Nicholson writer’s block very true…

Your “in a Nutshell” comment from you friend, Edwin, reminded me of something a deacon told me after a sermon I gave in the first church I serves (as a youth pastor). The pastor was taken to the hospital and I was called late on a Saturday night and told I would have to preach three times the next day. One of the sermons was in a jail and I just modified the morning service sermon to fit there. After that was over I worked feverishly to prepare for the next one and–by the way–I also taught Sunday School Sunday morning and had the Baptist Youth Program in the evening before the service! In other words, I spoke 5 times on that Sunday.

As the evening service concluded, a deacon stood behind as I greeted folks and then he came up to me and said “Brother Lee, when you don’t have a thing to say, the people will always forgive you if you let them out early!” I never forgot that. When I was a member of the Rotary Club in Alhambra, the president of the club was surprised that the speak of the day finished in only 15 minutes and that was about 1:10 p.m. and he was trying to fill up the space asking if anyone had a joke or wanted to say something. I stood up and said “I am not sure if this is important, but I have a story to tell!” I told them the story that I just told you the folks that same story. After I finished everyone had a great laugh and the president hit the bell and said we are dismissed! It was a funny moment and several folks repeated it later when other speakers finished early.

I also told that story to seminary students every year and said if God has only given you a message that you can give in 10 minutes, don’t stretch it out to 30 minutes!

Anyway, that came to mind as you began your Nutshell comments here! Oh the joys of getting older!

Blessings !

LM

I enjoyed it, it’s Pretty funny 😄

Always good to read your letter Friday morning. I am here in Mexico with my wife. We will be here for a few days working with a church that we help support. It’s in a very small town called Héroes de la Independencia. I found out about this church through a mutual friend who brought me out here a few years ago and we have come back on a number of occasions to help with various projects.

Have a great day,

Gary