Hey brother!  There you are! 

I was just wondering not too long ago, "Where's semiomniscient?"

Isn't it wonderful to consider all the prayer that went into your school years? Preparation for exactly what you are doing now? God bless you James. I know that He is. And He will.

Glad you're back, James. 

You could make this a friends-only blog, if that would solve your issues.  BTW, I'm someone who wanders around in the pentecostal/charismatic world.  But I admit that many of my brothers and sisters in this movement have issues that I'm not too happy about.  But the gifts of the Spirit and the way He works are really in the Bible!

I don't want this to be "friends only."  I don't blog for my friends-only... but for anyone who's interested in reading.

The gifts of the Spirit are not limited to such things as speaking in unknown languages, etc.  I also take issue with such practice being used in worship services without any interpreter.  I am unsure if these things are of the Holy Spirit or if they are emotional response... I think the pressure to perform these things is too high.  I think the theology that has arisen around them "second baptism of the Holy Spirit" is something I find myself at odds with. 

I've a serious question...

If you are truly doing the work of the Holy Spirit, why are you concerned if your students find your blog? Those who need to see it will see it, those who don't won't....

I work at a Pentecostal.charismatic school.  My ideologies sometimes differ from theirs.  My employers know that I'm a Calvinist Presbyterian, but they wouldn't like the idea of me criticizing doctrines and practices of their church.  I've already done that multiple times on this blog... I wouldn't do this in my classroom of course, but what's been written has already been written.  I'm not that terribly paranoid about it... but it is something I have to consider.

I am in agreement with you, that the gifts of the Spirit should be used according to biblical guidelines.  It bothers me when they're not.  In fact, Pentecostals, all too often, don't take gifts out to the street--as in healing--and simply use them to terminate on themselves.
Scriptural evidence concerning the infilling of or baptism with the Holy Spirit is ambiguous, concerning how/when it happens.  Sometimes, it occurs simultaneous with salvation, other times, it seems like it's a subsequent experience.  I couldn't care less how/when, but that it happens.  These are biblical gifts and should be exercised out on the street, as in Jesus' and the disciples' ministry, and in fellowship, as well.

Unfortunately, in my Calvinistic tendencies... it is rather important to me to know when/how it happens and what exactly happens when such an in-dwelling takes place.  I've never experienced any such phenomenon as speaking in tongues to my knowledge... I can speak in what I figure is gibberish quite easily... I have since I was little and wanted to trick my friends into thinking I could speak Russian.  I have however felt certain intuitions and epiphanies whilst writing--especially concerning matters of a religious nature.  Is this such an in-dwelling?  I don't know... I won't say that I wasn't guided by God to do and write certain things... but is it akin to this concept that Pentecostalism preaches?  I don't know.  I dislike the idea that so-called speaking in tongues is a necessary element to salvation, or that just anyone can do it--or rather should do it.  A student (a baptist) was telling me about going to a charismatic youth conference and how the hysteria was so great that there were rows upon rows of youths falling out being "slain in the spirit."  First of all... as little as I do know about being "slain in the spirit,"  I see no Biblical evidence for it.  Nor do I think that rows upon rows of teenagers are all succumbing to this.  I find from what I've seen in charismatic services that pressure to show these "gifts" is high... also that the services are largely manipulative in nature.  At least the ones I've been to.  I suppose one could say this of all religious services, but when dealing with a captive audience like a school... I am somewhat opposed to it.  I guess that is again because of that Calvinist background of mine... preferring to bring reason into everything rather than letting emotions rule our actions.   

I agree with you, James.  In no way should any gift of the Spirit--including speaking in tongues--be a necessary element to salvation.  That's, well, heresy.  About being "slain in the Spirit."  I don't know why there's such an emphasis on it. I think it's counter-productive and...stupid.  There were, however, instances of folks in the Bible being so overcome by God's presence/the Spirit of God that they found themselves face down on the ground.  So there is some biblical evidence, although those encounters didn't have a third party involved.  And they were rare.

I do, however, speak in tongues, and I'm appreciative for the gift.  But I have to agree with you that some of what we see is emotional in nature and manipulative. I believe that it is biblical to be empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit.  I believe that what I read in Acts is a model for Spirit-filled ministry.  When I see things that don't match that model, my "is it valid?" meter goes off. 

Hey, good to have you back. I'm wondering, would your students/coworkers know who semiomniscient is? If you changed your avatar from your picture to something generic and didn't include the name of the school or anything else that would give away your identity then why not continue blogging? You could also remove telltale info from your profile.

Who would know, except those of us who already do?

I don't like writing under anonymity.  My thoughts are mine for a reason.  They make up who I am just like my name... and I don't like the idea of separating the two.

Well, it was just a thought anyway.

James, good to see you blogging again. I have been away from it myself. As for the school thing, I would not worry too much about it. Your in teaching heaven. You should simply be yourself. Don't post on school time. Post what is on your mind (within reason) and you should be fine. Where you could run into problems would be more from parents who might take exception to your Calvinism. I wasn't aware that the church that sponsors the school where you teach regards a second work of grace as necessary for salvation. BTW you are correct, this "slain in the spirit" stuff is not from the Holy Spirit. He does things decently and in order.
CuldeeDeacon +

I'm not sure that they believe in the "second work of grace" bit.