Where God Wants Me To Be

Where God Wants Me To Be
By Larry Linville

I received the call at the age of twelve
from my local pastor.
He talked to mom about challenging me.
He thought he should ask her
if she thought it would be ok for him
to see what I would say
and as I walked up and he gave me the call
he knew that she would pray.

Six years later a call was extended
to serve a student charge.
I was a little college student
and my churches were not large.
Each time I received a new appointment
with churches given me
I found that no matter where I was to go
it’s where God wanted me.

Each congregation had loving people
and problems were a few
but God gave great reassurance to me
that I’d know what to do.
But in all the many situations
one thing was there for me.
In good times as well as in problem times
I was where God wanted me.

So when I retired to a part time church
to keep from being bored
it helped with a big transition in life
and service to the Lord.
And now even though I have retired twice
and serving again I see
that even in my years of retirement
I’m where God wants me to be.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

It's a Dog's Life

It’s a Dog’s Life

By Larry Linville

He had gone out by himself

while she stayed home alone.

He didn’t say where he had been

and didn’t even phone.

It didn’t seem to bother her

as she did the usual chore.

But she ran to meet him

when he came in the door.

Not a word was said to him

but she sniffed for smells he had.

I guess that trained nose of hers

could judge both good and bad.

She didn’t seem upset at all

and didn’t even shudder.

She is our little female dog

and he’s her older brother.

© Copyright 2009 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Bumper Sticker conversation

Once a month Thelma and her sisters and a counsin have lunch together. Today was the day for April. I took time from my Easter preparations to join them at the Sweet Tomato. As we waited for all to get there, a car drove in with bumper stickers all over the back. I shouted to the young lady who drove, "Why don't you get some bumper stickers and put on your car?" She smiled and shook her brightly dyed red hair and said, "Some people probably don't like them."

One of them stood out in my mind: "I believe in the separation of Church and hate." I loved it!

Later in the restaurant, I stopped by their table and talked with them. She said that she was a a "pagan". She said, "I believe in God and Jesus, but I don't believe in the church."

We talked about the fact that the church has a bad name because there are a lot of churches that practice hate. Especially during recent years some of the church has been busy politically judging others. I told her that I was disappointed in much of that talk and action but there is also in the church a lot of love and acceptance.

I told her that she should read the book , "The Shack." I told her I thought she would like it. I told her that the author said that when we are judgmental we are acting as someone who thinks they are superior to the person they are criticizing.

I thanked her for her influence in my life. She said she was glad to see a pastor who was not like her stereotype of preachers.

Do you suppose God used that conversation? I may never know. It did give me a good feeling as I went back for a second helping of food which I shouldn't have eaten. But, who is going to just me for that? I guess only someone who thinks they are superior to me!