Pretty close to two thousand years ago, a man and a woman had a debate of sorts about where folks should worship. The debate actually began some time before that but not just between those two. The sides had argued about it before and continued long after them. Some would say it continues on to this present day in one way or another. The one side would hold that folks should worship in the place of the mountain near the Samaritan town of Sychar. The other side held out for Jerusalem. Jesus agreed with both positions yet held that neither one of them was exactly right.

We and our company last night didn’t argue about it; we agreed that Ark City should work out alright.

We could have sat and watched TV with Jay and Leah but Randa thought singing some praise and worship songs would be a more enjoyable and worthwhile use of our time. Like she is about most things, she was right. So instead of watching yet one more episode of one of those British murder mysteries to which I am addicted, we sang several of our favorite praise and worship songs.

Jesus had said quite some years ago that whenever a few of us get together to focus on him, he would meet us there. He’s always kept his word on that and last night was neither an exception nor a surprise. By the time we got to the chorus of “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” he was right there with us. Brought his Dad and his close friend the Holy Spirit with him, too. They all stayed with us on to “Here I Am to Worship” and every other song we sang all the way through “Worthy Is the Lamb” and “More Love, More Power.” I got the impression he would have spent another hour or two with us… but my fingers aren’t as callused as they need to be and finally the pain of steel strings against unseasoned flesh got to be too much and I had to put the ole Gibson back in the box.

Turns out you can be two places at once. Not in Samaria and Jerusalem at the same time but Jesus said that wasn’t where Papa God wanted to meet people anyway. According to his Son, he wants people to worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

And that’s exactly where we were last night. It’s a mighty fine place to hang out and you can’t beat the company, either.

H. Arnett
4/11/17