Old Country Church

One of my favorite things to do is to go far out in the country and look for old abandoned houses, churches, and barns. Photograph them and use the photo somewhere in my writings.
I stare at the old churches and l can picture them in my mind as they might have been a hundred years ago. Were there oil lamps placed around the walls in order to give out light? Did they have an old wood stove sitting in the corner to heat the building with? I am sure that was true because I can remember such a church with the same way to heat it. I also remember how everyone would try to get as close to the old stove as they possibly could on cold evenings. Most of the churches were not easily heated. The walls were thin, planks in the floor were wide apart and the cold air seeped through, making your feet feel like two ice cubes even with heavy socks and shoes on.
The first little white church where I attended was such a structure. Many years ago there was always someone to come and build a fire to warm the church for service on cold days. A large bucket of coal sat behind the stove and during the service one of the men would get up and fill the stove to keep the church from cooling down too much. The preacher would never miss a beat. He continued to share the "Word of God" through all the clinking of coal being tossed in the stove, slamming the door shut, and finally shaking down the ashes. We didn't seem to notice because we were glad they were filling the stove...It was cold!
In the summer, the windows were thrown wide open to let the breeze come in. That was wonderful on a spring day, but didn't work on a hot summer day in August. I can still see the dear old sisters of the church wiping their faces with their hanky and fanning with the hand-held fans bearing the advertisement of a Funeral Homes in the area. Free hand-outs to the churches.
There is a beautiful memory here -the little white clapboard church was always full and running over for every service. So full that often the men and boys would stand outside the church during the summertime. Nobody missed church unless there was sickness in the family; and still at least one family member would most always show up.
What has happened to us? Today, we have central air and heating, the pews are padded, we have fellowship halls, nice classrooms, running water, and inside Privy's! However, our people do not have the same desire to hear God's word. We come when we want to, stay home when we want to, and our churches are only half-filled on Sunday morning. The evenings have so many empty pews that some churches have cancelled Sunday night service... God has blessed us and we are less thankful. Those dear saints of yesterday had spiritual endurance. Where is our long-suffering and Patience....our fruit of the spirit! Are we letting our fruit trees go without care?