Pastor's Post 8/25/2023

Dear Shiloh Family,

     It was the day before Thanksgiving, and we hadn’t been home since the start of football workouts in early August; we were sporting the hair, beards, and luggage to prove it.  There were bags and unwashed clothes stacked above the seats and into the rear window of my 1966 Plymouth Fury.  

     My passenger was a friend from Miami, FL, and we were running with two hometown buddies traveling together in another car.  The gas pedals, and steering wheels of the two vehicles seemed to be attached by some invisible mechanism because they were flowing in tandem, and both were powered by rapid fire homesick hearts.  

     We made it fine through Ashville and cruised through the gorge on I40 without incident.  However, when we hit I75 at Knoxville and saw the Chattanooga, TN sign, something happened.  Through the a/c vents we could smell biscuits and gravy, and homemade chocolate cake.  I glanced at the speedometer and at one time, we were motoring through K-Town at over 85mph.  The call of the wild grew stronger as we hit the straight-a-way from Maryville to Cleveland and…well, let’s just say the needle probably hit triple digits.  I know, don’t send me emails.  I was a stupid teenager…a homesick, hungry, stupid teenager.  

     I don’t know where he came from.  I never saw the TN State Trooper in my rearview mirror until we were bumper to bumper, but he certainly saw me.  Don’t let anyone tell you that God doesn’t answer prayers of desperation and that he doesn’t extend grace even during brain freezes.  We had sown our wild oats and were now praying for crop failure. 

     It could have been the Mars Hill College stickers plastered all over our bumpers and windows, it could have been the piles of laundry, or maybe it was the nauseated look on our faces.  I like to think it was because he was the Dad of a college student who, like us, was on his way home from some distant campus.  But for whatever glorious reason, he pulled up beside me, looked over the top of his aviator sunglasses, pointed a scolding finger (to which I replied with a grateful thumbs-up), repeated the process with my traveling companion, and exited on the next off ramp.  God was good, the TSP was lenient, and we slowed down…for a minute.

     The prodigal son made it home for Thanksgiving.  What a homecoming!  

 Luke 15:23-24

 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. NKJV

     Sunday is our annual homecoming at Shiloh.  Sunday School will begin at regular time, 9:45 AM.  At 11:00 AM, Buddy and Kerri Mullins will be leading worship in the main auditorium, so please pray for God’s protection and guidance on their lives.

       The worship service will be followed by food and fellowship in the FLC.   We would love for everyone to bring a covered dish and dessert.  Shiloh will provide fried chicken, so plan on staying for dinner on the grounds.   

     If you have been away and are thinking about returning, come on home.  If you have been here every Sunday, come on home. If you know someone who has been away, or is looking for a home church, tell them to come on home.  

1 Kings 13:15

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. KJV

Home is the place where everyone is welcome at the table.           

God bless you all,

Pastor Derrell