FULL GOSPEL MISSION
887 W. Spruce Ave.,
Ravenna, OH 44266
Rev. Barbara A.
Davis, Pastor
Pastors Pen, July 21,
2013.......The Guest .......Author Unknown....A few months before I was born,
my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the
beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited
him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around
to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never
questioned his place in our family. Mom taught me to love the Word of God. Dad
taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the
most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries and comedies were daily
conversations. He could hold our whole family spellbound for hours each
evening.
He was like a friend
to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill and me to our first major league
baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the movies, and he even made
arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. The stranger was an
incessant talker. Dad didn’t seem to mind but sometimes Mom would quietly get
up—while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of faraway
places—and go to her room and read her Bible and pray. I wonder now if she ever
prayed that the stranger would leave. My Dad ruled our household with certain
moral convictions. But this stranger never felt an obligation to honor them.
Profanity was not
allowed in our house—not from us, our friends, or adults. Our longtime visitor,
however, used occasional four-letter words that burned my ears and made Dad
squirm. To my knowledge, the stranger was never confronted. Dad didn’t permit
alcohol in his home. But the stranger enlightened us to other ways of life. He
often offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages. He made cigarettes look
tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.
He talked freely
about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and
generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man/woman
relationship were influenced by the stranger.
I believe it was only
by the grace of God the stranger did not influence us even more. Time after
time he opposed my parents’ values. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked
to leave. More than thirty years have passed since the stranger moved in with
the young family on Morningside Drive.
But if I were to walk
into my parents’ home today, I would still see him sitting over in a corner,
waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His
name? We always called him TV.
PRAYER LIST:
Mr. Myers Shower
project
Sister Bishop
Jenny/Dennis–recovery
Hazen Ministries
ALL OUR MILITARY
Bro. Mark-cancer
Hank W.-Cancer /Carol
Devria
St.Aubin---health
RC &
Esther—health
Don & Sue Duncan
Sister Rachael/ Euel
Bro. & Sis.
Ballew
Arthur Wilson—health
Connie-brain
surgery/recovery
Center of
Hope---SOULS
Dale/Charlie-jobs
Bill, Susan &
Cody
Rev. Donnie Turner,
Health/Miracle
Rev. Mack
Turner—health
Rev. Charles &
Sue Herron
Rev. Barb Davis &
the church leadership Workers in the church
Calvary Crusade
Zack, Courtney &
Ella
Gene &
Debbie--G-child
Karen–health
Libby-health problems
Grieving families
THE CHURCH
Steve Sabo-therapy
& Surgery
Grieving Families
John Weber-cancer
Pray for the
President!
Anne C--Cancer
Colton Clities
Jokes: The Return
After thirty years of wondering why he didn't look like his sister’s or
brother’s, Dale finally got up the nerve to ask his mother if he was adopted.
"Yes, you were, son," his mother said as she started to cry softly.
"But it didn't work out and they brought you back." (That explains a
lot of things Dale!!)
Work Meeting update:
Pastor Barb, Dale, Bill and Cody mowing, Dale wall repair, Bill & Dale
Tractor repair. Susan, Juanita, Pauline set up sale, Dale and Bill went in and
help after finishing up the lawn. Friday at the sale...Bill, Susan, Pauline,
Juanita, Dale and Cody. Pastor Barb brought us lunch, thanks so
much......Saturday breakfast, thanks Sister Grace, Sheila, Missy, Cara, Susan,
Bill, Dale, Juanita, and Pauline. Sister Renee came in about 8:30, what a
relief it is to have help. Sally & Steven W. also joined us at the
breakfast to work, thanks!!!! Juanita ran the sale, and then Cara, Cody, Bill,
Susan, Pauline, Juanita cleaned up, Steve put up a couple of picture for us,
thank you all for all you do for the Kingdom of God. God bless!!!!!!!
Thank you rummage sale shoppers and breakfast buyers!
