So many of you wrote encouragement to me I can't write everyone back.  But THANK YOU for your very helpful posts -- and I will give you a gift in return.
 
Jim Bramlett has for some time counseled me on the issue of power in the Holy Spirit.
 
He sent me a real bound copy for free of his book "The Power" when I needed it.
 
I have been reading it again.
 
Many ordinary faithful Protestants routinely reject "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" because theologically they know they have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit at conversion.  Many a battle between Protestants and Pentecostals ensue because of this.
 
Jim Bramlett steps in effectively and says, "Stop! You are both right"  He then goes on to explain, using clear Scripture,  how to reconcile the positions.  It is the most clear and compelling resolution of the problem I have ever seen and many ordinary Protestants can find themselves open to the power of the Holy Spirit if they will but listen.  It seems to me neither side has to give up a thing if they will but see how Jim opens Scripture to the reality of all these things.
 
So, here is the gift -- Jim, I hope you don't mind. ;-)
 
Jim has put the whole book online for free, so go here for a feast:
 
http://www.choicesforliving.com/book/the_power.htm
 
Now in a return testimony let me tell you a truth this book led me into.
 
I have been pondering the power of the Holy Spirit available to us and Jim's book really helps it make sense.
 
Now Luke 11:5-13 says, essentially, if you are very persistent in asking, a loving Father will give you a very good, very needed gift -- the Holy Spirit -- just like you would give your children a fish or an egg.
 
I never understood that, it never made sense.  I know I got the Holy Spirit at conversion so why ask persistently?  And what does the needs of life have to do with it?  Yes, conversion is THE MOST NEEDED thing, but fishes and eggs -- those are the desperate needs of our life in the flesh.
 
After Jim sorted out the questions about the Holy Spirit (and the asnwers are yes, yes, yes, and yes) this passage started to make perfect sense.  What is being referred to here is not the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon conversion, but the "coming upon" experience of the Holy Spirit that brings power to change impossible circumstances.  Now THAT might require real persistence in asking, as the passage says.  And THAT will address our needs of this life -- like provision, I guess, or healing.
 
So now that verse makes sense.
 
And just minutes after being thunderstruck with those realizations I read Gary Carroll's post to me (thank you!) ABOUT THIS VERY PASSAGE.  Well, sure seemed like confirmation to me.
 
So, I believe the power of the Holy Spirit can come upon us and I trust God that it will for me -- but then there is a little matter of persistent asking, isn't there?
 
Believe with me that the Holy Spirit will come upon me in power, to see myself healed, and to see others healed.  Read "The Power" online. Then let us believe with each other that the Holy Spirit will come upon us all in power -- "Calling into being that which is not" and helping us all with our "impossible" problems.
 
Thanks again, everyone.
 
Jim
startech@sprynet.com