I love being part of a community that cares. The more I learn, the more I am convinced that the paramount thing that we can learn from Jesus’ teachings is how to be a part of a community.

When the gospel and the law are reduced to their most basic, they are really about the re-establishment and retention of a God-given form of community. God himself exists in community, as a triune father, son and spirit, living in a loving, ever-present, perfect community.  I believe that we were created in his image to reflect that same communal sense of ever-steadfast caring and presence with one another.

The gospel, then, really is about the re-establishing and renewal of that relationship with both God and one another. When reading the accounts of the early church in Acts, it is clear that the first Christian communities were striving to make this perfect community a reality in their lives.  We see that not only did these folks worship together, but they also shared meals together and even went so far as to sell their own possessions in order to help care for the more needy members of their community.

Can you imagine what our society would look like if more of us were willing to put community ahead of our own self-interest? Now, I’m not saying that life would be perfect or that our community would be without strife from time to time, but I do firmly believe that if we were to tangibly put the welfare of “us” ahead of the welfare of “me” that we could take steps toward solving much of the ills of our society.

That is one of the things that makes me proud to live here on the Plateau. We work together well. We support each other through our civic and church outreach. And we help meet the needs of others through the great organizations we support so well here at home. It is why on Saturday the 24th, hundreds of us will turn out for the Palate of the Plateau to eat together, laugh together and raise money for teens in our community who can’t afford to experience “the best week of their life” at a Younglife camp.

The Younglife camp experience is about showing kids that they are of more value and are more loved and accepted than they ever thought possible. And we have the privilege of introducing them to this community of people who love them and are there to support them, just as they will in turn love and support others in the future.

Thank you for being part of our community, a community that truly cares.