Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, has decided that now that I am not off having adventures by chasing storms, warning people about the storm that is coming, and helping the people who are devastated by them, I should write about my Sunday School Class.  She wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

Easy was officially grounded as the Turtle driver even if the storms were in Tracy, at least until the baby came and about a month of paternity leave.  But the rest of the crew was doing some interesting chases: early snows and ice in one direction with tornadoes in the other direction.  That meant Michael was with Jochebed and Georges.  Jochebed had decided to have the baby in their room at first, that is, when it comes in March.  That way, Michael would not feel like a ping pong bouncing from one guardian to the next while both Dr. Ellie and Dr. Ben were on storm chasing duty.

But other than the storm chasers, we had a room full.  We even had two non-couple ladies.  Mary Jo Lynn came in with Darrell and Sally Mae Driver.  And it seemed Tamara Collins kind of followed Penny and Blake.  It started out as Tamara being curious as to where they were going.  Bart had already said he would not go to church because one project had to be finished right away.  So, Tamara started off wondering where people went to church and such and the next thing she knew, we were handing her a spare Bible and welcoming her.  Hopefully, Bart would start coming when his projects were over.  Otherwise, I was thinking Tamara might look for greener pastures.  But maybe that was just my assessment.  I had not been read into that business.  I just knew that she had her apartment next to Penny and Blake and Bart was across the hall.  To make the two unattached ladies feel less like sore thumbs, Joseph, not having B.B. with him, sat between them.  Since they both brightened and became talkative with Joseph, I got the impression both were people who used his counseling services.

For my last-minute hair fixing and straightening of hem lines, Menzie was starting to get as good as B.B. and without the college course on hair and makeup for On Air personnel.  Since B.B. was my bestie, I would let her know that Menzie was adequate in her absence, as if B.B. really worried about my looks.  In a way, I think she does.  And no, we were not playing tricks on Arabella.

Without many incidents, everyone seemed to be ready to study rather than make side comments.  I was starting to worry, in that the other shoe might fall at any moment.  I started us in prayer and Emmett and his crew led us in O Worship the King.  I was getting the idea that Emmett had hymnbooks so that he could play the four-part harmony on his keyboard, but he did not have sheet music for the modern worship songs.  Maybe I could get my Dad to help in that regard.  But everyone was given the words and with Emmett playing it through once, most people were singing along, better than at church.

I said, “For a couple of you are new.  I start off by giving a name and then a Bible verse, and then that person reads that Bible verse.  I will let you get used to the crowd first, but when you come back again, and I hope you do, you should be ready to read a verse or two.”

Blaise added, “And if you complain about reading five of six verses, she badgers you.”

Everyone snickered.  I replied, “Only if you are a mouthy brother-in-law.  Now, for our first Scripture…”

Kevin (Psalm 119:68): ”You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.”

Zuzka (Isa. 63:7) “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.”

Then she turned to Otto, “I did good!  You like?”

Otto nodded.

Otto (Psalm 139:17): “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!”

I nodded, “So far, Kevin’s reading basically said that God is good.”

Half the class responded, “All the time.”

I played along, “And all the time?”

All the class replied, “God is good.”

I moaned, “Okay, we have learned that response, but with that being the focus of the lesson, can we have that be the only time this week?”

Most people laughed, but Arabella said, “Aw!  Spoil sport!”

I just shook my head.  “But then Zuzka’s verse mentioned kindness and good things.  Then Otto’s verse says that even God’s thoughts are precious.  Let’s look at words other than ‘good’ to express what God is.”

Margie (Deuteronomy 30:9): “Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors,”

I moaned, “Oh, I wish I had a really long one.”

Blaise (Psalm 36:7): “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Blaise said, “To summarize our two verses.  God will make the Israelites prosperous, and people can take refuge in God like a mother bird protects her young.”

I smiled, “Very good, little bro.”

Easter (Psalm 34:8): “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Easy shrugged, “Other than tasting good, it uses the same metaphor as in Blaise’s verse.  I guess, when you have a good song lyric, reuse it.”

Emmett said, “I’m going to have to make note of that.”

Thomas (Matthew 7:11): “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Thomas said, “So this is saying that God’s gifts are good gifts, because He is good Himself.”

I summarized, “So, to see God’s goodness, we see it in His being.  We will get around to God’s holiness at some point, and maybe discuss what Jesus said that only God can be good.  But for now, God simply is good.  He is good in his attitude toward everything.  God gives good gifts.  And Romans 8:28 applies, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  And that applies to things that we might not think were good at the time.”

I said, “I think we will end there, maybe before Lauren hears a bus honk.  And I want us all to learn the Aaronic benediction.  Everyone bow your heads in prayer.  ‘“‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’”’” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Easy asked me as we put our things together.  “Are you alright, Jemi?  I saw you wincing a few times.”

I snickered, “We just said it in class.  Everything works for the good.  Our child was being a bit active during class today.  Nothing more.  Maybe the baby is letting us know that it wants out of there.”

Easy shrugged, “But you aren’t due for another two months.”

I laughed, “That’s just what the doctor says.  The little one inside here may have other plans.  Either that or we have a soccer player on our hands.”

Credits

I am using suggested Bible verses from The Attributes of God, A Journey into the Father’s Heart by A.W. Tozer, in two volumes.  My two volumes have a Study Guide by David E. Fessenden, which is designed for each chapter of Tozer’s book.  I may review those chapters to keep Stinker from straying too much, but the nature of her class is that the class tends to stray anyway.  I am not using Rev. Tozer’s comments directly.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.