Abundant Life...
"Growing as ONE,
Sharing HIS Love,
Living by Faith"
Pastor Wally Shifflett's Page
From Pastor Wally:
The story was once told about a young man who left home to enter military service. His parents were worried about how he would get along in military life. The son had been raised in a Christian family; was taught to trust in Jesus as Savior; and up to that point in his life, he had lived a life worthy of being called "Christian." The parents had heard horror stories about the wild and reckless living of some of the young in the military. What if their son came under the wrong influences? How would he resist the challenges to his way of life? Would he continue to live a Christian life?
When the young man came home on leave, his parents were anxious to discover if their fears of military life corrupting their son had been realized. So they asked him: "Son, how have you managed to live in what sometimes must seem like such an "unchristian" environment? To which the son replied, "Mom and Dad, you didn't have to worry. I blended right in. The other guys didn't even know that I was a Christian!"
I wonder how many of us could make that same basic statement: "The people that we are around in our day to day life don't even have a clue that we are Christian. We blend right in." I don't think we always make a conscious decision to be "just like them." It's just a matter of doing what's comfortable. We develop habits that are not conducive to living our lives for Jesus. Being around other Christian folk, and participating in the work of the church is just not convenient anymore. Serious Bible study becomes a thing of the past. We find all sorts of reasons not to gather with the church on Sunday morning. And pretty soon, we "blend in" with all the other folks for whom Christ is not a factor.
What should we expect when this "change of habit" becomes evident to our Christian friends? Should we expect them to make excuses for our absence? Should we expect them to also blend into a world where everybody is suppose to mind their own business? Should we expect them to allow our bad habits to continue? Let's ask ourselves this question: Who will be the happiest when we stay away from other Christians, when we stop serving the Lord, when we despise the means by which God nurtures our faith in worship and in bible study? Will it not be Satan who is happiest about this deterioration in our spiritual habits?
The word "discipline" comes from the word "disciple" which we define as a "Fully functional follower of Jesus." This is the end purpose to which the energies of the church are always directed: Making and growing disciples! To that end, we all find it necessary to develop good spiritual habits. When bad habits have developed, it often takes external motivation for us to replace them with good habits. This is where our brother or sister in the faith comes in. This is where your Pastor and fellow members are called to intervene. As Abundant Life marks the fourth year since we were chartered as a church, those who allow themselves to "blend in" with the world should expect to get help in reacquiring the habits of a "fully functional follower of Jesus." This is the thing towards which Church discipline is always directed, that all believers may develop the spiritual discipline of a disciple. By God's grace, it's what we should expect!
In Christ, whom we follow,
Pastor
Where in the World is Pastor Wally?
- Check the Message Board for the latest travel and on the road ministry updates from Pastor.
- Post your own entry to the Message Board and report sightings of Pastor Wally Shifflett as he criss crosses the Southeast driving truck in support of the mission at Abundant Life.
Members of Abundant Life pictured next to Pastor's truck
Click picture for full sized view
Weekly Devotional Schedule
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Sunday Worship Service - 11:00am each Sunday
Engaging, upbeat, inclusive praise worship service. - Grace Alive! - 10:00 am Sunday mornings
Fun Sunday educational program for children. - Life Together Sunday - 10:00 am Sunday mornings
Fellowship and scriptural study for adults. - Life Together Tuesday - 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm Tuesdays.
A special time for prayer, praise, fellowship, and bible study.
6740 Albemarle Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
Mail To:
Abundant Life Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 25262, Charlotte, NC 28229
(704)531-9000
Rev. Wally Shifflett, Pastor e-mail
