Hey Everyone!  I wanted share a few thoughts about our new sign.  I am so excited to see it up.  It is so nice to have an updated look to go with our new name.  I also wanted to say a big “Thank You” to all of you who helped us pay to have the sign panels updated and restored.

However, this morning I was contemplating about the purpose of our sign.  What is that sign meant to do?  Obviously it lets people who drive by know that this building is used for church and it lets them know the name of our organization both local and denominational.  However, do we too often think that our sign is a tool for winning people to Jesus?  In fact, by the actions of a lot of churches, we seem to believe that the sign is the only tool for sharing the life changing love of Christ.

That may sound harsh.  I don’t mean it to be.  I simply want us to realize that the purpose of the illuminated plastic pieces has more to do with telling the mail carrier or a visitor that they are in the right place, or have reached their destination.  Illuminated people like you and me are the tools or “signs” that God is looking for to share the life changing love of Christ.

Matthew 5:15-16 says:  “You’re here to be light, bring out the God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept.  We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?  I’m putting you on a light stand.  Now that I put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!  Keep open house; be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, the generous Father in heaven."  (TM).

A pastor by the name of Alexander Whyte used to tell a story about his favorite “human sign”.  There was a business man that traveled regularly to Pastor Whyte’s town (Edinburgh, Scotland) by the name of Rigby.  Rigby was no preacher; in fact he found it hard to talk about religion at all; but he always attended Pastor Whyte’s church on Sunday (when he was in town) and before he left his hotel he always invited someone to come to church with him.  One Sunday morning he invited a man who at first angrily refused; but Rigby persisted and finally the man went.  He was so impressed with the service that in the evening he asked Rigby to go with him again.  At that evening service something happened to the man who had at first refused to go.  He determined to become a Christian.

The next morning business took Rigby past the pastor’s home.  He had never met pastor Whyte so, on an impulse, he knocked on the door and asked to see him.  He told the pastor what had happened the day before.  The pastor was glad to hear it since he had thought the sermon fell flat that day.  He spoke to Rigby, “I don’t believe I caught your name”.  He replied, “Rigby”.  The pastor exclaimed, “Man…I’ve been looking for you for years.  He went into his study and came back with a bundle of letters.  Each of the letters described how they had been invited by a businessman named Rigby to attend a service.  Out of the bundle 12 came from young men and four of them had already entered the ministry.  Pastor Whyte would tell his congregation these words.  “It does not seem a great deal to invite a person to come to church and yet of what infinite use to God were the invitation of that man called Rigby”.

Rigby understood that he was a living sign.  Signs don’t invite people to church; People invite people to church.  Never forget that.   Never give up inviting someone to come to church with you.  You never know.  They might just say “Yes”.  They might just encounter God there and be changed forever.

Shine On!