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Think On These Things Newsletter>
Church Signs On the Road
January 29, 2008
As a young boy, I loved riding in the car on vacations. We
would take a one or two week trip during the summer.
Naturally, with four people closed up in a car for hours on
end it was not always pleasant, but overall it was indeed
memorable. I know there were difficult moments, but I
rarely remember those - except the really difficult moments
that might have been my fault. But I distinctly remember
the good times. Even trips with our boys have been
memorable , though there were times when Cyndy and I
threatened to turn around and come home if the boys did not
straighten up.
One of the thrills for me as a youth was staying in hotels
and motels - there was more of a distinction between the
two then - that were markedly different than what I saw at
home. Eating at restaurants with food on the menu that was
specific to that part of the country - not to be readily
found at home. It is a disappointment to me when taking
trips now that it is a common matter to be on a street with
hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants and, forgetting
for the moment how far from home you are, you could easily
be in your hometown. Where I would see a Joe’s Bar and
Grill, the Dew Drop Inn, and Hilda’s Café, my boys now see
a Denny’s, McDonalds, Comfort Inn, Walmart, and Starbucks.
Fortunately - thanks to God’s inimitable ways of inspiring
his followers - churches are the exception. Despite using
similar architecture at times, all churches are uniquely
different. Church buildings within a particular
denomination may use a common theme. Yet each displays a
particular aspect of its congregations’ personality.
Usually the difference lies within the steeple, doors,
windows, and/or the sign pronouncing the name of the
church. Each congregation has its own unique differences as
well, but I refer here to the buildings.
As I grew up, when they began making signs with separate
letters allowing slogans to be changed at will, signs began
to appear in front of churches with a catchy phrase
attempting to “drive home” a point to sinners passing by.
It only now occurs to me as I write this that on the next
trip I will endeavor to ascertain which denominations have
“message signs” in front of the church. Nevertheless, it is
the messages themselves that have caught our eye. Some have
been overly cute, some serious but misspellings made them
humorous, and some have appropriately humorous sayings that
hit the mark. Then there are those churches who opt out for
a verse with the Sunday morning schedule of service and
Sunday School times. Which may also have a message -
usually concerning the sermon on the coming Sunday.
Few of the sayings we see are striking enough to be
remembered long. Yet there was one which struck me enough
to stamp it into in my memory. I was looking at something
on the left side of the road. I almost didn’t look back to
the right in time to see it. It was a modest, rather
nondescript wooden church building. At least sixty years
old with the traditional steeple and little more than the
sanctuary. The sign was of an older style, but appeared
well kempt.
“You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on
ahead.”
Our church - and many other churches - were in the midst
of the yearly stewardship campaign in which everyone is
urged to turn in their pledge cards for the following year.
It was the best stewardship campaign slogan I had seen.
Simple and humorous, yet marvelously appropriate. The tithe
put in basic terms. Financial karma.
People understand saving for the future. They understand
receiving a return on their investment. Although no one
really thinks there are safety deposit boxes in heaven, it
is easy to understand investing in the future. Not only are
we investing in our heavenly future, but at the same time
we are investing in the life of the church and spreading
the word of the Lord. In addition to following the path on
which the Lord is ready to lead us and living according to
his commandments, we can send our love and intentions on
ahead. As C. S. Lewis stated in the final paragraph of
“Mere Christianity,” “Nothing that you have not given away
will be really yours.”
Peace be with you.
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