Community is Proportinal to Communication

Forgive the higher mathematics/engineering jargon here. But as I considered the issues of community, I found that the level of community seems to be proportional to the level of communication.

1. Verbal communication -- sometimes encouraging, sometimes firm, sometimes rebuking; always truth spoken in love; VC may take the form of email, phone calls, face-to-faces, blog posts w/ comment, letters
2. Presence communication -- spending quality time together; always important to walk a mile in the other person's shoes in the same location; PC does not have to include VC to be effective and could include sporting events, camp-outs, watching a movie together, retreats, meals, Tim Horton's coffee (I take mine large black)
3. Ministry communication -- ministering to the needs of the others, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial; MC may also be silent and may include, fixing a car, remodeling a bathroom, caring for kids so a couple can "date", paying for Tim Horton's coffee (I take mine black), praying for one another

All of these forms of community transfer (ie communication) must be bound by the Word of God for it to occur in the church. But community is not just a church concept. There are communities of hikers/mountain climbers (Todd is trying to reach these communities), and local hamlets/burgs/villagescommunities (like Willseyville) and even online communities (social networks). It is happening with or without us (the church). Why not use something that people want to build bridges with them? Communication is really the key to community!

Thanks for listening to this communication,

Mike

OK, Forgive the facilitator/shepherd jargon here, but I have an excersise for you all to participate in.

List for me the number of people in your local body of believers(church) that you have had contact with in:

1. verbal communication

2.your presence

3.ministered to or by in the past week.

How are we doing in living out the one anothers in scripture?

-Todd