Today’s image: From Dark into Light. A mountain cabin in Catalunia.
Abuelo preached at the spanish church on Sunday. Not for the first time, but this was an interesting evening.
As the first words of the opening greeting were spoken, the lights went out. The storms were making their presence known, and this was a major power failure right across town. So no keyboard for the praise and worship, no computer for the words, and no lights for bible reading and notes.
We were a small group, and so we moved to sit around the doorway and grab the best of the fading evening daylight.
As a church we are looking into Acts – Hechos, and Abuelo’s teaching for the evening was out of chapter 5. When the light was too dim for him to distinguish the printed word someone activated the torch function on their mobile phone.
He knows his Bible so well that he can quote extensively, referencing scripture with scripture, and speaking extemporaneously. Still, notes are a useful scaffold for anyone, and he likes to work with the framework on a printed page in front of him.
That’s not to say that he necessarily sticks to the script . ..
Acts 5: Action and Reaction
He spoke about the present day reality of Acts, illustrated by the actions which bring reactions.
– People reaching out in faith being healed and delivered.
– Choices being made where believers obeyed God rather than man.
– How angels and demons are clearly identified in scripture, and what they can and cannot do.
Lights, Action
Just as we finished the lights came on again. We moved back into the body of the church – and out the power went once more.
At this, Donna – the pastor’s wife – picked up a guitar and took us into worship. What we knew from memory we sang, when we stumbled we hummed or sang in tongues.
It was kind of reminiscent of those long-gone days of youth, before there ever was internet or mobiles or computers, when we had ‘camp-meeting’ times of sharing.
Magical evenings around the fire . .
– a real fire, with no health and safety wet blankets, no concerns about possible litigation if a spark happened to scorch the laces of a shoe or irreparably damage someone’s emotional karma. ..
. .experiencing the unity of quiet, the unhurried pauses, the awareness of God in His creation around us. Times when there was an un-pressured freedom to speak and the equally free choice to stay silent.
Today is today, and there’s nothing wrong with using technology for the benefit of the church, but this step back into simplicity with its uncluttered pure focus was so refreshing.
It was a great time.
PS: He’s preaching in the english church on the 20th. It should be recorded – presuming no power failures! – and I’ll put up a link.
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Words escape me this morning as I read this. My heart is just so full, I am so happy for you both, I am once again in awe of Gods faithfulness, of His restoration and answer to prayer.
When reading about your evenings experience, I was immediately reminded of when the disciples were in the upper room and tongues of fire came with a mighty wind – That same yearning for God, that personal “something”, the unity – it’s all the same. I look forward to hearing about more incredible God moments to come. My heart wishes it was there with you.
Your comments mean a lot to us. It says that the ‘blog’ is serving its intended purpose, letting us bring family and close friends into our daily life. It’s so easy to let the days and weeks slip by, and this is our way of sharing where we are and what we’re doing & feeling.
I was speaking with an artist friend recently, and he said ‘I have to paint – it’ s who I am.’ Likewise, a writer is one who writes because he – or in this case she – has to.
So I will continue to write, and look forward to all and every comment.