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go here to buy my stock photography Alan Creech
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Pentecost - the birthday of the Church and the anniversary of that wild, mystical Holy Spirit business; tongues and prophecy, etc. I know this feast day is not all about the charismatic "stuff," but it did happen then and apparently these kind of things have continued to happen in the life of the Church ever since. The charismatic movement basically got started inside the Catholic Church in America. That sort of re-opening spread all over the whole Body pretty quick. And just like the early church, it got weird and went in some funky directions. I've certainly seen some of that first-hand. There is also a lot of good, though - a lot of that has taught many to open themselves to God more fully, even open to a lot of what makes no sense. As a Catholic Christian in college about 23 years ago, I began investigating Scripture about this whole business (after having been very skeptical) and finally decided to ask Him to baptize me (immerse me, fill me to overflowing) with/in His Holy Spirit - that if this is something He wanted for me, to pour it over me. I asked specifically to be able to pray in tongues. I was lying prostrate on the floor in my bedroom in my apartment with a candle burning and a John Michael Talbot record playing as I worshiped alone. I began to pray and eventually was praying in tongues. I described how it "felt" later - as if "light" were sort of burning in my chest. God did something there, in me, in response to my faith in asking Him. I still pray in tongues when the "need" arises - when I have nothing to say or how to pray, in times of worship, and often under my breath as I'm going up to receive Him in the Eucharist. I sort of consider myself a "post-charismatic" at this point, meaning I still see all those things as legitimate parts of the Christian spiritual life, but that they should just be more normal and not focused on so much or run after so hard as sometimes happens. I saw tons of running too hard after things in non-denom charismatic circles for a while - not the healthiest thing. "Feeling God" is an amazing thing. Experiencing His Holy Spirit work in and through you in very tangible ways can take hold of you - it can intoxicate you. These spiritual things can become a great distraction to one's actual spiritual development, and those of others who are around us. We can end up seeking the periphery rather than the center or the core. I think it's best we stick to the core and be open to everything that comes with it. Maybe that means we get a little "tipsy" every now and then or see some cool things happen here and there. That's fine I suppose - let's just beware that we don't become "spiritual alcoholics." Pax vobiscum. technorati tags > pentecost, charismatic, spiritual experience, praying in tongues Labels: charismata, spiritual formation :::
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daily prayer |::
easter
lectionary readings |::
> today
three quotes |:: "Then, if we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike. Herein we cannot possibly do amiss." "Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the cross
is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus
is a burden without a reliever." "...I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be
completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self."
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