Date: 8/5/2008
Author: Devin Pickard
Title: A Good Start
As you hold this Provider in your hand, you might find it interesting to know that about 599 other homes will be receiving the same publication as well. There is not hardly a week that goes by where someone doesn't call the office wanting to be put on the mailing list, to which Ms. Carolyn and the bulletin ladies are happy to oblige. I know that a number of you who receive our mailing live outside of Centerville, while yet still a bunch more of you live outside of Tennessee. As one would assume, many who are reading this right now call Fairfield home. Some have called this meeting place at 1860 Hwy 100 their church home since their mommas and daddies brought them into the world, while some have just come on the scene the last few months. God continues to bless our church family day after day.....we had 341 in attendance this past Sunday morning along with another terrific contribution and enthusiastic spirit of worship. If any of you who don't have a regular place to worship need to find a place to breathe some optimistic air, boy have we got a pew for you....but you had better hurry....they are filling up fast!
I would like to be able to say that every Fairfield member reading this article right now was in worship service here this past Sunday morning....but of course I can't say that, even as good as our attendance was. No question, there are a number of different legitimate reasons for some of you not being here.....having to work, being sick, visiting another congregation, etc. I truly believe that God understands the various circumstances that are beyond our control when it comes to church attendance and involvement. There is no doubt that we have many members who would love nothing more than to be a part of worship every time the doors are open, but alas, poor health will just simply not allow it. Even with poor health or injury, there are many who are still determined to not miss the assembly.....I think I counted two inhabited wheel chairs and two or three different folks with a cast on one limb or the other who were here this past weekend. I know that Brother Ed Gossett, who is in his 90's, and his bride co-pilot, Sister Charlene, drive several miles almost every Sunday morning to worship services here from their home in Columbia.....and I am satisfied that trip is not always made in the best of health. But God love 'em, if at all possible, come Sunday morning at 9 am, the end of the seat on that third pew is gonna be filled.
So, if you were not here last Sunday, or perhaps haven't been here the last few Sundays, (we won't even begin to count Wednesdays), and you can't truly claim any of the above reasons or another reasonable one I may have omitted, I want you to know that I am not here to throw rocks at you. Christ said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone....”, and the good Lord knows that there have been times in my life when I missed church for no good reason except for the simple fact that I just didn't want to go. The one thing I do want to do is let you know that you are sincerely missed. One rut is just as easy to get into as another, and that seems especially true when it comes to church attendance. I know how easy it is to justify not getting up and going to church services....we could fill up volumes of books with our excuses, regardless of how flimsy or believable they might be. But, the bottom line is this.....Christ died for you and for your family. What are you doing for him?
Jesus told us in his Word that the Day of Judgment will also be the “Great Day of Excuses”. He said many will try to influence God's decision on their eternal home by reminding him of all the good things they had done while they were on the earth. In spite of all those “good” things, he says God will utter the saddest of all words, “Depart from me....I never knew you”. I know that regular church attendance is not the only requirement for being saved....but it's a pretty good start, don't you think?
Go the extra mile - Devin