Years ago I was the public relations director for a Lutheran institution of higher learning. I was asked to write a news story about our opening service and include photos of the service.

After I completed and edited the story, I looked for suitable photos. The best photo was one taken from the chapel balcony showing the pageantry of the service with all the banners.

There was only one problem: As is typical with Lutherans, the front two pews of the chapel on each side were empty. The president did not want the picture used because it gave the impression that the service was poorly attended. What to do?

When the newsletter came out, the balcony photo was right in the center of page one. The president called me into his office.

"I thought I asked you not to use that photo," the president said, accusingly. "Everyone will think we had poor opening service attendance."

"Sir, if you will look closely...." I began.

"Amazing!" the president exclaimed. "How did you do that?"

In the published photo, the front two rows were full of people.

I explained for the president. "Before we sent the final photo to the printer, I made two copies of the photo and then cut out the head and upper torso of every person in the third and fourth rows on both sides. Then I pasted them down in place in the first two rows. If you look closely, you'll see the same families in the first row as in the third."

Q: Can you think of any people you know who come to worship and "aren't really there?" Share a time when you were one of those people. Explain how it is possible that some people might be regular attending members but not be Christians.

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