Paul’s letter acerbically refutes the teaching that legal obedience makes one a better Christian. Paul strongly affirms that we are made right with God through the faith of and in Jesus and that there are to be no divisions in the church based upon whether a person obeys the black-letter biblical laws.
Galatians – An Introduction Read More »
In the actual text of the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, at least in the original Greek, an ominously archetypal figure, identified simply as “the wicked man” (ὁ πονηρός), makes a brief appearance. He is almost certainly meant to be understood as a depiction of the sort of avaricious, disingenuous, and rapacious man who routinely abuses, deceives, defrauds, and plunders the poor.
The Lord’s Prayer – A Prayer for the Poor Read More »
Like Schrodinger’s Cat, we need to recognize and embrace the ambiguity we encounter in our spiritual lives and in our relationships with other.
Becoming a Healing Presence: Embracing Ambiguity, pt.2 Read More »
Part of being a healing presence and living in the present moment requires us to understand that, most of the time, we simply do not understand.
Becoming a Healing Presence: Embracing Ambiguity, pt.1 Read More »
Memento, Mori (Remember, thou art mortal)
Becoming a Healing Presence: Suffering and Death, pt.2 Read More »
The stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles is that therefore God also suffers and dies as we do. God still doesn’t provide us with the answer, but he does say 1) that he has suffered as we have suffered, and 2) death and suffering are not the end.
Becoming a Healing Presence: Suffering and Death, pt.1 Read More »
This more ancient understanding of a sacrament includes anything that communicates and manifests God’s grace. Think about how the present moment is sacramental. How does being present make us one with God’s grace?
Becoming a Healing Presence: Sacrament of the Present Moment, pt.2 Read More »
God is eternally present. Therefore, it is only in our experience of the present that we “have the experience God has of reality as a whole.”
Becoming a Healing Presence: Sacrament of the Present Moment, pt.1 Read More »
Surrender is not a passive capitulation, rather it is a “receptive engagement with the present.”
Becoming a Healing Presence: Surrender Read More »
Gentleness respects boundaries. Being gentle means allowing others to live their own lives and carry their own burdens. We are to be a healing presence to others, not their savior.
Becoming a Healing Presence: Gentleness as a Mindset, pt.2 Read More »
