Am I W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G.? Are you?

If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right software, you can create web pages the easy way, or you can save the money and struggle writing it all in HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML). With HTML, you have to imagine what each finished page will look like. With web-design software, nothing is left for you to figure out: "What You See Is What You Get" (WYSIWYG). The same is true of a number of different computer graphics applications. The best software is always WYSIWYG.

From the very beginning of the human race, God has wanted us to be WYSIWYG. Sin is what prompted the fig leaves and all the other means of hiding what we really are, think, and do. Yet God keeps calling us back to the open transparency of Eden.

The sage of Jerusalem put it this way: "The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook" (Prov. 18:4). In other words, just as you don't know what's at the bottom of a deep-flowing river, you can't tell whether people's words truly reveal their intentions, unless they are wise enough to be as clear as a bubbling brook.

Paul told the Thessalonians that his motives were obvious; he had nothing to hide (1 Thess. 2:3-6). He tells the Corinthians he has laid his mouth and his heart open, as if for their inspection (2 Cor. 6:11), and he denies having used any manipulation (2 Cor. 7:2).

We Christians must learn to be WYSIWYG people, with regard to confessing our sins (1 John 1:9), revealing our motives (1 Cor. 4:5), and, like Jesus, communicating clearly (John 18:20; Col. 4:4). When people can trust us as easily as a hiker who steps into a bubbling brook, they can learn to trust the One of whom we speak: the Savior whose motives and whose love are always as transparent as crystal. Nobody likes to be manipulated or deceived.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

Demi Moore Seeks Help from Deepak Chopra People Magazine By Lesley Messer Demi Moore's whereabouts are still top secret, but the troubled actress is seeking help from none other than spiritual guru Deepak Chopra, a source tells PEOPLE. It's not surprising that Moore would turn to Chopra, who has authored ... Demi Moore 'seeks spiritual help from Deepak Chopra'Digital Spy all 2 news articles »

Church's New Rector Sees Social Justice as His Spiritual Mission Patch.com He says he sees himself as the church's “chief spirituality officer,” modeling a life of deep faith combined with service in the world. The arrival of Justin means goodbye to the Reverend Mark Shier, who served St. Michael's as an interim rector for ... and more »

Music channels God and spirituality Maroon Growing up as an LGBT person, understanding prayer and spirituality was a very difficult process. When taught to feel that unchangeable and inherent parts of myself were unacceptable in the eyes of God, I knew not how to seek or be a part of something ...

Spirituality, sexuality talk is set Poughkeepsie Journal “Radical Love: Taking Back Valentine's Day” will be the theme of Vassar's annual Religious and Spiritual Life Day today, to open up conversation about love, sexuality and spirituality. “Sexuality and spirituality often seem like strange bedfellows.

Spirituality: A lifetime of parenting in only 80 minutes The News-Press Whatever you think of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, you may want to say a prayer for his 3-year-old daughter, Isabella, who was admitted to the hospital last month with complications from a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18. and more »

Spiritual beliefs can have psychological pros, cons BG News Pargament, a professor in the Department of Psychology, researches the aspects of religion and spirituality that can be helpful as well as harmful to people. "We think of religion and spirituality as a double-edged sword," he said.

Religious, spiritual knowledge can provide positives for all people BG News by Bobby Waddle When people ask me about religion, I often tell them that I simply don't think about it - I prefer to live my life in the moment and worry about the spiritual realm later. In proclaiming my agnosticism, however, I am still taking my own ...

Washington Blade

Romance and religion Washington Blade (Photo by Danisha Crosby; courtesy Round House) Sex and spirituality — or the lack thereof — intersect in thought-provoking ways in the flawed-but-worthy play 'Next Fall,” a 2009 piece that's enjoying a post-Broadway local run at Round House Theatre ... and more »

Demi Moore Seeks Spiritual Counseling Huffington Post Spiritual Counseling, well there's a waste of time. How about actual medical counseling. You know with Doctors and people with degrees. Ridiculous. cameron_d: Spiritual Counseling, well there's a waste of time. How about pathetic......truly pathetic! and more »

Dr. R. Scott Colglazier, Author, Minister and Progressive Spiritual Voice ... Sacramento Bee 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Author and progressive spiritual leader, Dr. R. Scott Colglazier, is pleased to announce the release of his latest book, A Dictionary of Faith for Open-Hearted, Open-Minded People, an insightful and inspiring look at ... and more »