My two week binge on Calvary Chapel

[Nic]

Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith, and George Bryson.

Years ago, I recall AOMIN's Jas R White saying something about Calvary Chapel producing Reformed Christians. If I have this right, his point was people can only endure so much of de-emphasized theology. I believe he pointed to an example or two as well.
But that's been many years ago. A cursory search reveals a would be link from 2010.
Calvary Chapel Bibliography Produces Another Believing Calvinist

 

[Christian]

I had just gotten out of the hospital, and was feeling like they should have sent me to the morgue instead. it was the middle of August with 100% humidity and no air conditioning. The barge I had been living on for the past five years was tied to some trees on a busted levy on the Sacramento delta. I would occasionally jump into the slough to cool off during the night only to gain a few winks of twilight sleep before resuming my tossing and turning.

Suddenly there was a thud in the pit of my chest like the fattest open string on a bass guitar. The pitch black darkness didn't help matters, and I lay there frozen for what seemed like an eternity. I didn't know if the grim reaper was hovering over me waiting for some signs of life to make sure he had the right address or perhaps there was some heroin addict looking to slit my throat before rummaging through my things for a few bucks to contribute to his next fix.

A light began to shine in the distance. As it increased in brightness and intensity, I could see that there was no one in the room. The light then made its way down the hallway, and I along with it to see if the bathroom, the other bedroom and the main salon were also empty of any intruders. I checked the door. It was latched, but not locked so that left only the possibility of the grim reaper or some other demonic entity tormenting my troubled soul.

I later learned that someone had been on the run from the law, and a sheriff's boat had been out with four HUGE stadium type flood lights searching the waterfront for him. As I stood in the darkness again. I fumbled around for something to light the room, and found an old black and white 12 volt tv I had stashed in the closet of the second bedroom. I had a few batteries keeping another boat afloat, but I had one available to power up this tv. It was around midnight and the only channel that had a signal was now announcing "The Shepherd's Chapel with your host, Pastor Arnold Murray". He welcomed his viewing audience and began reading from the bible.

An hour later the show was over, but then, lo and behold, it was yet another episode, and then another and another. Six full hours of the Shepherd's Chapel. After the last episode had aired, I went back to sleep for a few hours before going for a walk. I began to frequent church services, and bible study groups, while watching The Shepherd's Chapel every night for the next two weeks.

I got so hooked on Pastor Arnold Murray's glowing recommendations for The Companion Bible that I bought a copy for myself along with a Strong's Concordance. I still have that tattered bible along with an new large print edition which in an attempt to preserve, I try not to move from my desk.

Contrary to popular opinion, a tattered bible is not a sign of piety.

It is the tell-tale sign of a tormented mind.

I'm just south of you in the Modesto area and my brother lives on a houseboat in Stockton at Tower Park Marina. We will be playing golf today at Spanos in Stockton after this mornings church service. I fish up your way allot for sturgeon, stripers, salmon, steelhead and the shad runs in the spring.

 

[shnarkle]

I'm just south of you in the Modesto area and my brother lives on a houseboat in Stockton at Tower Park Marina. We will be playing golf today at Spanos in Stockton after this mornings church service. I fish up your way allot for sturgeon, stripers, salmon, steelhead and the shad runs in the spring.

I know the area well, and also spent years fishing for striper, steelhead, but mostly catfish. I spent quite a bit of time over at Lost Isle as well, but most of my time was spent on or around Bethel Island which anyone you ask will tell you is the worst place on the entire delta. Most of the time I was anchored across from the Delta Resort which anyone on Bethel Island will tell you is the worst place on the entire island. I now live in Florida and will never set foot back in the entire state of California ever again.

One evening my motorcycle broke down right in front of the bar. It sat there for the next two years. No one ever touched it. The shack just to the west was a meth lab. One morning around 6 am. local and federal law enforcement arrived in front of the bar at the Delta Resort and entered to get themselves some coffee and take a smoke break. About ten minutes later, a few officers looked at their watches and gave the signal to storm the shack next door. A few minutes later there was an officer taking video footage of a few of the occupants of the shack mixing some chemicals together to make meth right out on the levy.

A houseboat just down at the next resort literally exploded and burned for the next ten hours. Much of that time was spent listening to rounds going off and hoping none of them were aimed my way. Another subsequent explosion almost completely destroyed a sheriff's officer's boat. The whole front end was a mass of warped black melted fiberglass.

The resort consisted of a few rows of RV's and travel trailers with a couple mobile homes. Most tenants drank in the bar until they died, although one of the tenants in a small 24' trailer blew his brains out.

Hypodermic needles and spent bullet casings were a common sight littered around the park. I once saw an infant crawling around in his diapers pick up a bullet casing and stick it into his mouth. The metal is more flavorful than the plastic syringes and not as sharp either.