unity

Psalm 133

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
         For brethren to dwell together in unity!

                In the topic o unity we see that it was Gods only desire for man to have unity with God himself and with other believers bothers and sisters with in the house of God. Unity is important in making the church and any team oriented organization work. It is the focal point in making any relationship work, friendship, family, and coworkers. The bible says that a house divided can not stand (Matthew 12:24). I believe this is true with a family, the church or in the work place. We read a book this past year called “The five dysfunctions of a team.” This book goes step by step in distinguishing and leaning how to distinguish problems with in a team setting. This book is mainly focused on the work place and people who most likely don’t know Jesus due to the language. Well I guess that doesn’t really mean anything because I’m from the southern tier and we swear all the time. But any way the book starts off with a team of coworkers who can’t focus what so ever on there job because of all the problems the have as a team and this book goes step by step in working out the communication and the unity issues with in their team.

                   In the work place, in the church, at home or even in a group of young, talkative, multi personality inters unity is the number one key to success. If we see the purpose in which we were placed on this earth and the purpose that God has for each and every single one of our lives individually and his vision for as a whole as a group or as a church we could huge things for his kingdom.

Ephesians 4:1 

 

 ¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

 

                   Through out read this book we begin to see the number one problem with in their team and that is that they have no communication with in the group. They are trying to run a high corporate business with no communication and they are failing at the job they are highly trained in doing be cause the different essential parts cant seem to talk to each other.   “As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20). Even though this book is talking about a million dollar corporation it is the same in the church, a home or even a smaller setting such as an internship. With out the right communication we can not grow as a group. Even though we think we have good communication I don’t think telling jokes and making sarcastic remarks to each other really counts as communication. We need to move past the things that other team members have done to us, past all the hurt that we have taken on as a group and begin to work as a team, as the church. If there was 100% unity in our tiny little internship I think GC would grow more rapidly that we have seen. Just like this group in the book even though hey cant see there dysfunctions a stranger from the out side looking in can. She begins to tell them where they struggle and what they need to improve on. It is the exact same with our group. Even though we cant see our dysfunctions as a team people from the out side looking in can see it all even the new people. As leaders we are required to work out our differences, yes it is ok to have healthy confrontation when need, but it’s when we try to contain it when it begins to seep out. Even though we don’t think it people are looking at   all the time, we lead by example.

 

 

Philippians 2:1-3

 

                          ¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

 

 

          The central basis of unity is to be as one, to be like minded and open minded, and also to always be on the same page as the rest of your team and be willing to except help and ideas from the people around you. I personally have trouble working as a team because I like to so things my self and also done my way now this can be a big problem because working as a team is not all about me and how I want things done but what will better effect out team and the people we are trying to reach. We were not made to work alone but as one and its ok to ask for help and except it that is what the rest of your team is there for to back you up and also tell you when you’re acting like an idiot.

 

       The main focus here is unity as a group or a team but we can’t have unity with other people until we are in complete unity this god himself, the father. When we begin to acknowledge the reason whey god sent his son to us to teach us why and how god wants his creation to function in complete unity with its self. Until we can fully understand that concept we can’t have unity as a team. We must first have unity with the spirit.

 

 

Truth&Grace

Are we as Christians portraying the image of god, or our we portraying an image of the world?

This question may sound a little direct. but i was having a conversation with a friend a few days ago and he told me a story about a kid that his father has been working on for a while and he got himself in some truble with the law. its not the fact that he got in trouble that really bothers me. its the fact that he still hasn’t told my friends, father about it because he’s afraid. I started questioning why exactly he was afraid. was it because he’s afraid of admitting the truth? or is because we as Christians have dealt situations like this the wrong way?

people tend to think that all Christians do is point fingers and cast judgement on others. When actually it is supposed to be the opposite. But why do people think that? Is it because we have given a poor example of what Jesus would do in this situation?

when dealing with situations we need a little “truth” and a little “grace”. without a correct balance between these two thing its hard to fully and effectively minister to other people.

the power of words

proverbs 4:23-25

(23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.(24) Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips.

 

I think for the most part the senior inters and myself agree that the one thing that we all struggled with last year is our sacasim. its funny, well not so much funny as it is sad, but we could never all work as one team. but when it came to our sarcasm we all worked together quite well. we feed off eachother like nothing i have ever seen before at times it was funny yes but in the end feeling were hurt and divison was brought about in our team. I dont think one pearson got as much out of last year as they could of. As for the interns that our returning this year we are making it our priority to make sure that does’nt happen this year. proverbs 4 talks about keeping proversity and corrupt thing out of your mouth. And speeking for myself here but i think alot of never really realize how powerful the words that we speak truly are. as leaders people are constantly watching what we do, and listening to the things that we say. and i know for myself that i want those things to be positive thing, thing that will enhance the kingdom of god. and allow people to grow and flurish. Im so excited about this year and to see the things that god has instore for us.