Because of the advice of a professor I had for my Master's degree, Allegations is no more. It is under a new name.
Visit... http://subtlemanipulations-novel.iamagracefulwriter.info/ to read more about the novel.
A rumor gets to Bishop Henry R. Boston (pastor of Parkridge Pentecostal Church) that DeAndre Woodside (Main character) is gay. The Bishop goes to several people other than DeAndre or his cousin, Jasmine Woodside-Creekstone (Main character) to find out if it is true. The rumor gets around church and grows from there. Rumors still fly even after DeAndre and Jasmine leave Parkridge. This is what happens when CHURCH FOLK "SHARE" information. Enjoy Allegations!
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Saturday, November 4, 2006
That's It!
This is all of the story I'm posting. I've edited, revised, rewritten, and redone the story. You'll have to wait until I publish it to finish the story.
Friday, November 3, 2006
Chapter Two
(1995)
DeAndre patted his hair into place. He knew he looked good. He was getting ready for church. It was a cold day in January, 1995. He was excited because it was cold enough to wear his black leather trench coat. It had not been cold enough to wear it before now.
He was going to Parkridge Pentecostal Church. His cousin, Jasmine, had been raving about the church every since she started going to the church. She was getting on his nerve. Jasmine was like that, once she got excited about something, she usually never stopped talking about it. She kept telling DeAndre that the church was a place where they could start over and be whoever they wanted to be. That was appealing to DeAndre because for so long, people had been asking him was he gay. He could not help it because he was good looking, knew how to dress better than most women, and always smelled good. He just liked to look good. He did not mind spending money to do so either. He had been raised by women and he had a bunch of female friends, but he was not gay. Okay, so he was 20 and did not have a girlfriend, but that did not mean a thing. It was hard to figure out why the church wanted him to get married. He was single and a hard working Christian man, you would have thought that the church would have found a way to put him to work. They were always complaining that there were not enough workers in the vineyard. With all the workers being married and tending to their families, a single man had to be a commodity, but church folk were always trying to marry him off. It got on his nerves, too. It was even worse for his cousin, Jasmine. She was forever telling him that some old hag from the church had cornered her and asked her, “When are you gonna get married and have some kids?” Jasmine would usually just smile and walk away. DeAndre always told her, “You need to just curse one of them old ladies out and then they will leave you alone.” Jasmine would respond, “That’s all I need is for those old ladies to go tell the pastor that I cursed them out. I would never hear the end of that.”
DeAndre laughed as he thought about his cousin. She was a cool person. She was understanding, patient, and always willing to give everyone a chance. That was the total opposite of him. He would cut a person that hurt him off so quickly that the person would never realize that they had been cut until two days later when they were in the hospital for a blood transfusion. He had been hurt so much in his life by church folk, that he had no patience for them. Church folk could be mean, brutal, and conniving, especially preachers. DeAndre had no love for church folk who acted like saints on Sunday and did dirt the rest of the week. That is what made him such a fire and brim stone preacher. DeAndre had preached a number of hell fire and damnation sermons since becoming a minister a year earlier. He was rarely ever invited back to many churches. What was it that made people not want to hear the true word of God? People only wanted to hear about what God could do for them, instead of what God expected them to do. Did not Paul the Apostle write in II Timothy 4, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Why did folk act like that was not in the Bible?
DeAndre stopped the sermon that was running through his head and put the finish touches on his three button gray suit. He had dressed conservatively today because he did not want anyone to say anything crazy about him. He looked good in his Italian suit. His classic double reverse pleated trousers had a crease in them that would cut butter. His purple shirt was accented by his gray and purple tie and handkerchief set. He wore his light purple shoes with the suit, even though he had a pray of gray shoes that would have went with the suit just as nicely. He had to add a little flair to his outfit, so he went with the purple shoes. He also had a purple watch that went with the suit.
DeAndre took a step back and did his best model pose. He looked fabulous. He went to his closet to select a cologne to wear. He had the most expensive colognes that money could buy in his collection. He mostly purchased his cologne from Neiman Marcus. He did not like to smell like everyone else, so he had to make sure that he did not shop where everyone else shopped. He decided to wear Egoiste Platinum By Chanel. He strategically sprayed in the cologne in the right places. He walked back into his room and took one last look at himself in his full length mirror before he grabbed his coat and walked out the door to go get in his car and go to the church.
***
Jasmine was driving down the highway. She was planning on moving to Sheldyville next month, so she wouldn’t have to drive back and forth from Maysfield to Sheldyville every weekend. She had recently graduated from Maysfield State University in Maysfield. She was so glad that her uncle was a professor at the college, because she did not have to go to college in a city where she did not know anyone. He uncle had been a great help to her while she was in college.
Jasmine was grateful to her uncle and aunt. They had adopted her after her parents died in 1975. Jasmine’s parents died in a car crash. They were hit by a drunk driver while they were on the freeway. Her mother died at the site of the accident. Her father died on the way to the hospital. Her aunt and uncle, DeAndre’s parents, had raised her as if she were their own child. She and DeAndre were more like sister and brother than cousins. Her parents had left a some money to help care for Jasmine, so that helped her aunt and uncle out some. Thinking about her aunt and uncle made tears form in her eyes. Jasmine wiped her eyes.
Jasmine could not believe that she had to drive to Sheldyville on Sunday. She had planned to drive down on Saturday, but she was not able to do so. She had to get up at 6:00 AM and drive down on Sunday morning. There was not much traffic, so it was an easy drive. She did wish that her cousin DeAndre was in the car with her, but she knew that he was at his house primping in the mirror trying to get dressed. That boy was worse than a woman when it came to getting dressed. He dressed better than any woman that she knew, too. He was three years younger than her, but he always acted like he was the oldest. It must have been that alpha male thing that she had heard so much about in psychology class.
Jasmine was thankful that DeAndre had agreed to let her move in with him. His mother had recently moved back to her hometown of Booneville, so DeAndre was living in a three bedroom apartment by himself. He probably enjoyed it because he did not have anyone their to bother him. Jasmine, DeAndre, and her aunt had lived in the apartment for over 12 years, before Jasmine went to live in Maysfield to go to college. Jasmine could not believe that she had lived in an apartment for most of her life. Jasmine chuckled. She and her cousin had some good times living in the Broughwood Park Apartments, perhaps, the second time around would be just as fun as the first time. Oddly enough, the apartment complex was down the street and around the corner from Parkridge. That was cool because she would not have to get up that early to go to church. She had gotten use to living very close to the church that she went to because her uncle was a pastor and he lived in the church’s parsonage, which was right close to the church before he had a house built in Maysfield. That house was not that far from the church either.
Jasmine was glad that she was moving to Sheldyville in a few weeks. She was so tired of making the two hour drive from Maysfield to Sheldyville. Her uncle was constantly fussing at her because she was putting so many miles on her car. She would just laugh at him. She was about 30 miles from the church, but she was going to be late for the service. She hoped that DeAndre would wait for her outside. He liked to make an entrance, so walking in late might be cool to him. He world probably wait on him.
Jasmine picked up her cell phone. She dialed DeAndre’s cell phone number. The phone rung forever. Jasmine was about to hang up when DeAndre answered, “Where are you at girl? You got me out here in this car waiting. Folk are looking at me like I am crazy.” Jasmine laughed, “Good morning to you, too.” DeAndre smacked his lips. Jasmine shook her head, “I am still on the freeway. I am about 15 minutes away. You can either wait on me or go ahead and go in the church. It’s up to you.” DeAndre smacked his lips again, “I’ll wait on you. Hurry up and get here. I am tired of waiting on you.” Jasmine responded, “I am driving as fast as I can. I’ll be there. See ya!” DeAndre snapped, “Whatever. Just get here. Slow driving behind.” Jasmine laughed as she hung up the phone and sped drove down the freeway.
***
DeAndre watched as Jasmine pulled her dark blue Acura Legend Sedan up next to his gray Chevrolet Impala. He waved at her as she cut the car off and got out of the car. She walked over to his driver’s side door. DeAndre acted like he did not want to get out of the car. Jasmine made a face at him. He laughed and got out of the car. He grabbed his cousin and gave her a big hug that lifted her up off the ground. She laughed, “You need to quit hugging folk like that. You are gonna hurt somebody one of these days.” He smiled, “Look at you looking all good in your pink outfit. I am scared of you.” She laughed, “I do look good, don’t I.” DeAndre twisted his lips, “Whatever. I am the one who taught you how to dress so, you should be thanking me.” She licked her tongue out at her cousin. He had no problem reminding her that he was responsible for her whole look. “Whatever,” Jasmine thought. DeAndre put his arm in Jasmine’s arm and walked her to the entrance of the church, “You are wearing your heels. That’s good. You look like you may be able to walk in them. You are too cute.” Jasmine shook her head, “Leave me alone, please. Remember, we are starting a new life here, so don’t be telling all of my business. No one knows us here, so we can be whoever we want to be.” DeAndre laughed, “You are too serious. So, I can be a big time lawyer instead of an accounts payable clerk.” Jasmine shook her head, “Yea, if you want to be. You need Jesus.” DeAndre retorted, “Never said I didn’t.” That was his response to that phrase every time she said it to him.
They finally reached the door of Parkridge. DeAndre let Jasmine’s arm go as they walked through the front doors of the church. DeAndre looked around. It was as nice as Jasmine had said it was. The building met with his approval, as if the house of the Lord needed anyone’s approval. But DeAndre had had his fill of store front and small churches, the church had to look nice for him to consider joining it.
DeAndre was looking for a new church home. He had outgrown his current church home. He had been a member of the church since childhood. There were not any young people joining the church and the pastor would not listen to any of DeAndre’s ideas about revamping the service slightly to attract a younger crowd. DeAndre ad not suggested any drastic changes, just mostly updating the service style. The old fashion foot stomping, hand clapping, testimonial service style of worship was cool for a weekday service, but upwardly mobile young folk, were more into a structure Sunday morning service. The choir still even sung the old style of songs from the 1980s. Please, at least update the style of music that the choir sung, but the choir president, who had to be over 110 years old, would not do it. Okay, so Sis. Moss was only like 60, but she still needed to teach the choir some new songs. The pastor even preached an old style message. He preached a goulash message for over an hour. Young people wanted a more polished message that could be followed easily. DeAndre had a hard time following his pastor when he jumped from talking about shacking to talking about how it was when he first built the church. Seriously, what in the world does shacking have to do with building a church?
DeAndre did not want his pastor to change his message, just change his delivery. DeAndre understood the need to preach Holiness or hell, but there was a way to preach it without boring everyone in the sanctuary with the message.
Jasmine tugged at DeAndre’s arm, “Boy, would you come on. We have missed the beginning of the praise and worship service. Let’s go.”
DeAndre smiled as he thought, “Did she just say ‘Praise and Worship’ service? I may like this church after all.” He smiled as he made his grand entrance into the church. With each step down the middle of the aisle, he said, “Look Parkridge Pentecostal Church, Evg. DeAndre Woodside has entered the building. Ya’ll ain’t ready for him.”
Jasmine smiled as she watched DeAndre walk down the aisle. He was doing his “Ya’ll ain’t ready for me” walk. He was so funny. How could anyone who preached Hell fire and damnation sermons be so stuck on himself. He needed Jesus.
Jasmine and DeAndre finally found a seat close to the front of the church, DeAndre’s choice of course. He always had to be where he could see and other folk could see him. Jasmine did not understand that. She always took a back seat to everyone else. That often got her pushed to the side and overlooked, even when she was the one who had done all the work. DeAndre often told her, “You need to stick up for yourself. Open your mouth and quit letting folk run over you!” DeAndre could be harsh when he wanted to. He always spoke his mind. If he hurt your feelings, he would apologize for hurting your feelings, but not for saying what he had said. Jasmine shook the negative thoughts out of her head and replaced them with positive thoughts.
“I am going to be more vocal. I will not let people run over me anymore. This is a new day. I am a new me. This is a new start for me.”
Jasmine wished that she had more faith in herself, but she did not.
DeAndre stared at his cousin. She had that far off look on her face, so he knew that she was thinking about something. That is all she ever did, was think. One of these days, she was going to act instead of think. DeAndre knew that he should not think those kinds of thoughts about his cousin, but he was tired of her crying to him about how someone had hurt her feelings. She needed to speak up for herself and quit letting folk run over her. She was a sweet person and would give you the shirt off her back. But she had a nasty habit of giving people chance after chance. So many people had ran over Jasmine with a Mack truck and she just forgave them and still tried to be nice to then.. She need to learn to cut folk off.
“You get two chances with me. That’s it.” That was DeAndre’s slogan and he meant every word of it.
His cousin was forever telling him that he was too harsh. She did not know what she was talking about though. You had to be tough or people would walk all over you. DeAndre had tried to soften his stance more than once, but every time that he did, he got walked on.
DeAndre sighed as he thought, “Maybe I should try to be nicer and people more chances. Lord, You got to help me do that because I can’t do it on my own. Lord, while You are working, could You help Jasmine to not let people walk all over her?”
Both Jasmine and DeAndre stopped their thoughts and joined in the service. They both purposed in their hearts to make a new start and to make some much needed changes in their life.
The service went the same this Sunday as it had most other Sundays. The service was exciting, moved quickly, and was energetic. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre was having a good time. He was into the service. She did not expect him to dance or anything, because it took a serious jolt from the Holy Spirit to send DeAndre into a dance. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre liked the service and the church, so they were probably both going to end up joining the church.
***
(1996)
It had been a year since both DeAndre and Jasmine had joined Parkridge Pentecostal Church. They had both taken things slowly before they got involved in the church. Since joining the church, both of their lives were going good. Jasmine had gotten a job at the local library and DeAndre had received two raises in the past year. Things were going good for both of them.
They had recently joined the Sunday School Department of the church. Jasmine was the librarian. DeAndre was the attendance secretary. It was easy work and the leaders were fun and did not act crazy. That was just what DeAndre wanted because he did not have time for any leader that wanted to act a fool with him. Jasmine was as happy as she could be at the church. DeAndre was still skeptical, but he was warming up to the people at the church.
Oddly enough, Jasmine had made more friends that DeAndre had, and he was the outgoing friendly one. Jasmine had introduced him to everyone that she had met, so he knew quite a few folk. He just was not ready to make any new friends. He had made some connections with some of the young men at the church. He liked working with young men. DeAndre had a knack for getting them to open up and listen to him. DeAndre had planned on taking his time and making friends, and that is what he was doing.
By the middle of 1996, Jasmine and DeAndre had become very involved in the ministries at Parkridge Pentecostal Church. DeAndre was the assistant Sunday School superintendent. Jasmine was a Sunday School teacher. They both were working with the youth ministry. That was a challenge at times because the director of the youth ministry did not seem to like DeAndre because he had a better repertoire with the young people than the youth ministry director.
Bishop Boston had taken notice of DeAndre’s work ethic and commitment to the church. DeAndre was at almost every service. He was willing to help out when necessary and he seemed to work well with other people. DeAndre was an excellent dresser, too. the bishop noticed how good DeAndre smelled every time he got near him. DeAndre always seemed to wear the most expensive colognes out on the market. Bishop Boston thought DeAndre was a perfect young minister to mentor and cultivate. The only problem the bishop faced was that he could never get DeAndre to say anything to him other than, “God bless you, Bishop.” If DeAndre would give him a chance, the bishop planned on turning him into a top notch preacher.
***
DeAndre sat down in the chair that was sitting next to Jasmine’s computer desk. He looked around her room. She had made herself right at home. She had pictures on the wall. She had her certificates and other awards displayed around the room. He laughed as he said, “You have made yourself right at home.” Jasmine looked up at her cousin, “Yea, and?” DeAndre threw the stress ball that was on her desk at her. She caught it and then threw it back at him. He laughed, “Let me ask you something.” Jasmine said, “What?” DeAndre asked, “What do you think of your pastor?” Jasmine made a face, “He’s kind of pretty and some of the things he says seem a bit chauvinistic, but other than that, he seems okay. You remind me of him sometimes.” DeAndre made a face, “Whatever, I am not a chauvinist.” Jasmine frowned, “Yep, you can be. Why did you ask me about Bishop?” DeAndre made a face, “Every time I get near him, he acts like he wants to talk to me or something. I don’t give him a chance to though. I ain’t got time to be getting close to another pastor. They shady sometimes. He is probably even worse because he is a bishop.” Jasmine shook her head, “You need to give him a chance. Maybe he just sees something good in you as a minister and he wants to help you be a better minister. I don’t know. Just give the man a chance. Every preacher is not evil.” DeAndre mad a mistrusting face, “You trust people too easily. Someone could be showing you a knife and you would invite them into your house. You need to quit that.” Jasmine shook her head, “Oh please. You need to quit.” DeAndre smacked his lips, “Oh please, you need to start.” Jasmine swung her pillow towards DeAndre. she knew that it was not going to come anywhere near DeAndre, but it made her feel better.
DeAndre reached for the pillow. He missed it. He laughed and said, “You are crazy. Do your really think Bishop just wants to help me be a better minister?” Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, “Yea, what else could he want?” DeAndre paused before he said, “I just don’t have time to be getting involved with any mess. Church folk are so messy. They get on my nerves. I just don’t want no mess. I would hate to have to act a fool up at Parkridge. And you know I can act a fool.” Jasmine knew oh too well how big of a fool that DeAndre could act. She smiled at DeAndre and said, “All I can tell you is to pray and seek the Lord on it. You said that you want to be a big time preacher. Maybe Bishop is the person who can help you do that. You will never know unless you give him a chance.” DeAndre shook his head. Jasmine made sense. Maybe it was time that he gave the Bishop a chance. At least he could have a conversation with the Bishop. That could not hurt anything, maybe it would turn out good.
DeAndre patted his hair into place. He knew he looked good. He was getting ready for church. It was a cold day in January, 1995. He was excited because it was cold enough to wear his black leather trench coat. It had not been cold enough to wear it before now.
He was going to Parkridge Pentecostal Church. His cousin, Jasmine, had been raving about the church every since she started going to the church. She was getting on his nerve. Jasmine was like that, once she got excited about something, she usually never stopped talking about it. She kept telling DeAndre that the church was a place where they could start over and be whoever they wanted to be. That was appealing to DeAndre because for so long, people had been asking him was he gay. He could not help it because he was good looking, knew how to dress better than most women, and always smelled good. He just liked to look good. He did not mind spending money to do so either. He had been raised by women and he had a bunch of female friends, but he was not gay. Okay, so he was 20 and did not have a girlfriend, but that did not mean a thing. It was hard to figure out why the church wanted him to get married. He was single and a hard working Christian man, you would have thought that the church would have found a way to put him to work. They were always complaining that there were not enough workers in the vineyard. With all the workers being married and tending to their families, a single man had to be a commodity, but church folk were always trying to marry him off. It got on his nerves, too. It was even worse for his cousin, Jasmine. She was forever telling him that some old hag from the church had cornered her and asked her, “When are you gonna get married and have some kids?” Jasmine would usually just smile and walk away. DeAndre always told her, “You need to just curse one of them old ladies out and then they will leave you alone.” Jasmine would respond, “That’s all I need is for those old ladies to go tell the pastor that I cursed them out. I would never hear the end of that.”
DeAndre laughed as he thought about his cousin. She was a cool person. She was understanding, patient, and always willing to give everyone a chance. That was the total opposite of him. He would cut a person that hurt him off so quickly that the person would never realize that they had been cut until two days later when they were in the hospital for a blood transfusion. He had been hurt so much in his life by church folk, that he had no patience for them. Church folk could be mean, brutal, and conniving, especially preachers. DeAndre had no love for church folk who acted like saints on Sunday and did dirt the rest of the week. That is what made him such a fire and brim stone preacher. DeAndre had preached a number of hell fire and damnation sermons since becoming a minister a year earlier. He was rarely ever invited back to many churches. What was it that made people not want to hear the true word of God? People only wanted to hear about what God could do for them, instead of what God expected them to do. Did not Paul the Apostle write in II Timothy 4, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Why did folk act like that was not in the Bible?
DeAndre stopped the sermon that was running through his head and put the finish touches on his three button gray suit. He had dressed conservatively today because he did not want anyone to say anything crazy about him. He looked good in his Italian suit. His classic double reverse pleated trousers had a crease in them that would cut butter. His purple shirt was accented by his gray and purple tie and handkerchief set. He wore his light purple shoes with the suit, even though he had a pray of gray shoes that would have went with the suit just as nicely. He had to add a little flair to his outfit, so he went with the purple shoes. He also had a purple watch that went with the suit.
DeAndre took a step back and did his best model pose. He looked fabulous. He went to his closet to select a cologne to wear. He had the most expensive colognes that money could buy in his collection. He mostly purchased his cologne from Neiman Marcus. He did not like to smell like everyone else, so he had to make sure that he did not shop where everyone else shopped. He decided to wear Egoiste Platinum By Chanel. He strategically sprayed in the cologne in the right places. He walked back into his room and took one last look at himself in his full length mirror before he grabbed his coat and walked out the door to go get in his car and go to the church.
***
Jasmine was driving down the highway. She was planning on moving to Sheldyville next month, so she wouldn’t have to drive back and forth from Maysfield to Sheldyville every weekend. She had recently graduated from Maysfield State University in Maysfield. She was so glad that her uncle was a professor at the college, because she did not have to go to college in a city where she did not know anyone. He uncle had been a great help to her while she was in college.
Jasmine was grateful to her uncle and aunt. They had adopted her after her parents died in 1975. Jasmine’s parents died in a car crash. They were hit by a drunk driver while they were on the freeway. Her mother died at the site of the accident. Her father died on the way to the hospital. Her aunt and uncle, DeAndre’s parents, had raised her as if she were their own child. She and DeAndre were more like sister and brother than cousins. Her parents had left a some money to help care for Jasmine, so that helped her aunt and uncle out some. Thinking about her aunt and uncle made tears form in her eyes. Jasmine wiped her eyes.
Jasmine could not believe that she had to drive to Sheldyville on Sunday. She had planned to drive down on Saturday, but she was not able to do so. She had to get up at 6:00 AM and drive down on Sunday morning. There was not much traffic, so it was an easy drive. She did wish that her cousin DeAndre was in the car with her, but she knew that he was at his house primping in the mirror trying to get dressed. That boy was worse than a woman when it came to getting dressed. He dressed better than any woman that she knew, too. He was three years younger than her, but he always acted like he was the oldest. It must have been that alpha male thing that she had heard so much about in psychology class.
Jasmine was thankful that DeAndre had agreed to let her move in with him. His mother had recently moved back to her hometown of Booneville, so DeAndre was living in a three bedroom apartment by himself. He probably enjoyed it because he did not have anyone their to bother him. Jasmine, DeAndre, and her aunt had lived in the apartment for over 12 years, before Jasmine went to live in Maysfield to go to college. Jasmine could not believe that she had lived in an apartment for most of her life. Jasmine chuckled. She and her cousin had some good times living in the Broughwood Park Apartments, perhaps, the second time around would be just as fun as the first time. Oddly enough, the apartment complex was down the street and around the corner from Parkridge. That was cool because she would not have to get up that early to go to church. She had gotten use to living very close to the church that she went to because her uncle was a pastor and he lived in the church’s parsonage, which was right close to the church before he had a house built in Maysfield. That house was not that far from the church either.
Jasmine was glad that she was moving to Sheldyville in a few weeks. She was so tired of making the two hour drive from Maysfield to Sheldyville. Her uncle was constantly fussing at her because she was putting so many miles on her car. She would just laugh at him. She was about 30 miles from the church, but she was going to be late for the service. She hoped that DeAndre would wait for her outside. He liked to make an entrance, so walking in late might be cool to him. He world probably wait on him.
Jasmine picked up her cell phone. She dialed DeAndre’s cell phone number. The phone rung forever. Jasmine was about to hang up when DeAndre answered, “Where are you at girl? You got me out here in this car waiting. Folk are looking at me like I am crazy.” Jasmine laughed, “Good morning to you, too.” DeAndre smacked his lips. Jasmine shook her head, “I am still on the freeway. I am about 15 minutes away. You can either wait on me or go ahead and go in the church. It’s up to you.” DeAndre smacked his lips again, “I’ll wait on you. Hurry up and get here. I am tired of waiting on you.” Jasmine responded, “I am driving as fast as I can. I’ll be there. See ya!” DeAndre snapped, “Whatever. Just get here. Slow driving behind.” Jasmine laughed as she hung up the phone and sped drove down the freeway.
***
DeAndre watched as Jasmine pulled her dark blue Acura Legend Sedan up next to his gray Chevrolet Impala. He waved at her as she cut the car off and got out of the car. She walked over to his driver’s side door. DeAndre acted like he did not want to get out of the car. Jasmine made a face at him. He laughed and got out of the car. He grabbed his cousin and gave her a big hug that lifted her up off the ground. She laughed, “You need to quit hugging folk like that. You are gonna hurt somebody one of these days.” He smiled, “Look at you looking all good in your pink outfit. I am scared of you.” She laughed, “I do look good, don’t I.” DeAndre twisted his lips, “Whatever. I am the one who taught you how to dress so, you should be thanking me.” She licked her tongue out at her cousin. He had no problem reminding her that he was responsible for her whole look. “Whatever,” Jasmine thought. DeAndre put his arm in Jasmine’s arm and walked her to the entrance of the church, “You are wearing your heels. That’s good. You look like you may be able to walk in them. You are too cute.” Jasmine shook her head, “Leave me alone, please. Remember, we are starting a new life here, so don’t be telling all of my business. No one knows us here, so we can be whoever we want to be.” DeAndre laughed, “You are too serious. So, I can be a big time lawyer instead of an accounts payable clerk.” Jasmine shook her head, “Yea, if you want to be. You need Jesus.” DeAndre retorted, “Never said I didn’t.” That was his response to that phrase every time she said it to him.
They finally reached the door of Parkridge. DeAndre let Jasmine’s arm go as they walked through the front doors of the church. DeAndre looked around. It was as nice as Jasmine had said it was. The building met with his approval, as if the house of the Lord needed anyone’s approval. But DeAndre had had his fill of store front and small churches, the church had to look nice for him to consider joining it.
DeAndre was looking for a new church home. He had outgrown his current church home. He had been a member of the church since childhood. There were not any young people joining the church and the pastor would not listen to any of DeAndre’s ideas about revamping the service slightly to attract a younger crowd. DeAndre ad not suggested any drastic changes, just mostly updating the service style. The old fashion foot stomping, hand clapping, testimonial service style of worship was cool for a weekday service, but upwardly mobile young folk, were more into a structure Sunday morning service. The choir still even sung the old style of songs from the 1980s. Please, at least update the style of music that the choir sung, but the choir president, who had to be over 110 years old, would not do it. Okay, so Sis. Moss was only like 60, but she still needed to teach the choir some new songs. The pastor even preached an old style message. He preached a goulash message for over an hour. Young people wanted a more polished message that could be followed easily. DeAndre had a hard time following his pastor when he jumped from talking about shacking to talking about how it was when he first built the church. Seriously, what in the world does shacking have to do with building a church?
DeAndre did not want his pastor to change his message, just change his delivery. DeAndre understood the need to preach Holiness or hell, but there was a way to preach it without boring everyone in the sanctuary with the message.
Jasmine tugged at DeAndre’s arm, “Boy, would you come on. We have missed the beginning of the praise and worship service. Let’s go.”
DeAndre smiled as he thought, “Did she just say ‘Praise and Worship’ service? I may like this church after all.” He smiled as he made his grand entrance into the church. With each step down the middle of the aisle, he said, “Look Parkridge Pentecostal Church, Evg. DeAndre Woodside has entered the building. Ya’ll ain’t ready for him.”
Jasmine smiled as she watched DeAndre walk down the aisle. He was doing his “Ya’ll ain’t ready for me” walk. He was so funny. How could anyone who preached Hell fire and damnation sermons be so stuck on himself. He needed Jesus.
Jasmine and DeAndre finally found a seat close to the front of the church, DeAndre’s choice of course. He always had to be where he could see and other folk could see him. Jasmine did not understand that. She always took a back seat to everyone else. That often got her pushed to the side and overlooked, even when she was the one who had done all the work. DeAndre often told her, “You need to stick up for yourself. Open your mouth and quit letting folk run over you!” DeAndre could be harsh when he wanted to. He always spoke his mind. If he hurt your feelings, he would apologize for hurting your feelings, but not for saying what he had said. Jasmine shook the negative thoughts out of her head and replaced them with positive thoughts.
“I am going to be more vocal. I will not let people run over me anymore. This is a new day. I am a new me. This is a new start for me.”
Jasmine wished that she had more faith in herself, but she did not.
DeAndre stared at his cousin. She had that far off look on her face, so he knew that she was thinking about something. That is all she ever did, was think. One of these days, she was going to act instead of think. DeAndre knew that he should not think those kinds of thoughts about his cousin, but he was tired of her crying to him about how someone had hurt her feelings. She needed to speak up for herself and quit letting folk run over her. She was a sweet person and would give you the shirt off her back. But she had a nasty habit of giving people chance after chance. So many people had ran over Jasmine with a Mack truck and she just forgave them and still tried to be nice to then.. She need to learn to cut folk off.
“You get two chances with me. That’s it.” That was DeAndre’s slogan and he meant every word of it.
His cousin was forever telling him that he was too harsh. She did not know what she was talking about though. You had to be tough or people would walk all over you. DeAndre had tried to soften his stance more than once, but every time that he did, he got walked on.
DeAndre sighed as he thought, “Maybe I should try to be nicer and people more chances. Lord, You got to help me do that because I can’t do it on my own. Lord, while You are working, could You help Jasmine to not let people walk all over her?”
Both Jasmine and DeAndre stopped their thoughts and joined in the service. They both purposed in their hearts to make a new start and to make some much needed changes in their life.
The service went the same this Sunday as it had most other Sundays. The service was exciting, moved quickly, and was energetic. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre was having a good time. He was into the service. She did not expect him to dance or anything, because it took a serious jolt from the Holy Spirit to send DeAndre into a dance. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre liked the service and the church, so they were probably both going to end up joining the church.
***
(1996)
It had been a year since both DeAndre and Jasmine had joined Parkridge Pentecostal Church. They had both taken things slowly before they got involved in the church. Since joining the church, both of their lives were going good. Jasmine had gotten a job at the local library and DeAndre had received two raises in the past year. Things were going good for both of them.
They had recently joined the Sunday School Department of the church. Jasmine was the librarian. DeAndre was the attendance secretary. It was easy work and the leaders were fun and did not act crazy. That was just what DeAndre wanted because he did not have time for any leader that wanted to act a fool with him. Jasmine was as happy as she could be at the church. DeAndre was still skeptical, but he was warming up to the people at the church.
Oddly enough, Jasmine had made more friends that DeAndre had, and he was the outgoing friendly one. Jasmine had introduced him to everyone that she had met, so he knew quite a few folk. He just was not ready to make any new friends. He had made some connections with some of the young men at the church. He liked working with young men. DeAndre had a knack for getting them to open up and listen to him. DeAndre had planned on taking his time and making friends, and that is what he was doing.
By the middle of 1996, Jasmine and DeAndre had become very involved in the ministries at Parkridge Pentecostal Church. DeAndre was the assistant Sunday School superintendent. Jasmine was a Sunday School teacher. They both were working with the youth ministry. That was a challenge at times because the director of the youth ministry did not seem to like DeAndre because he had a better repertoire with the young people than the youth ministry director.
Bishop Boston had taken notice of DeAndre’s work ethic and commitment to the church. DeAndre was at almost every service. He was willing to help out when necessary and he seemed to work well with other people. DeAndre was an excellent dresser, too. the bishop noticed how good DeAndre smelled every time he got near him. DeAndre always seemed to wear the most expensive colognes out on the market. Bishop Boston thought DeAndre was a perfect young minister to mentor and cultivate. The only problem the bishop faced was that he could never get DeAndre to say anything to him other than, “God bless you, Bishop.” If DeAndre would give him a chance, the bishop planned on turning him into a top notch preacher.
***
DeAndre sat down in the chair that was sitting next to Jasmine’s computer desk. He looked around her room. She had made herself right at home. She had pictures on the wall. She had her certificates and other awards displayed around the room. He laughed as he said, “You have made yourself right at home.” Jasmine looked up at her cousin, “Yea, and?” DeAndre threw the stress ball that was on her desk at her. She caught it and then threw it back at him. He laughed, “Let me ask you something.” Jasmine said, “What?” DeAndre asked, “What do you think of your pastor?” Jasmine made a face, “He’s kind of pretty and some of the things he says seem a bit chauvinistic, but other than that, he seems okay. You remind me of him sometimes.” DeAndre made a face, “Whatever, I am not a chauvinist.” Jasmine frowned, “Yep, you can be. Why did you ask me about Bishop?” DeAndre made a face, “Every time I get near him, he acts like he wants to talk to me or something. I don’t give him a chance to though. I ain’t got time to be getting close to another pastor. They shady sometimes. He is probably even worse because he is a bishop.” Jasmine shook her head, “You need to give him a chance. Maybe he just sees something good in you as a minister and he wants to help you be a better minister. I don’t know. Just give the man a chance. Every preacher is not evil.” DeAndre mad a mistrusting face, “You trust people too easily. Someone could be showing you a knife and you would invite them into your house. You need to quit that.” Jasmine shook her head, “Oh please. You need to quit.” DeAndre smacked his lips, “Oh please, you need to start.” Jasmine swung her pillow towards DeAndre. she knew that it was not going to come anywhere near DeAndre, but it made her feel better.
DeAndre reached for the pillow. He missed it. He laughed and said, “You are crazy. Do your really think Bishop just wants to help me be a better minister?” Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, “Yea, what else could he want?” DeAndre paused before he said, “I just don’t have time to be getting involved with any mess. Church folk are so messy. They get on my nerves. I just don’t want no mess. I would hate to have to act a fool up at Parkridge. And you know I can act a fool.” Jasmine knew oh too well how big of a fool that DeAndre could act. She smiled at DeAndre and said, “All I can tell you is to pray and seek the Lord on it. You said that you want to be a big time preacher. Maybe Bishop is the person who can help you do that. You will never know unless you give him a chance.” DeAndre shook his head. Jasmine made sense. Maybe it was time that he gave the Bishop a chance. At least he could have a conversation with the Bishop. That could not hurt anything, maybe it would turn out good.
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Chapter One
(2006)
Jasmine stroked her hair as she stared in the mirror. She was supposed to be brushing her teeth, but she was having a hard time doing it. Her mind kept thinking about Parkridge Pentecostal Church and the things that had happened to her and her cousin, DeAndre. She kept wondering why she was thinking about the church and its people. It had been two years since she had last graced the steps of Parkridge. She had no intention of going back to the church either.
Jasmine picked up her toothbrush. She picked up the toothpaste, flipped the cap up, and squeezed the tube. She put the toothpaste on her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth.
***
(1994)
Jasmine Woodside stood in front of Parkridge Pentecostal Church. It was warm on the fall Sunday in 1994, she was almost regretting wearing what she was wearing. She could not believe that she was actually standing in front of one of the most popular churches in the city of Sheldyville. She brushed her long hair back from in her face and walked into the church.
Jasmine knew that she looked cute in her purple suit. Her purple shoes and purse matched her suit perfectly. Her make-up was flawless. She wished that she would have told her hair stylist to put her hair up instead of down, but her hair still looked good. Jasmine knew that she was looking good.
Jasmine walked into the vestibule area of Parkridge. It was elegant and large. People were walking around. No one spoke to her, but that did not matter to her. She walked into the sanctuary of the church. It was massive. There were rows and rows of pews around the building. It was a lovely sanctuary. Some people were seated. Some people were standing up talking. Some people were walking around. It was an amazing scene to Jasmine because she had never been in a church this big. She had always attended small churches. Churches where everyone knew everyone and everyone thought of her as a baby. She was twenty-two years old and she was tired of being treated like a child. So what, if she was still a virgin. So what, if she had no children. So what, if she had no man. So what. None of that stuff meant anything. Perhaps, Parkridge could be the new start for her that the speaker at her college graduation had spoken of.
Jasmine was excited as the dark skinned usher smiled at her and hand her a program. Jasmine smiled back at the usher. The usher said, “Enjoy the service today. God bless you.” Jasmine nodded. She looked at the usher’s name tag. It read Marie Baxter. Jasmine made a mental note to remember the usher’s name.
Jasmine walked to the middle of sanctuary. She took a seat and looked at the program. The pastor of Parkridge was Bishop Henry R. Boston. Jasmine smiled because she was familiar with Parkridge’s church. She had several of their CDs. The choir was fantastic. Their songs had brought Jasmine through a number of hard times. Jasmine was happy to be sitting at the church. She was looking forward to hearing the choir.
Jasmine kicked her shoes off. She had just recently learned to walk in tall heels. She had not worn a heel over a half inch until this past year. She could not believe that she let her metrosexual cousin convince her to where some heels that were an inch high. After prating for a whole week, she was finally able to walk in the heels without stumbling. Oddly enough, her male cousin had taught her how to walk in the heels. Jasmine laughed as she thought about all of the things that her male cousin had taught her about being a girl. He was the one who had taught her how to put on her make-up. He was the one who had taught her how to put an outfit together. The only thing Jasmine hated about her cousin’s vast knowledge of being a woman, was that he was often called gay. He cousin was not gay. He was just good at looking good, smelling good, and dressing good. He was 20 and did not have a girlfriend, but he was not gay. Why did church folk think that you needed to be married once you turned 20? It was always amazing to Jasmine because most of the people who were always asking her when she was going to get married, either had rocky marriages or were divorced. Jasmine did not have a good view of marriage. With divorce running rampede through her family and having seen so many rocky marriages in her church growing up, she could not have a good view of it.
Jasmine brushed her long black hair out of her face. She hated having hair in her face. She would have cut it off, but her cousin, aunt, and former church family would have had a fit. They believed that women should not cut their hair short, especially if they had been blest with long hair. Jasmine would never cut her hair, but there were times when she was tired of having long hair. It did come in handy when she wanted to pull it back into a ponytail.
Jasmine rubbed her nose. She smiled because she had been teased so much growing up because she had a big nose. She hated been called big nosed. Jasmine was a beautiful young woman. She had few flaws, but she did not have a man. She often felt bad about it, too. It did not help that people, church folk in particular would ask her what was wrong with her, as if she had a disease that kept her from getting a man. It was not like she was sitting around her house praying, “Lord, don’t let men pay attention to me.” In actuality, she was praying the exact opposite. “Lord, can I get a date, please.” Jasmine did not understand church folk, especially the ones who said they spoke in tongues. they were constantly criticizing her and making her feel bad because she did not have a man. Apparently, their Holy Ghost was not working like it should have been because they would have discerned what and how she was feeling. She felt worse than they could have imagined about the whole situation. It got even worse when Jasmine overheard one of the mothers of the church say, “Maybe she is one of those girls who like girls.” Jasmine almost had a fit when she had heard it. She told her cousin what the old lady had said. DeAndre said, “Girl, please don’t let those old ladies get to you. They say worse things about me.” Jasmine had tried to shrug off the lady’s comments, but she never could. Jasmine often wondered how many other people were wondering the same thing.
Jasmine let her old life leave her mind. She was at a new church, where the people did not know her. She could start over here. That is why she had come to the church anyway. She was going to be the woman that she wanted to be, popular, confident, and have a man.
A light skinned lady sat down next to Jasmine. The lady said, “God bless you, sister.” Jasmine responded, “God bless you.” The lady smiled and started talking to the lady that was sitting on the pew in front of her. Jasmine decided to talk to the lady after she finished her conversation. That would be her first step to being a different person. She would have never taken a chance and talked to anyone. Jasmine was shy, very shy. She had to get to know people before she was even comfortable talking to them.
Jasmine would have to wait for another chance to be a new person. The service began before the light skinned lady finished her conversation.
A dark-skinned older man walked up to the podium of the pulpit. He said, “Praise the Lord, everybody.” The congregation responded in kind, “Praise the Lord.” He said, “Let’s all stand for a word of prayer.” The congregation stood up. A light-skinned man with a full beard and mustache walked up to the podium after the other elder stepped back. The light-skinned elder said, “Every eye closed, every head bowed, every heart clear.” He then began to pray. He prayed for about ten minutes. He prayed with such an intensity that Jasmine had to look up a couple of times because she wanted to see the elders face. His face was crumpled up. He had one hand on the microphone and the other hand was raised in the air. He waved it around as he prayed. At the end of the prayer, he said, “God, come in the building today. Move in the choir. Move in the speaker. Move in each one of us. We will be ever so careful to give your name the praise. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord!” He praised the Lord for a few more minutes before he said amen. After he said amen, the organist played a few notes. The people in the congregation began to praise the Lord frantically. It was crazy up in the sanctuary.
Before the organist could began playing the shouting music, the dark-skinned elder walked back to the pulpit and said, “Alright, Eld. Winbush. You are about to get something started in here. Eld. Davidson, come read the scripture for us.”
A tall dark-skinned man walked to the podium. He said, “The Lord is going to move today. I can feel Him already moving. Glory to Your name, Lord. Hallelujah! Let me leave that alone. Please turn in your Bibles to Psalms 100.” Eld. Davidson read the scripture. By the time he got to the last verse, he was almost preaching. The light-skinned lady sitting next to Jasmine yelled out, “Glory!” It startled Jasmine. She was looking around the church, instead of praising the Lord, herself. Jasmine shook her head, smiled, and thought, “I am going to like this church.”
The dark-skinned older man walked up to the podium. “Are you ready to praise the Lord?” The congregation responded with positive responses. He asked, “Are you ready to worship the Lord?” The congregation again responded with positive responses. The elder said, “Clap your hands as the praise team comes to bless us.”
Five women walked up to the front of the sanctuary. The began grabbing microphones as the organist began playing some music. A heavy set light-skinned lady said, “God is good! Yes, He is so good. Bless His name.” The congregation started clapping as the praise team started singing.
Jasmine clapped and sung with the praise team. This was the first time that she had been to a church with a praise team. The churches she had attended usually had testimonial service. Usually one person, the testimony service conductor, would stand in the front of the church, that person sung call and response songs, in between asking people if they had a testimony. From time to time, the people who stood up to testify, would sing a song before testifying. This part of the service was usually long, but jubilant. It could be a fun part of the service especially if one of the people who were testifying ended up dancing or praising God while they were testifying. It was so funny to see one of the sisters testify about how God had made a way so that her light bill would not be turned off and then watch her go into a frantic dance. The organist would play the shouting music and most of the rest of the congregation would join in the dance with the sister. Then after the sister was through dancing, she would finish the rest of her testimony. Each testimony could end up being 5 to 10 minutes long. With the conductor singing a 3 minute song in between each testimony, the testimony service could last an hour long. It felt weird having a praise team instead of a conductor.
The praise team finished. The praise service only lasted 10 minutes. Jasmine stood in shock. The praise service was already over. The praise team had sung some wonderful songs, but they were not the old school songs that Jasmine had grown up with, like “Have You Tried Jesus?,” “Jesus on the Mainline,” and “I Made a Vow to the Lord”. It felt weird not to hear old Mother York bellow out “Got My Sign Out for Jesus” and the congregation respond with “And I won’t take it down.” That was a Sunday morning tradition at Jasmine’s old church. “I guess with a new start comes other new things,” Jasmine thought to herself. This was going to be interesting.
The dark-skinned elder said, “Right now, we are going to ask Sister Maple to come and give us a testimony.” A lady came from the middle of the church, to the front of the church and took the microphone that was next to a podium on the floor. She began to testify. Jasmine smiled, “Maybe, I will still get to hear some testimonies.” Sis. Maple calmly testified and then placed the microphone back on its stand after she finished. Jasmine did a double take. It was a good testimony, but Sis. Maple did not dance or get excited. The dark-skinned elder said, “Sis. Crowder is going to come and give us a testimony.” A light-skinned lady rushed the front of the church. After she had the microphone, she gave an excited testimony, did a quick dance, and then went back to her seat. Jasmine smiled, “That’s what I’m talking about.”
The dark-skinned elder that was conducting the service walked back up to the podium. He looked back at the choir, who was behind him, and said, “Are you ready to sing choir?” The whole choir applauded. The dark-skinned elder turned towards the congregation and said, “And now, it’s time for this recording mass choir to bless us in song. Come on, choir.” The congregation started clapping like crazy. A light-skinned lady walked towards the front of the church and stood in front of the choir. The organist grabbed the microphone that was close to the organ and pulled it towards his mouth. He said, “Can you feel God moving?” The congregation responded back with a rousing, “Yes.” The organist said, “Pray for us as we sing, Can you feel God moving.” He pushed the microphone away from his mouth and started playing the song.
The choir started singing. They were awesome. About middle way through the song, most of the congregation was standing up, rocking, and clapping with the choir, including Jasmine. She was enjoying the choir. The choir directress was fun to watch. She was almost dancing as she directed. There was a woman at the end of the soprano section jumping up and down as the choir sung the up tempo song. Several of the tenors were rocking and clapping harder than any of the other choir members. The entire four member elder staff was standing up, clapping and rocking. The choir sung the song for awhile.
The song was over. Everyone was clapping and praising the Lord as the organist pulled the microphone over to his mouth once again. He said, “He’s an awesome God. How many of you know that God is an awesome God?” He started playing a slow song. Before he had played five notes, several people had stood up and started clapping. After he had played the introduction to the song, he started singing. He had a very soft, melodic voice. As he sung, more people stood up. He finished up the verse, then the choir started to sing the verse. As the choir sung, more and more people stood up and started praising the Lord. Some people were crying. Some people had their hands raised up. Some people were crying with their hands raised up. The worship song took the service to a higher level.
When the choir finished the slow song, the dark-skinned elder walked to the podium. “Bless His name. Somebody ought to bless the name of the Lord.” Some people who were sitting down, stood up. Some people who were clapping, clapped harder. Some people who were crying, cried even more. The organist played a couple of notes. The dark-skinned elder said, “Alright now, somebody wants to praise the Lord.” The organist played some more notes. The elder said, “If you want to get your praise on, now is the time.” After he said that, the whole church went crazy. People started dancing and praising the Lord like it was their last chance to praise the Lord. The organist was playing the shouting music at a frenzied pace that had everyone in the church dancing. The drum kept pace with the organ while playing rhythmic riffs that made the listener think that the drummer had six arms instead of just two. The church danced and praised for close to five minutes.
The dark-skinned elder said, “Come on Sis. Johnson, let’s welcome our first time visitors.” A dark-skinned heavy set lady walked to the front of the sanctuary. She took the microphone and said, “Would all of our first time visitors please stand?” People from all over the sanctuary stood up. As Sis. Johnson welcomed the visitors, the ushers handed the visitors a visitor’s card. The light-skinned lady that was sitting next to Jasmine handed Jasmine the visitor card.
A few minutes later, a caramel colored thin lady walked up to the microphone. She smiled. Someone from the congregation said, “Alright Sis. Boston. Let Him use you.” Sis. Boston smiled again and then said, “Praise the Lord everybody.” The congregation responded with, “Praise the Lord.” Sis. Boston said, “I don’t think you heard me. Praise the Lord everybody.” The congregation got louder as they said, “Praise the Lord.” Sis. Boston excitedly said, “They told me that this was a Holiness church. It’s mighty quiet in here for this to be a Holiness church. Can I get one witness in the building to praise the Lord?” All of a sudden, there was a loud screech. Jasmine thought it was from a woman, but when she looked around, a tall, good looking, dark chocolate man was running around the church. After he took off, the organist started playing the shouting music again. The rest of the church went to dancing and praising the Lord.
Before Jasmine knew what had happened, she started dancing. She tried to stop herself from dancing, but she could not. She had never danced in heels before. Jasmine danced as if it was going to be her last chance to dance.
When Jasmine stopped dancing, she looked up and she had danced her way to the back of the church. There were two ushers surrounding her. Jasmine had lost an earring, which one of the ushers handed her along with some Kleenex.
Jasmine walked back to her seat as Sis. Boston did the announcement. Jasmine had never been to a church where the first lady had stirred the whole church up while giving the announcements. Jasmine was going to like this church.
One of the elders from the pulpit conducted the offering. The choir sung during the offering. The offering seemed to take forever because the church was so large and everyone walked around.
After the offering, the dark-skinned elder who had been facilitating the service all morning came back up to the podium. He said, “We are up to the word.” The congregation gave a thunderous round of applause. The elder said it again, “We are up to the word. Are you all ready for the Word?” The congregation got even louder this time when they responded.
Finally, a tall, stocky, Sepia colored man walked up on the pulpit. Everyone in the congregation stood up. The dark-skinned elder said, “Now, I present to some and introduce to others, the founder and pastor of the Parkridge Pentecostal Church, Bishop Henry R. Boston. Let’s give him a hand as he comes.”
Bishop Boston walked to the podium slowly as if he was the most important man in the world. He wore an elegant, dark purple robe that was accented on the collar and sleeve cuffs with gold designs. He had on a purple and gold Bishop’s Chi mere that was lower calf length with a pleat in the front and back. He had a confidence about him that radiated through his mannerism. He spoke clearly and properly, enunciating every word. He was somebody and he wanted everyone in the building to know that he was just that.
Bishop Boston began by saying, “Praise the Lord, everybody.” The congregation responded, “Praise the Lord.” Jasmine smiled as she thought, “They like saying that phrase a lot.”
Bishop Boston continued to stir the crowd up by saying, “God is indeed moving in this building today. Can you feel Him?” Bishop did not wait for a response from the crowd as he said, “If you can’t feel God in here today, then something is wrong with you.” Bishop continued to talk for about 15 minutes, trying to stir the crowd up.
Jasmine became bored with the ramblings of the Bishop. She was not even sure what or who he was talking about. He was sharing some testimonies of the members of his church, but she did not know who anyone was, so by the third testimony, she had lost interest.
Parkridge was the biggest church she had ever been in. It was clean and well-lit. The electricity bill had to be high. The light bulbs were high in the ceilings. It probably took some work to change all of the light bulbs in the church. The pews were comfortable. They were wooden, but the had a plush turquoise cushion on the seat and on the back to make the wooden bench easy on the sitter. There was a black baby grand piano on one side of the church. The organ and drum set was on the other side of the church. The choir stand looked like it could hold 100 or more people. The pulpit was large enough to hold 15 preachers, although it only held five at the time.
Jasmine’s thoughts were interrupted when Bishop said, “Let’s turn to Ecclesiastes chapter three, verses 1 through 13.” People turned the pages of their Bibles to find the scripture as they stood up. Bishop Boston said, “When you have it, say Amen.” Several people said, “Amen.”
Bishop began reading, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” After he finished reading, he said, “May the Lord add a blessing to the readers, hearers, and doers of His word. You may be seated.”
The congregation sat down. Bishop said, “I would like to use for a subject, ‘What Time Is It?’” Many people in the congregation said, “Amen.” Some people said, “Bless His name.” Others said, “Alright.” One person said, “Talk about it then.” Another person said, “What time is it, Bishop?” Jasmine chuckled at the people as they talked back to the Bishop.
Bishop began his sermon... “The Bible states that there is a time for everything. It doesn’t matter what it is. There is a time for it. You can do some things during a certain and then you cannot do it at any other time. You have to know what time it is in your life.”
Bishop continued on with his sermon for awhile. Jasmine faded in and out on Bishop as he preached. Jasmine looked at the different people in the church. There were ladies in the latest styled suits with big hats with feathers to match. There were men in the latest styled suits, looking dapper with matching ties, shoes, and handkerchiefs. There were only a few children in the sanctuary because most of them were in Children’s Church.
“You may look at one person and they are prospering, getting everything that they want, and you do not have a dime to your name. You have to borrow money just to get a coke out of the coke machine. Don’t worry about it, it just isn’t your time right now. Just wait a little while longer, it will be your turn. Just keep doing what you are doing. Serve the Lord and live right. Your time will come.”
Jasmine thought as Bishop talked, “When is it going to be my time? I have been doing right for so long and I still ain’t got nothing. I can’t wait until it is my time.”
“Don’t get jealous when it is someone else’s time. Praise the Lord for them, like it was you that was getting the blessings. You got to be happy for other folk when they are being blessed.”
Jasmine thought for a minute, “I am always happy for other folk when they get blessed. I guess I just have to keep waiting.” She shook her head and then smiled.
Bishop began to tune up. The organist played a note. People began to stand and encourage Bishop to preach.
“Preach Pastor!”
“Go head and tell the truth!”
Bishop squalled, “What time is it?”
“What time is it, pastor?”
“Talk on it then!”
The organist played a string of keys that sent the bishop into a full fledge whoop. Bishop was melodically saying each phrase. In between each phrase, the organist played a string of notes and the drum kept beat with a loud crash of the high cymbal and a hard hit of the snare. The congregation chimed in an Amen, a Yes sir, and a preach pastor. The service was at its highest point. Before long, Bishop had everyone excited with praise.
“What time is it? If it ain’t your time now, keep on praising. Keep on giving. Keep on working. It will be your time soon. Somebody oughta give God a dance.”
The organist played a loud long string of notes and then everyone went to an effusive dance.
After everyone had finished dancing, the Bishop said, “We are having church in here. If you didn’t get your dance on, it ain’t nobody’s fault but your own.” That phrase started the dancing up all over again.
“Yea Lord,” Bishop Boston sung loudly and off key. That seemed to calm everyone down. Bishop walked down from the pulpit onto the floor and the elders on the pulpit followed suit. Several women from the audience walked out from behind the pews and joined the Bishop and the elders at the front of the church.
Bishop said, “If you are here and you are not saved, this is a good Sunday to get saved.” He pause for a few minutes as the organist played a slow song softly.
“If you don’t know the Lord, you need to get to know Him. You won’t know what time it is for you without Him.”
People started walking down to the front.
“That’s right. Come on down. We will get you saved and delivered right now. We have people up here who can pray for and with you.”
People continued to walk down. The bishop, elders, and female ministers prayed for the people as they came down for the altar call.
The altar call seemed to take forever, but it was finally over. The elders went back up to the pulpit. The women went back to their seats. The bishop was the only person standing on the floor in the front of the church. He sung, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul.” The organist took over the song and continued to sing it as the bishop said, “If you need a church home, the doors of the church are opened. If you got saved today, you should make your home here. If Parkridge is good enough to get you saved, then it’s good enough to keep you saved.” No one came down to the front though.
The bishop walked back up to the pulpit. He handed the microphone to the dark-skinned elder. The dark-skinned elder said, “And we are standing.” The congregation stood up as the elder continued, “The Lord moved for us today. Let’s take this praise home with us.”
Someone yelled, “I sure will Eld. Fugler!” Eld. Fugler said, “Alright then. What time is it?”
A lady sitting near Jasmine said, “Time to go home.” Jasmine stifled her laugh.
Eld. Fugler said, “All minds clear as we pray.” He paused before continuing, “Lord, thank you for the word today. We needed it. Help us to realize what time it is in our life. May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another.” He paused again before the entire congregation sang, “Amen.”
People began leaving the sanctuary. Jasmine got caught in the traffic. She waited to get through the crowd. It was slow moving, but she waited patiently. Several people passed her and did not say anything to her. Finally, a lady said, “God bless you sister.” Jasmine smiled and respond, “God bless you, too.” Jasmine continued to work her way through the crowd.
She finally reached the back doors of the church. She was met at the door by the same usher who had greeted her in the beginning. Sis. Baxter said, “Did you enjoy the service?” Jasmine smiled and said, “Yes mame.” Sis. Baxter said, “Well, come back and join us again.” Jasmine said, “Yes mame. I will.” Sis. Baxter hugged Jasmine as she exited the sanctuary.
Jasmine walked out of the church building and headed towards her car. She knew that she would be back to Parkridge again. She was even considering joining the church.
Jasmine stroked her hair as she stared in the mirror. She was supposed to be brushing her teeth, but she was having a hard time doing it. Her mind kept thinking about Parkridge Pentecostal Church and the things that had happened to her and her cousin, DeAndre. She kept wondering why she was thinking about the church and its people. It had been two years since she had last graced the steps of Parkridge. She had no intention of going back to the church either.
Jasmine picked up her toothbrush. She picked up the toothpaste, flipped the cap up, and squeezed the tube. She put the toothpaste on her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth.
***
(1994)
Jasmine Woodside stood in front of Parkridge Pentecostal Church. It was warm on the fall Sunday in 1994, she was almost regretting wearing what she was wearing. She could not believe that she was actually standing in front of one of the most popular churches in the city of Sheldyville. She brushed her long hair back from in her face and walked into the church.
Jasmine knew that she looked cute in her purple suit. Her purple shoes and purse matched her suit perfectly. Her make-up was flawless. She wished that she would have told her hair stylist to put her hair up instead of down, but her hair still looked good. Jasmine knew that she was looking good.
Jasmine walked into the vestibule area of Parkridge. It was elegant and large. People were walking around. No one spoke to her, but that did not matter to her. She walked into the sanctuary of the church. It was massive. There were rows and rows of pews around the building. It was a lovely sanctuary. Some people were seated. Some people were standing up talking. Some people were walking around. It was an amazing scene to Jasmine because she had never been in a church this big. She had always attended small churches. Churches where everyone knew everyone and everyone thought of her as a baby. She was twenty-two years old and she was tired of being treated like a child. So what, if she was still a virgin. So what, if she had no children. So what, if she had no man. So what. None of that stuff meant anything. Perhaps, Parkridge could be the new start for her that the speaker at her college graduation had spoken of.
Jasmine was excited as the dark skinned usher smiled at her and hand her a program. Jasmine smiled back at the usher. The usher said, “Enjoy the service today. God bless you.” Jasmine nodded. She looked at the usher’s name tag. It read Marie Baxter. Jasmine made a mental note to remember the usher’s name.
Jasmine walked to the middle of sanctuary. She took a seat and looked at the program. The pastor of Parkridge was Bishop Henry R. Boston. Jasmine smiled because she was familiar with Parkridge’s church. She had several of their CDs. The choir was fantastic. Their songs had brought Jasmine through a number of hard times. Jasmine was happy to be sitting at the church. She was looking forward to hearing the choir.
Jasmine kicked her shoes off. She had just recently learned to walk in tall heels. She had not worn a heel over a half inch until this past year. She could not believe that she let her metrosexual cousin convince her to where some heels that were an inch high. After prating for a whole week, she was finally able to walk in the heels without stumbling. Oddly enough, her male cousin had taught her how to walk in the heels. Jasmine laughed as she thought about all of the things that her male cousin had taught her about being a girl. He was the one who had taught her how to put on her make-up. He was the one who had taught her how to put an outfit together. The only thing Jasmine hated about her cousin’s vast knowledge of being a woman, was that he was often called gay. He cousin was not gay. He was just good at looking good, smelling good, and dressing good. He was 20 and did not have a girlfriend, but he was not gay. Why did church folk think that you needed to be married once you turned 20? It was always amazing to Jasmine because most of the people who were always asking her when she was going to get married, either had rocky marriages or were divorced. Jasmine did not have a good view of marriage. With divorce running rampede through her family and having seen so many rocky marriages in her church growing up, she could not have a good view of it.
Jasmine brushed her long black hair out of her face. She hated having hair in her face. She would have cut it off, but her cousin, aunt, and former church family would have had a fit. They believed that women should not cut their hair short, especially if they had been blest with long hair. Jasmine would never cut her hair, but there were times when she was tired of having long hair. It did come in handy when she wanted to pull it back into a ponytail.
Jasmine rubbed her nose. She smiled because she had been teased so much growing up because she had a big nose. She hated been called big nosed. Jasmine was a beautiful young woman. She had few flaws, but she did not have a man. She often felt bad about it, too. It did not help that people, church folk in particular would ask her what was wrong with her, as if she had a disease that kept her from getting a man. It was not like she was sitting around her house praying, “Lord, don’t let men pay attention to me.” In actuality, she was praying the exact opposite. “Lord, can I get a date, please.” Jasmine did not understand church folk, especially the ones who said they spoke in tongues. they were constantly criticizing her and making her feel bad because she did not have a man. Apparently, their Holy Ghost was not working like it should have been because they would have discerned what and how she was feeling. She felt worse than they could have imagined about the whole situation. It got even worse when Jasmine overheard one of the mothers of the church say, “Maybe she is one of those girls who like girls.” Jasmine almost had a fit when she had heard it. She told her cousin what the old lady had said. DeAndre said, “Girl, please don’t let those old ladies get to you. They say worse things about me.” Jasmine had tried to shrug off the lady’s comments, but she never could. Jasmine often wondered how many other people were wondering the same thing.
Jasmine let her old life leave her mind. She was at a new church, where the people did not know her. She could start over here. That is why she had come to the church anyway. She was going to be the woman that she wanted to be, popular, confident, and have a man.
A light skinned lady sat down next to Jasmine. The lady said, “God bless you, sister.” Jasmine responded, “God bless you.” The lady smiled and started talking to the lady that was sitting on the pew in front of her. Jasmine decided to talk to the lady after she finished her conversation. That would be her first step to being a different person. She would have never taken a chance and talked to anyone. Jasmine was shy, very shy. She had to get to know people before she was even comfortable talking to them.
Jasmine would have to wait for another chance to be a new person. The service began before the light skinned lady finished her conversation.
A dark-skinned older man walked up to the podium of the pulpit. He said, “Praise the Lord, everybody.” The congregation responded in kind, “Praise the Lord.” He said, “Let’s all stand for a word of prayer.” The congregation stood up. A light-skinned man with a full beard and mustache walked up to the podium after the other elder stepped back. The light-skinned elder said, “Every eye closed, every head bowed, every heart clear.” He then began to pray. He prayed for about ten minutes. He prayed with such an intensity that Jasmine had to look up a couple of times because she wanted to see the elders face. His face was crumpled up. He had one hand on the microphone and the other hand was raised in the air. He waved it around as he prayed. At the end of the prayer, he said, “God, come in the building today. Move in the choir. Move in the speaker. Move in each one of us. We will be ever so careful to give your name the praise. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord!” He praised the Lord for a few more minutes before he said amen. After he said amen, the organist played a few notes. The people in the congregation began to praise the Lord frantically. It was crazy up in the sanctuary.
Before the organist could began playing the shouting music, the dark-skinned elder walked back to the pulpit and said, “Alright, Eld. Winbush. You are about to get something started in here. Eld. Davidson, come read the scripture for us.”
A tall dark-skinned man walked to the podium. He said, “The Lord is going to move today. I can feel Him already moving. Glory to Your name, Lord. Hallelujah! Let me leave that alone. Please turn in your Bibles to Psalms 100.” Eld. Davidson read the scripture. By the time he got to the last verse, he was almost preaching. The light-skinned lady sitting next to Jasmine yelled out, “Glory!” It startled Jasmine. She was looking around the church, instead of praising the Lord, herself. Jasmine shook her head, smiled, and thought, “I am going to like this church.”
The dark-skinned older man walked up to the podium. “Are you ready to praise the Lord?” The congregation responded with positive responses. He asked, “Are you ready to worship the Lord?” The congregation again responded with positive responses. The elder said, “Clap your hands as the praise team comes to bless us.”
Five women walked up to the front of the sanctuary. The began grabbing microphones as the organist began playing some music. A heavy set light-skinned lady said, “God is good! Yes, He is so good. Bless His name.” The congregation started clapping as the praise team started singing.
Jasmine clapped and sung with the praise team. This was the first time that she had been to a church with a praise team. The churches she had attended usually had testimonial service. Usually one person, the testimony service conductor, would stand in the front of the church, that person sung call and response songs, in between asking people if they had a testimony. From time to time, the people who stood up to testify, would sing a song before testifying. This part of the service was usually long, but jubilant. It could be a fun part of the service especially if one of the people who were testifying ended up dancing or praising God while they were testifying. It was so funny to see one of the sisters testify about how God had made a way so that her light bill would not be turned off and then watch her go into a frantic dance. The organist would play the shouting music and most of the rest of the congregation would join in the dance with the sister. Then after the sister was through dancing, she would finish the rest of her testimony. Each testimony could end up being 5 to 10 minutes long. With the conductor singing a 3 minute song in between each testimony, the testimony service could last an hour long. It felt weird having a praise team instead of a conductor.
The praise team finished. The praise service only lasted 10 minutes. Jasmine stood in shock. The praise service was already over. The praise team had sung some wonderful songs, but they were not the old school songs that Jasmine had grown up with, like “Have You Tried Jesus?,” “Jesus on the Mainline,” and “I Made a Vow to the Lord”. It felt weird not to hear old Mother York bellow out “Got My Sign Out for Jesus” and the congregation respond with “And I won’t take it down.” That was a Sunday morning tradition at Jasmine’s old church. “I guess with a new start comes other new things,” Jasmine thought to herself. This was going to be interesting.
The dark-skinned elder said, “Right now, we are going to ask Sister Maple to come and give us a testimony.” A lady came from the middle of the church, to the front of the church and took the microphone that was next to a podium on the floor. She began to testify. Jasmine smiled, “Maybe, I will still get to hear some testimonies.” Sis. Maple calmly testified and then placed the microphone back on its stand after she finished. Jasmine did a double take. It was a good testimony, but Sis. Maple did not dance or get excited. The dark-skinned elder said, “Sis. Crowder is going to come and give us a testimony.” A light-skinned lady rushed the front of the church. After she had the microphone, she gave an excited testimony, did a quick dance, and then went back to her seat. Jasmine smiled, “That’s what I’m talking about.”
The dark-skinned elder that was conducting the service walked back up to the podium. He looked back at the choir, who was behind him, and said, “Are you ready to sing choir?” The whole choir applauded. The dark-skinned elder turned towards the congregation and said, “And now, it’s time for this recording mass choir to bless us in song. Come on, choir.” The congregation started clapping like crazy. A light-skinned lady walked towards the front of the church and stood in front of the choir. The organist grabbed the microphone that was close to the organ and pulled it towards his mouth. He said, “Can you feel God moving?” The congregation responded back with a rousing, “Yes.” The organist said, “Pray for us as we sing, Can you feel God moving.” He pushed the microphone away from his mouth and started playing the song.
The choir started singing. They were awesome. About middle way through the song, most of the congregation was standing up, rocking, and clapping with the choir, including Jasmine. She was enjoying the choir. The choir directress was fun to watch. She was almost dancing as she directed. There was a woman at the end of the soprano section jumping up and down as the choir sung the up tempo song. Several of the tenors were rocking and clapping harder than any of the other choir members. The entire four member elder staff was standing up, clapping and rocking. The choir sung the song for awhile.
The song was over. Everyone was clapping and praising the Lord as the organist pulled the microphone over to his mouth once again. He said, “He’s an awesome God. How many of you know that God is an awesome God?” He started playing a slow song. Before he had played five notes, several people had stood up and started clapping. After he had played the introduction to the song, he started singing. He had a very soft, melodic voice. As he sung, more people stood up. He finished up the verse, then the choir started to sing the verse. As the choir sung, more and more people stood up and started praising the Lord. Some people were crying. Some people had their hands raised up. Some people were crying with their hands raised up. The worship song took the service to a higher level.
When the choir finished the slow song, the dark-skinned elder walked to the podium. “Bless His name. Somebody ought to bless the name of the Lord.” Some people who were sitting down, stood up. Some people who were clapping, clapped harder. Some people who were crying, cried even more. The organist played a couple of notes. The dark-skinned elder said, “Alright now, somebody wants to praise the Lord.” The organist played some more notes. The elder said, “If you want to get your praise on, now is the time.” After he said that, the whole church went crazy. People started dancing and praising the Lord like it was their last chance to praise the Lord. The organist was playing the shouting music at a frenzied pace that had everyone in the church dancing. The drum kept pace with the organ while playing rhythmic riffs that made the listener think that the drummer had six arms instead of just two. The church danced and praised for close to five minutes.
The dark-skinned elder said, “Come on Sis. Johnson, let’s welcome our first time visitors.” A dark-skinned heavy set lady walked to the front of the sanctuary. She took the microphone and said, “Would all of our first time visitors please stand?” People from all over the sanctuary stood up. As Sis. Johnson welcomed the visitors, the ushers handed the visitors a visitor’s card. The light-skinned lady that was sitting next to Jasmine handed Jasmine the visitor card.
A few minutes later, a caramel colored thin lady walked up to the microphone. She smiled. Someone from the congregation said, “Alright Sis. Boston. Let Him use you.” Sis. Boston smiled again and then said, “Praise the Lord everybody.” The congregation responded with, “Praise the Lord.” Sis. Boston said, “I don’t think you heard me. Praise the Lord everybody.” The congregation got louder as they said, “Praise the Lord.” Sis. Boston excitedly said, “They told me that this was a Holiness church. It’s mighty quiet in here for this to be a Holiness church. Can I get one witness in the building to praise the Lord?” All of a sudden, there was a loud screech. Jasmine thought it was from a woman, but when she looked around, a tall, good looking, dark chocolate man was running around the church. After he took off, the organist started playing the shouting music again. The rest of the church went to dancing and praising the Lord.
Before Jasmine knew what had happened, she started dancing. She tried to stop herself from dancing, but she could not. She had never danced in heels before. Jasmine danced as if it was going to be her last chance to dance.
When Jasmine stopped dancing, she looked up and she had danced her way to the back of the church. There were two ushers surrounding her. Jasmine had lost an earring, which one of the ushers handed her along with some Kleenex.
Jasmine walked back to her seat as Sis. Boston did the announcement. Jasmine had never been to a church where the first lady had stirred the whole church up while giving the announcements. Jasmine was going to like this church.
One of the elders from the pulpit conducted the offering. The choir sung during the offering. The offering seemed to take forever because the church was so large and everyone walked around.
After the offering, the dark-skinned elder who had been facilitating the service all morning came back up to the podium. He said, “We are up to the word.” The congregation gave a thunderous round of applause. The elder said it again, “We are up to the word. Are you all ready for the Word?” The congregation got even louder this time when they responded.
Finally, a tall, stocky, Sepia colored man walked up on the pulpit. Everyone in the congregation stood up. The dark-skinned elder said, “Now, I present to some and introduce to others, the founder and pastor of the Parkridge Pentecostal Church, Bishop Henry R. Boston. Let’s give him a hand as he comes.”
Bishop Boston walked to the podium slowly as if he was the most important man in the world. He wore an elegant, dark purple robe that was accented on the collar and sleeve cuffs with gold designs. He had on a purple and gold Bishop’s Chi mere that was lower calf length with a pleat in the front and back. He had a confidence about him that radiated through his mannerism. He spoke clearly and properly, enunciating every word. He was somebody and he wanted everyone in the building to know that he was just that.
Bishop Boston began by saying, “Praise the Lord, everybody.” The congregation responded, “Praise the Lord.” Jasmine smiled as she thought, “They like saying that phrase a lot.”
Bishop Boston continued to stir the crowd up by saying, “God is indeed moving in this building today. Can you feel Him?” Bishop did not wait for a response from the crowd as he said, “If you can’t feel God in here today, then something is wrong with you.” Bishop continued to talk for about 15 minutes, trying to stir the crowd up.
Jasmine became bored with the ramblings of the Bishop. She was not even sure what or who he was talking about. He was sharing some testimonies of the members of his church, but she did not know who anyone was, so by the third testimony, she had lost interest.
Parkridge was the biggest church she had ever been in. It was clean and well-lit. The electricity bill had to be high. The light bulbs were high in the ceilings. It probably took some work to change all of the light bulbs in the church. The pews were comfortable. They were wooden, but the had a plush turquoise cushion on the seat and on the back to make the wooden bench easy on the sitter. There was a black baby grand piano on one side of the church. The organ and drum set was on the other side of the church. The choir stand looked like it could hold 100 or more people. The pulpit was large enough to hold 15 preachers, although it only held five at the time.
Jasmine’s thoughts were interrupted when Bishop said, “Let’s turn to Ecclesiastes chapter three, verses 1 through 13.” People turned the pages of their Bibles to find the scripture as they stood up. Bishop Boston said, “When you have it, say Amen.” Several people said, “Amen.”
Bishop began reading, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” After he finished reading, he said, “May the Lord add a blessing to the readers, hearers, and doers of His word. You may be seated.”
The congregation sat down. Bishop said, “I would like to use for a subject, ‘What Time Is It?’” Many people in the congregation said, “Amen.” Some people said, “Bless His name.” Others said, “Alright.” One person said, “Talk about it then.” Another person said, “What time is it, Bishop?” Jasmine chuckled at the people as they talked back to the Bishop.
Bishop began his sermon... “The Bible states that there is a time for everything. It doesn’t matter what it is. There is a time for it. You can do some things during a certain and then you cannot do it at any other time. You have to know what time it is in your life.”
Bishop continued on with his sermon for awhile. Jasmine faded in and out on Bishop as he preached. Jasmine looked at the different people in the church. There were ladies in the latest styled suits with big hats with feathers to match. There were men in the latest styled suits, looking dapper with matching ties, shoes, and handkerchiefs. There were only a few children in the sanctuary because most of them were in Children’s Church.
“You may look at one person and they are prospering, getting everything that they want, and you do not have a dime to your name. You have to borrow money just to get a coke out of the coke machine. Don’t worry about it, it just isn’t your time right now. Just wait a little while longer, it will be your turn. Just keep doing what you are doing. Serve the Lord and live right. Your time will come.”
Jasmine thought as Bishop talked, “When is it going to be my time? I have been doing right for so long and I still ain’t got nothing. I can’t wait until it is my time.”
“Don’t get jealous when it is someone else’s time. Praise the Lord for them, like it was you that was getting the blessings. You got to be happy for other folk when they are being blessed.”
Jasmine thought for a minute, “I am always happy for other folk when they get blessed. I guess I just have to keep waiting.” She shook her head and then smiled.
Bishop began to tune up. The organist played a note. People began to stand and encourage Bishop to preach.
“Preach Pastor!”
“Go head and tell the truth!”
Bishop squalled, “What time is it?”
“What time is it, pastor?”
“Talk on it then!”
The organist played a string of keys that sent the bishop into a full fledge whoop. Bishop was melodically saying each phrase. In between each phrase, the organist played a string of notes and the drum kept beat with a loud crash of the high cymbal and a hard hit of the snare. The congregation chimed in an Amen, a Yes sir, and a preach pastor. The service was at its highest point. Before long, Bishop had everyone excited with praise.
“What time is it? If it ain’t your time now, keep on praising. Keep on giving. Keep on working. It will be your time soon. Somebody oughta give God a dance.”
The organist played a loud long string of notes and then everyone went to an effusive dance.
After everyone had finished dancing, the Bishop said, “We are having church in here. If you didn’t get your dance on, it ain’t nobody’s fault but your own.” That phrase started the dancing up all over again.
“Yea Lord,” Bishop Boston sung loudly and off key. That seemed to calm everyone down. Bishop walked down from the pulpit onto the floor and the elders on the pulpit followed suit. Several women from the audience walked out from behind the pews and joined the Bishop and the elders at the front of the church.
Bishop said, “If you are here and you are not saved, this is a good Sunday to get saved.” He pause for a few minutes as the organist played a slow song softly.
“If you don’t know the Lord, you need to get to know Him. You won’t know what time it is for you without Him.”
People started walking down to the front.
“That’s right. Come on down. We will get you saved and delivered right now. We have people up here who can pray for and with you.”
People continued to walk down. The bishop, elders, and female ministers prayed for the people as they came down for the altar call.
The altar call seemed to take forever, but it was finally over. The elders went back up to the pulpit. The women went back to their seats. The bishop was the only person standing on the floor in the front of the church. He sung, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul.” The organist took over the song and continued to sing it as the bishop said, “If you need a church home, the doors of the church are opened. If you got saved today, you should make your home here. If Parkridge is good enough to get you saved, then it’s good enough to keep you saved.” No one came down to the front though.
The bishop walked back up to the pulpit. He handed the microphone to the dark-skinned elder. The dark-skinned elder said, “And we are standing.” The congregation stood up as the elder continued, “The Lord moved for us today. Let’s take this praise home with us.”
Someone yelled, “I sure will Eld. Fugler!” Eld. Fugler said, “Alright then. What time is it?”
A lady sitting near Jasmine said, “Time to go home.” Jasmine stifled her laugh.
Eld. Fugler said, “All minds clear as we pray.” He paused before continuing, “Lord, thank you for the word today. We needed it. Help us to realize what time it is in our life. May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another.” He paused again before the entire congregation sang, “Amen.”
People began leaving the sanctuary. Jasmine got caught in the traffic. She waited to get through the crowd. It was slow moving, but she waited patiently. Several people passed her and did not say anything to her. Finally, a lady said, “God bless you sister.” Jasmine smiled and respond, “God bless you, too.” Jasmine continued to work her way through the crowd.
She finally reached the back doors of the church. She was met at the door by the same usher who had greeted her in the beginning. Sis. Baxter said, “Did you enjoy the service?” Jasmine smiled and said, “Yes mame.” Sis. Baxter said, “Well, come back and join us again.” Jasmine said, “Yes mame. I will.” Sis. Baxter hugged Jasmine as she exited the sanctuary.
Jasmine walked out of the church building and headed towards her car. She knew that she would be back to Parkridge again. She was even considering joining the church.
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Allegations (Foreword)
This is just a story. Although it was inspired by events
that happened, the people in this story are not real. I had planned on writing another story, but I
decided to write this story because I needed to free myself. I did not write this story to hurt anyone, to
make anyone feel bad, or to make anyone look bad. I wrote this story for myself.
Any resemblance to any real person is unintentional.
Allegations (Notes)
Setting:
Parkridge Pentecostal Church
Premise:
A rumor gets to Bishop Boston that DeAndre is gay. The Bishop goes to several people other than DeAndre or his cousin, Jasmine to find out if it is true. The rumor gets around church and grows from there.
DeAndre has to deal with people talking behind his back, especially after he leaves the church to go to another church in the city.
Jasmine has to deal with people talking about her cousin behind her back and smiling in her face. She also doesn't receive any help for her pain from the leadership of the church even after she seeks it. She goes to the Bishop for help, all he does is talk about her brother and try to prove to her that he didn't spread the rumor.
Order of Events (Jasmine)
1. Engagement
2. Meeting w/Bishop about wedding
3. Word from cousin regarding what the Bishop told him about her wedding (different than what Bishop told her)
4. Out of town for wedding
5. Back from wedding
6. Call from cousin about what's going on at church
7. Call from Paige about the rumor she has heard
8. News off and on about the rumors
Order of Events (DeAndre)
A. Jasmine & DeAndre Go to Trinidad to do a foreign mission trip
B. Bishop upset because someone else wants to ordain DeAndre
C. Bishop Talks to DeAndre about engagement
D. Bishop talks to DeAndre about wedding and why he and his cousin go to Trinidad
E. Friend Moves in
F. God-mother comes to town, DeAndre goes visiting
G. Talks to godmother about what he is dealing with/how he feels, shares feelings
H. Decides it is time to resign from all positions and change churches
I. DeAndre gets mad and retaliates about the rumors, writes letter saying that he will sue
J. Different members tell DeAndre about what is going on at the church.
K. the rumors still continue until cousins leave and never return.
J. DeAndre moves to another state
The rumors still continue after cousins leave and never return.
Events Together
A. Jasmine & DeAndre Go to Trinidad
B. Bishop upset because someone else wants to ordain DeAndre
1. Jasmine's Engagement
C. Bishop Talks to DeAndre about engagement of his cousin
2. Jasmine & Fiancée Meeting w/Bishop about wedding
D. Bishop talks to DeAndre about wedding and why he and his cousin like Trinidad so much
E. Jaquez Morgan moves in with Jasmine & DeAndre
3. Word from cousin regarding what the Bishop told him about her wedding (different than what Bishop told her)
F. DeAndre's God-mother comes to town; he goes visiting another church with his god-mother
G. Talks to godmother about what he is dealing with/how he feels. God mother shares her feelings with him.
4. Out of town for wedding (Jonathon & Jasmine)
H. DeAndre's struggles with leaving Parkridge.
5. Back from wedding (Jonathon & Jasmine)
6. Call from cousin about what's going on at church
I. Decides it is time to resign from all positions and change churches
J. Leaves church
7. Call from Paige about the rumor she has heard
* Various rumors spread around church
K. DeAndre gets mad and retaliates about the rumors, writes letter saying that he will sue
8. Talks to pastor (at least tries to)
8.1. Pastor tries to convince Jasmine that he did not start rumor
8.2. Pastor talks about Dre like a dog
8.3. Pastor talks about Dre's new pastor and first lady
L. DeAndre moves to another city - Eastman
9. Jasmine & Fiancée go to another church
* The rumors still continue after cousins leave and never return.
* The aftermath
*Forgiveness
Parkridge Pentecostal Church
Premise:
A rumor gets to Bishop Boston that DeAndre is gay. The Bishop goes to several people other than DeAndre or his cousin, Jasmine to find out if it is true. The rumor gets around church and grows from there.
DeAndre has to deal with people talking behind his back, especially after he leaves the church to go to another church in the city.
Jasmine has to deal with people talking about her cousin behind her back and smiling in her face. She also doesn't receive any help for her pain from the leadership of the church even after she seeks it. She goes to the Bishop for help, all he does is talk about her brother and try to prove to her that he didn't spread the rumor.
Order of Events (Jasmine)
1. Engagement
2. Meeting w/Bishop about wedding
3. Word from cousin regarding what the Bishop told him about her wedding (different than what Bishop told her)
4. Out of town for wedding
5. Back from wedding
6. Call from cousin about what's going on at church
7. Call from Paige about the rumor she has heard
8. News off and on about the rumors
Order of Events (DeAndre)
A. Jasmine & DeAndre Go to Trinidad to do a foreign mission trip
B. Bishop upset because someone else wants to ordain DeAndre
C. Bishop Talks to DeAndre about engagement
D. Bishop talks to DeAndre about wedding and why he and his cousin go to Trinidad
E. Friend Moves in
F. God-mother comes to town, DeAndre goes visiting
G. Talks to godmother about what he is dealing with/how he feels, shares feelings
H. Decides it is time to resign from all positions and change churches
I. DeAndre gets mad and retaliates about the rumors, writes letter saying that he will sue
J. Different members tell DeAndre about what is going on at the church.
K. the rumors still continue until cousins leave and never return.
J. DeAndre moves to another state
The rumors still continue after cousins leave and never return.
Events Together
A. Jasmine & DeAndre Go to Trinidad
B. Bishop upset because someone else wants to ordain DeAndre
1. Jasmine's Engagement
C. Bishop Talks to DeAndre about engagement of his cousin
2. Jasmine & Fiancée Meeting w/Bishop about wedding
D. Bishop talks to DeAndre about wedding and why he and his cousin like Trinidad so much
E. Jaquez Morgan moves in with Jasmine & DeAndre
3. Word from cousin regarding what the Bishop told him about her wedding (different than what Bishop told her)
F. DeAndre's God-mother comes to town; he goes visiting another church with his god-mother
G. Talks to godmother about what he is dealing with/how he feels. God mother shares her feelings with him.
4. Out of town for wedding (Jonathon & Jasmine)
H. DeAndre's struggles with leaving Parkridge.
5. Back from wedding (Jonathon & Jasmine)
6. Call from cousin about what's going on at church
I. Decides it is time to resign from all positions and change churches
J. Leaves church
7. Call from Paige about the rumor she has heard
* Various rumors spread around church
K. DeAndre gets mad and retaliates about the rumors, writes letter saying that he will sue
8. Talks to pastor (at least tries to)
8.1. Pastor tries to convince Jasmine that he did not start rumor
8.2. Pastor talks about Dre like a dog
8.3. Pastor talks about Dre's new pastor and first lady
L. DeAndre moves to another city - Eastman
9. Jasmine & Fiancée go to another church
* The rumors still continue after cousins leave and never return.
* The aftermath
*Forgiveness
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