WINDBER AND THE JOHNSTOWN FELLOWSHIP

Windber business district, early 1900's.
Nothing has changed.

Lots  of people descended upon our little town of Windber, PA, and then, a couple days later, they came to the Johnstown, PA airport for the meeting there.

I marvel at what God is doing in this little town here, drawing people to it. There is nothing special about this town. In fact, it is in many ways anti-special. Pennsylvania is not my favorite state. My deal is: I don’t love Pennsylvania, I love the Pilkingtons. I don’t love Windber, I love the Pilkingtons.

Windber is an old coal mining town named after a guy called, "Berwind"; somebody just switched his name around. It’s still a coal mining town. I don’t understand why anyone continues to live here, except maybe they were born here, and they’re stuck. Or perhaps they found a once-in-a-lifetime deal on three houses that used to be a funeral home complex, and thought it would be a great place to run an online book company.

As I live here, I am constantly reminded of Nazareth. Nazareth was a sad little “nothing town” in Judea where Jesus was raised. (Jesus is the One Who was born in the stable; you know, the Savior of the World.)

If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me. I say this to myself constantly, like a mantra. "If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

There is a little burg just outside of Windber—it might be considered in Windber—called, “Mine 40.” That’s it’s actual name. Some people actually live in “Mine 40.”

“Where do you live?”

“Mine 40.”

I swear it happens. I am an eye-witness to these events.

Mine 40, circa 1905.

Mine 40 today.

I take visitors down there, just to let them experience it. No one is ever the same after visiting Mine 40. There is an overlook one can drive to, overlooking Mine 40. This is sometimes the desired alternative to descending into Mine 40.

Mine 40 was a hastily put-up coal mining community, built in 1905, that produced 800,000 tons of coal annually. (Just what it has done for us lately, I don't know.)

Someone in Mine 40 drives a white hearse; I’ve seen it in their driveway. In my opinion, this is a completely appropriate vehicle choice, under the circumstances.

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People come to this house (these houses) because the spirit of God and the spirit of love are here. No one shuns anyone, either in here, or from here. (We are, oddly, the objects of shunning, but we ourselves shun no one. We are conciliated to all. Those who shun us have personal problems; they fight there own demons; they are miserable in their own right; they missed the Love Boat.) Besides this, there is good Biblical teaching here and the kind of fellowship people can’t find in too many other places.

Two authors live here, who have written good books about the glory of God. People like the books these authors write, and enjoy visiting the authors. The residents here drink wine and laugh; they are not religious at all. They are so incredibly hospitable, and people are drawn to that. Lots of people from different places are drawn to it.

The Saturday before the conference at the airport, we entertained 21 people here for dinner. I think we had 12 overnight guests then. People came from Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan, and Alberta, Canada.

The Best brothers, Gary and Jim, from Michigan.

Terry Clemens of Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Clyde and Doug Witherspoon, of Virginia.

Pam Spires of Virginia; Marian Hoover of Connecticut.

Clyde turned chef.

Cindy at the breakfast buffet table.

Clyde Lynn Pilkington III, Aaron Locker, Nathan Pilkington.

Cindy and Steve Hill.

At the meeting; Johnstown Airport.

My view from the podium. That's Win Allabough, second-from-right,
who played my therapist, "Dr. Winbigler,"  in Psycho Boy.

Another view from the podium. (A snowstorm is raging outside.)

Back in Windber: Clyde, a  cur, and Terry Clemens.

Marian Hoover; Pam Spires.

Dominic and Deb Capece, from the Philadelphia area.

We have now started a website enabling anyone to stay here, for free. If you need fellowship, or sound teaching, or counseling, or you just plain need a break from life and want to come to a place of palpable peace and lovely love for a day, or a weekend, or a week, come here. It’s free. Just bring yourself, as you are. Go to www.fellowshipinn.com and make a reservation. Find out when we’re all going to be here, and come here and taste for yourself what God has produced in the middle of nowhere. 

DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE & SHAKESPEARE

Anne and I met Philip Garrison downtown for lunch on Tuesday. Philip and Tony Joiner work together at Bank of America, although on this day, Tony was on a road trip for the company. Philip took us to an authentic Irish Pub which had been relocated from Ireland to Charlotte—of all places: 

(Click photos to enlarge.)

Philip Garrison

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 We had a pretty great meeting at Alan Hess's home on Monday night (I think), with 10 in attendance. I hadn't planned to speak on the topic of human sexuality, but someone asked a question, and I was off to the races. No one stopped me for two hours; a good time was had by all:

Anne at Starbucks, before the dinner and meeting.

 I forgot to show you this photo of "downtown" Faith:

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The night before I left (Wednesday night), was the Shakespeare Lecture, staged by the English Speaking Union. The event was hosted by the Sandhills branch of the Country Club of North Carolina, in Pinehurst. Talk about an exclusive “do.” I was the youngest person among the 100 attendees.

Anne and I “double-dated” with an older couple, namely Bob and Pamela. (I’m sorry I can’t remember their last names.) Bob retired in Pinehurst after (apparently) an extremely successful career at CBS. I thanked him for all the great television he had put on for me as a kid through the sixties and seventies. He said, “You are very welcome.”

Bob and Pamela live along the first fairway of Pinehust #2,
which is the U.S. Open course. That's it behind me.

Bob and Pamela. A really lovely couple.

Original art at the end of a hallway.

They drive a Porsche SUV, for crying out loud. I didn't know
there was such a thing.

I'm the youngest guy at the table.

Or at any table.

Lon Bumgarner tells us about William Shakespeare.

Self portrait in the lavatory.

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Here was my studio in Pinehurst, at Anne’s house:

It was sad leaving Anne on Thursday morning. We’d had many great adventures together. But all good things must come to an end, so we said our farewells, promising to do it a again sometime.

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You can tell from the photos I’ve put up lately that I’ve been staying at some nice houses and being treated to fine times. I’m afraid some of you might be intimidated, thinking: “Well, we can’t have Zender over. He’s used to the Taj Mahal.” Don’t think that. I am neither snooty, nor picky. I am not a prima donna. Remember: I’m the guy who has bicycled across the country twice, living in a tent. I’m a minimalist. I am just as fine sleeping on a floor in a sleeping bag (I did it for two years in Ohio before moving to Colorado Springs), as I am in that big, cushy bed Anne provided.

At home in a barn, 2007.

I’m spending hardly any money on these trips. This is the grace of God, folks. I say this to the credit of those who have invited me to lodge with them while I teach the Word; these people have provided most my needs while I’m with them. Thanks to Anne, I had a comfortable place to stay while teaching in Charlotte and Faith. Thanks to Joe Newman, I had comfortable lodging while teaching in Las Vegas. Thanks to Anita and Kevin Butler, I was able to stay at their house while teaching in Sacramento. Thanks to Waylan Dabbs, I had my own guest room in Ft. Lauderdale while teaching there. (Next week, Sheridan will have the guest room, and I’ll be camping on the floor in the office where my makeshift studio was; it’s all good with me. I'm a flexible dude.)

I’d be happy to visit you, no matter what your accommodations. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. It’s all about God, fellowship, and teaching.

When we have that, we have everything.

© 2013 by Martin Zender

TUESDAY NIGHT FAITH MEETING

Forty showed up for the Tuesday night meeting in Faith, where I spoke on our freedom from sin. The shocking truth of the evening was that freedom from sin has nothing to do with how much or how little we sin, but rather with a declaration of God that we ARE free from sin--in spite of what we do). Freedom from sin is based on the work of Christ, not upon our behavior.

Up and down we go on our roller coasters, making charts of our behavior. On our good days, we think God is pleased with us. On our bad days, we think He must be hiding His face. But no; His smile is constant; all disturbances are on our side of the window pane.

It's not about us, but about His Son. Nothing makes Him happier than His sons and daughters taking their eyes from themselves, and placing them on Him in thanksgiving. (It is hard to be thankful when you're cursing yourself.) The irony is that, once our affection is set on Christ, our bodies will begin to respond to the revelation of grace. With the body of Christ, the revelation of grace comes first, then exhortations to behavior. We will never walk worthily of this calling if we imagine that the calling depends on us walking worthily.

Here are some photos from Tuesday night. Anne took these; this was before I gave her the finer points of camera motion--or lack of it:

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Next up: Some final photos and memories from North Carolina.

The Pennsylvania meeting is Sunday, and we are expecting 21 for dinner on Saturday. Saturday, we are entertaining 11 overnight guests. There are lots of people coming from out of town, and out of state. It looks like approximately 50 will be attending the meeting. Not much time to rest, that's for sure, but I can't wait. Don't worry, I'll be taking lots of photos.

Grace and peace to you, and thanks for reading these efforts. 

Copyright 2013 by Martin Zender