Shirley Buxton Obituary

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contentment, pouting

Because I’m not of a nervous disposition, I laughed when I saw it, but through the day I couldn’t help but remember and wonder about it a bit. Before the day was over I took a screen shot and wish I could post it here, but so far I can’t seem to figure out how to do that. On the stats page of this blog there is a report of the phrases people use in search engines to bring them here. Yesterday, 3 people typed in the words Shirley Buxton Obituary…and because that request shot them to my blog, it was reported on my stats page!

My obituary! What’s with that? for here I am, alive and well, and reading that someone is interested in my obituary. Maybe they were planning to attend my funeral, wanted to know the hours of the viewing, location of the services, where to send flowers   and such…not sure!

I am an early riser, and nearly always get out of bed ahead of Jerry, but this morning was an exception. I was up several times through the night peering out the windows in hope of seeing the massive snow storm that has been forecast for the San Bernardino Mountains. Nothing. It rained most of the day yesterday, but by evening even that had stopped, and because I am a lover of snow, I was deeply disappointed.

Teasing, I said to Jerry when I finally slipped from the bed and joined him in the kitchen, “I thought of staying in bed all day, with the cover pulled over my head in a pout because of the lack of snow, but…I smelled coffee, so here I am.” He grinned and poured me a cup of steaming fragrant coffee.

So in consideration of the Shirley Buxton obituary search yielding no authentic and reliable results, I’ve decided to put aside my absence of snow pout, and enjoy the day. For actually, as far as this world goes, I live in paradise, and looking through my windows or stepping onto my front deck and seeing such as this, tells me of the silliness of a pout.

How is your day? Probably rather good, for no one reading here also has an obituary printed in the local newspaper. Lots of joy for us today, lots of pleasure, lots of beauty around. Oh, there may be a bit of fog in the mix, a disappointment or two, a hefty challenge poking at us…but all in all, this is a great day. We’re alive! We’re abundantly blessed. Let us rejoice and be glad!

I looked in one direction this morning and saw dark and fog, and some would call it gloom. Turning another way, however, I saw blue skies and promise of another glorious day.

Ladies Conference Finale

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Southern California Ladies Conference

A close second to God’s people worshiping and praying together is when we have fun with each other, and last Saturday at the Doubletree brunch in Ontario was no exception. It was a blast!

The food was delicious. The atmosphere was PARTY!

The decorations were dynamite, cute as could be, yet carrying out the theme of the conference.

Newly placed as president and secretary of the department, Sisters Cupoli and Ghiloni stood with the board to honor the outgoing president, Sister Nita Hodges, presenting  a cruise for her and her husband.

A little teasing ensued on the platform, and then Sister Cobb proceeded to teach us a little Jamaican worship style.

Two sweet young men were brave enough to spend every service with us; one playing the bass, the other the drums. We honored them during the brunch.

Prizes were handed out, the vendors were generous with “give-aways,” as were the speakers and singers, and finally each group was uproariously calling their table number so that they would be chosen for a gift. Choose me! Choose me! It was delightful.

Finally, there were more singing, more speaking, more praying, and more rejoicing. Then it was over, this wonderful 3rd annual ladies conference of the UPCI Southern California District.

Southern California Ladies Conference

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Southern California Ladies Conference

It was obvious that extensive planning and other preparation had been done–both secular and spiritual–for the conference was of the finest degree. From the beginning, I noted a distinct spiritual hunger, and although I had not been involved in any of the preparation, nor was I responsible for any of its success, I was at once swept into the spirit of the meeting, and so joined with others in anticipation of the Divine that was to move among us. So easily is God said, so quickly we type the letters that form the word Jesus, yet so difficult–yes, impossible–is it to describe the supernatural, or in any way to make sense of the telling of an authentic otherworldly manifestation. I try, but my tongue clacks in futility and my mind is of blank slate as I search for the telling, or as I grasp for phrases to describe. You understand. You know…if ever you have been there. You share my frustration if at once you have endeavored to tell The Story.

Perhaps if I say that at least 42 persons received the Holy Ghost, you may know a rag of the glimmer. Perhaps if I say that on Friday afternoon scores of people fanned out from the auditorium and knocked on doors to invite people to the services, and that on that evening, some who were invited came and received the Holy Ghost, you will grab a trace of the phenomenon. Perhaps if you hear of Pastor Arthur Hodges sitting beside a young lady on a plane, inviting her to the meeting, and her being there on Friday evening, and being filled with the Holy Ghost–perhaps that could  hint to you of the glory. Perhaps if you knew that in Sunday services in churches in southern California, women were baptized who had received the Holy Ghost during the conference–perhaps then you might clutch a shred of the greatness.

The excellent ladies board and leaders contributed to the success. Speakers contributed. Singers did. Musicians did. Pastors did. The congregation did. But credit belongs to God Almighty who is the only One who can bring about such a distinct and historical move of the Spirit. How blessed I was to stand in such a Holy Place.

I want to add my admonition to that of the apostle Paul who speaks concerning the wisdom of meeting together.

Make a habit of worshipping together, he directs us. Do it all the more as you near the coming of the Lord, he adds.

We need each other, we need the support of our sisters and brothers in Jesus. We need more church, more prayer meetings, more instruction than at any other time in our lives. Such meetings are crucial and there are many of them around. Another ladies conference is in little more than a month at Hilltop Tabernacle in Chula Vista. I expect you would be blessed to attend that short meeting. If you live in northern California or want to make the drive, there will be the Western District Ladies Conference in Sacramento on February 24-26th.

I’m posting a few pictures here from the Ontario conference, and have lots more over on my Flickr site. (You may need to scroll down a bit to find the conference shots.) Tomorrow I will write here about the Saturday morning brunch.

This picture of Sisters Nita Hodges, one of our esteemed leaders,  and Jennifer Cobb, our speaker for the conference, is my second favorite of those I took of the conference. How blessed are we to be such friends with each other.

This is my favorite. I’m told this precious lady’s name is Olga, and that she received the Holy Ghost during the conference!

Ministers Howard and Sachs.

I love and honor our pastors–all of them–but today, I’m speaking especially of those who labored at the ladies conference.

Berni Cupoli, the UPCI Southern California Ladies Leader

Debi Saiz, one of our speakers.

Debbie Howard, the chief musician.

Madonna Massey, worship leader and soloist.

If you attended this meeting–or not–and have anything to say, I’d love to hear from you. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this page for everyone to appreciate.