"Ev, we need to hold a council of war.”
Evalyn looked up from the spaghetti sauce she was concocting. "Hello to you, too," she responded without looking around. "Who are we going after, and where are the rest of the troops?" She talked casually, flippantly, but her heart had begun to pound within her.
Josh put down his coat and briefcase, walked to her, and kissed her neck gently. "We're going ahead," he said softly.
She closed her eyes, and sensed a warmth moving through her body. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks.
"Then call Pete," she responded, unable to open her eyes or look at him yet.
"Pete?"
"Yes, he and Donna insist they have to see us tonight, as soon after you get home as they can get here."
Josh wrinkled his forehead in thought. "Did they say what was so urgent?”
Now, she turned to face him. "They think it's time to move ahead."
***
The Newsoms came for dinner, and talked as they ate Evalyn's famous spaghetti. Josh and Evalyn took turns detailing the events of the last several days. Donna and Pete didn't actually "ooh" or "aah" about anything, but they were clearly impressed. Mike and Karen listened intently, as well.
"When Milt prayed with me," concluded Josh, "It all seemed to fall into place. For the first time since this all started, I could see the whole thing in perspective. We've started a good thing - a God thing - and we can't turn back now. I know some can't see it - maybe won't ever see it, as Milt suggested - but there are enough of us to get started, anyway. I'm willing to take it a day at a time and see what happens."
They moved from the kitchen to the living room, and took up traditional positions occupied on many previous occasions: Donna and Evalyn face to face on the sofa with feet up and shoes off, Josh in his recliner, and Pete sprawled on the floor. No one suggested that Karen and Mike leave, so they stretched out beside Pete.
"So, what comes next?" Donna asked the obvious question.
Josh leaned back with hands on head, as if to gather his thoughts. Actually, he had figured it all out on the flight back from Boise. Now, he just wanted to check that it still seemed clear and logical.
"First, I think it's important that we not stress the church any more, for a while."
Both Evalyn and Pete started to protest.
"Wait", said Josh, pulling his chair to an upright position. “I know what you're thinking, and I agree. What I'm getting at is that we aren't gaining anything for God or for the church by butting heads with one another. Some folks aren't ready for change. Okay, but some are. Let's work with the ones who are ready."
"How?" asked Donna, for all of them.
Josh reclined again. "As I see it, the idea of devoting Sunday nights to a special study of Jesus is still good, and one no one can really find fault with. I'll keep it as simple and scriptural as I can, and we'll observe all the usual practices. Sunday morning and Wednesday night will be handled 'the old way,' too. That seems a loving, healing way to get the church back together, again."
“Well, Josh, that's fine, as far as it goes," said Evalyn. “But what about those who are ready for a change? Where does that leave them?"
Josh dropped the footrest of his recliner with a thump, and rocked forward, a smile on his face. "I thought you'd never ask. That's what I call Part Two. What I propose is that we gather up those in the congregation who really want to move forward with us, and start to meet with them outside regular church time. We can pick a night - Tuesday, maybe - and meet each week at someone's home. We can study and pray together, and share experiences."
They looked at him, and at one another, each weighing the idea. Pete was the first to speak. "That would certainly be a way to learn and help one another, without changing the basic church routine. But how would we identify those who might join such a group?"
"Don't you think most of them have already identified themselves in one way or another? There may be a few more, but I bet we would only be starting with ten or a dozen. That would be a pretty good-sized group to really get to know one another."
"How would we contact them?" asked Donna. "Would we announce it in church?"
"I've thought about that," responded Josh. "I don't think we should make it too public. That might send the wrong message to those who aren't ready for this. No, I think word of mouth invitations are the best way to go."
"But what if there is somebody really anxious to join that we don't know about yet?" protested Evalyn.
Josh pondered a moment. "How about this? First, we pray that God will reveal all the right people to us. (That's what this is all about, isn't it; asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom?) Then, we allow each of the people we invite to identify anyone else they know about. I still don't think we'll have too many takers. If we do, we'll just have to figure out another meeting arrangement."
They each thought about that. "Okay," said Evalyn. "So, who do we start with? You and me, Pete and Donna... "
"Mike and Karen," chimed in Mike.
Josh and Ev exchanged glances, then smiles. "Sure," said Josh. "Why not? This isn't just for grownups. Aren't we all ‘babes in Christ'?"
"The Allens, for sure," offered Donna. "That makes eight."
"Debbie and Bill make ten," counted Evalyn. "How about Betty W., Josh?"
Josh nodded. "She's interested, for sure. I don't know if she'd come by herself, or if Ed would come with her. We have to ask her, anyway.”
"Okay, that's eleven or twelve," said Donna. She made a face.
"What?" asked Evalyn.
"Oh, I was thinking about Carolyn Curry. She's as much a part of this as anyone, but can we ask her? Herb would hear about it immediately. Surely, he wouldn't let her come, and he'd probably raise a real stink about it, to boot."
Thinking of Herb getting involved sobered them up for a moment. Finally, Evalyn spoke, "Still, we have to ask her. As you said, Donna, this is for her as much as for any of us. If she can't participate physically in our meetings, we'll figure out some way to keep her a part of the group. And if Herb wants to stir things up, we'll just let him fight it out with God!"
They all nodded and agreed. "Okay, there's a possible thirteen," said Josh. "Youth pastors, are any of your young charges likely to join us? I know it will be hard for some of them to keep in touch while they're in school, but some are nearby. And, like Carolyn, if there's somebody really interested who can't be here, we'll just have to find a way to include them."
Pete looked at Donna. "What do you think, babe? My guess would be that Bob Deveaux and Charley Stevens are the most likely. They're at the University, but that's only two hours away. They come home pretty regularly, anyway."
Donna nodded. "I agree, both of them might be interested. I don't know about Greg; not yet, maybe."
"Okay," said Josh, "That would make fifteen, if Ed came along with Betty. A little bigger than I thought, but still manageable. If many of them invited people, it would get a little big for a home meeting. Oh well, we can handle that situation if it arises."
They spent a little time after that deciding who would ask who, and when they would start. Josh suggested the next Tuesday.
"I'm going to let the substitute go ahead as planned this Sunday. That'll give me a little time to work things out some more. And maybe things will quiet down a little bit if I stay away awhile.”
Pete slapped himself on the forehead. "Holy smokes! Do you know where I'm supposed to be right now?"
They all looked at him, uncomprehendingly.
"This is Wednesday night, friends. Do you know who is substituting for Pastor Josh tonight?"
Awareness came quickly to all of them. "Oh well," said Josh. "This was the right thing to do, I'm sure, so God must have raised somebody up to take the place of the missing Peter Newsom. We'll hear about it."
"I'm sure we will," opined Evalyn, feeling uncomfortably prophetic.
***
"That was good!" exclaimed Evalyn, much later as they lay close together in bed.
"Uh-huh."
"What was that, oh eloquent one?"
Josh raised up on one elbow. "Mere words cannot express my feelings."
She pulled his arm from under him, collapsing him back on the bed. "Well, you better come up with a few 'mere words' to express something to me, buster!"
He rolled away, laughing, then sat up against the headboard and gently took her hands in his. "Let me say it in poetry, then: everything's better when you're working together."
She smiled, and leaned against him. "We are, aren't we? Working together, I mean?"
He loosed her hands, put one arm around her and stroked her hair with the other. "Better than ever, my love. Better than ever."
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