Week 10
of 52 –
So far have traveled about 112,000,000 miles.
Planning
to attend the
Thoughts
during the week:
When I arrived
at the Presbyterian Church last Sunday in Rancho Santa Fe, I noted I was about
out of gas. This
little hotrod of mine only gets about 5 miles to the gallon - and carries only
eight gallons. So I asked about
the nearest gas station. Turns out Rancho Santa Fe has only one gas station, and it's
closed on Sundays. (They said it was an
old rule in the little town.) I knew I
couldn't make it back to
The Visit:
Calvary
Assembly was started by people from the
There
were about fifty in attendance - mixed races and nationalities. It was a simple
congregation meeting in what probably used to be someone's house.
Opening
Song:
"I've
got the love of Jesus in my heart.
And I'm
so happy - -"
"If
the Devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack! "
Now
they had my mind wandering. They couldn't really say, "He can go to
hell," could they, since he's already there, so they say, "He can sit
on a tack."
Surely,
if the Son of the Morning has any sense of humor at all, he must laugh when he
hears this hymn. I'm laughing along with him, but these people singing this
song - were sweet as they could be.
Songs
continued for some time - projected by an ordinary overhead projector - the
kind everyone has been throwing away for some time. (I have two - may see if
they need a couple extra ones.)
Some
other words from songs I wrote down:
"Would
He devote that sacred head to such a worm as I?"
"At
the cross - It was there I received my sight."
"You
came from Heaven to the Earth."
"From the Earth to the Cross."
"From the Cross to the grave."
"From
the grave raised above."
"From above to lift me up.
"I
will praise you forever."
"You
took the fall,"
"And thought of me, above all."
Collection
- was by cloth bags - made it more private than the usual open pans.
Then
"Boys and girls, you are dismissed to "Children's Church."
Solo by the music guy - who plays at electronic
keyboard. I was correct to expect applause at the end of
his solo. Just an ordinary guy, who sings and plays well.
It was the only applause during the meeting.
Pastor:
He
talked about what many churches are talking about of late - the "Under
God," being removed from the Pledge of Allegiance by the
"liberal" court in
I
wondered what people might think if the pledge had instead the words,
"Under Allah."
Or perhaps the words, "Without God." Most of us would see that neither of these versions
could be right to be there, unless put there by individuals or groups who want
them there - and not by the whole country. I think Ike was thinking of
"God" as non-descript, but in the world, most people use different
terms - and find "God" to be mostly "Christian or Jewish."
Since
mostly Mormons are reading these reports, some of you might like to know
something about when the Supreme Court removed official prayer from the public
schools. David O. McKay then wrote a letter to all Stake Presidents and Mission
Presidents, stating clearly that we were supportive of this new law. In the
Bible belt, after we began teaching a family, a little girl came home from
school prayer - saying that her teacher had told her that if she kept listening
to the Mormons, she and her family would burn in Hell. "I love you, "said the teacher, " and I don’t want you to burn in Hell."
The
Church knew this did not belong in the public schools. Now, most Mormons are
going along with the crowd in thinking this was a bad law. It was and is a good
law. Keeping officialdom out of our religions sometimes means we must keep our
religions out of officialdom.
He
spoke of "The two ungodly senators from
"The
heart of man is desperately wicked."
"Thank
God I have a wife who can point out my faults." Laughter - (The minister's wife is an old
Toastmaster's member - and quite a dynamic speaker - while the minister is more
quiet in manner.)
"If
we get our own life in order, then we'll pray for others, rather than finding
their faults." (But - you were able
to declare the two senators "ungodly.")
"Confront
in private - not embarrassing people in front of their friends."
"Then,
if they don’t listen, take another person with you, and the two of you confront
the sinner."
"If
he still does not listen, put him out of the Church, and treat him as
heathen."
"Narrow
is the way - remember the old 395 through here? One lane each
way. I could follow it with my eyes closed. Stay off that six-lane
freeway to Hell."
I do
remember that highway - some folks did find their way while sleeping. It was
dangerous!
Sacrament: First, minister said a prayer - with the
congregation repeating the lines (like in a marriage ceremony. It was effective.)
After
this prayer, the minister said, "If you meant that prayer, then take the
bread and the cup. If you did not mean
that prayer, it could make you sick - or even kill you to take it."
Then
the bread (crackers) and the wine (grape juice) was handed out - and held by
all.
Then an
individual was called up to say a prayer for the bread. Then all partook.
Then
another individual was called to say a prayer for the cup - and all partook
together.
Healing:
Four
ladies came up to have healing. Five people mingled among the four - praying
all at once - not loudly - but all different prayers - touching the ladies on
their heads - shoulders - arms - lovingly.
"Thank you," was heard over and over from the ladies - and a
few from the congregation. Two of the four ladies returned to the congregation
with tears in their eyes. The ceremony lasted for perhaps five minutes.
Elections:
The
minister said, "Only members should vote. How do we become a member? First
one must be a born-again Christian - then must stay with us for a year
attending dependably. You can't just come in off the street and be a
member." (I think I was the only one there from off the street - perhaps
he wanted me to know I should not vote. I wasn't going to anyway.)
Then dismissed. People were very friendly and favored saying, "God bless
you," for their greeting.
It was
a simple group of people - I had to think it was a little funny that one of the
two times I felt a little tear forming - was when they sang the words:
"If
the Devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack."
It gave
me something akin to the feelings I get when listening to the primary sing
their cute songs.
Week 10
of 52 –