12/2&3/2018
[I didn’t write a blog yesterday (sorry), so today may be slightly longer than usual.]
As I walked into the first hour bible study at the church I go to (when I’m not preaching somewhere else), I realized I wasn’t seeing the usual people. The man who has been in that church longer than anyone else who goes there wasn’t out front blowing the leaves and debris from the front walk and portico because his wife has had a stroke and is now recovering at home where he cares for her. When I entered, I saw a longtime friend sitting at her usual seat but alone, her husband’s dementia is bad enough she’s had to put him in a facility which can handle him. Behind her, another lady sitting without her husband who’s recovering from another malady. A man whose wife left him and another who is a widower of late were trying their best to not be lonely and another who is left alone wasn’t there in his place.
I don’t write this to sound morbid or forlorn, but to take note that things change. People who are “always there” aren’t always there. Things happen, people die, and others have needs which arise that requires special care. We miss them, but we go on. We gather for the fellowship and for hearing the words of the Lord spoken and read.
After my initial “hellos” I noticed these people were genuinely enjoying each other’s company—they were in sweet fellowship with each other. Sure, they miss those who are absent from their midst, but they were remembering some short but joyful stories about kids, grandkids and about each other! My heart and mind switched back to the rejoicing side of life! I was happy to be in their company! Soon other happy faces, and some younger families full of life and awareness of those around them entered in and readied themselves to hear a good bible lesson. And all was normal again.
The SIMH today is the opening song at yesterday’s second service: “Christ Returneth” —written in 1878, possibly by H.L.Turner of Chicago. It was first published by Ira Sankey. Mr Sankey was D.L. Moody’s song leader and sang special songs in all of Mr. Moody’s revivals and gospel meetings for many years. Really great lyrics, here’s the chorus:
O, Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen
Saturday was a very quiet day for me. Barb was gone till about 5, sports were not very involving…well, yes there was a rather exciting game starting in mid-afternoon: Alabama played Georgia again for the SEC title. For about 3 quarters of the game it looked like Alabama was going to lose. But, then the reverse of last year’s National Championship happened. Last year, the starting quarterback for Alabama was pulled from the game in favor of a “hotshot” Freshman who sparked the team and won the championship!
Saturday, this year’s quarterback (that hotshot Freshman from last year’s heroics) was injured and could not continue, so the smartest coach in the country sent in the last year’s starter who had been on the bench the whole season. Guess what? History repeats itself! He sparked the team and he brought the team from behind to win the SEC championship! What can they possibly do for an encore a month from now!! This is the stuff which makes novels and movies popular! I’m pretty sure I saw Coach Sabin choke up talking about this remarkable thing that just happened (he don’t choke up) and the remarkable young men who pulled it off.
That! was exciting a finish as I’ve ever seen! ….Well, let me see: I’ve seen a few. I remember in decisive basketball game back in the 80s(?), seeing Danny Ainge (next to last man to get pro contracts and big bonus offers in two sports coming out of college), with 4.5 seconds on the clock, take the pass inbounds and dribble the length of the floor past all 5 defenders and score a layup to win a championship game! Zigzagging past 5 defenders 94 feet in less than 4.5 seconds!
How long do you think I could make this blog just remembering winning plays in sports? Pretty long, pretty long. Like the time I saw….oh, never mind. What else is going on?
The 2019 schedule of Bible conferences is beginning to take on reserved dates. Plans are being made for several of my preacher friends to go to a couple of Florida conferences in January and February—great time of the year to have Florida conferences, don’t you think? Then in March my plans are to be in conferences the first 3 weekends: Gatlinburg Retreat/Conference, Central Texas Bible Conference in Austin, followed by my brother Jack’s church hosting a conference the 3rd weekend in March. That could be a busy month. Perhaps in a few days, others will be added to our calendar.
It’s Monday, go have a tremendous week: build what you know needs to be built, fix what needs fixing, start what needs started, finish what needs finishing! And be ye thankful!
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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