Lester Stix first discovered the real power of the phrase quite by accident. It was an unfortunate thing that caused quite a bit of embarrassment for some of the community's most staid and honored families. It also cost Elias Helms his position as assistant pastor at the local Congregational Protestant Church.
Lester and Elias were close friends both having studied at Oral Roberts University before each entered their chosen profession. Lester went into archeology while Elias went into preaching. Although it seems both had very diverse professions, they continued to run into each other at different conventions and revivals.
Lester had been studying some of the aboriginal religions of Eastern Africa and the Middle East. While the areas he studied were heavily influenced by the Muslims, he did find some tribes where groups would travel with the basic idea of preaching their religion to neighboring tribes. Now this was received quite differently by the many tribes in the region, and admittedly, the preachers often became the main course at the dinner table.
After losing a number of their members during preaching trips, the leaders of the movement developed a means of basically sedating the people they preached to. Using a combination of highly reflective jewelry and some powerful incantations they were basically able to hypnotize the people when they preached. This was the facet of this religion that most fascinated Lester. Since he discovered many similarities to the old time revivals he witnessed growing up in the south, Lester often returned to the United States to visit the revivals. He often ran into Elias at the revivals.
During Lester's most recent return he learned that Elias had settled down as the assistant pastor at a sizable church in a suburb of Texarkana. While looking in on some revivals not far away, Lester visited his friend and was invited to stay at his home on the fringes of the church grounds. Elias recommended Lester use his house as a home base of sorts, where he could travel out into the nearby communities and visit revivals.
"I'm not sure Elias, you sure the church won't have any problems?"
"Sure, I've talked to the pastor about you and told him you went to Oral Roberts with me. He was very impressed. I've got plenty of room, this is a three bedroom house and I am all by myself."
Lester moved in that day carrying only two bags. He explained to Elias, "One is my clothes and toiletries, the other is my research."
During the visit the two discussed Elias' current position. He did quite a lot, often filling in for the pastor at the regular services on Sunday Morning, but his most important job was to facilitate and lead the Adult Bible Study Group. What made this job important was the fact that the mayor of the city as well as nearly a dozen of the most influential businessmen in northern Arkansas were members of the group.
It was during a weekend trip for Lester that the problems began. He was traveling quite deep into the piney woods of East Texas and had not planned to return for three days. While Elias had hoped to pry some ideas and inspiration from Lester for his bible study group, he really couldn't complain when Lester headed out for the trip.
Noticing that Lester left some material behind, he spent one evening reading the material and found a considerable amount of inspiration. He even found a quote that he would use as a title for that weeks lesson. Sitting down at his computer he began typing, starting with the title, "Love to you to love."
It was such a simple phrase, but it seemed to say everything he wanted to express before he dove into the bible teachings. He finished up his intro to the lesson in just twenty minutes and then he settled into bed. The following morning he got his papers together, printed out his intro to the lesson and then went into the church offices.
That evening he walked into the main chapel and was delighted to find a nearly full house, which for this group meant nearly thirty people. The mayor had even brought his daughter who must have been visiting from college. Anyway, Elias walked up to the podium, welcomed the members, thanking them for coming.
