Keep Out

My morning drive changes alot. Some days I take the same ole route and others I take an alternate route. Not because of traffic but because I get bored! I can only drive one way so much and then I have to change something. I need a change of scenery, a change of pace! I am not one that could work in a repetitive type job because I would lose my mind! Shane works on an assembly line doing the same thing over and over and I have so much respect for him because I surely couldn't do it!

So, I changed up my routine this morning and came into downtown Birmingham though some back roads. Just sort of took the scenic route I guess you could say. As I crossed over I-65 and rounded this curve to the right I noticed a sign that just struck me odd. A church built a new building up on a hill and since it is in a neighborhood in the North side of Birmingham, all parking seems to be in the rear of the church. Now you have to envision how this neighborhood is set up. You have the street, then the sidewalk and then there is a retaining wall probably waist to shoulder high. All the houses, stores, offices, etc. are sitting up on these hills. Are you following me? Can you see it? So as I'm looking up the wall towards this new church I notice the alley that runs right beside the church leading you towards their parking area. Prominently posted on the alley wall is a sign that read "KEEP OUT." I chuckled to myself and thought Why a Keep Out sign? Why not put a No Trespassing sign...it sounds better?!?!

As I traveled on into downtown Birmingham and made my way to 280 I started really thinking about how many of us post an invisible "Keep Out" sign at our church? We talk about how we want our churches to grow, we sit around and talk about projects and things we can do to bring people in, but we never act on those talks. When a visitor does quietly and timidly make their way into our church do we love them, wrap our arms around them and accept them, or do we push them away with our invisible "Keep Out" sign?

More importantly, as Christians, do we walk around with a "Keep Out" sign posted on us! When others look at us do they see love, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, joy, etc. or do they see us pushing people away, wrapped up only in ourselves, looking out for only number one?

Our Sunday School lesson yesterday with our 3 & 4 year old boys was about how Paul told Lydia and her friends about Jesus. Our Bible verse was "Tell others about Jesus." Acts 16:10. I challenged a group of 3 & 4 year old boys to be like Paul...tell someone about Jesus! Today, I challenge myself and I challenge you. Do a self check...do you see a "Keep Out" sign posted on your wall today? If so, take it down and replace it with a "Welcome" sign!