KnowhutImean, Vern?
by Pastor Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist

Actor Jim Varney created a memorable character named Ernest. Readers might remember this
slow-witted, braggartly country bumpkin pitchman. Ernest became a success as his syndicated
presence advertised various products across the country. He most memorable line was, "Know
what I mean, Vern?"---a question repeatedly asked of an off-screen character as Ernest searched
for validation. Indeed, the commercial character became so big that he starred in his own movies.

I hadn't really thought of Ernest or Vern for years until this past week. My cable repairman is
Vern (well, Vernon, but Vern is better for the story). Why is this important? How many repairmen
do you know by name? If one calls, do you recognize his voice on the phone before he identifies
himself? I know Vern because of familiarity; he's been a regular here on the church grounds.

In all of this, I don't mean to disparage my cable company. They deliver good TV and internet
service. Vern's been around quite a bit because the company tries to give quality service in spite
my being a long way from the main cable. The parsonage sits on a hill above Holy Cross Church
and the co-axial cable ran over 600 feet and was stretched by wind, broken by ice, snagged by a
tall vehicle, and otherwise subjected to constant abuse. Also, its small diameter meant that the
signal degraded significantly before it ever got to the house. Vern persuaded his company to move
us to thicker, stronger, better-transmitting wire, and the results have been excellent.

Why is this part of a religion column? Well, this past week saw the death of a faithfully attending
member of the congregation. Edgar was a man who, because of bad heart and aching body, could
have excused himself from sitting through church. However, he was here whenever he could be.
For the last few months, he took to keeping his own cushion at church so he could physically
endure the wooden pews to gain what his soul desired---the Gospel of forgiveness of his sins.

How do these two men tie together? Both of them faithfully carried out what they knew was
right. As a member of this congregation, Edgar came to the place where he could hear his beloved
Jesus forgive his sins and promise him rest and peace through the voice of his pastor. He came to
receive the strength of his Savior's body and blood, even as his own body and blood grew ever
more tired. Vern was also faithful to his calling: God allows him to serve others by installing and
servicing their cable systems and he does just this. I know Vern because he came when needed,
did his work well and enthusiastically, and constantly searched for better and more permanent
fixes to the distance problems we faced.

The connection is that, for different reasons, I know both men because they were here at church.
That got me wondering how many delinquent members' faces I'd recognize. Would I know their
voices the way I do Vern's if they called the house? This leads to the questions of whether they
would recognize their Savior or if they would know His voice if He called them. This isn't just an
Emma problem or a Holy Cross problem. In fact, the percentage of recorded members attending
here is significantly higher than some places. In much of Europe, for instance, less than five
percent who are affiliated with Christian churches actually attend worship. But even one gone is
one too many.

I don't need a full house to be a pastor. I need to be faithful to my call, speaking God's Word to
the flock gathered here and caring for their spiritual needs. Likewise, God doesn't need a packed
building. However, He both desires and demands it. If we won't worship Him in time, there's no
guarantee that we'll be allowed to worship Him in eternity. If we don't know our sins and His
forgiveness, if we cannot tell our Savior's voice from that of our cable repairman, how will He
call us to live forever in the place He has prepared?

If Vernon were a lazy, half-hearted service man, he'd soon be looking for a job. Instead, he enjoys
the praise of this satisfied customer. If Edgar had been spiritually lazy, seeking excuses to avoid
rather than reasons to attend church, I know that the joyful funeral service and sermon on
Saturday would have been much more muted and somber.

I imagine that I share one question with most of my brothers around this nation and, probably,
around the world. People continually ask if they should or must regularly attend church. Well,
what sort of repairman would I have if he wasn't fixing what was broken? And what sort of
eternity could I unreservedly proclaim for Edgar if I didn't ever see testimony of his faith in word
and deed? The difference is that Vern goes to meet others' needs while the Christian goes where
his need is met. Vern comes to Holy Cross whenever I need my cable fixed. Christians come to
church as they realize their need for God to fix their lives through His Son's forgiveness.

Do you take your sinful, broken life in for regular maintenance? Do you regularly come to the
Lord's house, where He can fix the damage sin works in your life? Do you receive clearly His
voice calling you to repentance and giving you full forgiveness? Do you realize that you need to
be where God does these things? How will He repair what you don't bring into His "shop"?
These are all excellent reasons why you should set or continue the habit of regularly church
attendance and joyful participation in worship.

KnowhutImean, Vern?

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email
to askthepastor@aol.com.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."