Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Country Church - Pine Ridge Baptist


The church is not a building.  The church is the body of Christ, a living organism over which He is Head.  But, there is something about church buildings.  Pine Ridge Baptist Church - the building - sits in the heart of Melder, Louisiana physically, spiritually, and at least in years gone by, socially.  It was there that I first heard that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Wonderful people who loved the Lord would gather in this place along with some not so wonderful people.  We would sing "Standing on the Promises" and "Revive Us Again" and "How Great Thou Art" out of the Broadman Hymnal.  Kind folks would teach squirmy kids Sunday School out of quarterlies and then help us spray paint macaroni gold before we glued it on poster board.  We had amazing home cooked meals there and we had some very raucous monthly business meetings there that hurt our testimony and sometimes hurt one another. Following Sunday morning worship, men would gather in the Louisiana heat near the front door and several would have a smoke together.  I was introduced to Jesus there and baptized there as was my mother before me.  Her funeral and my father's funeral was held there.  It still stands, a quaint building but so much more.  My life was changed there.  I am grateful.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Memories

My brother recently made this picture available to me.  The memories flooded back when I saw it.  J. D. Ford owned the store.  He and his wife were part of our lives because the store was such an essential part of our existence.  My parents did not buy all of their groceries there, but they did buy a lot of milk and ice cream and cola and chicken feed.  The Ford's allowed us to have a running tab which my dad paid at the end of each month. Occasionally, I could charge a cream soda or a moon pie.  The front porch of the store was a great place to hang out and hear the local news.  There was a post office inside the store where we received our mail.  And, we bought most of our gas there.  It saddened me to see the store close and then be torn down.  The Fords are now with the Lord; they were wonderful Christian people.  Many of the general stores like this one no longer exist.  We buy our groceries and gas from people we don't know.  And, who sits on a front porch to drink a coke and visit?   I am very grateful for those memories.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

February 2011 Blizzard

Where were you during the Blizzard of 2011?  It was an awesome display - full of sound and fury.  Beautiful, actually.  Though, I know it caused some significant difficulties.  We cannot control the weather.  It helps put us in our place.  Personally, it could not have come at a better time.