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Ramblings from 2011 Road Trip Over the last two weeks we have put some miles on the old car. Regena took her mom back home so Noah and I had to go and get her. We got back to Owensboro just in time to leave for a lectureship in Anderson, Indiana. So we spent about 1000 hours together in a car. Being a preacher and in desperate need of an article I took mental notes along the way and here is what I came up with. Before leaving with Noah, I wrote something on "Facebook," about being in a car for a whole day with her. I was wondering who would survive the trip. Hope responded by saying that her dad was wiser but Noah was younger. I think her money was on Noah. It reminded me of what John wrote, "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2.12-14). The point being that each age group has its advantages and disadvantages. Youth often has exuberance, energy, and physical ability on its side, but may lack in wisdom and knowledge. Whereas, age tends to offer experience and wisdom, but lack in physical ability. Each is important in a congregation and together they make everyone better. Noah and I made it just fine on the trip. We got to visit with three congregations. East Central congregation in Tulsa, sold their building about two years ago in order to relocate. They wanted to move north of Tulsa and bought some property with a house on it. Afterward they found out it was not zoned for a church building. They went before the county zoning committee but a couple of neighbors fought to stop their efforts. Most people think of churches with ball fields and all kinds of social activities. They did not want the extra cars and activities in their area. The brethren bought another piece of property and are in the early stages of building. Currently they are meeting in a room at the Holiday Inn Express near where Regena's mother lives. About 60 of them are crammed into a small room. Each Sunday they have to carry in their songbooks and the Lord's Supper. They are unable to have Bible classes and do not meet on Wednesdays. Some brethren may think this is the ideal situation with no Wednesday night services and no Bible Classes but those brethren are looking forward to having them again. Woodland Hills is south of Tulsa and where some of Regena's family attends. They had a singing the Saturday night we were out there. Young people traveled from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Fort Smith, Arkansas, Oklahoma City, and other places to be there. After an hour and a half they took a break so those needing to head home could do so. We then sang for another hour. Most who traveled stayed and the singing was great. Finally, we were with the brethren in Anderson, Indiana for a lectureship. About 90 to 100 people were there and about 60 were young people. One flew in from Florida. They had a number of good song leaders. One of the elders in particular really impressed me with the sense of joy he had in singing. We really liked our time worshipping there. Ralph Walker did a series called "Road Maps for Life." I am in the process of getting copies of the lessons and encourage parents to ask for the CD's. Really good lessons for the young and old. Arriving in Oklahoma we found the temperature to be a little warm. It was between 105 and 108 about every day we were there. By 10 pm it would cool down to a balmy 100 degrees. As people often say "it is a dry heat" and not as bad as other places. It is true, you don't get wet, but that is because your sweat dries almost instantly from your body. The danger is dehydrating without realizing it. We then got word that Owensboro made the Weather Channel news because of it being 103 degrees with a heat index of 123. Which meant it felt hotter than Oklahoma. It was hot in Anderson and we saw a temperature reading at a nearby Walgreens which said it was 505 degrees. You read that right, it was almost as hot as the sun. I don't think it was that hot, but it did get our attention. One night we were eating at Taco Bell and I asked a question. Noah's response was one of astonishment. She said and I quote, "Eighteen years! Have I not taught you anything in 18 years!" I had to laugh for we often think of teaching our children, but our children are also teaching us. They teach us patience, endurance, love, to sacrifice, and to laugh. I can honestly say that all three of our children have taught me a lot over the last 18 plus years. Two of the folks we got to spend some time with were Carl and Lorna McMurray. Mac is the OLDER preacher that I trained with in Gainesville, Florida. He turned out to be a whole two years older than me, but he had been preaching a lot longer than I had. I consumed many a meal at their house and enjoyed their young children, Sarah and Forest. Forest is now grown and the latest in a long line of trainees with Mac. Just this week, Forest and his family moved to a congregation east of St. Louis. One story Mac was telling me dealt with a young man who came to preach one Sunday when he was gone. The man arrived late and had apparently not prepared himself well. Some of the brethren told Mac of the lesson. Later on Mac had a chance to meet this young man and asked, "what do you mean by coming and stinking up my pulpit!" There is a lesson there for all of us. Always prepare your best to do your best. Not every lesson will turn out great and sometimes you may be disappointed with the end result, but you should always give it best effort. Not being prepared is unacceptable. It is good to be back home and hope you enjoyed my ramblings from a road trip. Dennis Tucker |