Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a “Trekkie.” My childhood heroes were Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the crew of the Starship Enterprise – NCC 1701. The bold explorations of the crew of the Enterprise thrilled my young mind. I have suggested to my wife that the theme from Star Trek (Where No Man has Gone Before, Alexander Courage) should be played at my funeral as the pallbearers are carrying me out.
Continue reading “Star Trek and the Mission of God”
Serving as a pastor is all I ever wanted to do. I’ve been doing this since 1980. Now, whether or not I’ve been a good pastor is for others to judge. I must admit that when I judge myself I get discouraged. I’ve never succeeded in building a mega-church and I’m not in demand as a camp-meeting/conference speaker. By the contemporary standards of Pentecostal ministry, I’m about average. But, according to my colleagues and supervisors, I’ve never fit the pastoral model. Since I was a young man I’ve had to defend my call.
Continue reading “I am a Pastor. Really, I am!”
Last week we heard the horrible news that Father Jacques Hamel was beheaded at the altar of his church as those in attendance were forced to watch. He was not the first, nor will he be the last to suffer. Jesus declared,
Continue reading “The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence”
“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).
Continue reading “Is This the Time of National Restoration?”
I first traveled to Bulgaria in December of 1999. It was the coldest winter in Eastern Europe in a century. When I arrived it was 20 degrees below zero. What I discovered was a nation emerging from the deep freeze of 50 years of communist oppression. Since that first journey I have returned to Bulgaria several times. The scars of communism remain.
Continue reading “Reflections from Bulgaria”
I want to be a friend of God. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God (James 2:23; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). I want to be a person after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). I want to follow after God’s word with integrity of heart and mind (Joshua 1:8). I want to live a blessed life.
Continue reading “Friend of God, Friend of Sinners”
