I'm Back

Over the last weekend I took a group of teens on a retreat to WV. It was a great weekend. It wore me out, but I'm glad to be back.

Today while I was reading the Bible, I came to a passage in Leviticus on the Festival of Harvest. Later it was known as Pentecost. This is a side of Pentecost that most Christians don't spend time thinking about. With the event of the Holy Spirit's entrance into the church on the day of Pentecost we have become focused on the Church since Pentecost. These thoughts came to me today...

"One of the requirements was that some grain be left on the edge of the field for the poor and foreigners. I think that this is a connection for the Pentecostal Church and the Seeker Sensitive movement.
It is a tension in the Pentecostal Church more than in Mainline churches, because we deend on spiritual direction in our services. In addition we have sign gifts that operate which can be "not" seeker sensitive.
In the act of the Pentecost feast was an act of outreach to the poor and foriegners (read unbelievers). Ministry must be for the feeding of the church, but must also serve to reach out to others.
Someone asked if we would have restrictions on the spiritual gifts in our weekend services. No we'll not eliminate the use of gifts but we will explain them. Things will be led decently and in order as God leads me."

I wrote in my book. I danced my dance.
--Ben