Last month my column was very heavy.  Therefore, this month, I want to give you a break and just say Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, and have some fun.  Let me offer a way to do just that and relate it to football and church.

Did you know church is sometimes just like football (Go Navy, Go Georgia Tech, and Go Gators!)?

Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving before the final prayer.  

Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.      

Half time - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave. 

Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.  

Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.  

Staying in the Pocket - This is what happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.      

Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and you begin to gather your children and belongings.  

Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.   

Sudden Death - This is what happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes into "overtime".  

Trap - You're called on to pray and are asleep.   

End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.  

Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.      

Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation to skip out on mid-week prayers and

Bible Study.  

Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.

Here at Heritage we try to have some fun and not take ourselves so seriously.  Our lives are full of more then we can handle sometimes.  Church should be a place of comfort and a place of refuge.  Church should also be a place for spiritual growth and a place that challenges us to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.  These are the values that should drive the mission of the church.  When we live these values we teach our children about what really matters in life and with that we truly offer Thanksgiving.

While we should not take ourselves so seriously, we should still take our relationships and our obligations seriously.  We have an obligation to God and to one another.  Leaving church out of your weekly schedule just might turn it into a weakly (spiritual) schedule.  I miss you when you are not here!  I hope to see you this Sunday!

 With Love and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Henry