bits from bob....

I grew up in Kansas. The wind always blows--well, almost always. It blows all day and continues all night. It finds the corners of the house and whines eerily in the darkness. If one is not used to the sound of the wind in a house, it catches and holds one's attention. One can imagine all kinds of things. But as one who grew up in Kansas, I can tell you that you get used to it.

The words for wind and spirit are the same both in Hebrew and in Greek. Perhaps one of the problems the modern church has with the Holy Spirit is that we have not become used to his presence in our lives. We experience him too infrequently, think of his intercession in prayer too seldom, and consider his presence and action unusual rather than common.

Jesus said that after his departure he would send a Comforter who would be his presence among his people. That comforter is the Holy Spirit. God, help us get used to the wind!