A young girl was trudging along a mountain path trying to reach her grandmother's house. It was bitter cold. Suddenly she heard a rustle at her feet. Looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke to her. He said, "I am about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food around, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you."

"No," replied the girl. "I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous." "No, no," replied the snake. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."

The little girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and had to admit that it was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen. Suddenly she said, "I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness." She reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and proceeded toward grandmother's house.

Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her. "How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!" "You knew what I was when you picked me up," hissed the snake as he slithered away.

This parable sets the stage for the story of Adam and Eve who trusted a snake in the Garden of Eden. The devil lied and is the father of all lies (John 8:44b). The snake "bit" and the bite was deadly - spiritually, physically, and eternally!

Then God spoke: "I will put enmity (warfare) between you (satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He (the Messiah) will crush your head (on the cross), and you will strike His heel (mortally wounding Him)" (Genesis 3:15) Look to Jesus, my friend. Trust what He did for you on Calvary's cross. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

What do unchurched people say most often when you invite them to church? The answer? "All the church wants is my money." Why would people say that?

Possible answers:
A. Too many TV evangelists.
B. The extraordinary amount of money paid to most pastors.
C. The annual spaghetti dinner put on by the women of the church.
D. The remarkable number of sermons preached each year on money.
E. The Christmas bazaar.

If you said "A," you join most Christians, but you're wrong.
If you said "B," you obviously know little about the salaries of most pastors.
If you said "D," you are really off base. Most pastors would do well to expand their number of sermons on this important issue.
If you said "C" and "E," you got it right - along with about 5% of all Christians.

Focus on these issues:

1. Most Christians never talk to their neighbors or co-workers about their church or faith. When they do talk about church, it's usually to invite them to a spaghetti dinner.
2. When do most churches enthusiastically advertise to the community? Rarely - with the exception of the annual bazaar or rummage sale. In the absence of any other communication that engages "outsiders" those unchurched neighbors get in invitation to buy something. That's why they think your church wants their money. Wouldn't you?
3. Consider providing a carwash - free for everyone except members.
4. Provide the spaghetti dinner, but sell tickets only to members - to bring their friends. Be sure to communicate clearly at the spaghetti dinner, the good cause the money is supporting. The best cause is anything that helps the community or overseas missions and does NOT benefit your church.
5. Provide an annual Easter pageant. Sell tickets only to members. The more expensive the ticket, the better! Use the tickets as an evangelistic outreach for members to give to friends and neighbors. When the cost is printed on the ticket, the people recognize the value of the invitation.
6. When you take the offering in worship, make it clear that guests are not expected to contribute. They are your guests.

God doesn't want money from unbelievers. He wants them. He wants their hearts. Then, His work will get their support as well.

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.

Thanksgiving Day or Eve Worship. Develop a thoughtful and enthusiastic worship service. Use special music and special instruments. Have lay people read Scripture and lead in prayer. Consider having a lay Christian give a personal testimony. Make the service a bit more informal. Pastor - forget the robe. Deliver message standing "down where the people are." Send a special letter of invitation to all members and all prospects. We include a sample letter for you in Microsoft Word which you can adopt or adapt. Run off a hard copy of it now.

"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536). Hey - make time to read!

31 percent in an AP-Ipsos poll approve the job the president is doing. For congress, the number is only 22 percent.

"Do not presume to speak to My children on My behalf without first speaking with Me."

More and more pastors, church secretaries and administrators are forwarding this Newsletter to all church leaders by email or hard copy. Another suggestion: run off a hard copy of each Newsletter and then highlight those things which need further attention. Consider forwarding the Newsletter to fellow pastors.

After chatting with a number of people around the country and reading the email responses, we will continue this Newsletter. Thanks for your encouragement.

Every pastor's office should have an up-to-date and growing file on illustrations arranged alphabetically plus a folder on humor. "During my entire ministry I've worked hard on this. My illustration and humor files are large. One pastor who saw the extent of these files said, 'Don, can I have those files when you die?' If you are without such a file system, ask a committed member of your flock to set one up for you. Have your secretary and members steer materials your way for these files." - Don

From Father Rawley Myers in Colorado Springs comes the following.
Question: "What is the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist?"
Answer: "You can negotiate with a terrorist."

A suggestion for pastors: Before and after weddings and funerals make it a point to visit with all non-members. If they live in the area and do not have a church, jot their name down with a few details on a little card you will keep in your shirt pocket. The next day hunt that name down and place the info on a prospect card. One very important key to growing a church is to have a growing prospect file.

A note from one of our sermons: "Sometimes I feel like the two boy scouts who tried to help a little old lady across the street. Whey they reported their good deed to the scout leader, he asked why it took two of them to help one elderly person. They answered, 'Because she didn't want to go.' Sometimes I feel like that when I try to work with you."

Please help us. We would like to know the answers to two questions: 1. What Sunday School materials do you use? 2. Do your teachers and kids like these materials? Just email us a brief response. Thanks!

Can your church experience a unique and special Advent Season and Christmas this year? Absolutely! But it takes some praying and some planning. Suggestion: Have your pastor and some gifted lay Christians sit down in the next week or two to pray and plan. Try to think "outside the box." Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. He'll richly bless your thoughts and plans. Go for it!

Pastor - you are responsible for seeing to it that this is done. Be sure that follow-up is taken care of where needed. To see the attractive cards and pads available from Church hit church attendance.

In the early New Testament Church the office of the ministry was extended through the position of deacons (today we might call them elders). Specific instruction for deacons (elders) is given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

The elders are not be be a check and balance system for the pastor nor he for them. They are to be assistants to the pastor. They are never to be torn by dissension and internal conflict. The elders are to constantly seek to glorify Christ by making decisions based on sound Biblical principles of love and working closely as assistants to the pastor.

The unity and harmony of a church begins with the elders and pastor. Their unity, in turn, is dependent upon their knowledge of the Word and their conformity to the Word. When their knowledge and spirituality is right, their influence will pervade and give spiritual alignment to every level of the church. To reach this goal the elders should be faithful in church attendance, Bible class attendance, and daily study of the Word at home.

"For the first time ever, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) is now the fifth-largest religious faith in America... It has a global Church membership of 12 million people in 160 nations. Indeed, there are now more Mormons than Evangelical Lutherans, Presbyterians, or Episcopalians. According to the Deseret News Church Almanac, of its nearly 300,000 converts, up to 80 percent are drawn from Protestant backgrounds, meaning that millions of people have abandoned their Christian heritage in favor of Mormonism" (p. 9, Fast Facts on Mormonism).

The need for Fast Facts on Mormonism arises from specific claims made by the Mormon church that have caused widespread confusion concerning the precise nature of Mormonism. Just a few of the questions answered by Fast Facts on Mormonism:

• How influential Is Mormonism?
• Are There Contradictions Between the Bible's Teachings and Mormon Doctrines?
• What Does Mormonism Teach About Jesus Christ?
• Is Mormonism an Occult Religion?
• Is the Mormon Claim to Be Christian an Unintentional Misinforming?
• What Are the Real Mormon Beliefs About Christianity?
• What Are Some Helps on Talking with Mormons?

And much, much more. Order Fast Facts on Mormonism now. Price is only 9.99. It should be read by every concerned Christian.

Bonhoeffer was a young German theologian who bore strong witness against Hitler. Though a pacifist, he decided to join a conspiracy to kill Der Fuehrer. Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned in Buchenwald and was hung by the Gestapo. So at age 39 this gifted servant of Jesus was executed by hanging. His books are widely read to this day. The Cost of Discipleship is a spiritual classic. $15 plus shipping. Email us today - Include address and phone.

God always provides for us, often in surprising ways. It was sultry yesterday morning as I started walking to Dallas Love Field. I'd flown in the day before to help friends renew their vows on their 35th anniversary. They'd left me at my motel the night before, and it turned out to be a bit far from the airport, and there was no shuttle. My slip-on shoes, while good for airport security, were no good for walking, but I figured the walk would do me good, even in the heat.

It turned out to be a rough neighborhood with smelly trash and broken sidewalks. After I'd walked about a block, a car pulled over and a woman driver said, "Can I take you somewhere?" "Excuse me?" I replied. "Can I give you a lift?" she said. She was a Hispanic woman, neatly dressed, about 50, probably on her way to work, and she offered me a ride. And I accepted!

"Were you at my motel, the Red Roof Inn back there?" I asked as I got in. "No," she replied, "but I used to work there. They gave me a job when I needed one." "Why did you offer me a ride?" I asked. "You remind me of my father," she said again. "He left us long ago, but I think of him. Maybe he is like you now. I miss him." I thanked her profusely as we drove, and I realized my walk would have been 2-3 miles in the heat and humidity.

As we neared the airport I offered her $5 for the ride and she said, "No, no, no. I do this for you! I'm a Christian woman. My friends tell me, 'Carmen stop doing that. Somebody's going to kill you one day,' and I say, 'I'm going to die anyway, so it might as well be doing something good.' This I want to do." She dropped me off at the front gate and left me standing there amazed, with a lump in my throat. Why did she offer me a ride?

"She was just looking for a pickup," some might say. But at 8:30 a.m.? Most of you will think I was unwise accepting a ride from a stranger in a big city. "Think what could have happened," others might say. I prefer to consider this little unexpected episode as the kindness of a Christian women a little help from the Lord when I needed it.

Hebrews 13 tells us, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Heaven knows I'm no angel, but I think Carmen was. God always provides. He wants us to share random acts of kindness with others because there are all sorts of people out there who need it. Thank you, Carmen, and thank You, Lord!

Rev. Bob Tasler (LCMS) lives in 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.

George was at a crises. He felt as if his life had been marked only by failure and that the others around him would be better off if he had never been born. He was in such despair that he considered suicide. Clarence was able to show him how much his life had, in fact, made all the difference in the lives of many, many people. That's the story line of Frank Capra's movie, "It's a Wonderful Life."

There are at least two ways that we fail to fulfill God's vision: Complacency and substituting someone else's agenda for God's vision.

God warned Israel against being "stagnant in spirit" (Zeph. 1:12 NAS). Solomon, too saw the danger of complacency (Prov. 1:32.) Yet, tragically in his later years, he himself succumbed to it (1 Kings 11:4). His complacency resulted in the division of the kingdom and the opening of the door to engulf the northern kingdom. The legacy of his spiritual complacency was passed to his own descendants, ultimately resulting in the loss of the southern kingdom as well.

The second danger is mistaking someone else's agenda as being God's vision for our lives. 1 Samuel 17 recounts the story of David and Goliath. After David convinced Saul that God had called him to fight and defeat Goliath, Saul attempted to arm David with his own armor. David tried Saul's armor on, but quickly realized he couldn't fulfill God's vision and Saul's at the same time. Had he not rejected Saul's agenda for God's vision, David would have forfeited more than his life: Israel would not have been delivered from the Philistine oppression.

I'm always struck by Jesus' autonomy. Mark tells us that following a very successful ministry tour through Capernaum, Jesus deliberately disappointed the exectations of the people who were searching for Him. Had He not told Peter, "Let us go... to the nearby villages so I can preach there also" (Mark 1:38), Jesus would have allowed Himself to be beholden to the expectations of the people of Capernaum. While He was responsive to people's needs, His ministry was never constrained by anyone's agenda other than His Father's.

Is it possible that these are the types of concerns that Paul had in mind when he urged Archippus to be diligent in fulfilling the ministry which he had received from the Lord (Col. 4:17)?

Take a moment to reflect on what you believe to be God's vision for your life. What aspects of that vision might you need to give more attention to? How will others around you know you are following God's vision for your life rather than someone else's plan? What positive results might others experience as a result of your pursuit of God's vision?

Dr. Craig Loving is a pastor as well as a therapist in private practice in the Denver area. You can reach him at 303-349-7398 or by visiting his website.

For personal or group study. Evolution: Satan's Lie:

1. Is It really science?
2. Darwin's dogma
3. Thermodynamics, evolution's enigma
4. Theistic evolution
5. Was there a big bang?
6. Carbon dating

A reproducible Bible study on CD. You may reproduce the study as many times and for long as you wish. Hit reproducible Bible studies to order and view other reproducible Bible studies.