Imagine if America was a community… one large, real, significant, interactive, healthy community.\u00a0 What would that change?\u00a0 What would we be like?<\/p>\n
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Perhaps some would suggest:\u00a0 we already are a community \u2014 maybe not so healthy \u2014 but we\u2019re still a community!<\/em>\u00a0 It \u2018takes a village,\u2019 you know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To be a community \u2014 an authentic community \u2014\u00a0 is first, not something forced upon us.\u00a0 Community is a choice.\u00a0 It\u2019s a choice, in its simplest manifestation, to do life together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Does that mean there never exists disagreement?\u00a0 Of course not.\u00a0 Disagreement does not equate to disrespect (… a few more of us could learn that, I\u2019m thinking…).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But if we functioned as an authentic community, we would never work so hard to squelch or silence opinion solely because it\u2019s different.\u00a0 Dare I say that neither the Executive nor Legislative branches consistently practice such wisdom.\u00a0 Far too often, P.R. campaigns and rhetorical put-downs are instead, lavishly employed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To live in community means to be on mission together…\u00a0 We saw that in the days immediately succeeding the Boston Marathon bombing.\u00a0 Not solely the city proper nor the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but rather, seemingly the entire U.S. of A. was passionately seeking the arrest of those responsible.\u00a0 Cheers, tweets, and texts rang out when the suspects were apprehended.\u00a0 Being united in purpose prompted a truer sense of community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hence, what mission could endure in this country?\u00a0 What mission could a \u201cunited state\u201d of America join in on together?\u00a0 A mission that would last? …<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To fend off all evil.<\/p>\n To pursue life.<\/p>\n To pursue liberty.<\/p>\n To even pursue happiness.<\/p>\n To recognize that opposition does not equate to evil.<\/p>\n To recognize that evil is the utter absence of God.<\/p>\n To defend our inalienable rights.<\/p>\n To recognize that those rights come from someone bigger and better than you and me.<\/p>\n To learn to preach to ourselves as opposed to listen to ourselves.<\/p>\n To acknowledge God.<\/p>\n To relentlessly pursue his blessing and perspective.<\/p>\n To extinguish terrorism.<\/p>\n To recognize that there exist multiple, organized, anti-Christian organizations that wish to bring us serious harm.<\/p>\n To seek God\u2019s best for all people.<\/p>\n To be humble enough to pray.<\/p>\n To submit.<\/p>\n To do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again I ask, what mission could we join in on together?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As I look at the purpose articulated by current leadership \u2014 regardless of party affiliation \u2014 I don\u2019t see much of the above.\u00a0 Instead, it seems we have a plethora of \u201cme first\u201d…\u00a0 \u201cParty first\u201d…\u00a0 and a generous helping of \u201cI know best.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I don\u2019t see a lot of humility, submission, and putting others before ourselves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The reality, therefore, is that I don\u2019t see a lot of community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully…<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imagine if America was a community… one large, real, significant, interactive, healthy community.\u00a0 What would that change?\u00a0 What would we be like? Perhaps some would suggest:\u00a0 we already are a community \u2014 maybe not so healthy \u2014 but we\u2019re still a community!\u00a0 It \u2018takes a village,\u2019 you know. I think not. To … <\/p>\n