Does it seem strange to you that those things that concerned Jesus don’t seem to catch the attention of the church, and those things that are primary with the church weren’t a big deal to Jesus? So, how is it that Christians can say they are following Jesus when they’re not? Continue reading ‘Be Of Good Courage!’
Archive for the 'Daily Commentary' Category
Let me begin with a quote by Tom Harpour, “Who can sit by the bedside of a loved one ravaged by some cruel, killing disease and not know doubt?” As a once upon a time pastor and now just plain ole spiritual guide who is making his way through life as we all must, I’ve been there and maybe a visit to even more crushingly doubtful places. Continue reading ‘Acknowledging Agnosticism’
There are times when I pray and address God as FATHER. There are times when I pray and address God as Consciousness, Being, Eternal Field, Energy, Creator, etc. I use the former approach when I am desperate or simply feeling warm and fuzzy. I use any of the latter when I’m usually more in a contemplative mood, pondering the universe, etc. How about you? Continue reading ‘Pronoun Paranoia’
Deuteronomy 9:10 says that two tablets of stone were handed to Moses written by the finger of God. Okay, so God can do anything He-She wants, but is this metaphor or literal and historical accounting? In Luke (11:20), we have Jesus saying that he casts out demons with the finger of God? Is this more literal narrative? Continue reading ‘The Finger Of God’
What I call my spiritual filter, seemed to have been inoperable early in my life, but that’s to be expected. When one is young and impressionable any knowledgeable appearing person can impact your life: especially if they have the proper credentials and social standing to back up their pronouncements. Continue reading ‘Conformity Or Spirituality?’
Early in my life, I think I was a Christian before I became a Republican, but that was so long ago I am not sure. Maybe they both happened simultaneously. You know, the glove in hand, chicken and egg thing. While I am not sure, there are some things I am certain about as far as events in my life. Continue reading ‘Shadow Religions & Republican God’
If you know of someone who has no guilt, nor remorse, I would advise you to stay away from such a person. Such a person is a potential psychopath in training. However, I would also say that those who always feel guilty and have a need for daily or weekly confession as just as emotionally imbalanced though maybe not so dangerous. Maybe! Continue reading ‘Guilt-Laden Confession Overload?’
There was a woman who had been burdened down by the shackles of cultural slavery, but in her cell of solitude and suffering she turned within to where the LAMBENT light was beckoning. As she focused on the spark of light within, the prison doors of acculturation, shame, guilt, and religious dictates fell from her false beliefs and a Christ consciousness arose. An Ernie parable. 
Continue reading ‘Parable Of The Light Steward’
Let me begin by saying that I don’t profess to have the only true answer to who Jesus was. I will share who he IS to ME TODAY. The historical Jesus is most of all the spiritual Christos in the affairs of man: the incarnation of God that we all are. The fact that there are thousands of Christian denominations world-wide testifies to the different thoughts and interpretations of who this person was. And, there are many who do not see Jesus as an historical person at all, but a mythological character that we’re all to be like.
Let me say up front that this historical character (fact or just mythology) is whom I want to be most like. Jesus is my model! I do not deny you of your models, nor a differing view than I have because obviously as the title of this commentary says- there are many views!
I do not believe that Jesus was God in any sense that is not open to each and every one of us: we just didn’t do as Jesus did. I do believe that he lived the most perfect life that I know of any man, and that his life took away the greatest sin of mankind- thinking that we’re separate from the Creator. He was totally open and filled with the Spirit as no human being I know. That he was a man gives me the hope that I can do what he did and more (John 14:12).
When I once saw Jesus as the “only begotten Son”, divine in the fullest since, there was no hope that I could follow him as he told me. His humanity gave me HOPE, and endless encouragement. Was he both divine and human as the founding fathers said? Yes, and so are we! God WITHIN us, the hope of glory!
I see God in the words and in the life of Jesus as I’ve never seen in any other man. I am open to the fact that there may be more; however, the society and culture within which I live (Western-Christian) has been my major area of study so there are many other religions to which time on this planet have not allowed me to be so in-depth in my study: though I have studied all of them somewhat.
The first chapter of Romans tells us that we don’t need a savior, nor a religion, to KNOW God! God is everywhere in nature, and everywhere in everyone! Treat the world as sacred- it is!
Jesus didn’t teach a creed: he simply lived life LARGE! He offered radical forgiveness, unseen mercy, and he preached the Kingdom- not religion in a CACOPHANY and hate filled environment among religions. He lived such a short time, and taught in an even smaller condensed time frame that we only know but a fraction of what we could have know had he lived to 50, 70, or 90 years as many other religious leaders. He even told us there was much more to know (John 16:12).
Jesus discovered his true nature as a child of God. I’m getting there. I hope you are on that journey and I pray that you will be tolerant of every living being (human, animals, and plants) regardless of the culture from which they come, and the ways in which they worship the ONE TRUE GOD!
Trinity Trumping Theology
There are so many things in the Bible, in most religions, that are highly practical and the core of living life large. There are also mysteries which will probably always remain so. Then there are those doctrines that many churches deem a LITMUS TEST for membership or even salvation: embracing the trinity is one of those. Continue reading ‘Trinity Trumping Theology’