2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Those words were written by the Apostle Paul during his last days before he was martyred for the Lord. I love that text because Paul reminds us that the crown is for “All who long for his appearing.” Our dear Brother Al Goheen has been longing for that day and now the confidence of that text is fully understood by him.
Let me take you back to a day I will never forget, Sunday December 26th 1976. Suzanne and I were young long haired hippy types when we had been invited to a little Pentecostal church. As we drove in that day, we were a little on the late side and had a bit of an argument about not going. Still my stubbornness and the fact that the Lord had been dealing with me for about a year, we barged into the song service that had already started.
There in that little church was a room full of people, one couple we knew was Al and Kathy Goheen with their (at the time youngest) daughter Hollie. Suzanne and I had known Kathy and Hollie for several years as Kathy worked at A&H – the only convenience store in town.
That Sunday suddenly there we were with them and dozens of others worshiping and hearing about Jesus. Well, the Lord touched our hearts that day and salvation came to the Lammay household. That began a wonderful journey of faith which has had the Goheen’s being part of our life and family for much of that journey.
Fond memories for me of Al are: Working on a Carson Valley Days float in the 1970s. A car Al painted for me. Painting and working around a couple of different church buildings. A couple of weddings (Hollie and Bill / Tracy and Arron), some funerals and a lot of worship and praise together.
For Al these past couple of years have been a real journey of faith and trials with his health. Yet I have seen Al go back to the fire of Jesus that we shared in those early days at the church on Tillman.
There’s a great old song that always reminds me of those days, and speaks to me of what the Lord is doing currently at High Sierra Fellowship.
“LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH”
©1971 MARANATHA! Music (Love song) Words and music Chuck Girard
Little country church on the edge of town
Doo-do- do-dn-do-do-do
People comin’ everyday from miles around
For meetin’s and for Sunday school
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be
Preacher isn’t talkin’ ’bout religion no more
He just wants to praise the Lord
People aren’t as stuffy as they were before
They just want to praise the Lord
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be
They’re talkin’ ’bout revival and the need for love
That little church has come alive
Workin’ with each other for the common good
Puttin’ all the past aside
Long hair, short hair, some coats and ties
People finally comin’ around
Lookin’ past the hair and straight into the eyes
People finally comin’ around
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkWrn9SXwo
This is for you Al – We’ll see you soon – Maranatha! come Lord Jesus.