The Journy of Paul

I have been contemplating much. Life has been rather difficult these last few years. I need not go into those dark moments as most of you know about them. In my recent discussions, I have talked about growth. I wonder just how much of a vision we are to have. What I mean is this. Some pastors cannot see past the first few rows of pews. Some cannot see beyond the doors of their building, others vision extends to the community, the city, perhaps the nation and yet others possess a vision that envelopes the whole of the earth. This same degree of vision applies also to worshippers. Each of the degrees in vision could be views as meaning a step in spiritual maturity. The greater ones spiritual maturity, the greater the vision. Hebrews 5:11-14 states, “We have much to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives o...

What I am about to say may make some of you angry. So much so, that you may not even understand what I am trying to get at. If this is the case, I would ask you reread this until you figure it out. There are those who say that the first three chapters of Genesis is an analogy and should not be taken literally. These are theologians that I know who are saying this. I’ve heard my former pastor say many times, that without these three chapters, the rest of the bible is false. I must wonder where someone’s faith is at when they say or think such a thing. Let us look at this argument. The analogy is that of God telling us where we came from and why we are the way we are, talking to us as if we were children. The same as we do with our children when they ask us those tough questions they are not old enough to hear and understand the answer to. In one of my pastoral studies classes I was in an argument about whether or not chapters 1-3 were an analogy. The class had about 120 students; almost...

A friend asked a question regarding the salvation of Jews. This question is where I have a divergence with many Christians. I will be very frank with you. At times, I feel we have taken a Middle Eastern religion and we have turned it into a European religion. As controllers of the church, we dictate whom we will and will not let in. In addition, they have to fit our paradigm. I know that this sounds heretical and some of you may want to burn me at the stake. I am not denying Jesus or his sacrifice at all. If you will continue reading, you will understand what I am saying. What of Israel, has God abandoned his people? I’ve struggled with the question about the Jews. The bible tells us that Jews are his people. He led them for thousands of years, fed them, and protected them. For what one must ask, to kick them out and into eternal damnation? This is a vital question. We often draw analogies of God as our father and a father who loves people unconditionally. Yet, for 2ooo years we, that...

As many of you know, I have been going through some spiritually hard time as I try to understand what it all means. I have been absent from attending church and I am trying to balance it out, to find a church in which I and my wife are accepted. I have continued to attend a bible study every Wednesday night. During which I have not been able to pray openly. I have also uncharacteristically remained silent and not offered any theological points. Several weeks ago, I visited with a good friend of mine, we will call him John. He has stayed along my side as I have walked through this. He has not been judgmental, but encouraging and patient. Two weeks ago, I attended my bible study and was moved to pray and to offer my opinion. I have been in a dark place for well over a year now. In one email exchange, I likened life’s trouble as being in a long train tunnel. Some periods of tunnel travel are longer than others. The long ones are disheartening because you lose sight of the light at both en...