ST. LOUIS SUNDAY

My dads father was a minister in a Pilgrim Holiness Church, but my dad seldom took us to church at all.

I really never knew why.

Maybe he didn't like all of the restrictions in that church.

No smoking, drinking adult beverages, or dancing; woman were forbidden to wear makeup, and they had to wear long dresses, pants were not allowed on women (uh, I mean, umm, they could only wear dresses), no cursing (that left dad out, for sure), and frankly, not much of anything that was fun, according to our family values.

I was a baby when my grandpa died, so I don't remember him at all, but my dad's brother took over the church and dad still only took us on Christmas and Easter, except for a few times a family member talked him into it.

That was disappointing to me, because I LOVED going to church!

I loved everything about it!

I loved putting on my little suit, people smiling and shaking hands with me, the smell of Murphy's Oil Soap on the beautiful shiny wooden pews, the music, the AWESOME BIBLE STORIES!

It was the bible stories that I loved the best!

Let's talk about that in a minute.

First, I want to tell you about how I felt when I went to church.

I felt clean...I felt warm and fuzzy...I felt like I was doing something good and worthwhile...I felt righteous...I felt like like my life had meaning...

Not my family, but you get the idea.

I have some additional feelings when I go to church now... I feel humbled...thankful...

undeserving...blessed...encouraged...

srengthened...and loved.

I never had any doubts about the truth of the bible that stirred my little heart and soul with such magnificent stories about Moses, David, Daniel,  and Jesus. 

Today I still thrill at the true life accounts of folks who were exactly like you and me!

I'm not alone! 

"The Bible" mini series was one of the most watched TV series of all time! It did a brilliant job of telling the stories of these ancient people in a simple, unadulterated way, the way the bible was meant to be taught.

My mom, was not that interested in going to church either.

She never hesitated about going to church when dad was willing, but she was a free spirit that did not appreciate the self righteousness of many church goers she knew.

Mom was honest, straight forward and did not suffer hypocrites very well.

She knew what the bible said, and taught us the truth through word and deed.

She would welcome the homeless to our door (but never let them in), and always give them some food and coffee.

If we ever made the mistake of making a bigoted racial comment, she would say,"how do you know that God is not black, or brown.."whatever fit the circumstances.

She was way too loving, kind, generous, honest, fair, and unhypocritical to fit in with most churches, anyway.

Nothing against churches, like I said, I love going to church, but I believe mom and dad have a special place in heaven that is reserved for REAL, SIMPLE, GOOD CHRISTIANS, who love to dance.