OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 14:19-31 Literal Religion: Belief is based on what God has done in the world. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Israel saw the great work that the LORD did so the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD.” Spiritual Grace: Belief is based on who God is within us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Israel saw the great work that the LORD did so the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Sep 01, 2014
Year A Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Aug 25, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 12:1-14 Literal Religion: Sees putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts and the lentil as historical. Read this scripture literally for the religious meaning. “They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” Spiritual Grace: Sees putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts and the lentil spiritually as a sign of the blood of Christ on the cross. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read it again: “They shall take some of the blood and put it houses in which they eat it.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Aug 18, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Kings 3:5-12 Literal Religion: Discerning Wisdom is rational. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” Spiritual Grace: Discerning Wisdom is spiritual. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Aug 11, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 1:8 - 2:10 Literal Religion: Sees the event of the miracle. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “So the girl went and called the child's mother.” Spiritual Grace: Sees the power behind the miracle. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “So the girl went and called the child's mother.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Aug 04, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 45:1-15 Literal Religion: Forgiveness is to others. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them.’” Spiritual Grace: Forgiveness is for yourself. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “And he kissed all his brothers and spiritually wept upon them.’” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jul 28, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Literal Religion: Understands dreams are about real life. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “They said to one another, ‘here comes this dreamer.’” Spiritual Grace: Knows dreams are spiritual from God and need interpretation. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “They said to one another, ‘here comes this dreamer.’” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jul 21, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 32:22-31 Literal Religion: Thinks Jacob is wrestling with an angel. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. The man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Spiritual Grace: Knows it was Esau. The angel wrestled with Jacob to overcome his fear of Esau. The angel won. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. The man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jul 14, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 29:15-28 Literal Religion: Leah did not see too well. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. "Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” Spiritual Grace: Understands this is a compare and contrast: Leah was not attractive and Rachel was beautiful. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. "Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Year A Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jul 07, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 28:10-19a Literal Religion: Cannot see the unseen. Read this scripture literally for the religious meaning. “Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!” Grace: Knows the difference between the seen and the unseen. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read it again: “Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!” Read more
Year A Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jun 30, 2014
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 25:19-34 Literal Religion: Believes Esau was about to die. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. Esau said to Jacob, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Spiritual Grace: Sees Esau as too weak to be a leader. Jacob knows he would not die. He is just letting his hunger control his birthright. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. Esau said to Jacob, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Did you feel the Grace? Read more
Latest Posts
-
Year A Pentecost XXIV
- Nov 13, 2014 -
Year A Pentecost XXIV Bottom Line
- Nov 10, 2014 -
Year A Pentecost XXIII
- Nov 06, 2014 -
Year A Pentecost XXIII Bottom Line
- Nov 03, 2014 -
Year A Pentecost XXII
- Oct 30, 2014
Latest Comments
-
I am interested in finding out…
6 years, 10 months ago -
I have built a Chartres Labyrinth…
7 years, 9 months ago -
Feelings of guilt grip many who…
7 years, 10 months ago -
I truly needed to read this today!…
9 years, 1 month ago -
These designs are all outdated.…
9 years, 1 month ago
Blog Archives
- November 2014 (4)
- October 2014 (9)
- September 2014 (9)
- August 2014 (8)
- July 2014 (9)
- June 2014 (9)
- May 2014 (9)
- April 2014 (8)
- March 2014 (9)
- February 2014 (8)
- January 2014 (9)
- December 2013 (9)
Most Used Tags
- Fr. Paul (150)
- Lectionary (141)
- Meditations (139)
- Bottom Line (121)
- Year A (106)
- Year C (102)
- grace (75)
- Presence (50)
- Pentecost (49)
- spiritual grace (46)
- literal religion (46)
- legalism (41)
- Year B (35)
- spiritual understanding (25)
- Easter (22)
- rational thinking (18)
- Epiphany (16)
- war on legalism (15)
- Jesus (13)
- follow your heart (12)
- Wisdom (12)
- Lent (12)
- rational head (12)
- Peace (12)
- Grace (11)
Most Used References to Scripture
- John 1:1 (28)
- John 15:5 (27)
- John 13:34 (25)
- John 1:14 (20)
- Matthew 22:37 (14)
- Matthew 22:37-40 (8)
- Romans 12:2 (7)
- John 16:33 (7)
- John 1:17 (6)
- John 20:19-31 (5)
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (4)
- John 8:23 (4)
- Galations 4:6 (4)
- Matthew 28:19 (4)
- John 20:1-18 (4)
- Psalm 146 (3)
- Matthew 15:21-28 (3)
- John 1:4 (3)
- Luke 14:1 (3)
- Psalm 99 (3)
- Psalm 16 (3)
- Luke 17:21 (3)
- John 1:10 (3)
- Romans 8:3 (3)
- Psalm 126 (3)