The Church has options....

Having written in last weeks column that it appears the church has a plate full of issues to address, discuss and consider, the next step in a positive course of action is to evaluate the plate full.
I have been to many a buffet line in my day and I have always often been amazed by those that join in the food service line. The most shocking witness my eyes have observance was a women who was making repeated trips to the breakfast food bar, removing bacon, and putting the bacon in a zip lock container she was obviously taking home. Other amazing sights at the buffet bar have to do with the amount of food individuals put on their plates. The one thing it appears some miss is the stacked plates that are just sitting there waiting to be filled; but rather, we will pile food on top of piles of food to build a mountain of food on a single plate. Why not go through the line with two plates? Maybe it is to show off ones food pile engineering skills? I assume the reason for one big plate is to get all you want in one trip so you don’t have to move again until you leave.
Whatever the reasoning behind our buffet standards of selections and food assembly on our plates, we all know from experience when we have a plate full. Another observation would be that often times we never work our way to the bottom of the plate, we just skim off the top the food that looks good after sitting at our table. Now to be fair, it could be that a plate full is a chicken leg, a spoon of corn, mashed potatoes and a biscuit or roll. But that’s normally not the case. We generally ask, “Is that all you are getting”?
We seem to like over load in stead of thinking out a plan or considering options. Over load seems to be the standard of the day and an acceptable answer when heard. We respond normally with “I understand” or “I know what you mean”. It maybe true that we do understand as we too feel overwhelmed, overworked, and yes, under paid of course.
The Church today is in an interesting position. On one hand, the church is unique and is a perfect place to serve as a re-fueling station for weary travelers on life’s road. I always had a goal as a servant to be a leader offering encouragement, support and a challenge. The goal in preaching was to provide solutions and different ways for the considerations we each must make. On the other hand, the church is not unique, her burdens are heavy and some individuals are broken down because of the loads they have carried for whatever reasons.
The great challenge is not balance, the great challenge is focus. From the buffet line of life we often try to balance and juggle, and often it’s too much. I am in full favor of helping and volunteering. I believe strongly in being involved and active. I like questions and seeking solutions. The uniqueness of the church still stands. We offer a Savior, Jesus Christ as Lord. The ordinariness of church is also true if we don’t focus. Our focus should be on telling Good News in bad times. Loving people, after all scripture says faith and hope were 2nd and 3rd to Love according to I Corinthians 13:
The Church is filled with fellow travelers who, maybe not exactly like you in your travels, but exactly like you in your needs. The focus must be in making a re-connection with Jesus and doing what He would do.

Until then