What a week!!!

 

I also got a chance to know more of my squad mates that I had not had a chance to in the short time we’d spent together previously. Right after the 4 days of The Awakening, our squad had a 3 day debrief, and this is where our teams that we had originally be assigned to were completely changed up with other members of our squad. Initially this was a tough pill to swallow for most people, as it not only came as a surprise that they were doing this to us, but may of us had become very close and fond of those we started this race with.? While it was tough for me to say good-bye to my former teammates, I was excited to get to know other people from my squad more intimately. The changed wasn’t too drastic for me in that of my new team of 7 (including myself), 2 were from my previous team, Jenny Hill and Brittany Priess (the 2 most high energy and joyful people I know); two others I had known fairly well from training camp- Angela Murray (the Swedish sweetheart) and Dan Montenegro (Team leader and Texas Gangsta for God); the other 2 girls I did not know very well, but their reputations preceded them as cream of crop – Brittany Cox (Missouri Morning Star – shining brightly but doesn’t necessarily like the limelight) and Sydney Sample ?(newly appointed squad leader and rock star extraordinaire) who has currently flown home to be with her family during a tough time. Together, we are “TEAM Wellspring” and I’m absolutely thrilled about being on a team with each of them, as our strengths and weaknesses are all very complimentary to each other.

 

Ok, so back to the awakening and random thought on that. The Holy Spirit is always an interesting topic. ?Before setting out on this “race,” I decided to be more open to exploring and understanding not only who He is but what He does in our lives. I believe it was the H Spirit that led me to be on the World Race, but at the same time, I had tended to marginalize if not ignore Him for most of my life, even though he was probably very active in my life, I just didn’t know it. Much of my Church and Christian school upbringing focused primarily on God the Father and God the Son. I’m beginning to see why many Christian institutions have chosen to minor in the H Spirit while majoring in the other 2 persons of the Trinity. ?(Much of what I’m saying may not be entirely theologically sound, but just trying to get racing thoughts on paper, so don’t scream heresy just yet).  It seems that when the H Spirit is present and working, He does extreme things… which to some can be a bit unnerving and cause flags to go up, while others are attracted to these signs and miracles but at the same time can overemphasize them and almost become addicted to these signs and wonders, always wanting more and expecting God to consistently manifest himself in these ways. There is no doubt that the organization that parent’s the World Race is from the signs and wonders camp. While it doesn’t seem that they would come straight out and label themselves as charismatic, they recognize, or at least the head guys recognize that others would label them charismatic. I am in no way inferring that this label carries a positive or negative connotation, but simply stating what I’ve observed. (Before leaving for the World Race, a friend gave me an incredibly good book to real on the Holy Spirit which prompted my interest in exploring this 3 person of the Trinity… the book is call “FORGOTTEN GOD” by Francis Chan, and I would recommend it to all without hesitation!)

 

Some of the things that I observed while at the awakening were sporadic speaking and praying in tongues from the “pulpit” (not entire sermons or anything, but a random phrase here or there in tongues). OK, different for me. Several of my close friends on my squad received the gift of tongues during that week, and even a couple were “Slain in the Spirit”. ?What do I mean by that?…Honestly I’m not 100% sure, but a couple squad mates were laid out on the ground after one of the lead speakers and director of of the World Race prayed over them. ?Then this also brings ups the rather controversial idea of Baptism in the Spirit. ?I’ve decided some read some H Spirit books recently to better familiarize myself with these terminologies/ideas, and trying to unbiased I’ve read both a book by a more traditional author like Billy Graham, but also a books that defend Baptism in the H Spirit. While there are seemingly passionate and well-intentioned arguments and interpretation of scripture on both sides of the argument, at this time I lean much more toward the camp of not believing in a Baptism of the H Spirit and believe that all believers have received the H Spirit upon salvation, but that we can experience fillings and re-fillings of the the Spirit on numerous occasions throughout life. In terms of gifts from the Spirit such as tongues, prophesy, healings, and the like… I find that my conviction and interpretation of scripture is that “gifts” are just that, gifts. The H Spirit can at his own discretion give these gifts to whom ever he chooses and any moment he chooses. ?There is nothing we can do to earn these gifts or work for them. You can certainly desire them as it says in 1 Corinthians 14, but whether or not one receives these special sign gifts does not indicate spiritual maturity or God’s favor. However, something that one of our squad coaches (who is a former pastor) said that really resonated with me and I find to be true is that, “The fruits of the spirit always trump the gifts of the spirit.” That means love, joy, peace patience, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, etc are marks or should be marks of all Christians who live a spirit filled life. As opposed to special sign gifts like tongues are not necessarily something that every Christian should be marked by.

 

So why do I write all this? Well, having been around a group of teachers, friends, and teammates for a week where many of the sign gifts had manifested themselves in various ways, I started to question why I hadn’t been imparted with any of these. Its easy to start questioning if theres something wrong with me, with my doctrine, with my church’s theology, etc? ?So its been a journey of seeking truth in the absolute and not just the relative. In other words, I am not satisfied with the idea that “whats true for you is true for you and whats true for me is true for me.” That would be subjective truth and the easy way out.  I also contend that I have not come to a final and unwavering conclusion on these facts as I am toward the beginning of this journey and not the end.  I am open to all things that the H Spirit has for me and may want to gift me with. But for the mean time, I am coming into a greater understanding of the what gifts I have already been given and learning to stewart and grow in those. I’ve been told by teammates that they believe I have a gift of wisdom and teaching. Sweet!  Those are more my speed any way. Personally I would much rather have King Solomon type wisdom (not that I’m claiming I do) than an unknown language. But again, if tongues is something the Spirit imparts on me, I would gladly receive it and learn to use it as its meant to be used. But in the mean time, I am learning to grow in the teaching and wisdom I have been given and use that to edify my fellow teammates and those who I am able to minister to throughout the nations.  Something I am reminded of as I travel the world is that we are a large body of Christ. Not just the American church, or a certain denomination, but all countries and all denominations make up the larger body and it could be that these gifts are given to and not given to some to be used in specific areas of the world or in certain ministries where they will be most helpful. For example, it could be that miraculous healings are more prevalent in third world countries as proper healthcare and first world medicines are not available there. ?Maybe that is why certain denominations as a have so few giftings in tongues while other denominations show it quite prevalent. 

 

 I understand that many of these signs and miraculous gifts have been and can be easily abused by people, which is another reason why they can be quite controversial. It certainly requires a spirit of discernment when encountering these gifts, and the better measuring stick of if they are being used according to God’s purpose is the fruits and kind of life those people live who have been given such gifts. I continuously pray for a spirit of discernment so I can know what is pleasing to God and what is not. I am not one to jump in head first to something new or looks exciting, even if it does seem miraculous.  As it says in scripture (and I paraphrase as I’m stuck in a small internet cafe in Kenya with my Bible), “test all spirits.” Again, these more just a compilation of thoughts that have been going through my head lately, and not any kind of dissertation on the H Spirit and giftings. 

 

I am certainly open to any of your comment and thoughts on any of this as I continue to explore this exciting and unchartered waters of my life. 

 

Peace and blessings from Isibania, Kenya!

 

ps- the mosquitoes aren’t that bad here yet, as the weather is not too hot. ?But its still malaria zone so please keep that in you prayers!