[1] EVERY MEMBER NEEDED

“As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable … But God has combined the members of the body [his church] … so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:20-25, NIV).

In his book, “Stories for Sermons,” Arthur Tonne, tells how a famous organist was giving a recital in an eastern church. The instrument was not supplied air electrically; it had to be pumped by hand. A young by was engaged to do this for the occasion.

Everything was going along fine until the lad put his head around the side of the organ and whispered, “We are doing pretty good, aren’t we?”

“What do you mean by ‘we’?” objected the organist. A few minutes later, in the midst of a beautiful strain, the organ suddenly stopped giving out any music. Desperately the organist tried all the stops. No use.

Then again he saw the head of the boy bob around the corner, a broad smile on his face. He said, “Now do you know who I mean by ‘we’?”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me always to remember that I cannot live a meaningful life alone and I cannot do your work alone. Help me always to appreciate the work of others and support them as they support me. And help me always to remember that all that I am and have comes from you. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

[2] To find God and be sure you’re a real Christian without having to be religious, click ON: http://www.actsweb.org/htbs1.htm