Talk Or Action.

Oh, for the power of positive community!

If you've been reading for any length of time, you know I try to stay focused on big picture concepts, rather than specific scenarios or real-life events. But yesterday was pretty incredible, and the parallel analogy that followed, was both profound and somewhat heart-breaking.

The Salvation Army has a #bedandbread program which runs 365 days a year. They serve 1.4 million meals and 131,000 beds. Their impact is amazing. And opening the website for donations Thursday at 8pm, then holding a radio-thon from  6-8, they raised just over 1.5 million dollars. In 24 hours!! And there goal was 1.4 million in funding.

It was incredible to listen to, as people called in and corporations stepped up, as well as various influencers, leaders and other well-known names contributed and set matching gift challenges. It was awesome.

And here's where the parallel universe came into play and I tread lightly. Earlier this week, you no doubt read of a certain political, presidential candidate raise a whopping, 6 million for his campaign (or just a few bucks shy, technically).

I understand campaigns are expensive. And this forum certainly isn't the spot to be debating politics, regardless of which side of the aisle you vote. But while politicians haggle and talk about societies ills and communities problems, those on the front lines of work; being the face of a solution to the face who is living the reality of the problem are changing lives and correspondingly, the world. Maybe not globally, but definitely, locally.

And what if every local community had one less "problem" for which politicians had to make so much a priority as a part of their election campaign as to generate, 5, 10 and 100 times over the financial need of these organizations.

It boggles the mind. And mine, as I sit typing about praying for pastors and church leadership, realizing even I, could pray so much more than I do. Yikes.

So, pray this #communitySaturday, that God would help us to make a greater impact in our communities. While how the work gets done is important, pray that people wouldn't talk about doing something more than actually do something.  Pray that lives we be changed as relationships are built, help is offered and steps towards a different and better outcome are made. Pray for generational curses to be broken, in terms of drugs, addictions, abuse and poverty. Pray that homes and marriages and families would be restored, and hearts turned towards Christ.

For a community is only as healthy,
As the health of its citizenry.
May who live there
Live for the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC