Quote of the Day

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” 


                                                                                            ― Mother Teresa

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

What in the world are you doing checking my blog TODAY???

Stupid Mayans

So. It's December 21st, 2012, and....nothing.

I knew it. I also knew that those Mayans really did know anything. 

I hate to say it, and I am the last person that likes to say it...but,

I told yo

Quote of the Day

Take your time and let this one sink in. 

"So do not expect always to get an emotional charge or a feeling of quiet peace when you read the Bible. By the grace of God you may expect that to be a frequent experience, but often you will get no emotional response at all. Let the Word break over your heart and mind again and again as the years go by, and imperceptibly there will come great changes in your attitude and outlook and conduct. You will probably be the last to recognize these. Often you will feel very, very small, because when your eyes close for the last time in death, and never again read the Word of God in Scripture you will open them to the Word of God in the flesh, that same Jesus of the Bible whom you have known for so long, standing before you to take you for ever to His eternal home.”

                                                                                ― Geoffrey Thomas

The Silent Monks - Christmas

Silent Monks Sing Hallelujah from hulahan on GodTube.

Theological Term of the Day

False Prophets

False Prophets are people who teach false doctrine and lead people away from the true gospel message and teaching of God found in the Bible. Jesus warned about false prophets in Matt. 24:24 stating that in the last days many false prophets would arise and deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

                                                                              - carm.org

Quote of the Day

“As it is the sister of reading, so it is the mother of prayer. Though a man's heart be much indisposed to prayer, yet, if he can but fall into a meditation of God, and the things of God, his heart will soon come off to prayer....Begin with reading or hearing. Go on with meditation; end in prayer....Reading without meditation is unfruitful; meditation without reading is hurtful; to meditate and to read without prayer upon both, is without blessing.” 

                                                                              ― William Bridge

What do the kids miss this December?

SNOW!!!

Do Mom and Dad miss the snow???

...

...

...

Not so much.

Theological Term of the Day

The Fall

The Fall is that event in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God and ate of The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2 and 3). Since Adam represented all of mankind, when he sinned, all of mankind fell with him (Rom. 5:12).

                                                                                                               - carm.org

Golf Joke

Off the seventh tee, Joe sliced his shot deep into a wooded ravine. He took his eight iron and clambered down the embankment in search of his lost ball.

After many long minutes of hacking at the underbrush, he spotted something glistening in the leaves. As he drew nearer, he discovered that it was an eight iron in the hands of a skeleton!

Joe immediately called out to his friend, "Jack, I've got trouble down here!"

"What's the matter?" Jack asked from the edge of the ravine.

"Bring me my wedge," Joe shouted. "You can't get out of here with an eight iron!"

Kids at Nokomis Beach

We went to the beach Wednesday evening after school. The Drum Circle was LaVonne's (Vet's Mom) favorite part of her trip to Florida when she visited last month. 

She said it made her feel "primal." We are still giving her a hard time about that one!

Christmas Card

Here is a pic I think we may use for our Christmas Cards this year. 

Sure is nice to take our Christmas card picture...in FLORIDA!!! 

The Cliff

The fiscal cliff sure seems to be important. Apparently, there are some pretty important long term effects with how and this will be handled. 

The Fiscal Cliff our country faces today pales in comparison to the spiritual cliff we face. Revival, Renewal, and Restoration is what our country really needs. Maybe we need a "Spiritual Cliff Countdown?" Make it like the countdowns on the news stations. What date shall we set?

How about December 21st? (Just Kidding) 

Pray for those people that you know about in your life, who are facing a "spiritual" cliff.

Christmas Reality

My most recent article  for the Beneva Christian newsletter is generating a lot of good discussion. To be sure, I see this as a "step" in the right direction not a definitive "action plan."  I thought it would be good to post here and see what you think.

_________________________________________________

The Reality of a Biblical Christmas

What is it that makes Christmas real to you? When Christmas season is over, what will be the reality of your Christmas? The more I look to what the Bible says about Jesus and Christmas, the more I see a blurring of the truth and reality of a Biblical, Christ-like Christmas in our world today.

There is the reality of what Christmas is, which is the incarnation of God through Jesus the Christ. AND THEN, there is the Christmas we have created. Christians have mixed together the Biblical story with our cultural traditions and lost sight of what Christmas really means. The secular world has modified Christmas for their own gain, and Christians regularly do so too.

This is what I mean: The Wisemen brought gifts to Jesus, not to the shepherds, not to Joseph, not to Mary. And yet we will sit around waiting for our gifts to arrive, in Jesus’ name. After gifts have been given and received we pat our-selves on the back and think about just how good of Christians we are, because we celebrate Jesus coming to earth.

Why do you celebrate Jesus coming to earth? Is that something you can articulate and explain? Our celebrations are often centered on serving ourselves. Our time is spent on the material and tangible expressions of Christmas which rarely reflect anything of an amazing and incredible birth of the Son of God. We participate in the Christmas frenzy by materialistic spending and extreme busyness, overextending ourselves and then telling ourselves that we know that the reason for the season is “Jesus.”

True happiness cannot be found in gifts, holiday music, or family gatherings. True happiness can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus birth in history is extraordinary. He was born into this world, not from this world. The human race cannot boast that we created him or gave him greatness. We cannot fathom his true mark on history, nor can we see the real impact of His life in an individual’s heart.

Jesus, at His birth, was bigger, greater, and more powerful than anyone knew then, and is often underestimated today. Jesus was born into this world, and born a King.

The reality of Christmas is Jesus birth. The reality of Christmas is that He came to seek and save that which was lost. The reality of Christmas is for God’s people to worship God and celebrate the word becoming flesh. God has come, to be with us.

This Christmas I commit to spending time and energy pointing others to the amazing and incredible birth of Jesus the Christ. Join me in celebrating a Biblical Christmas reality!

Have a Christ-centered and joyful Christmas!
Pastor Ronn

Theological Term of the Day

Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical viewpoint based on Soren Kierkegaard's philosophical work and emphasizes human freedom and abilities.  Subjectivity and individual choice are elevated often above conceptual and moral absolutes, because truth is found within personal experience.  Existentialism would deny objective moral truths.

                                                                                            - carm.org

Holiday Decorating

We are decorating our home today!!! 

Molly had better RUN!

Quote of the Day - Leadership

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, 

not by the desire to beat others. 

                                                         - Ayn Rand 

Oren Family Christmas 2011

Last year, when my family gathered for Christmas, 

we had all the cousins get together for a picture...

  

A picture of my nephew, Kaden, who is quite the chess player! 

 

(I still won...barely.) 

Theological Term of the Day

Exegesis

Exegesis is when a person interprets a text based solely on what it says. That is, he extracts out of the text what is there as opposed to reading into it what is not there (Compare with Eisegesis). There are rules to proper exegesis: read the immediate context, related themes, word definitions, etc., that all play a part in properly understanding what something says and does not say.

                                                                                                       - carm.org

Today in Church History

On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II makes perhaps the most influential speech of the Middle Ages, giving rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of "Deus vult!" or "God wills it!"

Born Odo of Lagery in 1042, Urban was a protege of the great reformer Pope Gregory VII. Like Gregory, he made internal reform his main focus, railing against simony (the selling of church offices) and other clerical abuses prevalent during the Middle Ages. Urban showed himself to be an adept and powerful cleric, and when he was elected pope in 1088, he applied his statecraft to weakening support for his rivals, notably Clement III.

By the end of the 11th century, the Holy Land—the area now commonly referred to as the Middle East—had become a point of conflict for European Christians. Since the 6th century, Christians frequently made pilgrimages to the birthplace of their religion, but when the Seljuk Turks took control of Jerusalem, Christians were barred from the Holy City. When the Turks then threatened to invade the Byzantine Empire and take Constantinople, Byzantine Emperor Alexius I made a special appeal to Urban for help. This was not the first appeal of its kind, but it came at an important time for Urban. Wanting to reinforce the power of the papacy, Urban seized the opportunity to unite Christian Europe under him as he fought to take back the Holy Land from the Turks.

At the Council of Clermont, in France, at which several hundred clerics and noblemen gathered, Urban delivered a rousing speech summoning rich and poor alike to stop their in-fighting and embark on a righteous war to help their fellow Christians in the East and take back Jerusalem. Urban denigrated the Muslims, exaggerating stories of their anti-Christian acts, and promised absolution and remission of sins for all who died in the service of Christ.

Urban's war cry caught fire, mobilizing clerics to drum up support throughout Europe for the crusade against the Muslims. All told, between 60,000 and 100,000 people responded to Urban's call to march on Jerusalem. Not all who responded did so out of piety: European nobles were tempted by the prospect of increased land holdings and riches to be gained from the conquest. These nobles were responsible for the death of a great many innocents both on the way to and in the Holy Land, absorbing the riches and estates of those they conveniently deemed opponents to their cause. Adding to the death toll was the inexperience and lack of discipline of the Christian peasants against the trained, professional armies of the Muslims. As a result, the Christians were initially beaten back, and only through sheer force of numbers were they eventually able to triumph.

Urban died in 1099, two weeks after the fall of Jerusalem but before news of the Christian victory made it back to Europe. His was the first of seven major military campaigns fought over the next two centuries known as the Crusades, the bloody repercussions of which are still felt today. Urban was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1881.

- Taken from History.com

Thanksgiving Weekend II

Here is a picture of us celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas in Locust Grove, Georgia. They have a tree lighting and singing at the courthouse prior to Santa Claus' arrival on Thanksgiving Night, and was getting ready to attend that event. 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Tiffany took this picture of Yvette and I on Wednesday last week when we visited Noah's Ark Animal Rescue in Locust Grove, Georgia. 

GREAT JOB TIFFANY!!!

Oren's and Johnson's

Well, at least the kids! What a great day at the beach last week. 

Thanksgiving with Sesame Street!

I know...I have a weird sense of humor. 

But I laughed out loud at this one!

Blessed Thanksgiving!

I liked this cartoon from Ira Coffin...

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Theological Term of the Day

Evil

Evil is moral rebellion against God. It is contrary to the will of God. There is natural evil (floods, storms, famines, etc.) and moral evil (adultery, murder, idolatry, etc.). Natural evil is a result of moral evil. Adam's sin resulted in sin entering the world allowing floods, storms, famines, etc. Evil originated with Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15) and is carried on by man (Matt. 15:18-19)

                                                                                                                         - carm.org

Installation Service

I want to personally thank each person who attended the service this past Sunday, and/or attended the Thanksgiving feast following. What a great day to enjoy God's good graces and spend time living life together. 

If anyone else has some pics of the Installation, please send them my way!

That is me, with Pastor Juan Rodriguez up front. He is the Florida Disciples 

Regional Minister. 

Today in U.S. History

On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought some four months earlier, was the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over the course of three days, more than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went missing.  The battle also proved to be the turning point of the war: General Robert E. Lee's defeat and retreat from Gettysburg marked the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory and the beginning of the Southern army's ultimate decline.

Charged by Pennsylvania's governor, Andrew Curtin, to care for the Gettysburg dead, an attorney named David Wills bought 17 acres of pasture to turn into a cemetery for the more than 7,500 who fell in battle. Wills invited Edward Everett, one of the most famous orators of the day, to deliver a speech at the cemetery's dedication. Almost as an afterthought, Wills also sent a letter to Lincoln—just two weeks before the ceremony—requesting "a few appropriate remarks" to consecrate the grounds.

At the dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Everett before Lincoln spoke. Lincoln's address lasted just two or three minutes. The speech reflected his redefined belief that the Civil War was not just a fight to save the Union, but a struggle for freedom and equality for all, an idea Lincoln had not championed in the years leading up to the war. This was his stirring conclusion: "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Reception of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was initially mixed, divided strictly along partisan lines. Nevertheless, the "little speech," as he later called it, is thought by many today to be the most eloquent articulation of the democratic vision ever written.

Taken from History.com

Theological Term of the Day

Eucharist

The Eucharist are the elements of the communion supper in Christian Churches where the bread and wine are consumed as a representation of the sacrifice of Christ. They correspond, and represent the body and blood of Christ.

                                                                                                                        - carm.org

Where in the world is...

Guess Where?

The first person to guess the correct location (country) will get a very special gift. 

Why the Bible?

Great, but cerebral, discussion about the Bible. 

It is only 6 and a half minutes long, go ahead, and listen!

Quote of the Day

People who think they know everything are a 

great annoyance to those if us who do.

                                                                             
                                                                                       - Isaac Asimov

Theological Term of the Day

Ethics

Ethics is the philosophical study of human action and attitudes as right and wrong, good and bad.  Ethics deals with moral principles, the examination of what is right or wrong.   Ethics is a set of moral codes held by a person or persons.  It is a standard of morals by which actions and people are judged as right or wrong.

                                                                                                               - carm.org

Quote of the Day

O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.   

                                             - Saint Augustine

Prayer

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me insufficient for that day.” 

                                                                           ― Abraham Lincoln

Theological Term of the Day

Eschatology

The study of the teachings in the Bible concerning the end times, or of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Eschatological subjects include the Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Binding of Satan, the Three witnesses, the Final Judgment, Armageddon, and The New Heavens and the New Earth. In the New Testament, eschatological chapters include Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, and 2 Thess. 2. In one form or another most of the books of the Bible deal with end-times subjects. But some that are more prominently eschatological are Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Joel, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 2 Thessalonians, and of course Revelation.

                                                                                                                 - carm.org

Apropos Duex

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.            

                                                                                            1 Timothy 2:1-2

Aprapo

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

                                                                    Psalm 20:7

Trunk or Treat

Last week, a church in Venice help a "Trunk or Treat" and had pony rides available.

Here is the tail end of Tegans ride.

Quote of the Day

"Politics is not the job of a Christian."
                                                                - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Day Off at Downtown Disney

A week ago, we went to Downtown Disney on my day off.

Great weather, not very crowded, great meal, fun day. 

(I make sure I put that second sentence in there so my friends and family who life in Indiana will be jealous!)

Hmmm....

Sometimes I wonder why God puts up with me! 

Have you ever felt that way? 

Romans, chapters 5-8

-----

Just read a really good devotional and I keep being reminded of God's amazing and unending love. Have a great Sabbath day. 

Halloween Pics

So, the kids got lots of candy, we ate like kings, and Tristan's outfit was so good he was followed by a fan club. Best Halloween in years!

Our kids went trick or treating with Nick and Rachel Hayes, and little Noah. 

Here are a few pictures from the whole day.

The kids BEFORE all the candy! 

Tegan at the Preschool Halloween Parade with his teacher and Batman. 

 The Tricker's posing in front of our home...

Tristan and Nick right before treating,

Tristan is on the left with the Pickaxe...

Tristan and a "Minecraft Creeper." 

Day Off

Check back tomorrow...

I have taken today day off...

Life

Jesus replied... "Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments.”

Theological Term of the Day

Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of knowing.  It deals with the nature of knowledge, how do we know things, what do we know, why we know, is what we know true, and what are the limits of knowledge.

It is true that we know things.  You know you are reading this.  But what is the nature of what you know?  Does it properly reflect reality (truth)?  Is knowledge primarily gained through our sense experiences (empiricism)?  Is knowledge primarily gained through reason (rationalism)?  There is a priori knowledge, or knowledge that is automatically known apart from experience, and posteriori knowledge, or knowledge that is gained from experience.

Generally speaking, epistemology deals with the nature of knowledge and not the how-to of knowledge.  In other words, what is the relationship between truth and reality versus how do I build a cabinet.

Foundationalism is a subset of epistemology.

                                                                                                  - carm.org

Quote of the Day

"Lower your expectations and I will totally amaze you."

Quote of the Day

 “It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others.”

                                                                                                     - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Halloween - LAST YEAR

With Halloween coming up, I thought we should all take a look at

what the kids dressed as last year...

Your Ultimate Priority?

“From matters as crucial as the death of Jesus, to those as mundane as eating and drinking, the Bible presents the glory of God as the ultimate priority and the definitive criterion by which we should evaluate everything.” 
                                                                                                               ― Donald S. Whitney


This quote reminded me of a sermon by Kris Sorensen several years ago. I remember sitting in the congregation listening about a Christian's main purpose in life. He shared that, "a Christian's main purpose in this life is to be reflectors, reflectors of God's glory."

As I sit here this morning, reflecting on Colossians 1, I am challenged to review the past few days and see how well I am reflecting God's glory. 

What good spiritual exercise this morning!

Pastor Ronn

THANK YOU!!!

I just wanted to tell you, dear blog reader, thank you!

We have about 35-50 people checking out my blog per day. I am literally amazed. I had not checked the stats in a while and was surprised to see so many following my blog. 

I really think this is a cool way to connect and for people to get to know me and my family better.

I already a few posts scheduled to "hit" for the upcoming holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas), so stay tuned. The Christmas one that I have ready to go on December 18th is GREAT!!!

God's Blessings to you,

Ronn

This is where I spent my "free time" at the Regional Assembly this last weekend in Orlando. 

(Downtown Disney 10-19-12)

PS - Yes, I was holding the camera. 

Jamaica Mission Trip Video

The following video was put together by my dear friend, John Gardner.

Our church is thinking about taking a mission trip to Highgate, Jamaica. I thought it would be a good idea to share this with those at my church who regularly check my blog.

Many thanks to John for putting together such a great video. 

I needed a little laugh today...

A friend of mine sent me this one today...

I bought a box of animal crackers and it said on it "Do not eat if seal is broken." So I opened up the box, and sure enough...

Have a great day!

Ronn

Theological Term of the Day

Empiricism

Empiricism is the philosophy that deals with how we know things.  Empiricism states that the only thing knowable is that which is discernible through our senses such as seeing, hearing, touching, etc.  Therefore, all of our understanding, all of our concepts, reflect what our senses have told us about the external world.  Generally, empiricists would deny a priori knowledge (that there is knowledge which is innate).  However, some empiricists grant a priori knowledge.

                                                                                                    - carm.org

May 2010

Amazing that this video is just two and a half years old! Hard to 

believe how much the kids (especially Tristan) has grown!!!

Quote of the Day

“We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”

                                                                                             - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Theological Term of the Day

Eisegesis

Eisegesis is when a person interprets and reads information into the text that is not there. An example would be in viewing 1 Cor. 8:5 which says, "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many," (KJV). With this verse, Mormons, for example, bring their preconceived idea of the existence of many gods to this text and assert that it says there are many gods. But that is not what it says. It says that there are many that are called gods. Being called a god doesn't make something an actual god. Therefore, the text does not teach what the Mormons say and they are guilty of eisegesis; that is, reading into the text what it does not say.

                                                                                                    - carm.org

Quote of the Day

They took cigarette ads of TV because it was bad for our nation's health. Sooo....why can't they do the same for political ads?

Tiffany's Award!

Tiffany was chosen for Student of the Month in her class, and she participated

in an awards breakfast. In the video of her presentation, 

her teacher, Ms. Lynch, shares about why Tiffany was chosen.

Theological Term of the Day

Edify

Edify is understood as to build up. In the Christian context it means to strengthen someone, or be strengthened, in relationship to God, the Christian walk, and holiness. As Christians, we are to "let all things be done for edification. We are edified by the Word of God and by love.

                                                                                                     - carm.org

Quote of the Day

I never run with scissors. (Those last two words were unnecessary.)

Quote of the Day

"One act of obedience is better than a hundred sermons."    

                                                                                                          - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Today in Church (and US) History

In 1492, Columbus sailed...

Tierra! Tierra! The men had been on the sea for over thirty days without sight of land. Now land was in plain view. All the despair and gloom immediately gave way to excitement and hope as the three little ships drew closer and closer to the shore on this day, October 12, 1492.

Probably every American school child old enough to study history has heard the little rhyme, "In October, 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue", and the story has often been told of Columbus' dream of finding the East or Asia by sailing west. Columbus is often held up as an example of someone who set goals for himself and would not give up when obstacles to achieving those goals came his way -- he waited at the Spanish court six years before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor his voyage. He persuaded his men to continue their westward voyage even when they threatened mutiny because they had not yet reached the expected islands of the Orient. Certainly Columbus is a model of determination and courage.

Yet, the man was much more complex than the stories often reveal. Christopher was a very devout Catholic who observed all the fasts of the church and prayed regularly. His very name Christopher, which means Christ-bearer, he understood as a title of his destiny to carry the message of the gospel to far-off lands. He diligently searched the Scriptures and thought he found assurance for a call to sail to the far reaches of the globe with the Christian message. Zechariah 9:10 said that "he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. And Psalm 107:23-24 promised that "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep."

Christopher was particularly concerned with the power of the Ottoman Turks who controlled the eastern Mediterranean and were threatening Europe. If a way could be found of reaching India by sailing West, the Turks could be attacked from behind and perhaps the Holy Land itself could be rescued from their hands. Yes, Columbus was interested in trade and riches, but Christian concern also lay behind his plans.

When land was sighted on this day October 12, 1492, in recognition of the divine aid in his voyage, Columbus named the land San Salvador, which means Holy Savior, and prayed,

O Lord, Almighty and everlasting God, by Thy holy Word Thou hast created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and glorified be Thy Name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath designed to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Names may be proclaimed in this second part of the earth.

In keeping with the Christian motive underlying his mission, Columbus at first showed great concern for how the natives, whom he called Indians, were treated. He wrote,

So that they might be well-disposed towards us, for I knew that they were a people to be delivered and converted to our holy faith rather by love than by force, I gave to some red caps and to others glass beads, which they hung around their neck, and many other things...I believe that they would easily be made Christians, for it seemed to me that they had no religion of their own.

All the same, Columbus' concern for the salvation of these people was coupled with an attitude of superiority which saw nothing wrong in forcibly capturing the people and making them slaves of the Europeans. And the missionary drive which was prominent during his first voyage, in later voyages became subordinate to his love of wealth and position. Unfortunately, Columbus was not the last to lose sight of his spiritual goals when tempted with wealth and power.