Post by bobnelson on Feb 23, 2012 15:48:50 GMT -5
This is a very old story, but I thought I'd share it. In 1978, I was newly graduated from university (Ohio) and I took a job in Florida. I knew no one in the whole state of Florida when I moved down there.
I had been to two different churches and I had received the typical polite "nice to have you here" hand shake greeting, but something didn't satisfy the emptiness in my heart.
One evening I was walking along the beach talking to God. I remember I was practically shaking my fist at God saying “I don’t want meetings to go to. I want to be involved in people’s lives”. It was probably less than five minutes later when I became drawn to a young man in an electric wheelchair and a young woman walking alongside him. I felt a strong compulsion to walk up and talk to them, but with my aversion to talking to strangers I was even stronger at fighting the compulsion. Nonetheless, the compulsion was not going away. I couldn’t shake myself of it. It was eerie.
Bernie and Debbie were looking for some place quiet where they could be alone and have that very delicate “are we friends or are we dating” conversation. Just as they thought they found the perfect spot, this tall skinny (then) guy seemed to be hanging around the exact spot where they wanted to sit. What was especially annoying was that he wasn’t saying anything, just hanging around. Finally Bernie called out “Hello there” to me and initiated a conversation. Turns out they were students at Florida Bible College (FBC). We talked for about five to ten minutes, and then Bernie invited me to come later in the week to the Sunday night chapel service at FBC. I had specifically prayed to God that I didn’t want meetings to go to, but this was different. Bernie said come early, look for me in the lobby, and then we’ll sit together in the service. After the service I met some of Bernie’s friends and was invited to attend a Friday night home Bible study where Bernie was the teacher.
I ended up living in Florida just over two years. During that time my church experience was that I hung around Bernie’s dorm room and went to his Friday night Bible study. I also would attend the occasional chapel service at FBC. Sunday mornings I bounced around from church to church. Sometimes I would attend “Bedside Baptist” where I would listen to messages by “Pastor Sheets”. Every friend I got to know during the time I was in Florida was in some way connected to Bernie.
As a result of that time in Florida, I have come to feel strongly that the church consists of people. It does not consist of buildings. Don’t get me wrong. I love the church where I go now, but 30 years later I have never felt as connected with other believers as I felt in Florida.
I had been to two different churches and I had received the typical polite "nice to have you here" hand shake greeting, but something didn't satisfy the emptiness in my heart.
One evening I was walking along the beach talking to God. I remember I was practically shaking my fist at God saying “I don’t want meetings to go to. I want to be involved in people’s lives”. It was probably less than five minutes later when I became drawn to a young man in an electric wheelchair and a young woman walking alongside him. I felt a strong compulsion to walk up and talk to them, but with my aversion to talking to strangers I was even stronger at fighting the compulsion. Nonetheless, the compulsion was not going away. I couldn’t shake myself of it. It was eerie.
Bernie and Debbie were looking for some place quiet where they could be alone and have that very delicate “are we friends or are we dating” conversation. Just as they thought they found the perfect spot, this tall skinny (then) guy seemed to be hanging around the exact spot where they wanted to sit. What was especially annoying was that he wasn’t saying anything, just hanging around. Finally Bernie called out “Hello there” to me and initiated a conversation. Turns out they were students at Florida Bible College (FBC). We talked for about five to ten minutes, and then Bernie invited me to come later in the week to the Sunday night chapel service at FBC. I had specifically prayed to God that I didn’t want meetings to go to, but this was different. Bernie said come early, look for me in the lobby, and then we’ll sit together in the service. After the service I met some of Bernie’s friends and was invited to attend a Friday night home Bible study where Bernie was the teacher.
I ended up living in Florida just over two years. During that time my church experience was that I hung around Bernie’s dorm room and went to his Friday night Bible study. I also would attend the occasional chapel service at FBC. Sunday mornings I bounced around from church to church. Sometimes I would attend “Bedside Baptist” where I would listen to messages by “Pastor Sheets”. Every friend I got to know during the time I was in Florida was in some way connected to Bernie.
As a result of that time in Florida, I have come to feel strongly that the church consists of people. It does not consist of buildings. Don’t get me wrong. I love the church where I go now, but 30 years later I have never felt as connected with other believers as I felt in Florida.