Searching for Truth
There have been a great number of prayers lately asking Heavenly Father to teach me how to love and how to forgive. I previously held to the presumption that I already understood these primary virtues. Still, I knew I wasn’t progressing, and really haven’t for a very long time. It may seem like a rabbit > > Read More …
Let’s dispense with the idea that our God has one and only one (i.e., “The”) purpose for the church. Let us set aside — without necessarily objecting to — some previously purported propositions for the purpose of the church (e.g., “the three-fold mission of the church,” “the work of salvation,” “bringing us to Christ”, “to > > Read More …
You know the old taunt, “if you had enough faith, you could jump off this cliff.” There have been a number of significant spiritual events during the last week that I skip in order to add this short post. This morning, while praying earnestly, I was told quite clearly, “burn your garments.” I was shocked, > > Read More …
Father’s Day — a day when we can overstay our bed time, guiltless (while thinking, pondering, praying). Last night I attended the evening session of stake conference. I was fixated on how comfortable everyone seemed huddled together in the “good ship Zion.” After returning home, Joy and I spent some time talking about “…men are, > > Read More …
I have been spending a great deal of time on projects. Fixing up the new synagogue. Helping someone in great need rebuild their engine. Trying to finish the patio (aka, get the house ready to sell). I have also been spending a great deal of time researching “the law.” Naturally, writing gets pushed to the > > Read More …
If one where to ask a Sunbeam to draw a picture of a woman by the sea, one wouldn’t expect to see a creation like that of Konstantin Razumov (example: White Dressed Woman). But, would one ever expect a mature, sophisticated Konstantin to draw a stick figure and pass it off as art?
Note: continuation of April 2016 General Conference (1 of 2) To keep focused yesterday and today, I took elaborate notes and attempted to keep an attitude of praise and prayer throughout the sessions. I was serious about trying to have the Spirit with me to testify of those things that were said. The bottom line? > > Read More …
In a prior post (see: Just Shut Up) I mused about feeling the Spirit at the upcoming General Conference (emphasis added; this is odd, one generally doesn’t quote oneself): I have come to love and crave worshiping with the Messianic Jewish Fellowship. The Spirit there feels omnipresent; it feels expansive. Please don’t misunderstand, I also > > Read More …
Why hasn’t even one person during my 40 years in the church challenged me by saying, “since the Spirit clearly isn’t present, why don’t you just (sit down and) shut up?” Okay, this would be received better if done in a more kind and diplomatic way. But, in our passive-aggressive church, we don’t exactly have > > Read More …
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16–17) During my last trip to Salt Lake, I attended a > > Read More …