"...Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:25)

A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped attending. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for the preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace, and waited. The preacher made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, placed it to one side of the hearth alone, and then sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then it's fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial gathering. Just before the preacher was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately, it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back for worship services next Lord's Day." (Author Unknown)