QUITE SURPRISED

Have had my share of aches and pains or those “just don’t feel that great” days but usually ignore the discomfort and just go on with business with an occasional popping of a pill. Seldom do I feel bad enough to stay home or change my daily routine (or more accurately, my exercise routine).

Since moving from Long Beach the commuting switched from weekday roundtrips to work to Sunday roundtrips to church. Woke up Sunday morning and didn’t feel great and slept about two hours later than usual (making it around 6:30) but knew I would feel better if I went for my daily walk, but decided to cut it short. Offered to drive and pick up Mom and Dad at a church they have attended previously but decided I could at least make it through worship at Long Beach. Mom didn’t like the idea of my going so far just in case something happened and she would have to drive home. Rested a little and had every intention to go to Long Beach but at the moment a ½ mile commute and a 45-minute service was more alluring. Knew it would not be my cup of tea but you go to please and worship God, not to be entertained. And have always gotten some inspired tidbit from any sermon.

The building had architectural presence but attendance was sparse, those members being elderly with the majority living in the retirement center next door, including the pastor. The service started with a song from the hymnal…one I never heard before…along with piano accompaniment. The song leader needed to power it down. The pastor offered a prayer and gave the announcements, followed by the offering (communion is only once a month), and then another song--Bringing in the Sheaves (reminded me of an episode of The Waltons). Another gentleman led a prayer where he was sitting and then the Ladies Trio belted out a song (yes, I think that was their real name)—three ladies with similar white coiffures, dressed in identical-patterned attire but different colors each with matching stringed pearls. Not half bad. Sang on pitch but still a reminder of what I’d see on Lawrence Welk. After only 15 minutes into the service, the sermon began. It was titled, The Gospel, Paul Preached with Scrupulous Devotion (I Tim 4:6-16). Pastor Bob was a very good speaker and talked about the lack of sound doctrine being preached in many churches today and considered the five fundamentals of the gospel to be as follows: 1) belief in the Deity, 2) that Jesus is the son of God, 3) salvation only comes through Jesus, 4) belief in the resurrection, and 5) belief in the second coming. Although I’m sure these truisms were discussed, my only recollection while growing up in the C of C were the five steps to becoming a Christian: hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized.

The sermon ran 30 minutes long…and, yes, actually did time it because curiosity got the best of me to see if this guy would top some of those long-winded preachers I’ve been fortunate to hear.

We were home by 11:00 and it was surprisingly not as bad as I had expected, but still missed being at Long Beach. Decided to crash on my sleeping bag…You know, feeling sick is the only time I really miss having a bed.