I had to cover a meeting for the newspaper at 6 p.m. tonight, and I was hoping it would get out in time for me to make it to revival services at my father’s church, which started at 7 p.m. I especially wanted to be there tonight because the men’s ensemble from the church I attend was scheduled to bring the special music.

Well, the ambulance board meeting let out just in time to get me to the church by 7 p.m. — in fact, I was there half an hour before the guest speaker, whose water pipes burst this afternoon. The men’s ensemble, as usual, did a terrific job, especially on “Midnight Cry,” which has become sort of their trademark.

Just as my father was about to give up on Rev. Mark Hall and preach himself, Mark walked in the back door. He was worth waiting for. I thought he gave a great sermon Sunday night, but tonight he really knocked it out of the park. He spoke, passionately and with copious Bible references, about some of the assurances we have as believers.