Doing Life Together

Just finished a refreshing weekend with close friends of over 20 years. I describe these friends as those who we have done "life with". We started out as a community group through Parkside Church. Our kids were about the same age and we spent the formative family years together. A number of us now are part of Christ Community Chapel and two have even moved away. But even though our kids have grown, we drew back together. Life now involves parents passing into eternity, illnesses such as cancer, job changes, financial insecurities, and more.

So here we were, 18 of us gathering at Maumee Park Resort eating (and more eating), playing walleyball, pictionary, and some dice game I think called "left, right, center" (I never heard of it). The picture above is at this pizza joint called Blackberry's Cafe. I am so grateful for this group. My tendency like a lot of men is to fight the battle of life alone. But that is not God's plan. We were not meant to go through life alone. We need each other, warts and all. In our closing worship this morning, we were reminded of Paul's words in Colossians 3:12-17.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

As we reflected, it is amazing to see God's providence in bringing our group together. The only common trait we all have is a love of Jesus Christ and faith in Him. We all need to be part of an extended family. God never intends to go through the trials of life alone.