S October 14, 2002  

"GET THE PICTURE?"
ABC'S 2002
HOMECOMING SUNDAY THEME

Cameras and I have never been friendly. The few times I have tried to be a shutterbug I've managed to take pictures that are out of focus, or aimed in the wrong direction, or both. People who agree to pose for me inevitably choose to blink or talk just when I snap the picture.

So, I'm glad that the church always seems to have some members with photographic gifts. Right now Robert Wilde and Paul DeVaughn can be seen snapping away at Sunday morning worship service, as well as many of the church's other events. Thanks to them, we're able to look at ourselves in a variety of candied poses, which often inspires us to diet or be more careful about how we dress. Each of these photographs represents a moment in the life of Altadena Baptist Church.

Homecoming Sunday is a time when we take a spiritual picture of the church, so that we can more easily visualize our overall health and growth and are better able to see where the Lord is leading us. Calling all our members and friends to make a special effort to attend, we also invite former members of the church family to renew their ties with us, and many do. Through this shared experience we are inspired, challenged, and directed for the months of ministry ahead.

As we try to "get the picture" on November 3, I ask you to look at the church through three particular lenses:

• Through the lens of Worship –
  How freely do we express our relationship with God, through Christ, in our morning service?
  
• Through the lens of Caring –
  How openly do we show our unity with and love for one another in the fellowship?
  
• Through the lens of Outreach –
  How aggressively and how effectively do we share our vision of salvation through Jesus with our community and with the world?

Remember, when someone takes a spiritual picture of this church, the printout of the image should show, through Jesus, God's truth, God's expectations, God's love and God's salvation. When people see God's image in our church, they should be attracted to him and invited to come to him. On Homecoming Sunday, ask yourself whether people around the church actually see this picture of God through the church's worship, caring, and outreach.

Sometimes a favorite photo can be made into a jigsaw puzzle. It's fun to get a personalized puzzle like this and put it together, piece by piece. But it's always frustrating for jigsaw puzzle lovers to finish the puzzle and find a piece or two missing. You can still make out what the photo is about, but it just doesn't seem to tell the whole story without those missing pieces.

Don't be a missing piece on November 3. Come and fill in your part of the photo, so that all of us may really "get the picture.

–Pastor George VanAlstine