Don't just go to church ...

We spend a lot of time "going to church." Some of you travel many miles ... others volunteer on the grounds ... still others are so hungry for God's Word that you come every time the doors are open. But we all know ... at least I hope we do ... that there is so much more than just "going to church."

We are called to "Be the Church." We are the "Body of Christ," and as such, we demonstrate Christ on earth. What are some of the things that Jesus did? He served ... He loved ... He healed ... He taught ... etc. While some of those things that Jesus did, he did from an "Immanuel - God With Us" stand point, but many of those, He did from the standpoint of "he took on flesh and lived among us."

So, how can we "be the church"? My wife shared with me last night that a church in our community, 25 or so of their members took the special volunteer class the school board offers, just so they, as a church, could volunteer at a local school. They adopted that school financially, but they wanted to do more ... they wanted to go.

Our brothers and sisters at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, KY did something different last weekend to "Be the Church." They wrote letters to Britney Spears. In the encouragement from Pastor Jon Weece, "No preaching. No criticizing. Just love. As a church, let’s love Britney the way Jesus loves her."

Let's BE THE CHURCH - instead of just going to church!

See ya Sunday!!

What a concept!

I must admit, there are days in the ministry I long for Jesus' return more than others. I must admit, there are times when "God's People" really get me down because they act more like spiritual infants than the spiritual mature they should be.

Okay, now that I've got that off my chest! I like to surf! I bet you didn't know that about me ... but yes ... I am a surfer ... yup - just give me a mouse or remote and I can channel surf with the best of them!! At home, there are specific channels I surf to - most of them have something to do with sports or the news. But in the office - on the computer - my surfing is usually a little more wide open. I surf to other churches and catch a message from one of the myriad of wonderful proclaimers of God's Word ... I'll check a college to see how the new school year is going ... I'll find news venues from places I have lived in the past, and at times like today, discover that a good friend was in a bad accident. But I have some "bookmarked" surfing areas so that with one or two clicks of the mouse, I can arrive. One of those is good friend and fellow preacher, Arron Chambers. Arron is a wonderful speaker but also accomplished writer. He is also a triathlete. In a recent blog, Arron, comparing some triathlete accomplishments, made this comparison to the Christian walk that is too powerful to leave in his little corner of the world ...

"What if you could only call yourself a "Christian" if you helped to fulfill the Great Commission in the past 12 months by leading someone to Christ? What kind of impact would that have on the Church? What kind of impact would that have on our evangelistic efforts?"

Under that 'guideline' - would you be able to legitimately call yourself a "Christian"? Hmmm ... I must admit, there are days ...

Where Were You?

"Where were you when the world stopped turnin’ that September day?"

That’s the question that begins one of the many songs that came from the day we will never forget. 6 years ago on this very day, time stood still. To answer that question, I suppose every one of us can remember where we were and what we were doing. I had arrived at the office at Hillside Court and was beginning the day. I hadn’t even really turned my computer on yet when the first call came in from Sug Poore. Her words were quick and to the point. Do you have the news on? “No, not yet I replied.” “We’re under attack” is all I remember her saying. Of course the Internet by then was jammed with others trying to find some news. We found a pair of rabbit ears for a television we had and were able to find some snowy scenes of the desperate day.
What took 6 years and 8 months to build was destroyed in 1 hour and 42 minutes. Since then, everything has changed and everything has remained the same. What I mean by that is this.
Everything in our vocabulary has changed. A “Daisy Cutter” used to be something only a gardener might understand. Now it is the nickname of the BLU-82 Bomb. After a heavy rain, boys (and girls) could be found outside rolling mounds of dirt into balls and hurling them through the air … their impact being a ‘dirty bomb.’ Today, we understand that differently to indicate something that contains and is intended to spread radioactivity.
No longer is 9-11 simply the emergency number that we call to summon the fire department or the police. And will we ever hear the two simple words “Let’s Roll” the same again.
Yet while everything has changed, everything remains the same. While our country came under attack that day and many sought refuge in the Sanctuaries of God around the country, that seeking quickly diminished, and today, we are right back battling the same ideological battles that we were on September 10. Our concerns are not focused on those who are lost without a Savior but instead are focused on such mundane things as what kind of music to play and how loud or soft to play it … how warm or cold the building is … the length or breadth of the sermon … and even the clothes on another man’s back. The imminence of the Lord’s Return just doesn’t seem to be a priority once again for most folks.
There are several assurances we have in Scripture. One of them is this emphatic word from God in Psalm 46 … I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. That is not just some empty possibility. That is an emphatic guarantee.
Allow me to close with this thought from the Apostle Paul … For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Where will you be the next time the world stops turnin’?