Comments on: Books and talks http://bencrowder.net/blog/2006/08/books-and-talks/ I make stuff. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:24:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ben http://bencrowder.net/blog/2006/08/books-and-talks/#comment-1032 Ben Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:52:39 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/08/12/books-and-talks/#comment-1032 Aye, there's a good question: <i>does</i> the Spirit work differently in each of us? One of my seminary teachers said he knew he was feeling the Spirit because he would sneeze. Now, perhaps that's true, perhaps it's not; my question is whether each person feels the Spirit in an individual way or if in fact there are a set handful of methods the Spirit uses to touch people. I'm leaning toward the latter. If it were completely individualized, it'd be hard to tell if we're feeling the Spirit or not. A sneeze? An itchy elbow? A twitching eyelid? Achy bones? The possibilities are legion. It seems to me that there are a number of different ways the Spirit speaks to man -- burning in bosom, peace in the mind and heart, impressions, thoughts, desires, feelings -- but I don't see that set being infinite. Each person may feel the Spirit most often in one particular way (for me it's feelings and desires), but I think the ways are not <i>that</i> many. Even so, it's still hard to learn to recognize the Spirit, because each of those methods can be labeled as self-produced: a burning in the bosom? Heartburn or indigestion. Peace in the mind and heart? No stress. Impressions? Overactive imagination. And so on. Even seeing an angel could be claimed as the product of an overworked and fatigued mind. I don't mean that there's nothing different about the Spirit, though. The characteristics may be shared with other phenomena, but there <i>is</i> something qualitatively unique about the work of the Spirit. We just have to learn to recognize his signature. Returning to the topic at hand, what about Luke 12:11-12? <blockquote> And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. </blockquote> Or Mark 13:11 (same verse, basically): <blockquote> But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. </blockquote> I don't necessarily think writing talks out in advance is wrong, but what do we do about the verses like these where the Lord explicitly commands us not to premeditate our answers? Aye, there’s a good question: does the Spirit work differently in each of us? One of my seminary teachers said he knew he was feeling the Spirit because he would sneeze. Now, perhaps that’s true, perhaps it’s not; my question is whether each person feels the Spirit in an individual way or if in fact there are a set handful of methods the Spirit uses to touch people. I’m leaning toward the latter.

If it were completely individualized, it’d be hard to tell if we’re feeling the Spirit or not. A sneeze? An itchy elbow? A twitching eyelid? Achy bones? The possibilities are legion. It seems to me that there are a number of different ways the Spirit speaks to man — burning in bosom, peace in the mind and heart, impressions, thoughts, desires, feelings — but I don’t see that set being infinite. Each person may feel the Spirit most often in one particular way (for me it’s feelings and desires), but I think the ways are not that many.

Even so, it’s still hard to learn to recognize the Spirit, because each of those methods can be labeled as self-produced: a burning in the bosom? Heartburn or indigestion. Peace in the mind and heart? No stress. Impressions? Overactive imagination. And so on. Even seeing an angel could be claimed as the product of an overworked and fatigued mind.

I don’t mean that there’s nothing different about the Spirit, though. The characteristics may be shared with other phenomena, but there is something qualitatively unique about the work of the Spirit. We just have to learn to recognize his signature.

Returning to the topic at hand, what about Luke 12:11-12?

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Or Mark 13:11 (same verse, basically):

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

I don’t necessarily think writing talks out in advance is wrong, but what do we do about the verses like these where the Lord explicitly commands us not to premeditate our answers?

]]> By: Liz http://bencrowder.net/blog/2006/08/books-and-talks/#comment-1031 Liz Tue, 15 Aug 2006 03:23:36 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/08/12/books-and-talks/#comment-1031 Then again, God didn't give man reason to have us ignore it. But I guess the Spirit works differently for each of us. :D Then again, God didn’t give man reason to have us ignore it. But I guess the Spirit works differently for each of us. :D

]]> By: Ben http://bencrowder.net/blog/2006/08/books-and-talks/#comment-1030 Ben Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:35:01 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/08/12/books-and-talks/#comment-1030 It all comes down to how you define "preparation," I think. In my case, there's a lifetime of studying the scriptures and words of the prophet, which provides a solid foundation. I can then "treasure up" relevant ideas and scriptures and quotes, making them part of me. It's like adding vegetables and seasonings to the pot, boiling it all up together into a fantastic stew. I agree that it's not an excuse to not prepare. But I wonder if it really <i>is</i> necessary to plan it out in advance (outline it, write a draft). Now, I don't mean that it's wrong to do so, and it certainly helps, but my own belief is that the Spirit can handle organizing the ideas it's speaking through me. :) Yesterday, for example, I had treasured up a number of scriptures and thought through a number of ideas, writing down references for those I wanted to mention. I didn't write out anything more than that, though. Two minutes before I got up to speak, I decided on how to open my talk, but didn't try to plan it out past there. And it generally works for me. Sometimes there'll be momentary stops where I'm not quite sure what to say next, and I'm sure I repeated myself a few times, but that's all fine by me as long as I know the Spirit is speaking through me. (And in yesterday's case, it was.) I don't know what the people in the audience needs to hear, or in what order, but the Spirit does. I'm content to let it guide the pathway of my talk. And yes, it takes a great deal of trust. (Again, I don't mean that writing out one's talk <i>isn't</i> trusting in the Lord.) It's scary. Each time I pray mightily for the Spirit, because if I <i>don't</i> have the Spirit with me, then I'm just going to be spouting a random cacophony of thoughts. :) It all comes down to how you define “preparation,” I think. In my case, there’s a lifetime of studying the scriptures and words of the prophet, which provides a solid foundation. I can then “treasure up” relevant ideas and scriptures and quotes, making them part of me. It’s like adding vegetables and seasonings to the pot, boiling it all up together into a fantastic stew.

I agree that it’s not an excuse to not prepare. But I wonder if it really is necessary to plan it out in advance (outline it, write a draft). Now, I don’t mean that it’s wrong to do so, and it certainly helps, but my own belief is that the Spirit can handle organizing the ideas it’s speaking through me. :)

Yesterday, for example, I had treasured up a number of scriptures and thought through a number of ideas, writing down references for those I wanted to mention. I didn’t write out anything more than that, though. Two minutes before I got up to speak, I decided on how to open my talk, but didn’t try to plan it out past there. And it generally works for me. Sometimes there’ll be momentary stops where I’m not quite sure what to say next, and I’m sure I repeated myself a few times, but that’s all fine by me as long as I know the Spirit is speaking through me. (And in yesterday’s case, it was.) I don’t know what the people in the audience needs to hear, or in what order, but the Spirit does. I’m content to let it guide the pathway of my talk.

And yes, it takes a great deal of trust. (Again, I don’t mean that writing out one’s talk isn’t trusting in the Lord.) It’s scary. Each time I pray mightily for the Spirit, because if I don’t have the Spirit with me, then I’m just going to be spouting a random cacophony of thoughts. :)

]]> By: Liz http://bencrowder.net/blog/2006/08/books-and-talks/#comment-1029 Liz Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:42:34 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2006/08/12/books-and-talks/#comment-1029 You hit on a hot button issue of mine. I can't tell you how many truly awful talks I've heard that were justified by this or similar scriptures. Not that I'm saying your talk will be horrible, since I'm sure you've put in a great deal of preparation. But people shouldn't use this scripture as an excuse to not prepare properly for their talks. Long rant on <a href="http://lizmuir.blogspot.com/2006/08/after-all-we-can-do.html" rel="nofollow">my blog</a>. You hit on a hot button issue of mine. I can’t tell you how many truly awful talks I’ve heard that were justified by this or similar scriptures. Not that I’m saying your talk will be horrible, since I’m sure you’ve put in a great deal of preparation. But people shouldn’t use this scripture as an excuse to not prepare properly for their talks. Long rant on my blog.

]]>