Awesome Weekend Experience - Part II

Last Sunday, May 19th was an awesome day for a number of reasons.  You are going to need a cup of coffee or tea and a couple of minutes to read this one.  Seriously, it took me about 40 minutes to write it all down.  I'm sure I'll probably split it up later and post some more as I remember more of the details.  Anyway, read on and enjoy.

The second awesome experience came on Sunday morning as we all headed to church where I was selected to be the devotional speaker for the morning.  It was Family and Friends Day at Cumberland AME.  Wow!  What an experience!

Here is a little background, my grandfather was Rev. Felix C. Rhue.  Granddaddy preached his last sermon, ever on this side of heaven, in 1994 from the pulpit of Cumberland A.M.E church. I can still see him standing there proclaiming the word of God and the truth of Christ in his robe.  Sometimes I even see him in his white suit.  I see his big rimmed glasses and his curly hair neatly combed to one side.  I see his smile and his powerful facial features.  I see hear his voice.  After he died, long after, I began the process of entering the ministry.

Now, the rest of the current story.  I was invited to speak at Cumberland once before, but the pastor informed me that I would not be using the pulpit but instead the podium.  This was okay, but secretly and not so secretly I longed to have an experience of being in the pulpit where granddaddy once stood.  Anyway, this weekend when I arrived I spoke to the pastor and we both were excited about the day.  He is a very nice man and huddled the choir and the pastoral staff together before the service started.  In the huddle before the service started Rev. Lance prayed an amazing prayer.  I had never witnessed such a strong word.  He prayed for the church, the pastor, the families and friends, the occasion, the speaker - me, the choir and all the ears and hearts that would hear the word of God.  He prayed a strong prayer and he didn't take all day.  He was moved.  Well, as we got ready to walk in, I asked the pastor did he want me to sit on the side again like I had done before with the previous pastor.  He smiled and said no.  I was shocked but excited.  He said, come on into the pulpit.  I was speechless and so grateful.

Stepping into the pulpit was amazing.  Instantly the emotions of the moment began to build.  I was siting in the speaker's chair.  I was in God's pulpit where his servant Rev. Felix - granddaddy once preached.  I was just so humbled and overwhelmed.  Wow!

The service started with powerful songs from the choir, a powerful prayer by Brother Philip Lance, Jr.  Little Lance prayed in a way that you knew it was God.  His words were clear, powerful, poignant and precise.  He hit things that one doesn't get on rote memory.  From then on it was clear that God was moving in a powerful way.

There were moments during songs that I smiled as I thought of grandma and granddad.  I had tears as I thought of his last sermon, his last days, and grandma never getting to hear me preach.  I got chocked up at thinking about the moment.  I can remember during the litany thinking, God has had his hand on this whole moment b/c everything is flowing together so well.  I mean the call to worship, the purpose, the litany, the prayers and the songs were all on point.  In fact some of the songs were the same ones I had been singing since I started preparing.  Also, the litany contained two or three ideas that God had given me to touch on in the devotional.

As I sat I could feel my nerves and my emotions rising.  I wanted to do well.  I wanted to do well for God.  I wanted to do well for me.  I wanted to do well for the congregation, my family and friends, and my grandparents.  I remember praying, "Lord don't let the magnitude of this moment swallow me up and overwhelm me."  I also prayed the lines from a Toby Mack song, "Lord, if you want to steal my show... I'll watch you lead, if you have something to say... go ahead and take it away."  I prayed for the church, the message and messenger.

As it got closer to the devotional on the program I pulled out my paper.  By now I had most of it memorized but I was nervous that I might forget something or misquote myself.  I jotted down a few notes and then listened to Mr. Bates play Amazing Grace and a medley on the saxophone.  He was awesome as were all others worshiping God.  I think that was the key, they were all worshiping God.

I was introduced as the speaker by my brother and one of my best friends, Vincent.  Except for my wife, Vincent is my best friend.  We are brothers and friends and I owe a lot of my life to the blessings God has given me through him.  I'll tell anyone who will listen that he is an awesome brother and friend.  He has helped me through more jams, into better situations, and kept me safe more times than I can count.  As he began his introduction I started to cry.  Heck, I'm staring to cry now just thinking of it.  Vincent has always been there for me since I can remember.  Even though we fought a lot growing up, we were thicker than thieves as they say.  We worked together, played together, laughed together, fought together, struggled together, rode together, went to school together, and just kept each other through some dark days.  As he talked we both cried.  I couldn't stop crying.  I was being introduced in the most raw and real way by a friend and brother who has seen me at my lowest and cheered me on when I was at my best.  When he finished I was so glad, for once, that the choir had another song before the message.  I needed all that time to dry my eyes, my nose and get myself "together."

When I got ready to speak I took a moment to thank Vincent for the introduction, thank the pastor, praise God, praise the members and participants in the worship service and get myself ready.  And yes, God stole the show.  In that moment he stole the show.  I got a chance to look at Daddy in the congregation sitting to my left, and he started to smile.  I saw Felicia, Liz, Ari and Tina.  I saw Trish, my wife who is so loving and lovely.  I saw other family and friends and even my kids waiting to see if I was okay and what would be next.  I hope they saw Christ.  I definitely saw him.  I saw him in their faces.  I saw him in my dad's eyes, so strong and powerful.  I saw Him in my wife's smile which reminded me of "I am with you."  I saw him and I felt Him and it got rolling.

The message title was "Why is God Awesome."  The message seemed to just flow out, or fall out of me.  I spun around and saw mom smiling and nodding and I knew that God had heard my prayer.  He had stolen the show and he had kept the moment from being to big.  The sermon was raw, emotional and fun.  I felt it all.  I felt granddaddy, and grandma.  I felt my parents and siblings love.  I felt my wife's love and joy and support welling up and spilling over.  I felt the Spirit telling me to leave it all there.

It was awesome to spend the time in worship and be in the place where granddaddy was before.  It was awesome to have God show up and show out.  It was awesome to feel it all.

We made it home safely at 8:30 and we put the cap on the weekend.


God, thank you.  Thank you for the time in worship, the chance the worship, the introduction and the fellowship, the family ties and bonds, the church that keeps on praising you, and the opportunity to live a dream of mine.  Lord, I love you.  Lord, I need you.  Lord, I want you to always steal the show and say what needs to be said; to me and through me.  Lord, I love you and I thank you for an awesome weekend with my Awesome God and awesome family.

Trish, thank you for all that you did this weekend for Gabbi and me.  You are amazing!

Awesome Weekend Experience - Part I

Last weekend was awesome because it was Gabbi's birthday on Sunday.  Gabbi our second oldest turned 13 on Sunday.  She was so excited about her birthday.  She counted down the days for over a week.  I can remember seeing 9 days left neatly written on the fridge whiteboard.  She kept updating it until we left for Georgetown.  I was a bit worried that all of our activities would overshadow her special day, but I think it went well.

We started off the celebration at Frank's arcade in Inlet Square Mall.  Somehow we managed to get a couple of cards with $5 - $10 each for the girls and Ziah.  They played a skeeball, air hockey, motorcycle racing, frogger games, and even the hot shots basketball game.  Gabbi managed to burn her money really quickly playing one of the higher cost higher reward games.  Those games usually pay out big prizes when you win, however, you win very infrequently.  In any regard we gave her another couple of dollars and it seemed like she had a good time.  We were there for a hour or so before everyone was out of money.  The girls and Ziah won over 300 tickets on their card.  I think Gabbi had over 300 on hers as well.  She bought a tiara with her winning tickets.  Cassarra had to combine several cards and tickets, but used it to score some ridiculously large shades.

All in all the arcade was a fun memory for us all.  We even managed to get in and out of the Inlet without being grossed out or embarrassed by any of the bikers who were frequenting the beach for the "Biker's Weekend."

When we got to my mother's house on Saturday night the girls had tacos and got to sleep in the playroom.  I have no idea what time they fell asleep, but it seemed like it was very late.  However late they stayed up, they seemed fine on Sunday.

On Sunday we shared in a worship service, and after church on Sunday the awesomeness of Gabbi's special day continued.  We celebrated Gabbi's birthday with cake and ice cream at my parents house.  She had a great cake from Publix that we picked up in Columbia and brought with us.  We also grabbed a bucket of Neapolitan ice cream to go with the cake.  She had all of my siblings except Alex, plus Deatrice and Ziah singing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.  All of the nieces and nephews were there except for Abby.  I could see Gabbi smiling as they sang.  She loved being in the center of attention, I could tell.  I was very happy for her.  We all need moments like this.

After making a quick wish and blowing out all thirteen candles we all carved up the cake.  Of course the birthday girl got the first slice.  Afterwards, mom bought her presents and we had our gifts there as well.  I was happy that the evening was ending with her as the center and focus.  She is a wonderful child and I hope that at 13 she continues to grow and mature towards the amazing adult that I know she can be.

We got back around 8:30 and gave Gabbi one last surprise, a bag on nail polish.  Gabbi smiled and said, "Yes, I was starting to run low!"

Gabbi - Happy Birthday!  You are awesome and I hope you had an amazing 13th birthday.