August 10, 2008:NCHS Class of 1978 Revisited
	Just a few more weary days and then... I'll fly away... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
		March 20, 2008:Traditions
		December 29, 2007:New Year's 2008
November 3, 2007:How To Be Successful in Christian Ministry

The Keepers of the Flame William H. Haller

In the past few months I have visited several churches where posters were displayed saying they were "keepers of the flame".

I'm sure that these very nice posters are meant to be inspirational and hark back to the churches heritage, but I'm not sure they are making the proper point.

In Acts 2, the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit is recorded. With this initial outpouring, there were cloven tongues in a form similar to fire that appeared and rested on each of the people gathered together. A similar manifestation is not recorded in other places in the New Testament where the Holy Spirit filled individual believers, but God is certainly able to use that more vivid display when filling an individual or group of individuals if He so chooses at any point in the future.

I'm sure that the posters reflect this event in history. But I think that the term "keepers" isn't really what God is looking for today. When I think of a keeper, I think of a zoo keeper. Someone that keeps a wild animal on display for our viewing pleasure. The wild animal is shut away by bars, glass, or chasm where we are not in danger from it. The other type of keeping that I think of - in particular with fire - is the process of banking a fire so it doesn't go out - of keeping an ember hot so the fire can be kindled easily again.

I certainly don't think the designers of the poster had zoo keeper in mind when they made the poster, or had any intention of implying that there was any danger of the fire going out if humanity didn't do anything, but that is my first impression when I see the phrase.

What we need today are "Takers of the flame". Wild fires in forest leap from tree to tree and if the wind is right from valley side to valley side, spreading "like wildfire". Prairie fires are similar. Without man's intervention, nothing stops them except rain or ground without sufficient fuel to maintain the blaze.

Around the world, the fire is spreading, one person at a time. Many are turning their lives around and accepting Jesus as their Saviour. Asia, Africa, and South America are going strong for God. Much progress is being made in spreading the word.

But the United States and Europe are embattled. Progress is not occurring here like in the rest of the world. Indeed, many countries are considering sending missionaries back to the United States. That is a sad state of affairs. It's time to stop being a flame retardant, stop just keeping the flame, and start taking the flame where God directs you to take it - one person at a time....

Remember the comment from 1 Cor, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." There are many excellent good blessings that come from having the Holy Spirit working in your service. But never forget that the primary purpose of the filling with the Holy Spirit is to witness. Everything else is bonus.

On our pre-vacation trip, an old warrior of the church described her infilling with the Holy Spirit as being filled with love for the world. The other manifestations of the Holy Spirit's work - speaking in tongues and interpretation of messages, prophecies, faith, miracles, healings, discerning of spirits, wisdom and knowledge - are all very important in the functioning of the church. But it is the love that gives us the desire to reach out to others. If God decides to take away the outward signs of the Spirit's working in your church, will it still be obvious that you are a "Keeper of the Flame" because you keep right on "Taking the Flame" out of love to those around you?

Do other churches that perhaps don't have as visible a display of the working of the Spirit surpass you in love? It is time for the entire Christian church community in each town to come together and stop being envious of what each other has. Every church has a role to fill, and if the body of Christ works together in a community, then that community will move forward. Not every church will be the biggest or smallest. Not everyone will be as free to worship in the Spirit as others. But we are all one body, and it is time to get out of the competition mode and bragging mode about how we are growing and other churches are stagnant, and bind together to work for the complete body.

Start focusing more on the lost than on each other. There are more of them than of us. Praise the Lord.