OnLine Coach 

I've received some of your "daily motivational" e-mails, and what I learned from it really puzzles me.

It sounds like you are a very positive and enthusiastic guy and I respect that, but... As a result of what I've learned and experienced through my life, I know that I can't discover my own purpose or control my own happiness.....

You guessed right: I am a Christian. And everything I achieve, everything I struggle with comes from God. My purpose in life is to please God and to glorify His name. I am not trying to convert you, but I am trying to show you that there are other options.

Try to believe in something bigger that yourself, because even if you have that "bounce in your step" everyday, you are still only human. Humans -- who declare wars, who rape each other, who murder each other, who lie and cheat and hurt each other! You eat, sleep, work and eventually you will die. Believing in yourself is not enough! You can't escape the inevitable. You probably received similar e-mails... and you will probably delete this one, just as you did the others, but I really hope you will think about what I said (about believing in something bigger than a sinful human being) and not just ignore my e-mail. I am not perfect, I have many, many, many flaws but I have purpose and inner peace that doesn't come from my "inner self"!!

My your day be full of blessings!

Thanks for your e-mails.

You know one thing I never do is challenge anyone's beliefs, it is not my place to do that. However all I ask is that you evaluate the results that manifest in your life as a result of your beliefs. If you do not like the results then I suggest that you evaluate your beliefs.

People often tell me that they are Christians, and I always have 2 comments to make. Firstly, why is it important to you that I should know this, do you expect a badge of honour or some special treatment? and Secondly, if you hadn't told me, would I have been able to see it in your behaviour, the way you treat yourself and the way you treat others? You see if it is not displayed by your behaviour then it is a lie.

Merely adopting the label is not enough. Just like going to MacDonald's does not make you fat, you have to eat the food, going to Church does not make you a Christian, you have to internalise and display the principles.

As to being "only human", why I think being human is a grand thing to be. Firstly I was made in God's image, secondly when Jesus left he told the disciples "these things I have done and more so shall you also do" and since we are led to believe that he was able to accomplish quite a lot that's a real exciting message. And thirdly I have been told that I am predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. I mean what more can a guy ask for?

As to something bigger than me, that is what drives me, to constantly strive to improve my performance, to better my service. There is a song which goes "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." Well I keep challenging, I want to know how great is he that is in me. The original meaning of the word "sin" is to miss the mark and in that meaning I agree that we are sinners as we live far below our potential, in terms of what we are capable of that which we now consider excellent is not even mediocre.

I have always had a problem with "sinners" who constantly ask for forgiveness of their many, many, many sins. My question is, if you have been forgiven why did you go out and sin again?

It is said that God created man in his own image, the problem is that man then returned the favour and created God in his (the man's) image and then relegated him to some obscure region that you can only access via the church and then only when you die.

Ask this of yourself, do your beliefs enslave you and make you subservient or do they empower you and make you self reliant and responsible?

I believe that either everything is miraculous or nothing is miraculous, you do not need to go into a man made building to find God, no merely become aware of the magnificence that surrounds you all the time. Become aware of the magnificence that is you. Let your life speak.

To live your best life be true to the YOU, that you want to be.

Live with passion. Change your life from making a living to making a difference.

Live up to the reputation that you want to have.