An evolutionist was telling how birds, especially some of the early birds, had come into being. He said there were lizards and that these particular lizards would climb up on tall bushes and trees, and they would jump and try to fly. Well, it was splat when they landed! He said that finally, after 20 million years, they developed wings. Now, that's what I call perseverance! That's the impossible dream! 20 million years of perseverance by a lizard!

That's a picture of the average person's concept (and sometimes our's) of getting right with God. We just think that if we can get up and jump by our own efforts, our own striving, maybe we will just fly right to heaven without wings and turn into angels. We don't realize that it has never happened before, and it is not going to happen now.

God is going to have to do it Himself - and He did! Jesus Christ has come. He did for us that which we could never do. On the cross of Calvary He satisfied God's demands for justice, and we couldn't do that. He has brought us the total and complete forgiveness of all our sins, and we couldn't do that. He has opened the gates of heaven for us, and we couldn't do that.

Now, my friend, trust Jesus. Trust Him to save you. Trust Him to take you safely to heaven. Don't be a lizard! Here is the truth for you recorded in Romans 5:9-11: "Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." God has promised it. I believe it. That settles it.

My sin - O the joy of this glorious thought - My sin, not in part, but the whole;
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well with my soul, It is well with my soul.

Next month we celebrate Christmas. It is one of the three greatest times each year to reach out, invite guests, and follow-up. It is a great time to witness the Gospel to people who normally don't come to church (The other two times are Easter and Mother's Day). You have heard of the grinch who stole Christmas. Here are some ways he zaps the power of Christmas to reach guests who may not yet know Jesus.

PARKING. Most unchurched people don't know how long it takes to get to church. They often arrive late. In most churches, they can't find a parking spot.

SEATING. Since they are late, they are greeted and led to the last seats available - right in the front. This is the most uncomfortable place you can seat a visitor. They usually want to be toward the back, near an aisle, and not too far from an exit - "in case things get crazy."

DID YOU HEAR THAT? Many come to church responding to an invitation by their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The grinch always hides in the sound system. So often you can't hear what the kids are saying, if they have parts. It's frustrating if relatives can't hear a word they say! It is a tragedy because the children are sharing the greatest story every told.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Christians have a habit of wanting to sing the "oldies" at Christmas time. There is a touch of nostalgia in the air! Traditional songs, for Christians, bring home childhood memories, even if the languages are archaic. But for people who are seeking Christ and have no church background, it's the biggest turn off at the most important moment of the year. People sing songs like Gloria in excelesis Deo. It is the celebration of a living God in the words of a dead language - Latin!

MORE OLD SCHOOL. The scripture is often read out of an older version of the Bible. Luke chapter 2 in the King James. It's nostalgic, but it doesn't relate to those who are newcomers. Ironically, the whole purpose of God's invasion into this world in the person of Jesus Christ is to be relevant.

PREACHING. The preacher most often preaches on - what else - the Christmas story. But the best text for Christmas is probably John 3:16, along with a little Ephesians 2:8- 9. That grinch gets in the preachers head and steals the evangelistic moment.

FOLLOW-UP. Unfortunately, many churche fail to capture names and addresses of those who are guests. Even fewer churches follow-up during the next week. Unfortnately, most pastors are on vacation - probably well deserved. But in their absencce little happens while the "fruit is ripe."

DOWNER. If people do come back the next Sunday, what do they get? The pastor is off on vacation, the choir is resting after the Christmas blow-out, the poinsettias are gone, and the crowd is half the size.

Focus on these issues:

1. Provide friendly parking attendants or a valet service for special services.
2. Encourage mature members to park the farthest distance away and walk.
3. Encourage members to bring their friends who aren't regular church attenders. Don't just invite them, bring them.
4. Leave seats in the middle and the back, near the aisles, for latecomers.
5. Work hard to get the sound system adapted to children for the children's program.
6. Use contempary songs. If there are large numbers of people who want nostalgia, have a nostalgic service for Christians. But if children are involved, and you know they are going to attract unchurched relatives, go contemporary.
7. Don't sing anything in a dead language you don't understand.
8. Tell guests that they are not expected to put money in the offering. The worship service is your Christmas gift to them.
9. Use the scripture version that speaks to 6 year olds and unchurched people - even if it is formatted in a medium like video or drama.
10. Speak an evangelistic message. It could be the one shot you have in a person's life.
11. Pass a registration pad down each row and capture names and addresses.
12. Send a Bible (or a portion) and a special gift to guests wthin 48 hours.
13. Well before Christmas comes, organize a follow- up squad of carefully chosen people to phone guests in the following days after Christmas, before the next Saturday evening - to invite them to the upcoming worship service.
14. Make the Sunday following Christmas very special. Urge members to make an extra effort to attend - for their own sake and the sake of newcomers.

The grinch? Make him the one person you don't invite to your Christmas service!

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

Tired of talking to a machine? When you really want to speak to a live person about a concern you have just go to Get Human.

Develop the habit of printing a hard copy of this Newsletter; then, highlight sections you would like to pass on to a friend or that you may want to pursue more fully yourself. Example: Who Stole Christmas? by Kent Hunter is filled with practical ideas. Do more than just read them; decide how you want to act on them.

"As I went to the freezer door, I asked my wife, 'What should I take out for dinner?' Without a moment's hesitation, she replied, 'Me.'"

What pastors are like! The president of a large denomination was asked, "What's it like being in charge of thousands of pastors?" He replied, "It's like herding a bunch of cats down a street!" One evening a pastor went into some detail telling his little daughter something when she interrupted by asking, "Daaaddy, are you telling me the truth or are you just preaching?"

Books make great Christmas gifts. Some suggestions: Second Calling - a book for women who want their lives to count. The Soul of the Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. and The Qur'an and the Bible A Comparison and Fast Facts on Islam. Also, Fast Facts on Mormonism, Fast Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses, Fast Facts on the Masonic Lodge,

For first time guests at your church: Within the following six days, ask volunteers to drop off a small welcome packet of goodies (fruit, microwave popcorn, home made bread or cookies, etc.). Enlist someone to coordinate volunteers and all the details. This kind of follow up with guests can build a warm relationship with your church.

The U.S. Congress now has a 16% approval rating - all the more reason for you to vote intelligently!

Every worship service should begin with hymns of praise. One of our favorites is "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" by Dawn Rogers and Eric Wyse. Here is verse one with the chorus:

Wonderful, merciful Savior, Precious Redeemer and Friend.
Who would have thought that a Lamb could Rescue the souls of Men.
Oh, You rescue the souls of men.
Chorus: You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore. You give the healing and grace Our hearts always hunger for, Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

"Wal-Mart rolls out red carpet for homsexual marriage." They have given two large grants to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and they have been rewarded with a position on the board of the NGLCC. Please read this article, send your email to Wal-Mart, voice your opinion to your local Wal-Mart manger, and email this article to your friends. Click below for more information.

Try prayer. While a pastor was bear hunting, a bear came at him, running hard. He fired his only shot and missed. The bear kept charging, so the pastor prayed, "Dear God, make a Christian out of this bear." Finally the bear arrived in front of the pastor, stood on its two hind feet, put his two front paws together and prayed, "Dear God, thank You for this meal."

The theme for this month's article comes by way of request to speak to the concern of "what can be done by the pastor who is very discouraged with his ministry and what can members do to support this pastor and help build and expand his ministry?" Clearly this is an important issue.

By most metrics these are challenging times in which to be a pastor. The challenges themselves can be divided into three broad categories:

1. The pastor himself.
2. The local church he serves.
3. The broader context of Christianity in America.

Christianity in America. Research by Barna's organization suggests that the overall percentage of "born again" Christians remains largely unchanged between 1991 and 2004 (1). In spite of the many outreach campaigns that have come upon the American church scene, the rate of overall church membership and attendance is actually declining. David Olson's analysis found that between 1990 and 2000, overall church attendance increased by 1 million new attenders; from 51 million to 52 million. However, the percentage of Americans attending church fell from 20.4% in 1990 to 18.7% in 2000 (2). During that same period the United States population grew by 12% (3). [more]

The doctors, nurses and medical staff have been tremendously supportive of the ministry. Basket of Hope has prayer boxes at both facilities so families may leave prayer requests. These prayer requests are given to the Prayer Warriors of Christ The Ray of Hope. The members of our Church believe that Basket Of Hope is a powerful way to share the message of Jesus with the children and families that are fighting cancer in the State of New Mexico.

Rev. Harold Johnson is the pastor of this active congregation. Their email address is christrayofhope@qwest.net. To learn more about the Basket Of Hope visit their website - www.basketofhope.org

This set sells for $5.85 and is a November freebie for you. Just email us at info@churchpress.com and ask for #505.