Being human, we all need someone to stand beside us; especially when we are not doing very well. We can take a lesson from Peter, the man Jesus had left in charge. He was blessed with exceptional insight (Mt.16: 16) and with mistakes difficult to overcome (Mt.26: 69-75). At least twice, Jesus warned him that he was exposing himself to Satan (Mt.16: 23; Lk.22: 31). On the first Easter, Peter was completely devastated. Would he have become the leader without the help of "The Other Disciple?" Who was that person?

Easter morning a young man, in a white robe, said to the women that had come to embalm Jesus, "But go, tell his disciples and Peter" (Mk.16: 1-7). What were they to tell and who needed to know? How could it be that the disciples that were to tell had to be told?

Jesus stood at the tomb of Lazarus and told Martha that her brother would live again because He, Jesus was the resurrection and the life (Jn.11: 23-25). This took place just before what we call Palm Sunday.

Architecture has found religion a fertile ground for its art and skills. Our Cathedrals, Temples and places of worship are glorious monuments to God and to Christ. Enormous costs and sacrifices have given us these magnificent religious architectures for archeological purposes. It shall prove to posterity that our ancestors were religious. How did it all begin? How can one built a House for God?

Politicians appear rather fond of acting and deciding inadvertently; then they want the people to be inadvertent (overlook) about their blunders. What are we to make of it?

Sunday morning is when I like to listen to an edifying religious program. Some of my favorite speakers have moved up and some no longer can afford T.V. time. Those that can stay on the tube, prey on my gullibility. They rise like a mushroom and appear very tasty and make me feel they are like me. After several sessions, they fall into a pattern that yields authenticity to their mission. They want me to believe that they were commissioned and even sent of God and Christ. They interpret and dwell on events in their lives as direct acts of God. And I dare not question their sincerity.

I am Daniel Arthur Kolke, born March 13, 1930 in Kurgany Poland (now part of the Ukraine). I was named after my mother's brother and generally I was called Danush, Danja, and Danl. In Canada, I became Dan and Danny. As a child, we had little time to play. I was employed at six, doing chores, even attending cows. We made our balls out of cow hair, and toys out of discarded materials. Father was not paid with currency but with goods. One time he got a horse that horse almost killed me.

Jesus announced that He was the way to the Father and that He was God in person with us (Jn.14: 6; Mt.1: 23). He also promised to be with us constantly (Mt.28: 20). No one has made such claims.

An important person came running, knelt in front of Jesus and asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Lk.18: 18-30; Mt.19: 17-30; Mk.10: 13-26). The Synoptics agreed that the question was asked of Jesus and not of one of his followers. It is also a question that everyone should ask, "What must I do?" And what did Jesus tell the young man or Ruler? Just how impossible was it to get what he was looking for?

The word instantly makes us think of Christianity or the faith in a Supreme Being. The dictionary does not concur with our ready presumption. The word "religion" includes all beliefs and ideologies. The belief in a tree is just as much a religion as believing in a Creator. The atheist's belief in science or in nothing is just as much a religion as a Christian that believes in Jesus Christ. Every ideologue that believes in something or someone is religious. Being religious simply implies that we all adhere to something.