LOOKING FOR GOD? CAN'T FIND HIM?

Many really are searching for God. A problem some have is they automatically eliminate one place He might be hiding.....in the church. They don't like church and mistakenly assume He doesn't attend either.

A great bias has built over time against the church. Because we fumble and fight, our good neighbors have opted for godlessness if dullness and argument is the store-front for church. They can get the same at home or at the office. Understandably, they don't need to volunteer for more of the same.

But in reality, the church is the life-center when truly connected to God. This is why Children's and Youth Ministers are so vital. People are looking for life. Of all places the church ought to be full of the most vibrant life in the community.

So I have a message to two groups:

• Seekers, keep looking. God is available even in churches. Don't write all groups off just because you have heard stories. There are many lively congregations in your area. Find one.
• Churches, we must awaken that to be a dull congregation with a missions effort in Foreign-ville is abusive to the scriptures. To have a missions program without a congregation in love with the Christ is to lead our neighbors away from Him...not to Him.

There is work to do. Being alive, looking alive, acting alive is surely of the strong nature of Jesus.