It seems I have developed a propensity to get my favorite clothes stained. It reminds me of the vein of incidences when I was in college at HSU—about 1970. I thought it was “cool” to smoke a pipe. I liked the sweet-smelling fragrance of the burning pipe tobacco. At that time, I had a few “favorite” slacks and sports coats—the polyester kind. It wasn’t long before I had burned a hole right in the front of all of them, fiddling with the burning pipe tobacco. Besides that, I discovered that when I smoked the pipe, I could not smell the fragrance of it. That was the end of my pipe-smoking career. Today, I have some favorite white, cotton cargo pants, and a light-colored, cool, cotton “vacation” style shirt. When I picked some mulberries off one of our mulberry trees, even though I mentally made an effort not to do it, when I sensed the juice on my fingers, I instinctively wiped them on my trousers. Wrong! I did manage to get most of it out with an immediate application of Shout Out and some vigorous scrubbing with laundry soap and water. Then, at a later date, I had the same “favorites” on, and while eating breakfast, somehow, I flipped a large chunk of egg covered in turmeric, right into my lap, staining both garments in three places. Immediately I stripped and went through the same cleaning procedure. Turmeric, with egg yolk is super staining. I got most of it out. At this writing I am wearing the same garments. My wife suggested that I wear one of her body aprons anytime I am wearing these garments. Holes burned and stains. The garments can still be worn, but they are less than perfect. Aquila and Priscilla, a man and his wife, heard Apollos teaching, and pulled him aside to show him “the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). After that, he started teaching that Jesus was Christ (Spirit-anointed Messiah) (vs. 28). The issue with the Southern Baptist Convention, or any other group, is not really with women being pastors. The issue is the anointing. If you get the anointing right, if you get baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire, like is promised by the Father, you will understand that God pours His Spirit out on “all flesh” in order to further His kingdom. The Bible, written in a masculine tone, never forbids a woman to hold office in the kingdom. It is only inferred by those who interpret it. The garment is still being worn, but there are some holes and stains in it. Jesus wants it to be complete, and without wrinkle, stain or blemish. Get the anointing right, and you will know God wants to use every willing and yielded vessel in any capacity, in order to reach the little lost sheep wandering from the fold. Get the anointing right, and the gifts of the Spirit operating, and heal the sick and save the lost.
Burn Holes and Stains
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