The Park Bench

[Nell]

This summer I had an experience that I can't find adequate words to describe. There are so many layers to what God did, that it could only be characterized as having God's Signature all over it.

Over two years ago I was told by two LC members that they had marked me as divisive and they had "withdrawn" from me. I haven't spoken with them since. They also told me I had "offended the Body of Christ" as though the Head were not capable of speaking for Himself about who had offended Him and who had not. Witness Lee told us that if we left the LC our walk with the Lord was over.

In fact, I feel that when I left the LC, my walk with the Lord was only beginning. This is my story about what God did this summer and He put me right in the middle of it in a way that only He can do.

Nell

[Nell]

The Park Bench

What a fun trip this has been!
Of course, it wouldn't have been near as much fun if my Texas Rangers hadn't swept the St. Louis Cardinals in 3 games at Busch Stadium!

I almost didn't go. It was advertised on the Texas Rangers' web site, as a "Rangers Destination". There were 4 "destinations" but the only one I was interested in was the St. Louis trip. It was posted in April, around Opening Day. I didn't give it much thought because of the price tag. By the end of May, the trip was 3 weeks away and I just signed up, paid my money and took off! Whoa! Did that happen?

The Rangers took care of everything. There were about 80 wild and crazy Rangers fans and with every win at Busch Stadium, there was more fun to be had!

We stayed at the beautiful St. Louis Grand Renaissance Hotel which is 6 blocks from Busch Stadium. After a day of sightseeing on Friday around the Gateway Arch, I arrived at the ballpark around 5:30 for the 7:05 game. Of course we had GREAT seats near the Rangers’ dugout. At my seat there was a note in my drink holder inviting me to the Rangers Hospitality Suite for hot dogs, BBQ, nachos, all the ballpark food you could possibly want. I met a lot of Rangers fans, and of course, we were all sitting together during the game.

My seat was near a young woman, Mary, from Indianapolis who had never lived in Texas. She was a baseball fan without a team. Her son told her she had to "man up" and pick a team, so she picked the Rangers! Nice! Between Mary and I was a young man, Jerry, who worked in Memphis, but lived across the state line in Mississippi. Jerry had a similar story. He was getting into Fantasy Baseball about 5 years ago and had to pick a team. He liked the Rangers and picked them as his team. His "fantasy" became a reality!

[Nell]

Christian baseball fans?
As a Christian, I sometimes struggle with the fact that I love baseball and love the Texas Rangers. My father was a HUGE St. Louis Cardinals fan. Growing up, I liked baseball because my Daddy liked baseball.

As an adult, I didn't return to baseball until 1998-99. In 2000 I joined the Texas Rangers Women’s Club because we could watch the games for free after we were done working. We handed out all the free stuff at the gates. Soon, I was missing too much baseball, so instead of being in the Women’s Club, I became a season ticket holder.

So what's wrong with a Christian loving baseball? Nothing.

I didn't arrive at that one word answer easily. I was part of a Christian group for almost 15 years that was controlling, restrictive and cultish. During those 15 years, I was taught by the leadership that anything I loved, apart from "the church" (their church) was "the flesh". I was ultimately reduced to a "non-person".

I even got “talked to” when I began to miss meetings so I could spend more time with my elderly parents. This was not acceptable. This kind of thinking would lead to becoming a “person” again. Eventually, I had to make a choice between “the church” and my parents. I chose my parents. As I left that group, my prayer was "Lord, don't let go of me!" Another prayer was "Please don't make me go back to that place."

[Nell]

Fast forward 20 years to the park bench.
I found myself sitting on a park bench in St. Louis, Missouri, near the Gateway Arch. It was Sunday morning, June 23, 2013. The ONLY reason I was there that day was because I love baseball, and I love my Texas Rangers.

As I approached the park bench, it was empty, but a couple was approaching with eyes on that empty spot. There was plenty of room, so the three of us sat down at the precise same time. As I sat down, the gentleman was closer to me, and a peculiar thought came to mind "Well, he's finally here." Whaaat? I didn't give that much thought, but I was pretty sure I would strike up a conversation with this couple.

Conversations with strangers sitting next to me had become common place. The seat next to mine at Rangers Ballpark was occupied by a different person each game I attended. The only thing as much fun as watching a baseball game at the Ballpark is talking about it with the fan sitting next to you. I even had a very pleasant conversation with a Yankee fan once.

I had long since shaken off the "non-person" status. I had grown accustomed to talking to people who happened to be near me. As a non-person, I could only invite people to those church meetings, or say nothing. I was too embarrassed to invite people to boring meetings that I didn't want to attend myself, so I usually said nothing.

Last Sunday morning I was out taking pictures in this neat place in Fort Worth called a "Water Garden.” I struck up a conversation with a couple because I didn’t recognize the language they were speaking. They were from Italy. Rather than invite them to "church", I invited them to a Rangers game! How the worm has turned!

[Nell]

Back to the bench.
The conversation opened with the usual "where are you from and why are you here". I'm from Fort Worth, and I'm here for the Rangers-Cardinals series. Peter and Sharon (not their real names) met at Southwest Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Instant connection! They now lived near Memphis, across the state line in Mississippi (Now where had I heard that before?) I told Peter and Sharon that the guy sitting next to me at the Rangers games told me the same story! He worked in Memphis but lived across the state line in Mississippi! Peter and Sharon were here on a trip with their children and grandchildren. They came to the park to take a little break from the crowd. Peter was a retired pastor having served the Lord in that capacity for over 20 years. He loved the Bible, and knew it well.

Next, Peter asked me, where do you go to church? This time a two-word answer: I don't.

We had a brief discussion about "church" and the reason I don't attend organized church services anymore. The message: "Organized church" is no longer part of my life. When I left that cultish church, I prayed "Lord don't let go of me". When I "resurfaced" as a Christian, because of my experiences there, I was never able to become a permanent part of an organized church. I attended a Baptist church for a year or two, but was eventually convinced that this was not the place for me. The Lord has never "let go" of me. I fellowship with Christians anywhere, even on a park bench in St. Louis during a baseball weekend.

[Nell]

Timing is everything.
The three of us arrived at the park bench around 11:30 on Sunday morning. Game 3 of the series with the Cards was that night at 7:05, so I had all day to wander around downtown St. Louis. I had been to the top of the Gateway Arch on Friday and spent Saturday with activities planned by the Rangers.

I thought I would ride the riverboat Sunday morning, but discovered there was also a helicopter ride. That would probably be too expensive. It wasn't TOO expensive, but it wasn't cheap. Does this really matter in the grand scheme of things?

Timing is everything. If I had taken the riverboat ride, I would have likely missed my Divine appointment at the park bench. I did what I really wanted to do, and rode the helicopter! I made it to my Divine Appointment at precisely the right time. (A non-person would have not only avoided the helicopter ride, but the baseball game, the trip to St. Louis, and every other thing that being a real person could mean!)

Of course, this was nonsensical (probably) to Peter and Sharon. They likely have no such thoughts. To them, and most normal people, it was just a decision you make.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

This summer I had an experience that I can't find adequate words to describe. There are so many layers to what God did, that it could only be characterized as having God's Signature all over it.

Great story, Nell.

Ironically it was these exciting stories, such as this one by Nell, which made the Lord Jesus so living and real to us in our daily walk, that got trashed by Witness Lee as some tedious "sea story," and not fit for consumption by the church of God. How dare some member of his little Recovery Kingdom have a real live experience of God outside the parameters of his ministry. Thus the plan was hatched in the catacombs at LSM to replace all personal testimonies with "prophecies" based solely on his teachings.

[UntoHim]

As a former "non-person" I can really relate to Nell's story.

For some reason I am reminded of the Psalm that says "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." As a non-person, as just one of many little bricks in a building, it is very easy to lose sight of the fact that EACH ONE OF US is "wonderfully made", and part of the "wonder" is the the uniqueness of every individual. The Bible is full of stories and illustrations that show that God not only allows or tolerates uniqueness, He actually created us to be unique. After all, it took Him 6 days to create the universe because He had to make so many unique things!

Thanks again, Nell, for this story. You really hit a home run!

[Nell]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking about the old hymn "Jesus doeth all things well." Then there's 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”

Nell

[countmeworthy]

What a wonderful story/ experience Nell. You are also a very gifted writer! It was exciting to read. We all looked forward to the next installment!

Thanks for lifting us all up!

Abundant blessings of Joy , Love and Peace in Jesus Christ.

Carol G

[aron]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

What a wonderful story/ experience Nell. You are also a very gifted writer!

I agree with cmw. All your years of setting type and proof-reading bore fruit. You have a great writing style.

I used to be into baseball but nearly had a nervous breakdown one day when my team was on the field in the bottom of the ninth. The home team was at the plate with the tying run at third base, and the winning run at first. There were two outs. I listened to a couple of pitches and turned off the radio. I couldn't take it any more. That was it for me: I never could forget that moment.

Later, I heard that RK was a big Detroit Tigers fan, and had declared this allegiance from the podium. So I guess times change. As long as you pledge allegiance to their program, you can watch baseball.

Your story was great. I am glad you were there that day on that park bench in St. Louis, and I bet God was glad too! I think you could feel "the joy of the Lord" with you on that day. There is absolutely nothing better than to feel that you are being used by God.