You must come to church every week, twice a week.
You must dress smartly, no ripped jeans, no tracksuit bottoms.
Enjoy, or at least pretend to enjoy colouring in with the kids.
Smile continuously, even if the coffee is cheap and the biscuits broken.
If anyone asks how you are you must reply with a positive answer.
No one has a bad day when they are part of the church.

Don't speak or even think of football during the service.
Don't let your attention drift off no matter how good looking the girl is two rows in front and one to the left.
Don't be caught napping.
Don't nap.
Feel bad if you've done the above.

Take notes.
No doodling.

If you're a smoker don't even think of coming to church.
If you've taken drugs recently wait at least another year before coming to church.
If you've slept with someone outside of marriage in the last year wait two years before coming to church. No, make it four years. Better be safe than sorry.

Church is for good people isn't it? People who have sorted their lives out already?
If you've lied, stolen, gossiped, lusted, been greedy, arrogant, nasty, spiteful or hurtful then don't bother coming along.
Church is boring. Church is irrelevant. Pointless. People are superficial.

So often this is how we view church.

We like to believe the lies of why we can't go. Often the same lies we tell ourselves we're not good enough to be in a relationship with God.

They are lies.

We compare ourselves to others. We tell ourselves we are not worthy to be part of church, a community that should be beautiful but in reality has its faults. Why does it have its faults? People are in it.

Lets make church that beautiful thing we long for her to be.

A church where people are built up not knocked down. Where people are accepted of no matter who they are, where they have been, whom they hang out with, what they do, what they don't do, what they wear, what they don't wear, or their past.

A church where there is healing. Compassion. No judgement. More love. Where there is pure excitement through seeing, hearing God at work. Deep friendships. Honesty. Integrity. Where love is at the centre because God is at the centre.

Stephen Carter
October 2006

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?

This is something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our mobile phones, we don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus has already paid the bill!

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, but they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.
Jesus Christ is Lord.