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Hi Merlene,

Thanks as always for your kind comments.

I was blown away by your earlier genealogy email. What an interesting and unusual family history and what a conundrum.? I did a poke around on the internet but didn't come up with anything that you hadn't already covered other than a number of photographs of the now-demolished Gilbert Street church, but I'm sure that you already have seen them.? I also searched about six other genealogy websites (MyHeritage, Ancestry, FamilySearch, Geni, etc.) for your grand-pere Herbert Roy Weber, but again found nothing earth-shaking.

We haven't come to John's description of the descent of the Holy Spirit yet, but my strong sense is that the "tongues" described in Scripture were known languages from many parts of the world that the unlettered Galileeans could not possibly have known.? That seems to be the clear reading of the text.? Although I have attended (and been a member of) some charismatic AOG and Independent Baptist churches, I don't have a deep personal background in them, and can honestly say that I firmly believe that the glossolalia and "slaying in the Spirit" that I witnessed was neither genuine nor of God.? But that's not to say that I question anyone else's experiences.? As we've briefly touched on in the past, I have experienced quite a few supernatural "things" both good and evil, and have absolutely no doubt about the spiritual warfare going on around us.? For example, I firmly believe that I was divinely protected during combat, walking away from (or surviving) at least seven impossibly close calls due to "serendipity" or in several cases a "small clear voice".

Nor do I doubt miraculous healing. The surgeon in my Infantry battalion in combat was my hootch mate for a few months.? A "regular guy" and competent surgeon, his morals when I knew him were worse than an alley cat's, but obviously he was being tested and ultimately passed the test.? After he left the army he became a psychiatrist and specialized in the healing power of prayer, studying it scientifically and developing quite a good reputation. Answered prayer is just one form of miraculous healing.

You asked why we aren't seeing the Pentecostal gifts today.? I might suggest that the evidence of God's gifts are all around us, but our lives are simply too cluttered to see them clearly.? A number of years ago I perceived (rightly or wrongly) that one of my gifts was teaching and, despite whatever my "real" job way, I've been doing it ever since.? Did you know that I was the American Society of Training and Development's "International Trainer of the Year" for my work in Saudi Arabia, or that ...? Sure, it's not as sexy as most of the gifts, but there you go.?

One of the messages that I get from the Gospel of John is to try to not overthink faith. When I do that, it tends to turn my focus from God to me, and I will always find myself wanting. Perhaps that's one reason that we have John Chapters 1-12, to have an available (and comforting) resource to help us turn our minds back to God.

Regarding the End Times, I hold strong pre-millennial views which I believe are firmly rooted in a clear reading of the Bible.? But as a Bible-believer I don't worship the Bible, I simply recognise that it is too marvelous in too many ways to be anything but supernaturally inspired by a Creator God.? In fact, wherever I turn in Scripture, I see evidence of its reality and truth.? And that evidence to me is proof that God exists. If I weren't grounded in God's truth, I would be beside myself with grief over watching my birth country's rapid collapse even as the world is drifting towards World War III as a direct result.? And since the Bible doesn't mention the USA, it seems to me that the world is possibly approaching the End Times.? But just as with the activities in the entire ministry of Jesus in the 1st Century, this is happening on God's timetable.

Sorry, Merlene, I certainly didn't start out to write all of the above.?

Your mention of interment rights (congrats, by the way) also got me thinking about buying a funeral plan. Since I don't belong anywhere, perhaps that would provide some roots.

Anyway, you wondered about your "brainwashing" as a child. As a former US Army Special Forces Psychological Warfare Officer (with a diploma to prove it), might I suggest that chances are that much if not most of that "brainwashing" is founded on reality.? As a Bible-believer, might I suggest that the Good Book can help you sort out the good bits from any bad bits.? As Gandhi opined, "I like your Christ.? I do not like your Christians.? Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."? But instead of following Gandhi's error and throwing both away, perhaps the focus might be on identifying which things are real and which are "Man's religion."?Okay!? I know!? That's easy for me to say.? Anyway, it's just a thought.

I think that I've worn out my welcome.

Blessings,

Ray