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The Connection |
Going to Church
There was only one problem. I couldn't hit very well. I used to go to practice for baseball and fielding wasn't that hard, but hitting was a different story. Partly because I didn't practice hitting as much as I practiced fielding. Also, I didn't want to practice hitting because I thought I didn't need practice to swing a stick and hit a ball. I thought it was a skill that would just naturally come to me. I didn't want to practice hitting. Our society today doesn't want to "practice" church. A lot of people don't understand why we meet together weekly. Perhaps the following story will shed some light on that misunderstanding. "A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the minister decided to visit him. It was a chilly day. That evening, the minister found the man at home all alone sitting by a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his minister's visit, the man welcomed him, and led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The minister made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The minister glanced at his watch and chose this time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more, with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the minister reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday"." We need to practice church so that our fire isn't extinguished. ACTS 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." These reasons are so important because that is what keeps the church going. It is what encourages us and unites us so that we can devote ourselves to modeling the example of Christ for a world that doesn't know how to hit the ball. Serving Him, Brian
Lumi"News"
PURPOSE:
CIY MONEY
QUEST – May 17, 2006
S.P.A.M. (Seriously Pondering All of the Message) - May 21, 2006
MONDAY ACTIVITIES (NITRO) – June 5, 2006 Announcements
“EVERYDAY FAITH "SERIES
APEX BEGINS JUNE 3RD! During the next couple of weeks, we’re going to release a blitz of APEX publicity. Everything you ever wanted to know about APEX will be coming at you. Stay tuned!
Upcoming EventsSteering Ministry Meeting - Sunday, May 21st - 12:30 pm
Mother-Daughter Tea - Saturday, May 27th - 2:00 - 4:00 pm
ACC Websites: |
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I loved to play little league baseball. I would get out on the field in the warm sunshine and run around until I couldn't stop. I loved to get dressed in my baseball uniform, go to the field and chew large wads of gum as I stepped up to the plate to face the pitcher.
As we continue to build Luminous Student Ministries, we want to acquaint everyone with our foundations.
Our new ministry is almost ready to begin and the excitement is building. There is a buzz in the air about the possibilities for this new adventure. There will be invitations available to everyone this Sunday. We want you to invite your friends and family, and we know it’s a lot easier to invite someone when you have something to put in their hands. Pick up as many invitations as you’ll use.