Editor’s Note
by Editor(s)

This issue focuses on the cutting edge of our Total Truth—Body, Soul and Spirit—through a collection of articles and features by Norman Grubb, Page Prewitt, and other contributors. Our lead article, "How Does Soul Differ from Spirit?" sets the foundation as Norman uses Hebrews 4:9-12 to explore the difference in the human makeup between soul and spirit. From there he explains why and how we may choose to move from the ever-changing realm of human thoughts and feelings to the spirit-truth of our eternal union with the all-sufficient Jesus Christ. Similarly, "That Soul-Spirit Understanding," taken from Norman’s most recent book, Yes, I am, provides an excellent and succinct review of these fundamentals and illustrates the core problem of mistaking the variable emotions of the soul for our still, spirit-center by answering such fundamental questions as, "What do I do when I say I am ‘Christ as me’ and yet there is someone I hate?"

With her usual practical illustrations and clear theology, Page Prewitt guides us through her personal search for an answer to her inability to live up to God’s standards and presents us His all-encompassing solution in several articles featured in this issue. Starting with her Romans 7 struggle (a stumbling point for many of us), Page’s "Body, Soul, and Spirit" takes us through her discovery of the biblical truth about our function as containers of deity, how Christ’s death and resurrection provided the answer to her (and our) dilemma, and how Satan uses our misunderstanding of our human make-up to trick us into unbelief. In an excerpt from her booklet, Alphabet Soup, Page provides practical instruction on recognizing our thoughts and feelings as neutral soul-responses and the importance of affirming the truth of our true identity in union with Christ. (For a broader glimpse into the range of issues packed into this powerful booklet, read Marian Kinahan’s "A Look at a Book" review of Alphabet Soup.) And "Further Soul/Spirit Clarification," Page’s response to a reader’s question, gives a brief survey of Norman’s writings in which she affirms that our choice faculty (our will) is located in the realm of the human spirit, rather than in the soul—a critical distinction when discerning soul and spirit.

For a look at the "how-to" shift from soul-appearances to spirit-truth, we have reflections from three members of the Langley family. Longtime readers may recognize the name Langley from our "Moments with Meryl" feature of a few years ago. We’ve reprinted several brief "Moments" to demonstrate the mental "self-talk" through which Meryl moved from soul-appearances to spirit-truth, both at work and at leisure. Further glimpses into making the shift from soul to spirit in everyday circumstances are provided by Meryl’s son, Jon, ("Christ in the Driver’s Seat") and daughter-in-law, Kim ("Rejoice in the Lord Always"). For more detail about Meryl’s personal search for a life that worked, be sure to read "Tape Talk—and more," Meryl’s review of Page Prewitt’s audio recording of Body, Soul, and Spirit. More than a simple tape review, Meryl shares the amazing ways God used Page to help her come to know this life-changing truth.

Finally, no discussion of body, soul, and spirit would be complete without Norman’s cogent teaching on the spirit dimension. His article "There is Another Dimension" contrasts the visible matter-realm with the invisible spirit-realm and explores our basic self-hood, made in God’s image—a spirit, expressed visibly via a soul and body. Jesus demonstrated by word and deed how we are to live in the spirit dimension on this Earth; when born-again into spirit-union with Jesus Christ, we are His bodily manifestors on this earth, living out that union by the same spirit-principles as He lived out in His earthly body—Christ in us, as us.