YOUR COMMUNITY

Week 45, 2021

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10

The idea of community comes from the sense of responsibility we have for each other. In the Bible, God encourages us to take care of our brothers and sisters – whether or friends or enemies! We must remember the importance of maintaining the connection with each other and focusing on building a community of love in word and actions. Find inspiration from the list of Bible verses below about this theme.

To put it in a popular slang, your community is who you hang out with and who you hang out with determines your character. I once had a law partner who hung out in a different bar every night. That’s where he drummed up his clientele. He brought some strange clients into the office, and not surprisingly, as they were his community, he became like them.

Your community defines you and you define them. You will often not know how your life affects the life of those who come in contact with your community. I recently went to a luncheon and as I sat down, I introduced myself to the elderly man sitting across the table. He said his name was Henry.

To my surprise, he said: I know who you are and have thought about you over the years.” He went on to say that he was a few days younger than ninety years old. When he was in his forties, he came to me asking for a favor. I have no recollection of the event, but he said that I listened to his request and then asked him what he had done for himself.

He said he went away pondering my advice, took it to heart and started a new business that went statewide. When he retired, the business sold for a very high amount. He gave me credit for it. Had I not bumped into him at that luncheon, I would never have known he was a product of my community.

Friends can drag you down or empower you. Your community either pulls us to or away from Jesus. With whom do you “hang out” and who is your community? You may not know whose life will affect you and how you will affect them. The Bible calls us to plant an acorn that will grow into a large tree, under whose limbs we will probably never sit.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WORK:

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 10 million job openings in the United States. CNBC reported that “there are about 1 million more job openings than people looking for work.”

A sign of our times is “HELP WANTED” signs everywhere. But too many would rather sit home on their….. uh, sofa instead of working.

The Bible has a good bit to say about work.

Here’s what we learn about work.

  • * Work is a gift from God.
  • * Work honors the Lord.
  • * Work like God is your boss.
  • * Work allows us to earn a living and meet our material needs.
  • * Work provides the opportunity to help the needy.
  • * Work is the pathway to profit and financial success
  • * Work, when shunned, is a shame. Those unwilling to work (who are able to work) don’t deserve to eat.

In his Daybook, Enthusiastic Ideas, Gary Henry observes that work is “more than mere labor–it is labor that adds value to the world…When we’re working, we’re adding ‘something to the common wealth,’ as Emerson put it.” “You were put on earth to make a contribution,” Rick Warren reminds us in The Purpose Driven Life.

“You weren’t created just to consume resources–to eat, breathe and take up space,” Warren adds. “God designed you to make a difference with your life…You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back.”

Work, whether in a high-paying career, a minimum wage job, a volunteer capacity, or in our homes, allows us to serve others. To give back. To make a worthwhile difference.

Sam Ewing was right when he wrote, “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” –Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

— o —

Plaque on a preacher’s desk:

“I’m just a NOBODY telling

EVERYBODY

about SOMEBODY

who can save ANYBODY!”

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

You can’t be saved by being good, religious or sincere. Dan Shock

The quickest way to redirect your mind to Him is to whisper His name………. Jesus. Sarah Young

Your limited experience must give way to His unlimited power. Aaron Burke

I am convinced that the dividing of our lives into “religion” and the “real world” is one of Satan’s most insidious and effective strategies for strangling the power and witness of the church in these perilous days for the church. Jim Denison

Obedience is God’s antidote to rebellion. Reno Zunz

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the Congress is in session. Mark Twain

A time is now here that we will see men’s faith fail. Perilous times. Stay the course, Saint! The Father in heaven is in complete control, not politicians. Things are not falling apart rather they are falling into place. Dan Shock

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31: 8

Jesus doesn’t condemn you—He’s interceding for you. Dan Shock

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. MARTIN LUTHER

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow. It only saps today of its joy. LEO BUSCAGLIA