As I consider Thanksgiving and all the many blessings that the Lord has given me to be thankful for, one of the blessings that I am truly thankful for is the church that I have been called to pastor. Clearly we are not a perfect church. There are areas that we could improve, but our congregation is very loving and seems to go out of the way to make folks feel welcome and a part of our services, even if they are a guest.
As their pastor I can testify to their goodness to me and my family. They continually meet our needs and seek to help us in any way they can. I am constantly reminded by conversations, phone calls, cards, e-mails, and text messages, that they are praying for me. I feel truly blessed to be the pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. I love what God has called me to do, the work He has placed me in, and I am looking forward, with great anticipation, to what He has in store for us.
(So, to all of the Fellowship folks who are reading this post, thank you for all you do. It is an honor and privilege to serve you!)
As I thought about the blessings of the church, I was reminded of a poem that I had saved from years ago. It was published in a small publication, The Harvester, that I used to get on a regular basis. (Does anyone know if it is still being printed?) Anyway, it seems that in our modern society more people are discontented with the church. I fear that many are seeking a reason to leave rather than seeing the blessings of God in the church with a desire to serve the Lord and remain committed to it. We desperately need to love the church, support it, pray for it, and be in our place when the doors are open.
If there are things about your church that you are not quite pleased with, consider the thoughts of this poem and it might change your perspective.
The Perfect Church
If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church;
You'd spoil the atmosphere.
If you should find the perfect church
Where all anxieties cease
Then pass it by, lest joining it
You'd mar the masterpiece.
If you should find the perfect church
Then don't you ever dare,
To tread upon such holy ground;
You'd be a misfit there.
But since no perfect church exists
Made of imperfect men,
Then let's cease looking for that church
And love the church we're in.
Of course, it's not a perfect church,
That's simple to discern
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.
Anonymous
May we quit looking for the perfect church and love the one we're in. Thank God for the church; love it; and be active in it!
Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Preacher Chris
As their pastor I can testify to their goodness to me and my family. They continually meet our needs and seek to help us in any way they can. I am constantly reminded by conversations, phone calls, cards, e-mails, and text messages, that they are praying for me. I feel truly blessed to be the pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. I love what God has called me to do, the work He has placed me in, and I am looking forward, with great anticipation, to what He has in store for us.
(So, to all of the Fellowship folks who are reading this post, thank you for all you do. It is an honor and privilege to serve you!)
As I thought about the blessings of the church, I was reminded of a poem that I had saved from years ago. It was published in a small publication, The Harvester, that I used to get on a regular basis. (Does anyone know if it is still being printed?) Anyway, it seems that in our modern society more people are discontented with the church. I fear that many are seeking a reason to leave rather than seeing the blessings of God in the church with a desire to serve the Lord and remain committed to it. We desperately need to love the church, support it, pray for it, and be in our place when the doors are open.
If there are things about your church that you are not quite pleased with, consider the thoughts of this poem and it might change your perspective.
The Perfect Church
If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church;
You'd spoil the atmosphere.
If you should find the perfect church
Where all anxieties cease
Then pass it by, lest joining it
You'd mar the masterpiece.
If you should find the perfect church
Then don't you ever dare,
To tread upon such holy ground;
You'd be a misfit there.
But since no perfect church exists
Made of imperfect men,
Then let's cease looking for that church
And love the church we're in.
Of course, it's not a perfect church,
That's simple to discern
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.
Anonymous
May we quit looking for the perfect church and love the one we're in. Thank God for the church; love it; and be active in it!
Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Preacher Chris
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