Community

Just last night I had over some close friends of mine and we had some dinner and some good conversations. I must say that if I could do this twice to three times a week, I would do it in a heart beat. It is amazing what good food and great company can do for the souls of many. Especially when there is a kindred spirit from all parties. Helping to create an environment for such things to occur is definitely a gift that I am learning that I have. Maybe that is why I am draw to opening a Coffee House/Bistro.

Well I titled this post on community for this simple purpose we are meant to have deep relation connections which each other and there is no better way to bring that into focus with a home cook meal that allows relationships to transcend through the ambiance. I little note must be said here that a portion of the people from last night are close friends from out-of-state, they are family not just friends. I have learned from them that relationships are built in close encounters such as a lunch at a person's home or dinner. Go figure when we want to go out and eat and try to duplicate such close intimacy of family and friend's.

Community is a important aspect of all humankind, it is built into our innate DNA, so I encourage you all to try it yourself and see the results and see how those relations develop deeper. When it was recorded in Acts when the disciples broke bread and had fellowship there was a deep connection for they realized that they needed each other to continue on in faith, for apart from it they would utterly fail on their own attempts. Yes, you might be saying there are other implications of such an example of Christian fellowship, and you are right. But remember this if we are reaching out into this world and being that light what better way to live life and rub shoulders and develop deeper connections with those who we are witnessing to if not in your home over a meal or dessert labored in love to shower them with the Good News of the Gospel. Just saying we have abandoned, me included, this priceless gift of serving others to allow a connection to be made for the sake of our innate need of community.

I hope this post is not to disjointed in this idea, I am convinced more and more that community is so needed in this age of modern technology and impersonal relationships.

Well summer brings many awesome events from going to the ballpark, to the beach, family vacations, river runs and etc. There is another tradition of the Church during the summer for children ages from K-6th grade, this is known as Vacation Bible School (VBS). I went when I was a child, and have been a leader for several summers. I am not blogging to slam the idea of entertaining kids during the hot summer months that show them Christ our Lord and Savior. But I am going to say, why is that Mega-churches feel that they have to a Disneyland feel when they have such an event that is supposed to lead children closer to Jesus. I was with my aunt dropping off my cousin this morning at VBS at a mega-church, and I felt that I just walk into the "Happiest place on Earth!!!" It was filled with long lines, anxious children, staff that seemed to know what they were doing, parents waiting to send their children off to the land of VBS for 3 hours. What are the expectations of having a Disneyland feel for a Kingdom of God experience? I know I am a cynic about being too flashy and too pop-culture, my view tends to lead me towards why do not have VBS for parents that need a refresher course in how to communicate the basics of the Gospel to their children. I am perplex in how the Church continues to spend money in areas that have such a minimal effect on the target(s) in which they are hoping that a few seeds will spring up and grow into mighty harvest of believers. My question from this experience is this... Who are the ones responsible for planting seeds of belief within children in regards in having a Faith in Jesus?