{"id":12217,"date":"2016-08-08T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2016-08-08T14:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=12217"},"modified":"2016-11-07T15:02:44","modified_gmt":"2016-11-07T19:02:44","slug":"what-ever-happened-to-laughter-73116-camp-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=12217","title":{"rendered":"What Ever Happened to Laughter? (7\/31\/16- Camp Meeting)"},"content":{"rendered":"

On August 24, 1972, Neil Diamond held a concert in Los Angeles’ Greek Theater.\u00a0 The concert was recorded and was turned into a double album which became one of the best selling records of that time. The concert and album were aptly named “Hot August Night.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

July 31, 2016 was a hot and humid night.\u00a0 Pitman UMC was the host night for the summer Camp Meeting, and Pastor Jim Bolton was to give the sermon.\u00a0 Now, the crowd in the Pitman Camp Meeting on this night didn’t quite live up the the throng in the Greek Theater all those years ago, and the sermon won’t be turned into a double platinum album. \u00a0 But the people gathered in the Grove Auditorium were seeking to be blessed.\u00a0 \"CampMtg<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

It was hot and humid; it would have been easy to skip this one and stay at home in the air conditioning. But this hot and humid night serves as a reminder that if we put a priority on seeking God and if we have the perseverance to mine for His presence in uncomfortable environments, God will reward us with nuggets of His joy.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The voice recorder quality of the following recording isn’t quite on par with the CD version of “Hot August Night” (or with the church’s sound system for that matter), but it will take you to our own version of a “Hot July Night). \u00a0\u00a0 Click on the play button, then scroll down to follow along…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Our scripture reading was from Psalm 34:1-17.\u00a0 Open the below drop down box to follow along.\u00a0 The New King James Version is shown below…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Psalm 34:1-17<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.<\/p>\n

2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.<\/p>\n

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.<\/p>\n

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.<\/p>\n

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.<\/p>\n

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.<\/p>\n

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.<\/p>\n

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!<\/p>\n

9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.<\/p>\n

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.<\/p>\n

11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.<\/p>\n

12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?<\/p>\n

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!<\/p>\n

14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.<\/p>\n

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.<\/p>\n

16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.<\/p>\n

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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Pastor Jim’s attire has caused some “humorous controversy” in the past years.\u00a0 On his first Sunday as our pastor, he “famously” was unable to find his dress shoes among the moving boxes and wore “water shoes” to church.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has also become apparent that he tends to wear the same shirt whenever he preaches at the Camp Meeting.\u00a0 Take a look at his fashion statements for the past three years…<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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