HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED YOUR MOST IMPORTANT EVENT? - Bulletin 11-30-14

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED YOUR MOST IMPORTANT EVENT?

I truly enjoy listening to Dr. Jerry Rushford tell true stories of Christian pioneers.  Dr. Rushford is a very passionate speaker and writer of this particular genre (e.g. “Christians on the Oregon Trail”).  In his manuscript, “Glorious Was the Cause: Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in Early Washington 1851-1916” – Dr. Rushford features the story of Arabella (Belle) Clemons.  She was born in Missouri in 1844.  Her mother died when she was 16, and when she was 20 her dad told her, “Belle, with this Civil War raging around us, you should do what’s best for you and get on one of those wagon trains and get out of here!”  

In Belle’s own memoirs, “Tales of the Trail”, Belle wrote, “I made it as far as a little settlement on the Boise River in Idaho, called Boise.  Years later, after marrying Frank Fulton, a preacher named Michael Boli came to town. He arrived on horseback with a pair of saddlebags slung across the saddle.  In them he carried a Bible and a dozen or so hymn books, and a change of linen…”

  “He had long unkempt hair and beard.  But in those days we never judged a man by his outward appearance.  He told my husband he could preach so we let him.  On Sunday morning, the people came from everywhere, wagons, horseback, on foot.  And when he got up to preach everybody was pretty disappointed, until he opened his mouth and began to preach.  He spoke with vigor and presented his doctrine with firmness of conviction. He could preach!  Sunday night, Monday night, Tuesday night – he continued to preach.”                                                            Belle wrote, “After hearing a few of his sermons, I decided to become a Christian. So when the invitation was given I went forward and gave the preacher my hand as a token for my willingness to be baptized.   In late November in 1869 the Boise River was frozen over.”                                                                                                         “Frank was given the job with the oldest two children of going down to the River with his axe to break the ice, to cut the hole big enough for me to get down there…I went down into the cold water and I was buried with my Savior in the watery grave arising with Him with a newness of life with a consciousness that my past sins were all forgiven and with a hope of life eternal which is promised in Christ Jesus.  I have always considered this the most important event in my life.” .....Have you experienced your most important event?             

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  Mr. Steve