Today I played hookie from church and slept late; But in the car, driving with my mom, I had a divine revelation. We were discussing today's "mega-church fever" and I tried to put my finger on what it is about that idea that bugs me. Then it hit me...
Games. They are taking over the world. Why must we use three million dollar state of the art facilities to attract the youth of America to God's House? Is He not enough any more? Does He need our help? I think not. I watch capital campaigns rule our churches. They need 2.5 million for the new baseball diamond and 4 million for the shiny new gym filled with all the latest equipment. I ask why...and I am answered, "We are trying to draw in the young people."

I think about this and remember to when I was a little girl. What impacted me the most? What drew me to Jesus? Was it the beautiful building? Was I pulled by the magnetic force of some great video arcade filled with "religious games?"
I conclude that it was none of these things. It was the love and dedication of a people so in tune with The Lord that they lived, breathed, and rested in His Glory.
I never had a fancy church life. Instead, I remember spending my weekends cleaning gutters in the slums of Montgomery. I mingled with prostitutes and druggies...at 7 years old, they were my mission field. These are the moments that I saw Heaven so clearly. There were no trimmings and no huge sound system. Only a little warehouse and a lot of casseroles. Those were the days that taught me the importance of life.

I pray that we will never lose sight of the vision...the way we saw things when we were young. It is so often through the eyes of a child that we find the answers-the way to reach the unreachable. There is a unique love and a genuine attitude of care that we must possess to break the barriers of lonliness and hopelessness. Big gyms and new ball fields won't do the trick. Only the love of Christ is able to change the heart of man. This is what must consume our time with.

Still chewing...