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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Barbeque/Cookout (09/06/12)
    not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25 NAS)
“It’s summer and we are in our backyard and everyone in the world it seems is there,” wrote Dylan Rousan sharing a nostalgic memory of a cookout at RandyQ.Addr.com. “The women are at tables laughing and preparing food and there are kids playing everywhere. But down the hill, where we aren't allowed to go, are the men.”

“They have taken my swing set and removed the seats to the swings so only the chains dangle,” Dylan continued. “They put this over a hole in the ground that is filled with burning logs. They have huge chunks of meat wrapped in chicken wire (I'm guessing here) and they hook them to the chains and poke them with this pole every once in a while to keep them gently moving back and forth. The pitmaster grabs the meat when someone hooks the chain and pulls it over to him and he unhooks it, and dumps it in a wash bucket.”

“Soon after that is when I moved to Arizona so I think I hold on to that memory because it was the last really happy time I had there before my life changed so much” Dylan wrote. “But to this day I associate a good time and family being together with BBQ. If I'm somewhere and I catch a whiff of que in the air it always takes me back, if only for a second, to that summer day in Missouri.”

A barbeque cookout get-together offers lots of fun, and I remember when I had it years ago with my friends, it brought our relationship closer. Too often we neglect spending quality time together with our loved ones and friends because we have been too busy working, caring for ourselves and for our family, or even serving in the ministry. Are we missing out on what is more important?

The Bible says not to forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another, and all the more as we see the day drawing near. The purpose for such meeting together is clear—to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). These Bible verses although are frequently used to refer to the need for fellow believers to regularly meet in church, in effect they are also applicable to any other type of get together. Do we know that participating in activities such as a cookout can yield much good as well? We get to encourage one another, build relationships with loved ones, friends, and those who are yet unsaved, create opportunities to share the gospel, and still find rest from the routines of our stressful life.

So when we are invited for a cookout the next time, let us not turn down the invitation, for we can never know what joyful memories it will bring to us in the days ahead. Who knows, we may win or lead some souls to the Lord. If we, on the other hand, are the ones inviting people to a cookout, let us remember not to keep ourselves too busy doing all the necessary and neglect what is more important—to share and listen (Luke 10:41-42).

Thank You dear Lord for granting us the many opportunities to spend meaningful time with our loved ones, friends and those who have yet to know You. We know Lord that through such meeting together, You have given us rest amid building closer relationships with one another, to love, share, and encourage. Help us Lord not to turn down or refrain from such gatherings because of busyness doing all the necessary and neglect the crucial—the salvation of those yet unsaved and the strengthening of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Refill us Lord with joy and happiness that we may not, because of life changes, fail to find rest from our stressful lives, but hold fast in confidence the confession of our hope in You.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Seema Bagai 
09/14/12
You made some good points in this piece. I was confused, though, by why a portion of what you wrote is actually the words of someone else on another website. Perhaps there could be a different way to illustrate your point. The prayer at the end was excellent.
Laura Hawbaker
09/14/12
I like the idea of that verse in Hebrews meaning more than just getting together for church services. The first sentence in the 4th paragraph (after the quote) is a bit run-on. Probably would have been stronger if stated in two sentences.
C D Swanson 
09/15/12
Beautiful job with bringing forward an important and vital message. Loved your prayer and how it concluded with all points that you mentioned earlier. Nicely done.

God bless~