The Journy of Paul

As I have surveyed the landscape that is Facebook, I am struck by the memes that are being posted. Many are false and misleading about the migrants making their way north. While there is truth in some of the memes like the fact that the majority of the caravan seems to be men, there is a quantity of women and children in the caravan as well. Other memes state that the majority are terrorists, criminals or gangsters trying to make their way over the border. I’ve seen some post remarks like we should just club them as they cross, others state they hope the military will be authorized to shoot. The problem I am having with these statements are, they are being made by people who call themselves Christians. I am reminded what Mother Teresa once said, everything I wash a beggar’s feet, I look up and I see the face of my Lord. In other words, she sees Jesus in even the most unclean people. All I can think about is the Good Samaritan. I ask, who are we? Are we the Priest or the Levit who circu...

Unity of the Body I have always stood against the normal preaching about unity in the church, mainly because it is used to cover up bad leadership and at times sin within a particular physical church. One cannot gossip, if you have an issue take it to the offending person. Do you realize to take an issue to someone requires that the person have an attitude or personality sufficient to do so. There are those who avoid any type of conflict. Often times, the doctrine of no gossip is used to silence congregants, used to control the people. Leadership it seems is infallible and untouchable. To challenge leadership is descension and thus evil. With such statements, sins are often hidden from the congregation, even the church board or elder board. When things are swept under the carpet, hidden in the dart, like nasty mold, it grows until it infects others. Thus, I have also stood up against this doctrine. However, I do support a different concept of unity in the body. Unity in the body does...

Ephesians 5:1-2 states, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. In a recent discussion, someone asked, HOW? How do we imitate God? I thought I was going to answer in a most sincere way. I stated, it is in how we live our life. If we have faith, hope, love, if we are just, have prudence, temperance, strength, humility, perseverance, honor, charity, compassion, truth, purity and hospitality, we will be imitating God. I stated that faith is the start, but maturity is the key. As we continue our relationship with God and if it is healthy we will fall deeper in love with him and from that love we will aspire to the list of aforementioned virtues. One of the other participants answered with an answer that I have heard dozens of times. It is the claim of legalism or works salvation. He stated it is more than what I said, that doing is not what God wants...

Greetings fellow travelers, After 24 years, four churches and four pastors, I have come to the following conclusions. Christians love entertainment and as such love charismatic pastors, and I believe the system man has created that we call church is designed to enslave people. Both of these concepts are interconnected. Churches by their nature, that is from their inception around the 4th century, are pastor and alter centered. In order to be pastor centered a quantity of authority has been granted to the pastor from minimal to complete authority. Most churches exercise complete authority to one degree or another. Often it is a false premise, designed to make the congregant feel as if they have control. Entertainment has been limited in the past to circus like environments with the charismatic pastor the ring master. The problem with a Charismatic Pastor is, that narcissism is an integral part of the personality. One cannot exist without the other. I dare say, to be a pastor and to g...

Greetings fellow travelers. So here I sit, basting in my own anger and frustration. I am watching to different organizations dwindle to mere shells of their former selves. I speak of an educational program and a church. Were they both once flourished, they are now both diminished and mostly for the same reasons. The exact reasons may vary but there is enough similarity; hard headedness, the leadership thinking they are right and not hearing what other have to say, having a damn the torpedoes full speed ahead mentality, mistrust of others, and desires to earn gold stars (praises). These traits are killing both. Both are losing clients if you will. Yet, it seems no one want to look at the reasons why and make the necessary changes. If we truly put God first, then we, ourselves, our egos, must take a backseat. I have, or I desire to, give everything to God. I must admit, it is not easy, and I often wonder how to do it. What I do know is this. 1) Joshua, 24:15, but as for me and my ...