A great day

We've been preparing Coming Out of the Desert - a (hopefully) more accessible and less intimidating variation and expansion on the Life in the Spirit Seminars - for a few months now, though it's clear that the groundwork has been laid over several years.  Since January the core team has been praying and fasting and listening and meeting and planning, privileged to participate in whatever work the Lord is doing.  Our hope is that by encouraging people to be open to the gifts of the Spirit in a less confrontive way - and unfortunately, no matter how lovingly presented, the LISS can feel confrontive - we can help them allow God into their lives more fully.

The response so far has been more than double the maximum number of folks that we were planning for, so already for our first meeting last night we were forced from the day chapel into the main sanctuary of the church.  As it turns out, many of the attendees have been very active in church and outreach ministry, and have strong relationships with the Lord already.  But there are also many with real needs, who are deeply thirsting, and all of us can use more growth.  Last night we heard a great talk on God's love, and a very nice lay testimony to follow it up.

Next week I'm on tap to follow up the teaching on salvation with a testimony of what that has meant in my life.  Is it possible to do this without touching - at least obliquely - on just what I've been saved out of?  While this has long since stopped being super-secret, neither is it public knowledge, something that I share regularly or lightly.  A few dozen folks who think they know me would learn something about me very . . . well . . . unpalatable and dark - any adjective less than "shitty" is too polite, really - that they don't suspect.  At least none of those people are newcomers.  Still, I must be sure not to have an agenda of my own with this, neither avoiding my shame nor seeking affirmation for myself.  The only good reason for sharing would be to contrast my darkness against the light of salvation that Christ provides!

Once I have that testimony together I imagine I'll post it here.