Tag: Holy Spirit

What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

December 6, 2019

John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water, but he [Jesus] will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”  What does it mean that Jesus will baptize us in the Holy Spirit?  This topic causes a lot of confusion and controversy.  In this video I hope to give you an understanding of the baptism in the Holy Spirit by answering these questions:


1- What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

2- Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit a one-time experience? 

3- Is this an event you need to wait for like the disciples waited in Jerusalem?  When does it happen? 

4- What does it look like when someone is filled with the Spirit?  

5- How do I know if I have the Holy Spirit?

6- Is there a difference between having the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

7- How do I know if I’ve been baptized the Holy Spirit?


 Much of the misunderstanding comes from our modern understanding of word “baptism” as a formal religious event.  To baptize just means to dunk.  There isn’t just one type of baptism mentioned in the Bible.  There are many baptisms.  In addition to the Holy Spirit baptism, this video also explains the many types of baptisms mentioned in the Bible.  Thanks for watching

Our Creator and Our Experiences

March 20, 2019

My basis for believing in a Creator is NOT based on subjective experiences. I believe in a Creator because it is the only logical conclusion I can come to based on the complex creation I see around me. It is not logical for me to believe that all the complex systems needed for life could come together without an intelligent being.

But who is this Being? That is a harder question to answer. I have come to the conclusion that the God of the Bible is the Creator. I made a video about the reasons I believe the Bible. Here is the link if you are interested:
https://youtu.be/P3adVK7qO3w “My Unscientific Reasons for Believing the Bible”

Now, regarding experiences: I don’t think our experiences with God necessarily confirm that our beliefs about God are all correct. It is possible and probable that I don’t have all the right ideas about God. But I don’t think God waits until all of our ideas are correct before he interacts with us. Who could he have a relationship with if he waited for us to have a perfect image of him? All humans are (in some ways) feeling around in the dark when it comes to truth. Some people have more truth than others. I truly believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and the only hope for humanity. But I have Muslim friends who seem to have a lot more truth than some Christians I know. Our ability to receive truth has less to do with our religion, and more to do with our openness to receive from God.

When I say that I can’t deny God because of my experiences, I’m not talking about my foundational belief in a Creator (which is acquired by simple reasoning). I am talking about 20 years of daily having my life touched in a variety of ways. I’m touched by the words of the Bible, I’m constantly enamored with the perfection of God’s plan of salvation. And though subjective, I’ve had hundreds of experiences of God’s presence. I’ve seen many people instantly healed of things. I’ve seen a broken bone healed in 30 seconds. I am daily talking with God and being in relationship with him. All of these experiences COULD be explained away. Group thinking and our imagination are powerful forces indeed. But if I dismiss all these experiences as group thinking or imagination, and I start from scratch trying to understand the universe, I still have to explain my existence. The only worldview that makes any sense to me is the one I have. I don’t have all the answers. I can’t explain why God seems to be deeply involved in my life while people in Yemen are in dire straits. But I can’t get around the fact of God’s existence. And I can’t come up with a better plan to fix the world than the one that the Bible describes.