A Facebook posting on Friday by a friend from Alabama caught my attention. She and her husband were headed to Texas for the Solar Eclipse. They were in an accident on Interstate 20, but the damage to the back of their truck wasn't a game cha…
A Facebook posting on Friday by a friend from Alabama caught my attention. She and her husband were headed to Texas for the Solar Eclipse. They were in an accident on Interstate 20, but the damage to the back of their truck wasn't a game changer. They were Texas bound!
Their destination was Leakey, TX. Seriously, how could you pick a more picturesque setting? You couldn't! Leakey represents the Texas hill country at its finest. Several years ago, I toured a children's home located on a ranch in Leakey. The setting is beyond beautiful.
I responded to the Facebook posting on messenger with a note that the welcome mat is always out at our home. I asked that they stop by to visit if they could find the time. Yesterday, we received a text they would stop by briefly.
Their thoughtfulness to gift us with their presence was greatly appreciated. During the years that they lived in Henly, their friendship meant much. Actually, it still does. Friendship isn't limited by location. Though the time shared with us yesterday was brief, it was most enjoyable.
The thing our friends miss most about Henly is the church. The family of faith feels like an extended family and people intuitively feel like they are home. A sense of connectedness is immediate. You don't find that everywhere and when it occurs, it orchestrates friendship formations that last a lifetime.
Our friends didn't find a church home in Alabama that works for them. Consequently, they worship weekly watching the broadcast messages of the church the lady previously attended in another part of Alabama. The downside of doing that is the absence of friendship formation and the support of a local church family that stands beside you.
All of the Baptist Churches they've attended where they live have a common characteristic. There are some people who feel like the litmus test of a good sermon is accompanied by a pastor that screams his message. Our friends prefer the kind of setting they found in Henly. It is my belief that effective communication doesn't include screaming. Pulpit pounding may work for some folks, but I am not of that school of thought.
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