Christmas with Elvis

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minutus (minutus)
Member
Username: minutus

Post Number: 65
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 71.99.115.140
Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 8:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

My son's school choir sang at a Christmas concert on a cold night in the park last week. After dropping him off early to join the group, I wandered down the main street of the small town looking for a phone to make a call. It was just about dark and somewhere I heard a voice singing. Didn't see anyone so I continued to my destination.

On the way back I heard the singing, louder and stronger, and then I saw him. Elvis was standing at the bus stop waiting for a ride, singing to the Lord with all his might. Walking closer it turned out to be a fellow with Elvis glasses and fake sideburns hanging from them. His shirt was done up with some shiny stuff and he had a cape draped over his shoulders with the various biblical names of Jesus inscribed upon it in flowing letters. He also had 777 tatooed on his forehead. My time in GGWO made such a person seem just a little less strange than he would be to the average church guy, so I stopped and complimented him on his singing.

He made the Elvis moves and gave me his Elvis rap. "I'm Elvis Priestly, Jimmy Evel Knievel-Keogh, the Bad- Billy Graham of gospel rock and roll. I love the Lord and He gives me a new song to sing. I'm against bad churches, bad cops, bad psychiatrists with their mind-blowing drugs, and bad judges." Elvis then confessed he was bipolar and off his meds, but the Lord healed him from his depression every time. Figuring Elvis would enjoy some music, I asked him to be my guest at the concert. We talked about the Lord as we walked and somehow the fact that he was diabetic came up. When we got to the park I scrounged around in the car to find the lunch I had not eaten that day and some fruit because I could see he was getting shaky from low blood sugar.

We talked and he shared his songs with me. Most of them he made up on the spot and they were quite good. People pulling their cars in for the concert stopped to listen and cheered him on. As the music was about to start, we joined the crowd and my wife arrived. He wondered if the director would let him sing, so I suggested we ask after the kids were done. The decorated stage and the clear stars above made for a magical evening. After every song, Elvis said "Thank you very much" as only Elvis could to the singers.

Listening to the beautiful songs of Christmas I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God and His mercy towards us sinners. In His eyes, I was no better than Elvis (or James, as I called him) no matter how together I thought I was. As one who bore the image of God he deserved to be loved and listened to and experience a brief evening of blessing. His only desire was to go to Bible school and serve the Lord (and no, I didn't suggest he go to Baltimore for the HIGHEST FORM OF EDUCATION .)

I introduced him to my son afterwards and they even let him sing on stage with his face on the big screen at the back. His night had been made. I dropped him off at his little apartment and he shouted in the street "I love you, brother!" as I started the long drive home. It was funny later to talk with some of the other parents who attended and confess that I had invited him when they mentioned his presence that night. I think I'll go see him again before too long, if only to hear his Elvis rap again.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL

Dave Carson

I posted this earlier on DiscussGGWO as MACE1999, but some folks have really seemed to enjoy it. So here's to all the valiant (and some not-so-valiant) souls on FN.

(Message edited by minutus on December 24, 2005)
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david_munson (david_munson)
Advanced Member
Username: david_munson

Post Number: 899
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 63.235.35.118
Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)


Yes it is true,
Jesus still walks the earth today.
where ever your feet move,He goes with you.


Dave

}
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louise_connolly (louise_connolly)
Member
Username: louise_connolly

Post Number: 67
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 24.61.151.107
Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 8:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Dave Carson that was a beautiful Christmas story! I read it on the other board and then saw it here. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
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minutus (minutus)
Member
Username: minutus

Post Number: 66
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 207.156.7.250
Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 2:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

You're welcome, Louise. James and I rejoiced that though we might only have spent time together that night through the grace of God, we'd be singing together in Eternity (and maybe I'll be almost as good as him.)
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minutus
Senior Member
Username: minutus

Post Number: 1083
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 71.99.90.159
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 6:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hard to believe how fast the year has gone by. Christmas blessings to all.
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sister_mary
Intermediate Member
Username: sister_mary

Post Number: 143
Registered: 3-2005
Posted From: 80.223.33.226
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

There is a summerjob vacancy for somebody, who has Scout-skills, good humor and clean criminal record and excellent English language skills (an upper exam passed) in Finland from 11. July 2007 at least one month in the wilderness... Happy New Year 2007 to all ex-BS people in Finland and abroad!

Last date of applications 28th Feb. 2007:

http://www.mol.fi/paikat/Job.do?lang=fi&jobID=6550419&index=5&anchor=6550419
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whatsup
Intermediate Member
Username: whatsup

Post Number: 351
Registered: 2-2005
Posted From: 24.61.30.105
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Neil, sounds like the job for you
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minutus
Senior Member
Username: minutus

Post Number: 1132
Registered: 9-2005
Posted From: 71.99.106.139
Posted on Monday, December 24, 2007 - 11:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hard to believe it's been two years since this was first posted. Merry Christmas and Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!

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