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action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/salvagh0/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114(Community Worship in the Park)<\/p>\n
It is so beautiful out, and all of you look so wonderful gathered here in community.<\/p>\n
Although it takes some work to get this service together, this community worship in the park is one of my favorite services of the year.<\/p>\n
That heavenly reality is just. Around. The. corner\u2026<\/p>\n
So I want you to close your eyes for a moment.<\/p>\n
Imagine walking around through the City of God.<\/p>\n
How will you greet your neighbors?<\/p>\n
How will you treat the people that on earth were your enemies?<\/p>\n
Do you hear anger and shouting? Or joy and laughter?<\/p>\n
In everything that we do, here on earth today, we should live and love in anticipation of this reality.<\/p>\n
We are called to live as if that Kingdom of God in which Jesus reigns IS the reality we find ourselves in.<\/p>\n
As we open our eyes, yes, we find ourselves back in Marengo, Iowa. We find ourselves in the twenty-first century. We find ourselves in a world that is full of anger and violence, a culture that glorifies partying and licentiousness, a society that says \u201cme-first, and screw the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean that we have to join them.<\/p>\n
No, as Christians, we are called to a better way.<\/p>\n
We are children of God.<\/p>\n
And we are called to love.<\/p>\n
But what do we mean by love? It is such a commonly used word that it has lost almost all significance for the Christian faith.<\/p>\n
When Paul uses the word love here in Romans, he uses the greek word: agape. Agape is completely self-less love. It is love directed towards others. It has no pre-requisites, no conditions. Agape love doesn\u2019t depend upon any loveable qualities the person you are loving possesses. It is love that expects nothing back in return.<\/p>\n
Love is not a feeling.<\/p>\n
Love is a choice.<\/p>\n
Love is an action. Love is what we do\u2026 or do not do\u2026 to and for other people.<\/p>\n
The big question is\u2026 Why? Why should I love my neighbor when he borrowed my lawnmower last month and broke it? Why should I love that person who always cuts me off as I drive to work? Why should I have any love towards people who seek to do harm to me and my loved ones? Why should I love someone who has done damage beyond repair in my life?<\/p>\n
It is a good question.<\/p>\n
And Paul responds with one word: salvation.<\/p>\n