THAT'S THE SPIRIT!
When the Feast of Pentecost came,
they were all together in one place.
Without warning there was a sound
like a strong wind, gale force -
no one could tell where it came from.
It filled the whole building.
Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit
spread through their ranks,
and they started speaking
in a number of different languages
as the Spirit prompted them.
Acts 2:1-4
The Message
******
Dear All of Us,
It's been a few weeks since
Pentecost Sunday
How did it go?
Was it
Spirit Baptism?
Did we get
All Fired Up
Blown Away
Speak Easy?
Did we
Hit The Streets
Sharing The Spirit?
Sound pretty
far out
even outrageous
"Not the done thing"?
Well, actually it was
and is
"The done thing"
We are being done into
all of it.
It starts with
Water Baptism
That's initiation.
It grows up to
Spirit Baptism
The first is like a new car
with a great set
of sparkplugs.
The second is like
those sparkplugs
firing away,
accelerating
Goodness
Godness
Sparking individuals
and
congregations
into
Spirit Sharing
Mystical Union
Lived Love
Outpouring Self
Community
Care
Reclamation
Redeeming
Extravagant Giving
Pulsating Co-Creation
Refreshing Service
Put another way,
Spirit Baptism
brings
Water Baptism
to a boil.
That first Pentecost
was rather spectacular.
For most of us, though,
Pentecost
happens over time in
series of simple sparks.
The Spirit
at our center gradually
presents
frees
fires
intensifies
brightens
enlightens
warms
energizes
invigorates
gifts
confirms
strengthens
encourages
empowers
It's God,
our Center and Source,
emerging
in and through us.
We "Get it"
We "Give it"
There is a progression
to it individually
and as a community.
It surges through
our sensors,
our strengths,
our psyche,
our very souls.
It is an ongoing,
outgoing intensity.
It manifests,
warms, sparks
in endless ways
such as
- smiling to folks
on the sidewalk
- staying up all night
with a sick member
of the community
- a simple life style
that allows for
generous financial sharing
with the needy
- volunteering our expertise
at no cost
- attentive listening
- wrapping the
left out
right into
our get togethers
- cultivating cross-cultural
friendships
- interfaith collaborations
- forgiving and loving
the hurtful
- real community buy in -
church and neighborhood
- willing to be counter cultural
by living Jesus' way and word
- giving preference to
The Common Good
- being flagrantly generous
- saying only the good things
people need to hear
- congregations freely sharing
facilities and endowments
of location, space, funds
in response to local
and beyond needs
- living the peace and justice
we wish for the world
- reverencing the earth
and atmosphere
- liberally giving of our
time and talents
where needed
- bearing one another's burdens
- praying alone and with others
- "spotting" caregivers -
taking a shift,
offering relief and refreshment
- personally, collectively and practically
living out The Sermon on the Mount
- our actions and reactions
Spirit Speaking
in many tongues,
energizing tongues
as of fire.
The more we open and accept
the more we are
Surprised By The Spirit
Oh yes!
"He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire."
Luke 3:16
John Frank
******
Should you care to consider
a bit more,
PENTECOST
PONDER PRAYER
The Fruits of the Spirit
How do we experience
and express them?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self control..."
Galatians 5:22-23
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Here, too, how do we experience
and express them?
"The spirit of wisdom
and understanding,
The spirit of counsel
and strength,
The spirit of knowledge
and the fear of the Lord..."
Isaiah 11:2
An Inviting Prayer
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me,
fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.
David Iverson
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Great Spirit
whose breath gives life
to the world,
and whose voice is heard
in the soft breeze:
We need your strength
and wisdom.
Cause us to walk in beauty.
Give us eyes ever to behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make us wise so that
we may understand
what you have taught us.
Help us learn the lessons
you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Make us always ready
to come to you
with clean hands
and steady eyes,
so when life fades,
like the fading sunset,
our spirits may come to you
without shame.
Kiowa Prayer
para. by Libby Littlechief
******
A Spirit filled Welcome
to our visitors.
Please do come and stay.
We meet weekly here at
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
(click frankly speaking top left)
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******
Oh so good!
The Spirit of Good
We get it.
We give it.
Together we
Spark on!
******
