Good Morning, Holy Spirit

"TRADITION, TRADITION" 49
The family told me, "Benny, you're ruining our family
name." They pleaded with me not to dishonor their
reputation. My father had been a mayor—and he reminded
me of it. The family "name" was at stake.
Please understand me when I say this, but Greek
Orthodox, and people from other Eastern "high" church
orders, are perhaps the most difficult people to bring to a
"personal" Christianity.
When I became a born-again Christian, it was actually
shameful to them. Why? Because they believe they are the
real Christians. And they have the historical documentation
to prove it. They have been Christians longer than anyone
else.
But here is the problem, and I have been raised with it.
Their faith is long on form, ritual, and dogma, but short on
God's anointing. The power is missing. And as a result,
they have virtually no comprehension of what it means to
hear from the Lord or to be "led by the Spirit."
It became obvious that if I was to remain in my own
home, I would have to close the door to conversations
about Christ.
Nothing, however, could dampen the fire of my
newfound faith. I was like a glowing ember that never
stopped burning.
Early in the morning my big Bible was open. The Holy
Spirit continued to reveal the Word. But that was not
enough. Every night that I could "escape" the house, I was
in a church service, youth fellowship, or prayer meeting.
And on Thursday nights I was back at The Catacombs.
I can never erase from my memory the day I mentioned
"Jesus" in our home. My father walked over to me and
slapped my face. I felt the pain. No, it wasn't the Jerusalem