Look Listen Live

‘When we find ourselves in the presence of such beautiful souls, we cannot but discover in them an obvious sign of the experience of God.’ Pier Giorgio Frassati

Only Pentecost can transform dismay into delight. Slack jawed by a Rolling Stone article about a trio of ‘gay’ white men claiming to be a ‘throuple’ in search of a ‘quadrouple’ as they canoodled through Korea, ‘tiktoking’ their liberties while lamenting their minority status—well, the road goes down and down.

Only the fire of God surpasses man’s folly; Holy Spirit superabounds as we encourage one another heavenward! Bonhoeffer says it best: ‘The Christian-in-exile sees in the companionship of a fellow Christian a physical sign of God’s gracious presence.’

Jesus’ people ignite and delight me. When I consider the Spirit enkindling the first disciples, I recall numerous times where the presence of Christians—on-fire and attuned to His leading—freed me from my exile. He fuses together dry bones into a living army (Ez. 37); He goads one tongue to speak the Word to another that sends a hundred alienating words to flight (Is. 50:14).

That fire of love surrounded me when I sat at table with 7 young Portlanders, all Living Waters team members-to-be. As each shared how Jesus was freeing them from some form of disintegration as to help integrate others in their church, the Spirit confirmed in me why we do what we do. Sure, the wicked tiktok about; more surely still, Jesus fans into flame young Christians who blaze for His Body.

The Real beats counterfeits. ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life’ (Ez. 37:5).

I recall a woman of Spirit who observed a young man across the street declining under the chaos of his mentally ill mother. It wasn’t mostly his crossdressing that alarmed her; it was the discernible ‘spirit of death’ that shrouded him. She feared he would take his life; her Pentecostal persuasion ushered him into a nearby church whose members surrounded him and saved his life. I recall this as I walk by the home of an isolated young man subject to cyclical ‘gay’ unions and, by his own admission, suicidal thoughts. I prayerfully seek to extend the Father’s delight in his masculine humanity: ‘Your life matters!’ ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord!’

Let’s live Pentecost as we enter Rainbow Pride Month. Ask for the Father’s delight in those who might tempt you to dismay. Get fired up with your fellow Pentecostals. May our dry bones unite into one healing army; may our tongues blaze with words of Love.

‘As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight’ (Ps. 16:3).