Benson.
This morning I walked around the church in Benson and sat down waving to everyone. Mr. Chris seemed to be upset about something and Miss Dee said that we were cleaning our closet. “Now whoever your hand is on... I want you to ask the good Lord to help them let that crap go! Any way you feel comfortable…” Mr. Chris went on. “Silently, out loud… It don’t matter”
I looked around, not used to this kind of church, and just watched as they prayed for each other.
“Lord have mercy!” Mr. Chris went on. “We need your touch today! We need you to take the things we can’t let go of and help us to shake it loose! se us, Father God... to encourage and strengthen each other. By ourself, we can be weak. We can and will fall flat on out faces... But You can help us become closer, as one body with You being the head, Lord. Thank You, thank You, thank You!”
Mr. Chris stood then and I shifted on my feet, not really sure what was going on. “When I was young, my preacher’s name was Henry Melton… We called him Brother H. When he felt like I do right now, you know what he did? He called it a glory run!” Mr. Chris started running around. “Something’s happening in Tombstone, people! God is here! Can you feel Him?”
“Havin church Natalie!” Jeff said to me.
“Yeah but…” I said, confused. “Church is always people sittin’ and listenin’ to some borin’ guy talkin words we don’t get. No one’s standin’ and puttin’ hands on each other and runnin’ round incircle.” I narrowed my eyes in confused still.
“Who feels lifted up?” Mr. Chris asked.
“Now this is CHURCH!” Miss Abi exclaimed.
“People, We done had a Holy Ghost meeting today! Let’s pray…” Mr. Chris said. “Lord, thank you for all your healing. Thanks for coming down here and hanging out with us. Thanks for letting us serve you And bless that spread out there waiting for us to eat it up.! Be with my friends today. Keep em safe and happy and healthy. AMEN! Everybody go grab something to eat and visit for as long as you want to.”
We said goodbye to everyone and I walked over to Mr. Chris when he was alone. “Hey Mister Chris?” I asked him.
“Hi Natalie.”
“Anything you wanna say bout the new church for the article in the Bee I’m writin’? I got Mister Bass to take some pictures.”
“Well, I’m just so happy that all of you filled it up today, Natalie.”
“Oh the Church look beauty Natalie,” Miss Angeles said.
“Y’all better get some food. Jeffery might not save much,” Mr. Chris said.
“This is so neat! We never got food at church back in Boston!” I exclaimed, looking around at the spread of food. “I gonna write a big article bout this! Not every day a church opens up and we get food!”
People kept talking and I went to look at the fountain to look at it. After a while I went to church in Bisbee.
Bisbee.
I walked over to Brother D and he greeted me. “Will you join us for church today? It starts at one.”
“Yeah! I’m early then!” I grinned.
“Yes a little bit. But you are welcome to wait.”
“I already went to church in Benson today. I’m gonna write ’bout it for the Bee. Was real weird. They was puttin’ their hands on each other and prayin’ while standing.”
“Well I try to not be weird.”
“Then.... Mr Chris ran around the church. Weren’t like any church I’d ever been to.”
“Maybe he needed to pee.”
“Miss Pet said the spirit got to him.” I giggled.
“That could be.”
“What does that mean, Mister?”
“It means God is inspiring you.”
“Inspiring, Sir?”
“Yes he is making you feel happy.”
“Well he did seem happy. You ever had that mister?”
“God always makes you feel happy. Yes I have.”
“He sure did last week.”
“But I don’t run around. Also sometimes people think God wants them to do something but it is not God talking to them.”
“Ooh… But Ma said she felt God talkin’ to her last week.”
“Yes they get fooled.”
“She said all the sermons was talkin’ to her. Tellin’ her she had to stop bein’ afraid of bad guys.”
“Well I will discuss that some today.”
“She said we wasn’t gonna be afraid anymore cause God’s got us in his hand.”
“Yes he does that for all but sometime decide to jump out of God’s hand.”
“Why would anyone do that? He’s got strong hands.”
“Because they have been fooled by Satan or they are just foolish.”
“Oh…”
“We will talk about that a bit today.”
“We will?”
“Sometimes think God wants them to do things but it is not really God talking.”
“Mr pastor?”
“Yes?”
“We was real scared a few days ago... We was playin’ games at this house where they got some fun games for us kids and this guy came in to talk to us.”
“Oh?”
“He said his name was Clint and then all of a sudden we heard Mister Ansar callin’ for Clint to get back to him.”
“Oh really?”
“So I ran out and called for Mr Ansar to tell him that Mr Clint was there with us and then Mr Clint ran off towards town. So then Mr Ansar ran after him.”
“I see.”
“I didn’t tell him my name or who my ma and pa were though. Cause we’ve had some stuff goin’ on over Christmas with people not likin what ma and pa do.”
“That could have been wise.”
“They told me not to talk to strangers. But if you’re in a preacher outfit I can trust you right?”
“That might be a good idea. Yes you can.”
“I gotta look out for my little brother ya know. He’s just turned nine and I gotta make sure he safe. Sometimes ma and pa are so busy with work.”
“That is what a big sister should do.”
“Hey Brother D?”
“Yes?”
“Do ya know anything about Frogbuzzards in the mine in Pearce?”
“No I don’t.”
“Oh okay… Mr Chris told me I had to ask around ’bout them.”
“Alright. Well I have not heard of them.”
“Okay.”
“Surely.”
“Do you know the kid’s paper, the Bee?”
“Yes Jeffery was talking to me about it.”
“Well somethin’ I’m doin’ is interviewin’ everyone in town. I ask ’em questions and people can get to know ’em better.”
“That is a lot of people.”
“It’s not lots of questions... Can I ask you ’em quick before church?”
“Sure.”
I interviewed Brother D and he said his full name was Brother Dave Core. He’d been in Tombstone for four or five years and came to Tombstone for the church, but General Suzi invited him. He worked for the Church and lived there too. For fun, he said he talked to people and visited with people. His favorite place was Bisbee, just like me. He didn’t have any pets and wasn’t allowed to marry because of his job. He said that Mr. Chris and Miss Pet did things a little differently and told me how they all dedicated their lives to serving Jesus but sometimes they did it differently. He didn’t have any family, but he’d known General Suzi for a long time.
The church bell rang and then we walked into the church as people joined us for the service. Brother D began by praying, “Almighty ever-living God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call our Father, bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, that we may merit to enter into the inheritance which you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Let us pray to the Lord for forgiveness of our sins and failings. O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and enjoy Thee, for Christ’s sake, Amen.”
Brother D began with a reading from Isaiah. “‘Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. The word of the Lord.”
“Our Psalm for today. Your response is: ‘The Lord will bless his people with peace.’ Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise. Give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise. Give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’ The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever.’”
Ma came in then and sat beside me and I leaned close to her happily. I listened close as Brother D went on.
“A reading from the Acts of the Apostles,” Brother D went on and we turned in our Bibles to the right location as he read, “‘Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying, ‘In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.’ The word of the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. ‘The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.’ Alleluia, alleluia. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle Mark.”
“‘This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Gospel of the Lord.”
I listened closer when Brother D continued his message. “A dove descended upon Jesus and God proclaimed this is my son who I am well pleased Since that day many have come forth claiming to be sent by God. Some claim to be acting for God when they commit heinous acts. These are the false prophets which we are warned about! Our God, the true God, is a God of love and forgiveness. In his life on this earth Jesus was often insulted, mocked , even assaulted and eventually crucified. Never did he urge others to violence. He could have called legions of angels to protect him from those who would harm him. But he never did.”
“Cause he weren’t afraid!” I piped up then and covered my mouth. Ma smiled at that point and wrapped her arm tighter around me.
“Even in the garden of Gethesmene when he was seized by armed men and one of the apostles took up a sword striking off the ear of one of his attackers,” Brother D went on. What did Jesus do? He healed the man and told his Apostles to put away their swords. So any that will do violence to others in God’s name is not acting for the true God. Many are lead astray by false prophets we should forgive these fools. But they will be held accountable by the laws of man and God in due time. Those who advocate violence in God’s name have been led astray. But the harm they do to others must be prevented on this earth. God says to turn the other cheek.”
I waved to Mrs. Pet and Mr. Bass and Ma leaned down to whisper to me, “No pointing, kiddo. Listen to Brother D.” I nodded and looked forward, knowing I’d told Brother D about how I protected Jimmy.
“But he does not say we cannot and should not protect others,” Brother D went on. “Jesus is the true God. Any who kill others in their God’s name are acting not for God.”
We recited the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, and then prayed for the needs of the people and the church. Brother D recited the words of the communion and then blessed us as we went. “The mass is ended I hope you all will enjoy God’s favor this week and he will look upon you with grace and wish you well in your lives. May God be with you this week. May you have cheer and God’s bounty with you throughout the week until we meet again. May the LORD bless you, and keep you; May the LORD make his face shine to upon you, and be gracious to you; May the LORD turn his countenance to you and grant you peace. “
I watched Brother D walk out of church and then looked over at Ma. “Service is over?”
“Yup but now we get to meet your pa at Miss Pet’s service.” Ma nodded.
I went up to Pet before she could leave the building and asked, “Miss Pet? I got a question.”
“Yes child.” Pet smiled.
“Well okay... I was interviewin’ Brother Dave for the paper, right? And when I asked if he was married… He said he didn’t get married in his order. Cause he dedicates his life to Jesus.”
“Alright.”
“But then I thought ’bout how you and Mr Chris are both married… So why’s it different?”
“You will need to ask him why it is different. Only he can answer his choice to you, not me,” Pet told me.
“Well he said that it was cause you serve Jesus in different ways. But then church started.”
“Not really,” Pet said.
“So then you can dedicate your life to Jesus and Mister Bass?” I asked her.
“You really should ask him about the specifics concerning his order. Am I being interviewed?”
“That’s a very good question, Kiddo, but I think Miss Pet’s right. That sounds like a better question for Brother D.” Ma smiled proudly at me.
“I was just curious Miss Pet. Guess we should go outside.”
“Good to see you, Pet.” Ma smiled at Pet.
“Thank you for understanding. Good seeing you as well,” Pet said to me.
I ran off outside and asked Brother D, “Mr uh.. reverend uh... Brother D?”
“Well um... can you explain why your order’s different than Miss Pet and Mister Chris?” I asked as Ma talked with Mr. Bass.
“We take Holy vows to remain poor, never marry or break our celibacy as a sacrifice for God,” Brother D explained. “Some in other orders vow to never talk again”
“Never talk!!” I blinked. “I could never do that!” Ma chuckled.
“I know one woman who took vows in an order to never talk.” Brother D said.
“That is a big sacrifice,” Pet said.
“After five years see was allowed to speak to the mother superior. She was only allowed one sentence so she said my mattress is to hard. Then she had to wait five years before she could speak again,” Brother D explained.
“So then um.... you just take different sacrifices than Miss Pet and Mr Chris?” I asked curiously.
“The next time she came in she said my room is too cold,” Brother D said. “Then five years later she came back and was allowed to speak one sentence again.”
“Wow…” I giggled and wrote things down in my notebook.
“The mother superior stood up and said thats enough I have had it with you the only we have heard from you since you got he is complaints,” Brother D said.
“So Brother Dave.... You take different sacrifices than Missus Pet and Mr Chris?” I asked.
Pet and Bass headed off down the street and Brother D nodded to me. “Yes we do, but we serve God together.”
“Well that makes more sense. Thanks for answerin’ that for me Brother D.”
“Surely,” Brother D said to me.
“We should get to Tombstone, Kiddo.” Ma told me. “Thanks for the sermon today, Brother D.”
We said goodbye and headed towards the church in Tombstone.
Tombstone.
We headed to the church and I went in and sat in the front row. Ma greeted Pa outside and then came in to sit beside me. It was so good to see Pa and I cuddled close to him as he sat down beside me.
“Pa did you know that in some orders of priesthood, there’s people who take a promise not to talk ever?” I asked him. Pa smiled and just nodded to me as Miss Pet began.
Pet looked around, blushing as she greeted us. “I can’t tell a fib, I have missed you all. Our honeymoon was lovely and we will find ways to make sure it doesn’t end, but… Today’s message… ‘Loved Into Change’ might be a bit of a mind bender.”
I rubbed her head and sighed, whispering, “Not more mind benders….”
“So I’m gonna pray that the Lord opens your spiritual vision a bit,” Pet went on and started to pray. “Father, we don’t always get it right, but with your help we come might close to pleasing you. So Father, I’m asking for grace to understand and the wisdom to follow through for each man woman and child here today. I ask this in the name of your son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“Love yourself manifesto. I read a powerful article recently and I’d like to share it with you. ‘As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worrying about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening. Today I live each day, day by day and I call it FULFILMENT. As I began to love myself I understand how much it can offend somebody if I try to force my desires on this person, even though I KNEW THE TIME WAS NOT RIGHT and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today i call it RESPECT. As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY. As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to GROW. Today I call it MATURITY. As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is not good for my health - food, people, things, situations and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.
“‘As I began to log myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is MODESTY,’” Pet went on. “‘As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time, and stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today I ONLY DO WHAT BRINGS ME JOY AND HAPPINESS things I love to do and that makes my heart cheer and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it SIMPLICITY. As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But as I connected it to my mind, became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART. We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problem with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today i know THAT IS LIFE.’” Looking up she said, “I am pretty sure you know this passage, but I’m gonna share it with you anyhow. “ She grinned. “In the gospel of Matthew, he says, ‘But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’”
“Were the sadducees always sad?” I whispered to my pa and he whispered something back to me.
“‘And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets,’” Pet went on. “This begs the question, are we capable of loving others, we we do not fully love ourselves? Can we be tolerant of another, when we are so intolerant of ourselves? Can we forgive another if we cannot forgive ourselves? Even our heavenly Father exclaims that our meter we use to measure others will be used to measure or examine ourselves. Further inspection of God’s word tells us the length LOVE will go… ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?’”
“I’ll be unpacking that little passage in the weeks to come,” Pet said and looked around. “The Psalms gives us a method and tells us the end result of this type of loving. I will close by praying Psalm eighty-six. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. A prayer of David. Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.’”
“Now that last verse is ver special to me,” Pet said to us. “So much so I have it needle pointed on a small pillow of me.”
“I wanna see!” I perked up then and covered my mouth as Thomas patted my head.
“Show me off... use me... let others see how you treat and bless those who are yours,” Pet went on. “But it is also sometimes hard to live up to because to have God show you off for HIS goodness. Means first ya gotta be good. Second you gotta remember, you cant show off for yourself. There is only one way to express love of self. That comes thru seeing yourself thru the eyes of the ONE who created ya in His image and likeness. If it weren’t for the love of the Lord, we’d all be wallowing in the muck and mire and doing all manner of strange things to survive. God be praised for this love that we can love ourselves, love others and return the Love He’s given us right back to Him. Let all those who have experienced God’s leading, guiding, comfort, joy, peace and love say AMEN!”
Ma headed to the office after we talked with Mr. Chet and I looked at my pa, knowing I was probably going to get a lecture soon so I fiddled with my skirt.
“What’s this I hear you got a crush?” Pa looked at me with a smile.
“Uh…” I shifted on my feet, looking around. “Um… Well… It’s nothin’. And hey you already knew bout that!”
“What boy has caught the gleam in my daughters eyes?” Pa asked.
“Don’t ya remember pa?”
“AH! I thought so… am I going to have to get the shotgun ready?”
I looked down at the carpet and said, “He won’t even let me in his clubhouse, daddy. He said it’s for boys only, even though we let him in ours.”
Pa laughed at me and hugged me tight. “I read about that in your article in the Bee this morning. Maybe you two need your own clubhouse.”
“But…” I blinked. “Paa!”
“On second thought, forget what I just said...if you need a place to hangout with him, you just bring him home...I might need a talk with him anyways.”
“Daddy..” I sighed. “He don’t even care ’bout me other than to get stuff I write for the paper. He probably won’t wanna come over. But um... I got to hug him this week…” I blushed.
“Oh we will see dear. A pretty little sweetheart like you, before long will have every body in town knocking on our door.” Pa smiled.
“I had to beg him to hug him ’cause he was sad.” I frowned and looked down. “He finally did while we was walkin’ out. But it was still a hug.”
“Don’t worry dear. Yo have plenty of time to figure out boys and crushes and stuff… just promise me you wont get married before I do.”
“Ya pretty much already married, pa.” I frowned at Pa and pointed to his hand.
“Well then don’t get married until you’re thirty. How’s that?” Pa asked.
“Thirty?!?!” I giggled. “I gotta wait that long???”
“Ok dear, we best be headin’ home. We can talk about you and Jeff and the birds and the bees later.”
“Paaa don’t say his name!!!” I blinked.
“Who’s name? Oh! Sorry munchkin.”
“Geez pa.” I frowned.
Pa tickled me and I heard Miss Jade and Mr. Chet talking about getting married so I went over to her and tugged her sleeve. “Miss Jade?”
“Yes dear?” Miss Jade looked down at me.
“Um... There’s a bakery place over in Pearce, Mister Chet. But Miss Jade… Did you tell your pa bout marryin’ mister Chet?”
“No sweetie my pa passed way, few years ago, so not able tell him.”
“Oh... well yer lucky.” I glared back at my pa.
“Your pa giving you hard bout boys?” Miss Jade leaned down to my level and grinned.
“Natalie, let’s go.” Pa glared at me.
I nodded to her and said, “Uh huh. It’s jes one boy and he don’t even like me so… Sorry ma’am.” I turned to pa and looked down. “Yes pa.”
“What’s the boy’s name?” Mr. Chet asked, bending down. “Don’t worry, I can keep a secret.”
I shook my head and said, “I ain’t tellin no one no more. Pa’s gonna tell the whole town.”
Miss Jade stood back up and said, “It’s okay. No problem if you ever need talk, come out to the ranch.”
“I bet it’s Jeffery or Millhouse,” Mr. Chet guessed and I blushed beat red, looking down at a spot on the floor.
Pa knelt in front of me and looked into my eyes. “Sweetie, I am just giving you a hard time. You know I love you. But you have to be careful with boys.”
“Let’s jes go home.” I said and took his hand, walking towards home with Pa.
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