Homecoming at Pembroke Assembly

Itineration stop #3-Pembroke Assembly of God, Pembroke, NC

Exit 14 Where Are You??

For driving directions I typically use MapQuest, but lately, I've used GoogleMaps. GoogleMaps gave me better directions to Freedom Assembly a few weeks back so naturally, that's where I turned for directions to Pembroke Assembly. I was raised that if you didn't arrive to your destination early, you were late. That teaching has served me well, but I think it's safe to say it's annoyed my wife more than it's helped me. She tells me that we balance each other out in this area. If my intent is to be 15 minutes early, we'll end up being about 7 minutes early.

My trip to Pembroke proved that teaching valuable. Everything was going just fine. I was making great time, on course to be at least 20 minutes early. I scanned my directions. After 60+ miles on 95-South I was take Exit 14...cool. Exit 17...alright, here it comes...Exit 13B-13A....do what?! I won't go into all the details of that 45 minute detour, but folks, Exit 14 does not exist anymore in the way others do. I arrived about 15 minutes late, but was still able to give Brother & Sister Kelly a laugh with my misadventure, and share with the congregation of Pembroke Assembly the exciting mission our Lord has called Lindsey and I to.

Homecoming: Part I

Finally arriving late, but at peace with the whole situation I made my way inside. My first mistake was leaving my camera in the car, because I only wish I could have gotten pictures of what I'm about to describe.

Just before Brother Kelly introduced me, the pastor of Pembroke Assembly, Larry Lowery pulled a 5ft tall or so cross out to the middle of the sanctuary. What was unique about it was that the beam going from left to right was attached in the same way a child would use a paper fastener on a craft to give a certain piece the ability to spin. The arm of the cross was brought level and fastened. Pastor Lowery then hung two buckets, one on each "nail" in the cross. "Boys" was written on one, and "Girls" on the other. I then knew what was to come next, so I leaned back against the pew with a wide grin to watch. It was a contest to see if the boys or the girls could deposit the most money (in this case, weight mattered most) into their respective buckets, with all the money going to support missions. The beam of the cross would begin to tilt in favor of whichever bucket weighed the most, like a traditional scale. The girls soundly won round one. Round two is this Sunday.

After the service, we all began to make our way to the fellowship hall where a glorious spread of food and good times awaited us. As I came to the end of the line with my plate rather full, a sweet lady looked at me and said, "You don't have anything green on your plate!" I added a spoonful of coleslaw to my plate and pointed out the sliver of green cabbage poking up through the top. She let me pass.

As I sat there eating, my mind wandered back to the sanctuary, now empty with the lights turned off.

A group of sisters sang some beautiful songs to get things started that morning, and one that I had never heard before tugged hard at my heart and emotions and it's doing it again as I type. It's entitled The Old Ship of Zion. Enjoy...

Someone also spoke of the fact that one day soon there will be an even greater homecoming than what was celebrated that day. But, until that day arrives, let us be busy with the Lord's work so that the old ship of Zion will sail into port with a load so heavy it begins to sink, much in the same way the disciples' boat as a result of the miraculous catch of fish that we read about in John 21. Homecoming Part I was great, but I'm looking forward to Homecoming Part 2.

Next stop: TBA