Archive of Fr. Paul's Blogs

John 4:5-42 The Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” Here is a woman who is rejected by her peers. She has had four husbands and the man she is living with is not her husband. We must realize what it meant to be a divorced woman in those days. Women did not divorce their husbands. Only husbands could divorce. Women were considered “property”. The tenth Commandment was not to covet a man’s donkey, property, or wife. The woman was among those included as donkeys and other property. All that was needed was a signed piece of scrap paper and saying three times, “I divorce you.” That was it. In other words, she had been rejected by four husbands. They might have married her for the physical reason. When they got through with her they dumped her back to the market.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 17:1-7 Literal Religion: Quarreling is the reason they were put out of the Presence of the Lord. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD” Spiritual grace: Being out of the Lord’s Presence is why they were quarreling. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD” Did you feel the Grace? If grace agreed with legalism both would be wrong!  Read more

NOW HEAR THIS! This is Jesus speaking AND YOU BETTER LISTEN. Who can argue with that? Yes, but what if it is not Jesus speaking? What if it is just some other person telling us it is Jesus speaking? They say, “We know what we are speaking about. It is in the Bible. We have seen it, yet you do not receive our testimony. What kind of jerk are you? Do you know who you are talking to?” Yet another “that does it” moment! The fight over who is right about the Bible and who is wrong is just beginning.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 12:1-4a Literal Religion: God called Abraham to leave his homeland to go to a country He will show him. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” Spiritual grace: God calls us to leave our worldly homeland to go to a spiritual country He will show within us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” Can you feel the difference?  Read more

Prosperity followers believe God wants Christians to be rich! There are millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. If this is so, why isn't everyone in the church a millionaire? Their answer: It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt. God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us. I want to be wealthy and God wants me to be wealthy too! “Who would want to get in on something where you're miserable, poor, broke and ugly and you just have to muddle through until you get to heaven?” God wants us to be prosperous. To be happy we need to have money to pay our bills, send our kids to college bless, be a blessing to other people.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 2:15-17 Literal Religion: To “die” is physical. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. The serpent said to the woman, “You will not die.” Spiritual grace: To “die” is spiritual death. (They both died spiritually not physically). Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. The serpent said to the woman, "You will not die.” Can you feel the difference? Legalism is a five mile walk punctuated with disappointments!  Read more

This story of the Transfiguration is one of the most significant stories in the Scripture. There was Jesus, Elijah and Moses. What did they all have in common? Much! They were talking to Jesus about their Exodus. Each one was involved in a type of exodus experience. Elijah was caught up in whirlwind and the flaming chariot. Moses led the Exodus of the children of Israel out of the slavery in Egypt. Now Jesus was to have His Exodus being resurrected from the grave. Peter displayed his legalism saying. “Rabbi it is good we are here. Let us make three booths one for you one for Elijah and one for Moses.” Mark adds almost in astonishment, “He did not know what he was saying.”  Read more

PSALM: 99 Literal Religion: God is in the cloud. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.” Spiritual grace: God IS The Cloud. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.” Can you feel the difference? His religious literalism is improving. He's missing the mark much closer than he used to!  Read more

Matthew 5:38-48, The BE Attitudes Jesus’ teaching of the Sermon on the Mount gives us the opportunity to understand the transforming power of grace. We only know the difference experiencing God’s Grace makes when it is compared with our attempt to change our lives through legalistic actions. Our legalistic response believes to change our lives we must do God’s will to receive His blessing. Grace promises to transform our lives through His blessing in order to do His will. The Sermon on the Mountain is an opportunity to understand Jesus’ graceful teachings.  Read more

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Literal Religion: We become holy by following the law. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” Spiritual grace: We are holy in the Lord’s Presence so we can follow His will. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy in you.” Can you feel the difference? I love legalism. I live legalism. If only I could do legalism!  Read more