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When the Spirit Comes
The wind of the Spirit is powerful. What happens when you’re IN a hurricane wind is vital. Obviously, most of the time, the best idea is to avoid the hurricane wind. N.T Wright describes it this way: It’s important that someone somewhere is tracking the hurricane and telling us what it’s doing, but when it comes to Pentecost it’s far…
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What Is It That We Have?
One of the great challenges for our contemporary church is this question: What do we have? We need this ability to hear the voice of the Spirit and act. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.” (Acts 3:6,…
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Luke and the Holistic Gospel
One of the strings of conversation I ran into on a Facebook group site that consists of members of my denomination was the thought that Luke’s portrayal of the Spirit was something more than just simply “spiritual.” It was more than signs and wonders. It was also about the whole person. This, of course, raised the ire of a few…
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Meditations on the Holy Spirit
With Pentecost Sunday upon us, I am dwelling on some great thoughts about the person and work of the Spirit. The divine awakening produces in the soul of the perfect a flame of love which is a participate of that living flame which is the Holy Spirit Himself…this is the operation of the Holy Spirit in the soul that is…
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It’s Pentecost
Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. It’s about the only time the Church is somewhat focused on the member of the Trinity we really don’t understand. So… we don’t talk about the Spirit much. If you’re Pentecostal, you are defined by the events of Acts 2, but still may not have a grasp on just WHO the Holy Spirit is. If…
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The Promise of the Spirit
This weekend I am beginning a short series on the Holy Spirit. As Pentecostals, we are sometimes better demonstrating than teaching on this subject. It needs to be both. There is more that is stirring. What the Spirit is stirring will need to be spoken more “in house” (meaning more TO the Body of Christ) than “out here” (meaning broadcasting…
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Why I am Pentecostal
This is an attempt at a series. I doubt I will post regularly enough on it to be meaningful, but there are some things I want to try and lay out, even in rudimentary form. I begin with I know best: I am a Pentecostal. I was born into a family that went to a Pentecostal church. My earliest memories…
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Book Review: “Holy Spirit: Creative Power in Our Lives”
This review is on Holy Spirit: Creative Power in Our Lives by Dr. Lois Malcolm. Dr. Lois Malcolm has written a slim, accessible volume for anyone who is Trinitarian in their doctrine. I am a Pentecostal. Dr. Malcolm is a Lutheran professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Her work is something that informs my Pentecostal mindset, theology and practice.…
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Quick Hit Thought to Get My Monday Going
When Paul came into Ephesus in Acts 19, he preached, the Spirit came on those there… and 12 men started an extraordinary work. It was a work that shook the core of the Ephesian economy and impacted a region. Twelve men. God doesn’t mind small. He’s not afraid. What am I believing for today? What can be started when I…
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The Assemblies of God and Speaking in Tongues
Yet another article looking at the issue of speaking in tongues. In light of this article, I compare it to blogs I’ve read since the General Council. In my own view, as an Assemblies of God pastor, it just isn’t about tongues… at all. It’s about prayer. We can preach on “tongues.” But if we aren’t people of prayer, we…
Tag: Holy Spirit
