I start a new mini message series today on the value of Christian community, within a larger series called The Journey.  The Journey that we take when we enter into relationship with Christ is never boring and always a challenging adventure, or I would bet you are  not living the faith fully.  As they use to tell us in football, “leave it all on the field.”  Translated= hold nothing back.  When you walk off the field of life, don’t have any regrets.

In this Journey, it is important to know, and identify key points, stops, items you need for the journey.  For example, when I was a bush missionary in Zambia, I had a full page check list of everything I might need for my adventurous trips (2 extra tires, plenty of water, food, light, etc).  I wouldn’t leave the house unless every item on the list was checked off.  What’s on your spiritual check list for your spiritual journey.

In January we launched the series discussing Worship as a means of exploring deeper who God in and bringing pleasure to Him with our life.  This month, Community.  No one needs to travel alone.  We were not built to travel through life alone and neither is God alone.  God, Himself, loves community.  Here are a couple of facts about God and community to help launch us on this journey…

1. God is communal in His very core and nature – Genesis 1:26, points to the Trinity of God, when He said let “us” make …

2. Man was made for community.  When God made Adam, everything was perfect, life was perfect.  It was a utopia life, yet when God made man he said it wasn’t good for him to be alone (Gen 2:18).   You know the rest of the story.  He then made woman.

3.  God manifest Himself fully when we are living and acting in community with others.  Jesus promised His anointed presence when we come in community around for His names sake (Matt 18:20).

Don’t be the classic American individualist suffering from individualism.  Run to community, live in community, value community.

It has taken me some time to write this blog regarding Haiti’s recent earthquake.  I have been in a state of shock.  I think I kept hoping they would find massive number of people under pockets of concrete surviving.  I been amazed by the stories and have hurt for the losses that keep compounding.  I want my words to be brief, but my actions and love to be loud (1 John 3:17-18) .  It would just be wrong to a have a blog site dedicated to thinking and living beyond borders and not to mourn and reflect with and on Haiti.

I want to first  join with the co-laborers from Grace Point Church (GPC) in praying  for the work and people of Haiti that GPC members have been investing their life in for the past 7 years.  Their labor has been faithful and sacrificial throughout these years.  In my estimate, we have commissioned 35 or more members from our church to serve in Haiti.  They have helped to build Joy House, prayed over the voodoo temple, and have started  the workings of a congregation.  Thank you, John and Kay Rodgers, for being the GPC champions of the Haitians.  We stand with you as you collect supplies and return to Haiti as soon as you can to rebuild the work and lives of the Haitians you love so much.  GPC stands with you financially and in prayer.  Learn more about GPC’s work in Haiti on their blog.

On a national scale, I am thankful for the North American Mission Board’s and the International Mission Board’s disaster relief efforts that they are  engaging throughout the nation.  No one feeds or serves the least of these better in the name of Christ and in times of crisis than Southern Baptists and their Disaster Relief units.   If you would like to give to a fund that 100% will go to helping Haiti survive this crisis, consider making monetary gifts to the SBC Disaster Relief.  There are a lot of people willing to take your money to “help” in Haiti.  I would like to think it will all get to the right place and do what you intend for a gift to do.  I think we have learned from Katrina, there are those who don’t share in the same level of financial accountability as other established relief organizations.  Consider the SBC Disaster Relief  a solid choice.  This is the fund my family will be giving our donations to.

Finally, I heard an inspiring story regarding a missionary who was on the ground capturing the story of Haitian children with Compassion International.  It is an amazing story regarding the  value of life and writing your last letter.  Watch the story and consider going on the Last letter website and typing your own last letter as you live beyond borders.  It may be a very healthy exercise for us all.

Click on this link for the video and be blessed

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34933049#34933049

Persecution is real and is a daily reality that many followers of Christ face.  There are believers around the world that suffer from for their faith.  Some suffer to the point of death.  I recently spoke with a Muslim man in West Africa who was considering coming to faith in Christ, but he had reached the threshold that he was counting the cost.  The cost to him meant being disowned by his family and possible physical persecution.  His family are devout Muslims.

The cost is great and the price is severe for many.  We have a family in our body who feel God calling them to go to some of these countries that are listed among the top 10 watch countries for persecution.  For this family to  live and share their faith in Christ will be illegal.  We, who are followers of the Most High God, must intercede for them.  As they go forward doing  His will by taking the gospel to some of the those most hostile to the message of Christ, we must pray!

See the video below as a source of information and a call to prayer.