As one of the deacons, I have been given the task of doing "my share" of the attendance. We have been blessed with enough people that it is difficult for any one person to keep track of who's missing at any given service, so the elders have broken the membership up into 5 lists with each of us deacons having our own chunk to worry about. You may have noticed us back there at the beginning or end of a service, checking off who's here. This is a great tool for helping us all stay on top of those who are slipping away. Often times in the past I have heard someone who no longer comes to the assembly proclaim, "no one ever missed me," which isn't exactly true. I miss every person that isn't there at any service. But I don't always notice that you are not there. I'm glad to have a part in the attendance taking, because it gives me a visual reminder of who may need my prayers and encouragement.

I know of other places, where members keep attendance for themselves more "unofficially." When I grew up in the little church in Lisbon, since there were so few of us there was no way you could be missed. Even then, my grandmother would keep a sharp eye out for us not being there. If I stayed home sick, she would be sure to always ask me why I wasn't there last time, even though I know full well she already got the facts from my mom and dad. It's not nosy to watch out for each other; it's concern and love.

So there I was two Wednesday nights ago, doing the attendance in the back. Bill was also doing his portion of the list at the same time. I have the Crihfields to Krauses on my list, and since that includes the Hayes I was looking for Wally and Sandy. There was Wally sitting on one side of the building, and there was Sandy on the other. Huh? Aren't married people supposed to sit together? Especially an elder and his wife, who are to be good examples to all of us, right? So I looked for Mo, to "double check" my thinking. Uh oh, Mr. Mo was sitting with Wally! Janet was sitting way up front by herself! So I thought in my mischievous mind that I would bring this up to Kieran and he and I would get a good laugh, but there was Kieran sitting in the front, while Patti was sitting in the back! Was this a conspiracy? Is the church abounding in broken marriages? I was having quite a time amusing myself thinking about these things so much I had to share it with someone. So I mentioned it to Bill. Now Bill is a no-nonsense kind of guy with a good sense of humor, who quickly pointed out that Nancy was there sitting without him, too. But before I had a chance to tease him, he says "And where is YOUR wife?"

Right away this reminded me of an experience a long time ago when I was at a "rock-a-thon." The gal I was dating was Baptist, and her "youth group" was trying to raise money by bringing rocking chairs into their building, and rocking around the clock. People had pledged so many cents or dollars per hour, and I was allowed to sit with her and keep her company. (I wasn't rocking.) At midnight, their "pastor" had them all take a quick break and say a prayer. After the prayer, he was critical of several of them (including my gal) for having their eyes open during the prayer. Apparently, the Baptists believe that you had to pray with eyes closed or it was a sin. He really got on to them about it, and after about 15 minutes of his lecturing one of the older teens calmly said "And how did you know? You must have had your own eyes open to see us, and you were the one that was praying!"

It's easy to see the faults of others, isn't it, especially when we are looking so hard for them. Too bad we often don't look so hard or so honestly at our own behavior! Maybe we should try a little harder to overlook the minor imperfections and have a more forgiving heart. Don't you think that's how God wants us to be?

Matthew 6:11-15 Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 6:37-38 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 23:33-34 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Luke 18:11-13 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?