I was completely frustrated with trying to thoughtfully grasp and teach the mysteries of the Word of God.  Every  system of theology left me feeling as if someone from Mars was trying to explain the culture of Venus by looking through binoculars. Then I listened to a teaching on “Blood Covenant” by Malcolm Smith. I was completely undone. His teaching was like receiving your first prophetic word and feeling as if your mail had been intercepted. The concepts rose from the text rather than being imposed upon them. The insights resonated.  I was hooked and addicted. But Malcolm’s ministry had closed and moved out of the country, or so they said. It took another two years for me to find the cache of hidden treasure in a guy’s basement and another in the storeroom of a defunct lending library.  So I begged borrowed and cajoled until the gifts of grace were released to my custody.

For the next two years I listened to endless hour upon hour of teaching, in my car, on hikes, laying on the bed at night and hidden away in the quiet of my office. This led me to pursue other sources for the same kinds of things, I found some but not much. Slowly, the teachings became my own.  I began to learn to think in covenantal language and ways and the teachings made it from Malcolm’s lost tapes to my desk and into my own teachings. Bottom line? The teachings of Malcolm Smith had become one of the three or four most influential thinkers in my life. Then an internet search revealed that Malcolm’s ministry had revived in Bandera Tx.

Making my way to his west Texas conferences became a priority.  My first face to face encounter with Malcolm was at his 50^th anniversary in ministry celebration. It was a vastly understated gathering of friends. I was blessed to be there. Malcolm never talks about himself in his teachings, a very British quality. However, on this occasion he shared his personal testimony of 50 years in ministry.  The pastor that Jesus loves felt honored and blessed. Two years ago I introduced Malcolm to New Life City.  Next week he returns.  I cannot wait.  He is one of my fathers…and now one of my great friends.

Malcolm intends to preach on the topic Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit. I never tire of such things. Rearrange your schedule for this one … (find details elsewhere in the bulletin.)I will be front and center, as usual. 

Weekend with Malcolm Smith

Fri Oct 23rd  7:00pm,   Sat Oct 24th  9:30am to 1pm

‘Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit'