Of course, this statement is not uniformly so, as sometimes my glumness can overcome the best efforts of fellowship and food, both actual and spiritual. But more often than not, even if I come with a heavy heart, I leave with a lighter one. I find this especially to be true of actual church on Sunday. That happiness, though, is often of a deeper, I-have-just-had-my-soul-cleansed-and-the-sunshine-is-pouring-in order, which sometimes also occurs in house church too. But what often occurs in house church that doesn’t, and really shouldn’t either, occur in church proper is happy silliness.
Such was the case this Wednesday. I don’t know, it seemed like we hadn’t seen one another for a while and there was delightful banter. Poor Eddie as he led the Bible study. But I see it as part of my job description, if I am not leading the Bible study myself, to make his job harder with quips and questions. I’m kidding…OK I am only kind of kidding 😉
But I am serious about enjoying the silliness. It reminds me of how I am when I am with my family, and that ain’t a bad way for the church to be.
Ya, I love our jolliness too. It reminds me of the family (Cratchets) in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. They are so lively, fun, and warm especially in comparison to Mr. Scrooge’s lonely, frosty existence.
I was listening to Jereme Barrs the other day. He was talking about Narnia, and he said something like the devil really wants us to get away from enjoying the simple pleasures of this world.
The White Witch,for example, who is an image of the devil, doesn’t allow for Christmas in her wintery, wicked kingdom. She absolutely hates the idea of people coming together to laugh and joke with one another.
So hey, we are standing up against the white witch (devil), which is something RADICAL (my summer word), by attending our weekly housechurch.
PS: I can’t give you crap for mispronouncing my name caus’ I just realized that I spell your name all wrong. I usually write “Neal” instead of “Neil”. I will do my best to do it correctly in da future.
Very true about house church sometimes being an”I-have-just-had-my-soul-cleansed-and-the-sunshine-is-pouring-in” kinda experience…I like the way you put it! And, my oh my, I can only imagine how the silliness with you and Eddie in the same room!
Well, Laura-pronounced-Lara, no worries about misspelling the name, though us Neil/Nealses are generally very particularly about defending the spelling we prefer. Yes, Jerram’s analysis is spot on (as if his analysis needed my affirmation :). That is one of the things that the recent movie version of the LWW missed out on, particularly in the Beaver’s house and with the little party that is turned into stone.
Heidi, Eddie and I do have some good times. And, if he read blogs, I am sure he would get some good ribbing in here 🙂 Seriously, though, what a guy; humor, seriousness, compassion, emotion all rolled up in one guy. I couldn’t ask for more in an elder.