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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Church (12/06/07)
"We go to church every Sunday, me and the family.
How about you, Don?"

"Nah, I don't need to go to church--" I said matter-of-factly to my friend. "I find God in the woods. We have church out there. Just me and the man upstairs."

We put the rest of our hunting gear into the truck before heading to the gas station.

"We're going to hunt in a different place this year..."

"unbelieveable..." I muttered, looking at the latest price of gas. "I'll pump it."

I got out of the truck and walked around to the pump. Just after I used my credit card, a man approached me. He gently shook my hand and introduced himself as the pastor of a local church, invited me out and handed me a card, and walked away.

My first reaction would have been to toss the card in the trash, but this time for-whatever-reason, I put it in my pocket, and forgot about it.

By the time we got there, it was late afternoon.

"Want to go out for a few hours and check it out?"

"Sure, why not?"

We double-checked our guns, watches and our GPS-enabled satellite phones.
We decided to split up and meet back at the truck in a few hours around sunset.

I walked west into some tall brush, and fought my way through. After what seemed like a mile, it gave way to a meadow where the long grass was already golden brown. The awesome autumn wind was blowing pretty hard, and it was a chilly day.

As I always do in a clearing, I looked up and talked to God for a few minutes.

"It's good to be out here again with You, God. I missed You, Lord. Out here--" I drew in a deep breath, and then exhaled. "Out here I feel like You are right here with me."

Just ahead was a line of trees--some oaks and white pines--the edge of an old forest. Fearlessly I headed into the dark woods, went about 25 feet, stopped, and listened.

Almost immediately, something jumped up and ran away to my left. I love the
challenge of running through the woods: so I ran after it, hopping over a fallen log.

That was a big mistake.

My left foot landed on a rock and I twisted my ankle, and fell down. I can take a lot of pain--that wasn't a problem--so I pulled myself back up, and tried to run again. After a few steps I fell down again, and rolled in pain.

It was pretty bad.

But--I didn't know there was a big hill right there.

Just between two pine trees was an erosion gully that went down a steep hill--at least 50 feet. I bounced all the way down there into a shallow pond, and landed with a splash!

I think I may have injured something else, as I grabbed my left arm in pain. My right leg was hurting, too. Slowly, now wet, I crawled to the side and reached for my satellite phone to call my friend, but I couldn't use it.

I was just in too much pain.

I passed out, with the phone in my hand.

+++

"I found a card in your pocket, and called the pastor. He just happened to be in the same woods we were, and he helped me get you out.
You are lucky."

+++

Pastor Rick spoke with confidence, and with the anointing of God. "As beautiful as this building is, 'the church' is not this building. What makes the church is the people in it! Let's turn to First Corinthians Chapter 12, verses 20-22--

As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (NIV)

"The church is the Lord's body. I am just one part, and each one of you are one part--but we need each other to survive. No one stands alone!

"Don't be lost in the woods by yourself--"

I didn't understand... but as the pastor spoke, I was crying. I walked down to the front and knelt down, and lifted up my hands.

I'll bet they built that church in a meadow, because I looked up and whispered, "I missed You, Lord..."
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This article has been read 1713 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
12/14/07
I've always been bothered by poeple who talk about their "church in the woods." This story takes a different approach, and I liked it.
Yvonne Blake 
12/15/07
This is great! You took the "excuse" many people use and showed how they need the body of the church. Well done!
LaNaye Perkins
12/15/07
Your story kept my attention from the title to the last sentence. Well done!
Beckie Stewart
12/17/07
Good story and how you showed how we need the Body to worship the Lord in spirit and truth.
LauraLee Shaw
12/17/07
but we need each other to survive. No one stands alone!

Wow! What a statement! Love your title and the content from beginning to end. Great piece!
Peter Stone
12/19/07
You make a good point. Too many people have the attitude of "Just me and the Man upstairs" and completely forsake meeting together with other Christians.
Temple Miller
12/19/07
Great story, green pickl! Your dialogue was good and your message, "right on target."

I loved it!
Paula Titus 
12/19/07
Sometimes it takes an act such as this from God, to enable us to realize that we do indeed need each other. Wonderful message :)
Janice Cartwright
12/20/07
I like the way the narrative leads into the message; almost like a devotional and yet it's a complete story.
Shelley Ledfors
12/20/07
Some great thoughts here. I'm glad that you didn't minimize the God and nature experience--it can be very special. But, of course, it is not enough. We really do need each other. Your story was a great way of getting that point across!
Paul Potenza
01/19/08
Good article.

I came across it tonight and I thought about a friend of mine.

I could use some advice.

Pauly