I was treated to something very special today. Right outside, in my very own backyard, I saw a wonderful circus!
Ah, yes. The show began with a handsome little ringmaster, (my son Noah) who welcomed me to the show, and introduced Zora, (my daughter Alex) who astounded me with her magnificent feats of grace and balance on the high wire ( some boards in our backyard). I then had the opportunity to be awed by the lovely Zoe (my daughter Rachel) and her amazing tricks on the flying trapeze( the swingset).
Then, much to my surprise, the handsome little ringmaster suddenly became "Bob the Clown", and had us all in stitches with his hilarious antics. And, all of this was accompanied by extreme cuteness from "Dixie the Wonderdog"!
As I heartily applauded the grand finale, the ringmaster thanked me for coming to see "The Greatest Show on Earth".
You know what? He was absolutely right. :)
Blessings,
Vicki
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Genuine Faith
Calvin was a young boy who was blessed with a talent to sing. He was raised in a little country baptist church~you know, the little white wooden church with creaky pews and ladies dressed in their Sunday best fanning themselves with paper fans from the funeral home.
The preacher was fiery sort who liked to shout and thump the pulpit to emphasize a point. The song leader was Calvin's Dad.
From time to time, singers would come and visist the church~families that traveled around singing together, or good old fashioned southern gospel quartets. When Calvin was 12 years old, he was invited to join a southern gospel quartet on the road. Calvin would have loved that, but his parents deemed him too young to travel so much, and would not allow him to go. Calvin remained with his family, ad grew up in that church.
Over the years, Calvin grew up, married, had 4 children, divorced, remarried many years later. There came a time in Calvin's life when he stopped going to church. He had been deeply hurt by some folks in a church, and simply chose to stay away.
But, even when he was not attending church, Calvin's love for the Lord never disappeared. He loved to talk about the Lord, loved gospel music, and even enjoyed sharing the true Word of God with the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses who frequently knocked on his door.
In April, 2008, Calvin lost his wife of 18 years. She was truly the love of his life, and his family feared that he may not want, or be able, to go on without her. He sort of "holed up" in his house, and his family feared for his physical and mental well being. Then one day, a neighbor invited Calvin to church. Much to the surprise of his family, Calvin agreed to go. He seemed to get a bit of his "spark" back.
Soon afterwards, Calvin's daughter convinced him to move in with her. This move would bring him nearer to not just this daughter, but his entire family. Calvin began attending church regularly with his family.
Then one day, Calvin, who was by now 85 years of age, suffered a stroke. As often happens with stroke victims, Calvin lost much of his ability to speak. For several days, he would attempt to talk, but only the first word would come out clearly~everything else was garbled gibberish.
While Calvin was in the hospital, his pastor came to see him. The pastor told him "Calvin, you don't have to try to answer me, but I just want you to know that I really appreciate your coming to church faithfully since you've moved here. I know that the folks at our church would understand if a man of your age and health were not able to attend regularly, and no one would think any less of you if you didn't. But you do, and you are an encouragement to all of us, and I just want you to know that."
Calvin, with tears in his eyes, was able to speak clearly for the first time in days. He looked the pastor in the eye and said "I LOVE JESUS!"
Those simple words were meant to explain that Calvin comes to church regularly because he loves Jesus and wants to learn of Him and be around other people who love him. What wonderful places our churches would be if everyone who came to church came for that reason, and that reason alone!!!
Calvin is my grandfather. Several days after he spoke those words to his pastor, the Lord touched him, and he fully regained his speech. He is once again faithfully attending church, becuase he loves Jesus :)
I've learned a lot from my grandfather. There was a time when I thought that a person who did not attend church every sunday MUST be knee deep in sin. Now, please understand me, I am not "knocking' church. My husband and I attend faithfully, and we take our children with us. But, I saw in my grandfather's life that a person can worship God alone, or in small groups outside a traditional church building, and still grow in his relationship with the Lord.
I"m afraid I'm not being very clear in expressing my thoughts on this. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and I am NOT disputing that. I am only saything that "assembling ourselves together" doesn't have to be in a large crowd, or in a big church. It might be in a remodeled basement, like the church I attend. It doesn't have to be with a huge crowd. It might be with just 5 or 6 other families, like our church. My point is that wherever we attend church, wherever we worship the Lord, it should be because we love Jesus, and for no other reason.
The preacher was fiery sort who liked to shout and thump the pulpit to emphasize a point. The song leader was Calvin's Dad.
From time to time, singers would come and visist the church~families that traveled around singing together, or good old fashioned southern gospel quartets. When Calvin was 12 years old, he was invited to join a southern gospel quartet on the road. Calvin would have loved that, but his parents deemed him too young to travel so much, and would not allow him to go. Calvin remained with his family, ad grew up in that church.
Over the years, Calvin grew up, married, had 4 children, divorced, remarried many years later. There came a time in Calvin's life when he stopped going to church. He had been deeply hurt by some folks in a church, and simply chose to stay away.
But, even when he was not attending church, Calvin's love for the Lord never disappeared. He loved to talk about the Lord, loved gospel music, and even enjoyed sharing the true Word of God with the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses who frequently knocked on his door.
In April, 2008, Calvin lost his wife of 18 years. She was truly the love of his life, and his family feared that he may not want, or be able, to go on without her. He sort of "holed up" in his house, and his family feared for his physical and mental well being. Then one day, a neighbor invited Calvin to church. Much to the surprise of his family, Calvin agreed to go. He seemed to get a bit of his "spark" back.
Soon afterwards, Calvin's daughter convinced him to move in with her. This move would bring him nearer to not just this daughter, but his entire family. Calvin began attending church regularly with his family.
Then one day, Calvin, who was by now 85 years of age, suffered a stroke. As often happens with stroke victims, Calvin lost much of his ability to speak. For several days, he would attempt to talk, but only the first word would come out clearly~everything else was garbled gibberish.
While Calvin was in the hospital, his pastor came to see him. The pastor told him "Calvin, you don't have to try to answer me, but I just want you to know that I really appreciate your coming to church faithfully since you've moved here. I know that the folks at our church would understand if a man of your age and health were not able to attend regularly, and no one would think any less of you if you didn't. But you do, and you are an encouragement to all of us, and I just want you to know that."
Calvin, with tears in his eyes, was able to speak clearly for the first time in days. He looked the pastor in the eye and said "I LOVE JESUS!"
Those simple words were meant to explain that Calvin comes to church regularly because he loves Jesus and wants to learn of Him and be around other people who love him. What wonderful places our churches would be if everyone who came to church came for that reason, and that reason alone!!!
Calvin is my grandfather. Several days after he spoke those words to his pastor, the Lord touched him, and he fully regained his speech. He is once again faithfully attending church, becuase he loves Jesus :)
I've learned a lot from my grandfather. There was a time when I thought that a person who did not attend church every sunday MUST be knee deep in sin. Now, please understand me, I am not "knocking' church. My husband and I attend faithfully, and we take our children with us. But, I saw in my grandfather's life that a person can worship God alone, or in small groups outside a traditional church building, and still grow in his relationship with the Lord.
I"m afraid I'm not being very clear in expressing my thoughts on this. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and I am NOT disputing that. I am only saything that "assembling ourselves together" doesn't have to be in a large crowd, or in a big church. It might be in a remodeled basement, like the church I attend. It doesn't have to be with a huge crowd. It might be with just 5 or 6 other families, like our church. My point is that wherever we attend church, wherever we worship the Lord, it should be because we love Jesus, and for no other reason.
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