Newsletter - Full Gospel Mission

 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!