One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose in your tent for it is cold and stormy out here." "By all means and welcome," said the Arab. He turned over and went to sleep. A little while later he awoke and found that the camel had not only put his nose in the tent, but his head and neck as well. The camel, who had been turning from side to side said, "I will take but little more room if I place my forelegs within the tent. It is difficult standing without." "You may also plant your forelegs within," said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for the tent was small. Finally the camel said: "May I not stand wholly within? I keep the tent open by standing as I do." "Yes, yes," said the Arab, "come wholly inside. Perhaps it will be better for both of us." So the camel crowded in. The Arab, with difficulty in the crowded quarters, again went to sleep. The next time he woke up he was outside in the cold and the camel had the tent to himself.

The camel seemed like no problem with just sticking his nose in the tent. It wasn't even so bad when he stuck in his neck and forelegs. It was uncomfortable, but the little Arab could manage. Then, when the camel took over the whole tent, the Arab ended up in the cold.

Sin is like that camel. It moves in. It takes its time; seeking permission, it moves in slowly, trying to take over your temple, for your body is the temple of the living God. It destroys step by step. It will never be satisfied to have a part of you. Slowly, without your realizing its progress, it moves in on God's territory until finally you wake up and it has you and you are out in the cold.

What do you do when sin invades your life and you feel defeated? Christ is the only solution. Here is the truth of God: "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8). "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'" (John 8:34,36). Don't be like the little Arab. Fight the good fight against sin in your life for it can kill you, and, when you fail, come quickly to Jesus.

Who goes to Bible class at your church? In the vast majority of congregations across North America, the answer is about 5% of the adults who regularly attend worship (most of the people in your church who have the spiritual gift of knowledge - they like to learn). Yet in many churches the answer is 95% of the adults in worship. What do you think is the difference?

Answer(s) (check all that apply):

1. ____ An extraordinary preacher who motivates people.
2. ____ Free Starbucks coffee is served.
3. ____ Some churches have more respect for the Bible.
4. ____ Some churches have exceptional teachers.
5. ____ Certain materials draw more people.
6. ____ Churches that design Bible classes as small groups.
7. ____ Fresh donuts.
8. ____ One-half-hour rather than one-hour Bible classes.
9. ____ None of the above.

If you chose "none of the above," you're right! The key? Change the organizing principle from a class to a fellowship group.

Most churches have adult Bible classes (sometimes called adult Sunday school) where a topic is chosen to woo people to attend. Some classes are organized around the person (Pastor Paul's class). Some are organized around demographics (couple's class). These are not the organizing principles that represent the "glue" of the New Testament Church. That "glue" is fellowship. In a growing number of churches, Sunday school classes are being replaced by Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs).

Focus on these issues:

1. Recognize that fellowship groups already exist and include most people in your church. Ask six people to list members they would invite to a picnic at their house.
2. Don't start the ABF until the six people have listed at least 40 people (and no more than 80) who agree to try this for two months.
3. Make sure the six people invite them (relationships), not the church, staff, or bulletin (the institution).
4. Pick a room that will always be for this ABF at a consistent time slot.
5. Pick a leader, song leader, and membership recruitment person. These people stay. The teachers and topics come and go. The same people attend all the time.
6. Refreshments are provided as people enter the room.
7. Spend the first 15 minutes for announcements, singing favorite songs, prayer requests, and (very important) sharing "what God is doing in your life." Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
8. After 15 minutes, the leader introduces the teacher for 45 minutes of Bible study.
9. To help guide you, use Knute Larson's booklet ABFs: Adult Bible Fellowships (available from The Chapel, 135 Fir Hill, Akron, OH 44304; (330) 315- 5910; (dane.allphin@the-chapel.org) and the Church Doctor audio resource How to Design and Develop Fellowship Groups.

Most people will not miss Adult Bible Fellowships. This is a great way to assimilate new members. It simply honors the "glue" God has given to the church: fellowship!

Dr. Kent Hunter (LCMS) is nationally known as the Church Doctor. You can contact him at (800) 626-8515, or visit his website at www.churchdoctor.org.

A SOOPER DOOPER SPECIAL - Our remaining inventory of the burgundy and blue vinyl holders are reduced 50% while supplies last, from $3.95 to $1.95 each. You can view them on our website, but order by email, info@churchpress.com or phone, 888-772-8878. A new design will arrive shortly.

Two for you: The husband said, "You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages that it indeed says... "HEBREWS." One more: A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men." The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"

A neat children's talk by Pastor Don on conversion - very meaningful for children and adults. What happens and why? Just hit Children's Talk.

"Hurt people hurt people." Is your critic emotionally wounded? When hurting souls hurl criticism grenades at you, defuse them with understanding. Consider the source. Acknowledge whatever that person's facing. Dismiss the criticism. Love the person.

"No one gets an exemption from hardship on planet earth. How we receive it hinges on whether we believe in an alternate reality that transcends the one we know so well. The Bible never minimizes hardship or unfairness - witness books like Job, Psalms, and Lamentations. It simply asks us to withhold final judgment until all the evidence is in." - Phillip Yancy, Rumors of Another World (Zondervan, 2003).

Celebrate July 4th on the first Sunday in July. Make great plans to celebrate it at your church - special music, instruments, the works. Promote it in your newsletter, bulletins, even your local newspaper. Send a special letter to all members and prospects urging them to bring friends and relatives. We are enclosing a complete order of service by Pastor Don including a very appropriate sermonic Bible study. It's in Microsoft Word. Feel free to adopt or adapt. Hit U.S. Independence Day. (We would appreciate receiving copies of the special worship services your church has used - email or mail them.)

Vacation Bible School suggestions: Be sure to have top notch training sessions for your teachers and helpers. Be sure to run an ad in your local paper. Hand out five VBS flyers to each worshiper two Sundays before VBS begins. Have two daily sessions instead of one. Morning session is 9:00 - 12:00 Monday through Friday for children turning four by September thru eighth grade. Evening session is 6:30 - 9:00 same days for children entering kindergarten thru adults. Have at least four electives on different subjects for the adults. Usually the results of your VBS will be comparable to the time and effort you put in preparing for it. Think big and then pay attention to details.

Stanza one of a moving hymn to the Lord in the early part of a worship service by Graham Kendrick -

Lord, the light of Your love is shining, In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us, Set us free by the truth You now bring us; Shine on me. Shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word, Lord, and let there be light.

A more complete description can be found on our website. Remember to pick only one. Good while supplies last. It will be your June freebie. Just email us with your address.

Also, two-thirds of all families who change their place of residence do so during the one-third of the year from mid-May to mid-September.

An excerpt from 44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance, pp. 72-73, by Lyle Schaller. This book is full of practical ideas. Order it now on our website.

"Attitude can transform anything and everything - thoughts, attitudes, habits, and perspectives. We can literally change our lives by changing the way we think and the attitudes our thought life produces. In Isaiah 26:3 we find the promise: 'You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You.'"

An excerpt from How Praise Can Transform Your Ministry by Mary Southerland www.marysoutherland.com and used by permission.

Freshly translated from the original German into today's English, By Faith Alone contains 365 devotionals taken from Luther's writings and sermons between 1513 and 1546. Christians here in Denver write: "I use Faith Alone nearly every day in my personal time with the Lord. The selection is always to the point, encouraging and challenging." "While the writings are over 450 years old, the content is relevant and needed today as it was when Luther penned it." "Those with a child-like faith will be encouraged; those whose faith is wavering will be strengthened; every reader will be refreshed."

Dr. Craig L. Loving says, "As a pastor of over 25 years, I have often quoted Luther in a sermon, frequently following his quote with a word of explanation. When I quote Luther from Faith Alone, he needs no explanation, but speaks for himself in a direct and engaging manner."

It sells for $14.99. Go to Inspirational Materials on our website to place your order.

Dr. Joe Morgan was speaking to a crowd near the Pearl Harbor Memorial, recalling the attack of the Japanese. Joe had been stationed on Ford Island, in the center of Pearl Harbor. At 7:55 a.m. he heard planes as the bombing began. This nineteen year old Texan, who had joined the navy to "see the world," was confused as machine gun bullets rained down. As he watched his fellow sailors fall, hit and bleeding around him, his confusion turned to fear and then to hatred as he saw the symbol of the rising sun pass overhead on plane after plane.

He first tried to hide, but seeing the other men around him scramble for weapons, he settled into a machine gun nest and managed to shoot down several Japanese planes. Although Joe was a Christian, he found himself hating a nation and its people that in the end killed 2,403 Americans, including 68 civilians.

Joe and others stayed at their posts all night in case of another attack and during that night he said a prayer that changed his life. He promised God that if he survived that war, he would become a preacher. And although he kept his word to God, he never quite got over his hatred towards the Japanese.

In 1954, fresh out of the seminary, Joe became a pastor of the Wailuku Baptist Church in Maui. Two years later, he heard that Mitsuo Fuchida, commander of the naval forces that led the attack on Pearl Harbor, was coming to Maui, so Joe went to hear his speech. He listened in awe as Fuchida told of his becoming a Christian. After Fuchida's talk ended, Joe went up and introduced himself to this man who had led the attack that changed his life. Mitsuo Fuchida immediately bowed to him and said one word in Japanese. "Gomenasai." "I am sorry."

What happened next was as an important moment as any other in history. The two former enemies shook hands, and Joe felt all the anger toward the man and his country leave. God had replaced his anger with the peace of forgiveness. Joe Morgan and Mitsuo Fuchida shook hands, now as brothers in Christ.

Forgiveness is a gift you give. It does not need the other person's contrition or sorrow, just your willingness to let go of what hurts more to retain than to release. God gave us His forgiveness, despite our sins and failures. We, too, can do no less than to forgive others who have failed us. Forgiveness is good for the soul. It helps our peace of mind as well.

Gomenasai, dear Lord Jesus!

Rev. Bob Tasler (LCMS) lives at Castle Rock, CO. He writes a weekly message like the one above and emails it to hundreds of people around the country free. You may subscribe by emailing him at pbt45@ecentral.com

There are many ways to break the "Same old same old" hum drum of life. The one we like the most is to spend time every morning reading our Bibles. Discipline yourself in this and good things will happen.

The second suggestion: Make a hard copy of this Newsletter. Read it again and pick out two ideas or related ideas for personal implementation during the month of June. Pray about them. Work at them. Be determined to develop these concepts and goals in your life and perhaps in the life of your church. Do this with each monthly Newsletter. You can also go to our website for past archived newsletters.

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the use of every opportunity" (Ephesians 5:15).