Finding Peace Through Christ-Centered Community

I hope everyone has had a great week. I know Valerie and I certainly enjoyed getting away for a little while. Sadly though, coming back to the reality that happened while we were away in Nashville got me reflecting on the direction the country seems to be going. While I try and avoid politics like the plague, I can’t help but see a people lost. A couple years ago, I wrote about an article titled, “The ungrateful American”. The article was triggered by the outwardly vocal and seemingly ungrateful few soccer players on the US women’s team. While I’m not going to give anymore life to their attitudes, the article made some points about OUR, as Americans, declining integrity and growing pride. The kind of pride that can take down a person or a country as a whole. Most of us have heard at various times people say, “what this country needs is some more Jesus!” I 100% agree. But how do we get there?Well, when we become isolated from Christ and rely on our own pride and begin to take credit for our own successes, we are poised to fall. When we allow our foundation to weaken we are headed for failure. If you ignore erosion of your integrity, you will fall. If your competence and gifting outpace your integrity, you will fall. If the weight of your responsibilities and burdens is greater than your character, you will fall.But we can avoid all of this by surrounding ourselves with Christ and people of Christ. We must guard against this vulnerability. This is one of the many reasons the Bible tells us to stay connected to God’s people, to a local church. “Don’t neglect gathering together.” Are you guarding against that vulnerability, or are you at risk of falling? Are you living in a community that will encourage love and good works, or are you on the road to ruining your life?“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”Hebrews 10:24-25 I genuinely hope we can begin to come together and find some peace as county in Christ. We surely aren’t finding it divided. Have a great weekend!Be Nice, Grace Wins