Something Don’d on Me! encourage one another

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
I Thessalonians 5:11

 
It’s called Magnolia Lane, and it is lined with 61 Trees of the same name on each side of the 300-yard driveway. It’s a hallowed lane that leads to the clubhouse at the famed Augusta National Golf Course Club House. And in this weekend, swarms of media, fans and onlookers will flood the walkways of this  meticulous 300 acres for The Masters! The world’s best golfers will compete over 4 days for a purse of over $11 Million! Even those who usually have no interest in golf, recognize and will even tune in for some part of the Masters! Probably the most famous golf tournament in the world, the home of the “Green Jacket”, the pageantry, the well-groomed greens, the flowing fairways, the Eisenhower Tree, Rae’s Creek, and of course-Amen Corner, Augusta is truly a spectacle of beauty.
 
I’ve always loved the name and the story of Amen Corner. It actually comes from the 1958 Tournament and the great Arnold Palmer! He was playing particularly well on holes 11, 12 and 13, and ended up winning the tournament because of some incredible play and utililzing of the rules that applied there that day. (You can read more about it here: https://www.liveabout.com/why-is-amen-corner-called-that-1564582)
The sportswriter that covered the tourney-Herbert Wind-coined the term “Amen Corner” and it stuck! He said the inspiration for the term was an old jazz tune that recalled the Amen Corner in New York from the late 19th Century. There was a place there that printed Bibles, and the street preachers would gather around there and shout out their testimonies, as others yelled “Amen”…hence the name. Many Bibles from the mid-1900’s listed their place of manufacture as Amen Corner, NY!
 
If you’ve been in church any amount of time, you’ve heard the word “Amen.” Sometimes at the end of prayers, sometimes by Tom Banks or others in agreement with something being said…it literally means “So be it”. When you are saying that you are wanting that thing to happen! From praying for the sick, to declaring the goodness of God to even cheering on a great shot…you are ENCOURAGING things to happen! What an idea…to have an AMEN CORNER in life!
 
What if WE became the “Amen Corner” of Portales?!What if we ENCOURAGED people, instead of ranting on Facebook? What if we BUILT UP other businesses and families? What if it was our reputation to be the CHEERLEADERS of the people around us??! What a great reputation that would be! I believe it is…let’s keep it UP!
 
As we move through “Holy Week” and focus on the great sacrifice of our Savior, may we be moved to TREAT people differently! May we “encourage one another while it is still ‘Today.’” (Heb. 3:13) May we shout “AMEN” from the rooftops and testify to the great love that our Father shows to each of us!
 
Amen and Hosanna, Lord! YOU are the one that changes everything!
Shalom Alachiem – Don