Marrhead Days

I brought cous cous to a fellowship meal one time at a church I served. One old boy, Paul, was from Magoffin County, and he never let me hear the end of it. When it was announced I would be appointed to serve the church in Morehead, he exclaimed, “Marrhead?! Won’t be no cous cous out there. It’a rough grub, corn and beans, boy!” He also said, “they’ll sing you down out there!” which means if they think you’re done preaching, they’ll start singing!

Well, first fellowship meal, a woman sure enough brought cous cous!!! And they never sang me down… altho on Sunday evenings, Dave Saxon would quote a Gospel song at the end of the service!

One that he recommended to me has come back up recently.

It’s been a rough season in the church. A number of people are really going through a variety of tough times. It got me to thinking about how many people are suffering and don’t have a church or pastor. And that got me to thinking that part of church planting and part of praying for workers in the harvest field is to send people out to bring the comfort of the Gospel to a hurting world.

Dave Saxon told me about a song by Greater Vision, “Preacher, Tell Me Like It Is.” Like I said, I have been listening to it a lot lately. Here are the lyrics. Give it a listen if you want:

“Preacher
I'd say it's been a while since you heard this request,
but my spirit is tired and I need rest.
I want to hear from Heaven a clear word from God,
A sermon of conviction straight from the heart.

I've been hearin' other preachers say I don't have to change.
The most elequent of speakers tell me I'm okay.
But it hasn't eased my conscience and I know it's not the truth.
So when you stand before us, can I count on you?

Oh Preacher, you say you want to be my friend,
don't be afraid to call my sin what it is.
And Preacher, tell me I can overcome,
but it's only by the blood of the Lamb.
Don't tell me like I wish it was, Preacher tell me like it is.

So open up the word and let the spirit lead,
preach until I've heard God speak to me.
Don't worry 'bout my feelin's, don't worry 'bout my shame,
Just preach the cross of Jesus and that I'm to blame!

Life is quickly passing, the world is fading fast
and the foolishness of preaching is the only hope we have.”

A couple lines are really getting me. “You say you want to be my friend,” and “the foolishness of preaching is the only hope we have.”

Let me tell you another thing about Paul, the guy who gave me grief about bringing cous cous to a fellowship meal. One day he came to my office with a complaint. With tears in his eyes, he said, “no one is getting saved.” I wish more people would come and complain with tears that no one is getting saved!