The Spirit's "work week" in San Antonio

The Hebrew word ruah and the Greek word pneuma both have the fascinating triple meaning of breath, spirit and wind. Keep this in mind when you read John 3:8 -- Jesus the Nazarene was making a play on words to Nicodemus with this statement!

This past Sunday was Pentecost, when Christians remember the birthday of the Church in the giving of the Holy Spirit, fifty days after Christ's sacrificial death and unprecedented resurrection. Because it was also Mothers Day, at Mexican Christian Church (Disciples) the church holiday was observed a Sunday early -- see previous posting here.

For this reason, the significance of the church holiday sort of went by me, with the emphasis on the Holy Spirit. And to be frank, I'm an heir of the Restoration Movement de-emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Because the New Testament does not speak of the Spirit as a "separate but equal" aspect of the Deity (equal to Father and Son) and actually does NOT have the word "Trinity" the early Restorationists stayed away from such theological speculation. One founder of the movement that became the Disciples of Christ and also the non-instrumental Churches of Christ even deemed the Holy Spirit to be the "energy of God"! So, for two reasons then, the Pentecostal focus on the Holy Spirit went by me this year. But come Wednesday He "caught up" with me (or I with Him)!

You see, dear reader, the Holy Spirit was a major theme in both Bible studies I attended Wednesday morning. At "Mama's Men" (the men's group that meets for breakfast at Mama's Café on Nacogdoches Road) refrained from our usual page-long study guide. Instead, we had an open discussion on the work of the Holy Spirit in everyday Christians, and the gifts of the spirit (Greek charismata), and how Christians can so easily block the work of God's Spirit and the operation of His gifts, by our preconceived or inherited concepts of HOW God acts and WHAT forms the divine working in a believer's life may or may not take. Then, at Mexican Christian Church's study a few hours later the guest teacher led us in an exploration of New testament passages that tell us about "The Personality of the Holy Spirit".

Later I faced a choice, to go to the evening worship at Alamo Heights UMC, but thinking I couldn't make it in time (starting at 6:30) due to getting wrapped up over-long in an afternoon activity. Or, to just "joy-ride" around on VÍA buses and perhaps get off at some place and grab a bite to eat (and perhaps a beer). But I could clearly sense the divine, all-wise Spirit prompting me to persevere in getting to AHUMC. He suggested an alternative route: up Broadway by bus and then west by foot on Basse Road to the Church (along the way I could stop at the Subway and get my favorite sub-sandwich, a "Veggie Delight" on 6-inch wheat bread, with read vinaigrette).

This I did, and wow! once more the Holy Spirit was the theme in the AHUMC worship! I was particularly impressed -- no, amazed -- with the sermon delivered by Associate Pastor, Donna Streib. You see, her words were an excellent follow-up on our discussion that morning at "Mama's Men"! I literally get goose-bumps when I witness such amazing working of the Spirit in my life and/or the lives around me! Speaking of which, two other of "Mama's Men" were also present, and afterward the three of us shared our thrill at the words we had heard.

But don't go away! The next evening I witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in the Briscoe (prison) Unit's Kairos Prayer & Share. Ten of us volunteers showed up for it, along with Chaplain Jerry Satterlee (he's been at Briscoe only a few months; it's his first service in a prison chaplaincy). When we entered the prison gym were were greeted by 142 inmates! After announcements and the singing of two or three Kairos songs, the leader told us that we were going to do the Prayer & Share a little differently this evening, and according to the Kairos Manual. That is, the inmates would circle up in small groups of about ten for sharing and praying intimately, while we volunteers would move about the room, just to make sure each group was "on task". We would no longer be participating each in a small group. I was intellectually-spiritually comfortable with this change, even if I sensed some emotional longing for the opportunity to share in a small group. (But then I have "Mama's Men" and the Thursday Emmaus Reunion group at Jim's to do that!)

After about 45 minutes of the small-group activities we closed as usual, with everybody -- volunteers and inmates (and this evening one prison chaplain) circling up for a closing prayer and the singing of "Surely the Presence" three times. Before, the circle had often been large but was still a circle, both while the P & S was still in the chapel and after it moved to the much larger gym. But this evening we were so many that we were a square -- we all had our backs against the walls of the gym! This looked awesome! And once more, THIS, too, was the work of God's Spirit!

God bless the Kairos inmate community in the Briscoe Unit, and God bless Chaplain Satterlee!

But don't go away yet! Friday evening I attended the Northwest San Antonio (NSWA) Emmaus FDG gathering. It was at St. John UMC on Bandera road, and began with food and fellowship in the fellowship hall. Lots of good food, lots of great fellowship! then we adjourned to the sanctuary for a business meeting and worship (the latter using, as always, the order of worship in the Emmaus "purple book", the pocket-size booklet each person is given on a Walk to Emmaus). Our "Fourth-Day Talk" was given by an African-American brother, and boy did he preach in the "Black style of preaching!" This style, which cam be heavy on the tugging-the-heart-strings and also repetitive, nevertheless usually affects me spiritually as well as emotionally. And I certainly felt affected this evening! Indeed, as we prepared to go forward to receive the Lord's Supper my shoes came off. (They frequently do while I serve on teams for Walks to Emmaus or Kairos Weekends). Once I had received the Body and Blood of our Savior and Lord, I knelt at the altar railing. My shoulders were gently quivering and my eyes were threatening to leak a good one! Someone passing by noticed this -- the Spirit guiding him or her, I aver -- and this person gently placed a hand on my right shoulder, for just a second. But this was sufficient for me to be affirmed.

Thank You, Holy Spirit of Almighty, Immortal God, for Your working in grace in the lives of all disciples of Jesus who are open to your working -- and Your working in lives that aren't so open! May unity and love prevail among us! May we who love Jesus truly be molded by the Spirit into the earthly Body of Christ!