If God is not in your house, you might as well name it “Ichabod!” That’s what a pregnant woman in 1 Samuel 4 named her new born son after the Glory of God had departed from Israel. Pastor John Hannah unpacked it beautifully at the MCHCA Convocation last night. That’s another sermon! Meanwhile…

Just wait ‘til I tell you what I heard!!!

And again, He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. (Mark 2:1 NKJV).

When God is in the Building…

Mr. Frank Howard “Prop” Alston was a legend and an institution at Hillside High School in Durham, 

N.C. During my first four years as a neophyte high school teacher, Prop was the assistant principal.  Now, there were three assistant principals at the time, and they were all excellent, but everyone knew Prop was the assistant principal. Whenever the entire student body gathered in the auditorium for an assembly and all the students were speaking at once, Prop only had to stand, and before he reached the podium you could hear a pin drop! 

Prop seemed to know every student, their parents, and some of their relatives.  He was always up-to-date on whose mom, dad, sister or cousin was sick or had made some noteworthy accomplishment.  He could walk into any classroom and take over the lesson regardless of the subject. 

Prop was also a strict disciplinarian who carried a stick that reminded you of Moses’ staff. But he was loved and respected by everyone who knew him.  As long as he was in the building, staff, students, parents, the whole Durham community felt that Hillside High would fare well.

One afternoon when school was out and Prop was meeting with teachers in a second-floor classroom, a student came strolling down the hall whistling loudly. As he approached the open door of the room where we were, Prop, without looking up, ordered him to stop. The boy stood motionless. “Walk back down to the other end of the hall and then walk back,” Prop instructed. The boy did an about face, walked to the other end of the hall and back silently. When he came to the door our meeting room, Prop said simply, “Have a good afternoon.”

Noted Hillside graduates like, NBA star player and coach John Lucas, Jr., the acclaimed artist and actor, Ernie Barnes, whose works were famously used on the “Good Times” TV show, and gospel great, Shirley Ann Caesar, all prominently expressed their fond recollections and admiration for Prop when they returned to speak for special occasions at Hillside.

One year, at the invitation of Principal John Lucas, Sr., former graduate Caesar was our Award’s Day speaker. (I was also working part time with Miss Caesar at the time.) I remember well, that following her speech, she surprised Prop by presenting him with a large plaque which she had inscribed to him under the heading, “The Covenant Award.” Many years later after Prop had long retired back in 1979 and was battling cancer, I saw it prominently displayed in his living room. After his retirement, Hillside High was just not the same anymore. Although it had been one of the most prominent high schools in North Carolina, it began a slow decline.  Prop was no longer in the house. 

The house that Jesus entered in Capernaum in Mark 2 quickly filled to the point that no one could get through the door. They came because they heard that Jesus was in the house.  A paraplegic was brought in through the roof, had his sins forgiven, and was able to walk out through the door.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the house of God!  We have within us a strict disciplinarian who can make our enemies behave! If He is in the building, there is no room for anger, anxiety, depression, repression, oppression, or obsessing about how somebody did us wrong!  When God is in the building, He fills the house so that there is no room for the devil. Have you heard that God is in your house? Do you know confidently that He is? Is He the prop that is keeping your house together? Have others heard that He is in your house? My house will never be called Ichabod!!! That is what I heard! And that is what I know!!!                            

Focus Quote:             

“When God is in the building, the sin-sick are healed.

When God is in the building, that void He’ll fill.

We’re moving by His power and He’s sprinkling out His grace.

I can feel His presence right now, all over this place!”                                                      –The Anointed Pace Sisters

Reminders: 

Special NOTE:  Oh and let me also tell you that God is still working miracles. My sister Venise Sumner Marrow just came through major surgery successfully!!! Thank you to all who have been praying for her. Please continue to pray. And…

Please continue to join us for our 5:14 pm prayer.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). 

Just pause and pray wherever you are. There is no call line or zoom link that you need to remember or retrieve and connect to. Just connect to God and pray! I will also be praying with you. There is power in agreement! 

Our Prayer 

Note please:  I would love to hear what you think about my thoughts!!!  Please share with me praise reports and prayer requests that all of us can take to God collectively!!!

Blessings and Love,

Elder Alton E. Sumner, D. Min

Listening to the Soul! Lightening the Heart! Lifting the Spirit!

For a copy of my book: Standing on the Promises,