September 24, 2000

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Kidnapped At Church

I saw it with my own eyes last Sunday moniing. A 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl were kidnapped right out of the assembly on Sunday morning. It was a terrible sight but I was helpless to come to their rescue. People were all around, late-comers were looking for seats and the ushers were busy trying to get everyone seated.

A lady of good report in our community -- who is a member of our local church family -- secured the cooperation of some other people nearby, and grabbed these children by the arms and started out the door. My first impulse was to jump off the rostrum and race to the back of the auditorium to stop this kidnapping. I thought the ushers might stop them, so I kept my seat. The three adults surrounded the children and marched them out past everybody! Finally, my conscience prodded me to run to their rescue.  Intended to overtake them on the parking lot but was hindered by a large number of people who were also leaving the assembly after partaking of the Lord's supper. Sadly, I watched them drive away in their late model automobile. This happened right under my nose and I was powerless to help.

I wanted to call the police but I did not. I wanted to dismiss the service and form a posse, but I did not. I wanted to report this to the F. B. I., but I did not. I just didn't take the time to act immediately because the congregation was waiting for me to deliver the sermon. With a heavy heart I proceeded to preach a lesson on the blessings of Christian worship. What a pity! Those who really needed this lesson were already gone from the assembly.

You see, the kids were "kidnapped" away from God's worship by their mother and her neighbors, who do not have time to stay for the rest of the worship. I guess they had it figured like many other good brethren, that the Lord's Supper is the most important part of the worship. So after partaking of it, they felt free to leave the assembly and take care of more pressing matters.

If I knew where to look, I might could have found these kidnappers at the front of the line at some restaurant.

-Copied form the Market Street Bulletin, Athens, AL

The kind of doctor that I want is one who when he is not examining me is home studying

medicine. G.S. Kaufinan

Failure to hit the bull's eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim---improve yourself.

GilbertArtand

It is a trained, living, human soul, cultivated and strengthened by long study and thought that breathes the real breath of life into boys and girls.

-W.E.B. Dubois

When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more brick layers.

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My parents always told me that people will never know how long it takes you to do something. They will only know how well it is done.

-,Vancy Hanks