1 Samuel 17:4-7:
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. … The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam …
Continue reading * Bible contradictions #03: Who killed Goliath?
Psalm 145.8: The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 2:11-12: Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Reblogged 2022-08-04.
Luke 9:50 (also Mark 9.40): Whoever is not against us is for us.
Luke 11:23 (also Matthew 12:30): Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Reblogged 2022-04-28.
Folah, a sometimes participant at Messiah Truth, visited here on July 27, and posted a comment summarizing her beliefs:
The counter-missionaries and most Jews (especially Judaism adherents) define Hebrew, Jacob, Israel, land of Israel, Judah, house of Judah, Joseph, Ephraim, David, house of David, city of David, Zion, mount Zion, daughter of Zion e.t.c as all referring to a particular race and a particular parcel of land in the middle-east both in historic and eschatological contexts. Quite a lot of Christians (trying to avoid replacement theology label) have accepted these definitions without question and research. These definitions have caused majority to build eschatological edifices with extremely weak foundations. Continue reading o The church in the Old Testament?
Ambrose and Olga Worrall took the doctrine of “Don’t come uninvited” to extreme lengths — or so I thought. A key story involves their relations with one another.
From The Gift of Healing, pages 118-120:[*]
Some time before our marriage Olga had injured her left hand in a fall on an icy sidewalk. Following this mishap a small lump appeared in the injured area. It did not disappear, but grew larger until it was as big as a good-sized walnut. Continue reading * Reconsidering “Don’t come uninvited.”
Arnie (not his real name) has been the sole student of my course on effective prayer.
Sunday after church he told me he’d found a couple online resources about effective prayer, that he hoped we could review together. Each of them begins with the necessity of “belief.”
When he said this, I became nervous. There are many such sources online, but I’m not comfortable with them. On the one hand, trying to make myself “believe” that the outcome I pray for is inevitable, feels too much like wading into the world of delusion. On the other hand, although there are many New Testament references to “belief” in connection with prayer, I’m convinced that either (a) those expressions don’t come from the historical Jesus himself, or else (b) Jesus used that term to mean something very different from what we normally take it to mean today.
None of those whom I regard as experts in the field ever refer to belief this way. Never. Not once. Ever.
By Monday afternoon, I would feel my reservations had been powerfully confirmed.
Related: From my diary: Learning to pray
Related: I will not be disappointed
Related: When prayer backfires
Continue reading * I don’t believe in belief. Here’s why.
Below appears the syllabus for the course on prayer that I’m teaching at my church. Today we completed Week 2.
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DESCRIPTION
Many people long to love and serve God — whatever that means — in ways more meaningful than mere ritual practices. This course will teach ways to focus one’s altruism so as to attain greater harmony within oneself and in one’s relationships. Anticipated outcomes:
– improved self-acceptance
– improved functionality
– improved employability
– improved ability to set goals
– improved ability to work toward goals
– enhanced sense of personal efficacy
– intrapersonal coherence (integrity, “faith”)
– enhanced affect management
– greater harmony in relationships
– It just plain feels good.
The course will treat all religions as equally valid. Students are likely to hear prayers to “Allah,” “Jesus,” “Vishnu,” etc. There will be no effort to promote any one belief system over any other. It is suggested that students take the meditation course, “Mindfulness for Healing,” first.
BIO
William Tell, “The Homeless Blogger,” lives in Baltimore.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1
– Topic: Tolerance and intolerance: Students will discuss their willingness to engage in interfaith prayer.
– Text: “Prayer Primer,” by William Tell
How do people become “lights” to this world?
– Text: “Your Heart’s Desire,,” by Emmett Fox
What’s at stake in choosing one’s affects (feelings, emotions) intentionally?
– Homework: Watch for moments when you can choose your feelings.
Week 2
– Text: “The Way of Peace,” by William Tell
Introduction to meditation, the principal tool for learning to choose one’s affects.
– Text: “Essay on Prayer,” by Ambrose Worrall
“Every thought is a prayer.” What does this mean?
– Homework: Establish a regular daily time for study and prayer.
Week 3
– Text: “Meditation and Contemplation,” by Ambrose Worrall
What are meditation and contemplation? How are they different?
– Text: “Silentium Altum (Deep Silence),” by Ambrose Worrall
What is the use of “deep silence” (contemplation)? What can one expect from that state?
– Discussion: Pros and cons of organized religion
– Homework: Seek to love people you don’t like.
Week 4
– Text: “Un[b]locking the Spirit,” by William Tell
Why should one pray for oneself first, before praying for others?
– Text: “When prayer backfires,” by William Tell
What are some common mistakes and misconceptions about prayer?
– Homework: Practice bathing people in light.
Week 5
– Text: “From my diary: Learning to pray,” by William Tell
What is “doubt?” How can one overcome it?
– Homework: Seek to become “heart and soul” as to your heart’s desire.
Week 6
– First session: Topics: Housekeeping; Trash day; Prayer in spirit
Exercises for “cleaning up” one’s emotional context, and praying for another person in words.
– Second session: Topics: Prayer for enemies; Dealing with haters; Following guidance
Exercises in prayer for enemies, prayer about saboteurs, and obtaining guidance in intercession.
– Homework: Practice following guidance in prayer.
Week 7
– Text: “Philosophy and Methodology of Spiritual Healing,” by Ambrose Worrall
An in-depth examination of the methods and processes of practical prayer, from the perspective of the 20th century’s foremost American expert in the field
Homework: TBD
Week 8
– Topic: Prayer with the laying on of hands
Students who are interested in, and willing to participate in, the laying on of hands, will learn and practice it.
– Homework: Let your light shine!
Reblogged 2021-09-09.
As of Monday, 04/27/15, let me say this. We had five days of completely orderly demonstrations. Only after that did the interlopers arrive, and only after that did any trouble begin.
Everybody, I think, wants certain things. We want to find out the facts. We want appropriate prosecutions, if warranted. We want …
I’ve just read this article, which indicates interlopers were indeed allowed to address the crowd at the original gathering Saturday 2015-04-25. They said things I do not believe any native Baltimorean would have said. They had to rationalize their presence, and in my judgment, failed.
Isaiah 25:
6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. 8Then the LORD GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
The Homeless Blogger 