I see and feel the Holy Sprit in the world , as does anybody who study deep enough. How far Man's corruption reaches into Organized Religion , that we may never know ???Mike, the Spirit was the "piece of the puzzle" that made all the difference to me.
I tried desperately to
believe and did all the things a "good" christian is
suppose to do, as instructed by preachers, elders, etc...
I think now, I was a Old Testament believer, as I was baptized into the Southern Baptist Church.... a very "We are all going to hell" pretty much anyway, because I will never measure up......to what it takes to get to heaven.
As a kid, I really feel it scared me so much, I wanted to hide from God, which means to hide in life......itself.
Not until I, many years later, much in need of
SOMETHING....., for I was at my wits end, did I get honest with God.
Sitting alone by myself one late night in rehab, having watched KIDS die in front of me, from their addictions, I got REAL scared, like in
SCARED STRAIGHT I guess.
I readily saw only two choice in my life, as if I stood on a cliff, I jumped to the certainty of death, for over 40 years into this life of mine, it still wasn't working, no matter how much I wanted to pretend otherwise, or confront God himself....
This was the very first time in all my life of saying, "YES LORD, I BELIEVE" when in fact, I didn't......really know, I hoped.
This was the first time I ever spoke truthfully to God, saying I am done "pretending".
That if he was who he says he is, then he better fix me, or I will just quit this life.....
500 hundred miles away from home, with a wife and family hoping and praying for me, yet I still didn't even consider them, I just wanted this crap to end.....
Yeah, sweet guy, huh

I told God, in no uncertain terms, I am through with me, trying to control life and circumstances, I want no part of me....
If you really want me, then take me, I surrender myself to you, my life is yours to use, I'm done.....with
IT...!!Dude, I didn't even have time to consider how I was gonna kill myself.....
I was
filled instantaneously with such a feeling, I knew I wasn't just making it up, hoping it so....
It was as real, if not more so, than anything I have ever known, or have since, come to know, it was the gift of the Spirit.
Dude....I could go on for hours, the joy, the uplifting, etc, this part of the Trinity, has done in my life.....
I have heard testimony by many how they have come into this grace, and how it impacts their lives.....
Mine, I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world, but too, I appreciate everyone else's testimony into how they came into possession of God's promise....
All of it paints a magnificent tapestry across all aspects of life, on this planet.....
I get chills just thinking about it, and its FREE to anyone, that is almost,
UNBELIEVABLE