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Dear Shiloh Family,

Prepositional phrases were out the window. Language Arts had lost its luster. In fact, the young man’s eyelids had become too heavy to manage and head nods had given in to total unconscious sleep. He had checked out.
 
As I made my way around the room monitoring class progress, I approached the lad slowly and gently placed my hand on his shoulder. Rather than reprimand him, I simply said, “You went hunting last night, didn’t you?” 

Immediately, as if I had shocked him with a cattle prod, his eyes became as round as marbles, sleep vanished, and his head sprung up like a Jack-in-the-box. Without hesitation he enthusiastically replied, “Yep, and we treed a big one.”
 
I looked at him, glanced at his blank paper, and then back at him with raised eyebrows. He paused with a hand in the cookie jar face. We both laughed, and I told him he could tell me about it at recess. 

I know the story is humorous, but it is also true. However, I can relate many similar scenes involving family events, athletic practices, dog shows, horse shows, lamb shows, band events, and agriculture competitions. These are all fine and mostly beneficial except when the exception becomes the rule. You see, I know that, regardless of the academic level of the student, excessive absence leads to stress, parent-teacher conferences, test anxiety and often depression or other psychological issues. You may agree or disagree with this, but facts support my hypothesis. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15: 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. NKJV

I have also observed how this theory plays out even more serious when applied to church and small group attendance. It really amazes me how little it takes to keep us from church, or how worldly events override Youth and AWANA for our children. We call ourselves Christians because we follow Jesus, but we treat His church, whom he died for, like an obligation rather than a privilege. We love to quote the writings of the Apostle Paul who helped birth the church, but we fail to support the institution for which he was tortured and eventually gave his life.

Consequently, when our lack of priority leads to sin, God’s chastisement, or both in our lives, we are quick to blame our loving Heavenly Father, or eventually cry out to Him (which is what He wants us to do in the beginning). 

Please, forgive me for being so blunt and hard on this subject, but I wouldn’t be a caring Pastor if I didn’t speak from my heart. I am concerned that we get complacent in our current situation at Shiloh. God is blessing us beyond imagination. But we have so much more potential! 

I am also concerned about our families and the influence of the world. . I am convinced that loving Jesus and serving His church is more important and rewarding than anything the world has to offer. I implore every leader at Shiloh to access the importance of attendance, priority, and relevance of God and church in your family. Specifically, Shiloh Baptist Church. Your answer could affect our families. 

Hebrews 10:23-25: 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV
 
How little of the noise of the world can make me deaf to the call of God?

God bless you all,
Pastor Derrell