Community in Him

BC and LC thanks for the great pics!

Today Jim and I were privileged to be included in taking Holy Communion at Dr. Dale and Helen's this afternoon along with the rest of our community group. The lyrics...."there is a sweet, sweet spirit in this place and I know it is the presence of the Lord..." was rolling through my mind. There is fellowship in the Holy Spirit unlike anything I find in any other group. In Greek it is called Koinonea (sp?). As we sat there listening to Len Woods talk to us about what we learn in the book of Acts about community and the love between believers I was praying for all of us and especially for Dr. Dale. I so desperately want the Lord to heal him. I know it is possible and...not only that but it is not a big deal for the Lord; but if the Lord in His infinite wisdom chooses not to heal Dr. Dale we need the ability to trust and to accept this which is too difficult to accept. Also, as we were all listening to Len's description of the first Christians I wondered what they would do in this situation. I wonder if we had their faith....the faith of those who had just witnessed the crucifixion ....what would these very first Christians do in our place. I believe they would have been gathering for communion and trying to give comfort and love the best way they could and they would PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.

After communion, in traditional Louisiana style, we broke out the King Cake and some coffee. No, it was not Community Coffee, and it was decaf., but this didn't put a damper on our socializing. Dale and Helen's daughters Joanna and Barbara were there and also Dr.'s sister, Judy and their youngest brother, Dick. Just like their older brother, Dale, they are creative, intelligent and witty. What it must have been like to be in their family during the late forty's and early fifties. There is the ability in that family that allows them to see the world around them just a bit differently from the average person and to also see humor in almost every situation. Puns and word play are the regular order of the day while they enjoy telling stories and although they are Dutch, I believe there is evidence of the English wit mixed in. Dr. is unable to talk nonstop like the rest of us.....although he never really has prattled on like that anyway, but he has not lost his timing and his talent for sprinkling in the right amount of quips or probing questions to grease the rusty wheels of our thought processes. His body may be changing, but his mind is honed and ready to direct us to think a little deeper....or to see the humor in our lives. Many times he can do it with a word....."play Temptation", he requested as per usual while Jim was tinkling the ivories.

Yes, the early church had their first hand accounts of the crucifixion, but more than two thousand years later it is still fresh and real; people are still gathering to honor Him, seek Him and to give love one to another in His name. I have been a witness to this miracle.