September 22

Just before my sabbatical began Regional Pastor Tom recommended that I read The Shack by William P. Young. I picked it up at the Enid Christian bookstore. Last week I began reading it. I rarely recommend a book before reading it all the way through, but I am a slow reader, and even if you only read halfway through, it is worth the read. Walk no run to the bookstore and pick up this book today. I’m already looking at things through the lens this book has created for my thinking. Everything important in life boils down to relationships, love, and how less self-serving we can be.

Sunday I visited First Christian Church, Bristow where I served from 1985 to 1990. It is a small church and we arrived a few minutes late. Well, I should have guessed it, but what a loving and expressive greeting we received. I apologize that we disrupted and delayed the start of the worship service. I also must add that amazingly, right in line with my journey of music and song, special guests from FCC, Sand Springs presented the message in music, through gospel hymns and special music.

They were accompanied by no less than their own pianist from FCC, Sand Springs, even though she was actually playing back at the service in their home church. In this age of technology, she had played all the accompaniment on the keyboard and it was digitally recorded on the instrument. All they did was push play and the instrument played itself. What a marvelous age of technology. This kind of technology is the only way that I can reasonably pursue my dream of song writing.

I truly enjoyed visiting with the pastor at Bristow. He is “retired” from ministry, but felt called to serve this congregation. Bill’s background is Southern Baptist by tradition but filled by love in contrast to tradition. Bill had served as a Professor at Southwest Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, when the denomination and its schools were politically taken by the strong fundamentalist conservatives. When the President of the Seminary was summarily fired for having the “wrong” theological perspective (you know, things like critical thinking) Bill felt it was time to retire.

Yes, Bill is older in years, but you simply cannot tell it by talking to him. He is an avid Harley Biker and this includes a life-long involvement in Biker Ministry. He is as comfortable in black biker leathers as he is in his Sunday suit and pulpit attire of a striking white robe (which reminded me of the attire of the Benedictines I visited a few weeks ago). All of which is to say that, I felt that in visiting with Bill I was indeed visiting with a Holy Person! Bill is not simply comfortable with whatever attire he wears, he is comfortable in his own skin. And that kind of comfort enables him to transmit a loving spirit!

Grace and peace with a song in my heart,
SongWriter

PS. I’m off to find a laundry next. By the way, if you see Mr. Crabbs, please tell him that the sanctuary in Bristow is carpeted with blue carpet.