The church is losing 7,600 attenders a day in Europe and North America, according to British demographer David Barrett. That means that every week, more than 53,000 people leave church and never come back. To put that in perspective, consider that the United States lost about 57,500 people in the Vietnam War. In a different sense—though strangely appropriate—the church "loses" almost that many every week.

—William Hendricks, Exit Interviews, Revealing Stories of Why People are Leaving the Church, p. 252 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The Green Bay Packers season may be in jeopardy because of a callused finger. Every year, three time MVP quarterback Brett Favre develops calluses on every fingertip of his throwing hand except his thumb during training camp. In July he developed a painful one on his middle finger that even bled occasionally. Favre changed his throwing motion ever so slightly to relieve the pressure on the finger. The change placed greater strain in his elbow. One day in practice he rolled out and threw hard to Donald Driver causing something to pop. Swelling developed. An MRI revealed tendonitis. Favre missed the entire pre-season and his performance in the Packers' opening game was far below his usual. The team's hopes for making the playoffs all ride on the elbow that may not heal at all this season, an injury caused by a callused finger.

1 Cor. 12:12, 26The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

—Sports Illustrated, Sept. 4, 2000. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

A statue of Vladimir Lenin stands in the lobby of the school in the Russian village of Yamkino. Upstairs, the students are not learning about the founder of communism, they are hearing a lesson decidedly at odds with Lenin’s atheistic views. These students in the former Soviet Union are learning about the theology of the Russian Orthodox Church.

School administrators in the district located about 20 miles southeast of Moscow say they added religion to the curriculum to provide a moral framework to replace the discredited Communist dogma. Despite a Russian law prohibiting religion in schools and the Russian constitution’s separation of church and state clause, lessons like those in Yamkino seem to be spreading.

Officials who worked with priests to develop the class say anyone can choose to opt out. They maintain the class is respectful to other faiths, and note they are exposing students to traditional religion, which is essential for understanding Russia, as well as her art and literature.

The Reverend Igor Gagarin, who trained the teachers says, “ We are teaching people to pray. God’s Law assumes everyone studying it is a believer. We say we want to teach you about the faith and you can decide for yourself whether to be a believer or not.”

—http://newsindependent.co.uk, This Europe: Religion replaces Lenin for children of Russia. January 3, 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Meanwhile, back in America, headlines like this one appear in the Nation’s newspapers: “Supreme Court lets decision stand: no references to God allowed in Columbine memorial.”

After the massacre, the school invited families to memorialize their children who died on campus with a 4” X 4” painted tile. But when some of the parents put religious symbols on their tiles, the school took their tiles down.

—http://www.nola.com/newsflash/topstory/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0477_BC_

ColumbineTiles&&news&newsflash-topstory

Romans 10:14-15 “How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

In his book, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Reggie McNeal writes, “A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason. They are not leaving because they have lost faith. They are leaving the church to preserve their faith. They contend that the church no longer contributes to their spiritual development.”

--The Present Future, 4. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Andre Mooney

I wonder if this would be happening if church were a more encouraging place?

Hebrews 10:25 (NAB) We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

How can two people see the same thing, be in the same situation, listen to the same sermon, belong to the same church, and see things entirely different. The answer is simple. We often see things as we choose to see them.

Tom Vanderbilt explains “top down processing” in his book, Traffic; Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), “We often see a (stop) sign simply because we know where to look for one.” Vanderbilt says we see things we are looking for.

-- Traffic; Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), P.82. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The same thing is true in other areas of life. We see what we are looking for. It is like the pussycat in the nursery rhyme that went to London to see the Queen. Remember? All it saw was a frightened little mouse under a chair. Mice are what cats look for.

Many people, who are critical of the sermon, or the church, are critical because they were looking for something to complain about. When Christ looked at the imperfect church of his day, he loved it.

Ephesians 5:25 (NASB77) “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;”

When a 4 year-old Ohio boy disappeared recently, his family feared the worse, but it turned out he didn’t want to miss church. Dillan McQueen had been seen playing outside of his house, then he left riding his bicycle toward church. Dillan had traveled almost half a mile and had crossed several major streets before police located him.

Afterwards, Sgt. Peter Wiza, from the local police department, warned parents to pay more attention as the weather warmed up. He told reporters, “The boy was working his way to the church for a program and he just wanted to make sure he didn’t miss it.” After the family was reunited, they all piled into the family’s minivan and headed for church. Authorities said they did not expect any charges would be filed.

Boy goes Missing, Didn’t Want to Miss church, http://www.whiotv.com/news/23298223/detail.html; April 28, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalm 84:10 (CEV) One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather serve in your house, than live in the homes of the wicked.

In The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal, Charles Swindoll writes, “It is a house of prayer, not a house of business. It is a place of worship, not a place of entertainment. Jesus is our Savior whom we worship, not a brand to market.“

-The Church Awakening, Kindle Loc. 4019-20 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Matthew 21:12 (CEV) “Jesus went into the temple and chased out everyone who was selling or buying. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of the ones who were selling doves.”

In The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal, Charles Swindoll writes, “Entertaining churches with a shallow, superficial, feel-good message can never prepare you for the doctor’s report that reveals cancer. Or the call from the policeman who says your son was in a head-on collision. Or the day your spouse abruptly walks out on your marriage. Suddenly, all of the Christian clichés, clever sermonettes, dazzling performances, and twisted Scriptures offer no help. Why? None of those are realistic. They lack depth. They are papier-mâché facades that crumble under stress.“

2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.”

Our taste buds and noses work in unison to produce the myriad of flavors we experience when we eat. Even within our mouths, there are a number of flavor receptors spread on the surface of the tongue that are designed to detect bitter, sweet, and salty. All these components work in concert to alert us of what we are eating and whether or not it is safe to eat. The number of systems that work in order to produce the simple act of taste is a great example of multiple parts working independently can come together to accomplish a task greater than themselves.

--Washington Post- http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/science/taste-buds-are-just-one-
reason-why-we-love-some-foods-and-hate-others/2011/04/25/AFVYkZkE_story.html?hpid=z3 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Miguel Martinez

1 Corinthians 12:12-14(NASB) 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

In the movie The Help, Aibileen was one of “the help” herself. She says she raised 17 children amidst the racial injustices of the early 1960s and absentee moms of the day. She was those children’s caregiver--she changed their diapers, nursed their hurts and taught them important life lessons.

In a few touching scenes, Aibileen has the little girl Mae Mobley, a small girl repeat her most important lesson. Knelt down and eye to eye she has Mae say these words with her. They are all the more beautiful due to their grammatical uniqueness, “You is kind, You is smart, You is important.” She was instilling a sense of value and vision in each of her children. Don’t we all want someone to stare us in the eye and say this as well?

Isn’t that what ought to happen at a church? Others believe in one another. They look each other in the eyes and say, “Because of Jesus you are kind, you are smart, and you are important.” Older and younger followers of Jesus alike are to believe in each other. They see the other for who they can become in Christ. Have you ever had someone believe in you knowing who you can become?

-The Help, see clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZimx1wHYcs Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Adam Henry

Hebrews 10:24–25 (HCSB) “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near., “

The world will not overcome the church of Jesus Christ. The gates of Hades will not prevail against it. However; she is taking quite a beating in our western culture. According to a 2012 Gallup Poll only 44% of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in churches or organized religion. In the 1970’s the confidence rate was 68%. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Matthew 16:18 (HCSB) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.”

In his book, What is a Healthy Church?, Mark Devers begins with a parable about a nose and a hand. The nose is one of the leaders in the church and the hand is one of the church members. The parable begins with a conversation between brother Nose and Mr. and Mrs. Hand. Mr. Hand and his wife are considering leaving the church because they don’t fit in. They have tried to connect with the Sunday school class which was made up of people who only wanted to talk about feet, socks, and shoes. Mr. Hands also shared that he tried to join a leadership group, but all anyone wanted to talk about was seeing, talking, and smelling. So finally, the Hand’s made a decision that it was better for them to simply leave to another church. Mrs. Hand joins the conversation and began to share her sentiments about leaving the church. She goes on to tell brother Nose her concerns, but brother Nose simply fades her out of his mind. After having irritated brother Nose’s nose because of her unfavorable hand lotion, she finally finishes sharing her complaints. Brother Nose then says to both of them, “we will miss you, goodbye.” As he walks away, brother Nose thinks to himself, “who needs hands anyway?”—Jim L. Wilson and Pete Ramirez

There are many people in church who don’t quite fit in. There are people in our churches who are looking to find others like them whom they can share their concerns and work alongside with; people just like them. Unfortunately, when people don’t connect with the body of Christ, they simply leave discouraged, sad, and without having their needs met. What is sad is that many times church leaders like Mr. Nose have a poor attitude of how precious and important hands are to the church body.

1 Corinthians 12:18–21 (HCSB) “But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. 19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? 20 Now there are many parts, yet one body. 21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”

In a new book about John Dickinson we discover some new truths about this leader in the American Revolution. Dickinson was there in the beginning of our country but he disagreed with the Declaration of Independence. He believed that Americans should give the English time to come to understand their colony on the other side of the world.

The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson by William Murchison tells the story of the debate around the issue of war. On July 2, 1776 when the matter was put to a vote Dickinson abstained. After the vote he refused to sign the Declaration of Independence. Then he left Independence Hall, “put on a military uniform and led a troop of Philadelphia militia to the front, in defense of what he could not vote for.”

We could learn something about church membership from this man of the past. In the church, even when we disagree, we need to support the direction chosen by our church family. Later Dickinson admitted the ensuing success of the nation’s chosen path. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

“The Penman Who Would Not Sign.,” a review of The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson by William Murchison. World, February 22, 2014 pp. 28-29.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) (10) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

A new study suggests Americans are likely to exaggerate how often they are in church and how much they exaggerate can depend on the setting in which they’re asked. The research by the Public Religion research Institute found that Americans would inflate reports of their church attendance depending on whether they respond by phone or over the Internet. In a telephone survey, 36 percent of Americans reported attending religious services weekly or more, compared to 31 percent in an online survey. The respondents were almost equally split between interviews by cell phone and online. According to the published findings, White mainline Protestants had the hardest time admitting they “seldom or never” went to church. Twenty-eight percent said they rarely went over the phone, but 45 percent of respondents admitted that they really did not go to church very often when responding to an Internet survey.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Americans Frequently Lie About Church Attendance, Study Says, http://time.com/103789/americans-frequently-lie-about-church-attendance-study-says, Accessed May 17, 2014.

Hebrews 10:25 (HCSB) (25) not staying away from our ?worship? meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Look out America! There’s a new church movement rising across the country, and guess what they all have in common? They all don’t believe in God! Yes, the growth of atheist churches and even atheist mega-churches are becoming more and more popular as people want the warm feelings of a church experience they grew up with, just without God. Sanderson Jones, one of the leaders of Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles, said, "There was so much about it (referencing a Christian church’s Christmas caroling event) that I loved, but it's a shame because at the heart of it, it's something I don't believe in," Jones said. "If you think about church, there's very little that's bad. It's singing awesome songs, hearing interesting talks, thinking about improving yourself and helping other people — and doing that in a community with wonderful relationships. What part of that is not to like?" Atheist churches, like Jones’ Sunday Assembly, continue to grow in America.

Even those who don’t believe in God understand the power and draw of things He ordains. Singing songs, talking meaningfully to one another, caring for one another, being in a committed community, and doing works of charity to our neighbors; these activities are attractive to everyone. The reason why is because these activities represent who God is and the expression of Himself through his human creation. The only problem is that these atheistic churches leave the original source out of it. –Jim L. Wilson & Peter Lee

- http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-mega-churches-root-across-us-world-214619648.html

Acts 2:42-47 (HCSB) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. (43) Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. (44) Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. (45) They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. (46) Every day they devoted themselves ?to meeting? together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.

Recently Tom Watson, an eight time major champion indicated that he would no longer participate in the golf championships at the Masters in Augusta, Ga. The main factor for shelving the event was the course length. Watson indicated to the press that his greatest regret at this point was that his time in the PGA is coming to a close. Indicating that the end of his career is, for him, like death.

Watson’s age and declining athletic ability are ultimately to blame for his inability to participate in the Masters Championship. However because of the ‘Green Jackets’ he earned previously, he is still a member of this prestigious club. Because of the jacket he is given privileges that are warranted a member. More importantly he is to be included with all future championships at the club because of his winning the tournament. --Jim L. Wilson and Darius Holland

http://espn.go.com/golf/theopen15/story/_/id/13259989/tom-watson-says-2016-final-playing-masters

Membership has its privileges. It does for Watson, but it does also for the church member. Isn’t it great that our membership isn’t determined by our talents?

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NIV) (18) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. (19) If they were all one part, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Aveen Ismail was forced to flee Syria with her husband and three children during the civil war in 2011. Now nearly 600 miles from her home she has had to adjust to a foreign land. Aveen is one amongst the 11 million immigrants displaced by the Syrian war, her story is not unique. But what is unique is what she started doing once situated in a refugee camp.

She started to garden. Not letting the arid dirt stop her, she cultivated a small area of land next to the shelter her family had built. She wanted to create “a beautiful view for my neighbors” that also supported others.

The presence of gardens so far from home has helped restore the joy to the lives of many of these displaced Syrians. She says that there is indeed an “effect of the community’s greening and growth on her neighbors’ faces.” —Jim L. Wilson and Eric Espinoza

Peter in his first epistle calls the church “exiles,” as those waiting to return home and be with their true Father. Jesus told us that “in this world we would have many troubles” but he did not leave us alone in this world. We are not meant to face the difficulties of being without a job, losing a loved one, struggling to pay the bills or even raise a family alone. He gave us each other.

So instead of thinking of your own “exile” consider those around you who are in exile with you.

Hebrews 10:24–25 (CSB)²⁴ And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The administration at Google sent a notice to all employees. The subject was the use of the company’s internal message boards. The message read, “While sharing information and ideas with colleagues helps build community, disrupting the workday to have a raging debate over politics or the latest news story does not. Our primary responsibility is to do the work we’ve each been hired to do, not to spend working time on debates about non-work topics.”

Such a message might serve as a good reminder but Daniel Henninger of the Wall Street Journal comments; “No other company one can think of—not U.S. Steel or General Motors, IBM or anyone—has felt it necessary to tell its employees their job is to do their job Until now.

Do those of us in charge of churches need to tell our members that our job is to our job? Are we letting politics or the latest news story interfere with our purpose as the church, making disciples? —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

For most people, the airport experience is a necessary, if dreaded, part of travel. But with travel impossible for many in Taiwan, the Taipei Songshan Airport found 7000 people willing to endure the indignities of airport security without taking any trips. The airport chose 60 via lottery and invited the winners to the airport to pass through security and board a plane. The plane never took off, but flight attendants did make the rounds and talk with the fantasy tourists. The airport, which ran the event partially to show off a remodeled terminal to future customers, said it will offer more fantasy travel experiences in future weeks.

A trip to the airport, through security, onto an airplane without accomplishing the purpose for airports, security, or airplanes. Are we ever guilty of that in the church? We go through all the motions without ever accomplishing the purpose of church. Do we even know the purpose for which we attend church? — Jim Wilson and Rodger Russell

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

A crew assisting with the demolition of a 115- year- old church to make way for affordable housing found a previously unknown time capsule hidden by the cornerstone. The company Earthwise Architectural Salvage was removing stained glass windows and other valuable items before the structure was brought down and were surprised to find a metal box hidden away. The building was built in 1906 and was a church until the 1960s. It was remodeled into a counseling center in the 1970s before being sold recently.

Aaron Blanchard, director of operations at Earthwise said it rare to be surprised by a time capsule discovery, because such things are usually documented. He said even though the building changed hands several times, no one knew the capsule was there. The box contained some publications in German, a booklet about the church group’s financial information, and a handwritten letter from a bishop describing the founding of the church. Earthwise reached out to historical societies in the area so the items can be put on display teaching generations to come about the history of the church and the area where it was originally built. –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/08/11/time-capsule-German-Evangelical-Church-Seattle/1121628696695/

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.