Is “revival” here, or not? Michael W. Smith is in Vietnam with Franklin Graham. Smith says “revival” is there. I’m looking for indicators.

It may be a wild thought: I think God desires to visit His people, send an awakening, revival. For me, the word prophecy holds a key. That word has been overused, bloodied, mis-used and misunderstood. I suggest using descriptive synonyms with biblical weight. Dispensationalists claim the office and gift of prophet ended with the culmination of the canon or when the Apostles died. Much evidence disagrees. I will not use this space to discuss it. Whether or not Prophets and Apostles are out of date or valid gifts, what they do or provide is necessary for revival or evangelism. Do these synonyms help?

A prophet can be a foreteller like Agabus in Antioch who prophesied a famine was coming and the churches should prepare. (Acts 11). Joseph (guy with multi-colored coat who moved to Egypt) also foretold of a famine and gave Pharoah a strategy to fortify the land for incoming 7-years of lack.

Biblical prophets foretold the future that God wanted for His plan and for His People using kyros and chronos measurements. God still speaks! Secular, governmental, economists, political systems are projecting their preferred vision of the future. I don’t think we are out of line by asserting that God chooses to state His plan for nations and individuals. He claims the space to warn and promise specifics of the future. He uses people who have calling or a unique gifting to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers in a variety of communication.

Somewhere in this inadequate diversification, anyone who declares the gospel of Jesus Christ for personal salvation or preaching about injustice would be prophesying.

Some prophets are forthtellers.

“Everyone who prophesies speaks to men and women for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Undoubtedly you have read authors who remember a teacher, pastor, leader who “prophesied” over them with, “You must write more,” or more specifically, “You’ll write widely one day.” That encouragement motivated the writer. Not just writers, but excelling athletes, mothers, entrepreneurs, in fact, just about every line of work or calling. Not all would call what they do a spiritual gift but would lean into their gift.

There is a uniquely gifted group. Perhaps they have always been known as futurists. Probably there is a specific Yiddish name for them.

“Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Lyle E. Schaller had an office on campus when I was in seminary. He was a United Methodist but many denominations used his knowledge and wisdom. He was guest speaker/lecturer in 30 seminaries, published 96 books. He first worked as a city planner.

Author Warren Bird pulled together a dozen leaders from several disciplines to talk about Schaller’s “…understanding of the times…” for a book. Schaller would laugh if anyone would call him a prophet in the design of Isaiah or John, but he had the ability to scrape all the indicators together and mold suggestions and strategies to reach people.

Apostle Paul says, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).

Jan Jensen, the assistant women’s basketball coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes has an interesting description of Iowa star Caitlin Clark:

“She can score it, but Caitlin’s passing is, I think, extraordinary,” Jensen said. “And I think that’s what we really needed to be extraordinary. She really was looking for it because they spread that zone so wide. It was just hard for a lot of different passing angles, and it was hard to get our normal looks. But when she really settled in that second half, she got around one of those guys, she could really either look for Gabby or look to hit Mon[ika]. She has a pro-level IQ. And I think when she settles, she can just see things a lot of kids can’t.” (Emphasis—Dean’s)

The ability to “see things a lot of others cannot” astounds me. And is desperately needed today.

We need all the men and women of integrity who hear God talking about incoming famines, empty grocery shelves, failing banks, destructive worldviews aimed as sexual and economic propaganda, toward families, children and people of faith. The Church that Jesus called, “My ecclesia” needs more than diagnosis and whining. We need to possess and disseminate strategies and solutions otherwise known as discipling nations. To enable us to live each day efficiently, effectively, and to prepare for our futures.

~?~?~?~

• Futurists

“Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

No matter what we call that special group, we (the West) need to know what our nation should do. Knowing what is going on in backrooms and in the decision-centers is necessary to “understand the times.” Add revelation. God reveals to the godly futurists what needs to be done to reverse national deterioration. During noonday news, I listened to the passionate pleading of financial journalist Charles Payne describe the outcome of following a certain economic road. He is a financial futurist.

Christians believe there is a spiritual element to everything that happens in every segment of society. I listen carefully to biblical futurists who have an ability to see what others miss or neglect. It is plain in basketball. Just look at players who contribute assists. For Iowa men this year it has been Connor McCaffery. For Iowa women it is Caitlyn Clark. It is beautiful to watch players know where a lane is going to open and fire the basketball before it opens. And hockey. Wayne Gretzky famously said, “I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.”

God is speaking to “His prophets” what He is doing and going to do. He equips some of us to catch the vibes and share it. I hugely admire men and women who can see where things are headed and tell us what we can begin to do to benefit a generation or a region. Dr. Tim Elmore, Dr. Ed Stetzer, George Barna are futurists to whom I pay attention—they see what others can’t.

• Foretellers

A prophet of what is going to happen is not saying, “I’ve got an idea.” He or she is saying, “Thus saith the Lord!” Or “I sense God is saying….” Since Holy Spirit is the agent of creation and new life, one would expect He would have blueprints in mind for construction and/or reconstruction.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Messiah. Nothing is required of us for this to happen.

The writer of 2 Chronicles 7:14 directly quotes God. The prophet relates God’s requirements if we are to experience God’s healing and blessing.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

• Forth tellers

In the mid-1990s, I discovered a biblically-oriented writer named Laurie Beth Jones. The first of her books I read was Jesus CEO, (Hyperion, 1995). I have eight of her books. They have influenced me. I was surprised that her books were listed or located in the bookstore business section and not with the religion books.

As I was thinking about forth-tellers and where the teaching came from, I ran across Laurie Beth Jones’ book Power of Positive Prophecy, (Hyperion, 1999). I haven’t touched that book for several years. It had taught me about forth-tellers. Ms. Jones tells an interesting story about how she learned. She was in her Texas home on the phone with her company administrator discussing the future of their company.

“I told her that I wanted us to be like a beehive—with lots of bees going out, dancing around flowers gathering pollen, and then returning to the hive to help make honey.”

After the discussion and running errands, Ms. Jones returned home to find a few bees gathered around a lampshade. Puzzled, she gathered the bees in jars. The next morning, she heard a buzzing sound. In the living room were thousands of bees swarming on windows, the sofa, the coffee table, the fireplace. A beekeeper came the next day. He had never seen anything like it. “They must have thought the queen bee had moved in.”

The impact of this experience was, “We are all prophesying the future by the very words we use. …the power of words to attract and create.” (Page 6) “We live according to the words which have been declared for us, either consciously or subconsciously. Words are the prophecies which pull us, guide us, shape us into who we are to become.” (Page 11)

Think of the ROI if we commit to speaking strengthening,  encouragement, God’s acceptance, comfort.

No wonder Apostle Paul said, “I wish you all prophesied” (1 Corinthians 14:5b).

No wonder Moses said, “I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29)

Now! He puts His Spirit in us.

©2023 D. Dean Benton—wonderer, ponderer

God’s People have been praying for an outpouring of Holy Spirit. It’s Beginning to Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc3nbUmFD9U

A video of the campus of Asbury U, and the lawn in front of Hughes auditorium this morning shows the absence of people. The videos from last night showed thousands of people waiting to enter the auditorium. Today no one except the cameraman. The emptiness struck me as forlorn. My wife asked, “Do you suppose Holy Spirit feels lonely for the people who were worshipping?”

The “Asbury Revival” is not ending, it is being released. Just like the 24/7 event of the 1970s, this visitation will continue to scatter to other campuses. We have friends with connection to Lee, Cedarville and other colleges and universities which are also exhibiting student hunger and thirst for the presence of God. This longing for God’s presence has reached Texas A & M.

I’m in a dilemma.

During the last week of 2022, I began reading about and viewing accounts of national and world-wide “moves of God.” I’ve been a revival-evangelistic-crusade-junky most of my life. I have read the books by Finney on revival. My daily time in my office is interrupted multiple times by my wife saying, “You’ll want to see this!” She is calling me to view a video of the Asbury or Lee revival. Given my study habits of the past two months, I’m wondering what that was about. Was Holy Spirit preparing me for something? If so, what? One thing is apparent. I am not to be a bleacher-bound spectator.

Is this a real revival?

“A revival is when God chooses to visit His children,” Max Lucado.

“This is that!” (Acts 2) I keep in mind the difference between a revival and reformation; an evangelistic event compared to a revival meeting. One of the complaints about this Kentucky event is that the Gospel is not being preached. The Asbury-2023 is an awakening, not an evangelistic crusade. It is a renewal or revival or awakening. Honoring the sovereignty of God, this is a visitation. Where the Presence is, there will be deliverance, miracles, signs and wonders, as people respond. What the central emphasis will be depends on the context.

I’m amused by the questioners who say this is just an emotional thing. Compared to what? If they compare it to the Cane Ridge Revival which broke through a few miles from Wilmore—2023 looks mighty quiet and tame. An Asbury Seminary prof says he grew up on Nazarene camp meetings and what he witnessed in Hughes Auditorium “has none of that going on.”

Is this a real revival? To varying degrees, it certainly is real to those at Hughes. It is real to some news people in studios miles away. It is real to me. As one historian says, “the spirit in that gathering is contagious.” When I saw the thousands on the front lawn of Hughes auditorium not able to get inside, but worshiping and singing, the “contagion” reached me.

The question, “Is this a real revival?” probably is better worded by, “Is this reformation?” Meaning: will the culture be reformed? It is too early to give a definitive answer. If this revival meeting is only for a couple thousand students getting an upgrade of their relationship with God, and an upgrade of their life purpose, calling, assignments and realigning their commitments, habits and souls with their Heavenly Father’s holiness—it will be legitimate.

First, upgrade, and then response to impacting culture. “First I get me straight with Jesus; Tomorrow the world!” Isaiah 6 is demonstrative of that. “Here I am, Lord, send me.” The altar experiences must be lived out in obedience.

“Holiness unto the Lord.”

“The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, said there are two types of holiness, personal holiness, which is growing your personal relationship with God, and social holiness, which is showing love to others through caring for their physical needs.”

Watching the events of this visitation has occupied most of our last two weeks. Carole’s question about Holy Spirit’s loneliness is spot-on when you think of His description as friend and companion. Holy Spirit is not of the Tribe of Spock! Then Carole said, “I know I am lonely for Asbury.”

We anticipate God’s visitation to continue in revival and reformation. Count me in! Today is Ash Wednesday which for some could be a natural next step. This weekend the movie “Revolution” opens in theatres across the nation. It is about the Jesus People movement which began about the same time of Asbury, 1970.

Love Song was one of the music groups that birthed CCM.  The lead singer Chuck Girard is an important part of that story. His daughter commented on her podcast about the current awakening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMepqpxkwU4

Link to Love Song music:

©2023 D. Dean Benton—Meanderer, Ponderer, Wonderer

A fourth building has been opened to accommodate the overflow at Asbury University. The “Asbury Revival,” as it is called begins its second week of non-stop 24/7 worship, prayer, praise. News networks and social media are broadcasting updates. Our Wilmore friend, who lives just a few blocks from Hughes Auditorium, sends us personal notes and videos with all the power and dynamics of reports from the front.

I’ve been wondering how a person without a reference point of a “revival” or “awakening” responds to what is happening at Asbury, Cedarville, Lee College and other colleges and Universities.

Descriptive words and phrases wouldn’t be much help. “The move of God,” has dynamic meaning for “insiders.” The Asbury event is looking more and more like a “move of God.” That phrase indicates a genuine recognition and personal renewal is touching several, many or community-wide awareness and participation in repentance, confession, prayers, intercessions, testimonies and declaration. I think this is a Move of God because it is an organic, totally unplanned, with no one in charge, but a group of students dedicated to humility, openness, Sovereignty of God, focus on Jesus the Christ and leadership of Holy Spirit.

Awakenings of individuals or crowds is surrounded by the acute awareness and response to “The Presence of God.” A seminary professor identified how he experienced the presence. He had been in the Asbury Hughes auditorium and atmosphere about ten-seconds when he says he became aware how relaxed he was.

The Toronto Blessing that began in 1994, was visited by contagious laughter. I sense the Asbury Revival 2023 will be known as the revival/renewal/awakening where peace and relaxation and stress-healings were experienced.

Revivals/ Renewals/ Awakenings are Kingdom events.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of (rules), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Romans 14:17).

If you have no reference point, we listened to/ viewed a fine podcast-conversation between a Presbyterian pastor in Lexington, Ky., and a podcaster in Great Britain. I’ve watched a dozen news shots from local and national networks, including Tucker Carlson with observations and videos. The link I enclose is the best observation about what is happening and the concerns that I’ve seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIxOD9AANvM

We are touched by our distant observance and praying.

(c)2023 D. Dean Benton

Reminder

I was listening to a fine preacher talking about some famous people. He had gotten off into the weeds to make a point and on the spot couldn’t think of several specifics. What he had forgotten didn’t make any difference to his point, so he moved on. But I didn’t.

Billy Graham was connected to Youth for Christ where I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord.

Laura Hildenbrand wrote the book, Unbroken. It is the story of Olympian Louie Zamperini who became a POW and then a disciple of Jesus. I heard him speak at a Youth for Christ meeting in Des Moines.

Forest Home Camp in the San Bernadino mountains is where Billy Graham worked through questions he had about the Bible. From there he went to the Los Angeles Crusade which established him as a national spiritual leader. The camp was established by Henrietta Mears who served at First Presbyterian in Hollywood, Ca as Christian Ed Director. Her counsel influenced Graham and Bill Bright of Campus Crusade. We studied her books on Christian Ed.

During my thinking and recalling those names and places, something stirred in a deep place in me. The word reminding is not translated from the Greek word Parakletos, (paraclete) but is an activity of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you” (John 14:26—Amp).

What Jesus said Holy Spirit would come to remind us: “everything that I have told you.”

What I remembered was more than digital printouts. My soul was flooded with reminders of all I originally experienced and learned in the lives and experiences of those people.

On my desk is an unopened bottle of Guinness Beer. When I was reading the books about the Guinness family, I realized the missions they founded and encouraged—ministries, people, places had reached through the centuries to influence me. Judson Taylor was one of the missionaries the Guinness family advocated, and that name reached me as a boy through my grandmother’s radio.

The preacher mentioned Heidi Baker, missionary to Mozambique where she has to date introduced Jesus to over a million souls. Ms. Baker is part of our memories. She ministered in our daughter’s church and as a little girl our granddaughter went on stage to wave a worship flag and encountered those seeking God and participating in the ministry of Ms. Baker. All the experiences are stored in my soul in a bag of influential memories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdJDpQCBu-U

Six months ago, I began to utilize Philippians 4:8 to move my brain off anxiety-producers. If it is Monday, true is the trigger word if Wednesday, then just. Praise-worthy works every day.

Think On These Things:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” KJV

Philippians 4:8, ESV: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

• True
• Honest—honorable
• Just
• Pure
• Lovely
• Commendable
• Excellence—Virtue
• Praise-worthy

We are not instructed to think about truth, or any of the other seven, academically or theoretically, but how truth or excellence has been lived out in us or exampled for us. Switching the mind to an alternative subject is not a catechism question, but like: What is true—who do I know who tells the truth as a lifestyle? What does the word true, honest, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, praise-worthy, remind you to do, say, believe, think, live?  Think about that!

“Holy Spirit, remind me.”

The Psalmist said, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). The Psalmist did not have a Red Letter Bible to refer to as he calculated what God had said. He referred to what God revealed to him. In 1 Corinthians 12:8 Paul teaches about the “Word of knowledge.”

I grew up in a cessationist church. That means they believed when the New Testament was completed there was no longer a need for the gifts of the Spirit, so no one presented words of knowledge. They empathized Paul’s words: “decently and in order.” Interesting to me, at Cane Ridge it was the Presbyterians and Methodists who were shouting in tongues and shaking.

Carole, on the other hand, grew up in a church that believed all the gifts, graces, and fruit of the Spirit were still functioning. When a healing evangelist would minister in her church, she would sit behind a tall person or a pillar. She didn’t want to be called out about an affliction she did not even know she had.

I am not a cessationist. I passionately believe in The Gifts of the Spirit. All of them. Because I am wired the way I am, however, I push 1 Corinthians 14:39-40: “So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.”

An aside here. I question (but not positive about every incident) that falling out or the holy jerks are the work of Holy Spirit. I tend to think Holy Spirit moves upon us and it is our bodies—nervous system and muscular system—that reacts to His touch.

I have used all the words above to lay groundwork for God’s revelation—word of knowledge—when we are distressed, confused, super-anxious and needing information. We can ask Holy Spirit to reveal the source of our own panic/anxiety/depression. Words of knowledge usually come through another person—a counselor, altar worker, a minister or someone in a koinonia prayer group, for a really good reason. But He is our Helper, Companion, Convicter and open to our request for help.

Holy Spirit, remind me. One of my singing companions would remind me that in any gathering of Jesus’ people where a need was unearthed, Holy Spirit would anoint someone to step into a Gift role to minister.

What did Jesus say or teach that you want to be reminded about when you are troubled? How about “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). I probably would respond, “Too late! It is already troubled!” How about Jesus stepping into your awareness as He stepped into the Upper Room and said=declared, “Peace!”

The reminding business can become personal, and should. What do you want to hear? What brings peace? What will coax you in off the ledge? Words that have been special to me and still carry healing influence:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Holy Spirit, Remind Me whose life influences me:

Our friend Beverly Mathews Coupe wrote this:

“My grandmother was a prayer warrior. She was taken to jail because of a prayer meeting a neighbor claimed was too loud. When she prayed, you didn’t want to fool around. The power of God and the presence of God was so strong it either made you want to run away or run toward it.”

Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome, Terry MacAlmon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_LpmqwWhR8

Remind Me—Dottie Rambo (writer of song), Reba Rambo, Reba’s daughter/Dottie’s granddaughter Destiny. Recorded fifteen years or more ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4i7Dggk5pU

Remind Me—Terry Blackwood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAZTKsAzTy4

©2023 D. Dean Benton

ADVOCATE—COUNSELOR

Holy Spirit listens to us and talks with us. He may utilize our conscience, but He is more than what socialization has or has not taught us. To be born again means we accept Jesus’ experience on the Cross as on our behalf. That choice brings our spirit into a living relationship with God.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16).

We use “Advocate” regularly referring to attorneys, lawyers, court room people and legal actions. An advocate is one who represents another and pleads their case. Our Advocate walks beside us through incriminations, indictments, accusations including self-disparaging and blaming.

Holy Spirit does not have to plead our case before God the Father. If we have accepted and trusted Jesus as Savior, the Father sees us and refers to us through the shed blood of Jesus. Holy Spirit is not the prosecutor on Yahweh’s behalf, He is our defender against the accusations of Satan. “Satan” means accuser.

“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10).

Holy Spirit is our legal counsel against the dark spirits, the universe, self-accusation. Holy Spirit comes along side us to plead our case—we plead the blood.

The legal aspect is how the original disciples would have understood Jesus introducing an advocate. In our time and reference, we think of advocacy as someone who cheers us on, teaches us, mentors, and walks by our side encouraging us. The word still fits. His assignment is to come alongside, especially during our dark hours and storms. Jesus defines Him as our friend and helper in mind mending.

Jesus’ words “…and He will be in you…,” would have confused Jesus’ friends. Up to this point in history, Holy Spirit had timely but temporarily “come upon” selected people. Holy Spirit lived in only Jesus. At Pentecost that living arrangement changed. From “upon” to “within.” Now, we must question His activity in us from two locations. He lives within us, and He is our companion and legal counsel as He comes along side us.

Microscopic surgery comes to mind. When I am bewildered by fear, I question where that fear came from and how it became my issue. I desire a minimum-invasive revelation. Who has access to the inner-workings of my soul—the archives, experiences, trauma, and what experiences morphed into anxiety, fear, or incapacitation? Holy Spirit does and has since I invited Jesus into my life. When I ask, He will focus the “microscopic camera” onto the event or feeling (emotions, imbedded events, lack of clarity, and show me what happened, results and how to free and whole. As my counselor, Holy Spirit will tell me what happened. I absolutely know that I’m not just asking for diagnosis. I need healing and freedom which He can guide me to receive and maintain.

More than diagnosis. The purpose of the work of Holy Spirit in us is “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The result is at least the building of a creative, positive mindset in place of destructive thinking and inappropriate, inadequate behavior habits.

I don’t know what Holy Spirit would wear to a meeting at Starbucks. I don’t know what He would wear in a lab with a microscope or telescope focusing on 2030 or 1948 or 2024 or 1987 and experienced by you or me. Pretend He is wearing a ball cap or hoodie and aviator sunglasses—make Him real in your imagination. Or imagine that you are with Him in a lab with “tools” that can see into your past, the present—how you are currently feeling and acting—and the outcome of the active data Holy Spirit is privy to.

“Take a look at this,” He says. “Can you understand how emotional bruising and wounding could come from that act? Those words?” Purpose of that exam would be to build or rebuild a healing and renewed mind—a plan leading to healing and a choice to view a healthier reaction to scary stimuli. There will also be times when Holy Spirit will look into the eyeglass and say with kindness, “We need to bring in a specialist from our healing team—your doctor, a friend, therapist, pastor, prayer team.” (Again, that is an imaginary description of Holy Spirit revelation.)

What is not fiction is that Holy Spirit can see inside us. We are invited to open our eyes, perception, ears, and souls. He will say, “This is what I can do.” He may say, “Even after I’ve done everything what I do, this demands you do this….”

A husband and wife in one of my favorite singing groups talk about one of their adult daughters who has struggled emotionally most of her life. Therapy, drugs/meds, prayer were inadequate, so they asked Dr. Daniel Amen to examine her. After doing a brain-scan (or something like that) he said, “We can help her.” (Advocate!) His team found something in her physical brain that indicated a trauma that caused her to process data incorrectly or inadequately. The Amen Clinic did help her! Indeed!

Holy Spirit knows the future. (See Acts 11:27-30.). Can you gather your faith to ask Him, based upon his view, how you can prepare to benefit during the tough times? As our paraclete—counselor—it is not outrageous to expect a Spirit-revelation so strategies can be wisely formulated. This is not insider-trading! It is a dimension of what Jesus says in John 14-16.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11).

Luke 11:13 translates the words of Jesus this way:

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

As Jesus’ friend, I think it is not only appropriate, but our inheritance prerogative to question, “What am I supposed to do—what do You want me to do?”

Deep inside we carry images of memories, experiences and dreams abandoned or not yet attained. There are also action-dictated mindsets carved by trauma or misunderstandings of intent or misinterpretations of personal inadequacies. That archive may also hold the “sins of our fathers” meaning caretakers, teachers, peers, etc.

Jesus promises an advocate—paraclete. When shaken by anxiety or the permeating instability, we need Holy Spirit—our advocate/counselor—to guide us. He takes the deep dive and “finds” causes. I’m wondering how He will “transmit that information to the surface.”

Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:18: “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all….” I say: I probably speak in tongues less than any of you. But I see it as therapeutic, and a possible way data hidden in our sub-conscious or soul can be brought to our awareness. We “speak it up.” A different language coming out of our mouth is just that: different. Not automatically understood. That is why Scripture calls for an interpreter, (See 1 Corinthians 14).

What I am talking about here is personal, private, and happening in our personal prayer language. When we process what our mouth is saying, Holy Spirit transitions the message or information to our brain, so we have data to work with and guidance what to do next.

Holy Spirit is also our advocate in career, vocation and business decisions and choices. Our history and emotions are stored in us. Therefore, The Spirit speaks and calls forth from our inner depths—emotions, thinking patterns that develop negative mindsets.

Asking Him about business conditions requires Him to look elsewhere—most of us are not privy to what stock markets or the market status will be in five years. He desires to guide us in every detail, so information leading to our decision to start a business to fast-deliver widgets will include research of that industry. A mindset that resides in you about The Spirit accompanying us in that research will be helpful.

Even strict dispensationalists believe Holy Spirit knows about the future, for He is already there. Sometimes Holy Spirit will reveal outcomes. He is our advocate/counselor to battle for us as we contemplate vocation selection or investments of time, energy, money. I recently asked a fourteen-year-old if she had given thought to what college to attend or what her major would be. She smiled and said she had not. Not is not unusual. She had written a paper on a possible career choice. I was reminded that my 9^th grade class had written a similar paper. I chose the career of professional baseball player. A couple of my classmates remember! The problem is I didn’t have the talent or abilities to play in high school ball, let alone the Bigs. Two years later I had more capacity to hear.

Holy Spirit does not pin-point such things unless the knowledge will be timely and within my ability to grasp it and do something with the information.

Of what I am certain: Holy Spirit cannot be captured in a box; His plan is not a lab-proven formula. For sure, He is dependable! He has security clearance and knows all the entry codes. He is dedicated to The ecclesia and equips people for ministries. He is equally dedicated to you and me personally as an individual. I am certain that Holy Spirit wants to do what will bring the “more” into your abundantly by healing, delivering and teaching how to sustain the freedom.

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV).

©2023 D. Dean Benton

Jesus said to His team of twelve:

But the fact of the matter is that it is best for you that I go away, for if I don’t, the Comforter (helper) won’t come. If I do, he will—for I will send him to you. (John 16:7 TLB).

When He told them, He noticed their reaction. Despair. And why not? He was talking to them face-to-face—sometimes furrowed brow, usually on the verge of a smile. What or who will replace that? Who or what will take the place of Jesus on the water or speaking to the demonized?

I’ve been thinking about the day a few years ago when I drove out of the Nashville airport alone. I had put Carole on a plane to Iowa to be with her mother who was scheduled for heart surgery. I remember exact words I said as I pulled onto the Interstate and what I was feeling. I don’t travel well alone, and my concert-seminar commitments were expecting at least one pretty lady, maybe two. I had music tracks from our albums, with studio back-up singers. Carole and Debi sang back-up on some of my songs. I didn’t have a cellphone, but I could call Carole from any public phone. Just not the same as face to face!

I’m sure one of the disciples said to Jesus, “I miss you, already.”

How does a human give or receive comfort from a different time zone or zip code? How about from the spirit world to earth?

So, Jesus told his troupe that having an invisible friend would work for them better than having his (Jesus) face, arms, laughter, conversation, voice, and explanations. He also told them He would rise from the dead. Which He did! (Anyone who can pull that off and keep that promise should be listened to.) The convincing argument would be that Jesus in the flesh could be in one place at a time while Holy Spirit could be in five billion places at once. (Jesus didn’t explain how.)

COMFORTER

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26 KJV ).

When I think of a comforter, the heavy blanket on our bed comes to mind as does the many images of friends being hugged by human comforters. The task of self-comforting came to mind. This does not replace Paraclete as our comforter, it moves His comforting from solely within a crisis, but includes His comforting as a life resource. A psychiatrist said that depression is hardwired into our brain. When we experience loss, disappointment, confusion, our body, soul, and spirit we “back off” to recoup energy and brain sustenance. But then what?

“People feel more anger, sadness, pain, worry, and stress than ever before since Gallup began tracking happiness-; but we cannot blame the rise of unhappiness on the pandemic alone. In fact, according to Gallup, unhappiness has been steadily climbing for a decade….”

Inc. Magazine recommends Blind Spot, Jon Clifton (CEO—Gallup) to help understand and bring change to mental illness:

It seems to me that Holy Spirit comforts us as a preparation.

From The Daniel Plan, by Rick Warren, D. Min., Dr. Daniel Amen, M.D., Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., give us the habits and resources that prepare us, heal us, and give us energy. These great habits deal with toxic energy such as smoking, drinking, sleep deprivation, loneliness, sedentary lifestyle, as well as the list from Gallup.

• Faith
• Food—There is a reason it is called “comfort food.”
• Fitness
• Focus
• Friends

Holy Spirit comforting is not an opiate to help us learn to be comfortable in our sadness, anger, depression, or ignorance. Walking in the Spirit is not dismissive of our pain. Comforting is affirmation of our dilemma. Holy Spirit comforting is about strengthening and companionship and movement toward eventual healing and strategies.

“Gaslighting” —is the word of the year-2022. It means, “behavior that’s mind manipulating, grossly misleading, downright deceitful.” We are living in a saturated environment of gaslighting. That can increase the emotional sensitivity the world is experiencing.

The scripture verse of 2022 is Isaiah 41:10:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

What makes that comforter on the bed comforting is what it does: it keeps us warm. We also have weighted comforters which makes a heavier affect. The reason the person hugging my grieving friends is a comforter is the feel of embrace. So, when Isaiah quotes God: “For I am with you…,” what is happening?

How does God “embrace” us or comfort us? Jesus said the Father would send The Comforter so we would not be orphans—“You’re not alone in this.” Sparrows and cats. Jesus made it very clear that in God’s eyes there is no creature over which it can be said, “Oh, it doesn’t matter. It’s just a bird. It is just a feral cat.”

Comfort greeting cards focus on loss. I’m thinking Holy Spirit comforting is broader than that. We need comforting when disappointment ravages us. Or, when we are feeling or thinking, or being incompetent, inadequate, beside ourselves, lacking clarity or direction. I think when we are scared, we need comfort that strengthens and helps us maintain stability to do what needs to be done. Stability that keeps us from being sucked into a dark hole. Comfort coming from our Friend Holy Spirit is spiritual energy—a positive infusion.

An injured young cat showed up on our daughter’s porch. Deborah suspected the kitten was rolled by a car or fell from a height Maybe a broken leg and bruised ribs. Now that the 4–8-week-old cat has decided Deb can be trusted she invites her touch. The kitten rolls over and asks to be belly scratched.

Turns out the kitten is older than guessed. Vet thinks she was pregnant when struck by the car and now has infection where her own kittens had been. Now she needs surgery. Comforting is now needed for pain, memories, and a mother’s loss.

A couple of days after the “kitten” went to the vet, one of our granddaughters let us know that one of her cats also needed to go the vet. Rachel thought her cat was in dire condition. The vet agreed as he found pneumonia. An overnight at the clinic appeared to help Gus the Cat. Rachel had adopted the cat when it became obvious it had been abandoned on her apt. parking lot. It was as if the two—Gus and Rachel—had found each other. The rescuer was relieved Gus would recover. Then, a day later, Gus died in Rachel’s arms. Now a different dimension of comfort was needed.

It has been about a month since the “kitten” whom Deb named “Hope” came into our lives. Setbacks, then rallying, more meds and belly rubs. Deb took Hope back to the vet. Something wasn’t working right. After the cat spent another night at the clinic, Debi went to pick up the stray cat who had started eating again. Hope! As Debi stepped into the clinic, the staff was busy trying to resuscitate the cat named Hope. Hope was gone.

Did Holy Spirit—the comforter—hear Jesus’ sermon about sparrows? How does He comfort us, now? Debi didn’t need the grief or weeks of sleepless nights. No one in our family has life insurance policies on our pets. We invested lots of prayers and energy. Does Holy Spirit comfort in such a way that disappointment doesn’t turn to anger, and decisions not to try again?

Deb texted us, “So Hope had a home, and a name and lots of love and was never hungry this last month. I’m glad I named her.” Later another text: “Walter the cat is staying close to me. I think my tears concern him.”

Trying to explain comfort as an entity and as an act is difficult. I do not want to sound as if I’m trivializing the isolation, pain, and heart break. Jesus knew what He was promising.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To be comforted is an intimate and personal thing.

When I heard President Biden kissed Mrs. Macron on the lips, I wondered if she was pleased or wanted to quickly wipe it off with a shop cloth, followed by vigorous spitting. Comforting comes from a variety of sources.

“The Comforter Has Come”

No Junior Partner

Months ago, during a personal upheaval, I began thinking about the national battle with fear, anxiety, depression, confusion, and low level of clarity. More important, I began to ask how my love, joy, peace could be more active, and thinking habits could be redeemed and modified. Not too far into the journey, Holy Spirit became an obvious and direct participant. I aimed at making the “how” to be the concluding chapter in this series of “Mending the Mind. I want to know how Holy Spirit desires to be active and healing in individuals—you and me.

Whenever I open this file, my mind goes to a brick storefront in downtown Des Moines. It is raining. A lady stands under the store’s canvas awning and her own umbrella. She is waiting for a counselor/friend. Her friend’s name is Paraclete.

Her friend arrives and they step inside the coffee shop. The two slip out of rain gear and then hug. After ordering their favorite coffee, Paraclete says, “I get the message that you have questions.”

“Thank you for seeing me. My whole life feels destabilized, harassed, anxious, stressed, in fear, depressed. I want to know why I am floating in these debilitating thoughts. Where did they come from and how do I change?”

The word “paraclete” comes from the Greek word parakletos, which means “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “one called to the side of another.” Paraclete is Holy Spirit and is known to have several roles and functions in His relationship to Jesus Followers.

Apostle John records The Promise Jesus gave first to His disciples and then to His entire family.

“I will talk to the Father and he’ll provide you another friend so that you will always have someone with you” (John 14:16 Message).

Allow my fiction: What if you were in that Walnut Street coffee shop and you saw the lady and Holy Spirit walk in, what is the paraclete wearing? Holy Spirit is not only a name, but description of His being. He is a spirit. That means He would have to take on human features. Would He be wearing camouflage—large, dark aviator glasses and a hoodie? Would He greet others in the shop as if He knew them? No disguise, just not totally describable. Perhaps, when you looked at their table you saw only the lady talking across the table toward any empty chair—she alone could “see” the Friend?

I want to be careful and respectful here. We are cautioned not to make images and idols of Yahweh and the Spirit. While honoring, how will you enter conversation with Holy Spirit without feeling as if you are talking to the air or a non-entity? He is not just one more of your invisible friends.

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, (John 14:26 Message).

Paraclete is translated, Advocate, Counselor, Helper, Friend, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, Companion.

“Paraclete, the Greek word Jesus used here, referred to a person who came alongside during a time of legal difficulty.” (Google) 

No matter our experience, theology, or dogma about Holy Spirit, we probably are underestimating His role in all things cosmic and eternal including and especially Holy Spirit as a personal life resource.

I can imagine Holy Spirit meeting with world leaders at the Hague or the White House. I can visualize a meeting with Israel and the Palestinians to hammer out a peace agreement. It stretches my imagination, however, to think of Holy Spirit with me in a coffee shop or in my office to redesign my mind. The work to be done in us depends upon faith to engage in a life-changing conversation as if He were sitting across the table. In this case, faith is expressed by a sanctified imagination. (“Jesus, I open my mind to your examination and yours alone. No dark spirit, or negative personal conclusions are allowed.”)

Jesus promised Holy Spirit and listed His activities. The Apostle records them in John 14-16. This scenario becomes believable and probable as Jesus uses the words, “Friend,” and “Helper.” The descriptive action of Holy Spirit is, “Coming alongside.” Holy Spirit never says, “I’ll just meet you at the church house.” His assignment and desire are to come alongside us, in the dark hours, in the storms and when we are making decisions. Friends laugh together! Holy Spirit is more than an office worker and an agent. He has feminine characteristics, but the Bible refers to Him as a “he.” Although a spirit, He has personality characteristics. Not an “it.” I think He enjoys laughing and smiling.

Jesus promised paraclete to individuals as well as to the ekklesia and nations. The Old Testament stories are about The Spirit coming upon individuals such as Samson, military leaders, prophets. The New Testament reveals a new covenant era when Holy Spirit enters individuals—all persons following Jesus. We are still in that covenant era.

Jesus (John 14-16) uses paraclete as a descriptive name for Holy Spirit: Friend, Helper, Comforter, Coach, Advocate, Companion. We also know Him as the agent of creation, baptizer with power-anointing, and above all else He is Jesus’ announcer—“He will not speak of himself…” (John 16:13).  

Theologian, missionary and author Rick Renner lists the major ways Holy Spirit works within us and how He desires to intersect with each Jesus’ Follower:

1. Holy Spirit comforts us (John 14:16).
2. Holy Spirit indwells (John 14:17).
3. Holy Spirit teaches us (John 14:26).
4. Holy Spirit reminds us (John 14:26).
5. Holy Spirit testifies with us (John 15:26).
6. Holy Spirit convicts us (John 15:9).
7. Holy Spirit convinces us (John 16:10).
8. Holy Spirit guides us (John 16:13).
9. Holy Spirit reveals to us (John 16:13).
10. Holy Spirit helps us worship (John 16:14).

Jesus’ use of the word Friend is a filter and explanation. I don’t understand the logistics of Holy Spirit coming alongside both you and me at the same time, plus multiples of millions. How does He do that? Does He outsource those tasks to subordinates or angels? A true friend does not delegate the elements of friendship to a subordinate.

Perhaps you are not like me. I tend to think of Holy Spirit as being like “The Cloud” that mysterious place where documents are stored. I don’t see them going there, I do not experience how they are stored—it is just there like a mysterious hidden place. The Spirit does not live in The Cloud with all your Word documents, nor does He live in the clouds. He lives inside us and desires to interact with us through our spirits. He does not Message us from some Cloud-like dwelling.

If we can believe and experience that Holy Spirit is not limited to “the nations” (The Hague, White House, Kremlin, ect.) but works and lives in people like you, then we still have a hurdle which Jesus speaks to: Holy Spirit is a friend—an intimate friend who knows the most personal ingredients in body, soul, spirit and is our largest cheerleader and companion. So, what does He do while He is hanging out in us? Rick Renner’s above list of ten is how Jesus projects activity. For me, I first must believe in the fact of His friendship and grasp the creative kind of friend He is. He is not theoretical. He is not far removed from me.

Holy Spirit—however He does it—comes alongside when we invite Him during anxiety attacks, depression, panic attacks, loneliness, burnout, toxic imagination, unrealistic expectations, and as we sift through memories and quick trigger reactions and assumptions. He is the Creator and re-creator which expands the image of transforming us into new.

We are told to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” Let’s tweak our perception and think “Redesigning our mind.” That is how radical brain specialists are about brain neuroplasticity.

Months into this pursuit, two conversations have convinced me I’m not chasing weirdness. David Sax, author of The Future is Analogue, was interviewed on Art of Manliness. https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/podcast-851-the-future-is-analog/  Rather than life and society becoming more digital and limited emotional contact, the Pandemic Shutdown showed us we depend upon touch and interaction with our spaces and people. Creativity dropped, as did productivity during the shutdowns. These are dependent upon conscious interaction and serendipitous sightings, and hearings. Isolation walls creativity away from synergistic possibilities. Creativity depends upon interaction.

The second conversation was Elon Musk talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) being more dangerous than nuclear weapons. Anything that dilutes or interrupts human must be regulated. He issues warnings about the merging AI into the human cortex and limbic system with no oversight or regulation—AI could kill 90% of us in a short time, Musk warns.

Jesus became human. We do not need to augment humans and diminishing him/her. (We may be seeing exactly that through 21^st Century technology.) The Gospel and Kingdom calls us to immerse ourselves in the qualities of humanity. Secularists are pushing a post-human creature as the Gospel declares the Jesus life as our destiny. This is not a new dimension of Tinker Toys. I’m seeking Holy Spirit resources to make me as whole as Jesus.

The secret is this: Christ in you, hope of glory, (Colossians 1:26 KJV).

This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. The mystery (secret) in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you…, (Colossians 1:26 Message).

©2022 D. Dean Benton–Writer, Wonderer,  

Next: Holy Spirit our Advocate—Counselor

Resources:

Rick Renner, The Holy Spirit and You, Harrison House, 2017

Five or six months ago I began thinking about the national battle with fear, anxiety, depression, confusion, and low level of clarity. More important, I began to ask how love, joy, peace could be more active, and life-long thinking habits could be redeemed and modified. Not too far into the journey, Holy Spirit became an obvious and direct participant. I aimed at making the “how” to be the concluding chapter in this series of “Mending the Mind.” In the process, my computer crashed and paused my writing for 4-5 weeks and corrupted the thumb drive with all the words.

I plan to camp here for several blogs to talk about how Holy Spirit can be active and healing with our participation. 

Whenever I open this file, my mind goes to a brick storefront in downtown Des Moines. It is raining. A lady stands under the store’s canvas awning and her own umbrella. She is waiting for a counselor/friend. Her friend’s name is Paraclete.

Her friend arrives and they step inside the coffee shop. The two slip out of rain gear and hug. After ordering their coffee, Paraclete says, “I get the message that you have questions.”

“Thank you for seeing me. My whole life feels destabilized, harassed, anxious, stressed, in fear, depressed at times. I want to know why I am floating in these debilitating thought habits. Where did they come from and how do I change?”

The word “paraclete” (paraklete) comes from the Greek word parakletos, which means “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “one called to the side of another.” Paraclete is Holy Spirit.  The name is translated into several English words describing roles and functions in His relationship to Jesus Followers.

Apostle John records The Promise Jesus gave first to His disciples and then to His entire family.

“I will talk to the Father and he’ll provide you another friend so that you will always have someone with you” (John 14:16 Message).

Allow my fiction: What if you were in that Walnut Street coffee shop and you saw the lady and Holy Spirit walk in, what is the paraclete wearing? Holy Spirit is not only a name, but description of His being. He is a spirit. That means He would have to take on human features. Would He be wearing camouflage—large, dark aviator glasses and a hoodie? Would He greet others in the shop as if He knew them? No disguise, just not totally describable. Perhaps, when you looked at their table you saw only the lady talking across the table toward any empty chair—she alone could “see” the Friend?

FRIEND

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, (John 14:26 Message).

Paraclete is translated, Advocate, Counselor, Helper, Friend, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, Companion.

“Paraclete, the Greek word Jesus used here, referred to a person who came alongside during a time of legal difficulty.” (Google)  

No matter our experience, theology, or dogma about Holy Spirit, we probably are underestimating His role in all things cosmic and eternal including and especially Holy Spirit as a personal life resource.

I can imagine Holy Spirit meeting with world leaders at the Hague or the White House. I can visualise a meeting with Israel and the Palestinians to hammer out a peace agreement. It stretches my imagination, however, to think of Holy Spirit with me in a coffee shop or my office to redesign my mind. The work to be done in us depends upon faith to engage in a life-changing conversation as if He were sitting across the table. In this case, faith is expressed by a sanctified imagination. (“Jesus, I open my mind to your examination and yours alone. No dark spirit, or negative personal conclusions are allowed.”)

Jesus promised Holy Spirit and listed His activities. The Apostle records them in John 14-16. This scenario becomes believable and probable as Jesus uses the words, “Friend,” and “Helper.” The descriptive action of Holy Spirit is, “Coming alongside.” Holy Spirit never says, “I’ll just meet you at the church house.” His assignment and desire are to come alongside us, especially in the dark hours and in the storms. It is also helpful to visualise Holy Spirit laughing. Friends laugh together! Holy Spirit is more than an office worker and an agent to take it on the road. He has feminine characteristics, but the Bible refers to Him as “he.” Although a spirit, He is a person, not an “it.”

Jesus’ use of the word Friend is a filter and explanation. I don’t understand the logistics of Holy Spirit coming alongside both you and me at the same time, plus multiple millions. How does He do that? Does He outsource those tasks to subordinates or angels? Does a true friend delegate the elements of friendship to a subordinate?

Holy Spirit—however He does it—comes alongside when we invite Him during anxiety attacks, depression, panic attacks, loneliness, burnout, toxic imagination, unrealistic expectations, and as we sift through memories and quick trigger reactions and assumptions. He is the Creator and re-creator which expands the image of transforming us into new.

We are told to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” Is that like running our minds through a wood plane—take off the top layer? Or is it like digging peppercorn out of lunchmeat? Brushing two coats of paint on an old board? Let’s tweak our perception and think “Redesigning our mind.” That is how radical brain specialists are about brain neuroplasticity.

Months into this pursuit, two conversations have convinced me I’m not chasing weirdness. David Sax, author of The Future is Analogue, was interviewed on Art of Manliness. https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/podcast-851-the-future-is-analog/  Rather than life and society becoming more digital and limited emotional contact, the Pandemic Shutdown showed us we depend upon touch and interaction with our spaces and people. Creativity dropped, as did productivity during stay at home lock downs. Creativity and productivity are dependent upon synergism of conscious interaction and serendipitous sightings, and hearings. Isolation walls the creative mind away from synergistic possibilities such as seeing something momentarily that stimulates a separate thought totally removed from what stimulated the “new.”

The second conversation was Elon Musk talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) being more dangerous than nuclear weapons. Anything that dilutes or interrupts human must be regulated. He issues warnings about the merging AI into the human cortex and limbic system with no oversight or regulation—AI could kill 90% of us in a short time. 

Jesus became human. We do not need to augment humans and diminish him/her. (We may be seeing exactly that through 21^st Century technology.) The Gospel and Kingdom calls us to immerse ourselves in the qualities of humanity. This is not a new dimension of Tinker Toys. I’m seeking Holy Spirit resources to make me as whole as Jesus.

©2022 D. Dean Benton

To follow: Holy Spirit–Advocate-Counselor, Comforter,  Helper, 

Git’R Done

(This article popped up on the computer screen when I brought it home from the repair shop. Don’t know the date it was written. I can’t get last week’s thoughts to display, but the decade-old drama is available? Odd.)

When Coach Justin ran out of girls to ask to play, he wanted to know if I wanted to play softball with the blue team. Strange that my name has never come up while he put together the roster of the red team.

It has been a long time since I hit a ball and then ran. I’ve been to the batting cages, but there is no running in batting cage baseball. I run on the treadmill almost every day. But hitting a ball and then running is not just about eye-hand coordination. Add another component. I was swinging, hitting and running in front of people to whom I want to look moderately capable—No! That’s wrong. My real goal was not to look like a doofus. A solid grounder to the pitcher doesn’t send the center fielder back while looking over his shoulder.

The pitcher is a lady who I’m sure is a grandmother. Steve, who was drafted to pitch for us, contends she is a great-grandmother.

I can hear my grandson saying, “You gotta be so proud! You got a hit off a grandma. You hit it all the way back to the mound? Papa, was she throwing heat?”

Amanda can stand at the plate, never take the bat off her shoulder and she looks good. But “cute” isn’t going to get it done for me—even if I could! Several thoughts raced through my mind as I was not racing toward second base: Will they bring the oxygen tank out to me? What if I have to slide? Am I going to break an ankle, or even worse: start my slide too soon and stop three feet short of the bag?

I think it was Snoopy who said, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose…until you’ve lost.”

To this point, my Church softball career has centered on cheering for the good guys, making sure no one drops over from dehydration and praying after the game. After the team high-fives the other team, Justin motions for me—like a manager motioning for the relief pitcher. “Now, coach?” (Pray-ers don’t get to spit or scratch.)

Praying after a game is not as easy as you might think. If we have lost, God knows I don’t really want him to bless that other team, but I don’t want to sound ungracious! If we win, I don’t want to sound patronizing. I appreciate a good play regardless of who performs it. I just appreciate it more when the right guys make it. I want my prayer to be uplifting to the losers and say words that celebrate fine playing while resisting calling fire down on an umpire who made some really bad calls.

One Tuesday when we had lost by a football score margin, I walked onto the field to pray. I stepped onto the field and felt something I wish I knew a sports psychologist, so he/she could explain it to me. That feeling compares to stepping out of an air-conditioned room into 90% humidity. The feeling was palpable. Until someone explains that to me, I’m thinking that winning and losing has an energy component.

I was in the dugout one evening when that heaviness was pervasive. We were behind a couple of runs and everything our team hit, regardless how far or how hard, seemed to be laser-guided to a defensive player. Then someone got a hit and the energy polarity changed. The atmosphere in the dugout changed. The spirit of losing left. Everyone began to hit. Our team won big.

Winning matters! Even after all those well-meaning clichés: “It is all about having fun.” “You have to learn to lose gracefully.” It matters! It isn’t all that matters, but it matters. A winning spirit does not mean winning every game. It does mean that losing doesn’t threaten your sense of self or measure your value as a person.

How do we build a winning spirit in our young? How do we maintain the winning spirit in ourselves? How do we Git’ r Done?

BE OBSERVANT

Check out the bridge connecting Barcelona and Paris. Bridges are structures that connect the spots. Winners continue to ask, “What’s going on here?”

Dr. Will Miller says in his Refrigerator Rights book,

“Helping ‘stuck’ people to change is slow and tedious work because too often they cannot or will not make the necessary connection between their personal wallpaper—assumptions, expectations, and experience—and the problems in their lives. They don’t, and often don’t want to, understand where they are and how they got there. Without that understanding, they can’t make the changes they need to live happier and more fulfilling lives. (24)

A double play is one of the prettiest plays in baseball. A grounder fielded by the second baseman to the shortstop covering second base to first. Fluid, seamless, effective. Dane and Justin can turn a double play nicely. One of the threats with bang-bang plays is starting to throw the ball before you catch it.

My grandson is playing a baseball tournament this weekend. He plays several positions. He is catching this weekend. Too many balls are getting past him. He is asking, “What’s going on here?” He is learning how to shift his weight to block a ball in the dirt rather than reaching or lunging for it.

Winners spend a lot of time learning correct footwork, how to shift your weight, how to offset weaknesses and watching game films with someone who knows how to do it right. Several years ago, the Cubs had a good-looking center fielder who struggled, got hurt and didn’t measure up to his obvious potential. A reporter asked manager Dusty Baker if the player was going to play winter ball to correct some bad habits. Dusty said, “It’s his career. He is responsible for his talent. It is up to him.”

An important realization:  It’s up to me.

ASK QUESTIONS

Two questions dominate the Day of Pentecost and the entire book of Acts.

• What does this mean?
• What shall we do?

If you’ve been around young Blake you know that his favorite word is “Why?”

MAKE DECISIONS–ACT ACCORDING TO TREASURES

What do you know?

What do you love?

Grant Wood left Iowa for Paris to make a name as a painter. One historian says “Wood’s separation from his native landscape was a shearing of his soul.” (Sweet) William Shirer was in Paris working as a journalist. Shirer from Cedar Rapids and Grant Wood knew each other from school days. Later Shirer would broadcast from Berlin and then write Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. But in 1926 in Paris, the two were unknowns.

(I don’t remember where I was going with this.)

In 1971 Bill Joy was voted most apt to wear a plastic pocket protector. He describes himself as a “no-date nerd.” He knew math, and biology. At the age of sixteen and a college freshman, he stumbled into a new building in Lansing where the University of Michigan housed its computer. Computers not as powerful as your laptop required full rooms to house them. Bill Joy was hooked. He programmed until he fell asleep at the keyboard.

Many of the basic programs that allow you to email your friends or search the internet were written by Bill Joy. He didn’t know what he loved until it was invented.

The Proverb says, “Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” A literal paraphrase is, “Find the way a child is bent and help him go there.”

SET GOALS-MAKE PLANS

Malcom Gladwell says of Outliers like Bill Gates, The Beetles, Bill Joy, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and fourteen Americans of the seventy-five wealthiest people ever to live, “Those are stories of how the outliers reached lofty status through a combination of ability, opportunity and utterly arbitrary advantage.”

If you want to git r done, find an atmosphere framed by YES! where people living in Kingdom life set goals, make plans with men and women who look for reasons to say “Yes! Go for it!”

• People who know you well enough to evoke your abilities that grow out of what you love.
• An environment where people will give you opportunity.

“I’m ready, coach.”

©2022 D. Dean Benton