Author: Daniel Tomberlin

BS, MDiv, DMin. Ordained bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN); pastor for 37 years; Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland TN).
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The Politics of Kings and Prophets

The ancient people of Israel cried out, “Give us a king.” The desire for a king displeased Samuel, but Yahweh allowed Samuel to appoint a king over Israel. The desire for a king was an expression of idolatry. “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘they have rejected Me from being king over them… they have forsaken Me and served other gods'” (1 Samuel 8:5-8). The perennial temptation of humanity is to exalt human leaders to divine status. Admiration easily becomes adoration.

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The Virgin Mary: The First Lady of Pentecost

My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed (Luke 1:46-48).

Every year as we approach the 4th Sunday of Advent the gospel reading provokes us to reflect upon the Virgin Mary. As a protesting Pentecostal, there are certain presumptions that I bring to the task. The greatest presumption is to ignore any honor bestowed upon the Virgin, to make her a footnote in the Christmas story. But if I desire to hear the Spirit in the written word of God, then I must be willing to put my presumptions aside and take a fresh look at Mary, the mother of my Lord Jesus Christ.

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The Virgin Mary: A Pentecostal Reflection

…the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin… and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you… Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High… and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:26-35).

Several years ago (1999), during my first trip to Bulgaria, I visited the Rila Monastery. The monastery is settled in the midst of the beautiful forests near Rila Mountain. I was overwhelmed by the iconic art that covered the buildings. I quickly noticed that the great majority of the art represented the Virgin and Child.

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What is an Undeconstructed Pentecostal?

I tell people that I am an undeconstructed Pentecostal. So, just what does that mean? Maybe we should ponder: What is deconstructed Pentecostalism? It seems to me that many Pentecostals are uncomfortable with their story. Maybe an emphasis on seeker-sensitive evangelicalism has domesticated Pentecostal spirituality.  Many Pentecostals in my tribe often testified to being “saved, sanctified, and baptized in the sweet Holy Ghost.” I believe that testimony offers the seeds of a robust Pentecostal spirituality.

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Conversions of the Rich and Famous

My social media feed has exploded with posts about the conversion of Kanye West. I must admit that I had no clue as to who is this person. So, I have no emotional investiture in this story outside of a sinner coming to Christ. However, I’ve noticed that whatever position people take on this, they are passionate. Some are highly critical of Kanye’s conversion, others are highly critical of those who are critical. So please allow me to present a dispassionate view.

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