Another Busy Sunday....
So we were supposed to wake up to (yet another) ice storm this morning.... I went to bed thinking I probably wouldn't get to go to church and praying for some Divine intervention on my behalf! GOD is GOOD! (real good!) I woke up at 6:30 this morning -- and there was a LITTLE bit of ice -- but it was kind of slushy ice -- not really sure if it wanted to crystalize... or melt. So I made it (easily) to the 8:00 service ... have I mentioned how much I LOVE this church!? LOL! *a time or two ... maybe*.... Today I met "the" woman who I'm going to assume is the "black sheep" of the congregation. She spotted me ... sitting in her pew... and after the service she grabbed me! She asked if I was "new" and I told her I'd been coming for about a month - but to the 11:00 service, and that I had something to do this morning, so I came to the early one - and that I had been wanting to TRY the early service anyway, because I really DO like the more traditional songs sometimes! Well that got her started! The opening hymn this morning was A Mighty Fortress Is Our God -- and I commented that while the tune was the same - the words were not the same that I was used to. THAT set her off! She didn't know WHY they did that version today, and well, she was just going to have to have a TALK with the organist! They've been doing this "newer" version too much and they need to go back to the OLD version sometimes! LOL! I moved on to another topic! I asked if she was involved in any of the Bible studies because I'm interested in joining one.... Well! I got an earful about that! She was being very NICE... so at first she had me a little worried! I thought "oh no! What if there is dissension among the masses at my new beloved church?" This idea was terrifying! I LOVE this church SO much and to find out now that their might be squabbling was going to break my heart! About this time she started telling me about how she just LOVES fellowship - and that she is sO disappointed because the "fellowship" after the Sunday services has been "stopped" and a LOT of people have LEFT the church, and BOY! I thought -- this is just NOT what I've been noticing or hearing from ANYONE else! About this time a nice gentleman came over to talk and I was saying to her that I thought there WAS fellowship after each service - and also a large fellowship gathering -- as a matter of fact, a DINNER - every Wednesday with a brief service following. Oh NO she said! That's only this PAST Wednesday because of Ash Wednesday and Lent and all. ( I was pretty sure I had read that it was every Wednesday...) So she says to this gentleman "REMEMBER when we used to have fellowship at this church?" ... and he looked at her like she had six heads... and that's when I knew! So he assured her that there WAS still coffee and fellowship after each service on Sunday -- but she swore there was NO ONE back there! And then he set her straight about Wednesdays -- there IS a dinner every Wednesday before the service! ( I thought so) ... So, he wandered away - and I went back to my question about Bible studies. Well then she explained that I shouldn't get her started on Bible studies because THAT was a sore topic! It seems that she will NOT join a Bible study! Why? Because Pastor Paul WANTS her too! Apparently she doesn't LIKE Pastor Paul! (now... he has been there for FIVE YEARS!!!) And I'm wondering HOW could ANYone NOT like Pastor Paul??? But she doesn't! And if HE wants her to join a Bible study, she's NOT! LOL! I did laugh! I really DID laugh! I said (here we go again!) "ooooh. You are really being belligerent aren't you?" (okay -- I said it NICELY!) And she laughed, and said "well maybe a little" - very sarcastically! (meaning - oh yea, a lot!) So I said to her... "Hey! Why don't you JOIN a Bible study with ME?" and SHE laughed!!! "Ohhhhhh NO!" she said! "Ungh-unh! NO WAY!" I laughed! I said "No... seriously! I've NEVER been in a Bible study before ... and it sounds like you're a little scared of a Bible study. Why don't we do it together?" Sooooo... she said she'd think about it! I don't have much confidence about this -- but I'm PRAYING on it! God may have plans for her! ;)So this afternoon Krysti was speaking in the Regional rounds of her Oratorical competition! About an hour before we had to leave our semi freezing slushy sleet turned to full blown wet, heavy SNOW! I do nOt drive in snow! This was BAD! It was stickin' FAST, and I was hating life! I said a prayer, asked God to STICK with me on this one, and got behind the wheel! I made sure He knew HE was driving! It was UGLY! We passed a service truck (like a utility truck???) that was FLIPPED on it's roof just up the road from here! A few miles later we passed not one, but TWO cars who were driving north - in the SOUTH BOUND lane!!! They had spun out! Keep driving Lord, keep driving! We DID make it there. In time! But we passed about a dozen vehicles that had gone off into the ditches on the side of the road. I'm sure glad I wasn't driving!!!
I forgot to ask for prayers for Krysti here this morning ... but I did ask for them at Church! God MUST have been listening, because although He did NOT see to it that she did her BEST ... or ... well... maybe He did... But her BEST was verrrry poor! LOL! But He definitely put blinders and apparently maybe some EAR PLUGS on the judges ... because she got 2nd place! I don't know WHAT they were thinking! There was another kid there that did SUCH a beautiful job -- and I was POSITIVE he was going to WIN ... but he got 3rd! Krysti flubbed her lines on the long speech and forgot the last half of her short speech and beat that poor kid out. Sometimes there is NO justice! I apologized to the kid - and to his father! I really don't know what the judges were thinking! I LOVE my daughter - and I want her to do well -- but I'm not one that thinks she has to be perfect EVERY time ... I was boggled on this one! She was boggled too! At any rate -- only first place goes on to the State level - so it's over for us! I wish it wasn't over for that boy though!
Labels: Churchy Stuff
posted by Melli at
5:24 PM
14 comment(s):
Sounds like you had avery interesting day in church. sounds like you met a new friend too.
Congratulations to Krysti for second place. Even if she fumbled a bit, it's okay. Even the best fumble every noe and then.
By
Anonymous, at
2/25/2007 9:32 PM
Melli - Bless your heart, I would have steered real clear of that woman.
By
Unknown, at
2/25/2007 11:12 PM
Melli:
Just know that it won't matter which church you are in, there WILL be dissension somewhere...it's the humanness of it all.
And, yes, I DO think God can (and perhaps did) use your "old lady" experience to give you a tenderness with this church woman...I'll bet no one else has really invited her to a Bible Study with them...in fact, they MAY steer clear of her.
I think God is saying, "Well done, Melli...well done!!"
:-) Susan
By
Susan, at
2/26/2007 6:16 AM
Poof what a story ! I almost feel as if I had been to church with you ! and of course the only black sheep around is for you !
I did not know the meaning of the word boggled I thought you meant googled, looked it up in the dictionary and there was written "do you mean google" ? whan I stated that I had looked for "to boogle" instead of "to boggle" and now I am completely google boogle boggled confused !
By
Ingrid, at
2/26/2007 6:22 AM
You are such a kind hearted person. I am so shy that that lady would have made me feel over-whelmed and uncomfortable. I would have stayed and talked to her though. I admire your personality.
By
Twisted Cinderella, at
2/26/2007 9:28 AM
Melli -- you SO remind me of somebody. I am trying to think of who ....
By
Anonymous, at
2/26/2007 9:38 AM
That is SO impressive of you Melli! And it's great that you've found your church! We are still "investigating". ;-)
By
Anonymous, at
2/26/2007 9:43 AM
there's always a character or two at every church. :)
I'm glad Krysti did well in her competition! Congrats to her.
Pooh would like to pimp himself for your vote now. :)
By
Carmen, at
2/26/2007 10:10 AM
Melli, I give you tons of credit for putting up with that lady. I think I would have said, nice to meet you and then moved myself away from her as fast as I could and found someone else to talk too. She sounds like someone with a very poor pesimistic attitude. You took her on well though. congrats to you on that!! I just would NOT have stuck with her. Good for you!! Nice to hear that Krysti got second! Take care with that bad weather. i hate that stuff and never did drive well in it..I hope we dont run into that crazy stuff but I bet that we do. Have a good day. sAndy
By
Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess, at
2/26/2007 10:30 AM
WOW what a busy Sunday you had:-). I'm glad ya'll made your way safe to your daughters' event. I think there is a "black sheep", in all Church's *giggles*. I think some folks believe things should be ran their way, ESPECIALLY if they have been going for years and maybe even been there longer than the Pastor :-).
By
Angela, at
2/26/2007 1:48 PM
I really admire you people getting up that early on a sunday...black sheeps are meant to be there so we can enjoy the company of the white sheeps :)
Glad you could drive safely to your daughter's event, I have no experience whatsoever driving while it's snowing!!! and yes, life can be unfair sometimes...
But life can be sooo good other times!!! guess what? I got a beautiful postcard today, thanks so much!!!!!! You certainly rock!!
:)
By
MaR, at
2/26/2007 1:54 PM
i just found you from the sunday sevens since i'll be making my first foray into it this sunday... How awesome how you reflect and honour the presence of our G-d... See u next sunday :)
Phil 4:13
GP in Montana
By
G.P., at
2/26/2007 11:00 PM
I'm not sure I would have wanted to persue that woman going to Bible Study...! You are a better person than I am, Melli!
By
OldLady Of The Hills, at
2/27/2007 6:24 AM
Melli, I think God must have directed you to ask her to go to the Bible Study with you~Awesome!
Tell Krysti congrats!!
I have a meme if you'd like to participate~won't tag you this time.
By
Unknown, at
2/27/2007 6:55 AM
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