Last night I had the opportunity to participate in a fun time called “Guess who is coming to dinner”? A number of people chose to be the hosts. Other people agreed to be guests. The lady who thought about doing this put all the names of the guests in a hat. As she picked the people she assigned them to the next host on the list. Guests brought food and hosts had their homes ready. Amazing! So much fun.

When I first heard of what it was , I thought this could be interesting. Food, family, friends. But what if you ended up with someone you had dissed somewhere in the past or avoided?

One of the things I have learned over the years is it is easy to say “I love everybody” but sometimes when the rubber meets the road… Awkwardness can ensue.

Lots of people talk about being in community. But until you move into it, you are not so sure! (Or at least not aware.) A community of love and grace is where I want to be. Others say the same. Then you enter into it. And your life can occasionally feel that you are on the operating table. Your life laid open. Troubles revealed. Change needed.

Community will remove the rough edges. Sometimes it is messy. But a true community will persevere in love. Move in grace. Believe the best.

Ironically some of the toughest cases are the ones who say they want it the most.

Community is where change occurs. Where faith is often walked out. Grace empowerment to change things is available.

The result is a changing culture. Culture is the result of people and their beliefs applied to life. Here is one of its definitions, “the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.” It is defined by its everyday existence when expressed by people in a place or time.

God hardwired us for community. For relationship. He defined it in His word and through the life of Jesus.

Personally, I am thankful for our church gathering. Because it is people…everyday.

1 Peter 1:22-23 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Interesting that segment follows words like trial, grief and suffering. Apparently there is more to the scripture of Romans 8:28 that God works all things together than we think! How does He work these things together? I suggest to you in the culture of love and grace. In the community.

As ambassadors of Christ, representatives of the Most High God, we find ourselves called to participate in love with His body and those beyond. How does that happen? By accepting the purpose of the cross and the love of the Father. It is motivated in hope. It is action more than it is feeling. We love because He loves us. Even in their worst moments or difficult times.

Let love reign.