{"id":26,"date":"2009-10-04T21:24:00","date_gmt":"2009-10-05T02:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2009\/10\/04\/community\/"},"modified":"2009-10-04T21:24:00","modified_gmt":"2009-10-05T02:24:00","slug":"community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2009\/10\/04\/community\/","title":{"rendered":"Community"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><meta content=\"Word.Document\" name=\"ProgId\"><\/meta><meta content=\"Microsoft Word 12\" name=\"Generator\"><\/meta><meta content=\"Microsoft Word 12\" name=\"Originator\"><\/meta><link href=\"file:\/\/\/c:%5Ctemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml\" rel=\"File-List\"><\/link><link href=\"file:\/\/\/c:%5Ctemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx\" rel=\"themeData\"><\/link><link href=\"file:\/\/\/c:%5Ctemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml\" rel=\"colorSchemeMapping\"><\/link>\n<style>\n<!--\n \/* Font Definitions *\/\n @font-face\n\t{font-family:\"Cambria Math\";\n\tpanose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:roman;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;}\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:Calibri;\n\tpanose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:swiss;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;}\n \/* Style Definitions *\/\n p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal\n\t{mso-style-unhide:no;\n\tmso-style-qformat:yes;\n\tmso-style-parent:\"\";\n\tmargin-top:0in;\n\tmargin-right:0in;\n\tmargin-bottom:10.0pt;\n\tmargin-left:0in;\n\tline-height:115%;\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n\tfont-size:11.0pt;\n\tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\";\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";}\nem\n\t{mso-style-priority:20;\n\tmso-style-unhide:no;\n\tmso-style-qformat:yes;\n\tfont-weight:bold;\n\tfont-style:normal;}\n.MsoChpDefault\n\t{mso-style-type:export-only;\n\tmso-default-props:yes;\n\tfont-size:10.0pt;\n\tmso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;\n\tmso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;\n\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;}\n@page Section1\n\t{size:8.5in 11.0in;\n\tmargin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\ndiv.Section1\n\t{page:Section1;}\n-->\n<\/style>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">As Pastor and I batted around ideas for a sermon today, community is the one that he decided that I should speak on. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Community, what is it? &nbsp;&nbsp;Well, let\u2019s get back to that in just a moment, but keep that question in your head.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">What\u2019s the Largest Organism in the world? How about the Blue Whale weighing in at 109 tons and over 100 feet long? Or maybe a giant redwood at over 200 feet high with a trunk 100 feet around?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">No, actually it is the Quaking Aspen. It rarely gets over 100 feet high and you\u2019ll seldom find a trunk more than a foot wide. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">But\u2026\u2026 the Aspen\u2019s have a secret.<br \/>When you look at an Aspen, you do not get the entire story, until you dig deeper.<\/p>\n<p>The Aspen\u2019s preferred method of growth is by new shoots off the old roots. In this way an individual plant may cover hundreds of acres all growing from a single interconnected root system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">While the individual stems rarely live over a hundred years, a stand like this one may be 8000 years old.<\/p>\n<p>The interconnectedness of the Aspen gives life and strength. When a fire comes through the forest every tree may be burnt down.<br \/>However\u2026 the Aspen root survives and quickly reestablishes itself, usually taking over territory formerly inhabited by Pines, Maples and Oaks.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Does and Aspen live in community?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Back to, what is community?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Merriam-Webster defines community as:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">A unified body of individuals, joint ownership or participation, common character.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Community is can also be defined as Sharing, participation, and fellowship.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Let\u2019s think of the Church.&nbsp; What should the Church look like?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">We in the church are meant to be like the mighty Aspen, not like the oak fighting for survival on our own, but growing from a common root of fellowship in Jesus Christ.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">It is not to often in the Bible, that we see that we are told to do things on our own.&nbsp; Prayer is one of the few things, but there is also the command to pray together. As a matter of fact, most things we do as Christians should be done together.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">God created family so we could have relationships that become intimate so we could enjoy one another\u2019s company and companionship. God wants companionship, relationship and fellowship with us.&nbsp; If God wants this and we are made in his image, then we should seek out the same.&nbsp; Have you ever noticed in the wild how there are swarms of bees, flocks of birds and herds of buffalos?&nbsp; Coincidence?&nbsp; I think not.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">In a lot of major cities there is something called HOV or Car Pool lanes on the highway. High Occupancy Vehicles lanes get you there faster because you\u2019re not slowed down by individual vehicles driven by individual people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">These lanes are meant for vehicles with multiple people, and not as some have done, manikins, or animals dressed as people.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">On the Highway of life, God wants you to travel in a High Occupancy Vehicle. When traveling in the HOV lane you pass up most of the jams you would have gotten into alone. That is the gift of community.&nbsp; You need to fully participate, to enjoy the benefits of the gift.&nbsp; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Listening to Christian Podcasts is not really community.<br \/>Listening to Christian Television program is not really community.&nbsp; Not in the sense that we are called to do.&nbsp; Community is not simply belonging, but participating fully, not to be faked or dressed up like a manikin or an animal in the car of a HOV lane.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">If you stand by yourself, you are week. If we stand with others, we are much stronger.&nbsp; There really is strength in numbers.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">In Ecclesiastes 4:10 it says:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">If one falls down, his friend can help him up. <br \/>But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">There is no strength and support in being alone.&nbsp; But in community we find both strength and support.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">As some of you know, I grew up in a non church going home.&nbsp; As a new Christian my original ties to the churches I went to were a personal relationship with the Pastor.&nbsp; This was NOT community.&nbsp; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">However, the pastor at a church in Carol Stream recognized the need for community. He suggested I play softball on the church team.&nbsp; From there I started to go to Bible studies because some of the guys I started to meet were also going to studies.&nbsp; Softball was a fellowship community that sparked me to get into a small group that was doing bible study.&nbsp; From there, I was involved in many other groups over the years.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Well, my wife and I decided to move to Elburn.&nbsp; I had asked a couple of the people at the church to assist us with the move.&nbsp; So on moving day as the couple of friends arrived to help me, I noticed many more than I had asked for help from.&nbsp; All in all that day, about 20 people showed up.&nbsp; What I expected to take all day and night, turned into 3 hours.&nbsp; I was amazed at the fellowship that was taking place and the community that I had been apart of and had not even realize it.&nbsp; God was working and gave my wife and I strength in numbers.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Claria Knall a young mother from Oklahoma wrote, it was one of the worst days of my life. The washing machine broke down, the telephone wouldn\u2019t stop ringing my head ached and the mailman brought a bill I had no money to pay. Almost at the breaking point I lifted my one year old into the high chair, leaned my head against the tray and began to cry. Without a word my son took his pacifier out of his mouth and stuck it into mine. <br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">From the time were born we know people who need love and need to be cared for.&nbsp; The church ought to be a place where the deepest love and the deepest caring for each other is real.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Fellowship and community is also the place of accountability, which means growth towards the right things!<\/span><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\"><br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">By having community with fellow Christians, we have models of Christian behavior and ethics.&nbsp; These models are very important to keeping us on the right track.&nbsp; The world can be a very tempting place. We never get so spiritually mature however, that we don\u2019t need the gentle rebuke or reminder from a Christian friend. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">In Acts 15, one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history took place. The question arose, \u201cWhat do you have to do to be a Christian?\u201d People strongly disagreed!<br \/>Let me give you a flavor of this by reading the first 2 verses of that chapter.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: \u201cUnless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.\u201d <\/span><\/b><b><sup><span style=\"line-height: 115%;\">\ufeff<\/span><\/sup><\/b><b><sup><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">2<\/span><\/sup><\/b><b><sup><span style=\"line-height: 115%;\">\ufeff<\/span><\/sup><\/b><b><sup><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\"> <\/span><\/sup><\/b><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp dispute and debate with the others. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.<\/span><\/b><sup><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Paul being the sharpest theological thinker of his time and possibly ever, had his own ideas of how to resolve this issue. And instead of making a decision that impacted everyone that followed him, he instead went to take up the question with the other leaders of the Christian church. He went to Jerusalem to consult others about this important issue.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Why? Because he was accountable and a part of a larger fellowship. He knew he was not living in a vacuum where he could unilaterally make decisions for everyone.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Even the brightest minds in Christianity are accountable to the others.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">We too have a place (the church) in which we are accountable to each other\u2014not in a rigid sort of way, but a place to bounce ideas and thoughts off of one another to get other perspectives.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">We as Lutherans\u2019, come from a disagreement in the first place.&nbsp; <\/span><i><span style=\"color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;\">Prodistents are nothing more than protesters.&nbsp; Even Martin Luther wanted to debate the issues, not break the Church.&nbsp; In the ELCA we have always been good about the idea that there is room for ideas, even if we disagree, we can agree upon our disagreement, so as NOT to break up the community known as Church.&nbsp; We are stronger together, even disagreeing on some things, rather than being apart due to the disagreement.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">A preacher in Tennessee said his father was not a Christian and never went to church. He said everyone else in the family would get ready and go to church and his dad would stay home. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">A preacher would come by and visit and his dad would always give him the same pat answer; I know why you\u2019re here and I know what you want, you want another name and another pledge, you don\u2019t care about me. He said if I heard my dad say it once I heard him say it 20 times. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">He said towards the end of his life his dad got throat cancer. He had surgery and couldn\u2019t talk. He said as his dad was wasting away in the hospital room it was filled with flowers and cards almost all of them from someone in the church. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Food came to his house from his mom\u2019s Sunday school class at the church. He said people came and prayed with my dad from the church.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">He said one day even though my dad couldn\u2019t talk he took a scrap of paper and scribbled words from Shakespeare\u2019s Hamlet. \u201cIn this harsh world draw your breath in pain to tell my story.\u201d <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">He said, dad what is your story? His dad with a trembling hand wrote on the scrap of paper, \u201cI was wrong, I was wrong about the church.\u201d He said he got to talk with his dad about salvation in Christ before he died, simply because of the love and the fellowship of a church. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Our good deeds speak loudly! And that only happens when we are on the same page as a church!<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Not only does that work outside the church to help others but also here on Sunday morning.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Sam Walton founder of Wal-Mart early on in his business, had a pledge he made all his employees say. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">From this day forward if a costumer comes within 10 feet of me regardless of what I\u2019m doing in this place I\u2019m going to look them in the eye, &nbsp;I\u2019m going to smile, I\u2019m going to greet them with a good morning, or good afternoon or what can I do for you, &nbsp;so help me Sam. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Wouldn\u2019t it be great if everyone in this church would make a \u201cgood Sam\u201d pledge? From this day forward every person who comes within 10 feet of me regardless of what I\u2019m doing in this church, I\u2019m going to look them in the eye, I\u2019m going to smile, I\u2019m going to greet them with a good morning, or good afternoon, or what can I do for you, so help me God.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">In Ephesians 6:7 it says&#8211; <\/span><sup><span style=\"line-height: 115%;\">\ufeff<\/span><\/sup><b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord!<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\"> <\/p>\n<p>How do you serve when you are all alone? You only serve yourself. It is within the fellowship of believers in which you can then serve and help others.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">All to often we find excuses as to why we cannot participate in Fellowship and Community within the church.&nbsp; That is not to say you must be at all events, participate in all Bible studies, and never miss a function.&nbsp; By no means is this the case.&nbsp; But ask yourself. <br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Are there things that I am avoiding?<br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Groups I am not part of but maybe should be?<br \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Are there opportunities for me to grow in Christian Fellowship and community?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">It takes a community to raise a child.&nbsp; Imagine what a community of Christians with Christ can do.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;\">Thank God for the community of believers that he has built.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Amen<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Pastor and I batted around ideas for a sermon today, community is the one that he decided that I should speak on. Community, what is it? &nbsp;&nbsp;Well, let\u2019s get back to that in just a moment, but keep that question in your head. What\u2019s the Largest Organism in the world? How about the Blue &#8230; <span class=\"more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2009\/10\/04\/community\/\">[Read more&#8230;]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"post-26","6":"format-standard","7":"category-uncategorized"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-q","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":63,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2012\/01\/14\/blessed\/","url_meta":{"origin":26,"position":0},"title":"Blessed","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I am coming close to the end of my 10 day emerson into urban Milwaukee, as part of a Seminary class. First and foremost this experience has been a blessing. My class have received such a warm and giving welcome by the communities we have visited. There has been so\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 4 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 4 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2012\/01\/14\/blessed\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2134,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2018\/12\/24\/community-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":26,"position":1},"title":"Community","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"December 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"4th Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2\u20135a Hebrews 10:5\u201310 Luke 1:39\u201345 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ghoh4wgdnxk","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Acceptance&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Acceptance","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/acceptance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/Ghoh4wgdnxk\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3475,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2025\/07\/08\/harvest-of-peace-love-in-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":26,"position":2},"title":"Harvest of Peace &amp; Love in Community","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"July 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"July 6, 20254th Sunday after Pentecost Galatians 6:1-16 (NIV)Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NIV) \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christian Love&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christian Love","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/christian-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/harvest-of-love-and-people-by-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/harvest-of-love-and-people-by-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/harvest-of-love-and-people-by-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/harvest-of-love-and-people-by-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1624,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2016\/11\/01\/confirmation-reformation-sermon-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":26,"position":3},"title":"Confirmation &#8211; Reformation Sermon 2016","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"November 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Below is the sermon at First Lutheran Church, South Sioux City NE. 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Click here for an audio version. https:\/\/youtu.be\/6R5mD1h-0-g","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Attitude&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Attitude","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/attitude\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/6R5mD1h-0-g\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":42,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2011\/01\/07\/justification-and-justice-my-understanding\/","url_meta":{"origin":26,"position":5},"title":"Justification and Justice, my understanding","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"January 7, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Justification from a Christian perspective is the act of becoming right, or being made righteous by God.\u00a0 Jesus Christ accomplished this when he died upon the cross.\u00a0 However, Justification is not simply an act that has been done, but is an ongoing process in which the Holy Spirit along with\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2011\/01\/07\/justification-and-justice-my-understanding\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_FfyN1hJQqRU\/TSeezvFo2SI\/AAAAAAAAAHA\/cW0nNnv-Htw\/s320\/CROSS%2BON%2BMUSKE%2BLURE-SOFT-ENHANCED%2BCROSS.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}