The community orchestra had been preparing for their annual fall concert

for nearly five months. At the final dress rehearsal, the conductor took

time during a break to thank everyone who had helped over the past months.

He thanked the sponsors, the press, the ladies who had helped with the costumes,

and everyone else he could think of.

Finally, he said, "I to pay special tribute to one member who hasn't

missed a single rehearsal. Everyone else has missed at least one night except

Joe, our first violinist. I'd like him to stand and be recognized.

The applause was affirming, and finally Joe was able to speak. "Thank

you very much. I thought it was the least I could do since I won't be here

tomorrow night for the concert."

That's as bad as the guy I read about who endured a long hospitalization.

His doctor told him, "You are very sick, but you'll pull through."

However, the patient was scared for his life. "Please, doctor," he

said, "do everything you can. If I get well, I'll donate $10,000 to

the fund for the new hospital."

Several months later the doctor ran into the patient on the street and

asked him how he felt, and the man told the doctor that he was doing great.

"Good," the doctor said, "because we could use that $10,000

you promised to give to the new hospital fund."

The man shook his head. "If I said that, doc, I must have been really

sick!"

One key characteristic that makes us healthy persons is commitment. Making

a promise is easy. Keeping it sometimes is not. What is missing in too many

lives is commitment. Commitment is simply doing what you say you're going

to do. It's more than good intentions; it's following through. It's what

turns a promise into reality.

Too often we're like the man who was down at the stadium loudly rooting

for the home team. The TV cameras caught him "coaching from the stands" as

they panned the crowd. Interestingly, he was wearing a t-shirt that read, "My

wife thinks I'm at Promise Keepers."

One arena that needs your commitment in these days of turbulence and uncertainty

is your church. The church is our spiritual headquarters, a family of support

and encouragement, an oasis in a stressed and weary world. It is a place

to connect with people just like you, people who are facing the same struggles

you are facing. Your church needs your support - your presence, participation,

prayer, and commitment. Your church is what you make it, and you get out

of it in proportion to what you put into it.

The Central Church of Brooklyn carried this article in their worship bulletin

several years ago:

"This is my church. It is composed of people like me. We make it what

it is. I want it to be a church that is a light on the paths of pilgrims,

leading them to goodness, truth and beauty. It will be, if I am. It will

be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help to fill them. It

will do a great work, if I work. It will bring other people into its worship

and fellowship, if I bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love,

of fearlessness and faith, if I who make it what it is, am filled with these.

Therefore, I dedicate myself to the task of being what I want my church to

be."

What is it that keeps you from making a stronger commitment to your church?

Where can you improve in your support of your church? Can your church count

on you?