Sometimes I feel like I could be the subject of Johnny Cash's song, "I've Been Everywhere."
"I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere."
Okay. He's been to way more places than I have...but let me recount my life's journey....
Born in Silver Spring, Md., and then moved to Greensburg, Pa.; Cape St. Clair, Md.; Annapolis, Md.; Folsom, Ca. (two moves); Douglassville, Pa. (two moves), Robeson Towship, Pa. (two moves), Swindon, England; Brighton, England (two moves); California, Pa.; Lancaster, Pa.; Elverson, Pa.; Honesdale, Pa.; Reading, Pa. (two moves); and finally Wyomissing, Pa.
Phew.
Nineteen moves (not including the back and forth to college). And that's not nearly as many as my parents, though it's certainly not a competition.
I began remembering all of my former locations during a song we were singing in church on Sunday.
"Let the 'Amen!' sound from His people again...."
And it struck me.
I can't wait to get to Heaven to be with ALL the people I've ever worshipped with over my lifetime. It is going to be, in the words of Barney Stinson, "Legend -- wait for it -- dary!" And that's putting it lightly.
Sometimes people get sad when God moves people out of a particular church. We don't understand God's reasons. We feel hurt and angry. We don't want to talk to them anymore. I know. Remember, I've moved around a lot in my lifetime. Goodbyes are never easy.
But what we lose sight of in our "human earthliness" is the fact that if we're in Christ we aren't ever saying goodbye. Ever.
One day, we will worship together again in the greatest worship hall ever created with the greatest worship leaders and God right there, visible and sitting on His throne. Imagine the acoustics!
Got chills?
I sure do!
So to those we left for whatever reason God had...in Annapolis EP church; Folsom's Community Bible Church; Elverson's Community Evangelical Free Church; Swindon's Freshbrook Evangelical Church; and Cumru Township's Reading Evangelical Free Church (now Crossway Church): We never say goodbye because we can't. We will sing together again! And it will be forever in Christ.
I can't wait to hear All God's People say: AMEN!!
* * * * *
What a sound that will be. Will you join me?
Praise To The Lord The Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
The King of creation
O my soul, praise Him
For He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near
Join me in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea, so gladly sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy glories e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath
Come now with praises before Him Let the 'amen' sound from His people again
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
I'm a sucker for soppy television shows. Put in a cute animal and some kids, and I'm a-gonner emotions-wise. The way that a story can bring tears or laughter or rage or fear is such an interesting "power" to study. It's probably one of my favorite reasons to write.
The "worst" type of television-viewing for me is watching a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The ads in between the already tear-jerking movie...well, enough said, right?
Sigh.
I took an advertising class in college and really enjoyed learning how advertisers evoke emotions from their viewers. I reflected on the sweet commercials we reviewed during that time, figuring out which ones worked and which ones didn't.
Here's one that I remembered that really worked. The proof? I still remembered it.
Blog-hopping with Tillman today. Something fun...and a first for me.
