One of the best experiences I have had in a long time was visiting the sanctuary of Clarks Chapel Methodist Church in Cary, Miss. It is a small church, non-descript, along the highway that wends through the small Delta town. What grabbed my attention most of all was the well-worn pews of the church. Pictured above are some of the hymnals and a Bible that rested in the pews. The photos were shot in available light. The last picture is a Bible Stories book that I found while sitting in one of the pews. I grew up with these books and the memories flooded back as I held it in my hand. I took the photo after I had finished going back 40 or so years in time. The top photo is a picture of Jesus that was in a little side room of the church. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get caught up in all the sophistication that modern worship now makes available. We've got projectors, PowerPoints, dance troupes, every musical instrument available, lighting setups, and all sort of modern gadgetry to enhance the worship experience. But nothing, I tell you, can beat the feeling of worship I felt when I sat in that old worn pew and thought about our Savior. I thought about all the people over time who had likewise sat in that spot and listened to a simple message about a loving God. The pew was worn shiny by usage over time and that sheen on the pew spoke so eloquently to me. We have a mighty God and it does not matter to Him how we come to him in worship. He heard me on this day say a prayer to Him from a simple pew in a simple church. It doesn't get any better than that.
