Day 19.......Get involved

This is again, where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. It's really easy to get caught up in the "church" thing. You know, you go in, smile at everyone.....hug some, and go to your seat. After church is over, you shake hands with some, smile and nod at others, and hug some more. Then you race out to your car and speed to the nearest restaurant. Hehehehehe. Our walk with Christ should really be more than that. I know I told you guys I was going to do something different last night at bible study. We all arrived at church and we have a front room where they have children's church. There's a large rectangular table there with chairs around it. Everyone was a little surprised (there were six of us) when I asked everyone to meet at the table. We did. And when we started I asked everyone to share a couple of their favorite scriptures, why they were their favorite, and what they meant to them. It was wonderful. I just decided from reading this book that it would be a great thing for folks not to hear me preach, or lead them in a bible study, but to sit down with them and let them lead it. In so doing we found out a lot about each other. Even the sixth grader, and the freshman in high school had GREAT things to say. I was so proud of all of them. It was a great time of sharing and fellowship.

"How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church?"

Well, I know I want to do more things like we did last night. I also like to go hang out at parks and sing and play the guitar. I know I need to make more of an effort to get to know folks in the church. As Janiss said sometimes it's hard when they don't know English, and you don't know a whole lot of Spanish. It can be difficult, but it's not impossible. It can be a bit awkward, but it can be done. Many times it's the language and culture barriers that separate us. But that's what's so great about the church. We ALL come from different upbringings and whatnot. Perhaps we're not all from different cultures........and maybe that's the problem. I've heard it said that the most segregated day of the week is Sunday in churches. God likes variety. That's why we're not all the same skin color, and we don't all look alike and sound alike. How boring would that be? Anyway, I'd better go now before I stir up any more trouble. :-) James