Church without walls.

Growing up on the farm, I would often hear my dad say, "There's more than one way to skin a cat." It was dad's odd way of saying, "There is more than one way to accomplish a task." I prefer the euphemism of new ways to do old jobs. The "skin the cat" thing, while a part of our past (Google the phrase), does not portray the best platform for this blog.

By now, the predicted snow has come and operation "dig out" has commenced. Hard to imagine the beauty of the sun today could mean so much in light of almost 30+ hours of nonstop snow. Businesses closed, church services canceled, road crews out working tirelessly to maintain safe passage all seem unusual in light of the brilliant Sunday landscape.

Wait. Did you not go to church today? Was your church closed? Oh no, what ever will we do? Hmmm, maybe churches in general need to reconsider what we are as a church and who we are as a church. After recording this brief message and music, I went out and helped shovel the neighbor's driveway and mailbox. Perhaps the church mobilized is what Jesus had in mind when he said, "Go..." (Matthew 28)

Our weekly gathering is an opportunity to worship and offer thanksgiving to God for all the provision over the previous 6 days. It is our time to bring a heart filled with gratitude to offer to our God.

While we did not meet at 200 East Third Street today, we are still a church. Did you offer worship and praise to your God? Did you find an opportunity to raise the spirit of a neighbor? Did you expend yourself for another? Your faith in God will always be qualified by how you live your life. It is the old, "Faith without works is dead" scripture from James 2.

By jove, we did have church today. The Body of Christ is still the body whether we are together or not! Go be the church in your neighborhood today!