Dub Borders dubborders@sbcglobal. net During our lives while attending or not attending church services, we all have a storehouse of memories. Here are a few of mine: When I was about four or five, I went with my mother to the Assembly of God Church on East Broadway. The first Sunday School lesson I ever remember was one that Jo Ann Butler gave to our class. This was my first meeting with Charles Butler because he was also in his mother’s class. Mrs. Butler gave us a lesson about the Communion. For an example, she brought some white sliced bread. I really didn’t understand anything about the communion, but that white sliced bread was great! We were just too young to understand. About ten years ago, I called Charles to visit with him. During our conversation, I told him about the lesson his mother had given to us and how I always remembered it. He said, “Dub, you have just made my day.” I asked how, and he told me that if his mother were still living, today would be her birthday. We both got a warm feeling in our hearts.

Going to church as a young person was also usually associated with some special events. I can remember my very first Easter egg hunt. Somehow, Johnny and I managed to get to the church building, and the late Lucille Caldwell met young people there and took us out to her house by the Artesian well area. In her yard were some large oak trees with leaves everywhere, many good places to hide the eggs. I had a great time. Memories not forgotten.

Another lady that took a special interest in young people was the late Fay Norman. At our church, we did not have a youth minister, so she was probably that person. She would take us skating at the Nation Guard building in Ada. We had tons of fun learning how to skate, but nothing more fun than watching her son, Richard, on roller skates. Richard grew up with every generation of young people at our church.

When my brother Johnny and I were around eight and ten years old, one Sunday morning after Bible School, we decided to skip the worship service. We left behind the church building and went east on Lee Street. We were afraid that if we walked on Broadway, a church member might see what we were doing and take us back. We made it to County Line Road and crawled over the metal gate into the pasture that is now the Black Addition. We were taking the shortcut home. About that time, Johnny and I have an argument, he finds a two by four board and starts chasing me. Johnny was usually easy-going, but if you made him mad, you had better watch out. He chased me through grassland, creeks, wooded areas, and finally a peanut field just north of our house. Around twelve-thirty, I saw my dad arrive at our house. I’m thinking, “I’d rather get a belt whipping from my dad than get hit by a 2x4 from Johnny.”. Sure thing, as soon as I go into the house, my dad has his belt off and ready for me. Note, in my adult life, I have never bought a belt that looked like the one he had. I took my punishment, but did get the pleasure of seeing him get my brother. I believe that was the last time we both received a belt correction, and we never skipped out on church service again.

In the 1960’s few cars had air conditioning. It was not uncommon for people at church on Sunday mornings to leave their cars unlocked with the windows down. My late brother-in law, Don Hammonds, told me how he had left his car windows down, during the sermon, it began to rain hard. A few men got up and went out to close all the car windows, the preacher then stopped and told the congregation that enough men were outside to take care of things. Don told how he was all involved in listening to the preacher’s lesson. A few minutes later, he realized it was raining, he got up and headed down the aisle. The preacher stopped his talking, then pounded the podium and said, “I already told you that we have enough men outside, no need for anyone else to go”. Don told me, “I just hunkered down my shoulders and kept on going”. He stayed in the lobby until services were over.

We have all probably been door knockers for our church when a Gospel Meeting, Revival, VBS, or special event was going to be taking place. It can be both rewarding and disappointing. I believe I have known the Ultimate Door Knocker. When Loretta and I got married at the East Central Chapel on a Saturday night and left for our home in Duncan, Oklahoma, there was no time for a honeymoon. We had to begin teaching Monday morning. Sunday morning, a little after twelve noon, there is this knocking on our apartment door. I open the door. It was my brother, R W, I asked him to come inside, he said, No, “I won’t stay, I just want you to know that church starts tonight at six”. I have always thought that it sure took a lot of nerve, to go to a newlywed’s home the morning after the wedding, and remind the couple when church starts that evening.

I have always gone to the Church of Christ. During my preteen years I kept hearing my First Baptist friends talking about the fun they had at FALSE Creek Camp in the summertime. For the life of me, I could not believe that a church would give their summer camp, a name like FALSE Creek. I later was told the correct way to say it. A few years ago, I was a part-time driver for Tim Hensley for his water and lagoon testing company. One of my stops was the Baptist Assembly in Talihina, Oklahoma. I once asked the Superintendent, what was its purpose? He said it was the Eastern Oklahoma equivalent of Falls Creek Assembly. I then related to him my FALSE Creek story. He proceeded to tell me one about when he was a kid living in Tulsa and every summer his parents told them that they were going down to Sans Bois Creek, somewhere between Wilburton and Robert S. Kerr Reservoir, to camp out. He said for three years he kept looking for those sand boys but never saw them. We both laughed and agreed that we could use each other’s story.

One time a minister was delivering the Sunday morning message at the Allen Church of Christ. He was from west Texas and had more of a drawl than even I do. In his lesson he kept comparing the Golden, Silver and Orn rules. I listened closely, but still had trouble understanding that last Orn rule. On our way home, Loretta explained to me that he was trying to say the Iron rule. boy, did I feel dumb!

A few years back at Southwest church here in Ada, we had two gentlemen, one was older and had a full white beard, the other had an eye problem and wore an eye patch over the bad eye. One time when the daughter of Shellie (Soper) Meaders, Katie, and some of her four year old friends were telling each other about people they went to church with, Katie told them that they had nothing on her. She got to go to church with a Pirate and Santa Claus.

Another time at Worship here at Southwest I was giving a short talk about the Communion Service. When I had finished with the talk and prayer, I thought to myself, Dub, you did a good job. We then proceeded to hand out the trays for the bread, the first person I handed the tray to, I had to nudge to awaken him. Sure Dub, you did a great job.

I would like to write here about a man I have known since we both were about five years old and in Bible School together. His name is Glen Ogle, Allen folks may remember him as Russell Wells. Glen is the son of the late Betty Wells and stepchild of the late Arles Wells. Glen and our wives attend Southwest Church of Christ in Ada. We have been going to church together for many years. We had great Sunday school teachers, like Maggie Daughtery, Ruby Rowsey, Andrew Borders, Arles Wells and Walter Loftis. It is such a good feeling to have been able to be brothers in Christ all these years.

If you have forgotten how the date for Easter Sunday is determined, here it is. It is on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Let us all purpose in our hearts to be in a place of Worship this coming Easter Sunday to honor our God and give thanks for our Savior, Jesus Christ. W. B. (Dub ) Borders