Summertime In Texas

“Oh dear God not her,” pastor McDuff said to himself as he watched her across the room. Walking straight his way was the town’s superintendent, Mrs. Rotter smiling as she approached shaking a few of the parishioners’ hands, “Praise the Lord Pastor, do you have a moment?” Not missing the upheaval in her face, they excused themselves and walked over by the choir stand. Just what’s going on around here?” “Come again.” “I’m gone for three months and I find things out of order, what happened to the sermon I told you to preach? Not waiting for the answer she plunged in with the next statement, and not to mention, instead of you standing where I pay you to stand, I find this outsider.” “Indeed you do pay me, but this is God’s service and he will use whom he pleases to bring Him glory.” “I see.” Mrs. Rotter was not a woman to be toyed with and pastor McDuff was well aware whom he was dealing with. He seen the results of people standing up to Mrs. Rotter, businesses crashed, reputations destroyed, land owners losing their property. Thinking about his dwelling place, he quickly resolved his differences. Interrupting his thoughts, “Am I going to have to start looking for another pastor?” “No…that won’t be necessary.” “I’m glad, I would hate for you to lose that ranch.” Exiting on that note she left him standing in silence.

With occasional glances he once again locates the pastor, seeing one of the members leaving his side, as she walks closer to where he’s standing, her eyes remain transfixed on his face. Knowing he never met this woman a day in his life he wondered why she looked at him with a keen interest. “Was I supposed to admonish her or something, who is this woman and do I owe her an apology?”  Just about to walk out the door he to follow her, he took another glimpse at the stands and seen a grim look on the pastor’s face.

Making his way to his study, he tiredly plopped down on the lounger. “Tap, tap, tap… Pastor…. Pastor McDuff it’s me, Pastor Craig.” “Come in.” Pushing the door open, he enters closing the door back lightly, not knowing if the pastor has a headache or not he just stares. Having his head in the palm of his hands, he slid his hands down his face resting his elbows on his knees. Clamping his hands together, he rubbed his pointer fingers across his lips before he began to speak, “I don’t know how much more I could put up with this.” Grown close in their friendship voicing ones opinions was nothing considered strange, “So then why do you?” “She pays my salary.” “And what’s your point? What has that got to do with it?” “You don’t understand…. All that I possess she owns… she has me in the palm of her hands.” “That’s where your wrong my friend, God has called you for such a service and He alone has you in the palm of His hands. Never fear what man can do to you.” “Easy for you to say, you’re just visiting…You have a home in New York, I mess up with her…and I’m homeless. Breathing hard, If I even as so much disagree with her…I lose everything.” “You sound like you’re afraid.” Hearing this from his friend from so many years, was like a slap in the face. Sighing, God has not given me the spirit of fear and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” “You know, it’s more than quoting, but believe what you saying, the power is in your tongue, you can speak against or speak for yourself. We can’t exercise any of our strengths to fight the devil because we would definitely lose. But the Holy Ghost stands up for us. When we’re out of His will, we’re standing alone.” “I hear what your saying but there’s one more thing that stands out.” “What’s that?” “The good book says, to obey them that have the rule over you.” “But when it’s contrary to the word of God, do you still obey?” Rubbing the back of his neck the tenseness that he felt in the center of his back began to travel further abroad, working it’s way to his shoulders. Thinking of the last statement Pastor’ Craig made, “I guess I’m afraid I did just that…. Blowing some air through his lips…. And it maybe too late.” “The only time when it’s too late is when your six feet under. Charleston repent now, and come back to where you belong, in the pathway of righteousness.” “Repent? For Christ sakes I’m the pastor.” “That doesn’t exempt you or I, if we’re out of bounds with our Father, we have the advocate Jesus Christ to join us back in. Don’t let pride rear his ugly head in this, repent my friend and do it today.” Feeling ashamed and a hint of embarrassment, he asked if Pastor Craig would pray with him as well as for him.” “I thought you never ask.”