Commitment

I heard Joe Torre being interviewed the other day (the former manager of the New York Yankees) and he was saying that there were two basic elements to his success as a manager in the big leagues:

1. The ability to lay aside grudges
2. The commitment to the team

Both are needed in church life.

Growing churches are healthy churches; filled with people who know and understand that living in forgiveness is not a one time act but a lifestyle of freely giving grace to those around us.

Growing church are also filled with people who are committed to the team.

Our culture has so ingrained us to be only concerned about our needs and our rights that we have forgotten or just plain out right don't pay attention to the teachings of Jesus. That it is as I give up my rights that I receive great blessing.

We are not called to focus in on our rights but our responsibilities.

Let me give you an illustration of this:

Certain ants in South and Central American rain forests will lie down in the potholes that stand between their army and food. Their bodies form a makeshift bridge, allowing other ants—sometimes numbering over 200,000—to make better time in getting to the source of nourishment.

This pattern in the life of ants was discovered through research done at England's University of Bristol. Researchers took a wooden plank and drilled different sized holes in it, simulating a narrow trail.

Ants would find holes equal to their size and lay down inside, letting others walk safely over them. When the raiding party accomplished its mission and was returning to its nest, the faithful few climbed out of their holes and followed the raiders home.

May the Father help us all to recommit ourselves to such faithfulness to His church and to the world around us