Jack Deere, speaker at Life in the Spirit at Koolau
Good Morning, God!
Hawaiian Islands Ministries put on a marvelous two-day seminar, Life in the Spirit, this Friday and Saturday. It had a therapeutic effect on me, God. I feel closer to You and closer to everyone else. And most of it was due to the speaker, Jack Deere.
Jack is a former associate professor of the Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary and author. I must say, God, I’m amazed at how You managed to take him from Dallas Seminary’s dogmatic belief that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased to such an effective presenter of how those Gifts are still very much with us.
Jack Deere speaking at Life in the Spirit, 2011
But, what made these two days so very special wasn’t just what Jack said — but how he said it. I’ve heard him speak in the past — great content but his heart seemed a bit stiff. But now — now his Heart is even bigger than his Mind.
What a difference that makes, God! Humility and Transparency bespeak the presence of Your Spirit even more than miracles do.
What I was most affected by, God, were his words on Anger and Forgiveness. He pointed out how in failing to recognize our anger, we fail to deal with it. Anger is toxic and opens the door of our Hearts to multiple attacks.
Acknowledging and confessing our anger will help us take the next step of forgiving the person at whom we have been angry. Then we can come before You, God, and ask You to forgive us AND ask Your Help in forgiving ourselves. But this isn’t just between You and me, God. Jack made the importance of “community” clear. We work at this — over time — with trusted friends. Such good words, God. Such Good Hope!
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
I so agree with all you said…it was a conference like none other.
The Holy Spirit was there and we were all aware of it! PTL!
Hi Marsha,
Thanks for agreeing! I’m looking forward to the CDs! Aloha! Margie