Skip to main content

True Church Stories - #1

Today begins a new series of posts here on the blog called, "True Church Stories."  Many people tell me I should share funny things that have happened over the years in church or associated with ministry.  These are stories I've shared in circles of friends that have provided some of the greatest laughs.  Here's my first and I hope you find it as funny as I do!

The year was 1984.  I was still in Bible College at VFCC and I was traveling for the school, ministering in churches.  At the time, the song, "El Shaddai" by Amy Grant was all the rage.  It was on the top ten of the Billboard (Christian) charts, and was actually "Song of the Year" in 1983 at the Dove Awards.   Suffice it to say there was no shortage of this song as a "special" at churches all across the land.  I was no exception, singing this song often back then as I traveled and ministered.

This particularly Sunday  I was ministering in an AG church in Allentown, PA and sang the song that morning.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-Elyon na Adonai,
Age to age You're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai. 

Upon finishing the song, the senior pastor came back to the pulpit and (completely 100% serious) nodded his head in affirmation and appreciation and said, "How beautiful.  Thank you Sister, for that lovely song.  Church, don't you  just love those Spanish songs?"

It was all I could do to hold my composure throughout the rest of the service.

Labels:

Comments

Pastor Keith Jones said…
That is just so funny. One time I let a woman sing and she introduced her song this way: "you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friends nose".

Honest! She never sang again!
12:50 AM
Anonymous said…
Can't wait to read the rest of the series. You know this is book material! :) Have a great weekend. Don't forget to turn your clock back!
10:59 AM
Dr. Deanna DossShrodes said…
What Keith, you didn't let her sing again? What kind of pastor are you? That sounds kind of judgmental! LOL!!!!!!!! OMW, that is a scream.

Ruth, I would love to write a book of this nature...

Love you guys
11:53 AM
Rhonda said…
Love it!!! Can't wait to read more - and I'm sure a book would be necessary!!
1:14 PM
Melissa Davis said…
WOW.....good stuff, good stuff I tell you, lol.

YES, PD WRITE THE BOOK!!!
7:34 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are no
29 comments
Read more

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we
12 comments
Read more

Book giveaway starts TODAY!

Today begins a book giveaway here on the blog!  The more times you comment, the greater chance you have to win! A friend at Charisma House asked if I'd like to review some books and give some away.  What a delightful idea!  We will be giving away several books over the next few weeks.  I do need to let you know that these books have been provided to me free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So here's how it's gonna work...for every time a reader leaves a comment on any of this week's blog posts today through Thursday, November 3 at midnight, or on the facebook comment thread when the same post publishes there, I will enter your name in the drawing one time.  You can comment more than once a day!  You get your name entered every single time you post.  So, comment away!  Let your voice be heard!    We will draw the winner's name at midnight on Thursday and announce it Friday morning.  The book will be mailed to you..  The first book we are g
19 comments
Read more