Monthly Blog: Squirrels in the Church

A TIME TO WEEP, AND A TIME TO LAUGH; A TIME

TO MOURN, AND A TIME TO DANCE.       ( ECCLESIASTES 3:4 *NKJV )


    Well you are in luck, for today is a time to laugh!  
So sit back and enjoy the following message, which
was sent in to me by one of our Sister's in Christ.

    Soon you will be saying: THEN OUR MOUTH WAS
FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, AND OUR TONGUE
WITH SINGING. And just as Sarah said when
God told her she would have a child at her advanced
age.  You will be saying: "GOD HAS MADE ME LAUGH,
AND ALL WHO HEAR WILL LAUGH WITH ME."
( PSALM  126:2 )  &  ( GENESIS 21:6 )


    A small town had only three Churches in it but they all
suffered with the same problem.  You see, all three had a
serious problem with squirrels getting into the Church.

    Now each Church, in its own fashion, had a meeting to
deal with the problem.

    The first Church congregation decided that it was
predestined that the squirrels be in the Church, and that
they would just have to live with them.

    The Second Church decided they should deal with the
squirrels lovingly . So they humanely trapped them and
released them in a park at the edge of town.  However within
3 days, they had all returned and were all back in the church.

    The Third Church came up with the best solution. They
voted the squirrels in as members.  Now they only see them
at Christmas and Easter.

    The moral of the story is: Don't be a Squirrel, attend your
Church regularly!  (Smile)

God's Minute

Answer the Charge

Paul

wrote with urgency, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1–2). In other words, stick with the preaching plan God has promised to bless and use: preaching the Word. Deliver the biblical goods! Be a man of the Book!

Did you notice something here? This exhortation is not addressed to the hearer; it’s for the speaker. The one who is to obey this command is the one proclaiming the message. That’s you. That’s me. That’s all who are called to stand and deliver.

We’re to be ready to do it in season and out of season. Being ready implies being prepared both mentally and spiritually. Don’t try so hard to be so creative and cute that folks miss the truth. No need for meaningless and silly substitutes for God’s Word. They may entertain but rarely convict the lost or edify the saved. Teach the truth.

In essence, Paul says, “Don’t be lazy. Do your homework. Don’t stand up and start with an apology that you didn’t have adequate time to prepare. That doesn’t wash.” And prepare your work faithfully—when it’s convenient and when it’s not.

Sadly, in an alarming number of churches today, God’s people are being told what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. They are being fed warm milk, not solid meat. A watered-down gospel will attract large crowds (for a while), but it has no eternal impact. I’ve not been able to find any place in the Scriptures where God expresses the least bit of concern for increasing numbers. Satisfying the curious, itching ears of our postmodern audiences is an exercise in futility.

The task of the ministry is to deliver truth. Frankly, I intend to continue doing just that, by God’s grace, until the day He calls me home. I believe that’s your passion as well. That’s why you became a pastor. Thankfully, there is an ever-increasing body of believers who long for nourishing messages based on the Word of God, not human opinion.

Will you answer the charge?

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations. . . . And surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV). There is no greater challenge and no more comforting promise. Believe it. Trust it. And by the grace of God, just do it!

I’m right there with you.

The pastor's Blog - Chuck Swindoll