Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name. – Psalm 100:4

It is good to be back in Tarboro for church this Sunday. Last weekend Rebekah and I were in Virginia Beach for our nephew Reed’s wedding so we attended Providence Presbyterian Church with Reed’s dad, Tom, plus a couple of pews full with Alexanders representing the family.

The church was well attended, obviously active and filled with good people engaged in worship and mission and service.

Showing up is good for faith!

Rebekah and I always show up for church when we are out of town. Vacation, business, family… whatever the reason we go out of our way to attend, because a regular routine of worship is a critically important element of a life of faith. At the same time, we never cease to be amazed at the lack of enthusiasm so many people – clergy as well as lay leaders – communicate when it comes to how they present the Good News.

I believe the most effective tools we have for sharing faith are: A) Evidence of the good news in how we live; and B) Genuine passion in the way that we tell the story.

Living good news out loud and telling the story with joy

Rebekah and I look at each other sometimes, and raise an eyebrow. “Is this supposed to be an invitation into worship! Where is the excitement? Where is the joy? Where is the sense of love and light? Where is the wonder?”

This morning when we attend church (or participate in a Bible study, or give a report, or speak in a Presbytery meeting) let’s enter into God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise… and let’s pray that the people leading do so in a way that tells the truth about the amazing privilege and richness and beauty of a life of faith.

After all, this is The Greatest Story Ever Told, and we are living it! – DEREK