When Jesus was asked to sum up everything into one command, he said to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Most of us have turned this simple idea of loving our neighbors into a nice saying, putting it on bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets and then going on with our lives without actually putting it into practice.
Jesus is a Genius - Who Is My Neighbor?
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29 Dave said, "When we try to love everyone...we often end up loving no one."
You can download the Block Map Resource at www.theartofneighboring.com.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
With our neighbors, we should be beneficial, authentic, and open. I miss Mr. Rogers, and he said it best here http://viewpure.com/Upm9LnuCBUM.
Overcoming Roadblocks
Strangers ---> Block Map/Acquaintances ---> Block Party/Relationship ---> Host a Meal
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:26-27 Dave said, "God has placed us in our specific neighborhoods for a reason."
Final Thoughts
Dave said, "Sometimes we need to forego some good things to devote time and energy to better things, the main things - loving God and loving our neighbors." He also said, "We don't love our neighbors to convert them; we love our neighbors because we are converted."
I can't wait to read this book and begin to love and transform our own neighborhood!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
