1. My mother makes me. And I believe children should do what their mother says. I'm now in my 40's, but if I didn't go to church my mother would be very disappointed in me and life is tough enough without dealing with a disappointed mother.

2. I get paid to go. I'm a pastor. People expect to have their preacher there on the Sundays they decide to attend church. They can tell me they overslept, had unexpected company, or needed to play golf, but if I do the same, I don't get paid. Is that fair?

3. My friends are there. The people I like to be with are also people who attend worship with me. I look forward to seeing them and miss them when they are away. I need and enjoy the fellowship that happens when we assemble ourselves together.

4. The music is good. I hear real people singing real songs, sometimes real loud. It's not like the noise I hear on the radio. Church music on the radio or TV is usually too professional or not professional enough. Church music is real.

5. People hug me. This doesn't happen at the grocery store or gas station. At church, people hug, shake hands and stand around and talk, long after the sermon is over. Some hug better than others. Hugs are very therapeutic.

6. It tests my faith. Last Sunday I broke a button on my shirt, spilled coffee on my suit, ran out of gas and coasted into a gas station trying to get to church. I felt my faith grow as I realized I left my sermon at home. Sunday mornings are good for my faith.

7. I present my tithes and offerings to God. I like to see my tithe go into the offering plate, carried off by sincere looking ushers and know God is watching. I believe in tithing so much I'm almost a fanatic. Being at church allows me to be regular, systematic and faithful in my giving.

8. Sunday is the Lord's Day. I'm a big proponent of the new trend of having worship on Saturday nights. I have no problem with worship seven days a week. But that doesn't change the fact Sunday is the Lord's Day. Going to church on Saturday doesn't excuse me to loaf or sin on Sunday. Sunday is the first day of the week and I believe the first day of every week, the first hour of every day, the first dollar, the first smile, the first words should be for God.

9. My family needs me to be there. So does yours. I believe the best gifts I can give my children are to take them to church, listen to their problems, treat them fairly, show them I love them unconditionally and help them know Jesus. If dad provides a family altar, reads the Bible, prays and still acts like a regular dad, they will never get over it. I try, and often fail, to be a 24 hour a day Christian example. I'm not perfect, they are not perfect, and the church is not perfect. The sooner they understand these facts, the sooner they will understand grace. A steady diet of truth and grace, seasoned with love and patience, is the combined goal of the church and home.

10. Sunday is God's gift to me. If I didn't have a Christian mother, were not an ordained minister, did not have any friends, or enjoy great Christian music...if I had plenty of hugs, bushels of faith, and giving and tithes were not relevant issues...if the Bible never mentioned the Lord's Day, if I had no family to take, I would still need Sunday to worship Jesus in my heart, mind and body because I love him. He has given me a gift. I love Him because He first loved me. Sunday is like an anniversary coming each week.

If there were no such day as Sunday I would invent one. If there were no building, body and bride called the church I would try to create one. I worship God on Sunday because I need to, want to and have to. The thought of a week without Sunday is like a life without God...dreary, monotonous, and unfulfilled. Sunday is God's gift to us, not our gift to Him. I am thankful for this gift. Being at church with my family, enjoying the music and hugs are all icing on the cake.