See Oatmeal... I've belonged to a COG Pentecostal Church, really good country folk. I never spoke in tongues, never even tried, but found it rather amusing at the time. A simple rural church, dude staggered the streets Saturday night, and spoke in tongues fluently the next morning, I've heard plenty. He was quite skilled at it... even interpreting from time to time. Preacher knew it, we all did in that small town, but no one would say anything to the dude... everyone was sorta spiritually subdued submitting to an event they all subscribed to, rather interesting phenomenon. No one could challenge the dude without challenging the basis for the church. I later frequented a Pentecostal mega-church, one you might even have heard of.
So, tell you what, Oatmeal... Let's say I provide an audio-visual event of a person speaking in tongues in your church, and pause the recorded event before translation. Then, I will provide that cropped tongues aspect of the event to ten of your best-known interpreters, and independently ask their interpretation. I'd be willing to bet a hundred dollars to one that the tongues message will have ten deferent interpretations. And, that's not lack of faith on my part, that's lack of edification on yours. "Hock-uh-muh... Hock-uh-muh Hock-uh-muh Psalm...bia!" Can you interpret that one? First time I ever heard anyone speak in tongues visiting a church with a teenage friend, 'slain in the spirit' as I've heard it called.
Sure Paul referred to himself speaking in tongues found in 1Corinthians 4:15 KJV. Paul spoke in tongues in Romans 9:6, 7, 8, 9, 10. I don't suppose you can tell me specifically who Paul was referring to when he said, "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel." Try interpreting that tongues message from Paul. I've heard these verses mentioned several times on TOL, and in churches, typically casting guilt trips on SINNERS!... who was Paul specifically referring to? Now, I know you profess the embodiment of the Holy Ghost, but please toss in a Scriptural coordinate or two for support, just to help me overcome my unrelenting doubt that tongue speakers have exclusive rights space-docking with Almighty God. I proffer Paul was speaking in tongues... and, you're speaking something different, altogether... not edification, but exaltation.
kayaker