. Some of them probably asked you out, or you asked one of them out and they joyously accepted the invitation. That’s actually a very good life lesson — whether we are dealing with health, finances, career, friendships, or any other issue, it’s important to remember that desperation only attracts more desperate conditions. Hope, peace, confidence… these attitudes attract the more harmonious conditions we deserve and desire. When desperation starts to sit in, try to relax. Don’t worry about what could go wrong down the road. Meet the day at hand with hope and confidence. Desperation isn’t helpful. Hope, however, is.

Why Do We Call Jesus “Teacher”?

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor

Question: Why do people call Jesus the “Master Teacher”? I was raised to believe Jesus was divine, and that he was my savior. This “Master Teacher” talk is new for me.

Answer: I think “Teacher” is a great title for Jesus. I don’t often use the word “Master” because of its hierarchical and abusive connotations in our culture; but for me, Jesus is certainly a Great Teacher! Remember this story from the synoptic gospels — “…a man ran up, knelt down before Jesus, and asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus answered, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.’” He then went on to teach the man an important lesson. He taught him that generosity was more important than legalism, but notice what else happened. He asked “why do you call me good?” He didn’t ask “why do you call me ‘teacher’?” Can you imagine a more powerful, relevant teacher in human history than Jesus?

There is a wonderful saying in the South, “You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you won’t go.” Jesus knew that he was one with God, and so he teaches us that we, too, are one with God. Jesus stepped out in faith to heal and help others, and so he teaches us that we, too, can be channels for miracle working power in our world.

We can think of Jesus as “Lord” (over against forces of oppression in our world) or as “savior” (rescuing us from loneliness and despair) or even as “redeemer” (showing us our innate dignity and sacred value), but Jesus is also a great teacher pointing us in the direction of hope and healing and happiness by his words and example.

Thinking of Jesus as a Teacher doesn’t diminish his importance; in fact, because he knew his oneness with God, he can show us ours. He can teach us the Truth, because he knew it. And because he teaches us, we know it too.

If you don’t like the other titles people have used for Jesus, e.g. “savior,” then “Teacher” is a great alternative. If you are satisfied with the other titles for Jesus, “Teacher” is just one more appropriate and biblical word to add to the list. Whatever else Jesus is for us, he is undoubtedly a wonderful Teacher.

---

If you have questions about faith, the bible, the church, or sexuality & spirituality, you can email your questions to durrell@sunshinecathedral.org, or go to the Ask the Reverend Durrell Watkins page and click on the link there. Rev. Durrell Watkins will answer your questions and publish the answers here and in the weekly SunBurst. Your name will always be withheld, so only the actual question and the response will be published.

Sharing the Light: Liberty and Justice for All

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Senior Pastor Durrell Watkins speaks with Light University Academic Dean Robert Griffin. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Love

From the videographer: I asked my couples friends on myspace to send me photos of themselves for this project. I felt it would be nice to put a face on the issue of same sex marriage. Some of these couples are legally married in California. Most are still dreaming of legal marriage in America. All are wonderful, loving couples who deserve equality. If you like this video, please share. Spread the word that love is never unequal and that marriage is a civil right that everyone in America deserves.

Prop 8 the Musical

starring Jack Black, John C Reilly, and many more from FOD Team, Craig Robinson, John C Reilly, Rashida Jones, and Sarah Chalke.