If a pessimist sees the glass as half-empty and the optimist sees the glass as half-full, then I choose to be the optimist. Thinking positive just for the sake of thinking positive doesn't really do much good. The reason I am optimistic is God's promise. And God's promises never fail. What I choose to be so optimistic about is Good Shepherd. I can understand those who are more pessimistic and see the church as half-empty. I have my moments. Summer Worship on Wednesday (W.O.W.) hit an all-time low attendance of 6. Worship on Wednesdays was offered for those who couldn't make it to worship on Sunday. The low attendance on Wednesdays certainly wasn't because the church was full on Sundays. More attended at 8:00am, but often without any children for a children's message; 10:45am had fewer attending, but always a number of children. Lower attendance is typical at all churches in summer, but seems especially true this summer at Good Shepherd.

During the summer, weekly offerings were often nearly only half of what is needed to meet our budget. If the budget were simply gas and electricity, we could survive without a stove and A/C. But the budget is also people — the children in Preschool — the young people in Youth Ministry — the adult Christians who call Good Shepherd home — and all those in our community and beyondwho have yet to know Jesus as Savior. Projects tomake the ministry ofGood Shepherdmore effective have been stalled — among them are a projection systemand a newwebsite. Our oldwebsite is relatively expensive and very limited. A new website could be updated regularly, accept payments online for the preschool, and keep in touch with members, among other features. While less expensive eachmonth than our currentwebsite, there is an initial fee to design it.

Add to all this the normal continuous flux of people in and out of positions in the church, all the people so busythere’s little, if any, time for church, the attacks of Satan, the constant pressure of the world, the economy with its unemployment and threat of recession, and our own sinful natures — it’s easy to see the church as half-empty. Speaking in pessimistic language, things look pretty bad when there’s no people and no money!

Can you tell that I’m fluent in speaking pessimistic? And I haven’t even gotten started. But I refuse to be pessimistic. I choose, instead, to be optimistic. The longer we focus on our problems, the bigger they seem to appear. In order to be optimistic, we need to focus on God and what he’s able to accomplish.

While attendance is down, God continues to gather somewonderful Christians together at Good Shepherd!  While offerings have been low, those who are giving are sharing generously! While many seemto have just stopped going to church, there is an amazing number of new people who are ready and willing to be the church.

Some make the mistake of thinking that church is somewhere you go. But the church is you. That’s why the Bible doesn’t talk about GOING to church — but instead BEING the church. Being the church includes six essential things: worshiping; serving; giving; studying; praying; and telling.

September is back to school. I pray that it’s also back to church for you — especially if you’ve been away for a while. During themonth of September, we will explore the basics of what it means to be the church. Will we see an increase in worship? In offerings? In Bible study? In service? In praying? In telling others about Jesus?

I’m going to be optimistic. As the saying goes —wemay not knowwhat tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow. It’s the same One who is at work in you — the One who died in your place on a cross as your Savior.He is more than able to supply us with all that we need to be the people he has called us to be! In fact, I’m not only optimistic — I’m excited about the future!

-Pastor Kevin Hahn