My wife, Connie, found an intriguing article entitled “Building Christian Community” on the internet (this is not an endorsement of all that is on that site).  The article speaks of the tendency for Christians to build community around affinity groups that they might have outside the church- in the author’s case, the educational environment they have chosen.  Marlin Detweiler writes:

The other ditch is when we begin to substitute the role of the school or our educational environment (such as our homeschool) for the church. Recently, I have heard far too many folks suggesting overtly and sometimes not as consciously or intentionally that the community we seek to build will be or should be centered around the school or homeschool association.

This thinking, subtle or otherwise, is riddled with great problems. Where do childless couples fit? How about empty-nesters?

My involvements in education have been more extensive than I ever dreamed or imagined they would be as recently as 15 years ago. Yet I don’t ever want to presume that this educational world, as close and consuming for a family as it may be, can in any way or at any time supplant the role of the organization given to build Christian community—the Church.

It is by the grace of God and through His ordained means that we find the Church to fill the role of building Christian community. In doing so we find that no age group, no stage in life, no childless couple and no single adult is functionally or otherwise left out of the communities we hope and should seek to build.

Wow.  The author nails it.  The Church is THE God-given means for building relationships and community.  If we’re not careful we end up leaving those that don’t fit our mold outside the loop and left behind.  The Church is to be comprised of all kinds of people, all races, all backgrounds, all marital status- and all need the body of Christ.   It may not be an educational environment, it could be sports teams our kids are on or a myriad of other organizations vying for our time and attention.  Let us not neglect the Church- the God given means for true community centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

It was a hot August 6th afternoon in 1988 that Connie and I married at Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Dr. Ken Wackes and Rev. Rod Culbertson officiated.  That was 20 years ago, and in my case, 20+ pounds ago (let’s just say Connie got a return on her investment).  God has been very gracious to give us 20 great years.  I’m very thankful to God for my wife who is also a great Mom to our 3 boys.  We married and 2 weeks later moved to Jackson, MS to start seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary.  20 years.  Doesn’t seem possible.

Our building was without one of two air conditioning units this past Sunday.  We survived though things got a bit stuffy near the close of worship.  My gratitude goes to our people’s patience.  I made the obligatory remarks about hot air emanating from the pulpit.

We just had the AC maintenance guy come by and fix the unit.  The problem?  Ants in the unit were preventing contact in the circuit so that it could not cut on.  Apparently they are drawn by the hum the unit makes.  We have had this happen before with our home AC.  I heard the technician rapidly cutting the unit on and off (the unit in question is right outside my office window).  He told me that was his way of frying the ants and that he “had fun doing it!”.

I think there’s a sermon illustraion in this somewhere but I’m not sure yet where to find it.  Any ideas?  I’m just glad to know we’re back with both units running for this Sunday!

Wednesday will be our 20th wedding anniversary.  I must say, it’s been 20 very good years and I’m a very blessed and thankful man to have the wife God’s given me.  I’m not the easiest guy to live with and that’s putting it mildly.  Along those lines, a book I pulled off my shelf and re-read parts of is entitled When Sinners Say “I DO” by Dave Harvey.  It certainly describes our marriage.  I can’t recommend it enough.  Harvey does a great job of portraying a truly gospel centered marriage.  He shows what it means to live as a husband or wife in the light of the finished work of Jesus Christ.  More and more I’m seeing that what we really need is good news (the gospel), not just good advice for all of life- marriage included.  If you’re married or contemplating getting married, you need this book.  I hope to get the young marrieds at HLPC reading this one.  Want a copy?  You can order one HERE.