Blog Posts containing "literal religion"

Year A Easter II Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Literal Religion: Believes they are full of gladness because His Presence is in us. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Spiritual grace: Believes they are full of gladness because they are in the Presence of God. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more


Year A Easter Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 10:34-43 Literal Religion: “God shows no partiality,” conditionally. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality.’” Spiritual grace: “God shows no partiality,” unconditionally. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality.’” Did you feel the Grace? Legalism is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted from grace!  Read more


Year A Sixth Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 50:4-9a Literal Religion: God helps us not to be disgraced by others. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced.” Spiritual grace: Not being disgraced is feeling God’s grace no matter what others have done to us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced.” Did you feel the Grace? Legalism may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!  Read more


Year A Fifth Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Literal Religion: “The Word of the Lord” is following the Law. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.” Spiritual grace: “The Word of the Lord” means loving others in the Love of Jesus. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD.” Did you feel the Grace? Grace is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice! PSALM: 130:1-8 Literal Religion: “Hope” is depending on God to do for us what we want. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “in His word I hope” Spiritual grace: “Hope” is how we feel in His Presence. No matter what happens we never know what God will do next. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “in His Word I hope” Did you feel the Grace? Legalists have the right to remain silent, but they do not have the ability!  Read more


Year A Fourth Sunday Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Samuel 16:1-13 Literal Religion: “See” and “Look” are physical. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “The LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Spiritual grace: “See” and “Look” are spiritual. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “The LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Did you feel the Grace? Legalists are like slinkies, not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see fall down the stairs!  Read more


Year A Third Sunday Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

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


Year A Second Sunday Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

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


Year A First Sunday in Lent Bottom Line Meditations

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


Year A Transfiguration Sunday Bottom Line Meditations

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


Year A Seventhth Sunday in Epiphany Bottom Line Meditations

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


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