Time In Texarkana

June 2-7, 2010

A couple of days at home and then it was on the road again, Willie, back to Arkansas. We made our third trip to the town of Warren and the second visit to Bruce and Beverly Culp's church, Faith Free Will Baptist Church. This pastor and his wife have such interesting things to tell us when we visit with them. They tell of an all day singing and dinner on the ground when a Mrs. Martin asked Beverly if she would accompany her three children on the piano as they sang a song. Beverly began to play but stopped and stared at these three little kids as they sang a song in three part harmony with such perfection and beauty that all she could do was sit and listen in amazement. What she heard was not at all what she had expected to hear from those children. I think she might have gone back to a little piano playing again just before the song was over. That same day Mr. and Mrs. Martin asked Bruce and Beverly if they would allow their children to sing a few opening songs at each one of the Culp Family concerts as they toured regionally with their boys. And that is how The Martins, Joyce, Jonathan and Judy, winners of 6 Dove Awards and a Grammy, got their start.

We had a great Wednesday evening service and instead of driving all the way to Texarkana as we've done in the past (remember, they had fleas) we stayed in a motel in Warren. The next day we drove to Texarkana and checked ourselves into the Ramada. This was a little weird. We've never stayed in a hotel in Texarkana before. Bobby actually got a really good deal on a very nice room for 4 nights.

That evening Bobby sang at the Bulldog Bistro, the cafeteria at Texarkana College where our friend, Sheila Lynn has been teaching for the past 2 years. A special guest appearance was made by Bobby's oldest sister, Judy who sang a couple of songs with him and of course Sheila, who's not only entertained the Thursday night catfish diners several times, but who also makes sure the catfish is done right, sang a little too.

We were introduced to a new program this summer called, www.kidsbowlfree.com, which was set up to give kids something to do with their parents during the summer. We had to pay $25 for the summer and select the facility, city and state we chose to bowl in. This membership allows us to take the kids bowling any time before 7 PM, paying only for their shoe rental. We chose to bowl in Texarkana since we knew we'd be there often and would need something to do. Pretty good deal for us. So we took the kids bowling on Friday and again on Saturday.

Friday evening Bob and Tena, Bobby's parents came over to our place, which was the lobby at the Ramada and we played Farkle while the kids watched a video at the table next to us.

We sang at Oaklawn Baptist Church in Texarkana on Saturday evening and then on Sunday morning we drove down to Ida, Louisiana to sing at Victory Tabernacle Assembly where long time friend of Bobby's family, Pastor Roy Smart leads. For Bobby this was like a reunion of friendships that started in childhood and for me it was a treat to finally meet some of the folks I've heard about for years. We had an absolutely great time in church as well as afterward complete with a lunch and lots of picture taking.

On the way back to Texarkana from Ida, we passed what used to be Oak Grove Assembly where Bobby's uncle, Hollis pastored a thriving congregation. Uncle Hollis died suddenly one Sunday night at bed time in January of 1990. Today that little church building stands there sadly forgotten. It's thought that perhaps the presbyter of that little church, who is also a pastor in the area would rather NOT have a thriving little church there so as to avoid any competition for his own congregation. Hopefully that isn't true.

We made our third visit to Partnership Church in Texarkana on Sunday evening. Brother David Markum leads the worship here and his dad, Blaine, is the pastor. Both men welcomed us and were very encouraging and supportive. They served grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings before the service and David's wife, Jennifer, approached me asking me how she could help with getting my children fed. It's funny how sometimes just the smallest gestures can mean so much. I just really appreciated Jennifer and her simple offer of help.

The church service was great and we had fun worshiping with the saints at Partnership. Bobby and I told the folks that night that if we lived in Texarkana, Partnership is where we'd attend church.

After the service Hope and Landis recruited some band members on the spot and held an after church concert. While they were having fun on stage I asked Jennifer about the door near the front of the sanctuary and where it led to. She told me it went outside and asked me if I'd like to take a look. The door opened to a stage area. The stage ran alongside the building and was complete with electrical outlets and stage lighting. But I barely saw the stage because beyond the stage was a meadow and not just any meadow. This was a long meadow about the length of 1 and half football fields and enclosed on 3 sides with trees. Immediately I could see that meadow FILLED with people hungry for God. I told Jennifer what I imagined and she said I wasn't the first person that has spoken the same thing.

We slept our last night at the Ramada and headed home the next day. It wasn't until we were nearly home on Monday night that I realized I couldn't find my wallet. Thinking back I decided I must have left it in the grocery cart at Wal Mart in Texarkana on Saturday night after the concert at Oaklawn. Thankfully, there had been no cash nor any credit cards but it's just a big hassle to have to reacquire the other things like my driver's license, voter's card among other little things. Writing about this 6 weeks later, I can tell you I filed a police report for that missing wallet, called Wal Mart security, canceled my debit card, got a new one, got a new driver's license and never did hear anything about that wallet. I'm sure it was picked up, looked through and tossed in the trash....and I'm thankful for that.

Happy to be home until Saturday morning.