CH 21 Enjoy the Moment

Grandma took me to church as far back I can remember. The little Salvation Army hall at Harry and Martinson was my first exposure to spiritual values. We have a couple of pictures of the packed hall from when I was about five. Those early lessons would stay with me and give the foundation for many lessons. When I was eleven the Salvation Army moved the little corps. The new address was 2151 W. Dora, less than two blocks from our house. The new building included a small gymnasium and became the focal point for neighborhood activities. The playground behind our house had swings, slides, merry-go-rounds, and also a baseball field.

That time is one of several special times in life. During that time, I met and interacted with many folks. The time went so fast. The bus rides to the camp to swim, our first baseball team, and many years of basketball on those 8 ½ foot goals all are memories of a moment I enjoyed. In the early 1970’s, I taught the junior high boys class at Grace Baptist Church. I then took over the high school class when their teacher went away to study and become a missionary. When the youth director also went to Bible school, I took over the young people until we moved to Overland Park.

Upon our return from Overland Park in 1975, I was given the assignment to teach the college class. This became one of those moments to enjoy. These young folks were a lasting blessing to Sharon and I. We had class; played ball together, had parties, and shed tears and shared joys. This time only comes a few times in life. We didn’t know or appreciate how significant this moment would be. We worked in this class for 22 months. There were 12 members on the roll. The average attendance of the group was 11.8. We grew together. When we moved to Winfield in late 1976 the class had a party at our house. The picture is still a joy. When one of the members visited with Sharon in early 2001, that night was a special point of the conversation.

We have kept track of the group through the years. The current pastor of Grace Baptist was from the class. Another couple are youth pastors, a third couple are involved in a music ministry, and one of the girls is a teacher. I’m glad we were allowed of God to “enjoy the moment.” When I came home from the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts in 1982, I was impressed to work with the men in our church. We met on Saturdays for the next eighteen months and grew spiritually. We had from 12 to 30 men for the sessions and a total of over 70 different men participated. We knew as we interacted with each other we were having a special time. Some of the men who were most active are now with the Lord. On March 5, 2001 we started another men’s meeting. I know those men are looking down on us with a smile on their face.

God has been so good to give me those special times. I believe you have just a few times like these in a lifetime. I look forward to the next opportunity to “enjoy the moment.” In maturity, I pray I will better appreciate the chance to serve Him and meet the needs of those He allows me to serve.

"Humility is the Christian’s greatest honor; and the higher men climb, the further they are from heaven." Jane Porter

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6