Yesterday evening I was sitting at my desk, writing out checks and enjoying the aroma of chicken and noodles that were cooking upstairs. Soon something not so usual occurred. I heard angelic voices being raised in song. The sweet sounds uplifted my spirits at the end of this day. After a song or two the singing stopped. But the voices didn't they just went into a fast kind of twittering conversation, interspersed with giggles and laughter. Then the wonderful, delightful singing resumed, and the joy swelled in my heart, once again! This cycle went on for several times, and then stopped. I heard the door upstairs open and close. I went upstairs to find my wife cooking dinner in the kitchen. Gaby and several friends were sitting in the great room talking.
Now I understood the enchanting sounds that I heard. Gaby and eight friends were practicing for their ensemble performance for Bothell High School.
In my life I have experienced many things. I have received hundreds of trophies for driving my sports car fast, have made exciting business deals, have traveled to distant lands, have done things that are unspeakable. But nothing compares to the feeling and sense of peace and joy that I was given yesterday evening. I am so glad that I decided to marry and have children. I must thank the Lord for bearing with me for decades. He makes it all worthwhile in those special moments.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
praying in tongues
Glossolalia, speaking in tongues, is often debated for what it is or isn’t--whether it is an authentic manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life or bogus religious mumbo-jumbo. Rarely is it looked at for what it does for the believer. A pilot study done by Timothy Arthur Jones in partial fulfillment of a Masters Degree in Psychology at the University of Idaho, looked at the brainwave activity of Christians who prayed in tongues.
The experiment measured the electrical activity of both sides of the brain while the Christians were resting, then praying in tongues, then resting.
The study looked at three different types of brainwaves: alpha, beta, and theta.
In simple terms, alpha brain waves are found during periods of relaxation with eyes closed, but still in awake state. They are thought to represent the activity of the brain in an idle state. Beta rhythm are associated with normal waking consciousness (above 12 Hz). They are associated with active, busy, or anxious thinking and active concentration. Theta rhythms are normally absent in healthy awake adults. Theta waves are normally present in adults just before sleep, what is referred to as the twilight state: between consciousness and sleep. It is associated with increased creativity, stress reduction, learning enhancement, and an awakening of intuition and other extrasensory perception skills.
Findings: The most interesting finding was that a significant increase in theta waves was found during the prayer period.
Interpretation:The study suggests that the Christian that prays in an other tongues has the opportunity to fulfill what is being referred to in I Corinthians 14:4: that is, to build himself up, to find answers that require original and creative thinking.
“He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.” (I Corinthians 14:4).
ed·i·fy:
1) to instruct or improve spiritually...
2) archaic a: build b: establish
to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift ; also : enlighten , inform
So the real question about speaking in tongues is not whether it is a known language or not or whether it is for the modern day Christian, but rather, can it have benefit to the believer today and in if so, how? This study opens some thought provoking possibilities that should be addressed further.
The experiment measured the electrical activity of both sides of the brain while the Christians were resting, then praying in tongues, then resting.
The study looked at three different types of brainwaves: alpha, beta, and theta.
In simple terms, alpha brain waves are found during periods of relaxation with eyes closed, but still in awake state. They are thought to represent the activity of the brain in an idle state. Beta rhythm are associated with normal waking consciousness (above 12 Hz). They are associated with active, busy, or anxious thinking and active concentration. Theta rhythms are normally absent in healthy awake adults. Theta waves are normally present in adults just before sleep, what is referred to as the twilight state: between consciousness and sleep. It is associated with increased creativity, stress reduction, learning enhancement, and an awakening of intuition and other extrasensory perception skills.
Findings: The most interesting finding was that a significant increase in theta waves was found during the prayer period.
Interpretation:The study suggests that the Christian that prays in an other tongues has the opportunity to fulfill what is being referred to in I Corinthians 14:4: that is, to build himself up, to find answers that require original and creative thinking.
“He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.” (I Corinthians 14:4).
ed·i·fy:
1) to instruct or improve spiritually...
2) archaic a: build b: establish
to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift ; also : enlighten , inform
So the real question about speaking in tongues is not whether it is a known language or not or whether it is for the modern day Christian, but rather, can it have benefit to the believer today and in if so, how? This study opens some thought provoking possibilities that should be addressed further.
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