Community

What is true community?

I would love to hear what many of you think on that.  Please reply with your thoughts.

Ivy

Confidence

I was at a worship service recently and asked my self this question during it "What is it about a room filled with like minded people that brings such confidence to sing, but when the room is emptied the confidence stays alone?"

It has been 10 minutes that has gone by since I wrote the above. And this is what that question has done for the past three days, a stall in thought. I have been recently reading a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "Life Together, The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community." Now I am usually reading the lastest column of the daily professional wrestling newsletter, but just in a simple chapter, this book has challenged me to ask questions like the one up above and even realize that the answer may not come at once or even at all. This book has challenged me to look at the gathering we do weekly in our local churches, but also world wide in churches. And here is what I come up with.....(sorry, this won't be question answered tonight)

"I am sorry Rev, but that is how we do it on the streets!"

That was the words coming from my friend Bo who was carrying a broken neck of a beer bottle.  

I met Bo back in January and have gotten to know this young man and the problems that follow him so close.  Like many others that I have met and gotten to know very well, they are working with the cards dealt them or the ones that they have dealt themselves.  

Six dollars might have caused a man to go prison for the rest of his life if the man he was looking for didn't ride his bike away.  But as Shannon (local youth pastor) and I sat there with him trying to get him to calm down, Bo started to break down.  I gave Bo six dollars for him to throw the glass in his hands into the river.  Then we just talked about how the guy who stoled his money debt was paid.  At that point Bo said "Rev, I am a good man, but a time comes when you just can't take anymore."  I then just asked him if he truly believes that God has a purpose for him.  He said "I do believe that."  Then I just said "He does have a purpose for you, but you still have to move on that purpose."  Bo said he wants to get rid of his addiction and get help.  He then said can we pray right now, we did, or should I say he did.  We talked a little about a rehab in the center of the state and that he should act on it now.  

The last thing I said to him was "I hope not to see you next week."  He responded by saying "I hope not."  I said "But if I do you know we are still brothers."  "Love" is what he said in return.

Just twenty minutes this time was, but it seemed like hours. 

Lets think about and talk about this.  We sometimes say "Thank you God for where you have me."  But what about that statement.   The cards that we are dealt, what are we doing with them?  Are we just happy where we are or are we looking to see what God has in the deck for us?

(Hopefully we will get some interaction on this)

Please pray for Bo tonight, no actually pray for all the Bo's that are stuggling with knowing God's purpose in his or her lives.  Cause you may be praying for even someone close to you.