[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Friday, August 29, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to all my readers out there.  The reason that this daily thought is so late in coming to you is that I just bought me a new computer, specifically an HP one with Windows 7, 64 bits, IE11 and, I think 6 mb of RAM.  Haven't hooked it up yet, as I'll need a lot of help in doing that.  If possible I'd like to keep my present email address, though of course I'll have to retire my Outlook Express in favor of either Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird.  If any of you were in my place, which would you go for, Thunderbird or Windows Live Mail, and why would one be better than the other.  Anyway I'd like to keep my present address for two reasons:  One because it is a unique one, and two because I wouldn't have to tell practically everybody that my new address will be such-and-such.  Anyway if one of you could get back to me with an answer to my queery, it would be greatly appreciated.  Narrator is already loaded on the machine, but I suppose I could disable that and instead launch my System Access screen reader.  Anyway thanks for reading this and understanding my problems in this regard.

A number of years ago Ruth Andrews wrote an article simply entitled "Church," rendered as follows:

Do we need church? Can we live the Christian life on our own without being part of a church?

The Apostle Paul called the church the body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:27).  Each part of that body is dependent on the others just as the parts of our bodies are dependent on one another.  One part of the body cannot say, "I don't need you."

The church, or body of Christ, is like a family.  A family can encourage and love us.  A family teaches the right way to live.

We hear a statement something like, "I can worship God just as well at the lake." When I hear this, I think, Do you even think of the Lord?

I was traveling across the western states with my family.  Sunday morning found us at the majestic Grand Canyon.  Standing on the rim of the canyon, my heart sang the praise and thanksgiving to God who created such grandeur.  I truly had a time of worship, but this private worship could not and should not replace worship with a church family.

"The church is full of hypocrites" is another statement we hear.  The person who says this is implying that people who go to church should be perfect.  We know this is impossible.  What such a person does not understand is that Christians are sinners saved by the grace of God.

Here is an illustration about a flock of geese.  Each spring and fall we see V-shaped formations of geese fly far above us.

Scientists have discovered the reason for the V-formation.  As each bird flaps its wings, it creates a draft for the bird directly behind it.  By flying in a V-formation, the flock adds at least 71% to its flying range.

When a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels the wind drag of flying alone and quickly gets back into formation.

Like the goose that deliberately attempts to fly on its own, a Christian who tries to go off alone will run into trouble.  This believer is more likely to be drawn into the world's value system.

When a goose is sick or injured, two more geese will follow it down to protect and help it until it can fly or it dies.

When a Christian falls, his church family can support him and pray with him, encouraging him to keep trusting in God.  Do we need church? Absolutely.

And there you have today's daily thought article which I trust was a blessing to you.

Here is another illustration that I've shared more than once in a chatroom.  Those of you living in northern California and those of you from other places who visited that region of the country are no doubt familiar with the majestic redwood trees.  Have you wonder how they attain such a great age, height etc., barring natural disasters like lightning strikes etc." Well, it's because redwoods have an intricate root system which runs deep underground.  Each tree nourishes another, and that tree nourishes yet another, until the whole grove is nourished with life-giving and sustaining nutrients.  It's just like in the Christian life:  Each one of us, in his or her own way, nourishes other believers by words of encouragement, Bible readings or whatever we share.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another daily thought message and article for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul