A Ragamuffin Voice

I've been reading Alan and Deb Hirsch's book Untamed for a second time.  There is so much good stuff in there that I just had to work through it again.  Something settled on my heart this time that kept pushing at me.  How do our churches and, in particular, small groups help people open up to the power and wonder of the Holy Spirit? Perhaps I'm wondering this because we're heading toward the celebration of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit has been on my mind a lot lately.  Or perhaps it's because, as a pastor, I do yearn for my church to be set on fire by the movement of the Spirit that we will see and do those amazing things Jesus says his disciples will do in John 14:12, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father."  And because Jesus is going to the Father, he will send the Holy Spirit, the counselor, guide, director, spiritual conscie...

I recently had a conversation with someone in our church who felt somewhat frustrated with where the church seemed to be heading. As we have been discussing our vision and identity as a church, conversations and round-table discussions made it clear that the majority of the church believes we must become far more active in our community and abroad. This particular member thought it a waste of time and money to send me and another church member to Zambia on a scouting trip to assess ministry needs in an area where we support a local pastor. They saw no value in such effort believing that the financial support we've sent for the past nine-plus years to be quite adequate. I assured her that there will be greater value in further developing our relationship with our friends in Zambia, with a hands-on, side-by-side ministry that you can't put a price on.   People's lives are changed in such ministry environments in incredibly profound ways not to mention the intimate rel...