Tag Archives: community

Thinking about Community (2)

In the movie Places in the Heart, Moses Hadnot is a drifter who has heroically oversees Edna Spalding’s farm through the planting and harvesting of a cotton crop during the Depression. Shortly after the cotton is taken to the gin, members of the Ku Klux Klan pay him a visit and he is badly beaten. The attackContinue reading “Thinking about Community (2)”

Rhubarb Pie and the Community of Christ

Do you remember the United States Army recruiting slogan, Army of One? If not, don’t feel bad—it wasn’t around too long. For those of you who don’t remember, it replaced the quite well known, Be all that you can be, motto that attracted young people into the service for two decades. Supposedly the marketing strategy behind Army ofContinue reading “Rhubarb Pie and the Community of Christ”

Part of a Family

One of the more challenging tasks parents have in raising their children is in helping them to understand the proper relationship between the individual and community. This undertaking is complicated by the facts that our culture places an extremely high value on individualism and that children are naturally self-centered. Any parent or teacher can tell you ofContinue reading “Part of a Family”

Little Fingers and the Body of Christ

I cut my finger on a chainsaw. Now that I have your attention I can tell you that it was one of those small chainsaws that is powered by a battery. Furthermore, the saw wasn’t even on at the time—I was pulling the plastic over off the blade when I sliced my little finger onContinue reading “Little Fingers and the Body of Christ”

Jesus and Organized Religion (2)

There are several approaches we could take in regard to Jesus and organized religion. We could speak about Him promising to “build My church” (Matthew 16:18). We could look at His words to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3 and discuss how, despite the failings of some of the groups, He claims themContinue reading “Jesus and Organized Religion (2)”

Connecting with Church (1)

Church is not a good idea – it’s God’s idea! Jesus spoke of building His church (community) in Matthew 16:18ff. The Scriptures also speak of this community being purchased by God (Acts 20:28). If church is this important to the Father and the Son, surely it will be to us. Okay, but what exactly is church?Continue reading “Connecting with Church (1)”

Community and Communion

What happened in Eden did more than alienate us from God—we became estranged from each other! Redemption then is not only about us coming to God, it is about us coming to one other. The church as the body of Christ is the community of the reconciled, composed of people who belong to the LordContinue reading “Community and Communion”

Celebrities or Servants?

I caught the last snippet of a commercial recently where someone was identified as a celebrity landscaper. Well of course—why just be a landscaper when you can be a celebrity landscaper? The possibilities are endless: celebrity school teacher, celebrity pharmacist, celebrity construction worker. And let’s not forget the kids—we can have celebrity teenagers, celebrity children andContinue reading “Celebrities or Servants?”