Sometimes in our lives and careers, we need to stop to take a breath and get back to the basics. Many jobs offer and encourage periodic continuing education classes, or the company will shut down for a long lunch hour (or, if you’re lucky) the whole day and spend some time in casual activities and games to get to know your co-workers better. When I was one of the librarians at Georgia State University, once a year the libraries would close and spend the day at the Indian Creek Recreation area that Georgia State owned off Memorial Drive and Indian Creek Road. We had a couple serious sessions, but a lot more time  fun and games and food. After these days, we all felt like we knew each other better and we worked better together as a cohesive group of faculty and staff. We went back to the basics of our jobs and getting to remember why we enjoyed working at the Library. We also saw a different side of our fellow staff and faculty in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoyed renewing and making some new friendships.

  At times, churches need to get back to basics … especially the larger churches. We get so caught up in programs (often confused with ministry), numbers of people involved, facilities, furnishings, and decorations, that we lose the reason we exist. Unless you are one of the mega-involved and “popular” members who can make larger monetary or equipment contributions, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. The average person who just comes for a worship service and Bible study class often is overlooked, feels somewhat left out, and finally just leaves because “no one even knows who I am or speaks to me when I come.” The Church exists for the purpose of worshiping our God and reaching all people for Christ and that includes inclusion regardless of job status, finances, or what they can provide. Or, how elegant and fancy the buildings are. God doesn’t care about the trappings; He simply wants us to meet together for worship and All People should be welcomed and their spiritual and physical needs met by the fellowship. Back to Basics.

  Finally, and in my opinion, we all need to personally get back to basics.  As we go through our daily hectic lives, do we remember the basics of our faith? Remember the song, “Jesus Loves Me?” We think of it as a children’s song, but it is a pure and simple statement of faith. It reminds us that Jesus loves us, that He watches over us, He guides us through our daily walk, and when our life is over, He will be welcoming us into Heaven.

  There are a number of scriptures that reminds us that one of the basics of our faith is to take care of others. In my experience, this is one thing that the church does well. Many churches provide food and clothing to those who need, sponsoring programs to help non-profits which help specific populations of our community and world, referrals to county or city organizations to provide financial, housing, or other assistance, taking mission trips to other states or countries to provide labor and teaching. We, as a church and Christians, must provide for people’s physical needs before they will listen to us about their spiritual needs.

  Getting back to our basics as Christians and the Church is basically to “love God, love others, and take care of those in need.” This is just a start, but it is a beginning. We must keep this thought in our minds constantly to be the most effective Christian possible.  Back to Basics.

  And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.