4/14/2009
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: Where will you be?
<br><br>You may not be aware of it, but quite the phenomenon will be taking place around the world this week.  Do I perhaps speak of this being income tax week?  No.  Maybe there is some type of lunar eclipse scheduled to occur in a day or two.  Nope.  You might even surmise that I'm talking about Kaylee keeping her room clean for more than 2 hours straight. As remarkable as that event would be, I'm not even referring to that.  The happening that I speak of is the fact that this coming Sunday it is probable that most church buildings will be 1/3 to ˝  less full than they were this past Sunday.  I suppose we could call this anomaly  “Post-Easter Attendance Disorder”..... at least that sounds pretty technical.<br><br><br>I guess this disorder is difficult for me to understand because my family was never allowed to be infected by it.  From my childhood up EVERY Sunday has been a day of regular church attendance and worship.....not just the Sundays that were tied to Easter, Christmas or Mother's Day.  That being said, I understand that everyone wasn't raised the same.  I realize many folks attend worship irregularly because that's the way that they were brought up.  It simply comes as second nature to them.  But, the fact of the matter is this....we have both a matter of command and example as to God's desire for not only our worship pattern, but also for our worship regularity.  The Hebrew writer encouraged us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), and then immediately in the context of the following verse suggests that one who does forsake the assembly is “deliberately sinning”.  The early Christians left us an example of meeting on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2).  One thing I'm certain of .....there are no statute of limitations on the Word of God.  He wants me to be in church every Sunday just like he did the Apostle Paul.<br><br><br>Besides the obvious reasons for regular church attendance.....you know, like that thing about trying to get to heaven.....researchers has found other favorable side results from being an oft-worshiper.  Active church members have a 60% less chance of a heart attack & a 55% less chance of a one-car accident.....Active church members live an average of 5.7 years longer than those who rarely attend.....While only 30% of the highly unchurched say they are very happy, 70% of the highly committed church people say they are very happy.  So, as you can see, there are lots and lots of good reasons to assemble with God's followers on a regular basis.  You will not only be blessed spiritually, but also physically.<br><br><br>We will meet together for worship this coming Sunday at 9 am and then again at 6 pm.  We will also meet Wednesday evening for Bible study at 7 pm.  Some say it takes 30-40 repetitions for something to become a habit.....lets count Easter Sunday as number 1.<br><br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin<br>   <br>