The byline reads: “COVID got us used to staying home. But it’s the work of God’s people to lift up the name of Christ and receive God’s Word—together.”

Dr. James F. Linzey as the keynote speaker for the Easter Sunrise Service 2017 outside the Airman-Marine Memorial Chapel, MCAS Miramar, former “Home of Top Gun.”

Jonathan Sciano, “Department of the Air Force ‘Mentoring Resources’ Includes Historical Battle of Midway Documentary by Dr. James F. Linzey” Christian News Wire (October 14, 2024).

Leadership resources from the US Air Force includes PneumaReview.com author James F. Linzey‘s speech about about the Battle of Midway and moral leadership. The speech has been made available here: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/embed/511646

Roger E. Olson, “What Is a ‘Form of Life?’ Can an Outsider Understand?” Patheos (October 24, 2024).

Historian of religion, Roger Olson, introduces Wittgenstein’s “forms of life” in the context of language games, arguing that outsiders (particularly to movements such as Pentecostalism) are unable to understand forms of life they are observing. Therefore, Olson argues, outsiders should be careful to criticize what they have not participated in. “The deep ‘logic’ of Pentecostalism is an experience that can’t be described. It can only be felt. It’s a profound connection with God but even ‘connection’ is not a word often used. It’s a feeling without words to describe it. It can be provoked by a fervent prayer, by speaking in tongues, by a powerful sermon, by a hymn or gospel song, by … many things.”

J. R. Briggs, “7 Ideas for Improving Bible Engagement in Your Church: How to encourage a deeper experience of Scripture” CT Pastors (July 19, 2018).

“The Christians Living Under Buddhist Nationalism: Yale scholar David Moe explores the faith and identity of ethnic minorities in his home country of Myanmar” Christianity Today (October 29, 2024).

Angela Lu Fulton interviews Dr. David Thang Moe, who studies and writes about religion in Southeast Asia.

Kelly K, “How to Disagree and Still Keep it Holy” Charisma (October 28, 2024).

Image: Natalia Fogarty

Roger E. Olson, “Why ‘Panentheism’ Is False” Patheos (November 14, 2024).

Historian of religion, Roger Olson, provides a basic definition of classical or traditional panentheism of the Hegel and Whitehead varieties and contrasts them to what is being said about a “Christian Panentheism” (as expressed, for example, by Moltmann). Olson is making the point that those that deny creation ex nihilo (as classical panentheism does) are not within orthodox Christian theism. But this so-called Christian panentheism is not automatically heterodox if creation ex nihilo is embraced.

PR

Introducing Philip Mantofa: Pastor Philip Mantofa graduated from Columbia Bible College, in British Columbia, Canada, with a degree in theology. Since 1998, he has been serving Mawar Sharon Church, a growing church of 30,000 in Indonesia. Currently, he is one of the leaders of the Mawar Sharon denomination, which has a network of 70 local churches. He has brought more than 100,000 souls to Christ. His passion is to see nations encounter and experience the love of Jesus Christ and ignite fire in the younger generation to become pastors and spiritual leaders all over Asia. He and his wife have three children.

PneumaReview.com: Please tell our readers how you came to know Jesus.

At one time I harbored a lot of hatred toward the Lord and toward myself. I was disappointed in my family, friends, and church. My days seemed dark. On one occasion I cursed the Lord, I challenged Him, and blasphemed Him. When I did this my heart began to beat fast and I collapsed. My heart was racing and I thought that I would die. My breathing became tight and I felt the presence of the Lord. He spoke to me and said “I love you.” When He said that my heartbeat became stable again and I stood up. Then I blasphemed Him again. This time I was thrown to the floor and my heart again began to beat frantically. Once again I felt the Lord’s presence and I cried like a baby because I heard Him again say that He loved me. I was on the floor screaming, “Why do you love me? I do not love You! Kill me now! Do it now while I hate You! Punish me now!” I rejected God’s love. I blasphemed a third time, again my breath was constricted and I was thrown to the floor. Once again His presence came to me and I heard a voice in my heart say as though crying “I love you.” After this my heartbeat once again became normal.

After these experiences I decided that if the Lord would not kill me then I would kill myself. No one knew of my plans to kill myself. Twice I planned to take my life but I could not do it because I thought of my family and how they would handle it. The third time I planned to kill myself I was interrupted by a phone call from my pastor’s wife and so I did not go through with it.

Two weeks later I went to church. I had a sense that there was going to be an altar call to receive Christ and I prepared to leave the service. I stood and started moving toward the exit. As I was reaching for the door knob I heard a man’s voice in my ear, it was very firm and loud. It was an audible voice. The voice said, “Philip, if you are not saved today, you will be lost forever.” There was no one standing near me, I then realized that it was the voice of God. I immediately ran to the front of the church and lifted my hands. I cried and cried. I also saw a very bright light. At this time I heard an audible voice speaking to me in English. The voice said, “I am Jesus and I love you.” I asked the Lord to let me die for Him. He told me to live for Him. That day He touched me and I was changed.