the church's strength

Romans 15:6 NLT

Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm passionate about this. In the past few months I have begun to see and share how much stronger we are when we join together to serve others. Our church's are stronger when we join with each other to serve our community. In fact, I believe as The Community Dream Center, what we are founding in the coming months, strength will be the various Christians and churches that lock arms and energy to work together. The church's strength is in what we share. It is all about Jesus.

The things that divide us need to be set aside, and it is time to see needs and meet them. By joining together we will find that we have more energy, more resources, more passion and just plain more ability given by God to see His kingdom grow and lives changed by Him. Do you agree?

I had the opportunity to attend an event this week in Hampton, Virginia that is bringing churches together in that community and in other communities around the nation. It is called "Christ Together" and is seeing many communities come to Christ and serve thousands of more people have their needs met. That is real strength given by God. Here are some thoughts from that event:

--- a missional church is one that believe the people of God can partner with God in His redemptive mission in the world. We can do this more and more.

--- as the people of God, we are blessed. We have been blessed so we can bless others!

--- we are called out so that we can be sent back into the world. If we are just called out, we do everything we can to help the institution of the church, but when we are sent back, we do what God intends the church to do ... be light to the world.

--- the church fixing itself is not the answer. Church is not the point. It is not how we can do church better. It is how can we reach more people for Jesus.

--- the church, the people of God, are already deployed into the world and across the culture. As leaders, we are called to help each of us be the church out in the world so people see and come to Jesus.

I have so much more, but it will have to wait till late. That is awesome stuff. Yet I ask you, will you join with our church or with other churches and Christians around you to see God's kingdom grow?

Matthew 13:43 NLT
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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