Community

Would you give everything you had to help a friend in need? Would you sacrifice your own well-being to help a less fortunate friend? Would you be willing to allow a friend to probe into every facet of your life?

If you can honestly answer yes to all of these questions, you are to be lauded. It is rare to find someone so willing to be sacrificial. However, Luke calls us to do all of these things, and more, in Acts (2 and 4). Imagine a community in which everyone lived this life.

Pretty awesome, huh? So what is it that makes this "grace of giving" (2 Cor. 8) so difficult?

Until this summer, May to be exact, I was focused on one thing with my career plans -- how to make the most money and get ahead in life. I didn't give one hoot about giving to those less fortunate than myself; it was all about me, myself, and I. However, in May, our Father smacked me across my face and opened my eyes to His plan, His direction, His mercy. He has never thought of Himself before us, never thought of taking and not giving.

Our challenge here on Earth is not to see who can get the furthest ahead in life, not to see who can make the most money, not to see who has the fanciest car, rather it is to complete give ourselves to God, our Father.

Tim, Ryan, Emily, Deanna, Hobgobbler, Heff, anyone else who wants to join:

Imagine a community like that on campus here. That is our vision, our goal, our prize, our gift from our Father. We must accept this awesome responsibility to build it here; we must give ourselves to the Lord for it to happen. I love all of you guys, and you all continue to be an inspiration for me. Thank you for all you have done for me, and all that you continue to do without even realizing it.