A Mighty Wind

Last week, the rush of a sudden, violent wind blew through our neighborhood and a huge tree limb crashed down in our front yard. Fortunately no one was hurt, the house was okay and the split rail fence was the only casualty!

Over two thousand years ago, there was also a sudden, violent wind that filled the entire house where the Disciples were gathered. No limbs came tumbling down, but the walls of separation did. Rather than believing that the story of Jesus was to be shared in only one way, "all of (the Disciples) were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." The wind of the Spirit blew down the cultural divisions that could have separated those gathered and each person was miraculously able to hear and understand in their own language.

As Pentecost people, I pray that the rushing wind of the Holy Spirit will continue to heal us of our misperception that there is only one way, only one language to hear God's Word. I pray that the mighty wind of Pentecost will continue to blow so that we may be able to hear Gods extravagant message of grace, repentance and resurrection each in our own way, our own context, our own language!

What a tremendous birthday gift that is for the church! Thanks be to God!

"And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind,

and it filled the entire house where they were sitting."

Acts 2:2