There's Room at the Cross for Cheri

My favorite church experience occurred in the Bible belt state of: Georgia.

We were obviously predestined to find this church because it was tiny. By tiny I mean the whole church was all of thirty die hard, fried chicken eaters, congregating on a basketball court. The magnolia trees out front basically hid the entire church.

We walked in and were instantly surrounded by- well- everyone. We received more literature in the first five minutes when most small town print shops see in a month. The men shook our arms off, and the ladies did their part in the asphyxiation through hugs and perfume. They (all) ushered us to our seats - in the very front row. It was memorable.

The pastor was a rather portly gent and when he and his white seersucker suit took the podium I realized we were about to experience some southern old-time religion. His first order of service was jumping off the stage and welcoming the newcomers of navy and white HEARTILY.

This church really wanted to get their money’s use out of their hymnals because we sang no less than 10 songs. My throat was bursting from the exertion but if I tried to stop singing I got the “look” from my mother. Then we prayed, we called out to God, we interceded and beseeched, we came to him with our supplications and then at last entreated His presence for the gathering of believers.

I glanced at the clock- two hours had passed. At last the pastor resumed the podium and began his message. From all sides your ears were attacked by a chorus of AMEN’s, YES’s, PREACH IT BROTHER!’s , and HALLELUJAH’s. The more encouragement the more fervently he preached until the whole place was roaring. Then the organist stood up and all off a sudden - our heads were bowed and our hands were folded...

Now coming from a large church, it is easy to fidget without really being noticed. Ho ho - How now brown cow.

As the pastor was pleading for our hearts, and while we were singing the 8th verse of Victory in Jesus (the one the author gave exclusively to this church) my nose started to itch.

Without thinking,

I scratched it.

“RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT ROW - EVERYONE - WE HAVE A NEW SISTER IN CHRIST TODAY! AND ISN’T SHE A SWEET LITTLE ONE AT THAT “

Hallelujahs were coming from everywhere and it seemed as if he had seen the very gates of heaven open. I don’t think I have ever been so red, I also had a feeling like that of a baited fish being reeled in

At that moment I so wished I wasn’t saved- just so I could have committed my life right then at that church.

After the service the pastor came up to speak with me, about my new found faith and how I needed to live a life of character and he told me all about this guy called Bill Gothard (some of you may know him) and how meditating on Matthew 5 would be my best bet to begin with. Little did he know I could have quoted him Matthew 5. I just didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth - so I took the armful of literature, and said “God Bless you” and had a god laugh about it later

This story always reminds me of how careful we must be with our actions. So many people look at us to be encouraged in their walk with the Lord, to see if the Gospel is affecting our lives like it should. It is a grand responsibility- let us not take it lightly.

Be Good.