BY PASTOR JACK WARD
This is an alleged New Year’s letter written from a church member to the pastor.
Dear Pastor:
You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated.
- Christmas Holidays (the Sunday before & after) 2
- New Year’s (the party lasted too long) 1
- Easter (get away for the holidays) 2
- July 4th (national holidays) 1
- Labor Day (need to get away) 2
- Memorial Day (visit hometown folk) 1
- School closing (kids need a break) 1
- School reopens (one last fling) 1
- Family reunions (mine & wife’s) 3
- Sleep late (stayed up too long Saturday night) 9
- Deaths in family 2
- Anniversary (second honeymoon) 1
- Sickness (one per family member) 5
- Vacation (three to four weeks) 6
- Bad weather (ice, snow, rain, clouds) 3
- Ballgames 4
- Unexpected company (can’t walk out) 2
- Time changes (spring & fall) 2
- Special on TV (UK, Super Bowl, etc) 3
Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the 4th Sunday in February and the third Sunday in August unless we are providentially hindered.
Sincerely,
A Faithful Member
This would be funny if it were not so true. I don’t really expect many to change. Most of you will attend church the same way you have always gone to church, if you go at all. Jesus said, “When the Son of man comes again, shall he find faith on the earth?” Not many will be faithful to our Lord and His church. So you just keep on like you are and limp into heaven. Then when you see the heavenly rewards you could have had with just a little more effort, you will be so disappointed in yourself. And that disappointment you will never be able to change.
For those of you who are faithful to our Lord and who do not neglect the assembling together of the church, the Lord knows your faithfulness and will not forget your work. It’s tough. It’s not easy when you seem to be the only one who follows the Lord, but one day, sooner or later, when we see Jesus, it will be worth it all! No regrets, no looking back, just looking ahead.
I love Paul’s words: “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press (on) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14-15)
Press on, my faithful brothers and sisters in Christ!
Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons every Sunday morning at 10:30 on 98.9 WSIP FM. Check out the Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church Facebook page and website: tomahawkmbc.com.