Rev. A. J. Ogden

Many of our older generation would remember when the old front porch was the place to be. Before World War II and a few years after, nearly everything we did was on the cool front porch where the breezes could hit us. Even when company came we said, “Let us sit out here where it is cool.”

But today the air conditioners roar in nearly every home, making it far more comfortable than anything we ever experienced on the old front porch. I am thankful for air conditioners and all the modern technology, but somewhat sad when I see the old deserted porches which used to be full of people. In the city you could talk to the next door neighbor from porch to porch because they were so close together. I do miss the old fellowship, but people are too busy for the most part to visit anyway!

I remember especially the home made ice cream parties on the old front porch when neighbors would come in from all directions to eat ice cream with us. I believe they could smell it, or perhaps they had some kind of radar to detect the house where it was being made. But it was all fun. The old porches look lonesome now.

Now a TV grinds away in every living room and we have electric lights, refrigerators, and a thousand appliances to make life easy. Of course, we work night and day to get this. We seniors have seen a lot of changes for better and for worse.

I am not complaining about it because I will not be calling this world my home much longer anyway. God has already given me over eighty years and I know there is a better home awaiting me because Jesus has prepared it for me by shedding His blood at Calvary. I hope you have been saved and can say with me, “The Old Front Porch.” Listen to what Jesus has to say about it in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”