Laughter..the best medicine

[Mark Kisla]

I wonder how things would have gone differently if a few of us had the courage to say to the head steward/LB,  "I don't feel like going to the afternoon meeting today.  I'm going to watch football."

LB's response: "How can you say that!  Is football more important than God?"

"Certainly not!  But today, football is more important to me than going to hear you speak for an hour.  I'm not going."

LB in coded language:  you'll pay for this!

"Sure, do whatever you want.  If you want me to leave or move out, just ask me.  I just want to watch a football game today.  I'll leave it up to you how I should be punished."


Brent

 
 I was cornered by the Chicago LB to see if I would be comming out the Sunday that the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team would play their last game  to clinch the gold medal. They went through all the gyrations and finally I just told them I would be watching the hockey game. Being honest with the LBs in Chicago is probably why I spent 4-1/2 of my 5 years there observing the Lord supper.

[editor]

I wonder how things would have gone differently if a few of us had the courage to say to the head steward/LB,  "I don't feel like going to the afternoon meeting today.  I'm going to watch football."

LB's response: "How can you say that!  Is football more important than God?"

"Certainly not!  But today, football is more important to me than going to hear you speak for an hour.  I'm not going."

LB in coded language:  you'll pay for this!

"Sure, do whatever you want.  If you want me to leave or move out, just ask me.  I just want to watch a football game today.  I'll leave it up to you how I should be punished."


Brent

 
 I was cornered by the Chicago LB to see if I would be comming out the Sunday that the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team would play their last game  to clinch the gold medal. They went through all the gyrations and finally I just told them I would be watching the hockey game. Being honest with the LBs in Chicago is probably why I spent 4-1/2 of my 5 years there observing the Lord supper.

If you thought hockey was more important than hearing The Lord's voice, then you shouldn't have been partaking!

On the other hand, think of the outreach potential they could have had with Assembly hospitality and a big screen TV.  They might have even got a "new one."  Alas, George wanted his things to have pre-eminence....so sad.

Brent

[summer007]

Boy Al I second you on that ..Mind numbing fatigue...nothing like sittting for 3 days..to make Cocos look real good especially when you know everyone in each booth....And you brothers where are your priorities...were goin on a Glorious Rondeuve this afternoon...if you dont get that your deader than a door-Nail!!!! or

[Mark Kisla]

On the other hand, think of the outreach potential they could have had with Assembly hospitality and a big screen TV.  They might have even got a "new one."  Alas, George wanted his things to have pre-eminence....so sad.

Brent

There was a "new one" comming out to STL who shared the same interest in WWII aircraft as me, we ditched a Sunday afternoon mtg to go to an airshow that showcased WWII aircraft and he still ended up receiving Christ despite my horrific example. He left fellowship because "I can't fit into the routine here" which was a bummer for me because it was fun playing assembly hooky every once in awhile. To be perfectly honest there was never an hooky adventure that was'nt just wholesome fun. LBs once got wind of a 1 month Canadian wilderness  trip I was planning with another brother (actually as word spread others wanted to go ) the LBs put the big Kabotzs on that one and it never came to fruition. I always regretted not doing it anyway.

[M2]

Boy Al I second you on that ..Mind numbing fatigue...nothing like sittting for 3 days..to make Cocos look real good especially when you know everyone in each booth....And you brothers where are your priorities...were goin on a Glorious Rondeuve this afternoon...if you dont get that your deader than a door-Nail!!!! or

I remember Coco's. I ordered the quiche and was surprised when I got a whole quiche and not just a pie slice.
Remember the secret to an afternoon meeting is.....

a light lunch.

Marcia

[summer007]

Marcia, a light lunch..wheww no kidding ...I remember this bro would close his eyes and you could tell he was going to nod out any minute...and go into a semi-coma...and I thought boy I'm staying away from him ...even though I think he was carrying a full load of school ,work and meetsI did feel a little sorry for him as he was really nice..I never went to those little groups after the lecture..I'd had enough..and I'm sure it was my un-doing...(I think I tried a group talk once or twice but I felt I did'nt need it I GOT the Message it was for the dim-wits that could'nt figure out what GG was saying)...

[al Hartman]

Boy Al I second you on that ..Mind numbing fatigue...nothing like sittting for 3 days..to make Cocos look real good especially when you know everyone in each booth....

     ...truth is, it wasn't only my mind that went numb...
sometimes I preferred to stand at a booth in Coco's!!!

al

[Joe Sperling]

I remember when many of us would go to "Chris & Pitts" after the Sunday afternoon meeting. I loved the steaks they served there!  But I can also remember watching the waitresses patiently waiting, holding full plates of food, not wanting to interrupt, as a long-winded brother gave thanks for the food, and for the meeting, and for the day, and for his life, and his car, and for the world, and for the..... well, you get the idea.

I remember going in with our Bibles and sitting down, and then watching some brothers make some of the most demanding and strange requests of the waitresses. Sometimes food was sent back because the "onion rings aren't crispy enough" or some such request. The waitresses would bear with the long prayers, demands, and some general rudeness, and then be left a tip that was exactly ten per cent because "we should be good stewards of the Lord's money". It's amazing how one can get into that kind of mentality---that the Lord would be more pleased that you were being faithful with "his money", than displaying Christian warmth and tenderness to someone who is working so hard to get your food to the table. I remember later, an associate of mine, who used to be a waitress at "Denny's" said "Christians are the worst tippers of all. I mean the kind who make a point of making sure you know they are Christians. They are also the most demanding of all. They come in these big groups and then leave you a small tip and a Bible tract. Like I'm going to read that!! Who wants to be like them??"

As they say "sometimes you are the only Bible some people will ever read". I've always remembered her statements as the Assembly days at restaurants flooded back into my memory as she spoke. I remember entering "Chris & Pitts" with several others, holding our Bibles, and hearing a waitress groan and say "please, please, not on my station!!" I thought it was because she disliked Christians. As I learned later, this was not the case. She simply disliked hypocrisy as most people do.

I know there isn't much funny about this, but when you mentioned visiting "Coco's" after the meetings, these memories came to me. Those steaks were really good though.

--Joe

[Scott McCumber]

Joe,

Years ago I worked as a server at a Benigan's. The nice couple who prayed over their food didn't leave me 10% and a tract. Just the tract!

There was a pizza joint in Tuscola where most saints went between Sunday meetings. One day I overheard the manager tell someone, "God, I hate it when these people come in here."

We were winning souls for Christ!

S

PS - A couple years later my first job was at the same pizza place. I found out that one of the problems they had with the saints was families ordering one salad bar, then feeding the whole family.

[outdeep]

I remember one seminar towards my last years (1989 or 1990?)

George was going on and on in a late afternoon lecture.  In some lectures, he actually followed an outline and made points.  This, however, was one of those collection-of-nonsequiturs-supported-by-dozens-of-randomly-selected-scripture-references lecture.

Since he had no plan, he went over the alloted time and asked the usual, "you want it, don't you?"  The faithful strained to set forth hearty amens.  I was so exausted,  I fell into a momentary mental lapse and began to shake my head vigorously "no".

I looked up to see a worker staring at me with the most incredulous look of horror on her face.

Somehow I survived the ordeal and, I admit, it felt good at the time.

[Recovering Saint]

Poor Waiters/Waitresses

Did you know why there are no Ponderosa restaurants left in Ottawa? Reason: all the brothers waited for an all you can eat special and pigged out.

I was told that a 15% tip was a sign you were satisfied with the service. Anything less was a protest. Maybe they think 10% is biblical for everything. You know tithes etc.

I like to tip generously because they only get minimum wage and often they are overworked.

The only people who make a lot are working in bars. I guess we don't expect to go there do we.

Cheers raise your fruit juice and say Amen.

[summer007]

I think it helps to admit ..we all loved GG in our own way...He was so charismatic...and funny....and the stories ..were pretty good....Especially in the middle of a lengthy lecture when he'd stop to give an illustration...We were all Taken with him in our own way....thats how we got sucked-in....

[Recovering Saint]

Time for some Nebraska Humour

First farmer: How is that new scarecrow I sold you?

Second farmer: Just great!

First farmer: Did it scare all the crows out of your cornfield?

Second farmer: Not only that! They were so scared that they returned all the corn they stole last year!

[Recovering Saint]

Well it's Nebraska what can I say. Apparently there's a lot of corn there.

[Uh Oh]

I think it helps to admit ..we all loved GG in our own way...He was so charismatic...and funny....and the stories ..were pretty good....Especially in the middle of a lengthy lecture when he'd stop to give an illustration...We were all Taken with him in our own way....thats how we got sucked-in....

Regarding George Geftakys, I assume you are being sarcastic here and if not, I do respect your opionion.

However, if you take away the affairs that he had and even take away the cover ups for his sons, he still was one of the most arrogant and obnoxious people this world has ever produced.  He was a horrible lecturer - the guy made little or zero sense, constantly jumped around, and attempted to speak over everybody's head.  What made this all  so humorous was that all of the people at the end of the lecture would talk about how encouraged they were and how the Lord had really spoken - hogwash!!!

His stories that he told were all lies, he boasted of personal accomplishments that he never remotely came close to accomplishing, and so on.  How about at the end of meetings, when he would drag them on, and drag them on, and drag them on.

George Geftakys is about as Christlike as Jim Jones.