Just behind my living room sofa stands a table. On it is what I call decorative clutter—a dried floral bouquet, a ceramic jar, a candy dish, two small lamps, and two framed photos. The one sepia-colored photo is from the 1940s and pictures my grandfather, Ivan Spencer; his second eldest son, Merritt Spencer; and a plow horse.

The ornately-carved mahogany picture frame seems unfitting, for both Ivan and Merritt are in their dungarees and appear quite disheveled. The only ornamental thing in the picture is the U.S. Army service cap pushed back off Uncle Merritt’s forehead.

But I remember the day I decided to place this particular picture within the grip of this decorative frame. I thought then, as I do now, the frame and photo didn’t go together, but I loved the juxtaposition of the two. The picture frame stood like the nicely suited man of God Ivan was to so many who knew and respected him. But the photo told the truth about the man—he was a farmer. Ivan Q. Spencer, founder of Elim Bible Institute and Elim Fellowship, was a cow-milking, plowing, seed-sowing, harvesting farmer.

There’s an old adage that goes something like this—“You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can never take the farm out of the boy.” For Ivan, this was true. He was ever a farmer, preparing for each season and endeavoring to fulfill the agricultural duties associated with it. And as a son of God ever looking for the next move of God, this revivalist continued to sow and reap in the harvest fields of his generation. (That’s the inspiration for the title, Daily Seedings.)

Yes, Ivan was committed to harvest preparation. In 1912, God gave him a vision that helped him stay his course. He saw Spirit-filled people scattered throughout the world. The purpose for “this world-wide diffusion,” as he called it, was for these to “intercede for greater things for the peoples of their respective localities.”

Furthermore, he saw this movement grow in number but not in power. This led to a time of sifting and testing which ultimately led to a glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All of this he saw in his vision.

Ivan Spencer kept always the vision of God’s global harvest field before him. He preached, taught, and lived in preparation for the great end-time harvest that would come as a result of a great end-time revival. As he wrote many years ago:

Not only in the planting season and in harvest but throughout the year; the farmer lives for his fields. He is constantly plowing, fertilizing, seeding, weeding, and finally harvesting. Even his winter months are spent in preparing seed, repairing fences, and in general making things ready for planting. This is his life; this is the thing that makes him a farmer. And he will do it year after year, each time to be rewarded at harvest.

Don’t you want to be rewarded at the harvest? Don’t you want to experience that great end-time revival? I know I do, and I also know both the revival and harvest require preparation of our personal hearts and lives.

We need to nourish our own souls; we need to cultivate and seed the individual soils with the Word of God. What better way to do so than by sowing the Word-reflections of a committed harvester into our hearts.

As you read each daily reading, I trust your life will be impacted for revival and harvest as his words have so impacted mine. May his word-seeds be planted in your heart. May they produce an abundant harvest in your own soul as you labor in the field of souls.

—Edie Mourey

“…one of the early 20th Century’s prophetic voices still speaks today…” — Jack W. Hayford

Reprinted with permission from Daily Seedings: A Devotional Classic for the Spirit-Filled Life by Ivan Q. Spencer (selected and edited by Edie Mourey), Furrow Press, 2008.

For more about Ivan Spencer, see “Following in His Steps” by Edie Mourey.

Welcome to our ten-year anniversary issue. Publication of the Pneuma Review began with the Fall 1997 issue.

In celebration, we would like to say thank you to the many people that have contributed of their writings during these fruitful years.

Peter Althouse, Jeffrey Anderson, Kenneth J. Archer, French L. Arrington, Francisco Arriola, Roscoe Barnes III, John R. Belcher, Gary Best, Winfield Bevins, Walter R. Bodine, James A. Borland, David Bradnick, Steven J. Brooks, Daniel A. Brown, Malcolm R. Brubaker, David Burns, Terry Butler, Robert Cooke, David Crabtree, Danny Daniels, John Datema, Peter H. Davids, William L. De Arteaga, Jeff Doles, Dony K. Donev, D. William Faupel, David Kyle Foster, Robert L. Gallagher, J. Lee Grady, Robert W. Graves, Gene L. Green, Gary S. Greig, Wayne Grudem, Carl J. Halquist, David Harvey, Brent Helming, James Hernando, Grant Hochman, H. Murray Hohns, Kirk Wesley Hunt, Eddie L. Hyatt, John Paul Jackson, David Johnson, Rick Kamrath, Craig S. Keener, Paul L. King, Mike J. Knowles, John Lathrop, Edgar R. Lee, Dave Livermore, Gary Loy, Joel McClure, Francis and Judith MacNutt, Ronald M. Messelink, John R. Miller, Jeffrey Niehaus, Graham Old, Paul Paino, William J. Pankey, Andy Park, Michael D. Peters, Jim Purves, B. Keith Putt, Aldwin Ragoonath, James Railey, Joe Randeen, Dave Redden, Tony Richie, Patricia Riley, Richard M. Riss, Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Mike Rogers, Jon Ruthven, W. Simpson, Bob Sorge, Kevin N. Springer, Michael Sullivant, Vinson Synan, Larry L. Taylor, Matthew K. Thompson, David Trementozzi, Richard Twiss, Wolfgang Vondey, Derek Vreeland, Brian White, Don Williams, J. Rodman Williams, Kevin M. Williams, Philip Yancey, and Amos Yong.

Please click on their names to go directly to their author page.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

from the editor’s desk

In the Spring 2007 issue we announced that Kevin M. Williams would begin a new series investigating the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures. Kevin has expressed to the editorial committee the difficulty in researching this theologically-heavy subject. Due to his present schedule, he has asked for an indefinite delay for this project. He has said that there are other studies he may be more prepared to bring to us soon.

Also in the Spring 2007 issue we began including thumbnail portraits of our contributors. As much as I like this concept, we have found that our current printing process cannot deliver a good representation of the images our writers have provided.

You are invited to have your voice heard. Please write and tell us what you are studying, what you have been discussing with your friends, what has encouraged you. I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the church’s response to postmodernism

In the love of the Father,

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Quentin Schultz

In a recent meeting I attended, expert communicator Dr. Quentin Schultz reminded us that all followers of Jesus are called to be servant communicators. All of us are part of the story that God is telling in the world, the story of His love, power, and forgiveness that is embodied in the life of Jesus. Intentionally participating with God in telling that story has much to do with the laying down of our lives, becoming a servant.

In an age where image and power are glorified we are called to humility and surrender. Paul said, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor 2:4, NKJV).

Father, teach us the lessons of obedience and humility. Forgive us for putting ourselves in the center and lamely taking credit for what you have done in and through us. Open our eyes to see the world as you see it and lay down our lives as Jesus showed us. Empower us today to live and tell that story so that Jesus may be lifted up.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Image: Sudiono Muji

from the editor’s desk

Has anyone ever asked you, “Are you one of them tongue-talkers?” After you get your eyes to stop rolling, you have to decide whether or not to do a witty comeback (no, this is not the kind of response I usually choose, but it appeals to my flesh to think about it) “Well, yes, aren’t you? I know if the early church needed it, I sure do.” Or, you may decide to calmly and lovingly offer a defense for what you believe about praying in the Spirit and tongues with interpretation. But what about the out-of-the-blue statement, “All you [insert your “label” here] ever talk about is tongues”? Your mouth drops and you say, “Wait, didn’t you just bring it up?”

In the love of the Father,

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Image: Chalffy Chan

from the editor’s desk

Unlike some critics of the Pentecostal/charismatic movement, those of us in the broad movement know that many diverse views are held by those who recognize the Holy Spirit’s activity today. Many controversial issues and shades of emphasis keep the movement from being any kind of monolith. Only the core doctrines of the orthodox faith and the empowering of the Spirit offer a unifying center to the movement. As we lift up Jesus together, there is much we can learn from each other as we discuss the truth in love.

It is with this perspective in mind of learning from each other that the editorial committee is considering a number of topics to discuss in the journal. We would like to hear from you, our readers. What subjects you have been studying recently that you would like to see a point and counter-point dialogue about? What issues have you been chatting about with friends and peers?

Please use our contact page to reach me or the editorial committee with your suggestions and comments.

May you this issue to be an encouragement and blessing.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

We study God – theologize – to learn more about who He is and His way of walking out our lives. We study to become more like Messiah and do what He reveals to us. Therefore, theology that cannot be “done” has little value.

We can frame this as a biblical imperative. As we love the Lord our God with all that we are, we must be loving our neighbors as God has loved us.

I trust that this line of thinking is nothing new to you. Of course, I am in no way opposed to scholarly endeavors that call us to biblical, loving action – no matter how remote those endeavors might seem to some fellow-followers of Jesus. However, since apart from the grace of Messiah we are truly sinful in ourselves, we need to regularly be shaken from the indifference and selfishness we slide into. Being numb is not godly contentment. Merely living from circumstance to circumstance is well below what we have been called to. Whatever a life like that produces is like grass for starting a fire – near worthless. Knock the facade over and burn it up.

Truly, doing theology is a radical way to live. I must act on what I have learned about God. My theologizing needs to include asking myself the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

On behalf of the editorial committee, I would like to express my gratitude to the numerous individuals that make the ministry of the Pneuma Foundation possible. We deeply appreciate the many pastors, scholars, leaders, and thinkers that regularly contribute to the publications of the Foundation. I hope that it will not be seen as presumption to say that we value their partnership with us in the ministry of leading our public to a greater understanding of God’s Word.

Special thanks to these individuals for their friendship and contributions to the Foundation: Dave Johnson, Wayne Grudem, Craig Keener, Todd Hunter, Peter Althouse, Murray Hohns, Amos Yong, Allen Anderson, David Roebuck, Larry Taylor, John Edmiston, Francisco Arriola, Paul Elbert, Vincent Cheung, Geir Lie, Lee Grady, Jon Ruthven, Rodman Williams, Dony Donev, Robert Graves, Stan Myers, Wolfgang Vondey, Yesunatha Das, Jim Purves, Graham Old, Paul King, Mike Knowles, William De Arteaga, Eddie Hyatt, Steve Brooks, Ken Archer, French Arrington, James Railey, John Datema, C. J. Halquist, Orpha Vega, Matthew Thompson, Rick Kamrath, Paul Ramsaroop, Edgar Lee, Derek Vreeland, Mel Robeck, Bill Faupel, W. Simpson, and Mike Rogers.

Some of these individuals you already know as authors of articles appearing in our publications. Others are forthcoming writers and friends that encourage and contribute in other ways.

Thank you for your participation with us in the exciting journey of following Jesus.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

from the editor’s desk

What have you been reading lately? Besides, of course, every issue of the Pneuma Review that you receive.

What books are challenging you to think beyond the old boundaries and grow in your relationship with our Master? What ideas and practical insights are you discussing among your friends and peers? I would love to hear from you and know what is touching your heart and life. As one of our readers told me recently, reviews have spared him on a number of occasions. I can really agree with that. Many times a review of a good or not-so-good book has pushed me to either not read it, or to read it with a genuine anticipation of the Lord speaking through it to me.

Please share your insights with us. Others of us will benefit from your discoveries, so I would appreciate hearing from you. Get in touch through: http://pneumareview.com/contact/ and [as of January 2015] More contact options: http://pneumafoundation.org/contactus.jsp

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Blessings to you, reader, in the name of our Messiah and Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a true privilege to announce our sixth year of publication beginning with this issue. I am standing in awe of what God has allowed this simple ministry to have accomplished so far.

In this issue you will find an exclusive interview with Dr. Cecil Mel Robeck. Mel Robeck’s unique involvement in ecumenical dialogue affords him a special voice about what ecumenism is and can be for Pentecostal/charismatics.  Read more about him in his biographical information included in this issue’s contributors department.

Allow me to invite you to write today telling us how you use this journal. We just love hearing from our readers, especially what has been particularly helpful or encouraging.

By His Grace,

— Raul Mock

Executive Editor