5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing) Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?) 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia) Pontus) and Asia) 10 Phrygia) and Pamphylia,) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;(N) visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Acts 2:5-12 NIV

Last week if you followed along in the news, there was a dust-up in the presidential race over one party not "staying on message" as a whole. Staying on message means that everyone is saying the same thing and enforcing the same basic message the candidate or party is trying to convey.

When it works, it may present a sense of unity and there is no mistaking what the party or candidate stands for. When it doesn't however, it can prove to be a bit embarrassing to the person or persons, and sometimes it looks a bit humorous when the attempt is made at "damage control" or trying to get back "on message" again.

This Sunday is Pentecost. It is the one Sunday in the church year that focuses exclusively on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we read the account, there are some very visual "special effects" which produce a real commotion to those who have "received "the Holy Spirit.

However the real purpose of the day of Pentecost, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not the "special effects" but the MESSAGE. That message was the good news and new life in believing in Jesus Christ, crucified, dead, and risen. That was the real purpose of all those "nations" both past and present being able to hear God's mighty acts.

They must have really "been on message" through the work of the Holy Spirit for later it tells us that 3,000 responded in that day.

Too often for various reasons, when we or others think of "church" or "Christianity" somehow that's not what comes to mind or what others understand. I can relate to that since growing up in the church, if you asked me what the church was I might say a building, or an institution.

It really wasn't until the "message" fully and plainly explained to me (though I believe through the work of the Holy Spirit that I finally understood.)

May we ask always the Holy Spirit to keep us "on message,"

Pastor John Van Haneghan



Archive