On Fire for Jesus

Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost at the church. The birthday of the church, as it's often called, is marked because this is the day the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. With a "violent rushing wind" and a "tongues as of fire" the Holy Spirit was given (or revealed, depending on who you ask) to the disciples. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to go out into the world, away from the upper room where they had been hiding and preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. As I eluded to in the service yesterday, I am not one who relishes the opportunity to speak in front of people. I will sing at you all day long, but to speak, especially without notes terrifies me. I hadn't planned to do much speaking at all when asked to lead the worship service in the absence of our ordained clergy, but then... The Holy Spirit.

The Disciples faced treachery, persecution and (in all cases but one) unnatural death for their evangelism; Surely I could face a crowd of friendly faces to commemorate this Pentecost celebration.

One thing that made it easier was my chance to talk about the way that I see the Holy Spirit at work in the Youth of St. Mark's. On Friday night, 20 Youth spent two hours working with the "Feed My Starving Children" non-profit organization packaging meals. Our table worked hard and fast and managed to put together 26 boxes (936 individual bags) of meals that are going to be shipped to places like Haiti, where they will be distributed to children and families who are in need of nourishment. As a group, over the course of the two hours we packaged 190 boxes (the new record for our site) of food! (I understand a group on Saturday managed to package 191 boxes!)

Our church community is filled with the Holy Spirit, indeed. But our larger community (Iowa City/Coralville, etc.) is also on fire for Jesus. It is easy to get discouraged by all of the news that we hear about more and more people, young and old falling away from the churches, the 40% of survey respondents who say that "none" is their choice of church/religion, but I am here to tell you, the hands and feet of Jesus are still at work. One only has to attend an event like "Feed My Starving Children" to see that.

That gift that was given so long ago to the disciples is alive and well today. The Holy Spirit continues to work in us and through us. Or as Dr. Hal Brady would say, "We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit, how 'bout you?"

Rob