Blessed from rubbing elbows with the Body

How was your weekend?

Ours was full and as I sit here mulling over what to write you all today, I keep thinking how much I hear church and church people dissed these days.

Not just by the world, but by other believers.

I hear things like how we are hypocrites and how all people know about us is what we are against…and how we need to live it out better…and how the reason people leave church is because of people in the church…

and like I said … that stuff is said by BELIEVERS.

So I look back over the weekend we just had and I thank God for the Church of Jesus Christ I got to rub elbows with this weekend…

Like Friday night as we packed into an overflow crowd of friends and church family and people I have never seen before…200 plus strong…and enjoyed a wee visit to Ireland through the varied talents of a variety of musicians.

Right there in the cafe and lobby of our church. A whole different way to worship…with the Body…

Saturday we attended the pancake breakfast at the church of some long-time friends. We go every year and eat enough carbs to last us quite a while.

We sit at the tables with people we don’t know, but we make conversation because we love Jesus…and pancakes, of course.

Then there was Sunday morning when I stopped in the prayer room and found a spot at the table where two warriors kept their heads bowed in prayer for the services and the people who would be gathering to hear God’s Word.

And when they lifted their heads…the peace and the slightest remnants of tears because they had been at the Throne on behalf of the hearts and souls entering the doors of our church or the ones God is calling who have not yet responded.

As one left to attend the worship service, one lingered and we talked a bit.

We talked about things of God…about what we lack and how He provides…about His grace and His mercy….about hope.

Not because we have the answers but because we know He does.

And we shared and encouraged and gave Him glory and she went on and I stayed.

Encouraged and edified because I am part of something bigger than just me, myself and I …IN Christ…I am attached to the Body.

Later we went up and watched these yahoo’s while their mommy and daddy went to rub elbows with some other parts of the Body.

They had small group and so they left the basketball games that our son-in-law would love to watch…and they studied a bit and talked a bit with other young couples around their age.

And they prayed.

Not because they have all the answers but because they know who does.

And they came home and we had dinner together, which was as much a circus as a meal with three boys can be….and their dad got up and picked up macaroni and broccoli from around the high chair and there were numerous reminders to finish the protein and keep the milk glasses from the edge of the table….

I am quite certain this morning they are wiping up crumbs and doing it all again…

as they try to apply the good things they talked about last night.

Living out their faith one messy day at time.

Just like all of us who follow Christ.

Sometimes falling short…sometimes seeing a marvelous sign post of God’s faithfulness.

Pressing on…

elbow to elbow…

side by side…

arm in arm…

with others who love Jesus.

Not perfect…but not hypocrites or phonies or anything ..just fellow sojourners…travelers on the journey…learning as we go.

Let’s be careful how we talk about each other.

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church:

every part dependent on every other part,

the parts we mention and the parts we don’t.

If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt,

and in the healing.

If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

1 Corinthians 12: 25-26    The Message <3