A Church with a Heart for our Community

May 20th Wednesday

Greetings in the name of “Light of the World” (John 8:12), Jesus Christ – THE Crucified and Risen Saviour! Wow! what a “cool” morning in the Kingdom! I trust that all is well in your world and that God is significantly present in what is happening around you. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to meet you in a way that will grab your attention and revealhis love for you.

As I was talking with someone about this coming Sunday being “Pentecost”, I saw a sort of bewildered look on the face. Everyone knows and understands Christmas and Easter but they are not quite sure about Pentecost and/or how it affects their faith-life. There is a movement in Canada called “Empowered21” and it is linked to “Empowered21′ – a world-wide movement that is trying to recapture the need for the church – corporately and individually – to be Spirit-empowered. There are churches and ministries adding a tag-line to Pentecost using two particular adjectives: Empowerment Sunday and Transformation Sunday.

As I have read articles and materials and Scripture there are two or three things that stand out. First, preachers and teachers have “dumbed-down” the Holy Spirit to make him more palatable and less’weird’ to people who are becoming more biblically illiterate. Second, we as humans are evolving into a more self-reliant, need an answer now, don’t talk about emotional experiences, and don’t keep changing the standards kind of people. Third, there is more fragmentation in the church than we understand and the unity of the fellowship of believers is straining to hold on.

I understand that there are many, both inside and outside, the world of faith who are suggesting that the “CHURCH’ is too broken to fix…and it is simply going to fade away. However, I chose to believe that there is hope! I chose to believe in an Eternal God! I chose to believe in a Saviour-Redeemer-Soon to Return-High King of Heaven…Jesus Christ! I chose to believe in Holy Spirit who empowers and transforms those who will surrender to him! I chose to believe that you and I are going to see and experience God in ways within the structure of the church that will be beyond human explanation!

Be blessed!