Here we are in

another Lenten season in the Sundays before

Easter in the year of our Lord 2000 in the new

millennium.

This time will

never come again. It is a rare opportunity never

to be repeated. I invite 30-50 people a week to

church. I say to people, "Sir or ma'am, are

you in a good church?" If they respond with

"yes, I go to so and so church," I

rejoice with them and probably know their pastor

since I attend my pastors' denominational weekly

luncheon, and I attend our weekly south side

pastor's unity breakfast.

I have never been

ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and

continue to invite people to church in my daily

activities whether I am getting a tire changed,

shopping, or eating at Speedy Pig for lunch. As a

former chaplain I would also do the same, and I

realized that there were and are today several

"excuse themes" that inevitably surface

when I would and do invite people to church. They

are listed here:

1. "I don't

like organized religion." My response to

that is: "Well, come visit our church. We

are so disorganized you'll love us!"

2. "I don't

like all the hypocrites in the church." My

response to that is: "Great, neither did

Jesus!"

3. "Sunday is

a bad time for me, I have to work." My

response to that is: "If even God needed a

break after working six days a week, maybe you do

also." Or: "Great, then maybe you would

like to attend one of the other services or

activities throughout the week."

4. (I love this

one.) "This Pastor made me mad 20 years ago

and I've never been back since." I like to

respond with "Well, maybe he has died since

then and someone else has taken his place."

Wow! How many times did Jesus say to forgive

someone?

Get over it! This

is a new Easter season. God is real. Go to one of

our fine churches and start over again. You might

just find what you're looking for.

The Rev. Dr. Knox

Herndon is the pastor of His House Community

Church (SBC), a substitute school teacher in the

Fayette County school system, and a former Army

chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the

American Legion Log Cabin across from the

fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer

line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected].