ANNA'S POST

After the men were elected ministers, there was a meeting at our house.  Emma, Eli's wife, wasn't feeling up to par so I told them to come to our house.  The men were in the living room and Emma, the other two ministers wives and I were in the kitchen. 

Eli was explaining their duties as ministers.  Usually the ministers study the Bible for a month or so before the ministering, but Eli asked if some one would volunteer to start sooner.  In out church service there are the Bishop and a least two ministers giving sermons.  Elmer and Eli looked at the other two and they had their heads down.  Eli looked at each of them. Eli looked at Elmer and Elmer shook his head yes. 

Elmer worried about his first sermon.  Eli told him what the subject was going to be and promised he wouldn't change.  Sometimes in church the Bishop will have one subject but when they get to church he feels the Lord wants a different subject so there is a change.  Also you do not take notes, for your sermon.  It all has to come from memory. 

When the others had left Eli told Elmer he had never known him to have a loss of words.  Eli also told Elmer that if he got up and went blank, he would step up and get him started.  Still Elmer worried.  We had out children come and do Elmer's chores, on the farm.  Eli told him to do his roof and siding jobs as he needed a break on studying.  Elmer did as told. We also prayed that the Lord will give him the wisdom on what to say.  The night before church, Elmer hardly slept.  The morning for church he hardly spoke on the way to service.  Of course I prayed and prayed.

So when the service started and it was Elmer's sermon, Elmer got up, started and then stopped.  I felt  for him.  Eli was about to get up to help Elmer, but Elmer continued.  When service ended Elmer asked me what he spoke about, he was so nervous he couldn't remember what he was saying.  I said, I couldn't tell him, I was to busy praying for him.  Eli heard us and came over and told us what Elmer's sermon was about. 

Last Sunday, Elmer had to do it again.  This time he wasn't worried.  He wasn't nervous as before.  Eli said the first sermon is the worst one for a first time minister.  Elmer remembered what his sermon was about. Even I could tell him what his sermon was about. 

Elmer didn't think you would be interested in this, but I think you would.

Trust God's Wisom,
Anna