Here is the story of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival in a hour long You Tube presentation. Because of the power of the Holy Spirit thousands were converted to faith in Christ. Crime stopped. The police were only needed to sing at the revivals. My idea would be to open all the churches for 24 hour prayer and hymn sings. Maybe this will be in God's plan when Jesus is ruling on Earth!
Front row- -John, Diana, Mike, Sue, Tina, Mark, Jes, Heather/ Diana and Mike's wedding
"Now the sun is sinking
In the golden west;
Birds and bees and children
All have gone to rest:
And the merry streamlet,
As it runs along,
With a voice of sweetness
Sings its evening song."
I can hear Grandma's sweet voice as she sings while we drive into the sunset on our way home from Spokane. Music was a comfort and a joy in our family. Grandpa played the fiddle and the piano by ear. Mom and Aunt Evelyn played piano and organ. Aunt Ruth sang. Uncle Jack sang, was a music teacher, directed the church choir, played clarinet, and sax professionally. Wayne played the baritone and bugle. Martha played piano and organ. Jay played the sax. Dorothy played the clarinet. Chris took an interest in playing flutes, guitars, ukuleles, harmonicas, and other small instruments. I sang in the church choir and in girls chorus in high school. Evy played the clarinet. Lou sang in the church choir. Davy played oboe, clarinet, sax, flute, and bugle. John plays the trumpet. Diana plays clarinet and sings. Mike sings. Sue dabbled in playing the bass. Tina took piano lessons. Mark played clarinet and was a professional drummer. Jes was also a professional drummer, and Heather plays piano.
So whether we were amateurs, or received pay, we were a musical family. I'm looking forward to when we are all with Jesus singing worship songs to God.
Psalm 96:1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
My Aunt Ruth said one time, when we were all young, "I'm glad we don't kiss and hug like some families do. All that mushy stuff is very uncomfortable." I chalk it up to the scientific mind. She was an RN with a BS from Whitworth. The rest of my family were scientists, mathematicians, or engineers, and didn't kiss or hug either. My grandfather on my mother's side was an accountant for the city or county. I'm not sure which one. He worked at the Spokane court house. My grandfather on my father's side was Superintendent of the Post Office building in Spokane. He grew award winning African Violets in his basement.
So this mask wearing and social distancing works very well for many of us. We can avoid all the mushy stuff. So, of the ladies in the picture above, my mom, aunts, and sisters-in-law, and cousin-in-law, I don't recall hugging any of them. My Aunt Jeanne did kiss me on the cheek when I traveled to Spokane for my uncle's memorial service.
But my Aunt Ruth said in her later years, "I wish we did hug." As soon as this social distancing is over I plan to follow the example of my cousin Kit, my cousin Dorothy's daughter Cindy, and my daughter-in-law Jessica, and begin hugging!
Romans 16:16 Holy hugs all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings! The Message
