Imagine the Pentecost..... then... and now

The passage starts with a picture of the church gathering for prayer – not at home but in a special meeting place. The room was packed with all the believers, about 120 of them. It was a regular focus and priority of the church.

And then while in the midst of one of these prayer meetings, when all were present, the Holy Spirit descended in a new way and dramatic way. In a show of controlled power THE SPIRIT came in the form of a violent wind that filled but did not destroy the house. And then THE SPIRIT manifested Its presence via fire from heaven that did not consume them but miraculously separated and rested on each individual.

The Holy Spirit came as a violent wind and fire to anoint the church with symbols of power and purity in response to their obedience and commitment to God.

The Holy Spirit then proceeded to enable them to miraculously speak in different languages. Around 120 people praised God in all the known languages of the Roman Empire, and yet without any confusion in the message. It was an incredible sign that God was ushering a new era where everyone irrespective of race or language could be united as a people of God through Christ.

But what of the present day? What is the Holy Spirit saying to us today? Are we still united with God through Jesus Christ? Are we still speaking in different languages, with different thoughts, yet find commonality through God without confusion? Or are we waiting for another Pentecost?

Imagine the scene, as the 20th chapter of John describes, the disciples cowering in a locked room—afraid. They are afraid of death. They are afraid of violence. They are afraid of responsibility. In a word, they are afraid of life. Without Jesus leading them, comforting them, healing them—without Jesus living life for them—they simply cannot imagine a future of meaning and purpose.

Picture then, Jesus suddenly appearing to them, ignoring locked doors and locked hearts. He simply appears—breathing into them, onto them, among them. Re-creation—a new beginning—the Word becoming flesh, this time in the brand new birth of an infant community. It is a community that will call itself church—a community that now has in them, on them, and among them the resurrected power of Jesus. And so, they—we—become the resurrected body of Christ in the world. ....Amazing!

When God sings through the birds, or breathes through the wind, do we see Him appearing to us? Or do we, like the cowering disciples, fear life locked in an anxious faith, afraid of life’s mysteries without the visible Jesus? Do we heed God’s calling in our lives, or are we waiting for someone else to do and be who God is calling us to do and be.

Do we see God in quiet, unexpected, faithful places Jesus, not to do ministry for us, but to breathe ministry through us—a re-creation of passion and purpose for our living, Churches and individuals who are doing marvelous and miraculous works in His name and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,… another breathing of the Pentecost.

Another Pentecost? … Whenever we choose to lock ourselves up in our human frailties, our utterly dependable God will not leave us alone. God comes to stand in our midst and breathe upon us—passing on resurrection possibility to us and sending resurrection power through us to resurrect the world. This is the good news of the gospel. This is the Pentecost promise.

But would we recognize Pentecost if it happened today? Distracted by disasters and mayhem, multimedia events, real and fabricated, it is difficult to discern the work of the Spirit in our midst. So what of little Pentecosts— the scores of people who have gone to Louisiana or to the wreckage of the tsunami, or to Darfur, to Guatemala, to lower Manhattan in the World Trade Center catastrophe.

When people gather with no previous notice to pray for trapped miners and for children killed without warning, and those who write checks to stop easy purchase of guns and to fill food pantries, to correct birth defects, and to look with awe at those whose children were killed who forgave their killers, and those who vote as if their life and faith demand it.

When is all that a result of sons and daughters prophesying, young men and women seeing visions, and old ones dreaming dreams? Or,.. God’s Spirit pouring out? Another Pentecost? Pentecost happens in our midst all the time. Jesus appears to us all the time. Do we see Him?

We are God carriers.... a God of Surprise

One of the great servants of our time, Desmond Tutu, speaks of his injunction to his parishioners in South Africa several years ago during apartheid, that they are created in the image of God, that they are God's helpers, that they are God carriers. Wow!!...This Speaking of Faith broadcast on a God of Surpises is extraordinary. He speaks of a God of surprises. If you haven't heard this, you should give a listen,.. only about 52 minutes,.. go on,.. you can spare it,...won't mention that God has spared an eternity for you,... You'll thank me later :>). Happy listening.

Wanting to change the world

Energy, willingness, enthusiasm, vision, courage of your convictions. If these were clues in the game show Jeopardy, the answer would be, " What does it take to get on a plane and travel 8,000 miles, to practice your profession, in a place completely foreign to you?" Or you might ask, "How can we take the first step in trying to bring hope along with appropriate health care to those sometimes lacking both. Better yet, you might wonder, "If we think we can change the world, how do we begin to explore the potential for doing so?" Tam Nguyen and Saomony Cheam have asked themselves these questions. In looking for the answers, they've exercised their energy, they are certainly willing, more than enthusiastic, have vision that will propell them far in providing healthcare to their communities, and their motivation, their fortitude, their comittment, and most importantly, their conviction for exanding their world to the global community, runs deep. They are to be commended and congratulated for beginning their professional lives in a way that firmly establishes them as global citizens. But by definition, their chosen profession and their desire to reach the world will require continued vision and growth. This is a bold and uncommon venture. Drs. Cheam and Nguyen are more than able to meet the challenge. I am humbled and honored to have been their preceptor as they begin this journey.

I travel frequently to Kenya and over the years have developed a passion for using my profession as a tool for delivering health care to underserved global communities. Approximately a year ago, two students were referred to me by one of my former professors to explore the possibility of traveling to Kenya to learn more about healthcare in developing countries. Thus began a year of discussion and preparation to travel to St. Mary's Missions Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya for 5 weeks of intense learning.

Warmly embraced by the staff in general, my colleague and close friend Dr. Michael Johnson (a U.S. trained surgeon who has been practicing in Kenya for over 20 years), facilitated this venture from the Kenya side, while I prepared the synopsis/curriculum from the U.S. side. James Kimani, chief pharmacist at St. Mary's, provided guidance and facilitated exposure to the pharmacy and inpatient care areas as well as the TB/HIV and hypertension/diabetic outpatient clinics. Establishing relationships with the medical staff was key in this learning experience, especially since at St. Mary's, clinical pharmacy hasn't yet become the norm. Yet acceptance on the wards readily occurred and Drs. Cheam and Nguyen's presence among the medical teams making morning rounds was highly encouraged, if not expected. Once familiarity was established, which was probably after the first few days, recommendations and perspectives on therapy were frequently requested. In this, the seeds of a deepening relationship between the profession of pharmacy and these medical professionals, were planted. Previously, there was little knowledge of the important contributions pharmacists could make to increasing the efficiencies of healthcare at St. Mary's. The economics of healthcare are relevant here too, and so the chief pharmacist and his staff spend little time on the patient wards. Therefore, Drs. Cheam and Nyguyen are setting a precedent and establishing a framework for advancing the cause and recognition of pharmacy practice at St. Mary's hospital. Again, vision and courage take center stage, in this, an area that has never been considered at this Missions hospital,..but, an area that has now been introduced. Remember the question about... "If we think we can change the world...?" The world at St. Mary's has already been changed.

The nursing staff at St. Mary's has been introduced to a different way of relating to pharmacists. A paradigm shift has been initiated in which nurses have begun to consider and question the acute and chronic implications of therapies they administer at the request of physicians. Culturally, this is a difficult matter to address, but this, like other difficult issues raised, will be handled with compassionate team work and a view toward increasing efficiencies for the ultimate benefit of the patient. The presence of Drs. Nguyen and Cheam on the medical team along with their CME lectures (more on this in upcoming posts) have prompted much discussion on enhanced healthcare efficiencies and the contribution of pharmacists towards realizing these efficiencies.

The learnings that Drs. Nguyen and Cheam have gained will benefit their patients regardless of their ultimate practice setting. In the immediate future, Dr. Cheam is headed for South Dakota to work for the U.S. Public Health Service as Lt. Cheam. Dr. Nguyen will be entering a residency program in Loma Linda, CA. In both instances their future colleagues will be blessed to serve at their sides.

So applause to Drs. Cheam and Nguyen, their parents and overall community for sending them forth with a vision and conviction for wanting to make a difference. A difference that has already begun.