So… I’ve posted a lot lately… but I haven’t written much.
I’m sorry about that. I’m not sure what has caused my blogger’s block. Perhaps I’m tired. Well, definitely I’m tired. I’m also busy.
The other thing is… the things I’m thinking about, working on, wrestling with… they’re complicated and they leave me with more questions than answers.
Normally, I don’t mind writing to you about the questions without pretending to have answers. But for some reason, I feel I shouldn’t immediately admit every weakness while I’m here. I don’t know why. Perhaps because my classmates are reading and I don’t want them to worry, or wonder about my sanity. Though I’m sure it’s already too late for that. 
Here’s a little unrelated rambling to make up for it:
Being with people from different denominational backgrounds causes me to look more closely at my own beliefs. What are some of the distinctive doctrines that my denomination holds dear? Why do I believe them? How important are they to me?
In Springfield, being labeled a Pentecostal doesn’t seem out of the ordinary. Here… well you sometimes get this questioning look… that “Oooh do you play with snakes and swing from chandeliers?” look.
We’re not the only ones that deal with labels. I hear classmates saying, “I’m not that kind of Lutheran.” “I’m not that kind of Episcopalian.” “I”m not that kind of Baptist…” and no, “I’m not that kind of Pentecostal.”
Labels. They’re handy but often inaccurate.
—
Anyway, while inspecting these labels, including my own, I’ve started to think more carefully about what makes Pentecostals … well Pentecostal. I suppose that’s the whole Baptism in the Holy Spirit thing… the whole private prayer language, speaking in tounges deal. Of course there’s more to it. But that’s what’s on the front of the label.
I wonder if I’ve ever written about this before… Nope, in all of my 1,455 posts I have not written about the “initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” There was a passing reference last week, but it hardly counts.
[No wonder I've never made the PneumaBlogs list.]
I wonder why that is? That’s something for me to think about. But not now, now I have to go to sleep. We leave for PT at 0500.
We just had the Holy Spirit Conference at Central (this is the “year of the Spirit” cause it’s the centenial of Central).
Tim Enloe spoke. If you can get your hands on the pod casts, do it! I bought some of his CDs too. I will send them too you. Probably the most practical, least scary teachings I’ve ever heard on the subject. I might even start embracing the initial evidence thing…
Ok, that might be a stretch. But it was really good.
Comment by Judi — January 29, 2007 @ 9:39 am
As a Christian attending a Methodist church and in the Candidacy process in that same denomination, it sometimes strikes me as how “pious” all of our denominations can be sometimes when it comes to teaching the Truth…and that is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Too oftentimes we get hung up and caught on the religiosity of doing things a certain way (the way of a specific denomination perhaps) instead of seeing the big picture…and that is to go into the world and preach the Gospel and make disciples, teaching them and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Sure, no denomination is perfect; we all have our quirks and ways of worship…but what we need to keep in mind is Jesus first, Jesus foremost, and Jesus always. When we focus our entire selves on Him, then the message to others who need Christ comes out loud and crystal clear via the Holy Spirit.
I am sure I will catch plenty of flak from those ministers in the denomination that God has chosen for me to preach the Gospel in (because there is a little bit of that Pentecostal in me that believes speaking in tongues is indeed biblical and that it’s ok to raise hands in worship while praising God); but I know that the doors will open for me to share my faith and also share the Good News that Jesus is Lord!
And, Amy, I know that God has placed you in the Chaplaincy to minister to others in Christ and to make a difference for His Kingdom. Just keep pressing towards that mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus!
Comment by Richard — January 29, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Amy!
It was an oversight! I promise!
I’ll add you at my next update (who knows when that’ll happen.)
Rich
BlogRodent
Comment by Rich Tatum — January 30, 2007 @ 4:02 am
Ha! Thanks Rich. I’m not too concerned.
Comment by Amy — January 30, 2007 @ 5:55 am