Gifted us with tongues of fire
Holy Spirit* empowerment never tires
That Pentecost Sunday in Owo
As worshippers assembled
For the rain of Holy Spirit
Men of the underworld
Wielding the tools of their ungodly trade
Rained satanic bombs and bullets on innocent congregants
And two scores lay dead
While many more injured
Leaving families devastated
Dreams brutally cut short
And reign of fear foisted on
The hitherto peaceful community
All in the name of extremism
And misguided religiosity
What a sacrilege in God’s temple?
What a desecration of His sanctuary?
What an audacious confrontation with God
In His terrestrial abode?
The wicked will never go unpunished
Vengeance is of the lord
At His time they will reap
The fruit of their wickedness
i
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith ... Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
ii
Paul prayed in Ephesus for the Ephesians who were in an infant CHRISTian church. My 1973/1984 ZONDERVAN (US edition) of the NIV (New International Version of the Bible) only capitalizes Spirit, not "he" for God. In a way this is consonant with the Gospels (John chapter 14, is the best corollary): that Jesus said it is best He leave earth, and intercede for humanity at the Father's Right Hand, while the Holy Spirit will continue the teaching He (Jesus) had begin. It is true we live in the ongoing Pentecost (Acts, chapters 1-2) which is the Age of the Holy Spirit since Jesus ascended after some 40 days after crucifixion and Resurrection (Easter). 49 days after "Easter" we celebrate the birth of the church in the holiday you may know as PENTECOST SUNDAY.
III
I will continue this poem-prayer in the next Post, today, "INNER BEING strength 2." Thank you for your encouraging visits and/or comments. Shalom, shalom {[Peace]}
They gathered in Jerusalem;
Together, they would pray.
They huddled in the upper room
And waited for the Day.
It happened at the Feast of Weeks,
When Pentecost arrived;
A sound like mighty rushing wind:
The Spirit came alive.
Like fire, it rested on each one:
These men, all humble, meek;
The Spirit gave them utterance,
And they began to speak.
From Phrygia, Pamphylia,
From Egypt and Cyrene:
All were amazed; some were perplexed.
They said, “What does this mean?”
See, some discerned that in their midst
A miracle had sprung,
For though they came from all around,
Each heard in his own tongue.
But others were not ready to
Declare it as divine:
“It seems these rubes from Galilee
Have filled themselves with wine!”
And so, with some, it is today:
The news, with joy, received.
But others just hear foolishness;
Their minds remain deceived.
(from Acts 2)
And when the fire alighted
On every obedient head
The reward was in the waiting
Just as the Master said.
For life and joy commission us
Where Earth and Heaven meet
The world will know Your spirit
In the dancing of our feet.
The harmony of language
Every tribe.
Every tongue.
Truth at last is spoken out.
A resounding, Holy gong.
Together we can make this world
a better, fairer place:
For love is colour blind.
True justice knows no race.
Jinjagoliath
31 May 2020
Artwork Credit: Luke Owens @artistluke123
We gather together on this beautiful day
To celebrate the promise that showed us the way
The holy spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus
Huddled around the fire pit embracing the breezes
We celebrate Pentecost in our own special way
Embracing our faith, like we do every other day
The direct experience and the present of god
Knowing what we believe in is ever so good
The spirit of john Lennon maybe with us here
We feel his presence the reminders are clear
From words to pictures and song lyrics to
Imagine all the people it isn’t hard to do
We recognise the gift of the holy spirit
At strawberry fields we will treasure every minute
We all stand together to celebrate our beliefs
We ended our day with what we wanted to achieve
And the Spirit Danced
You were there when the light first shone -
You were there when the wind began to blow -
And you hovered above the dark earth
Then you swept across the face of the empty waters
You were there!
You were there in Nazareth
When a young girl, young girl said “Yes”
You were there in a quiet stable
To hear the first cry of Emmanuel
You were there!
You were there on a Sunday morning
When you rushed in without warning
Tongues of fire in a mighty windstorm
The first shout of the church newborn
You were there!
And the Spirit danced leaping up in wild fire
Before our eyes – God’s great surprise!
And the Spirit danced in living fire
The world has never been the same since the Spirit
Danced!
Unleashed
And now fifty days since Salvation wrought
Heavenly Volley overflows their court.
Eleven bound in wood, fear, and doubt
Only Love can conjure the single way out.
Flame descends, incinerates what binds
Laps courage in timid heart, soul, and mind.
Like their Master they burst their tomb
Like their Master, their tomb a new womb.
Flames forge within; Love consumes all fear
The Good News molded to alien ear.
Heavenly arson hurled down to unite
One Bread, One Body, One Church, one CHRIST.
The fallen arise, Paradise within reach
Universe anew; Upper room unleashed.
clothed in drama
a pentecost poetic
chiastic
three stanzas long
the Spirit outpoured
in the Day of the Lord
portents predicted&
prescribed
called out
not cast out
the
ultimate reality
sealed&consumated
an atoning sacrifice
saving mercies
grace given
an expectation
engrained
in penitence& prayer
a focus fixated
cause with effect
in awareness of worship
interlocked
in perspective
the faithful restored
fresh
with abundance
of spiritual joy
affirmed
in a unique reality
of
deliverance&due reward
where acacias abound
before the Lord's overflowing
waters of life
a reasoned restoration
seasoned
in the coming of His day
in the midst of His people
inescapable
irresistible
an inheritance
to claim&
enjoy
On Mission in South Africa, I am missed in Virginia
Only the CHRIST family I belong to, can match with stamina
The love of my sister Maureen, and her hubby Mr. Mothilal
As I was surprised by the Jagans of Jo'burg for birthday 60
I miss the older members of my Bible Study and Prayer Group
Two great men have gone: Ronnie Simms and Buddy Ogden
Today Pastor Ray Kingrea said "your hands mixed in lives here,
and You will never know how much you are missed at TOLM."
TOLM: Tree of Life Ministries, how I love Mike Dodson
The founder, or co-founder with pastor Debbie Dodson
Now joined with Pastor Ray Kingrea, and his dear helpmate, Sandy
So, all these folks celebrate the Kingdom; life is best in heaven
Yes, I miss them all, while in South Africa (lots of crime & corruption)
But there are heroes and sheroes; if only we loved Jesus with abandon
And preached - with peaceful interaction, quietly - His Kingdom
Then Heaven will begin a bit already; as Elder Mrs. Mothilal has done
Our Divine Life Society in Durban, has a wonderful history
Now Jesus may complete the work through you & me? Mystery!
Place your trust here in Spirit fire,
Embrace wise touch beyond man's mind;
Note thus good cheer as Gifts inspire,
Taste truth as such where Love designs;
Etch a fond peace in actual grace,
Calm knows a squeeze of fragrant feel;
Old motives cease in poignant trace,
Sense a cool breeze that helps hurts heal;
Truth shapes beauty not like before.
Health comes easy with heart's sure core,
Odd yet lively beyond old lore;
Life quest lovely forevermore,
Yield soul sublime to Wisdom's face.
Speak Holy Ghost that all may see,
Plant Love's grand rhymes in saving grace;
Ink Lord of Host to set us free,
Remember Me as The Christ said,
Ignite our souls with vision clear,
Treat us to be with message laid.
Father make whole and purge all fear,
Impress our hearts with clear soul flames;
Raise conscious feel that each soul knows,
Echo our start to bless Your Name.
Move Love's goodwill in contrite show,
Outpour and teach us to be good;
Vet guidance here to live each day,
Extend Your reach with vibrant moods;
Surprise our cheer on Love's pathway.
Leon Enriquez
02 April 2018
Singapore
Imbued with wisdom of the Holy Ghost
who drifted down with blessings upon them
day fifty post-Resurrection Sunday,
Apostles, inspired, spoke in many tongues
for gifts of Baptism Christ had affirmed.
Each year on Whitsun-Pentecost, we meet
to praise and share that holy wisdom too.
Alive with deep belief in hearts and souls,
we pray for blessings from the Holy Ghost
for gifts of growth in this, our Christian faith.
Sandra M. Haight
When you left us
I saw how the clouds parted,
rent curtains,
as you cleared earth’s
drossy smear,
and passed into a heaven
bright beyond
my wildest imagining.
Bereft, fearful, we
shut tight the door
against wolves’ howling
and waited for you
to keep your promise.
At first it was a whisper,
the sea-ward wind
prying loose our
weak walls,
but soon the song rose, until
its power overwhelmed us
with chords of faith,
and, afire at last,
we spoke!
H oly Spirit on us fall
O nce,and for all
P ower in the wind & fire
E mpowerment that will never tire
Our inner parts have begun to yearn,
For the blowing of the trumpet’s sound.
The plantings, for which we did mourn,
Will soon give bounty from the ground.
Filled to the full with Jerusalem’s flock,
The temple energizes with exaltation.
Satisfied with honey out of the rock,
Judea enjoys the finest wheat to satisfaction.
Paul’s stay at Ephesus had been at length,
So a trip to Jerusalem he did make up.
He had to “Sing aloud unto God our strength,
Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.”*
So Paul set sail back across the sea,
For, at the City of David, his heart must be.
* ref: Ps. 81:1
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