Most recent update to this page: June 7, 2020
One of the 'many' reasons I chose to 'leave' the pulpit back in 2009 was I thought it best for me to get out from hiding behind the pulpit, as most pastors do, and get out into the world and since we got into the "Paul stuff" as I call it, I wanted to learn to 'be' the Christian that I was preaching to others. When I realized that most of what Paul was about was to show us a manner of life we should strive for out of 'reasonable service' to the Risen Saviour, I figured I would 'give it a shot' myself. (Oh, I also needed the money and insurance, etc. and I had quickly had learned that our blessings today are 'spiritual' blessings, not 'physical' and financial blessings, no matter how 'good a pastor I tried to be and no matter what the 'baptist pastors' teach about being 'blessed' as they fleeced their congregations for money and to feed their rich lifestyle 'in the name of serving God.')
I have come to see that it actually is a long process to 'learn the way of God more perfectly.' Yes, there are doctrinal 'facts' and 'bottom line doctrinal verses' that need to be learned asap as they require no interpretation or a long process of preaching and/or deep studies, etc. They are as simple as the simplicity in Christ can be - simply simple!
And unfortunately, most people that seem to 'catch on to Paul's teachings still tend to turn Paul's 'manner of life' into a book of daily right or wrong laws in a manner not unlike how the Gospels were to be taught to the Jews. Sadly, pastors still teach the gospel law, scripturally known as the 'severity of God' today, instead of the 'goodness of God.' It is the 'goodness of God' as taught by Paul, NOT the 'severity of God' as taught by the apostles, that is to guide us in our daily walk during today's 'dispensation of the grace of God.'
Our liberty in Christ is not a list of laws. In fact, We are dead to the law - it is that simple. We certainly are not told to imitate Paul's manner of life; we are told to 'follow' Paul as he followed Christ - and for some, that takes a while to get hold of that truth.
So anyway, I have come to realize more and more that as we learn the way of God more perfectly, we also will grow in understanding which then helps us grow more in awareness of others, in our own personal inner joy, and longsuffering towards ourselves, as we eventually realize our biggest battle is with our own flesh! Like Paul, we come to find out that we might win a few battles with our flesh but yet we tend to more lose those battles with our flesh. I suppose it is easier to fight the battles of the affairs of this life, especially today, but the eternal rewards aren't there.
While the risen Christ is our foundation, we know that Paul is our masterbuilder and if we want to be building wisely upon that foundation, we must look to our masterbuilder Paul. After all, our judgment seat will be all about how well we followed Paul's manner of life, not how well we did in the affairs of this life. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. I Corinthians 3:10
So, these pages that you see in the below picture contain jots of thoughts and comments that will be listed in this website page as 'musings' of what I have been reading during my breaks while at work 'in the museum' when there were no guests in my gallery that particular evening. These will not be long and are not meant to be sermons or complete bible studies; just some of my thoughts as I read again specific pages of Scriptures 11 years after I left the pulpit in seek of 'being' the Christian instead of just talking about it.
I have come to see that it actually is a long process to 'learn the way of God more perfectly.' Yes, there are doctrinal 'facts' and 'bottom line doctrinal verses' that need to be learned asap as they require no interpretation or a long process of preaching and/or deep studies, etc. They are as simple as the simplicity in Christ can be - simply simple!
And unfortunately, most people that seem to 'catch on to Paul's teachings still tend to turn Paul's 'manner of life' into a book of daily right or wrong laws in a manner not unlike how the Gospels were to be taught to the Jews. Sadly, pastors still teach the gospel law, scripturally known as the 'severity of God' today, instead of the 'goodness of God.' It is the 'goodness of God' as taught by Paul, NOT the 'severity of God' as taught by the apostles, that is to guide us in our daily walk during today's 'dispensation of the grace of God.'
Our liberty in Christ is not a list of laws. In fact, We are dead to the law - it is that simple. We certainly are not told to imitate Paul's manner of life; we are told to 'follow' Paul as he followed Christ - and for some, that takes a while to get hold of that truth.
So anyway, I have come to realize more and more that as we learn the way of God more perfectly, we also will grow in understanding which then helps us grow more in awareness of others, in our own personal inner joy, and longsuffering towards ourselves, as we eventually realize our biggest battle is with our own flesh! Like Paul, we come to find out that we might win a few battles with our flesh but yet we tend to more lose those battles with our flesh. I suppose it is easier to fight the battles of the affairs of this life, especially today, but the eternal rewards aren't there.
While the risen Christ is our foundation, we know that Paul is our masterbuilder and if we want to be building wisely upon that foundation, we must look to our masterbuilder Paul. After all, our judgment seat will be all about how well we followed Paul's manner of life, not how well we did in the affairs of this life. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. I Corinthians 3:10
So, these pages that you see in the below picture contain jots of thoughts and comments that will be listed in this website page as 'musings' of what I have been reading during my breaks while at work 'in the museum' when there were no guests in my gallery that particular evening. These will not be long and are not meant to be sermons or complete bible studies; just some of my thoughts as I read again specific pages of Scriptures 11 years after I left the pulpit in seek of 'being' the Christian instead of just talking about it.
Click any of these books listed below to go to the page of musings for that particular book.