Pray for me. Next week is an important week. You don’t have to be at Redeemer long to hear me mention Colossians 3:16:“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”This is a snapshot, a picture of the community life all Christians are to pursue. In a culture that prizes independence, autonomy, and privacy there is almost nothing more countercultural. Who knows you, really knows you? Who have you given permission, even invited, to speak into your life with truth and love? And not just at one moment in time, but consistently over the long term.If you are a member of Redeemer, as your church community this is one of the primary places you should be pursuing these kinds of relationships. Of course it can happen other places as well, but your local church community, with your pastors, elders, deacons and other brothers and sister in Christ, is meant to be the primary place you experience this community life. It does not happen naturally. It does not happen quickly. You have to work for it. You have to plan for it. You have to rearrange your life for it. It is worth it, but it is not easy.This is why you can pray for me this coming week. I am in a group with six other pastors from across the county. We are deeply committed to each other. We connect throughout the month each month and gather together for four days each year. Next week I am hosting this group at my house. It is a wonderful time and so much fun, but also a time of intense transparency, accountability, prayer, engagement with the scripture, and speaking truth and love to each other.Pray that the Spirit would move with power during our time together. Pray that the support and challenge I receive from these other pastors makes me a better servant to you and the Redeemer community. Also, consider taking a step into deeper community at Redeemer this coming year. It is not easy, but it is worth it.Preaching this Sunday will be one of the other members of this group, Rev. Ronnie Garcia. (We will return to Esther on August 18th.) Ronnie is a wonderful pastor and a church planter in Puerto Rico. Below you will find links to two documents about his work. Please take the time to learn about what God is doing through Ronnie and his church, and pray for their work.I can’t wait to worship together.Pastor David

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