Berean Seniors

In 1980, Steve P. was supposed to take our ten seniors on a grand trip to Washington D.C. and New York for their senior class trip.  But he and his wife couldn’t make it, so Kathy and I took their place.  We had a wonderful ten-day trip seeing all the great places up the east coast.  Our first night was in Williamsburg, Virginia.  We got our motel, and then we went to a local church for the Wednesday evening service.  The congregation was small and met in a chapel just off the large auditorium.  When the twelve of us came in, we almost doubled the attendance.  The service was already in progress and the pastor cordially welcomed us from the pulpit.  He said, “Well, we are glad to have several visitors with us tonight.  Would you mind introducing yourselves?”  I stood and said, “I’m Gerald Whitely, this is my wife Kathy, and these (with a sweep of my hand) are the Berean Seniors from Chattanooga, Tennessee.”  And I sat down.  But the pastor had not heard me clearly, and so he said, “Well, we have a full program tonight, but I think we can make room for these singers from Chattanooga.”  I assured him that we were content just to be visiting.  He appeared to be relieved that his schedule was safe.  Hey, have you ever been misunderstood?  Or have you ever misunderstood someone else?  Misunderstandings can lead to some awkward moments.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his audience to watch their words.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”  Hey, be careful in what you say.  Don’t say too much, but don’t say too little.  Say just enough to make yourself clear.  Otherwise, you may find yourself in a sticky situation and asked to sing on the spot, like we were in Williamsburg.