24 of 52 Trip Around The
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Have traveled about 270,000,000 miles.
Thoughts
during the week:
The Pastor
from last week (Community Reformed Church) sent a nice hand-written note:
Dear
Chuck,
It was
so good to meet you and have you join us for worship on Sunday. I pray that the
service was meaningful to you and that you were blessed by it.
If I
can be of service to you, or if you have questions, please call me!
Hope
you come again.
Sincerely,
Pastor
John
The
Visit:
Brotherton road – just off Felicita.
This was
one of the better meetings I’ve been to so far.
At the
end of the Sunday School class, the teacher read from
scripture, “God’s will is that none should perish, but have everlasting life.”
Then he declared, “That’s His Will.”
Consistently,
when I ask Christian people what they believe about this, I get the same
answer. Please consider this.
I say,
“We know that sometimes we do not do God’s will –“
They
each say, “Yes – that is true, we sometimes do not.”
I say,
“But do we believe that ultimately, God’s will will be done?”
“Yes – definitely.”
I ask,
“Does this mean only part of His will – or will all of it be done ultimately?”
They
always say, “All of it.” It’s very consistent.
I might
like to ask now – after this lesson:
“His
will is that none should perish, but have everlasting life. Will this part of
His will be done?”
If the
answer is “Yes,” then none shall perish – not one.
This
means these folks should know that no person can burn in Hell forever. That
would not be God’s will.
Based on
both what I read in the scriptures – and on the seemingly consistent belief
among all denominations of Christians, this is basically what I believe. – That
ultimately, God will not lose any of His children – this is His stated will.
I think
this may be the “secret,” that was not
to be told – but was to be told –
much as the fruit in the Garden of Eden that was not to be eaten – but was
to be eaten.
No more
details – Those ready to think on this may do so.
The
main service:
As
There
was a small combo – clarinet, sax, trumpet, maybe a couple more pieces – and a
full drum set in the middle. Included a snare, bass drum, barrel drum, cymbal,
double-cymbal (don’t know what to call it) – the whole deal. Poised behind this
set was a small boy – maybe seven years old. (Good, too.)
There was a choir of about 40 pieces.
All
words were projected in large letters. Singing was enthusiastic (as the drums
might give us evidence) – and there were quite a few songs – some familiar.
During
the singing, the song leader called attention to the noise we could hear above
and behind him. He told us that the baptismal font was being filled with water
– and that there was a man who was to be baptized today. There was applause
Consider
the words of this song:
You are
the potter - I am the clay.
Mold
and make me; this is what I pray.
Change
my heart, O God. Make it ever true.
Change
my heart, O God. May I be like you?
Now
this is very common – to start out saying one thing – and end up saying the
opposite.
We say:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We are the sheep. Help us to be like Jesus.
But
then we would not be sheep, but shepherds – that’s like Him.
You the
potter, I the clay – but I would be as thee – then I would be becoming a potter
– not a pot. Potters are not made of clay, so I cannot even begin as a lump of
clay. I must begin as something like
God – and become more so.
As our
own children were growing up, I used to think of Leona and me as fertilizer. We
fertilize, they grow. We do not try to make them into a particular kind of tree
– that’s up to them – We see only that they are fertilized (fed) and watered.
(Loved) The rest is up to them.
I don’t
like to think of my Father as a potter molding me into the shape He wants. I
like to think of Him as the ultimate fertilizer – feeding and watering – and
hopefully liking what He sees me grow into of my own volition. I don’t think He
so greatly valued free-agency – just so we could become His slaves. Our freedom and His love – a perfect formula for ultimate success.
(An ultimate success that would result in each one making the
grade?)
We call
ourselves “Members.” Members are parts (The carburetor is a member of the
engine.) (The arm is a member of the body.) Members are not subjects – but part
of the thing. If we tell an arm that it is not allowed to function – because of
what it did yesterday – we make a big error. That is making the arm a subject
instead of a member. (An example: “You smoke – therefore you cannot do temple
work.” This makes of the member a mere subject.)
A
member can be excommunicated (This is like amputating the arm.) This makes
sense when the arm is infected and full of gangrene, because that member can
destroy the whole body. But if the arm has a bruise, we would not wisely
amputate just for that – but allow the arm to do what it still can – and heal
at the same time.
At the
end of this section, they sang the Lord’s Prayer (The familiar dynamic one),
and it was definitely dynamic. I can’t remember how long it’s been since I
experienced a little hoarse feeling after a meeting. I’ve generally heard this
sung as solo. I love it when we sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic this way –
loud and unrepentant.
The
pastor’s message was on prayer. He was dressed in a dark suit, tie, and white
shirt. That stood out a little, as the congregation was dressed very casually –
no suits – no ties. He had lots of visual aids – and the whole presentation was
fun and informative. Lots of laughs – lots of thought.
He said prayer should be done three ways: Consistently, Continuously, and
Corporally. He said that the scripture about praying in one’s closet was not in
reference to all our praying – most – but not all.
He had
a full size vending machine (made of cardboard with the parts painted on the
front.) He asked, “Did you know that from 4 to 6 people are killed every year
by vending machines?
Then he
went up to his – and said, “I’ve used these machines a lot.” “I put in my coin,
pull the lever – pick up my item, and walk on, almost without stopping.”
Clink –
Go Clink – Go Clink Go Clink – Wo –
nothing came out.
This is
when you start talking to the machine, “You %&^#%@ machine – Hey – Where is
my candy bar???” He shook the machine and allowed it to fall forward on top of
him. The congregation seemed to enjoy very much seeing their “Bishop” lying on
the floor in front of them with a large cardboard box on top of him. (We would
probably enjoy this also?)
“This
is the way we sometimes pray – Clink – Go.
And if God doesn’t give us what we want - ? We treat him like we treat a
vending machine.”
At the
end of the meeting, the large screen upon which the words to songs had been
projected began to rise – until it was gone into the ceiling.
It
uncovered a beautiful cross – back-lit. In front of the cross, perhaps ten feet
or so above floor level – was a pane of glass – with six inches or so of water
showing behind. This was the baptismal font. The young minister then came from
the side – behind the font. His suit coat was gone – and the white shirt had
the sleeves rolled up about like it was a short-sleeved shirt. He was not in
the font.
Then he
gave a little talk about baptism, pointing out, among other things, that it was
in meaning an immersion – like a burial of the sinful man – and a rising of a
new man.
He
looked to the side – and invited the man to enter the font. When the man was
fully in the font, the water was about up to the middle of his chest.
The
minister told us a little about the man who was there to be baptized – that he
had recently accepted Jesus as his savior. There was applause.
The
minister then said a baptismal prayer – very similar to ours – calling upon
Jesus – and closing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Then he
reached forward and baptized the man, never himself entering the water more
than up to his elbows or so.
As the
man rose from the water, the congregation burst into song – led by the song
leader.
The
baptism was witnessed by the entire congregation – clearly seeing the man go
under the water – and rise again – all looking upward
to view it – and all standing.
Then
there was a prayer led by the minister – and a closing song, which was last –
and not projected, but familiar.
Finally,
the loud and enthusiastic visiting began anew – with no new group waiting to be
seated.
Reverence is
not synonymous with Quiet, for
Baptists.
24 of 52 Trip Around The
Sun -