We didn’t go to church yesterday, we were the church yesterday. We spent the Sunday School time packaging Christmas gifts for children all over the world through Operation Christmas Child, and when we realized we didn’t have enough to make as many boxes as we wanted Mike, Vince, and I went to Wal-Mart to do some more shopping. We got a cart full of toiletries, toys, underwear, and socks. We got back to the church building about 30 minutes into the church service time, and Jenny, Emily, and Chris were still in our room packing boxes. Gretchen and Sara had gone to work in the nursery and preschool classrooms. Mike and Vince unloaded all our loot, and I went to help Gretchen in one of the preschool classes. Those who remained ended up packing 17 shoeboxes that we’re sending around the world.

That day none of us opened our Bibles, none of us prayed, none of us sang any worship songs, none of us gave money to the church, none of us listened to a sermon. Not because those things are unimportant, but because our lives are out of balance and so full of those things and so empty of serving the poor. We have a long way to go because we’ve gotten so far off course. Yesterday started moving the rudder back toward the narrow road. We’re charting a new course.

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those “sheep’ are going to say, “Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me–you did it to me.’ — Matthew 25:35-40 (MSG)