The North-Georgia Conference of...
Illustration
The North-Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church convened for its annual meeting in Atlanta in 1962. I was a seminarian at the time, serving a four-point charge in the Augusta District. Quite frankly, I did not want to attend the meeting. To attend would mean driving in excess of 100 miles, one way, and not getting home until late at night. Of course, all ministers were expected to attend all five days but since I was actually a member of the North-Arkansas Conference, and could not afford the expense anyway, I rationalized it would be all right not to attend.
I did not want to go. However, one evening of the Conference had been designated as "Youth Night" and, out of a sense of duty, I reluctantly mustered four youth to make the trip.
Bishop Everett Palmer of the Washington (State) Area was the preacher. "Ho-hum," I thought as he entered the pulpit, "another company man, preaching a stale sermon."
The bishop opened his soul and showers of blessings inundated the sanctuary. This was no company man; he was God's man! When he finished preaching there was not a dry eye in the place, including his. I stood with my four youth and hundreds of others at the altar.
How many times have we discovered blessings at the end of our "Don't want to's"? How many blessings have gone begging because of our "Don't want to's"?
I did not want to go. However, one evening of the Conference had been designated as "Youth Night" and, out of a sense of duty, I reluctantly mustered four youth to make the trip.
Bishop Everett Palmer of the Washington (State) Area was the preacher. "Ho-hum," I thought as he entered the pulpit, "another company man, preaching a stale sermon."
The bishop opened his soul and showers of blessings inundated the sanctuary. This was no company man; he was God's man! When he finished preaching there was not a dry eye in the place, including his. I stood with my four youth and hundreds of others at the altar.
How many times have we discovered blessings at the end of our "Don't want to's"? How many blessings have gone begging because of our "Don't want to's"?
