I’ve been away for a few days in Nashville at some Denominational Board Meetings. For those who have never had the privilege of attending any, these meetings can be sort of like an extended two to three day Church Business Meeting. While they are necessary, and often deal with important issues affecting our corporate religious life, they can also, at times, get somewhat tedious.
During one of the less inspiring moments of this past week, my mind was wandering as I was reflecting on some of the stories told by Jerry Clower, the popular comedian of a generation ago, who's work I referenced in my message this past Sunday.
In his book titled Stories from Home, he shared many of the stories he had told over the years. One particular story that came to my mind was about his Uncle Versie Ledbetter, who was a Deacon at the East Fork Church. It seems that…
One time they called a deacons' meeting at the East Fork Church. Uncle Versie Ledbetter was up in years, and he didn't go to many of the deacons' meetings no more because he thought the young folks, them about fifty and sixty, could take care of the church business.
But he got word they was fixing to spend some money, and he got Newgene, his grandson, to take him over to the church house in a mule and wagon for the deacons' meeting.
The deacons got in a big discussion about buying a chandelier for the church. A man said, "I move, sir, that we buy a chandelier for the church."
Another deacon said, "I second the motion." The moderator said, "Is there any discussion?"
Uncle Versie Ledbetter said, "Sir, I would like to speak. I want all of you to know that if we gonna buy a chandelier, there ain't nobody in our church got enough education that, when we order it from Sears and Roebuck, they could even spell it."
"Then if we ordered the chandelier, when it got here, there's nobody here in our church that knows how to play it."
"And what I'm concerned about is we don't need to spend this money on no chandelier as bad as we need lights in the church."*
Well, the good news is that it didn’t get near this bad in any of our meetings. For the most part, we had both informed discussions and a unity of spirit as we made decisions together.
As we deliberated, though, we did address some issues that will impact (and hopefully enhance) our ability as a Denomination to reach our world for Christ. Certainly, that was our desire. Pray this will be the case.
I would also ask that you please join me in praying for the work of our faithful Denominational employees. They are devoted servants of our Lord who often labor in obscurity; but who nonetheless use their talents to His glory and honor on a daily basis.
*SOURCE: http://books.google.com/books?id=UHPmigZlIccC
&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=jerry+clower+chandelier+church&
source=bl&ots=kMywhG_b0m&sig=WokLrDcBMCU80fAtYQV7
wDDAdeQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xGdaUMO2MJOc8wTzYDYBw&ved
=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=jerry%20clower20chandelie
r%20church&f=false. Go to page 74.
During one of the less inspiring moments of this past week, my mind was wandering as I was reflecting on some of the stories told by Jerry Clower, the popular comedian of a generation ago, who's work I referenced in my message this past Sunday.
In his book titled Stories from Home, he shared many of the stories he had told over the years. One particular story that came to my mind was about his Uncle Versie Ledbetter, who was a Deacon at the East Fork Church. It seems that…
One time they called a deacons' meeting at the East Fork Church. Uncle Versie Ledbetter was up in years, and he didn't go to many of the deacons' meetings no more because he thought the young folks, them about fifty and sixty, could take care of the church business.
But he got word they was fixing to spend some money, and he got Newgene, his grandson, to take him over to the church house in a mule and wagon for the deacons' meeting.
The deacons got in a big discussion about buying a chandelier for the church. A man said, "I move, sir, that we buy a chandelier for the church."
Another deacon said, "I second the motion." The moderator said, "Is there any discussion?"
Uncle Versie Ledbetter said, "Sir, I would like to speak. I want all of you to know that if we gonna buy a chandelier, there ain't nobody in our church got enough education that, when we order it from Sears and Roebuck, they could even spell it."
"Then if we ordered the chandelier, when it got here, there's nobody here in our church that knows how to play it."
"And what I'm concerned about is we don't need to spend this money on no chandelier as bad as we need lights in the church."*
Well, the good news is that it didn’t get near this bad in any of our meetings. For the most part, we had both informed discussions and a unity of spirit as we made decisions together.
As we deliberated, though, we did address some issues that will impact (and hopefully enhance) our ability as a Denomination to reach our world for Christ. Certainly, that was our desire. Pray this will be the case.
I would also ask that you please join me in praying for the work of our faithful Denominational employees. They are devoted servants of our Lord who often labor in obscurity; but who nonetheless use their talents to His glory and honor on a daily basis.
*SOURCE: http://books.google.com/books?id=UHPmigZlIccC
&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=jerry+clower+chandelier+church&
source=bl&ots=kMywhG_b0m&sig=WokLrDcBMCU80fAtYQV7
wDDAdeQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xGdaUMO2MJOc8wTzYDYBw&ved
=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=jerry%20clower20chandelie
r%20church&f=false. Go to page 74.