Could any of these questions

or statements be yours?

1. "What on earth am I

here for?" "Is God real?" "I don't get much out

of church." "I've heard the same things for years."

"I like the music, but that's about it." (or) "I just

don't like the music." "Church just doesn't interest

me." "We're so busy. Sunday is our only day to ourselves."

2. "I don't know

anybody really." "Who would care if I weren't at church?"

"The church has gotten too big." "Do they really care about

us 'little people' any more?" "What if something really

bad happened to me and my family, would anybody even notice?"

3. "How do you become

a Christian anyway?" "I want to be a better Christian, but I

don't know how." "Is the Bible even relevant any more?"

"I need help making difficult decisions, but I don't need someone

'holier-than-thou' cramming stuff down my throat." "I

pray, but I don't really know if God is listening or not." "Sometimes

it just seems like they ask too much of us at church."

4. "I don't know

what God wants me to do for Him...and the Church...and anybody else."

"I can't sing or teach Sunday School so I won't be much

help." "I guess I just don't have 'gifts and talents'

like they talk about at church." "I wish I could make a real

difference in the world."

5. "I don't know

enough about the Bible to tell anybody else about God." "I hate

it when others come up to me at work and start preaching or witnessing

or whatever they call it. It turns me off. I don't want to turn others

off." "How can I just be me and tell others about God in my

own words?" "How can I help others understand the really great

things about God that I know?"

All of us have thought or said

one or more of these things at one time or another, haven't we? There's

just a reality of life here. But here's the question: "Is there

anything that can be done to help us when we think or feel this way? Are

there answers and solutions?"

The answer is "Yes!"

Many churches around the country,

and right here in our own community, are dealing honestly with these reality

statements and feelings, and are offering a particular experience to people

both inside and outside their churches. This particular experience is

called "40 Days of Purpose."

Again, remember: this experience

is offered to people who are both members and non-members of our churches.

Based on the best-selling book

"Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, this experience combines

reading the book over a 40-day period, listening to a special presentation

each week, and participating in small group discussions of the material

with friends and people just like you.

I attended a national seminar

with Rick Warren out in Los Angeles just last May and was convinced that

this was something that would help us all, churched and unchurched alike.

Here at Prince of Peace we

will begin our journey through these 40 days with the "Kick-Off Simulcast

Extravaganza" Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. At that event we will

be giving away copies of the book to all those who make their commitment

to participate in the full 40-day experience.

If you are without a church

home and have had some of the questions and feelings expressed in numbers

1�5 above, please know that you are invited to be our guest at the "Kick-Off"

and as a participant throughout the journey!

If your church is doing the

40-day "campaign", please jump right in! If your church is looking

for a way to help people with the above-listed thoughts and feelings,

I hope you'll look into this as something you might consider.

I know we'll all be blessed.

I'm looking forward to it!

Kollmeyer is Pastor of Prince

of Peace Lutheran Church, located on Hwy. 314 in Fayetteville between

Lowe's and Fayette Pavilion. Sunday Services are at 8:15, 9:30 (Contemporary),

and 11:00 a.m. For more information call 770-461-3403 or log-on at www.popdove.com.

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