The title is taken from the book of Nehemiah chapter four and verse six. Here is described the progress of the Israelites as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after returning from exile in Babylon. It was a huge undertaking, and they had many detractors, but nothing stopped them simply because they were committed. Each one of them knew why they had come back and each one must certainly have had an image in their minds of what could be if they put their backs to it. And how about it… Jerusalem was indeed rebuilt, and is still there! We have seen this same kind of industry, progress and heart here at Choctaw over the last few months and especially during the last couple of weeks as we prepared to celebrate our 70th anniversary. If we could only bottle this kind of effort we could change the world. We showed up in good numbers and cleaned, washed, painted, planted, repaired, redid, redecorated, replaced and otherwise dressed up our building and grounds to the best of our abilities. Some new furniture was purchased and other necessary pieces of a unique nature were designed and built by one of our members (just go look in the foyer). A crew had been working for months to collect historical information, plan the day’s events, and to plan the meal that would end up feeding over five hundred people. We ate in the fellow-ship hall. We ate in classrooms. We ate in the foyer. As it said in Acts chapter two and verse forty-six, we were enjoying our meal “together with gladness and sincerity of heart“. A special book was even made to commemorate the last seventy years along with a huge banner that still recalls the celebration on our foyer wall. Invitations were designed, printed and mailed out to all past members and others associated with this very special congregation because we did not want anyone to be overlooked or to miss out on this wonderful occasion.And a wonderful occasion it was. You should have heard the singing! You could feel the fellowship. The word was preached by those who’d served this congregation in years past and all of us worshiped together. What a great day it was! By God’s grace we have been saved, or there would be no cause for celebration. It is His grace and the hope of His eternal salvation and the inheritance He promises that inspires us and compels us to give our lives for the only truly worthwhile cause in the universe, which is godliness itself. We now have this day of celebration to remember as a foretaste of what is to come. Yes, we understand that God blesses every effort we make on His behalf and this is what gives us, as it did the Israelites of Nehemiah’s day “a mind to work”.