Preacher Lewis

By Liz Adair

Today is Palm Sunday. Last year, on this very day, as I drove by the local Catholic Church I saw some parishoners walking out holding palm fronds that they had used in celebration, and my heart swelled in joy as I felt the connection we shared in Christ. Though Latter-day Saints make little of this particular day, yet we know of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that signaled the beginning of passion week, and we celebrate all that it fulfilled and all that it foreshadowed each time we study that passage in each of the four gospels.

I grew up knowing about Palm Sunday as well as Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. My mother was an Episcopalian. High Church. In fact, I was baptized as an infant into the Episcopalian church, and have my baptismal cap and certificate to prove it.

My uncle, an old rancher, told me once that the Smiths weren't Episcopalians, they were Lewisites, followers of Reverend Hunter Lewis, the Episcopal priest who ministered to all the towns, villages and hamlets in Dona Ana and Sierra Counties in New Mexico from about the turn of the century to almost halfway through the 1900's. Hunter didn't want to be called Father Lewis, so everyone called him Preacher.

I read his biography this year. I had found my brother's and my baptismal caps in a trunk, and as I framed my brother's in a shadow box to give to him, I wanted him to understand the full meaning of that cap, and so I found a book on the man who crocheted it.

Hunter Lewis was born in Virginia just after the Civil War to a family whose fortunes were ruined by the depredations of the battles fought on their land. As a youth he was stricken with an illness that kept him bedridden for a year, and in that time he became a student of the Bible and an excellent knitter and crocheter. He decided on a vocation in the church and prepared himself for that, but because of penury, he was thirty before he had the necessary education to be ordained. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to be a missionary in the area of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Through the years as he ministered to the people of the mission, each time Preacher Lewis set off on his circuit, visiting the villages along the Rio Grande, he would walk along the road or by the railroad track and depend on the goodness of fellow travelers to pick him up and carry him as far as they could. As he walked or rode, he would crochet caps to be given to those he baptized, and it is one of those caps that I framed for my brother.

I am awed by what I read of the goodness of this man. His Christianity was practical and effective: he would go into saloons with his collection box and ask for the price of one drink from each of the patrons. If someone tried to give more he would demur, saying that if they gave only the price of one drink, they wouldn't begrudge it, and when he came the next time, they would give again. He dispensed those funds to anyone in need, whether part of his flock or not, and for that he was loved and honored by the people of the area, no matter what denomination they belonged to. He truly ministered to all.

I am so grateful that this was the man who taught my mother, who prepared the foundation of her faith in Christianity. His visits were irregular, but his life was a living example of following the pattern set by our Savior. I know that he inspired my mother to live her life so that, when the missionaries taught her, she listened to the spirit and had the courage to be baptized.

After I read his biography, as I pondered on this, I wondered about his temple work. This weighed on my mind for some time, and I made inquiries about possibilities and procedures for someone unrelated to me. In the process of that investigation, I went on line and discovered that it had already been taken care of by someone who was related to him. This filled me with such joy that I smiled for a week.

Funny, that palms on Palm Sundy now remind me of Preacher Lewis; but they do, and when I see them I remember the connection, and remember that his work is done, and I smile again.

A Lawn Mower Miracle

by Kari Diane Pike

There’s nothing like getting into an unexpectedly cold shower in the morning to make you appreciate the simple things in life. But four weeks later, the water heater continued to malfunction and I became very cranky at the thought of another day of cold showers and boiling water every time the dishes needed doing. The sensible part of my brain reminded me to simply be grateful for having running water in the house, but when I tried to start our fairly new lawn mower, and discovered it didn’t work either, I completely lost my sense of humor and good will.

Over the next two weeks, I spent a great deal of time and energy fuming and fretting over cold showers, an overgrown lawn, and every other troublesome inconvenience life seemed to offer. Then I came across an article by Gary and Joy Lundberg about becoming a Miracle Family. Their words and testimony about the power of prayer touched and softened my heart. I repented of my lack of faith and for neglecting to take my troubles to the Lord. I needed a miracle, and although I felt to be an unworthy servant, I humbly knelt in prayer and asked Heavenly Father to forgive me and told him all my troubles. Just the act of speaking those words out loud helped to put my problems in perspective.

I felt a little foolish taking such worldly problems to the Lord, but I asked him to start the lawn mower. I asked him to help Doug fix the water heater. Then I got up from my knees, put on my gardening shoes, grabbed my sunglasses and got the lawn mower out of the garage. I wheeled it onto the front lawn, firmly grasped the handle of the rip cord and gave a mighty pull. Nothing happened; not even a sputter or a cough.

“Okay,” I thought, “Nothing happens without a little effort. I just need to have faith and do the best I can.”

I pulled again and again. Nothing. With aching muscles, I fell to my knees. I told Heavenly Father that I knew he could start the lawn mower if it was his will. I asked what I needed to learn before the mower would start. The words that came to me were,

“Read everything on the lawn mower.”

I searched the lawn mower thoroughly. Where it said “Fuel,” I checked the fuel. Where it said “Oil,” I checked the oil. I moved from part to part, each time pulling the cord to see if the mower would start and the problem solved. Finally, I found a part that said “Air Filter.” I carefully removed it, hoping I would be able to put it back together, and discovered it was filled with dirt and debris. I dumped the contents and cleaned out the filter. I put everything back together and with all my strength, pulled on the cord. I nearly fell on my backside. The lawnmower jumped forward as the engine roared to life.

A few days later, Doug tried to use that mower in the backyard. He could not get it started. He had to take it into a mechanic for a tune-up and extensive repairs. I knew I had truly experienced a miracle. It required faith and effort, but it was a miracle, none the less. And I wonder, what was the greater miracle; a working lawn mower, or my softened heart and enlightened mind? The answer is simple. Read and follow the instructions!

AAMPS

By Debbie Reeves

I posted some information about AAMPS on ANWA some time ago and thought I’d mention it here as well.

AAMPS, Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studios, is a fairly new company founded by Chief Creative Officer, Kieth Merrill. Brother Merrill directed the movie Winter Hawk (one of many movies) back in the 1980’s (I think it was the ‘80’s). I remember the movie well because my mother-in-law, my three sisters -in-laws and myself went to see it at least four times. We loved it and I have the DVD now.

AAMPS was started so that family friendly movies can be produced in an era where is isn’t so popular in Hollywood. Movies ideas are submitted by members and rated by members. I’m a member and I am very excited to see new ideas posted. In fact, the members are included in every phase of the movie making process.

I recently submitted my novel, Lakota Moon. I hope to see it posted soon so that members can rate it. If I get a high enough rating, it goes on to the next phase. If it continues to be highly rated, AAMPS will make it into a movie. I can’t tell you how excited I am! What a blessing to find this wonderful company willing to give the little guy (me and you) a chance to shine.

Don’t think you have to have a finished book to submit. Even ideas are accepted. Also, because it’s such a new company, they are hungry for submissions. Some members have even submitted animated submissions. I’m very impressed with what’s been submitted so far. There is so much talent out there just waiting for a chance to be seen and heard.

The reason I’m plugging AAMPS is to help all of you writers out there to have an opportunity to see your work made into a movie. The book doesn’t have to previously published. Like I said, it can be just an idea.

I also want to see AAMPS succeed. We need a movie company like AAMPS who will listen to us, the moviegoers, and produce good, family films we can be proud to watch.

Don’t just take my word for it. J Go to their Website and take a look. It won’t cost you anything to check them out. Even Sheri Dew endorses AAMPS!

Go to: www.audiencealliance.com. They are offering a 7-day free membership when you register. When I joined I had to pay the membership all at once. Now they are offering membership in easy monthly payments. You even get 6 free DVD’s! Wow, what a great deal.

It would be wonderful to see some of your books submitted on AAMPS. I hope all of you will at least check them out. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for all of us to be in on this new company.

See you at the movies!

Sticks and Stones

By Betsy Love

Joseph, a senior at the school where I teach, came into my classroom one day and asked, "Do words have power?" I then recited a scripture, one of my favorite, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1:1. "Exactly," he said. "Can I quote you?" He had been having problems with people using idle words about others. He tried to explain to them that words can offend and hurt. “They’re only words,” came the others' reply.

We've all heard the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Words are powerful—“Mightier than the sword." We know how much damage a sword can do. If so, then how much more we might damage another with our words. The opposite holds true as well. Our words also have the power to bring joy, enlightenment, encouragement and a host of other positives in another’s life. As a writer I often ask myself if the words I write will bring those affirmative blessings in someone’s life. When I think about how carefully I choose my words on paper, I sometimes wonder if I am as careful to choose my spoken words.

Someone once said, “Let your words be sweet, for tomorrow you may have to eat them.” Today is a reminder to myself to always remember the power of words. Have I offended someone? Have I spoken ill of someone? That's something I need to work on.