Pentecostal Flavored Church

Had a conversation about religion and church and all that jazz and thought maybe I'd share here a piece from the latest book. 

Some of you will be sure I'm crazy when you read this.  Some of you will nod your heads and smile understandingly.  Some of you will remember your own church experiences. 

Whatever your view, whatever your traditions, whatever you believe - I hope this helps you understand how I see Pentecostal flavored church.

Taste and see the Lord is good!  Psalm 34:8

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February 7, 2010

Pentecostal Flavored Church

I wonder…

How do they see all of this activity?

You know, outsiders.

Frayed edges flying freely

Called prayer,

Called worship,

Called church.

Pentecostal-flavored-church to be exact.

Do they see them

Neatly flowing together

Like prayer shawl fringes?

In harmony, Billowing, Following, Patterned?

Or fragmented, scattered, disjointed

Without plan or purpose.

Mostly I wonder

How do You see it?

All those waving hands

All those mixing voices

All those flowing tears

All that peace consuming

Fears falling, anger melting, sickness healing.

It seems to me

Casually, involvedly observing

From the inside out of this cacophony

That You hear every request and answer.

And the people who let down their guard

Put away their inhibitions

Shed their religiosity

They know, young and old, it is good

To be where You are.

But what of those who have lived long enough to

Reason You away?

Reason faith away?

Reason peace away?

Those who are not accustomed to feeling

Blatant emotion

Deep conviction

Pure joy.

What do they see here?

Who can explain such a mystery?  Which words would one use?

How can it be qualified, justified, simplified

This deep calling to deep?

This thing called

Pentecostal-flavored church.

Love is tangible in a place like this.

It’s a safe covering that starts in

The hands and eyes and arms.

From God to us.

From us to God.

Between each.

Friendly hands compassionately holding friends’ hands

Like babies -protectively and gently.

Trust beaming from every pore.

We sing earthly things don’t matter

And we mean it.

For a space of time

Moments, hours

All else falls away and the strength and grace of the

Community called church family

Envelops us.

That’s Pentecostal-flavored church.

To order a copy of A Book of Pages About Crossing Bridges or a Friend Named Jesus, please visit my website:  Writer's Pages

Facebook:  Author Kris A. Newman