My dad and mom were evangelists. We worshipped with every denomination and cried with every drug addict or drug dealer that would come through the doors of a church or find themselves under the huge gospel tent. My dad would go wherever they asked him to come. We have been in some bizarre places and situations over the years. 

One thing my parents never did was handle snakes, drink poison, handle fire, etc.

For those who do not know what a snake-handling church is, the short version is this: Snake handlers take it literally when the Bible says in Mark 16:18 They will be able to handle snakes safely, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

If you want to find out more watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OcoUyXiuU0

If they got bit by a snake, they usually did not go to the hospital; they prayed until they got better or died.  

I have seen plenty of pictures of people in our area that a copperhead would bite during a church service. They were usually surrounded by people praying for them and over them for days until something happened one way or the other. The place where the snake bit them would be black and blue and swollen beyond anything you could imagine—swollen to the point of the skin breaking open in places.

We had plenty of friends that were snake handlers, and it was even told that my dad and mom handled snakes, but they never did, thankfully. 

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

We had a lot of revivals in Columbus, Ohio. We made a lot of friends over the years. We would usually stay with someone when we went in revivals. We tried to stay at the same place every time we visited. There were many of us~ so it could not have been easy for people to house us all. 

I didn’t realize it then, but it was a sacrifice to take us all in. The good thing was we didn’t eat much throughout the revival because we fasted a LOT!  

We were considerate guests, though. The three oldest girls (me, Debbi, and my sister Terri) would cook, clean, and even do laundry for the host, so we were not a burden. We usually left the house better than when we came, so we were considered a “joy.”

One of my favorite people in the world was an elderly lady we affectionally called Sis. McCoy. 

Sis. McCoy was a mighty woman of God. A prayer warrior. A snake handler. She loved my mom, dad, and everyone who came with them. It wasn’t unusual for her to host us when we went to her part of town in Ohio. 

Others were gracious enough to keep us ( I have a great story coming up in another blog from those days!), and we always appreciated their hospitality.  

SQUIRREL: She made the best brownies from scratch- the old fashion way – with cocoa icing, and there was nothing like it. She also made a broccoli casserole and a peach cheesecake, and I still use the recipe. It is a home run every time I make them! 

BACK TO MY STORY

Sis. McCoy had asked my mom and dad to come to the church she attended and preach a revival service. She knew that my mom and dad did not handle snakes and she respected that decision. Just as they respected her for what she believed to be true.

I am guessing that my parents and Sis. McCoy talked with the Pastor and agreed they could come and would not bring snakes for those services. They scheduled the services for us to go to the church to preach a three-day revival (which was typical for their ministry).

At the time of this situation, my sister, Debbi, played the Hammond B3 organ. For those wondering why this is an integral part of the story — you could not have an authentic Pentecostal Revival experience without a Hammond B3 organ and a set of drums! I played the drums (don’t laugh!).  

When we would go anywhere, we would go in early to set up the equipment before service and get a sound check. Everyone was responsible for setting up their own instruments. The two most significant pieces were the Hammond B3 organ and my drum set. The guitars, amps, bass…etc… usually came after we got set up. Debbi and I usually went in first to do the initial setup. 

We finally got to the church, and we began getting our equipment out of the eight-passenger van that carried all of us and the equipment.  

My drum kit had a lot of pieces, and it took several trips to get it all in. As I was carrying the last of the drum kit to the stage, I bumped into a box. I thought I heard “hissing,” a lot of hissing. I looked at Debbi, and I knew my eyes had to be as big as saucers! She looked horrified! 

Then, dummy me, thinking maybe I didn’t just hear a boxful of “hissing,” I walked over to the box and gave it a little “kick.” Now the wooden box was not only “hissing” but “thumping” like crazy. I jumped back and screamed, Debbi screamed, and mom came running. You know, at 16, you do not have your thinking cap on very well. 

I couldn’t speak – I was terrified. I just pointed and tried not to scream again. Mom looked at Debbi and me and looked at the box, which was now silent, and she was utterly lost as to what we were screaming at.  

So, dummy me goes over and slightly kicks the box again. The box came to life! There was hissing and thumping and jumping! 

Mom’s face turned white (whiter than usual, she is Irish and so pale she is almost transparent! Just like me.). She told us to quit setting up the equipment and ran to get my dad. 

We didn’t know that even though the Pastor promised no snakes, a few of the deacons did not agree. They disagreed that an evangelist should come to their church and not handle snakes. So, they brought some in a wooden box and put them on the stage. 

My mom and dad came over to where Debbi and I were staring at the hissing box, and I was terrified to see what was actually going on. By this time, the deacons that had brought the snakes were over where the box was. I stepped back, right into Debbi, as they opened the box. Oh. My. Goodness! There was a bundle of snakes in the box, and they were mad; it may or may not have been because “someone” kept kicking their box. They hissed and coiled, and their heads peeked out of the box’s top. I am not sure, but I think they were looking for me! 

We all stepped off the platform away from the box. I watched, completely horrified, as one of the deacons reached into the box, shuffled the snakes around, and pulled out the most prominent, longest snake in the box (I am sure of it). It was not happy – at all!  

It was fat, and it was sticking its tongue out at me as they passed by where we stood. My dad was standing there, and they went straight to him. I almost fainted as I watched one of the men put the snake around my dad’s neck and said (paraphrasing), “If you are really a man of God, this snake will not bite you; if you are not, you are going to leave this church with a snake bite and full of venom.” 

That poor snake didn’t know what was happening. For a split second, I felt sorry for him. He was taken out of his place in the woods, brought to a house where he was washed and stretched out to dry with dozens of other snakes, and then put in a box to be displayed as the devil in the church. 

Well, I totally freaked out and started crying and let out a little scream of sheer terror. Dad calmly looked at Debbi and me (as she was equally terrified but not as dramatic as I am) and said, “Girls, quiet down. Snakes respond to noise and fear. I will be ok if you will just hush for a minute.”

I put my hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t let out another sound, but I could hear myself whimpering and feel my legs shaking. Debbi looked like she was going to pass out. Mom, well, mom was mad! Her red hair was on fire, and her eyes were lit up like coal embers. Dad looked at mom and said (something like), “Don’t you come over here; it will be over in a second. I have had enough of this nonsense.”

As he made that statement, he politely took the snake off his neck and handed it back to the man who put it on him. He said, “He’s all yours now, and we are out of here. Girls, get your stuff. We are leaving.” 

He didn’t have to tell us twice! On my way out, I looked at the box I had been avoiding. The lid was back on by this time. For some stupid reason, I politely went back over, gave it a slight final kick, and took off running. I looked back, and the little kick had opened the box back up, and the snakes were starting to crawl out! 

I ran so fast I ran right into a wall on my way out! I guess the Lord gave me a slight kick on my way out, too! 

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. What makes us think, if the devil has the gall to tempt Jesus, that he will not tempt us? But, also, in the same breath, I can make an argument that just as Jesus in the wilderness, we can rebuke the devil and he will flee!

Have you ever walked into a situation thinking it would go one way, and it takes a drastic turn? You expected people to keep promises. You expected to be treated with the respect and decency you have treated others with and nothing was further than the truth.

The devil uses people to try to harm you. They taunt you into doing things just because that is how they do them. You go to them with pure intentions of doing something beneficial for them, but they have to have their way and will do anything to get it. Pressuring you to conform to their way, which you do not feel is the right way.

Like the deacons in my story, they claimed to be a Christian with truths they wanted my dad to conform to. Even being put in a situation that could have potentially put his family at risk, the church leaders did not care. The only thing they cared about was being right. 

When we are put in these situations, it is ok to defuse the situation and walk away from it. Leaving them and kicking the box on the way out is unacceptable. Causing a “ruckus” as you dramatically exit out of their life. 

Sometimes, these “kicks” are not intentional, yet it stirs up something that needs to be taken care of. It could be you got yourself in the middle of a gossip session and didn’t walk away. But after a few minutes, you know you are not in the right place and then decide to walk away. You accidentally kicked the box and made some “hissing sounds” of gossip, but you walked away. 

BUT

Then you go back into the same room, with the same people, talking the same way, and you intentionally kick the box. Now it is hissing and thumping! You have stirred up strife. The Bible is very clear about this in 

Proverbs 16:28 (ESV) A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

See, my dad could have played right into their hands. He could have tried to show them he was a “man of God,” but instead, he listened to the gentle Spirit of the Lord and remained connected to the vine of life in Christ. 

He did not give in to anger or fear. He did not cause the situation he was put in, but he sure didn’t allow himself to stay there very long.

He adhered to this scripture:

He was not given to anger and did not give the devil one inch to bring him to the same place where the “deacons” were—stirring up strife, giving into anger and resentment. 

Proverbs 29:22 (ESV) A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Also, note that he walked away from them, and we never returned. Not because he was angry but because the Bible tells us to avoid those that are not in line with the Word of God.

Romans 16:17 (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Just to be clear, if you are in a situation where you have to walk away from people because they are trouble; they gossip, try to destroy your reputation, maybe your family’s character, or talk negatively about your church family and leaders, does not mean you have to go back and allow them in your life. Leave them that cause division. I also want to be clear – you do not have to allow them in your life, but you cannot hold hate, bitterness, or unforgiveness toward them. You have to love them and pray for them, as hard as it is sometimes. 

James 1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

We must totally give ourselves away to Jesus. Let Him do what He needs to with our life. 

Listen to this worship song as we get our hearts ready to pray. Learn the words. Sing it to Jesus.( I will post lyrics after the prayer)

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus, I love You. I want to fully surrender to Your ways. I do not want my way anymore. I do not want to conform to other people’s way, I want to be sold out for the cause of Christ.

I want You. I want Your unfailing love to live in me so I can give others unfailing love straight from You.

Help me to see what I am walking into. Help me to have the courage to turn around and walk away from anything that brings strife or division. I want to love those that cannot and will not love me back. Give me the courage to do the right thing when others are not.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I GIVE MYSELF AWAY

I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me (x4)

Here I am
Here I stand
Lord, my life is in your hands
Lord, I’m longing to see
Your desires revealed in me
I give myself away

Chorus

Take my heart
Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands

Chorus (x2)

My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you (x3)

Chorus