STORY

A village clergyman, going the rounds of his parish one day, met an old parishioner. “Well George,” the minister said, “how is it that I have not seen you at church for several Sundays?”

“I don’t have any good pants,” replied George.

“Oh, well,” said the minister, “we can remedy that. I have a pair at home that will fit you, and I will have them sent to you today.”

“Thank you, pastor,” said George.

The good pants were duly sent, and George was seen at church for the following three Sundays. Then he stopped coming. After two weeks the clergyman met him again. “Well, George,” he said, “you have no excuse for not coming to church now. Why haven’t I seen you there?”

“Look here, Pastor,” said George, “I likes a man to speak plain. I know what you mean. You’re thinking about them there pants. I came to church three times, and if you don’t think I’ve earned them good pants, just tell me how many more Sundays I’ll have to come to church before they’re mine altogether.”

SOURCE UNKNOWN

Comment: Sadly church attendance is often equated with earning something. Then it loses its joy. Then it has lost the sense that God is giving us of his richness.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

Lewis, C.S.

Some people want to go to church for the same reason they want to go to California - their relatives are there.

UNKNOWN

Comment: It's great that some people have the habit to go to church every Sunday, but if it is for the wrong reason (i.e. it's the family's church), and they aren't going because they value their relationship with God, that's not faith. Then you could find the above quote in its original "Some people want to go to heaven for the same reason they want to go to California - their relatives are there." Just because Grandma believed and went to heaven doesn't mean that I will too.

It's not an issue of our physical family, but if we are members of the family of God.

I don’t know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

Unknown

OLD NEWS ARTICLE - ANALOGY

Scientists hope to find clues from hibernating bears to fight obesity, heart disease - and sending man to Mars. “If they lie down for five months, they can get up and walk away. That’s something a human cannot do,” said a scientist. “There’s a lot to be learned from that.”

Jones, Meg. Hibernating Secrets
May 19, 2004. Wisconsin State Sentinel / Journal

Comment: What about hibernating from the faith? People think they can go without feeding themselves spiritually... and everything will be okay. Maybe that is why Paul says, "Wake up, O Sleeper!"