1/13/2019
Looking forward to a good morning of Bible study and fellowship. Old friends and new friends are both expected to be at GBC in Chattanooga for the Sunday morning classes. A couple of people we only met a year ago, and a couple we’ve known since 1975.
This last couple we first met when we went to a bible camp near Plantersville, AL. Now, if you don’t know where Pineview Bible Camp is, just pick a hill, East of a small state highway, not close to anything; a cow pasture with an open air barn-type building and a concrete block building attached which extended to a screened in dining room. The open air end had a dirt driveway which ran around it, the ground running down a slope in a wide panorama view of the hill and valley below. To the North down the slope was a girls barracks; to the South down the slope further were some bunk houses for boys.
This camp ran for around 20years, or so. It was never what was known as plush, it was often perfect weather, but some so very, very hot and occasionally it was very, very cold, especially for July. July 4th, 1976, was so cold, the morning class was held for about 25-30 of us huddled under blankets while the wind blew and on and off, rain fell. That July 4th was the 200th anniversary of this nation. We, “the huddled mass” were listening to a young law student, nephew of one of the preachers, give a sermon about how the godliness of a few of our founding fathers was employed during the revolution. It was a terrific message and brought life to the term, “Faith of Our Fathers.”
No, it didn’t get recorded, the only person there who had a tape recorder thought he had it recording, only to find at the end, he had punched the wrong button. Everyone there, and everyone we’ve told this story to has wished for that message. I’ve often wondered if the young man had any notes about it kept away, but it’s no doubt gone. I found out later he didn’t go on to become a lawyer, so why would he have kept the notes? Alas.
The man whom we thought was capturing the message on tape, was an elderly man who owned a small motor home and every year went to the streets of Montgomery, got permission to, and brought children to bible camp. (Today, he’d probably be arrested for trying that.) His name was Merrill Yates. He was a bit eccentric, but he was a fine man. He brought these kids to bible camp because he loved them enough to want them to hear the truth of God’s love for them; that He would send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for their sins, and after being buried, God would raise His Son from the dead to show these kids and the world how they could have eternal life. Merrill did that for several years, perhaps all the years that camp was in existence. I’m looking forward to seeing, if the Lord allows it, the Salvation tally sheet of Mr. Yates effort, to seeing how many of the street urchins from Montgomery were truly saved at that camp (or the result of it.)
“Living in Canaan’s Land” was the song in my head this morning. Of course, I’m not living in Canaan’s land and I will not gain it for an inheritance. There will be many saints of old who will be there, though. But, God had a different purpose for the time frame in which we live, a purpose that “fills up” what His purposes include: We are the church, the Body of Christ which will reside “far above all heavens” and we have a purpose in Christ, not in ourselves, nor in the “Land” the Lord promised to other people.
If you’re interested in knowing more about our purpose for God’s plan, tune in to the Monday night bible class at zoom.us/j/2103785748 each Monday, 7pm Central, for the next +++ of Mondays. Or, it appears on You Tube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart each week by Tuesday morning. This is what we will find out by studying the book of Ephesians.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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