notadoc (@notadoc)

@Burrado @rickruffin @Gabriels_Horn @LorieAnn This Is Not V.R.G.!** **Verbalized Religious Garbage! Mar 13:11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Story Time: I went through a "miraculous" conversion to Christianity in May 1970, in Southern California during the "Jesus Movement." When they write and make movies about that time, rarely do you hear that there were a multitude of "home churches" established by the Holy Spirit, and led by many "new converts." Many of these new converts would also attend the larger gatherings/"churches" that are usually written about, and who to some degree usurped "God's Movement." Hidden from most, there were a number of "anointed" Bible teachers from various denominations that were making audiocassettes of their teachings. We would make mass reproductions of these cassettes and pass them around. Most of these larger churches would restrict the movement of the Holy Spirit to some degree, therefore after these large services we would retreat to a different location, listen to the latest "teaching tape" and have what was known as an "afterglow." I was one of those "home church" elders, at the ripe old age of 22. (And yes, I was older than most.). There was a draft going on at that time, and I was one of the rare individuals who was able to enlist in an Army hospital reserve unit, and spend one weekend a month at the Orange County hospital (UC Irvine medical school). Approximately one year after my conversion, we were assembled in the hospital's auditorium for the typical afternoon medical/military lectures and discussions. This Sunday afternoon our chaplain, for the first time, wanted to speak to us. Up to that time, most of us didn't even know that we had a chaplain. We discovered that he also was a pastor in one of the common denominations. That day he was "fired up," because some "Jesus freaks" had challenged him on some biblical topic in his church that morning. He ranted for about a half-hour. A lot of my friends in the auditorium, many who went through basic and AIT training with me, (BC -- before Christ), were very aware of my conversion. (It seems that I had been a "PA," -- Party Animal, more than a decade before I became a licensed PA -- Physician Assistant.). They were all elbowing me and poking my theater seat, while whispering "say something to him John!" When the chaplain had finished his rant, he asked for questions. A few people raised their hands and he responded accordingly. And I kept on getting bumped and encouraged to say something. I finally raised my hand, and in a very short time was called upon. All I could say was, "I guess I am a Jesus freak." Immediately, our two bird colonel commanders (one Jewish), commanded me to stand up and speak, to a group of about 80 -- 100 "medical personnel". The first thing that immediately came to my mind was, "do not attack the chaplain!" I opened my mouth, and amazingly I began speaking about the validity of the Scriptures, previous fulfilled prophecies and a few prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. I was amazed at what I was saying and that was the first time that I had ever pieced all these prophecies and Scriptures together. And then, people began asking me questions, many of far greater depth than what the chaplain had dealt with. I myself was amazed and marveling at my answers. I was even presenting some wisdom that was slightly counter what I had believed up to that time. I spoke for over an hour. After I had answered everyone's questions, it was time for us to go outside in formation, to be formally dismissed for the weekend. As we were trying to leave the auditorium, I was inundated by many other reservists who were complimenting me on my "performance." In my mind I was thinking, "Where the hell were you guys when I needed you?" (Most of them I didn't know.). The chaplain came up to me, and everyone else parted. And exclaimed, "I have never heard anyone speak with such power and authority. We need to get together sometime." Naturally, that never occurred. And I learned later that when I eventually entered an "intern pastorship," at one of those major nondenominational churches, and had applied for an "early out," for that internship; he personally prevented it. CONTINUED: