Commentary

Once upon a time....

a couple living in Arkansas welcomed their first born child into the world. Several years later another couple living in Oklahoma welcomed their third child and named her after two very important women in the bible.

A few years later the family from Oklahoma would move to California, where they lived for a short period of time. During this period of time they attened Full Gospel Assembly in Los Angeles. They then decided California was not for them and moved the family, now totaling 5 children back to Oklahoma.

As they were moving back to Oklahoma, the couple from Arkansas, now the parents of two children, made the move to California. After spending a month in the bay area, they moved to Southern California, where they attended Full Gospel Assembly in Los Angeles.

The family in Oklahoma has now moved to a small town in Arkansas where they attend the local Assembly of God church.

Years go by and the young boy has now become a young man and has entered the ministry. His first opportunity to preach was at a skid row mission in Los Angeles, where a fellow church member was holding service one night a week.

Two more years pass and the young man is asked to hold a revival in Arkansas, at a church pastored by his cousins grandfather. His preacher friend is also holding a revival in the southern part of Arkansas. The young man is invited to visit his friends revival meeting, but for some reason can't find the small town on the map.

The young preacher meets another young man at church and they become friends. His friend tells him of a young lady that broke his heart and moved away to Arkansas. He refers to her as "heartbreak hotel."

Several more years pass and the young man is invited to attend a revival service in South Central Los Angeles. So he and his friend decided to go, arriving at 7:00 pm to find the service is not starting until almost 9:00 pm. So they wait.

Finally, just before 9:00 pm folks start to arrive and they young lady who invited him is playing the organ for the evangelist. Since the young lady is blind she has someone with her to help find her way around.

After the service is over, they gather around for some brief fellowship and introductions. They young lady, who is assisting the organist, is introduced and the young man's friend begins to laugh loudly. No one know why.

As the two young men are leaving the one say, "Do you remember "heartbreak hotel?'', well that's her sister. You need to stay away from her.

But the young man is smitted and has to pray for the revival to continue for several weeks before he finally gets up the never to ask the young lady out. Finally he does and she agrees to go out with him and tell him she lives with her grandmother.

The day comes and the young man goes to pick her up and the grandmother answers the door and blurts out, "I know you." Seems like they went to church together at Full Gospel Assembly in Los Angeles.

Well, you have probably guessed the young man is me and they young lady is my lovely wife Mary. In November we celebrate 43 years of marriage and she is still the love of my life. I thank God that even though we had near misses from the time we were young children, He finally got us together