Dear Readers,

Yesterday evening after work I took advantage of one of the first really nice days of spring to get out in the yard and do some work cleaning up after the long winter. With the warm sunshine, daffodils and crocuses in bloom, trees budding and birds singing, it was extraordinarily enjoyable and so peaceful!

Why is it that you can take a little time in nature and it just seems to do wonders for your mental and emotional state? Why is it that something as simple as a walk in the quiet woods or relishing a sunset over a tranquil lake or planting a flower bed has such a soothing effect on the soul?

I believe the answer lies in a theory I once heard someone espouse: When you are in nature, you are in a "lawful" environment, and lawful environments are peaceful environments. That is, you are in a realm of the natural creation as God designed it, where life works according to the physical laws He created. And one of the great blessings of a law-abiding atmosphere, even in the material world, is peacefulness.

Oh, if we could only live together as humans in such a lawful environment! If only we could walk the streets of our cities in peace, get along with neighboring countries and cultures in peace, live in our marriages and families in peace! If we could only "connect the dots," realizing that peace comes from creating and living in a lawful environment—the kind of "spiritual ecosystem" that comes from the laws of God.

God created all things—the angelic world, the natural physical world and especially, in His image, the human world. All aspects of His creation function according to marvelous natural and spiritual laws. Natural laws we well understand, but we struggle so hard to grasp the spiritual laws that govern life.

This afternoon I was teaching a class, mostly of young adults, called "Practical Christianity." This course elaborates on the many facets of everyday living that are governed by principles found in God's Word, the Holy Bible. I was striving to convey to them the fundamental fact that our lives are governed by laws of cause and effect. As we fully understand how the outcomes of life are determined by rather predictable causes, we are better equipped to make the right choices.

We strive to convey those same concepts as well through the pages of The Good News and in all of our literature.

We hope that through these articles you are seeing more and more how God's law and way of life is indeed very practical. Our relationships with Him and with each other are governed by spiritual laws that are immutable, unchangeable from creation and just as real as laws of physics. In keeping them we are blessed; in breaking them we are cursed.

God defined the laws of life from the beginning, and throughout the Bible He clearly describes how obeying His law will bless our lives in so many ways. One of the great summary statements on this subject is found in Psalm 119:165: "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."

God's laws are positive, practical and express God's way of love. They strengthen marriages and families, promote life and truth, encourage giving and praise and clarify our thinking and priorities. Our booklet The Ten Commandments shows how to apply these eternal principles in the 21st century. It's our gift to you. Download or request your free copy today.

May you be blessed with the peace that comes from understanding and following the beautiful law of God!

Until next time,

Clyde Kilough
President
United Church of God