Old Time Religion

My Aunt Edna died this pass weekend. She was 78, and had been sick for a while. She is my Daddy's brother Weldon's wife. Uncle Weldon died 3 years ago. Monday was the wake. Like most wakes(ones I go to anyway) it was full of laughter, hugs, talk of memories, and seeing friends and relatives you have not seen in a while and probably will not see until the next death. That is sad, but true. The funeral was today. I smiled through most of the funeral. I must explain myself at this point.

Most of my mom and dad's family are Pentecostal. I was raised going to Sunday School at a Pentecostal Church. I was even dedicated in that church. That means that as a baby I was "given" to the Lord. I never was baptized in that church, but my early childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood was spent in Sunday school at that church. My basic biblical knowledge was learned in classes taught by the sweetest Pentecostal ladies and men you could imagine. Randy and I attended a Pentecostal church in Lake Charles sometimes when we dated and when we lived there the first year of our marriage. His family is also full of many Pentecostals. In fact I was sitting in a Pentecostal church when I decided to name my first child Jacob. The lesson was on Jacob and Esau. I was trying to decide between Jacob and Jared.

The funeral today was very Pentecostal, complete with old time gospel music, people praying out loud, clapping, and shouting. It had been so long since I was around that. It brought back memories of wonderful people, relatives and non relatives. First of all some grandchildren sang a song. In fact 3 grand daughters sang, 1 played the piano and sang, and a great grand son played the drums on the number. They all have rich, full Pentecostal voices that are you can tell are use to singing, shouting, and praying regularly. I did not inherit any of this musical talent!

Then some ladies of the church sang a song that they said Aunt Edna had requested..."Good Bye World Good Bye". It was rocking! Note to my family: When I leave this world, send me out at one point to a song like that. It was truly a home-going service. I think Aunt Edna's spirit was there clapping and singing with everyone else. The preacher asked everyone to grab a hymnal and sing , "Heaven's Jubilee". I did not have my glasses, so I could not see the words but when they got to the chorus I remembered the words from my childhood. Maybe that was part of the reason for my smiling. It is also a thumping, southern gospel song.

I have been thinking of all my Pentecostal relatives and two great aunts came to mind...Daddy's Aunt Ethel and Aunt Carmel. They would try to out do each other at church. If one stood up to testify, then the other soon followed with a louder and longer testimony. If one spoke in tongues, the other soon followed. I witnessed this many times. My aunt was saying last night that Aunt Ethel, Aunt Carmel, and my grandma use to try to out do each other at funerals. They would faint and fall out. Aunt Billie Faye told me she finally told my grandma that if she did that again, she would not help her up off the floor. She said she never did it again!

I really believe the Spirit was in that Pentecostal church today. I told my cousins that I really enjoyed the service, and felt like I had been to church. God is alive. He dwells everywhere, especially where so many gather with one purpose. I know some will argue that it is wrong to be so loud in a house of worship, but I think God smiled today. I think Jesus smiled today. I think Aunt Edna, my grandparents, and all those sweet Pentecostal Sunday school teachers who fed me cookies and bible verses smiled today. I know I smiled today with pure joy.


I dug through some photos I had scanned(we have hundreds
of slides I am scanning) looking for a picture of Aunt Edna.
The best I could come up with is the one above. It was taken
at my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. My mom is
the one in the navy blue suit. Aunt Edna is the one whose
face is partially hidden by my mom. That is Uncle Weldon
next to her. My grandparents sit in the chairs. My aunts
and uncles and my dad are behind them. I think the
little ones are various great grand children. I chose this picture
for it shows my Pentecostal aunts. There are 11 adults in this
picture, 6 have since passed on.

I found this picture of my grandpa and I. Was I young or what?

I found the lyrics to the two songs I mentioned above. I pasted them below. Go to Youtube and find them. Be sure and pick one that is southern gospel with a banging piano and thumping drums.

Good Bye World Good Bye

I've told all my troubles goodbye,
Goodbye to each tear and each sigh.
This world where I roam cannot be my home,
I'm bound for that home in the sky.
I walk and I talk with my Lord,
I feast every day on His word,
Heaven is near and I can't stay here
Goodbye world, goodbye.

I won't have the blues anymore
When I step across to that shore.
And I'll never pine for I'll leave behind
My heartaches and cares ever more.
A day maybe two then goodbye,
Goodbye to each sorrow and sigh.
Heaven is near and I can't stay here,
Goodbye world, goodbye.

Now don't you weep for me when I'm gone
For I won't have to leave here alone.
And when I hear that last trumpet sound
My feet won't stay on the ground.
I'm gonna rise with a shout, gonna fly,
Gonna rise with my Lord in the sky.
Heaven is near and I can't stay here,
Goodbye world, goodbye

Some glad morning we shall see, Jesus in the air
Coming after you and me, joy is ours to share
What rejoicing there will be, when the saints shall rise
Headed for that jubilee, yonder in the skies
Chorus
Oh what singing, oh what shouting
On that happy morning when we all shall rise
Oh what glory, Hallelujah
When we meet our blessed Savior in the skies

Seems that now I almost see, all the sainted dead
Rising for that jubilee, that is just ahead
In the twinkling of an eye, changed with them to be
All the living saints to fly, to that jubilee.

Chorus
Oh what singing, oh what shouting
On that happy morning when we all shall rise

Please excuse the long post. I just had so many memories stirred today.