The NU Blog Page

What Is The Difference Between Happiness and Joy? Slightly edited by the Chaplain from a reflection by Rich Lewis on 9 July 2021 in which he considers Nicholas Amato’s book: Happiness & Joy: Can A Spiritual Life Have Both? Do we need to experience happiness before we can feel joy? How long do happiness and joy last?…

During times of crisis and disruption, we often find ourselves in anguish and asking, “Why me?” We just don’t understand why God would allow such a calamity to take place in our lives. I can only imagine what the survivors and families of those crushed by the recent condominium collapse in Florida are going through.…

Star Light, Star Bright: My father once managed a small airport in Texas. I was only about seven years old at the time. Our humble house was on the airport property but surrounded by a cornfield. And it was very dark at night. I can remember looking up at the night sky and being awestruck…

Identity and Self-worth Reframing a problem can make a difference. Over the years, I have been impressed with some people’s ability to “reframe” how one thinks about something. For example, rather than seeing a problem, one can choose to see a challenge. Instead of focusing on “This is just too hard!”, try “…but I can…

This week’s Reflection, Remove the Excess Baggage, was written by Method Moyo in Zimbabwe and originally shared on FaceBook.  It has been slightly edited by the Chaplain.  Moyo reminds us of a Christian’s need to remove the excess baggage he or she is carrying around in their life.  Good words, words to act on! Peace…

Do you have a faith to die for? I have spent the past week on the shore of a peaceful lake in East Texas, where I pondered the subject of belief and why we believe what we believe when we believe it.  The bottom line is that I found myself believing less but more firmly. What…

Where do you belong? Those words appeared on my Facebook page earlier this week. They have haunted me ever since I first saw them. Where do I belong? So I ask you the same question, “Where do you belong”? There are so many aspects to this. Do I belong in this community? Do I belong…

Leaving’ This Ole House: My wife and I have spent this week in Alabama cleaning out my brother-in-law’s house. As he can no longer care for himself, he is in hospital and will be moving to a long-term care facility. This sort of activity usually occurs after someone passes. But in this instance, it is…

“Jesus loves me this I know…” is the first line of a children’s song that many of us were taught at a very early age. It goes on with, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so…” I have pondered this week about how often the child is molded to unquestioningly…

Seeing but not perceiving is an experience everyone has at some point. Hearing aids have been a great help to my wife, Judy, whose ears have deteriorated over the past few years. Last evening, she came to bed with the hearing aids turned on. When she woke up, one of the devices was missing. The…