Disappear
27 Feb
I realize that none of you have called to see where I have been. I’m convinced that you were all concerned that I might have dropped off the face of the blognet. (As opposed to the playnet planet…)
However, ’tis not so.
I am, indeed, somewhat alive and somewhat recovered from my blahs…
Those of you who know what those blahs were caused by will indeed aid my cause greatly if you continue to lift us up in prayer… Those who do not know will also be pleased to know that your prayers are appreciated as well.
I read a really good blog post today. It bit deeply at me. I don’t like to just re-blog other folks’ hard work, but this one is poignant primarily because of the timing.
So, thanks to Fred for some great words about what it takes to discourage us…
I’ve come to an interesting conclusion in the past weeks – most folks who claim that Pentecostals, or Hillsongers, or Baptists, or Methodists, or Presbyterians, or whoever, aren’t REALLY Christians, probably need to get to know some of those folks before they make such a statement.
Fred is a worship dude. There’s an inside joke there for some readers, but that’s irrelevant.
Fred is a stronger believer in “the gifts of the Spirit” than I am. He attends a church that recognizes speaking in tongues as valid. They also have “worship music” that absolutely blows me away.
Regardless of any disagreements we might have, I hope to really meet Fred some day. May never happen, but let me tell y’all something – Fred is for real. I see his heart for Christ in so many ways when I read his blog.
This post didn’t start out to be a tribute, but in a time when I really wanted to disappear, someone that I have never physically met was still given a job by the Holy Spirit – and he did it. He may not have even known it.
We need each other, Christians.
Let’s roll.
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Hey there B! Thanks for the vulnerable post. I too have been doing the yo-you thing over what has happened here. Our “Mo” was going through the roof when the youth/worship pastor decided to make changes and then didn’t stick with it through those changes. Not that he left…he just decided not to lead worship any more. All the “mo” we had since September is gone and pieces have to be picked up. God is faithful and I know that so I am having to rest in Him.
As for Fred: I too have a theological leaning that was “against” tongues, etc. But when I went through burnout in the early 80s it was a Charismatic who came along side me to be a friend. I never “spoke in tongues” but finally opened up to the Holy Spirit and who He was instead of keeping Him in a box of my choosing. Although I still don’t subscribe to that leaning, I am much more tolerant and understanding as a result of that encounter in 1983.
Prayers are being said for you my friend.
Hey, Bill – thanks for your thoughts and thanks for dropping in!
Bernard,
Wow, thanks for this post – it “encourages” me, for sure. I hadn’t notice you drop out of blogworld, seems like i’ve been seeing some tweets, but I have missed you commenting on the blog and in TheWorshipCommunity.Com.
I pray that God will lift you up high above the murk, bro!
Oh yeah, my church keeps a very neutral stance on “sign gifts”. Though the bulk of us all agree in them, it’s not something that is practiced regularly in our corporate gatherings. Doesn’t change my personal stance, though.
So, that being said – would you like for me to come up, pray in tongues really loud over you, and swing from a chandelier? (just kidding of course!)
Keep the faith, bro!
The worship dude.
I have not been blogging for a month or so.. for many reasons, so you are not the only one who has been gone. I am trying to catch up.
I have been to churches and around people who speak in tongues. I have read a few books about it. There are many things I don’t understand, but I keep an open mind, pray and don’t let things take up too much time making me worry or go crazy trying to figure it out. I know God reveals things to me in His timing, and some things we won’t understand until much later.
Sometimes I don’t agree with everything a pastor or other Christian shares, but that doesn’t make me think they are NOT a Christian. There will always be different interpretations of things.