"YHWH is not a radio station in Minneapolis." - C. McNair Wilson

One of the most intriguing aspects of human life is our universal fascination with Ultimate Reality. Called by many names and titles: God, Ground of Being, The Tao, Brahman, Spirit, YHWH, Allah, Father, Mother, The One in Whom we Live and Move and Have Our Being, Ultimate Reality features prominently in virtually every human culture.

Though I've studied world religions extensively (I received my BA in Religious Studies), my personal approach to Ultimate Reality is very simple: I seek God's presence (usually in silence), I trust God's ultimate wisdom and goodness, and I devote myself to the tutelage of Yeshua (Jesus) principally through the study his teachings as recorded in the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament.

In the Gospels (as I read them), Jesus' attention concentrates on being authentically related to God, others and life itself. I especially love how Jesus uses parables to expose all forms of inauthenticity. Jesus' ethic (how to be and behave in the world) seems to be rooted in--and a natural expression of--authentic relationships.

That this quest for authenticity pertains to all domains of human life and experience, I think, helps to explain how people find so many diverse paths to spiritual development. Judging by how many sermon illustrations pertain to sports, one could easily conceive of athletics as a spiritual path. Many people acknowledge parenthood as the crucible of their own spiritual awakenings. Some people engage in works of charity as a practice of spiritual devotion. I'm particularly intrigued with the possibility of entrepreneurship as a spiritual path. I may even pursue this line of inquiry in my PhD research in American Religious History.

I've been profoundly influenced in my spiritual journey by a number of individuals and by a handful of books. I'll write initially about two books which have had an impact on my spiritual life. Later I intend to add more to this section.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. This daily devotional is based on sermons and writings from about 1911-1917 and compiled by Chambers' wife in the 1930s. I started reading it when I was about 20 years old and read it daily for more than two decades. I still read it occasionally and it continues to challenge me and inspire me in my devotion to God. I've met many people over the years that share a similar story about the impact of this simple book. You can usually find a copy in a used bookstore for a couple dollars. Don't get the "updated" version.

Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This is a tiny volume that will rock your world. Its simple message is this: pay attention--God is here now. Written centuries ago, it transcends time and place.

(*See Tetragrammaton in Wikipedia)