There Has Been A Change

Here I sit in my motel room in Alexandria, La trying to decide whether I want to go back to the District Campmeeting today and tonight or not. I probably will go since it has been more than 20 years since I've been here.

I was raised here. I attended campmeeting in the old tabernacle. No, not the tabernacle before the present one. I'm talking about the "old" tabernacle that later became the dining hall. It was just a small building that set up on the hill in the 1940s. Here, I was the first Youth Camper in 1954. These here are my "roots" of which Anthony preached a really great message last night.

But, something is different. I can't put my finger on it exactly. The form in the same. The people look the same. But there is something different in the spirit. A spiritual change has slowly crept in over the years that even I would have not recognized had I been here each of the past 25 years. But, since I've not been here, I come back to weep, recognizing a change in the spirit.

Someone hailed as a "prophet" spoke words that were strange, from a spirit that I was quite familiar with. I am so surprised and shocked that Apostolic people are sooooo gullible. I wanted to puke. Though I recognized the spirit immediately, when he began to speak concerning "an uncommon seed for an uncommon harvest" and other words in the same vein, there could be no doubt about it. Then he "prophesied" to different ones. I said to that spirit, "Ah yes ol' boy, I recognize who you are."

Anthony preached a great message, as usual. However, I left the crowded tabernacle with a cast down spirit, amazed, discouraged, upset and bewildered.

While walking slowly back to my pickup truck, I heard someone call my name. I was happy to seen an old friend. Then another called my name. Though happy to see each of them, I could not help but see the ruin of time upon their lovely faces. I hugged the brothers and sisters with joy and gladness as my heart rejoiced to see them again.

Though joy filled my heart from the encounter with these precious saints, I am so bewildered. My heart hangs heavy this morning as I write these few words.

I heard a voice in the early hours of this morning as I thought upon these things, "Watchman, what of the night..." I answered in an audible voice, "The night cometh and also the morning."