Category Archives: Bread And Spirit

Unite Arkansas

“Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.” — Margaret Peters

Last night’s UNITE in Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arknasas campus in Fayetteville was awesome! Ten thousand college students gathered and heard a blistering word about sexual purity and the Gospel of Grace — the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was a call to holy (set apart) living, and Jesus was worshiped until after 10:30 PM. The meeting was about to be over, so my wife and I left to walk a friend who had driven in from another city an hour away to her car. We learned later the meeting went on in some fashion until 2:00 AM in the morning, moving across the street to the south in an outdoor setting were many students were baptized.

We were there from 5:15 PM with some people from our community of faith who had set up a tent for food and fellowship before the event. Some of us had been asked to go into the venue a few minutes early to walk and pray. I heard the Spirit really moved in similar events at Alburn, the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, and Ohio State, but I didn’t know what to expect. The straight talk about sexual issues, sexual purity, and sexual healing was shocking to me. But judging by the response of thousands of students–it was very needed and refreshing, accompained by the Gospel of Grace for forgiveness, and the promise of the Holy Spirit for healing and transforming lives to live on a higher plain.

In the previous month, I heard in the spirit similar messages and blogged about sexual freedom and the self control available as a fruit of the Spirit. But to hear this forceful message to ten thousand college kids and see their reaction in embracing it with their lives was mind blowing.

The musical group Elevation Rhythm led the crowd in vibrant worship, which at times was loud, powerful, blasting with the college kids dancing and singing after rushing the stage area, then quite and still–so melodic and calm you thought you might touch heaven or be touched by the same, with a hush over the crowd.

Speaking of the crowd, one of my college friends just called me. He and his wife were there doing the same thing we were. He told his wife earlier in the day, “They have only issued four thousand advance tickets for the event, and are secretly hoping and praying for ten thousand attendees–that’s just too big a gap and not going to happen.” Durning our phone call he said, “I’m going to have to stop under estimating God.”

One phrase repeated in one of the songs was: “There is no waste at the altar.” I don’t recall that phrase in the Scriptures and found myself wondering what it could mean. Maybe it speaks to all the sins, sexual and addictions, being brought to the altar last night? That’s certainly no waste, as they are accepted and burned up–forgotten by the One Who matters as an act of mercy and grace. You can come as you are with your idols to the altar, and leave as a son or daughter for the courts of the King, ruined by His love, ravished by His magnanimous generosity and good will.

What you lay at the altar you get back if it was a promise from God, only with the unhealthy attachment burned away–a bit like Abraham offering up his son Isaac, and getting him back, both of them now having the realization that “God will provide the Lamb.”

So there we were, a few grey eagles, who had attended the same university fifty years ago, watching lots of young eagles experience God in similar ways we did, under H.D. McCarty, with the promise of change and soaring through life and into old age with adventures galore and relationships to make, mend, and restore.

“Time has a wonderfful way of showing us what really matters.”[ Click here for a few more photos of the event!]

Sex and Freedom

Happy July 4th! I recently stood with an eighty-something friend on his wooden deck sticking out in space from his home atop a mountain perched on a cliff. After standing in silence for a good while peering over mountains, lakes, valleys, and forests beneath an azure sky punctuated with white clouds, he pipped up and said, “I liked your book [Puzzling 2020], except for one thing — that three-letter word you used so often.” I smiled at him quizzically and said, “What word, John?” “S-E-X,” he spelled out for me.

Smiling, I shook my head and told him the book was written for a multi-generational audience. And I couldn’t be sure that the younger generation even knows what the Bible says about sex. This book was a 70-chapter devotional that describes the Christian or Biblical worldview and hopefully makes it as compelling as it is.

I wrote a few chapters on the subject based on history, philosophy, psychology, and the Bible, hopefully expounding the truth and what God reveals to us about the gift of sex—its best, most enjoyable, and highest uses. My overall summary was: “Sex is a beautiful servant but a terrible master.”

Introducing Thessalonica

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece (one million people), was founded in 315 BC by the Greek general Cassander, who named it after his wife, Thessalonike, sister of Alexander the Great. By Roman times, it had become one of the most important cities in the empire following Greece. It was one of the first churches established by the Apostle Paul in Europe, and it was the first epistle Paul wrote to any church (50 AD). These Christ followers were important to him relationally and personally, as is clear by what he says and how he says it. It’s also clear that sexual misconduct was common and prevalent in the Roman Empire approximately halfway through its thousand-year existence. It was one of the first things Paul addressed, urging them to lead self-controlled lives as God teaches for their good and His glory. In other words, Rome looked a lot like the West and the USA today.

This makes their story poignant and relative to ours. Last week, before July 4th, I heard the first sermon on sex I’ve ever heard preached in more than fifty years attending chruch as an adult.  Our young PhD pastor, Ben Wilson, delivered it right out of I Thessalonians and from the Spirit of God, who gave Paul the message in the first place. It’s well worth viewing.

I’ll give you a summary of Ben’s message, but the facts and details are important to know and internalize, so don’t stop short of hearing him out. God made sex for our enjoyment, and He prescribed how to enjoy it most fully — one man and one woman in marriage. Anything else actually dilutes and divides the pleasure and satisfaction possible. And, one experiences bondage instead of freedom. 

Tozer says idolatry is: “Having thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” If you think your ideas about sex are better than God’s, then I would suggest you don’t know God as well as you ought. He’s good and wise and gives good gifts to His children.

About idols, the Bible tells us: “They have ears, but can’t hear, eyes but can’t see, legs but can’t walk, hands but can’t feel — those who worship them become like them.” Don’t let this happen to you! Know and choose God’s ways concerning sex. Self-control isn’t a deterrent to freedom but an avenue to freedom. Godspeed as you journey and live free!

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law [emphasis added]” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline [emphasis added]” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom [emphasis added]” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Charles Simpson Celebration

Charles Simpson, a man whose influence touched the lives of many, bid farewell to Earth on February 14, 2024, leaving a profound legacy in each of us who knew him.

Several hundred folks from around the country and globe gathered to joyfully celebrate his life and legacy. It was a true party, as one would expect. Stephen, Susanne, and the CSM leadership team, guided by the Holy Spirit, orchestrated a gathering of joyful, expectant, grateful, humble, accomplished, spiritual warriors and warrioresses at Covenant Church, Mobile, AL, to celebrate the gift that Charles Simpson was and honor the man he was.

When I received the invitation, I wondered how they would pull this off. Let the people assemble two hours before the service begins to hug necks, tell stories, and catch up on each other’s lives and what Charles meant to them, for starters.

Once the official service started, one got the idea that Charles himself had laid out the plan, and Stephen (and the other speakers) said as much. “I hate long funerals,” Charles said. He gave each speaker a certain amount of time, mostly five minutes, which was mostly honored. His children may have been given a little liberty on the time or taken a little liberty, but it was beautiful and special.

I won’t try to recreate what Stephan, Susanne, Charlyn, and Jonathan said. I will say that what the ladies shared was very real, honoring, candid, relational, and beautiful. The whole service was recorded as a YouTube video, which is worth your time to experience for an inside look at the beauty we all beheld at some distance.

Don Poythress led us in worship. Michael Coleman delivered the eulogy. Bishop Joseph Garlington brought some special music and words of insight about Charles. To the surprise of many, Pastor Aaron Früh, Charles’ personal pastor for the last few years, welcomed us and provided us with some surprising pastoral insights into Charles’ final days.

Most of us were there for four hours, from 10 AM to 2 PM, and it seemed like thirty minutes—also seemed that time didn’t matter. The Spirit moved like a Gulf breeze through the family gathered to honor Charles, warming hearts, giving revelation, and bringing a soul-stilling peace.

It was even more special to experience it with some West Monroe, LA, friends who knew Charles well and had been similarly impacted by his life, teaching, and preaching.

To top it all off, many of the crowd ambled over to the fellowship hall for an authentic Cajun meal of seafood gumbo, cheese grits, collard greens, pork, chicken, and more. Indescribable deserts were centered around a large plate piled high with apple fritters, which we learned Charles enjoyed daily with his dog as part of their breakfast. Who knew?

My heart is smiling, and I’m rambling. The reality is that I have no words to describe God’s unfathomable reach and majesty. I also struggle to find words to describe the depths and impact of a man so given to knowing God, experiencing His Spirit, and making Him known to others most of the hours and days of his life. Such a man and friend was Charles Simpson. To God be the glory.

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[Click here to enjoy some photos and videos from the event.]

As I think of Charles several Scriptures come to mind, like Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Malachi 4:2, and Psalm 112:4. With a heart smile, I’ll end with this one:

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Isaiah 46:4 NLT).

I invite you to pray with me the Aaronic Blessing over Charles’ family, ministry, and closest friends:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

Happy Passover

Sundown today marks the beginning of Passover 2024. Passover marks the deliverance from slavery to freedom by the death of a firstborn and the death of an innocent lamb. It’s also an act of judgment and mercy born in the heart of the gracious, loving, and just Most High God. Amen.

Sin and death seem linked, as do innocent blood and forgiveness — forever.

On Earth at the moment, the scope of anti-Semitism and humanistic rebellion against this magnificent God is noteworthy. Similar situations have had their moments in history but have not swelled to the proportions seen in the past century and at this moment. Nor has it been seen to this extent in people professing faith in God. What does this portend for us as human beings? A time for war?!

Angels, demons, and the people they influence worldwide are players in this cosmic and cataclysmic scenario. The most important part and factor is the judgment of the Almighty—how and when He will choose to act, but act He will, out of justice and love.

There will be deliverance and protection for his own, those who fear him and draw near in fidelity and obedience. And there will be judgment on the evil and the unjust — a removal of cancer, if you will, for the nations and His creation. Selah.

Happy Passover 2024, as you remember the gracious, merciful Holy One who initiated this deliverance and the Passover of the death angel who judged a rebellious, idol-ridden world power bent on destroying God’s chosen people.

Worship the lamb and celebrate the victory he gives and makes possible over sin and death — also over sin and slavery.

“Pesach Sameach” 

    פסח שמח  

       Happy Passover

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“’O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?’

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NLT).

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, ‘But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.’ …
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2).

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).

Christmas and Hanukkah 2023

On an early-morning, 3-mile walk around our neighborhood with my wife, we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. Soon, our conversation turned to soul care — reading the Bible habitually, praying, staying in a community of faith — and abiding in the Light.

“Soul care” seems to be jumping out to me everywhere. Ron, my neighbor, came into the yard yesterday evening, catching me putting the last touches on our Christmas angel, and he was there for the lighting ceremony just as the sun was setting and Hanukkah was beginning. While enjoying a beautiful moment and sunset, our conversation turned to “soul care” — the habits, disciplines, and rhythms of the Christian faith and subsequent peace.

Hanukkah is from the Hebrew word for consecration. Hanukkah, according to dictionary.com is “A Jewish festival lasting eight days, celebrated from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of Tevet in commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians [168 BC] under Antiochus IV, characterized chiefly by the lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival.” Sometimes spelled Chanukah, it is also called the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights.

Bethlehem Light

On our morning walk, we also discussed that “people believe what they want to believe.” When it comes to Bethlehem, can you really overlook such a carefully placed puzzle piece? You can if your heart doesn’t want to know, see, or believe.

On the same note, if you do want to believe there is a God who cares, Who is there, and always does what He says from generation to generation, then pause at Bethlehem. Open your eyes, your ears, your heart, your soul, your spirit, and peer in wonder at a humble Baby and the very heart of your Creator God.

The sky was full of light that night! Happy Hanukkah.

Christmas and Hanukkah

What do these two have in common? Other than both will begin on the same day December 25, 2024 — light! Those living in darkness will see a great light in Galilee of the Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1-2, Matthew 4:14-15). A prophet, priest, and King is born in Bethlehem, Judah, as predicted by the prophet Micah (5:2). Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” is a fitting beginning for Jesus, who would call himself the “bread of life.” The Lion of Judah, the Son of David, was born in the same town David was, 1000 years earlier. Seems like too big a coincidence, doesn’t it?

The religious (those trusting in their own knowledge and works) didn’t see it. Check for yourself. Does any prophet come from Nazareth? (John 7:52). Who else doesn’t see? And who does? That’s a fascinating study within itself as you follow Jesus’ life and ministry on the pages of the Gospels.

It’s by invitation only! But the guest list is immense, in keeping with the wealth and goodwill of the Host. There is an RSVP stated or implied, and that’s our only responsibility, apparently. 

Please, stop what you’re doing. Put worldly cares and your to-do list aside. Enter into the joy of the Lord, where there is feasting without strife and rest — where there is true life.

Take care of your soul. Start living your faith or keeping your faith in an ever-increasing and deepening fashion. There dwells light and life — love and joy.

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“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).

“But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:1-2).

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst’” (John 6:35).

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).

African Spiritual Adventure 2023

One of our members at Harvest Community Chruch has a fledgling relationship with an African pastor who is four years into a church plant in Uganda. Our church sent a five-member team to support this church in July/August, and scout out whether the Spirit might be leading us into an ongoing relationship. This turned into a beautiful, relational adventure.

We were their first team to host, and they did a remarkable job. Our lodging was clean and safe, and their hospitality was exemplary and warm. We felt honored and well cared for — indeed, welcomed into their family.

Buyera Community Church (BCC) is a non-denominational church in an association of about 200 similar churches throughout Uganda. We found Pastor Steven and his wife Judith to be very hard-working, self-sacrificing, genuine Christians who are laying their lives down to further the church and Kingdom of God. They have put together a fledgling church in four years of about 100-150 people in Buyera, a village on the outskirts of Kampala, the capital. While the area is relatively impoverished at the moment, its proximity to the capitol with some recent business and governmental activity promise to bring needed economic resources to their village as well as many new people.

They’ve put together an amazing, well-kept campus, and started an elementary school with about 80 children. That’s Judith’s passion and dream, because she was a Project Compassion child herself who came out of the slums and a bad family situation to get an education and wants to give back or replicate that for others. Teaching children is about the best way to make disciples imaginable. Pastor Stephen is well-educated, with Christian parents who recently celebrated their 47th anniversary — their age being a rarity in Uganda where the average age is 15.5 years.

Steven has a young, energetic leadership team — one quite large for the size of the church. It occurred to us that their real call may be to raise up and train leaders for the church in Uganda and Africa. Steven’s main focus seems to be the church, as it should be, the bride of Christ and a representation of His family. Their local church is bursting at the seams, space wise — meeting in the three-room school each Sunday. They have the foundation built for a church building on the campus, with standing metal beams. They are also ready to pour concrete for the floor and are in the process of making their own concrete blocks — a process in which we participated.

We enjoyed our recreation day at the beginning of the trip (desert first!) instead of at the end as usual, resting Steven and Judith, by going on a safari. This turned out to be perfect for getting to know the couple and their hearts, as we let them know us and gain their trust. We feel like family now.

On that note, a safari is a good option for the recreation and reflection day that most short-term-mission trips build into their schedules. It’s about a 5 hour drive from the BCC to the national park/game preserve. That’s a hike, but it allows the team to recover from jet lag — while experiencing a long, peaceful drive through the countryside getting a feel for the culture and people while resting and chatting.

As a veteran of about 20 short term mission trips, each one a success in its own right, I’d say this trip ranked near the top. BCC is very kingdom minded, and the fields are “ripe unto harvest” in Uganda, which may prove to be a hub in Africa for sending out young preachers and church planters. “Can anything good come out of Buyera?” is a common saying there. 🙂

At a Charles Simpson leadership conference in May of this year I sat at breakfast with two gentlemen who were involved with training young pastors and preachers near Kampala, Uganda. What are the chances? On the flight from Amsterdam to Uganda, I sat by a very lovely Belgian woman, a nurse, who met her husband on a medical mission to the Congo, just west of Uganda. She married her Canadian-pilot husband, and he currently flies for Uganda Air and they live in Entebbe. She told me Uganda is mostly Christian and the gospel is spreading rapidly, but that the depth of the church is somewhat shallow, with a lot of prosperity teaching, etc.

We found Pastor Steven a grounded student and teacher of the Bible. He and his wife met working for Project Compassion, and the church they attended at that time sent them out as church planters. They have established a nice church campus with a building used for a Christian elementary school, a building for church and school offices, a mission building, and the start of a church building. The campus is clean and well laid out in a good location for growth as Kampala spreads south toward Lake Victoria and Entebbe Airport. But it’s the hearts of these two leaders, their four children and their staff that are the treasures. We plan to help them any way we can as the Spirit leads, with funds and sharing lives via visits. It’s beautiful and refreshing to find God’s Spirit in God’s family in many different parts of the planet — and to experience their love is an inexpressible joy!

Photos of African Mission Adventure 2023

Honduras 2023 — There is Still Room

There Is Still Room

I must include one more highlight from our spring-break trip to Honduras, because it furnished our mission statement and direction for the entire trip, “There is still room” — at the King’s table. This is how we came to hear it.

Pastor Dario, learning that Tim and Lindsay had lived in China for six years, invited him to speak to the church saying, “Brother Tim, tell us about China.”

Tim read a passage of Scripture from Luke 14 about people who were invited to a fabulous banquet by a wealthy master, but many made excuses and didn’t come. The master told his servants to go out into the highways and byways and invite the lame, poor, and anyone who would come. The servants did so, and reported this to the master and that: “There is still room.”(v22) The master sent his servants out again.

 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’‘’Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet’” (Luke 14: 21:23 NIV).

Tim chose to tell the Honduran church about how the underground church in China had ignored and not evangelized the Tibetan people because they were “idol worshipers” and chose willingly to ignore God and go their own way. Tim mentioned also that a very, very small percentage of Tibetans had ever heard the name of Jesus.

Then there was a major earthquake in Tibet a few years later, and the Chinese church decided to send humanitarian and spiritual help. They were well received and many came to Christ. The Chinese church repented for exclusivity and admitted their failure in going to Tibet with the Gospel, as commanded in the Great Commission.

After hearing the story, Pastor Dario said to Tim, our team, and his own church, that this was a word for the Honduras church. He went on to say, “Everyone in Honduras has heard the name of Jesus and the Gospel message.” But the Honduran church has been like the underground Chinese church and judged that the people who haven’t responded to the Gospel or accepted Jesus were doing so because that was their choice. Therefore the church wasn’t going out into the highways and byways any longer like they had a one time.

“Now we’re hearing, ‘There’s still room,’ and we’re failing at going out again. This is a good word for us, and one we need to hear.” 

“There is still room” seemed to become the main theme or word from the Lord for our team concerning our time in Honduras, and beyond.

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Photo Journal of Honduras 2023

Honduras Spring Break 2023

A Prison Break! — Honduras March 20, 2023

[Eight of us experience Prisoners of Light @ Olanchito, Yoro, Honduras Prison ]

There is no way I can describe what happened in there.

As we turned over our passports and walked toward the solid metal door with a peephole, then through that door to the bare, concrete holding area in front of another solid metal door with a small window, prisoners began excitedly whispering and running through the narrow perpendicular passageways beyond.

I’d been inside this prison before, but no one else with me had been except our translator. I hadn’t seen this activity before, so it was a bit unnerving, partly because we had five precious young women with us. But I quickly had inner peace and a spiritual impression that all was well and everything was alright.

We hurried into the hallway, turned left, and followed the narrow passageway lined by some prisoners, until we emerged into the open-air courtyard. It was surrounded by high walls topped with Concertina wire and a guard tower manned by a uniformed guard with a machine gun.

Immediately to our left, seated in many straight rows, were 150+ prisoners who began to clap loudly — applaud thunderously is more like it — our arrival.!?

Totally surprised and humbled by such a warm reception, we waved sheepishly at the clapping inmates. We continued walking to where we were motioned, to our seats at the front left side — very close to the prison worship team.

There was a warm and impassioned welcome to our team by the prison pastor, who is also an inmate. And the inmates echoed his welcome with thunderous applause.

Our Honduran translator Kerlin stood up at the front by the pastor and translated Spanish to English for our team when appropriate or as needed. After their welcoming remarks, Kerlin invited me as the team leader to speak to the prisoners.

I gave them our greetings from the United States, our Arkansas church, and the Covenant Life Fellowship brothers and sisters in Louisiana who had visited before. I had seen enough of their Spirit-filled worship to tell them, “Don’t be surprised if there is more spiritual light in here than out there.” This was followed by loud applause. I told them we experienced a waterfall of the Spirit as they worshiped so freely and passionately, and thanked them for letting us share the experience with them.

I recounted that I had been inside their prison five or six times during the last ten years. We weren’t allowed to visit in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19. They nodded appreciatively their understanding and thanks for trying. I recounted how small the Christian group of prisoners was ten years ago, maybe 15 to 20 inmates meeting against the western wall. Most of the other inmates were milling around the courtyard then, with some of them heckling. Five years later, the number was about 50, and you had a small area set aside for worship and meeting. But now!?! …

Trip Report to the Elders

That’s how I started an after-action report to our elders about the fourteen-member team that Harvest Community Church, Fayetteville, AR, sent to support an indigenous pastor. The trip also provided opportunities for our community to disciple believers in another country and culture, and be discipled by them. It was a beautiful experience and what Jesus commanded His followers to do in Matthew 28:19-20, commonly called “The Great Commission.”

You can click on the whole report below and hear the rest of the prison story as well as read the highlights of the trip, mostly recorded from my journal.

There Is Still Room

I must include one more highlight, because it furnished our direction for the entire trip, “There is still room” [at the King’s table]. But this blog has become long enough so I’ll continue that on the following bog.

Godspeed on your spiritual journey wherever you find yourself. May you be spending time with Him each day, knowing Him better and better for the joy that is, and the joy that lies before you. Shalom in Jesus Christ, the Lord.

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Trip Report to the Elders

Photo Record of Our Honduras Adventure

Pentecost 2023

Today is Pentecost 2023, 50 days after Passover and the 7th Sunday after Easter — the day the Holy Spirit came in power to the Chruch. You might say to found the Chruch, the Bride of Christ — forever changing history and beginning the Last Days according the prophet Joel (2:28).

WOW! I just looked in my iPhone calendar, and they don’t include Pentecost on their calendar. Look at Western Civilization and the civilized world of the last 2000 years — and note if you have eyes to see and mental facilities to look at historical facts unbiased — to see all the advances in science, medicine, education, art, government, and religion where Christ is acknowledged as King and His Father God as Sovereign over all.

On Pentecost 33 AD, the same Sovereign sent His Spirit into His house — His disciples, His church, and all future disciples who would become holy ones — normal mortals made holy by Christ’s sacrifice and then the indwelling of His Spirit. These have caused His Kingdom to come forth on the earth in some measure, ebbing and flowing, with the resultant “righteous, peace, and joy” (Romans 14:17) described in Scripture during the ensuing 2000 years.

Pause with me and ponder, “Where are we today in America and the Chruch with these realities?” — realities that began on 33 AD in Jerusalem, and the most recent outflow of that Grace for us in 1620 and 1776 in the USA.

Ponder in wonder, and give thanks. Amen אמן

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Remembering Pentecost four years ago in Jerusalem

From my latest book Puzzling 2020: “Without being born of the Spirit, we cannot see the things of God or know God Himself. If Nicodemus, the Bible scholar, and teacher of Israel, couldn’t apprehend God with just his mind, why do we think we can? Or that it’s our job to make the issue more clear for others than Jesus made it and left it. It is God’s job by His Holy Spirit. Thankfully to those who believe Jesus’ testimony, ‘He gives the Holy Spirit without measure'” (John 3:34b).

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:26-27).

Good Friday 2023

As I sat this morning and contemplated Good Friday and the events of that fateful and glorious day, I found it hard to grasp even a little bit of what happened there in the heavenlies and on earth.

I did notice in Mark’s account, that the very next thing reported after Jesus breathed His last breath was that the curtain hiding the presence of God was torn apart. And that this happened simultaneously. Could that be telling of the most important thing that happened that day? From Heaven’s perspective?

I pray the Lord will give each of us some revelation and insight into it as we walk throughout the day.

I went back and watched a couple of YouTube videos that came my way during Holy Week. This one from Ron Mooney and the Nehemiah group. This one from our friends the Coles in VA.

I also felt impressed to read the chapter on Emmaus in Puzzling 2020, which added some clarity to the spiritual aspect of apprehending our Redeemer’s realm.

Have a peaceful and thoughtful day in meditation about our Lord,

Dwayne

Good Friday 2022

“… Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38).