The Honestly podcast was challenging and compelling. You covered a lot of ground. It helped me put together several of the strands of your biography and your overall work. Good job!
Things went strange today for this evangelical, Pentecostal type. Today after time spent in prayer to the Father I had a revelation of the fellowship of the Archangel Michael and Mother Mary who as friends (I needed archangelic help) both helped me deal with a sudden bout of temptation and the presence of the tempter and I had an experience of the difference between veneration and the worship which belongs alone to the persons of the Trinity. For me veneration means the respect and reverence due to someone above you, better, with more authority. Unlike Jesus, Mary didn’t have the taste and feel of humanity combined with deity, but is supremely, beautifully perfectly human. Michael is angelic naturally and is pleased to serve, help, protect me Hebrews 1:14 and I now have new unseen friends to call upon and be with. Despite their being so far above me Mary and Michael in a peculiar way were my servants and brethren, at my side not above me. The greatest in the kingdom of God are servants of all as it says. Strangely wonderful. It is all a gift of grace to the imperfect not gradual attainment of spiritual worthiness. I will be exploring this. By the way no icons were needed. With a bit of quick thinking and use of my reasoning mind I was able to place the experience into my Biblical framework. Whew! Laughing at myself.
I thought it was a great interview. And as for Bari, if you listened to her in depth coverage of the war, you would hear her interviews of Palestinians as well as Israelis. She does really try to respect both sides of an argument. She is not a Christian and yet treated Paul with respect which says a lot in this day and age.
I don’t understand May and Paschal, but then so much old wisdom becomes new all the time. Every one, of course feels like they didn’t quit make their points just right; I guess there is one exception that we know of. It is the exhilaration in your head , when from out of nowhere, thoughts that pop in , that tie all such loose ends together that validate your course and launch you forward, the gifts of the unseen, that make the pursuit worthy. Perhaps you could say did I leave something on the table or did God?
Paul, would you ever consider writing a historical/sci-fi style fiction work? Having read your fiction I think you’d have a kick ass couple of stories up your sleeve. Especially from a “memoir” type perspective. Love your work, as always. Looking forward to the Machine book!
I have been attending an Orthodox parish for several months and participating in their choir (with the blessing of the head priest). It has been deeply meaningful to me. Around this time last year, I had been attending a Reformed Baptist church and felt ready to be baptized in their tradition, but after listening to some Abbey members here, decided to attend a few Orthodox services and read more about Orthodox theology before committing. I found that I resonated much more with Orthodox theology and traditions, and am now again considering baptism.
I thought the Honestly podcast was excellent - every time she asked a hard question I thought you had a pretty brilliant answer and could relate it well to other ideas. I love the Honestly podcast and was happy to see you 'show up' in it this morning!
Happy (Western) Easter! We just began the Triduum with a beautiful liturgy, the incense wafting out into the cool still early spring air afterward. Creation is itself liturgical.
I want to share an interesting story (I've been waiting with eager anticipation for the monthly salon). It's about a confrontation between real estate developers and a relatively new shrine in Toronto. It's not exactly a holy well; it is centred around a garden with a filled-in swimming pool, but partakes of many of the same characteristics of sacred landscape and healing stories. The story is also interesting because of the writer's perspective, which is pretty representative of the city's cultural leadership: i.e., somewhat skeptical and perhaps siding more with the developers even though championing "green", "progressive" values. Nonetheless, I find the article very well-written and illuminating about ecology, the sacred, and the Machine.
Tomorrow, Good Friday, we commemorate the most consequential day in history. Ground zero was Israel and seems to still be the case. Alot more blood will be shed there before God puts this all to an end. Everyone seems to be shocked about how tragic our lives are, all the death and lies, callousness and cruelty experienced by so many, but we crucified God so what do you expect? Love your enemy is still a radical statement. Imagine if more of us took it to heart and really tried it. Its counterintuitive to forgive but its the nuclear bomb in the war for our Souls.
I commend Russell Brand’s commentary on Ireland Votes No on both referendums to change the 1937 Irish constitution. A real gut punch to the nation’s elite chattering class.
Brand responds to a brilliant analysis published in Spiked, including this seasonally apropos gem:
“Even Easter 1916 is an embarrassment to a new elite that prefers to pool its sovereignty in the EU rather than stand up for the territorial sanctity of the republic.
That young men and women died in order that Ireland might govern itself is mortifying to these knowledge-industry elites who prefer to be governed from Brussels…they distance themselves even from the ideals of Irish independence…
To the rest of us, though, …it makes sense. People want to feel connected to history, to place, to their own part in the story of their community. The elite’s suggestion that we disavow all of this is ultimately a demand that we disavow ourselves.”
I loved that interview Paul. Always good to listen to your views and although I've heard some of your story and ideas previously, I'm happy to listen again. I especially love your clear responses to the doubters, whom Bari brought up throughout the interview. You always make sense and sound eminently sane. My general friend and family groups are just not awakened to the kinds of thing you write about, so when I hear you or read your words my understandings are refreshed and strengthened. Can't wait for your book, and I have a friend similarly keen. Sounds as though it's a way off being available for sale though.
The Honestly podcast was challenging and compelling. You covered a lot of ground. It helped me put together several of the strands of your biography and your overall work. Good job!
Bari is a Zionist backing the current genocide. Gross.
the wonderful last sermon of Rev Michael Dowd.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1TzMsGXkg
Things went strange today for this evangelical, Pentecostal type. Today after time spent in prayer to the Father I had a revelation of the fellowship of the Archangel Michael and Mother Mary who as friends (I needed archangelic help) both helped me deal with a sudden bout of temptation and the presence of the tempter and I had an experience of the difference between veneration and the worship which belongs alone to the persons of the Trinity. For me veneration means the respect and reverence due to someone above you, better, with more authority. Unlike Jesus, Mary didn’t have the taste and feel of humanity combined with deity, but is supremely, beautifully perfectly human. Michael is angelic naturally and is pleased to serve, help, protect me Hebrews 1:14 and I now have new unseen friends to call upon and be with. Despite their being so far above me Mary and Michael in a peculiar way were my servants and brethren, at my side not above me. The greatest in the kingdom of God are servants of all as it says. Strangely wonderful. It is all a gift of grace to the imperfect not gradual attainment of spiritual worthiness. I will be exploring this. By the way no icons were needed. With a bit of quick thinking and use of my reasoning mind I was able to place the experience into my Biblical framework. Whew! Laughing at myself.
I thought it was a great interview. And as for Bari, if you listened to her in depth coverage of the war, you would hear her interviews of Palestinians as well as Israelis. She does really try to respect both sides of an argument. She is not a Christian and yet treated Paul with respect which says a lot in this day and age.
I don’t understand May and Paschal, but then so much old wisdom becomes new all the time. Every one, of course feels like they didn’t quit make their points just right; I guess there is one exception that we know of. It is the exhilaration in your head , when from out of nowhere, thoughts that pop in , that tie all such loose ends together that validate your course and launch you forward, the gifts of the unseen, that make the pursuit worthy. Perhaps you could say did I leave something on the table or did God?
Paul, would you ever consider writing a historical/sci-fi style fiction work? Having read your fiction I think you’d have a kick ass couple of stories up your sleeve. Especially from a “memoir” type perspective. Love your work, as always. Looking forward to the Machine book!
I'm looking to host an informal, in-person meetup in Mid-Michigan. If anyone is close by and interested, hit me up!
I have been attending an Orthodox parish for several months and participating in their choir (with the blessing of the head priest). It has been deeply meaningful to me. Around this time last year, I had been attending a Reformed Baptist church and felt ready to be baptized in their tradition, but after listening to some Abbey members here, decided to attend a few Orthodox services and read more about Orthodox theology before committing. I found that I resonated much more with Orthodox theology and traditions, and am now again considering baptism.
How do I know whether I am ready to marry God?
I thought the Honestly podcast was excellent - every time she asked a hard question I thought you had a pretty brilliant answer and could relate it well to other ideas. I love the Honestly podcast and was happy to see you 'show up' in it this morning!
Happy (Western) Easter! We just began the Triduum with a beautiful liturgy, the incense wafting out into the cool still early spring air afterward. Creation is itself liturgical.
I want to share an interesting story (I've been waiting with eager anticipation for the monthly salon). It's about a confrontation between real estate developers and a relatively new shrine in Toronto. It's not exactly a holy well; it is centred around a garden with a filled-in swimming pool, but partakes of many of the same characteristics of sacred landscape and healing stories. The story is also interesting because of the writer's perspective, which is pretty representative of the city's cultural leadership: i.e., somewhat skeptical and perhaps siding more with the developers even though championing "green", "progressive" values. Nonetheless, I find the article very well-written and illuminating about ecology, the sacred, and the Machine.
https://torontolife.com/deep-dives/real-estate-developer-vs-catholic-marian-shrine/
Tomorrow, Good Friday, we commemorate the most consequential day in history. Ground zero was Israel and seems to still be the case. Alot more blood will be shed there before God puts this all to an end. Everyone seems to be shocked about how tragic our lives are, all the death and lies, callousness and cruelty experienced by so many, but we crucified God so what do you expect? Love your enemy is still a radical statement. Imagine if more of us took it to heart and really tried it. Its counterintuitive to forgive but its the nuclear bomb in the war for our Souls.
I commend Russell Brand’s commentary on Ireland Votes No on both referendums to change the 1937 Irish constitution. A real gut punch to the nation’s elite chattering class.
Brand responds to a brilliant analysis published in Spiked, including this seasonally apropos gem:
“Even Easter 1916 is an embarrassment to a new elite that prefers to pool its sovereignty in the EU rather than stand up for the territorial sanctity of the republic.
That young men and women died in order that Ireland might govern itself is mortifying to these knowledge-industry elites who prefer to be governed from Brussels…they distance themselves even from the ideals of Irish independence…
To the rest of us, though, …it makes sense. People want to feel connected to history, to place, to their own part in the story of their community. The elite’s suggestion that we disavow all of this is ultimately a demand that we disavow ourselves.”
If you can get a few people together, I'd be down.
I loved that interview Paul. Always good to listen to your views and although I've heard some of your story and ideas previously, I'm happy to listen again. I especially love your clear responses to the doubters, whom Bari brought up throughout the interview. You always make sense and sound eminently sane. My general friend and family groups are just not awakened to the kinds of thing you write about, so when I hear you or read your words my understandings are refreshed and strengthened. Can't wait for your book, and I have a friend similarly keen. Sounds as though it's a way off being available for sale though.
Paul, do you have suggestions on gardening and working on the land? When things get busy for me my garden goes back to the wild.