My preacher grandfather had his own free Pentecostal style. His idea of anticipating a worship service was to improvise as you go along. He would get up and look out and see who was there and proceed accordingly. In a way it was like I Corinthians 14, one with a song, another a prayer, another a testimony. But in a way it was like a busy subway stop in Lower Manhattan at rush hour...random chaos. How I remember the nights Grandpa would get up and call upon Brother Art and Sister Piney Peters. Isn't that a great name? Piney Peters. I believe she is still going, Art having past on to his eternal reward.

They were not stellar singers, but they were stellar lovers of Jesus. Grandpa would call upon them and ready or not, they would come up and sing. Usually their song started with a brief report of something God was pointing out to them in their walk with him. They would start to sing and only God was fully aware of what key they would be singing in. My mom would try to chase them down with her playing by ear at the piano or organ to join in the fray. After several tries she could usually locate them in the neighborhood of their key. They had a few numbers in their small repertoire. "He Is Still Passing Along This Way Today" was one. Another one was a great old hymn entitled "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand". Finally, the old staple "In A Land Where We'll Never Grow Old". Hope has always been worth singing about.

Dealing with another brother who has lost his job in these economic times in the last week has brought me back to one of brother Art and sister Piney's great old songs, Hold To God's Unchanging Hand. I remembered the song's lyrics trying to encourage a dear one who just had been smashed at work. The lyrics make self evident why I would have thought of that song. Great advice for living! Let's all "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand".

Time is filled with swift transition Naught of earth unmoved can stand Build your hopes on things eternal Hold to God's unchanging hand

Trust in Him who will not leave you Whatsoever years may bring If by earthly friends forsaken Still more closely to Him cling

Covet not this world's vain riches That so rapidly decay Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures They will never pass away

Chorus Hold to God's unchanging hand Hold to God's unchanging hand Build your hopes on things eternal Hold to God's unchanging hand

Often as sister Piney would finish she would be blessed and have to shout a little. I used to be impatient with such carryings on. I view it differently now. Her soul was captured by eternal truths which can transcend the toughest of temporal times. Remember, Paul had it right. It is momentary light affliction preceding a far greater and eternal weight of glory! Piney was on to it when she would let out with a holy "Wew!" on her way back down to her pew. Yes, that's right. Let's all hold to God's unchanging hand...all through these economic times!