Consider the farm couple caught in the Kansas tornado. The storm took off their roof, picked up the bed they were sleeping in, and set it down gently in the barnyard. The wife continued to weep softly long after it was clear they were safe.

"Don't be afraid," soothed her husband.

"I'm not," she replied. "I'm just so happy. This is the first time in 25 years we have been out together."

Or consider this unexpected exchange. The family was traveling by train. One of the kids said, "Mother, what was the name of that last station we stopped at?"

"I don't know, honey," she replied with little interest. "Why?"

"Well," replied the child, "Sister got off there."

Consider the obvious answers to this question: "Why don't more people go to church?"

Obvious answers might include: "They are have no interest in faith, don't care about the Lord, don't feel the need or God in their lives, etc."

But I have discovered that some potentially fine Christians are out of church for some unexpected reasons: Here are a few: 1. "I don't like to dress up."

Response: Then don't! Church is not a fashion show. In many churches today you will find some people in suits and others in jeans. The Lord doesn't have a dress code and good churches don't either.

2. "My spouse won't go to church with me."

Response: The church is not Noah's Ark. People are not required to go in "two by two." People are responsible for their own faith. Worship Is too Important to allow someone else to keep us away from it.

3. "Sunday is really my only time off."

Response: And thank God you have it - this gift of time to grow in grace. We need more than rest. We need restoration. We need our spirits healed, and church is the place for that.

Many of you reading this article right now are not in church, but you have been thinking about going for a long time. The time has now come.

Whatever has held you back is wrong; your impulse to worship the Lord is right.

Be in church somewhere this Sunday. Choose a church. Choose a time. And GO! Simple as that.

May God bless you.