For many people some form of religion is their introduction to faith and belief in something greater than themselves. As we grow and explore our faith and connection to the divine, we sometimes start to call ourselves “spiritual” instead of “religious”. We make distinctions that keep these two concepts mutually exclusive.
Here, at the Spiritual Book Club, we see Religion as providing an important foundation for faith. This is the foundation on which Spirituality grows. Our main purpose is to provide our audience with tools they can use to build the bridges joining Religion and Spirituality in a healthy, loving and mutually respectful manner. These tools will come from the books we discuss.
Join Rev. Ric and Carolyn McGee for the first monthly Spiritual Book Club on Saturday June 16, 2012 at 11:00 AM eastern as we discuss the first Agreement from “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Audience participation is welcomed and one listener will receive an Angel Card reading related to the topic on every show.
Please join us and share your insights and challenges, inspirations and obstacles, ah-ha’s and oh-oh’s.
//www.blogtalkradio.com/angelsteachradio/2012/06/16/spiritual-book-club-debut-6-16-12
Much Love, Peace and Joy
Carolyn McGee & Rev. Ric
What happens when a person dies? I am fearful of dying.
The Bible speaks of physical death and spiritual death. When a person dies physically, the soul and spirit leave the body in an inanimate state on earth. Those who die physically in Christ are united spiritually with God, while those who die apart from Christ await the final judgment. Physical death, therefore, is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body.
Spiritual death is the separation of the soul and spirit from God. It is possible to be physically alive on earth while being spiritually dead. Apostle Paul describes those “who were dead in trespasses and sins” in Ephesians 2:1. Paul also wrote that sin entered the world through Adam and spread to every person (Romans 5:12), and that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Spiritually dead persons are “made alive” through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1). Whatever one’s spiritual condition at the time of physical death, whether spiritually alive or spiritually dead, passes through to eternity.
So physical death is the separation of the spiritual nature of man from the body, while spiritual death is the separation of the spiritual nature of man from God. For a Christian (born again), physical death is nothing more than a doorway through which we pass into eternal life. Jesus said it best: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). There is no reason for a Christian to fear physical death. Through faith in Christ, we have eternal life even before die physically (John 17:3).
If you were to die right now, do you think you would enter into Heaven? Would you like to have the absolute assurance that you will be welcome there? If so then, pray this simple prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I know I cannot earn my way into Heaven. I thank you for sacrificing your life so that my sins could be forgiven. I know the only way anyone can receive forgiveness is through you, and so I come to you now and ask you to come into my life, forgive me of my sins, cleanse me, heal me, and be my personal savior so I may have eternal life through you. I pray in your name Jesus. Amen.
As a continuation of your faith in Christ, you should start studying the Bible daily in order to gain a closer relationship with God, also find a local church to attend that teaches directly from the Bible so you will have someone to answer any questions you may still have. Welcome to the family of God!
Thank you for sharing and I pray you find peace with all of life’s transitions.
Blessings,
Elvia