Sunshine Cathedral Blog

Question: Is there really a heaven after we die?
Answer: Zen Master Seung Sahn once wrote, “You [don’t] get enlightenment in some ‘other’ life; our next life is actually not the next life… There is actually nowhere else for us to become [enlightened] but right now, in this place…” You see, religion isn’t fire insurance. Our [...]

Question: I notice we often replace the word “kingdom” with the word “kin-dom”. It is obviously intentional and I presume it is utilized to make our language more inclusive. Is this true? Are there any other reasons? Do other churches do this?
Answer: Some churches (and many individuals) use the word “kin-dom”. And you are right; [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: My friend has been given a serious diagnosis and a grim prognosis. I believe in the healing power of prayer and I want to encourage my friend to not give up. I’m praying, but he isn’t getting better. How can I help him have more faith [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: Why did Jesus say he was dying for his friends? What does that mean?
Answer: I have no idea if Jesus said he was dying “for” his friends.Remember, Jesus didn’t write the gospels. People wrote those stories 40 – 70 years after Jesus’ death, so lots of [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: You preach a message of optimism and self-esteem. But how do you account for biblical messages like the one in Isaiah, chapter 64 that says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”?
Answer: There are [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: We are given such a positive message and warm experience at Sunshine Cathedral every Sunday morning. How can we maintain that feeling of joy and optimism during the week, Monday — Saturday? How do we keep shame, regret, and fear from creeping back into our consciousness?
Answer: [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: I am interested in studying the New Testament. I would like to review the books in chronological order and by author. Is there a textbook or books you would suggest that I could buy?
Answer: An excellent introduction to the New Testament (including historical and contextual information), [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: I’ve been struggling with a lot of difficulties. I don’t even think I have faith any more. How can you get faith back once you’ve lost it?
Answer: I wouldn’t worry about your “lack” of faith. You probably have more faith than you realize. Faith is just [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: I grew up believing that God actually wrote the bible and that it was literally true from the first page to the last. I now doubt those assumptions, but I wonder what importance the bible has. I don’t want to throw it out, but I can’t [...]

Q&A by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins, Senior Pastor
Question: I am… a scientific person (civil engineer)… [To me] everything has an equation, an answer that can be proven… My question is: How does one know that God really exists if we cannot physically (visually) see Him?
Answer: If God is a person on a throne in [...]