Faith Working in Love

Dr. Charles Allen, a preacher from Houston, Texas, shared, tongue in cheek, this survey about his church:

10% of the members cannot be found;

20% -- never attend;

25% -- never pray;

35% -- never read the Bible;

40% -- never give financially to the church;

70% -- never attend Sunday Evening Service;

75% -- never assume any church task;

85% -- never invite anyone to church;

95% -- never win a soul to Jesus;
100% -- expect to go to Heaven!

Dr. Allen’s survey reminds me of the story of the man who took a walk to eat his lunch. He strolled through a park and purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked, enjoying the view, two different street people approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me, I am hungry?" Each time the man looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch he stopped and bought a chocolate éclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced down the sidewalk on his skateboard. The éclair went flying and landed on the ground. The man picked it up and tried to clean it off, but it was no use. It was now a dirty éclair. Before discarding it, however, he had an idea. He strolled over to one of the beggars who had approached him and handing the man the éclair said, "Here you are my good man. This is something for your hunger." The man walked away smiling and returned to his office.

That night the man had a dream. He was sitting in a large and crowded cafe. Waitresses were scurrying about bringing customers delicious cakes and tortes. All the waitresses ignored the businessman, even though he was waving his hands at them continually. Finally he caught the eye of a young woman and asked for something to eat. She returned a few minutes later with a dirty piece of pastry. The man was outraged. "You can't treat me this way. I have a right to be served like all the others. I expect good service and food for my money." "You don't seem to understand," the waitress responded kindly. "You can't buy anything here. We don't accept money. You have just arrived in heaven and all you can order here is what you sent ahead while on earth. I just checked the records and the only thing we have for you is this dirty éclair."

Selah,
Alex