The Legacy of the Church Mother

In the days and weeks, perhaps even ions that followed the dawn of creation, God looked at what He had made, and called it, “GOOD!”

But when He looked at His greatest creation, the Lord saw an emptiness that beautiful gardens and flowing streams could not fill.

And so it was that the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam.

It was there that a choice was made to take something that was deep within man in order to fill the void and bring completeness.

Our little minds cannot even imagine how someone as majestic and lovely…someone as inventive and creative…someone with a heart as big as all outdoors could be formed from a rib of a man, but it was so.

Adam was delighted with what the Lord had done, and said, “She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”

One writer said it best…

“Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot. But out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and under his heart to be loved by him.”

Woman.

A suitable, fitting, proper help meet for man.

“I am woman, watch me roar” was a mantra sung and chanted by those whom I fear did not fully understand where legends come from.

Legends are not made by insistence of a place in society or history.

Legends are born.

We were created for greatness, each in our own way and in our own realm of influence.

We are not in this alone, nor are we an island unto ourselves, for we stand shoulder to shoulder with a long history of legendary women.

The songwriter who penned the words “I’m every woman” had it right, for indeed, we are EVERY woman.

We are single; married; divorced; widowed; mothers; grandmothers; aunts; homemakers; teachers; nurses; doctors; factory workers; accountants; pastor’s wives; secretaries; store clerks; business women; missionaries; leaders; followers; master chefs; musicians; inventors; writers; bus drivers; composers; policewomen; paramedics; Walmart greeters; prayer warriors.

We are Black and White…Hispanic and Asian…Arab and Israeli…Philipino and Afrikan…

We are every woman.

It is not a contradiction to say that we are both self-sufficient and dependent.

We can, and often do provide for ourselves, yet love when special attention is paid.

We know how to balance a checkbook and carpool…hopefully, not at the same time.

We can lovingly nurse a sick child back to health as well as brave the elements shoveling a snowy driveway.

We can build a Sunday School from the bottom up and prepare a good meal.

We are not afraid to be an anointed woman, at the same time, giving God the glory for it all.

We are every woman…strong and sometimes weak. We mentor and have been mentored. We pour out as it has been poured into us.

We stand for right when it might be unpopular to do so, but we continue to stand. We do not waver or doubt the Way.

We are every woman…legends and legends in the making.

The legends in the making, or young’uns, as someone lovingly calls us, walk in the steps of those who were not afraid to try.

We see a reflection in the ‘mirror of time’ women who were told they could not excel in business or education because of their gender.

We see a time when a woman’s voice was not a welcomed one, even in the Church.

We see those who suffered, and some who even died for the cause of Christ. They were Pentecostal when it was not fashionable to be sanctified, and were mocked, rebuked, and scorned.

We see women who did not conform to every whim and fad, but clung to the traditions set before them, and tenderly passed this love for separation unto the Lord to us.

It is because of their steps that our journey has no boundaries. We can do all things, and do them well, as God gives the strength and direction. This we learned seated at their feet.

We can stand, and do so proudly, because their words, and most importantly, their godly examples showed us the Way.

It has often been said that such women of faith are a Living Rule, the premise being that if the Bible were somehow taken from us, we would know the Way by studying the lives of such women.

Make no mistake…the ‘mirror of time’ does not reveal perfection, rather it shows us that failure does not define us…we can get up again because they stood the test of time.

So today we pledge to you, our living legends, and to all who will follow, we will remember from whence we came. We will not forget your sacrifice and faithful commitment. We will not sugarcoat the gospel for fame or fortune. We refuse to cast aside the traditions and principles that brought us over.

Mothers of the Church, YOU blazed the trail, and now today, we carefully march to your beat, in your footsteps of integrity and truth.

Because you showed us, not merely how to fly, but to soar with the eagles in the beauty and simplicity of holiness, and for a zillion other reasons, in reverence, and with undying love and respect, we whisper your names…

Sister Ruby Newman

Sister Irene Patterson

Sister Mattie McVety

Sister Faye Belote

Sister Teresa Baker

Sister Anna Bowen

Sister Mary McVety

Sister Rosemary Wardell

Sister Janet Fandale

Sister Mildred (Midge) Banks

Mother Willie Mae Jordan

Sister Mae Hartsock

Sister Betty Austin

Sister Sharon Reif

Sister Hannah Cole/Parent

Sister Geri McVety

Sister Peggie McGee

Treasure the Voices

Voices…sounds that are formed in the larynx and uttered with the mouth.

That which varies in pitch and resonance, giving us peace or angst, joy or sorrow, contentment or longing…voices.

A voice can bring a different feeling for each individual, depending on the tone and spirit behind it.

Hearing a baby uttering their first word (and prayerfully it is “Mommy” or “Daddy” and we do not hear a defiant “NO!”) or enduring their tired whine…

Listening to the laughter and nonsense chatter of children at play or the screeching words that grip the spine of every adult, “MINE! MINE! MINE!”…

Enjoying the sweet and dulcet tones of a gifted singer or the crackling that comes from someone who couldn’t find the right note with a flashlight and a road map, bless their heart…

It all involves a sound, emanating from the voice box.

As a lifelong lover of good music, there is nothing more pleasant to these tired ears than the clear and certain sound from those gifted in song.

My brother, Jim, says that you really can’t beat family harmony, and I know it is true. What makes this so is that family members tend to have the same rhythm and sound to their speech. Consequently, when they sing the harmony is tight and they blend so much easier than the average group.

While it would be wonderful if every voice was a pleasant sound, the truth is, there are just some voices that grate on the last nerve. Even my own voice sometimes makes me weary.

But then there are those voices you would love to hear again…

The last time I heard the voice of my brother it was last year on this date. David called to wish me Happy Birthday. We spoke for a short while, maybe 10 minutes or so…not long at all considering it was to be our last conversation.

Had I only known I would never hear his voice again…oh my! There were so many things left unsaid, but we thought we had all the time in the world, ya know? And we had just spent a weekend together a few weeks before, so I suppose we didn’t feel the need to stay on the phone all day. We talked a bit, I thanked him for the birthday call, we both said, “I love you,” and it was over.

Two days later he was gone.

I treasure his call. I don’t think I shall ever celebrate a birthday again without remembering that it was the last time I heard his voice.

But thank the Lord for memories. Memories warm the heart and bring a smile to the tear stained face. My brother was a funny dude, and what a time he would have had with this birthday, as it marks another milestone…as a friend says, “Today I am 50-10!” David would have gotten great mileage out of that.

Today let me encourage you to treasure the voices, for when they are silenced, and all that remains is a memory, it is too late to reach for words left unspoken.

Make the call. Drive the distance. One day, you will be SO glad you did.

What Do You See?

The Roman philosopher, Cicero (106-43 B.C.), is quoted as saying, “Ut imago est animi voltus sic indices oculi” (The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter).

Mr. Cicero must have known what he was talking about, for I have often been told that my eyes and facial expressions reveal what I am thinking. Woe is me, I am not always adept at hiding my true feelings, but I rest, assured in the knowledge that I am not alone. The eyes are very telling.

Such is the mirror of our eyes that I heard tell there are doctors who specialize in “reading the eyes” of a patient, accurately determining their illness. Amazing!

We are all aware that there are numerous expressions used every day regarding the eyes, and I dare say that we use them without even thinking about it: keep your eyes peeled (remain alert, watchful); pull the wool over your eyes (deceive, deception); beauty is in the eye of the beholder (a judgment call, an opinion); in the eye of the storm (middle, center of an unfavorable situation); looked with the naked eye (bare, nothing added); in the wink of an eye (fast, as in the time it takes to blink).

And we are all familiar with the expression used when someone looks at us cross eyed, it is said that they gave us the evil eye… I sometimes say, “Why did you look at me in that tone of voice?”

Spiritually speaking, there is an idiom used a lot today in religious circles, and it is the eyes of our understanding. It is taken from Scripture, when Paul told the Ephesian church that he prayed that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).

I’m all for that. My prayer is that my understanding of His Word and will be revealed to me and in me, but in this there is also a caution. You may wonder why one should use caution when desiring a deeper understanding, and I’m so glad you asked.

If our zeal for enlightenment does not line up with God’s Word, or moves us away from the traditions and principles of our forefathers in the gospel, then much knowledge hath made us a fool (Acts 26:24).

We see this happening today on an ever widening scale. The hunger for a greener, yet less strident pasture has led some to lay aside time-honored values and traditions of the Church.

It’s not called that, of course. The political term is that it is merely “the changing face of Pentecost,” and many see this as a necessary and correct thing. Hmmmm…

Well, if we are talking about how we ought to show more love and be less condemning, I agree, we need a face-lift. If we are looking at those who fall prey to finger pointing and making false assumptions based on personal bias, I will give you two thumbs up on that. A change is in order.

But if we are talking about casting off the principles of conduct and such which have long been our standard or line of demarcation, then please mark me down as one who does not agree.

This has been said before, but bears repeating…

Enlightenment never takes AWAY from light already given. It will only ADD to it.

Allow me to say that again…revelation that is divine will not remove the old landmarks, but will build on the foundation already laid.

I am prepared for those who will not side with me on this. Some will be quick to point out that this is “old school thinking/teaching,” however, I am convinced that ‘old’ is not a bad thing.

Someone agrees with me, and wrote, “In the truest sense, the principles in the Bible are not ‘old’ as much as they are timeless. While written ages ago, they are still fresh and applicable.”

Before someone jumps up, and cries, “But this is written by one of our ultra-conservative Pentecostals,” take note that it was printed in Our Daily Bread, a quarterly Christian/non-Pentecostal publication, and penned by Dave Branon.

Let’s come off our soapbox of “nobody believes this but us four and no more,” and realize that there are people the world over who just may walk a tighter road than we.

Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but trust me, y’all…there are folks who have not taken our right hand in fellowship and do not frequent our clubhouse, but yet they cling, desperately cling to principles which surpass our own convictions.

There is an old and tired concept of ‘drawing a line in the sand,’ but this line drawing works two ways. When we draw lines, whether tight or not so tight, it can become a judgment thing. Everyone not on our side of the line is bound for yon lower regions. Everyone who doesn’t see it the way we do is either in bondage or loose as a goose.

To be more explicit, lines are drawn by those who are willing to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water, as well as by those who stand against everything that looks or sounds new and innovative.

I read this recently, and find it powerfully true…

“The problem with a line in the sand is that it is easy to erase and redraw at your convenience. It is far better to draw a ‘Bloodline.’ There are some places the Bloodline will not let me go and some things the Bloodline will not let me do.”

If our eyes have been opened to anything…if our territory has been enlarged…if our horizons have been elevated…if our awareness of what is real has been enhanced…if we have seen anything of value, let it be because of the Blood, and draw the line there.

I would admonish all today who believe they have a revelation from on High, and are certain that the traditions of the past are archaic and cultural, check your vision. Ask yourself, Can my new opinions be supported with the Holy Scriptures?

You see, we can view things in a new and different light because of peer pressure or by listening to voices unhappy with the past. Those we have placed on a higher plain than the average bear can have a tremendous influence on our spiritual thinking. All of this plays into enlightenment.

It is has even happened that some folks have rejected their spiritual upbringing because of inconsistencies with application and administration, and think this ‘revelation’ is from the Lord.

But, is it?

Please hear me…no one says that perfection is with the old and destruction with the new. Admittedly, many things now viewed as just a leisurely past-time or forms of entertainment were preached against in my youth. But I am convinced that the men and women of old had our best interest at heart. I believe they circled the wagons for our protection and to make a distinction between clean and unclean.

In this new and enlightened day, we want to remove, or at least move a tad the fences and leave the range wide open. But again, I caution you to not be so hasty to drop the boundaries that have been set. Strive for godly balance and moderation. Living too far to the left or right will cause us to be lopsided Christians, but maintaining a middle of the road stride will keep us from falling in the ditch.

Honest to goodness, while they are the norm today, we didn’t play golf, go bowling, or frequent ball parks and movie houses. Oh my stars! Heavens above! Those things were never allowed in Pentecostal circles!

We were never allowed to play games with dice or cards, and we certainly did not dream of playing with a real deck of cards. But again, it is common today, and no one thinks anything about it.

For the record, I see nothing wrong with golf, bowling, or going to a ball game, and never have. But it is not my opinion that matters in such areas, for the only soul I must give an account for is my own.

For those who do have an issue with these things, that is your conviction and I respect that. What troubles my spirit is when those who have no issue or those who do have issues condemn folks with a differing opinion.

Thumping my chest, crying out that no one is holding to a standard/principle but me is as damaging as those who call us out for holding to one. Am I making sense here?

Those who have not altered their stand, moaning that they are the only one’s right are like Elijah. He thought he was all alone until the Lord stopped his wailing and said, “Dude, I have 7,000 men who have not bowed their knees unto Baal!” (I Kings 19:18).

And if you have altered your place from where you once stood, lay aside the attitude that no one is as enlightened as you.

In other words…if someone thinks golf or a ball game is wrong, don’t do it, but please don’t assume the rest who do are lost and undone.

Likewise, please do not label those who hold to a different degree of separation than you or your crowd as being in bondage.

Fair, don’t ya think?

If “the changing face of Pentecost” is about anything positive, let it be about cutting each other some slack. Can we not give each other room to be a Christian? Can we not trust the abiding Spirit to lead and guide without hanging our personal opinions and views on them?

If our eyes are opened to enlightenment, let it be that which edifies and brings glory to God. Alan Redpath (1907-1989), noted British Evangelist and pastor wrote, “The condition of an enlightened mind is a surrendered heart.”

Therein lies a key to it all…surrender, obedience, compliance with a thought, idea, thing, even if it goes against the flesh.

When our eyes are opened to that which is divine and surrendered to it, we will be like John the Baptist, who saw the Spirit descending like a dove. We will be like Stephen, who saw the Lord seated on the right hand of power. And we will be like Isaiah, who not only saw the Lord high and lifted up…he saw his own heart condition.

True enlightenment will indeed bring about a change, but it will begin with a heart change. Our hearts will retain what is planted and plant the more, or we will throw the harvest to the trash heap and plant anew.

Ask yourself today, what do I see?