How Did We Get Here?

Yesterday while in Sebewaing, I visited with Scott, one of the few high school friends whom I have remained in contact with. Scott and I were best friends in high school and during our college years started Village Pizzeria in Sebewaing, a business that Scott continues to own and operate to this day.

Scott's family was one of the most solidly Christian families I knew when I was growing up. I recently had the opportunity to visit with his parents, and their faith has continued to grow. I was greatly encouraged by that visit.

Anyway, I had to visit Scott because he recently turned 50 years old. I have 6 months before I turn 50 so he is much older than I am. We began to talk about the years and how they have flown by but also how God has blessed us even though we have both had our times when we weren't as faithful to God as we should have been. We laughed about a number of things as we asked each other how did we get here?

Recently the idea of community has been a central thought in my heart and mind. God has had me looking at scripture about community, and I centered on the kind of community that existed between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even before the creation of human kind. What love that must have been that the three elements of the Trinity wanted to share the joy they were having, and therefore created us, knowing that we would break community. Then of course God could share with us the gift of grace, and community could be established in even greater ways.

I say all that because in the life of the church I think every now and then we need to look back and ask ourselves how did we get where we are as a community? Are there changes that need to be made? Is God pleased with the way we have lived out community?

As we work in Sebewaing to establish a faith community that would be pleasing before God we need to continue to seek Him in prayer. Thanks for your prayer support.

Building the Kingdom Together,

Pastor Brian

Going it Alone

I have to begin this blog post by apologizing. It has been over two months since I last posted because I have simply not taken the time to communicate. (It's the old I have been too busy story.) What I have come to realize in the last few days is that by not posting I have not allowed those of you who are reading and following this blog the opportunity to pray and share in the ministry that we are building in Sebewaing. Going it alone is never God's intent. We are called to operate in community, first with God, then with each other. My not posting has left you out, and I seek your forgiveness.

Yesterday was my first day back in Sebewaing after a couple of weeks of being away. Two things really stood out yesterday, both I think illustrating how community is suppose to work.

The first occurred at the school. The alternative education class that I have been helping with was working on a team building exercise. It was a timely event because as I listened to the instructor it was obvious that the group had been having some internal conflicts. I was impressed how the instructor emphasized to them that each of them in one way or another had been marginalized by society. (I couldn't help but think of the church as he said those things.) He then pointed out that if they were going to succeed they must work together rather than the infighting and lack of participation that had been going on. (Again parallels to the church.) The group seemed to take it to heart, and the team building exercise that took place after was highly successful. (It also cost me my hat, but that is another story.)

The second event centered around the terrible tragedy that occurred in Fort Hood, Texas. One of John and Rhonda's sons works at the Fort Hood base and as the news of the shooting came out, there was great anxiety about Troy because they could not reach him for a while. By the time we met that night, they had heard from him and the fact that he was alright. I had planned for the learning time last night to listen and discuss a message on building a community and being there for one another. Part of the discussion that took place centered around how much easier it is to face crisis when you do have a faith community and the need to really pour into the lives of others. In the circumstances of that moment, we all understood that lesson at a deeper level.

Praises:
We are going to start a Sonlife Live26 discipling group in a few weeks, and we have gotten a couple of commitments from other people to join that.

God continues to show His faithfulness.

Concerns:
I seek your prayers as I am a little overwhelmed in these days with school (I am working on a Masters in Counseling) and a difficult situation at my home church.

Your Servant in Christ,

Brian