Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September 1, 2010

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." Acts 2:46-47
One of the beautiful things about the Early Church is the way they did life together. Together they knew God and together they grew as people. That is what church is. It is how God envisioned the Church - His people loving Him and loving each other at the same time - together!
There is amazing strength and power in that dynamic.
I saw it happen today at the funeral of Robert Kilmer. I saw it last night at his visitation.
People who love God and who love each other (many years for some of them) came together at a time of need. They came to comfort the family though their own hearts were heavy with the loss. They came to cry together as the heaviness overcame them. They came to chat about the memories of a life well lived and generously shared. They came to celebrate the promises of God's Word that assure them Bob, while gone from among them, has never been more alive! Some came to carry in casseroles, and cakes and brew the coffee. In short, they came to care!
Why did they do that? How have they come to care so much? By doing life together in Christ. By getting to know God together and growing in Him together.
Life is too important to do it alone. Faith is too intangible to try it alone. God is too good to enjoy in isolation. He created us to know Him and to grow in Him - together!
I am excited by the way the FredWes family is beginning to do life together. Your story matters to us. Your struggles are our struggles. Your joy is our celebration and your victories are our successes. That is church! This is my vision.
Come do life with us and we do life with Him!