Rationally, everyone knows what the Spirit will testify. We testify what Jesus has told us about the Holy Spirit. He will testify on the behalf of Jesus. We are to testify because we have been with Him. He will guide us into all the truth. In his guidance, he will speak what comes to him from God. The Spirit will prophesy about events "to come". The Spirit will reveal the essential nature of God, and show Christ's essential nature and power. Whether the word comes from the Father, the Son, or the Spirit, it is the same. Read more
Easter II John 20:19-31. “Peace Be With You”
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Apr 05, 2012
As we read this scripture with rational thinking (in our head), we look for the evidence of the resurrection. We go right on to the following words, “after he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” This is the physical evidence we are looking for. With Spiritual understanding, you have to be quick for this one or it will go right past your heart and up and over to your head. This is the Jesus way. Read more
EPIPHANY IV Mark 1:21-28 Is this a new Teaching? The Authority of grace.
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jan 19, 2012
Rational understanding attempts to love others so God will love us. Spiritual understanding knows Jesus loved us by being in the Fathers Love. We must be in the Love of God before we try to love others. Do you understand the difference between trying to love someone to be loved and being loved in order to love someone? Read more
The “BE ATTITUDE” of Grace or the “DO ATTITUDE” of Legalism
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jan 10, 2012
Unfortunately, in many cases, the New Testament has been translated with a legalistic theology rather than one of Grace. A good Greek-to-English translator without any theology might do a better job of translating the New Testament than the theologian, because they are not burdened with rational theological agenda. A good example of this is how the Beatitudes are translated legalistically rather than gracefully in almost every biblical version. Read more
Christmas Day, John 1:1-18
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Dec 16, 2011
Today, we do not have the choir, the crowd or the candles. We have a mostly empty church, as most already went to the Mass last night. There are unlit candles circling the church, perhaps flowers that need watering, with pieces of paper the alter guild might have missed after going deep into the night sprucing things up. This is a wonder full time. I like to call it a "no frills service". Read more
Christianity is not Politically Correct
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on May 02, 2011
Christianity may not be considered as being PC (politically correct) and Christians may not know it. At a conference on comparative religions, theologians from all faiths discussed the uniqueness of their faith. They questioned the uniqueness of Christianity's doctrine of the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Other religions have had different versions of gods born in human form and accounts of their return from death. They asked C. S. Lewis what was the uniqueness of Christianity? Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace." Read more
The Easter Season is all about Transformation
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Apr 08, 2011
Jesus is a transformer. He transformed the Old Testament from a Book of Laws to a Gospel of grace. Read more
Reading The Old Testament With New Testament Grace
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jan 04, 2011
Luke 16:19-31 In this familiar parable there was a rich man who feasted sumptuously inside his gate and the poor man Lazarus who was starving outside his gate. Lazarus, who had nothing, went to Heaven by the grace of God. The rich man, who had everything, went to Hades because he did not have the grace of God. Read more
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