Commitment to community

a Jesus thought...
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

a Godly thought...
I want to prepare like an evangelical; preach like a Pentecostal; pray like a mystic; do spiritual disciplines like a Desert Father; art like a Catholic; and social justice like a liberal. (Mark Driscoll)

a leading thought...
If leaders always focus on their organisation's problems and weaknesses, then the attention of their people will invariably be drawn there too. True leaders focus on that which is right and on what gives hope, not on what is wrong. (p241 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
As a a lieutenant I have had the privilege to be committed to one community over the last 5 years. This commitment began in 1989 to the Box Hill corps and over the last 18 years I have held various roles there as a soldier and then I was approached to move on to paid staff in 2000 as a youth pastor, then assistant pastor, and then a lieutenant. Over the last 6 months in my new role of TYS I have struggled to disconnect with this community and probably always will. In this role I am now being asked to consider a commitment to the denomination over my commitment to a local community. So although appointed as TYS I still play a role at Box Hill as Youth Co-ordinator and am a big believer in acting locally thinking globally.
But the day is getting closer for many of us lieutenants to make steps towards commissioned officership, when my commitment to the denomination will be asked to supersede my commitment to my community. There is something special and more importantly biblical about a long term journey with a local community that I will always value and I will always believe is the most effective way to grow the kingdom of God.

Just a thought.