Morning

Chapter 9 -

“Okay, I can tell. You have something on your mind.”
“Yes, have you talked to Billy-Bob and Bubba?”
Davy smiled. He always did when the two names were mentioned.  Billy-Bob and Bubba were people that Davy and Danny picked to learn their “new” way of doing Sunday services. The “Billy-Bob and Bubba” names came about as a joke. The names were the absolute opposite of the individuals. Billy-Bob’s real name was Brian Cox and Cox was an excellent speaker and could belt out a sermon that even Davy envied. In many ways, Cox reminded people of a young Billy Graham with his chiseled face and the distinct mountain “twang” in his voice. And yes, he was Baptist. Bubba was a retired Lutheran bishop whose name was really Adam Fisk. Fisk’s career as a priest had been in places like Manhattan and Boston, a far cry from what the name ‘Bubba’ would imply. He was tall, slim and very proper. From the beginning, Brian and Adam were perfect together. Despite some age difference, Brian was thirty-eight and Adam was sixty-three, the two enjoyed each other’s company and were brilliant churchmen. They worked with Davy and Danny for several months before a Methodist church in mid-town came available and the remaining half-dozen or so members contacted Davy and Danny offering them the use of the church rather than to see the impressive edifice go to waste. Billy-Bob and Bubba had done several services at Camp Eden and when it was announced they would be at the Methodist church the following week, they were greeted by over fifty people who had been attending at Camp Eden. By the end of their second month, they had well over two hundred people in attendance.  
“No, I let the numbers speak for themselves. Billy-Bob–“
”We’re going to have to quit calling them that. Billy-Bob and Bubba is certainly no compliment.”
“No, but they love it. They even call themselves Billy-Bob and Bubba. I’m not kidding you, Danny.”
“Okay, you were starting to say?”
“Billy-Bob suggested that you and Bubba switch for a couple of Sundays. You know they look at us as their mentors.”
“In a way, I guess we are. I think it’s a great idea. It’s been a while since they were at Camp Eden, the people here might enjoy it.”
Davy became quiet and settled back in his chair. When he spoke, he said, “You know we haven’t taken on any outside projects since the Buddhist Temple.”
“No, but I have to admit, bringing the others into Camp Eden has been exciting. I’m still fascinated by how slowing down–“
”Danny, I think it’s more than just slowing down, much more.”
“What do you mean? That’s all we’ve done.”
“No, no, you’re wrong. Let me ask you a question. How interesting were your Bible classes in seminary?”
“To be honest, Davy, to me, they were about as interesting as watching concrete decompose.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said, why?”
“Because all we did was somebody read the verse, then we would discuss it. It was just boring.”
“Okay, I will agree. I will absolutely agree. Then, what did we do when we got out and into churchs of our own?”
Danny looked at Davy and for a while said nothing. Then he broke into a smile. “Somebody read the verse, then, in our sermon, we discussed it.”
“Yes, and just like in seminary, the verse was read at ninety miles an hour with no feeling, no emotion. It was just one word after another. And, the sermon wasn’t much more. Then, we changed it. How did we change it?”
“We quit reading words and began telling a story, complete with inflection and emotion.”
“Right, we did slow down, but only because there were no points awarded for speed. We totally abandoned something that had been a mainstay of white churches for a hundred years, getting out by noon.”
“You’re right, black churches are there for the afternoon. Sunday is an event, an event the people look forward to.”
“And now, if somebody comes to Camp Eden or to Billy-Bob and Bubba’s church, they don’t expect to be out in an hour, but they do expect to gain from the day, no matter how long they’re there.”
“I don’t think that’s bad, Danny. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s quite good. Also, let’s not forget Dominick. He and that other guy he’s teamed up with, Gorge, are good. It won’t be long before they’re ready for a church of their own. But, they haven’t been ordained yet.”
Davy stared directly at Danny. “Who was the first pope?”
“You know who the first pope was, it was Saint Peter. Upon this rock I shall build my church, you know that. That was a silly question.”
Davy looked straight at Danny. “Who actually set the framework for the Christian faith?”
“What is this, twenty questions? It was Paul, you know that too.”
“Would you say Peter and Paul were two great men in Christianity?”
“I would say so.”
“And the apostles, were they important?”
“Davy. What are you getting at?”
Davy reached for his bible beside his chair and without looking, he lobbed the book over his head and into Danny’s lap. “Show me in there where a single one of them was ordained.”
Danny picked up the bible and placed it on a small table beside his chair. He didn’t have to look. Davy was right. None of them had been ordained. He also knew it was time to tell Davy something he had hesitated to say for several days.