To me, Paul is an open book. He is a Truly a wonderful guy, but he has made some terrible mistakes. I do not mean before his “conversion.” Paul never stopped being a Pharisee. And, he killed way more Christians (in the billions) after his conversion than he ever did before.
The first five and-a-half chapters of Romans are a reflection of Paul’s joy, concerning the Good News. In spite of that Truth, as the day goes on, there is a lot of Darkness in his writing that stands out as plain as Death.
Quite cryptically, Jesus accurately predicts that Peter will be led off as a slave by Paul. Our Savior’s warning is meant not just for Peter — rather — for ALL of us.
“Another will gird you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Within this guy (Rocky/Saul/Paul), the Word received a quick and vertical take off, followed by an immediate plane crash. Jesus refers to this catastrophe as, “Quickly falling AWAY”:
Matthew 13:20-21 (Original Greek) “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the Word and, at once, he receives it with joy. But since he has NO ROOT, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls AWAY.”
Paul’s roots were rotten and of Pharisee color. Root-rot. (Thanks Religion)
The “trouble and persecution because of the Word” which befell our Christian hero came not from the outside — the infamous whippings and jailing Paul ran into as he evangelized his way along the northern banks of the Mediterranean Sea. No. What withered the Word on the vine came from Paul’s internal tribulation. Resulting in the most destructive reversal in known history. The Holy Spirit says, “See Romans 6:16!”
Speaking of the Holy Spirit, dear Mary. Just before you entered the discussion, The Holy Spirit suggested (that I suggest ) that since the point had already been properly made (and well supported by Scripture, logic and fact) that, in his Good-Bye speech, Jesus was predicting that Peter will be led off as a slave... we should now discuss Romans 6:16.
What did I suggest? Then, we can take this discussion anywhere anyone would like to go with it.
What was the response from the participants?
1) Broken-record blubbering from the smartest guy in the room (I mean, if you want to start your own thesis about the Christian universe, fine; but, first, let’s deal directly with what’s before us on the table). I have a family and a real job. It took a lot of sacrifice to my family and work for me to take the time to share ALL of what I have posted in this room. (I missed a meeting this very morning, because of this very post). I could just as well be in the forest, talking to the squirrels. (chipper-chipper … crunch-crunch) King-Squirrel looks up from his half-eaten nut, to say... “your rambling, rambling.” Sometimes the smartest guy in the room can be the most imperceptive. “Too many notes!” as some brain-wad once advised Mozart.
2) The implied accusation that I am either “an infidel or a liar!”
Honestly, what followed those two responses... was my Good-Bye speech. To the participants (few as they are).
And, my foot was out the door. That was it.
Then “number 2)” participant (listed above), wrote the best one-liner advice I have heard in here so far.
And then, you popped in and started asking sensible questions. How can we tell if what someone says is really of the Holy Spirit or not? The answer is simple. Only if it rings True from every angle.
As for Joseph Smith, first; Martin Luther, second; Zwingili, third and John Calvin, fourth. We can go into them as deep as you would like (by the way, I like the order in which you have listed them; 1,2,3,4.)
Best we take them one at a time (otherwise I’ll be accused of “rambling”).
Give me the green-light and I will start with Joseph Smith (but first you would need to know the secret behind “repentance). I would be glad to share that with you, if the Mormon’s prophet, Smith, is really what we need to discuss.
Or we can do as the Holy Spirit suggests and take a serious look at Romans 6:16.
Or you folks can go and read something else that is more “faith inspiring” to you.
If you want this to continue, it is up to y’all (as they say down south).
Otherwise, I am done here and it’s peace to youse guys (as they say up north).
The first five and-a-half chapters of Romans are a reflection of Paul’s joy, concerning the Good News. In spite of that Truth, as the day goes on, there is a lot of Darkness in his writing that stands out as plain as Death.
Quite cryptically, Jesus accurately predicts that Peter will be led off as a slave by Paul. Our Savior’s warning is meant not just for Peter — rather — for ALL of us.
“Another will gird you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Within this guy (Rocky/Saul/Paul), the Word received a quick and vertical take off, followed by an immediate plane crash. Jesus refers to this catastrophe as, “Quickly falling AWAY”:
Matthew 13:20-21 (Original Greek) “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the Word and, at once, he receives it with joy. But since he has NO ROOT, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls AWAY.”
Paul’s roots were rotten and of Pharisee color. Root-rot. (Thanks Religion)
The “trouble and persecution because of the Word” which befell our Christian hero came not from the outside — the infamous whippings and jailing Paul ran into as he evangelized his way along the northern banks of the Mediterranean Sea. No. What withered the Word on the vine came from Paul’s internal tribulation. Resulting in the most destructive reversal in known history. The Holy Spirit says, “See Romans 6:16!”
Speaking of the Holy Spirit, dear Mary. Just before you entered the discussion, The Holy Spirit suggested (that I suggest ) that since the point had already been properly made (and well supported by Scripture, logic and fact) that, in his Good-Bye speech, Jesus was predicting that Peter will be led off as a slave... we should now discuss Romans 6:16.
What did I suggest? Then, we can take this discussion anywhere anyone would like to go with it.
What was the response from the participants?
1) Broken-record blubbering from the smartest guy in the room (I mean, if you want to start your own thesis about the Christian universe, fine; but, first, let’s deal directly with what’s before us on the table). I have a family and a real job. It took a lot of sacrifice to my family and work for me to take the time to share ALL of what I have posted in this room. (I missed a meeting this very morning, because of this very post). I could just as well be in the forest, talking to the squirrels. (chipper-chipper … crunch-crunch) King-Squirrel looks up from his half-eaten nut, to say... “your rambling, rambling.” Sometimes the smartest guy in the room can be the most imperceptive. “Too many notes!” as some brain-wad once advised Mozart.
2) The implied accusation that I am either “an infidel or a liar!”
Honestly, what followed those two responses... was my Good-Bye speech. To the participants (few as they are).
And, my foot was out the door. That was it.
Then “number 2)” participant (listed above), wrote the best one-liner advice I have heard in here so far.
And then, you popped in and started asking sensible questions. How can we tell if what someone says is really of the Holy Spirit or not? The answer is simple. Only if it rings True from every angle.
As for Joseph Smith, first; Martin Luther, second; Zwingili, third and John Calvin, fourth. We can go into them as deep as you would like (by the way, I like the order in which you have listed them; 1,2,3,4.)
Best we take them one at a time (otherwise I’ll be accused of “rambling”).
Give me the green-light and I will start with Joseph Smith (but first you would need to know the secret behind “repentance). I would be glad to share that with you, if the Mormon’s prophet, Smith, is really what we need to discuss.
Or we can do as the Holy Spirit suggests and take a serious look at Romans 6:16.
Or you folks can go and read something else that is more “faith inspiring” to you.
If you want this to continue, it is up to y’all (as they say down south).
Otherwise, I am done here and it’s peace to youse guys (as they say up north).
. The greatest Gospel works were written by him and his ministry of becoming Christ to the Gentiles he fulfilled faithfully. 
