I received the funniest e-mail

from Lennie and Barbie Dunn, who are two of our very faithful church workers

and members.

It read, "If the president

calls, ask him his name!"

I laughed and laughed. I don't

know about you but I am waiting with great expectation as to the outcome

of this presidential election.

I thought it very interesting

the way the senators and congressmen and congresswomen are already talking

about how both Democrats and Republicans will have to "reach across

the isle" and "cooperate" to get anything done for the

Country. Imagine if we all had to "cooperate" to get anything

done.

Cooperation, what a novel idea!

Wouldn't that be a new idea if all the churches began to cooperate and

all the family members and all the nations did the same? Imagine what

we could accomplish for good and for God!

On Wednesday nights at our

home we are studying the book of Revelation. It is truly an outstanding

Bible study led by an outstanding teacher, my wife, Dr. Lydia Herndon.

We are using the "Kay Arthur" video series.

Last night we studied "God's

message to the churches" from the Revelation 1 series. I am not going

to attempt to re-teach this here, but there was a theme that came out

loud and clear to especially to the Church of Philadelphia. As you know,

the word "Philadelphia" means "brotherly love," consequently

the "city of brotherly love."

My wife was born at Crawford

Long Hospital in Atlanta and raised in Philadelphia. This theme that keeps

coming through in Revelation in reference to the Church in Philadelphia

is the fact that they were a faithful church, they held to God's word

and they cooperated and loved one another.

While I was a chaplain on active

duty around the world I noticed there was a theme I would see on any given

military installation with any given group of chaplains and congregations.

It was the theme of cooperation. Regardless of the denomination of the

chaplain, i.e. Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc., I would notice

their cooperation level with other chaplains and other faith groups.

The ones that had the spirit

of cooperation would accomplish much and the ones without it would accomplish

very little spiritually or in any other way. Imagine going to a three-year

assignment and accomplishing very little and then moving on and doing

the same at the next assignment. Before you know it, one's 20 years were

up and he/she accomplished "very little."

Yet the ones that cooperated

with one another accomplished much in each assignment. I am not talking

here of sell out or compromise of principles I am talking about cooperation.

The Church at Philadelphia accomplished much because they cooperated.

Do you cooperate at your church

and family or are you the continuos "thorn in the flesh" or

the "Odious and soon-touchee" members of the group? Continue

on your journey of faithfulness and friendliness through cooperation as

the Church in Philadelphia did.

Time is short. Watch and pray!

P.S. Please pray that we get

into our modular chapel unit on our new church land by Christmas.

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is

the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and 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, and will be moving to

a new location near Senoia, hopefully by Christmas. Prayer line 770-719-2365;

e-mail [email protected].