How sadly true is this reality in so many churches in the united States, Canada and around the world. Churches are literaly dying because of ever diminishing congregations. It saddens me very much to see churches closing, but the fact is that it is happening all too often today. We really need a resurgance like has never been seen since the very early Christian Church so many centuries ago. Please Lord breathe new life into Your Church every day. Amen

True. I think what we need on our side of the world is a Christian revolution, a "wake up" call. Many times people starts waking up when more persecution arises, this is also a time throughout history which made more people becoming Christians, because they see the genuiness of true Christian believers and their strenght as well as love and still hope in their faith in Jesus Christ. No matter what, they keep on holding unto their faith, and for outsiders this is a very strong commitment.

I don't think there will be so much revolution happening in a Todd Bentley meeting or with Benny Hinn these days, this is the type of revival many modern Christians seem to strive towards. Even though God do can touch us through a Christian conference or also in a church, we shouldn't start thinking that these are the only places where we can experience more of God's presence. So many seem to have this "magical" feeling over them about having to go somewhere else, and especially going to someone who is a popular preacher or whom they see as more "Godly". But God can tough us with His presence when we seek Him at home, we can also experience Him when we are alone, and when we read in our own bible... Like Jesus said; "Where is your faith?"(Luke 8, 25)

This one makes me really stop and think. I attend church several times a week and volunteer as well at church. Church is an anchor in my daily life. I could not think of living without being apart of, a member of, active in a church. So this post got me really think.

I do have one question to ask about this post. After the pastor visited the members, why did they not sure up to church the following Sunday? Was it something the pastor said or did? Was it something about the pastor himself, the church? Why did the members kill the church?

I think that this joke is more about people not wanting to go to church. As the pastor did try making people feel welcome, tried his best getting to know them one by one, and on his first church service none of them came. It doesn't tell anything about whether he said or did something wrong which was the 'cause they didn't go to church. The pastor probably wanted to make a strong statement, why he put a notice about the church being dead. And putting the mirror in the coffin to show clearly why the church had died, which reflected the image of every person who looked into the coffin.

I think what can be said is that this is more about the people not wanting to go to church, perhaps having lost their faith or not being Christian believers. There can also be other reasons for why people don't go to church, and it doesn't always mean they no longer have faith.

Thanks. I so miss the mark of understanding on this one, lol. Still makes me stop and think.

We all need to stop and think. Why is it we expect the preach to do the visiting? The inviting to church? And, you don't need to go to church to meet God, you need to bring Him with you!!!

This, of course, is a joke. Something to bring laughter into everyone. But, it should be something that makes you think, after the laughter.

That's sure right, Mary. :-) I think many of the Christian jokes have something in it that makes people think after hearing/reading it. Or at least it would be very clever having put some type of moral into the joke so that it will make people stop and think, even after having had a laugh first. ;-) :-)

Mary: Sorry because of repeating what you too had just said yourself. It is still very early over here and I just forgot it a bit at that moment when writing that down.

I remember exiting the military and trying to figure out where to go with my life. I took a job as a security guard to tie things over financially. I attended a church in my area, a very big church. The two pastors came up to me and asked what I did for a living. I asked why they wanted to know. They told me that they wanted to see where I could serve the church. They didn't ask if I was saved. I told them I was a security guard.

I didn't tell them I had worked in Military Intelligence. Nor that I had a top secret clearance. Did not mention I graduated with honors from school. Despite horrific abuse suffered from childhood and teen years. Despite my enormous , debilitating, distrust of authority figures of any type. Served my country with honor and received medals.

They literally looked at each other, turned their backs, and walked away. This is the typical response from the American church in general-not just pastors, as I have found out from experience.

I was heart broken. Truly heart broken. For me, serving God had nothing to do with ability, but with availability. The bible is filled with servants of God who depended on God for their gifts of the Holy Spirit in service of the Church and Jesus. Money/Social Networking isn't a gift of the Holy Spirit. Though it may be a blessing.

The Church will die spiritually if it lives in the secular world. If it lives in Christ it will grow spiritually. There are plenty of mega churches with their excessively rich leaders who know nothing of the waters of the living God.

Thankfully, our Lord God and His Son Jesus live no matter the state of humankind and the church.

deepeyes: That's sure sad what you experienced at that church. I do agree with that many churches have become more secular, I also believe many modern churches have started allowing New Age methods into their church without being aware of it. Not all practices are Godly, and if people don't read much in Scripture then they are much easier deceived. Jesus warned us about there coming many false prophets claiming they are coming in his name, and they often like to be twisting the Word so that it fits into what message they wish to influence the church.

This is rather sad. Being a part of God's work has nothing to do with our jobs.

God does not call the qualified.
He qualifies the called.

God knows our heart. He knows what we are capable of.

He called Moses to be a great leader of a large group. But, from scripture, some think Moses was a stutterer.


Exodus 4:10
And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Moses had put up lot's of arguments against being chosen by God. God got a little miffed at Moses.

Exodus 4:14
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee

So, God gave him Aaron, his brother to speak for him.

Don't tell God what He can't do. He DOES, DAILY, the impossible

. Matthew 19:26
... With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

And, Sunshine, please, don't worry about "repeating" something. For me, it's just affirmation.

Mary: Thanks. :-)

Also about the post you wrote over there; It is also something to have in mind that when God calls us to do something then we shouldn't doubt Him on this, as well as not doubting our capability in doing it. Because if God tells us to do something it is because in His eyes He knows we are capable of this, not because of ourselves, but through Him we are.

Makes me so Happy thinking of this, God knows us better than we know ourselves. :-) Thus why we should trust in Him, even when we think it is impossible for us, then to be reminded of, that nothing is impossible for God. :-)

Hi SunflowerDelight,

Yes, Christ is sufficient. New Age not good.

God does not call the qualified:
He qualifies the called!