Four Gospels

The Gospel’s of Mark and Matthew provided explanations for some of Jesus’s stories that was very insightful. Luke’s venue and motivations for his Gospel, as stated in the course lessons, was eye-opening. The bonus Gospel of Thomas, since taking the Dr. of Metaphysics course (ULC), contained far more ‘mystical’ truths than ever before. It is the Gospel of John; though, that really caught my attention.

The original author, the ‘ beloved student’ of Jesus that is clearly not one of the 12 disciples (notice that ‘He’ was the first to believe when ‘He’ saw the wrapping in the empty tomb of Jesus, and the 11 other disciples did not believe until later, additionally if ‘He’ were one of the disciples, why would Peter question his following them [third line from the end of John]), is the first mystery noticed from this course. Catholic, most Protestant groups, as well as this course (see ‘love’ in the glossary) all teach that John Evangelist was the author. A relatively new book, “The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved” (see thedisciplewhomjesusloved.com [author not found]), makes a very convincing argument for Lazarus as the author. The title for this Gospel was added long after it was written.

A Rosicrucian document used several years ago stated that John was a Gnostic (probable one of the Essene sects). John’s ‘original’ Gospel, per this document, was very popular (partially because of the poetic cadence [like Jesus used] made it very easy to listen to and remember) but unfortunately, very Gnostic. The Gnostic’s taught each person could have direct experience with GOD. Therefore, Christ (and especially the Church) was not necessary to communicate with GOD. [Note: Perhaps it was not John but the ‘beloved student’ who was the Gnostic.] John’s Gospel was too popular to go away; therefore, the wording had to change to reflect the ‘CORRECT’ place of the early church.

The first example (though probably not occurring until later) is line 2 of the Gospel. Mr. Gaus’s translation says “It was with GOD in the beginning.” This clearly refers to “the Word.” The NRSV Study Bible (among others) states “He was in the beginning with GOD.” The NRSV notes say that Jesus was “the Word”, ergo, Creation occurred thru Jesus. This virtually deifies’ Jesus and establishes him before Creation (wouldn’t Luke have loved that). The Greek Orthodox Bible supports the course’s view. A clear dichotomy that goes to the heart of some differences mentioned in this course’s prologue (John part 1). **

Prior to C.E. 70, the harsh words directed toward the “Jews” (i.e., John 8:44), was probably predicated by Jerusalem’s Temple Elite ostracizing Jewish ‘Christians’ from Synagogue activities. On the other hand, the ‘elevation’ of Christ (i.e., John 14-17), probably originated between C.E. 80-90 (or beyond). References for both of the above statements, while there are many, can be found in the current NRSV Study Bible.

This course opened my eyes to many issues (and more than a few answers), contained in these Gospels. Much of that is beyond the scope of this paper. Learning more of John was clearly my favorite. Discovering three (at least) separate, but entwining, motivations (Spiritual enlightenment, political counter attach, and Church doctrine aggrandizement), written at different times by obviously different hands, within one ‘book’, yet still containing a truly enlightening theme **, was amazing to me. It is no wonder that, as mentioned in the lessons, this is the most quoted of the Gospels. The Gospel of John truly has something for everyone!

Respectfully Submitted,

Rev. William Fowler

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Four Gospels

The Essay of the Gospel Class ULC Seminary by Louis C. Hook

The fact I recognize I knew more than this was most evident in my writings and of course the Lord smiled as I made a complete fool of myself. The chances of this factual knowledge of God being in one old broken down cavalry trooper was remote. Once I reread the vitally important section of the Sermon on the Mount (all references for this diatribe are those from the Unvarnished Gospels) presents a problem which is not easy to resolve - the question whether it is to be linked with what has gone before or be taken as introduction to the ensuing section about false prophets and false religion. In favor of the former it can be urged that the definite article: “the strait gate”, often has a demonstrative sense in New Testament Greek: “this strait gate”. In which case reference would appear to be to the comprehensive but difficult precept which Jesus had just laid upon his disciples: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

Yet this is not free from difficulty. The picture presented to the mind is of a narrow gate giving access to a narrow way, with eternal life as its end. Such a mental picture does not seem appropriate to this principle of Christian graciousness. And, further, to apply it in this way would surely imply justification by one’s own good works. If indeed a man is to keep himself in the narrow way to life by observing the Golden Rule, then it must be admitted that a vast proportion of the Lord’s people, with the best will in the world, are frequently astray from it. Again, the commentary: “few there be that find it” is hardly appropriate to the Golden Rule, which is easy enough to “find” but terribly difficult to maintain as a constant guiding influence in one’s life.

The words of Jesus here strongly suggest a faith which has to be sought out, and a personal decision and choice which have to be made. A man does not drift into the service of Christ. He becomes a disciple by making up his mind that this is the only loyalty he can accept, the only way of life for him to follow. This is the spirit of the appeal made to Israel by Moses, an appeal now reiterated by Jesus in even more challenging fashion: “I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Dt. 30:19).

It was a far-reaching claim that if a man would have eternal life he will find it in no other way than through the service of Christ himself: “I am the true and living way: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). “I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved” (John 10:9). A man must give his own personal assent to these truths, and make his own personal decision in the light of them. The only alternative is the wide gate and broad way by which the many follow the road to destruction. The teaching of Jesus here could hardly be more explicit. There are not many or even several ways a man may follow. The Unvarnished Gospels therefore show there are only two, and every individual is in one or the other.

This “either - or” theme gets plenty of emphasis in the Bible-and needs it. Two ways (Jer. 21:8; Pr. 4:10-19); two trees (Ps. 1:6, 7; Jer. 17:5-8); two houses (Mt. 7:24-28). The Greek word for “narrow” is rather frightening. It means “squeezed up”; not “narrow”, but “made narrower”. This narrow way in Christ has to be sought for: “Few there be that find.” And since, only a short while before, Jesus had declared so unequivocally: “Seek, and ye shall find” (7:7), it follows logically that there are only few who seek! Experience underlines the truth of this. The vast majority, if not actually content with life as they find it, are so devoid of higher spiritual aspirations that they never seek anything different from what they naturally know. They do not have to “find” the way that leads to destruction. They are already in it, and are well content to make fast or slow progress there.

The teaching of Jesus here is eclecticism in its most rigorous form. In plain unvarnished fashion he made it perfectly clear that he expected no sweeping success in his preaching. The nation’s ultimate response to his appeal would be small. And in the wider field of Gentile evangelism also the same would be true.

It has become fashionable in the past several hundred years to attack the Christian faith in a unique and allegedly scholarly manner. Prominent universities, critics, skeptics, and scholars try to deny what the New Testament record reveals about Jesus Christ. Generally, most people will accept Jesus as a moral teacher whose followers developed His teachings into a religion, but what they will not accept is the testimony of Christ and Holy Writ.

The Unvarnished Gospels give us his baptism, the proclamation especially in parables of the present and future kingdom of God, a ministry of exorcism, his gathering of disciples across socio-economic boundaries, his sharing a common meal that celebrated their new relationship to God, his challenge to the Jewish teachers of His day, the arousal of opposition that led to his arrest, his trials by the Jewish authorities on charges of blasphemy and by the Romans for sedition, and his crucifixion.

The Jesus Seminar with liberal theologians, such as Burton Mack and John Dominic Crossan, differ significantly in their conclusions than the scholarship of the Historical Quest or that of the Unvarnished Gospels. The Jesus Seminar tries to claim intellectual scholarship with the Historical Quest, but fails miserably in such desperate attempts. For example, the Historical Quest and the Unvarnished Gospels believes that there are considerable sections of the Gospels that are historical. In contrast, the Seminar believes that only a minute section of the Gospels are historically reliable.

The disquieting trend in surveying the scholarship for the historical Jesus is the level of demand that is placed upon the Christian church to adjust its theologies and doctrines in light of the progression of “historical reconstructionism” of modern scholarship. However, these demands assume that the modern discoveries concerning the historical Jesus are the definitive interpretation of Jesus in contrast to the testimony of the Unvarnished Gospel writers. The question that needs answering is whether or not the historical Jesus of this research is the true counterpart of Jesus in His fullness as the New Testament documents reveal Him.

The answer to the question is without equivocation a resounding “no.” The breach between the historical Jesus of the various researches and the real Jesus of history and faith requires two things. First, scholars who are relying on history alone as the most important tool to understand Jesus Christ must understand and recognize the limits and restrictions of history. Without equivocation, the Christian faith is historical but understanding the whole of Christianity has never been based solely on historical studies. The interpreter of Scripture needs to be able to properly evaluate and reevaluate the role of history in studies of Jesus. Second, scholars must be able to correctly consign the real and historical Jesus within the life and theology of Christianity as a whole. The modern reconstructions of the historical Jesus quests need not put centuries of Christian thought and practice out of place. Certainly, the quests are profitable if the proper method and perspective are employed in such studies of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

It is my most humble opinion that the Unvarnished Gospels and the studies we have done in this class point to the factual truth of God’s Infinite Word. Faith, Tradition, and Honor are the basis of our path to the One True God of the Multi-Cosmos (Traditionalism’s Tenets of Faith). I am a Traditionalist and I seek the Lord via that open and strict view of the Word. We must all see the truth and know that the heart gives us the power to know. It is up to us to hear the quiet call.

God loves you.

Louis Charles Hook SSG (CA)

Senior Master Chaplain Assistant

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Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church. 

Four Gospels

DIVORCE and the CHRISTIAN

Prepared by Stanley C. Lawrence

Paper Written for The FOUR GOSPELS Course

“The Unvarnished Gospels” book was interesting and provided many different perspectives of the Four Gospels of the New Testament, however I tended to disagree with a few of the interpretations of some of the Biblical phrases used, such as, “Kingdom of the skies” and “bathing of the Spirit,” as used in the book. I felt that these interpretations just didn't provide the punch that the original Bible interpretations provided.

Basically, I found fault with much of this interpretation of the four Gospels. I would have preferred an Aramaic to English translation, or better to have studied the book, “The Complete Gospels,” Robert J. Miller, Editor. The textbook, however, does bring up some interesting questions.

Having said that, this interpretation did make one think about the words of Jesus and the traditions about him. I thought about and had the most trouble with the subject of divorce, as

it pertains to the Christian today. It seems as though every family has experienced divorce somewhere in their families or someone who is a friend. And I believe this topic to be very

important for the ULC clergy to consider, as most religions will not remarry someone, through the church, after they have been divorced, because most church clergy believe that this

comes from God, and so this should be adhered to if we are to do what the law of God commands.

Divorce is so prevalent in today's society and most individuals know of people personally who have divorced and broken their marriages apart. Of course, the main emphasis of any

marriage that has children, should be that the best interest of the children involved come first and foremost before the interests of the feuding adults. It is so very interesting that the discourse on divorce in Matthew (Matthew 19:3-12) was immediately followed by a discourse on little children, so it is very important to see that Jesus tied the two subjects together.  Problems causing divorce are largely rooted in dysfunctionality of the adult individuals involved, which makes it extremely difficult to reconcile differences. In these cases, I believe that these marriages have not been ordained by God, as the individuals have usually not taken the time for courtship and the engagement of getting to know each other properly. This often is because of the dysfunctionality of the individuals that rush into these slipshod marriages because of sex being such a part of these courtships and quite often pregnancies ensue as a result.

The dysfunctionality can be very varied, but may include: ADHD, various other mental problems and diseases, alcohol or drug addictions, low self-esteem, these things often combined with low income, and many, many times survivors of child abuse.

Jesus said in Matthew 19, as it is said in the textbook: “So what God joined together, let no man divide.” In the Gospel book of John, it tells the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, where Jesus asks her about where her husband is and he tells her she had had five husbands and was then living with a man not married to her. Jesus doesn't really condemn her for all these marriages (and obvious divorces), however he does speak to her of forgiveness and commitment in her life. Strangely though, the book of John was written for believers in Christ, but it does not specifically mention divorce, as the other three Gospels do.

We as clergy, should be concerned about whether or not the two individuals to be married are truly believers in Christ and if salvation is a part of their lives. If both are sincerely Christian and wanting to obey God's commands, the greatest of which is to love God and each other, then we would seek to try and counsel the adult individuals with the hope that their marriage will completely be from God. We as clergy can decry the terrible evils of divorce and then we seek to marry everyone that wants to be married. Therefore, we should not place the center of our attention on divorce, but rather we should emphasize the lifelong commitment that should be a necessary part of Christian marriages today. Marriage should be a source of spiritual and moral strength in life, with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

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The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

Rev. Linda Francis

Essay for completion of the class on the four Gospels.

Perhaps the Gospel of John was were my doubts about the "real truth of the Gospels" begin when I was just a girl. I was a writer, an artist and storyteller even at that age and most of all a dreamer and a mystic. There was a new country song out called "Me and Jesus Have Our own Thing Goin'." Jesus became very real to me that year. I wrote poetry and made up songs to him almost daily on my walks in nature alone or in the hay loft of my Grand Father's barn. He became so real to me it was as we were twin souls and could read the mind and feelings of the other. I came to known a man meek, mild and humble yet strong and wise beyond words. I knew my fundamental parents and church had the man they believed in, picture in their minds and hearts all wrong. As I read the Gospel of John that summer I love the style of the poetic writer and his storytelling ability but I felt he did not know the "real man" I knew and was telling the story wrong. I recall communicating in my own special way that summer with my new friend I had discovered that summer and feeling "his" silent voice telling me, "Yes, Linda, you are right, I would never boast about myself to others as the author has me do. The write loves me as much as you have came to love me this summer but he just heard about me and created the person he wanted me to be, but he never took the time to really know me as you have this summer."

I feel as if there too are perhaps two people involved in authorship of this story. Perhaps a left brained centered person still much in the control of the ego that wants black and white questions and answers, and wanted to convince others he was right to strength the cause of the new church and perhaps a creative storyteller who took his story and told it as it was presented to him, but in a poetic and dramatic fashion. Creative thinkers, like poets and storytellers, in general are not back and white thinkers and want open ended questions and not closed answers as often appear in this gospel.

It was a good to find many years later in my others too who also had the wisdom and knowledge in their research to know and show this story had a purpose of it's own that was more to the author's personal views than the real nature and history of the man called Jesus.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

The study of the Four Gospel Course was a spiritual journey for me. It allowed me to enter the spiritual world of, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.I was able to allow myself to question the Gospels. For the first time, I allowed myself to question the word, to evaluate, and, to ask myself is this what Jesus said and did. I was able to consider the word,without feeling I would go to hell for questioning. I realized that the bible is the inspired word of God, and God spoke to the spirit of each writer. Even when God speaks to my spirit there is a humanness involved in the interpretation, and so it is with the writers of the Four Gospels.

My favorite chapter was the book of John. Although some may find that it has a poetic flavor, I can really sense the human part of our divine Christ. I am able to journey through the human emotions of Christ. I can understand his frustrations, his sorrow, and his pain. I felt as thou I had gone on a spiritual journey with Jesus. It encouraged me to explore the human side of Jesus.In the book of John I got a real sense of a wide range of the human emotions Christ experienced.Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, this showed his compassion and willingness to serve.The chapters leading to his death on the cross, are further examples of the emotions experienced by Jesus. The pleading to take this cup away, and finally the acceptance of his fate are all examples that, as humans we can relate to. It reminded me of the stages people experience when they are dying. The anger, denial, bargaining, and finally acceptance. , I believe these are the same stages we go through as we reach different levels of spiritual maturity.We die to our lower selfish natures, as we grow into higher stages of spiritual development.

In Matthew, I am impressed with the authority of Jesus, over circumstances, diseases and even death. In Mark's gospel I experience the ministry of Christ as he presents Christ as the servant of God. The book of Luke I sense the compassion of the Son of Man as he cares for those in need. Finally, in the book of John, I sense John saying Come see, and experience Christ. In the first section of John he is the miracle worker, in the second I experience the teacher, and in the last section of John I experienced the Victor.

I really enjoyed this course. I also enjoyed the emails, and looked forward to receiving the interchange of ideas.

Rev. Linda K. Muhammad

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

ULC

The Four Gospels Course

by Rev J. Duguay

What does "Blessed" really mean?

by Rev JoAnna Duguay

After doing more research I would have to say that the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes have a much bigger and profound meaning to me now.

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.”

Matthew 5:1-12 A.S. Version

According to Scripture, those who are blessed are those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those that hunger for rightness, those who show mercy, the pure in heart, those who seek after peace and those who are persecuted for rightness. In other words; the low of the low (as defined by our society today) are blessed by God.

What does it mean to be 1) poor 2) a mourner 3) meek 4) to hunger and thirst for rightness 5) merciful 6) pure in heart 7) peace seeker and 8) being persecuted?

For me these eight blessings mean the following:

Poor: Poor here does not mean having no money, living in the slums, homeless, etc. What it means is those people who choose to live an uncomplicated and unbusy life. Those who choose not to let money, fame, their job or even their relationships define who they are. Being humble and knowing your place in world.

Those who Mourn: Mourning and being blessed seem like a contradiction, doesn’t it? By mourning, I think this passage is trying to convey mourning of spiritual matters. Seeing sin and evil in the world and feeling it’s consequences. Seeing a friend or loved one choose the “wrong” path. A mourner is one who can sense the rightness and wrongness of the world and feel overwhelming burden of trying to right the wrong or make it right.

Meekness: This word definitely does not mean you let other walk all over you and become a victim. It means strength under control. Instead of becoming angry and yelling or screaming, you take a breath and become calm and determine the right way to deal with things. A meek person desires peace and chooses to be humble in all things.

What is it to hunger and thirst after righteousness? I like to call it “rightness.” Like the ULC motto claims. “Do that which is right.” It means even in the hardest decisions of life, you are going to choose the high road, the road that takes you upstream, not downstream. The road “less traveled.” Never ever compromising what you know is right even if it makes you very unpopular.

Merciful: Those who show compassion on people others won’t. Forgiving where others will not forgive. Knowing God’s grace is all that separates us from the darkness and sharing the light with all who need it.

Pure in Heart: Simplicity. Living life in it’s simplest form. Not bragging, not showing off, not judging. Believing in miracles and seeing the light through the darkness. 

Peacemaker: A uniter not a divider. Seeking the “peace profound” in each and every part of life. War is never of God.

Those who are Persecuted: Staying your ground when it seems like the whole world has a different viewpoint or belief than yours and not being afraid to share it.

The older I get the more I realize the real meaning or significance of my life is who I am on the inside and how I react to the world around me. It’s not about money, fame or power. It’s not about rushing to a decision but trying to determine that which is right and doing it. Never letting someone else make a decision for me. Being willing to travel down roads untraveled, unmarked or with no directions. Simply traveling your own “True North. The direction you were meant to travel regardless of the consequences.

In conclusion…….. Life is a Journey, not a Destination!

Rev J. Duguay

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Four Gospels

Thoughts on the Four Gospels             I really enjoyed this chapter. It still fits in this world a lot some people just get baptized today because they think that it is what they are expected to do. It really doesn't mean to them what it should. Sometimes it is just for show and doesn't change the persons heart at all. When really it should be a life altering moment. It changed me forever.          The new cloth on an old cloak and old wine in an old wine skin. Of course still applies today. Some people just can not change. But I believe that everyone has some good in them and if there is a glimmer of hope that God can enter into your life anyone can change. Because he is most powerful and almighty and if you let him in he will change your life.         Jesus was given the power by God to forgive. Jesus is God's son and he was given God's power while here on earth . God did this so that all of us  would know that he is and that he is all powerful. Jesus was sent here to show God's children that he is and that he loves us.              About the journey back home. That definitely applies to today because everyone who goes back home for a visit is judged. People are just naturally curious and judge mental.                                 When Jesus tells us that what we put into our mouths doesn't matter, it is what comes out of our mouth that matters. I think this is one of this strongest statements in the Bible. Because God is not going to judge you for what you eat , or drink, or how dirty your hands are when you eat. What comes out of your mouth comes from who you are. It comes from your heart and soul that is much more important.                    Staying true to your beliefs is very much a part of today's world. In today's world there are so many different belief systems being taught, and so much pressure on a person for what they believe that it is hard to stay true to your beliefs. But if you have faith and you have God and Jesus in your life, really in your life. It shouldn't be hard to stay true. This chapter was interesting. I have read the Bible probably about 5 times and reading it slower like this makes a difference. It really makes you think and compare the times. Jesus did not want them to talk about him and his miracles because he did not want the praise and recognition for him. He wanted it for God his father. Unfortunately today everyone wants recognition for themselves even when they are trying to teach about God.                                     Barriers in this life are just tests but you have to do your best to make it through them with your faith still intact. Because they really do mean nothing in the long run. But sometimes in the world we live in today they make us stray so far from our faith that we get lost.                         Divorce and Marriage are both taken way to lightly in today's world. People take these vows not understanding the true meaning of them. When you marry you join your life to theirs until death do you part. So you should take your time and be sure of what you are doing. You make that vow to yourselves and witnesses and God and it should not be taken lightly. Divorce sometimes is necessary. But not just because you are tired of being married. Marriage is hard there is nothing about sharing your life that is easy. But you should consider that before you take that step. Then when you do you should do everything in your power to keep your vows not just give up when things get a little tough.                    Jesus tell us that God worked through him when he did the miracles. God still performs miracles today through others because he can. He is the almighty and he can do anything. I have had so many miracles in my life I do not think I could even list them all.                 I do believe what goes around comes around in today's world. There is so much hatred and anger in this world it is so unbalanced. We need more joy and love and the only ones that can change that is us. So we all need to wake up and start changing what we don't like.                  The lesson of the drummer boy is so great we don't see much of this anymore. Everyone should give more . But people don't appreciate it and we don't want to be hurt so we just don't try.                           The story of Judas is so much a part of today's world. Everyone stabs everyone in the back. It is hard to find anyone who is trustworthy at all even family. People are out today for themselves and they just don't care about what their actions cause.                      When God was angry at the crucifixion of Jesus.Then people believed   their was physical proof. They believed that the crucifixion angered God and he did all of the destruction. They could see it so it scared them into believing. People are doing this again today because of all of the natural disasters. They believe that the end is near and God is doing all of this so they are starting to believe again. God needs you to believe because he has told you that he is. His son came and told you that he is. He sent many men before him that told you he is . He had them write the Bible to teach you of what he expected. But still we need physical proof. I have no doubt in my Father in heaven and I need nothing to prove to me that he exists. But everyday I get signs that he does and it just strengthens my faith even more. Rev. Gwen ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link. Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program.