Hope Fellowship Community Church

Our church recently put in a new patio area for people to sit and eat and talk. It came as such a blessing because a crew of guys came down and did all the work for FREE! I just wanted to give a special thanks out to Ed, Homer, Gene, Phil, Ken, and Bryan for all the work that they put into planning and construction of this new patio. This is a great group of guys that are doing great things for people. They are doing things in the way the God has called us to help each other.

I have put in some before and after pictures of the patio area. Click on the images to see a bigger picture. While the area is still recognizable, it is definitely a new and improved look.

Just like when God starts working on us. I may still look a little like the old me. I may even sound a little like the old me. But things have changed, inside and out. God has challenged me and molded me in such a way that I am a new person. I no longer want to look and act like the old me but I want only to seek God and please Him as best I can. I may have to sweep off the stones everyday and make sure that I keep the area clean but if I do not have Him there, I am just like the Pharisees and teachers of the Law in Matthew 23:25-28; nice and clean on the outside but dead on the inside.

God has called us to a higher commitment level. He is not calling us to just get by and do the minimum.

I read an article by Francis Chan entitled "Gathering Force." I would recommend the read to anyone who wants to take a look at how the Church should be. There is just so much that I think that we could improve on. In the article, he quotes Acts 2:42-47. I look at this and wonder how easy and basic that this is. It is about the Truth of God's Word and the sharing of community. Love God...love all. Sound familiar? Family. Relationships. Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and in that love, loving our neighbor as ourselves.

How can we change our attitudes and our schedules to fit into what God wants his Church to look like? When do we have time for other people? I am guilty of this myself. I get busy doing stuff and I neglect relationships with others.

I challenge you to take a look at this article and take a look at the passage. Read the passage everyday and see how God speaks to you about His Church.