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- Feb 9, 2004
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Chicken Testing - February 09, 2007
We had a big test at church Sunday. My husband was on the last leg of his sermon, sprinting down the straightway toward the invitation, when the smell of fried chicken wafted in from the fellowship hall. Stay focused on the last five minutes of the sermon while salivating over the chicken? Now there's a test. Since everyone in the service knew the chicken dinner was for a new members' reception, I wondered if we would have a stampede down the aisle to join. "I'd like to join the chicken...er... the church, please."
Joining a church is certainly nothing to be taken lightly. It calls for commitment. It's about plugging in, life and all, pledging to labor alongside in the church's work for Christ. It should be a place that's committed to the truth of God--a place where you're ready to commit your support and service. Family. Hebrews 2:11 tells us that "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family" (CEV).
People who love our Jesus and who are called to serve him wholeheartedly are our brothers and sisters. Granted, brothers and sisters are all too often the ones scrapping over the last chicken leg. But we're called to love others before we even think of ourselves. Romans 12:10 instructs us to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves," and verse 13 says "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Doesn't that mean we're often called to give over the last chicken leg? That IS a test. Let's be ready to pass it. To love unselfishly. And to be thoroughly committed when we join the chicken.
Rhonda Rhea--Speaker, radio personality, humor columnist, author of the fun books:
Amusing Grace, Turkey Soup For The Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken, Who Put The Cat in the Fridge, and I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate. Watch for High Heels In High Places In 2007. www.RhondaRhea.net. Event planners, go to www.FindRhonda.com
We had a big test at church Sunday. My husband was on the last leg of his sermon, sprinting down the straightway toward the invitation, when the smell of fried chicken wafted in from the fellowship hall. Stay focused on the last five minutes of the sermon while salivating over the chicken? Now there's a test. Since everyone in the service knew the chicken dinner was for a new members' reception, I wondered if we would have a stampede down the aisle to join. "I'd like to join the chicken...er... the church, please."
Joining a church is certainly nothing to be taken lightly. It calls for commitment. It's about plugging in, life and all, pledging to labor alongside in the church's work for Christ. It should be a place that's committed to the truth of God--a place where you're ready to commit your support and service. Family. Hebrews 2:11 tells us that "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family" (CEV).
People who love our Jesus and who are called to serve him wholeheartedly are our brothers and sisters. Granted, brothers and sisters are all too often the ones scrapping over the last chicken leg. But we're called to love others before we even think of ourselves. Romans 12:10 instructs us to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves," and verse 13 says "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Doesn't that mean we're often called to give over the last chicken leg? That IS a test. Let's be ready to pass it. To love unselfishly. And to be thoroughly committed when we join the chicken.
Rhonda Rhea--Speaker, radio personality, humor columnist, author of the fun books:
Amusing Grace, Turkey Soup For The Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken, Who Put The Cat in the Fridge, and I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate. Watch for High Heels In High Places In 2007. www.RhondaRhea.net. Event planners, go to www.FindRhonda.com
