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The Connection |
The Hospital Lobby
The hospital lobby is an interesting place. It’s a very peaceful and serene atmosphere. There is a fountain, all kinds of plants, and a man who is playing the piano. (When Brock was born, there was even a violinist playing in the lobby.) It’s all purposely designed to be a place of peace, relaxation, and comfort. But for all I know, there may very well be an ambulance right outside delivering a person who has been critically injured in a car accident. Someone on the next floor might be having severe complications with a birth. Two floors up, someone may be having a heart attack. All of that could be happening and I wouldn’t know anything about it because of my perspective here in the lobby. I’m convinced that many churches have long lived with the lobby perspective. Everything they do is designed for their own peace and comfort. That, in fact, becomes the goal of their existence. Keeping a few people happy and satisfied. Their gatherings seem very peaceful and serene, but in reality they have lulled themselves into complacency. There are people dying all around them, but they have become so inwardly focused that they’ll never reach them. In fact, they often don’t even see them anymore because of their lobby perspective. There’s an old cliché that says, “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” As clichés go, that one’s pretty good. But if we want our church to operate like a hospital, it can’t just be created in the image of the hospital lobby. While the church should provide peace and comfort, we also have to be ready for emergency surgery. But here’s the thing about life-saving surgery…it’s messy. When a church positions itself to reach people and save their souls, things will get messy. It won’t be easy. In fact, there will be times when it’s very hard. But if we actually believe the Bible when it says that there is a heaven and there is a hell…if we actually believe that every person on earth will spend all eternity in one of those two places…how can we remain in the lobby? We have no choice but to don the scrubs, tie on the mask, and assist as Jesus does some eternity-saving surgery. The residual mess is well worth it in light of someone whose life and eternity have been changed. In His Love, Mike
Luminous Student Ministries
LUMINOUS ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS
NEXUS - THIS SUNDAY - January 27th
SUPERBOWL BASH - February 3rd
HOME SKILLET - February 10th
CONNECT - March 2nd
YOUTH T-SHIRTS
S.P.A.M. (Seriously Pondering All of the Message)
Worship News
APEX PRACTICE TIME
SUNDAY MORNING RUN THROUGH
Upcoming Events
Hearts Dinner/Dance - Friday, February 8th at Receptions in Eastgate The cost is $20 per person. If you have any questions, please see Jackie Jump or contact the church office. Deadline to register is this Sunday!
Volleyball Signups ACC Websites: |
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I’m currently sitting in the lobby of Mercy Hospital in Anderson as I write this article. I’m actually not making a hospital call, though. I was simply in the neighborhood and needed a place to work for a while. I remembered that the hospital has free wi-fi access from when we were here for Brock’s delivery, so I thought that I’d work here for a while.
"Our quest is to illuminate the truth of Jesus for the world in a manner that inspires everyone to live courageously committed and devoted to His call."