Pulling Together, Not Apart
I went to the doctor today to stay ahead of some cold and sore throat symptoms. I used the opportunity to test my strength and endurance. So I left the wheelchair at home and tried to make my way around using my four-wheel walker with the seat in it. It was certainly an adventure and a first step in the direction that I want to go. When I got tired I sat and pushed myself or Debbie pushed me. By the time I got home, I was fairly tired.
A few days ago I posted on my Facebook page a video of me walking outside. For those who don’t have a Facebook page I believe you can see the video through this link:  https://www.facebook.com/ken.summers53
I will be in Grand Junction the next few days with the Rocky Mountain District Council of the Assemblies of God. This is the annual business meeting for ministers, missionaries and church delegates for churches in Colorado and Utah. I will be hosting an exhibit for the Rocky Mountain Energy Forum and helping promote Teen Challenge and the Colfax Charity 5K as well. Thanks to Charlie Simineo for going with me to help me get around.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Ahithophel was the king’s adviser. Hushai, a descendant of Archi, was the king’s friend.1 Chronicles 27:33
The final chapters in 1 Chronicles reviews the Kingship of David. There are tribes and lists of names and functions and gatekeepers, and those who tended to the flocks and those that were the heads over military units. When reading through the Bible these are great chapters to skip or skim over.
But this time I began to realize the number of individuals and the organizational structure that it took for the Kingdom to function and be safe. This required David finding, competent, faithful and loyal individuals. People who were willing to accept their assignment regardless of what anyone else was doing or was selected to do. Some of David’s best warriors were not necessarily the military leaders. Each person had a role and each person’s role was valuable.
It is interesting that at the end of the list we find Husahi, whose role was to be the King’s friend. There is an interesting assignment. But perhaps with the load the business of the kingdom, keeping peace in and outside the walls of the kingdom, it was nice just to have someone who was there to be a friend. In politics we would say, “everyone is at the capitol to get something from someone.” Perhaps there is a lesson for leaders today that tend to get over worked, over loaded and burned out. Just having someone not with an agenda other than being a friend.
In the New Testament we see a parallel when Paul writes to the Corinthians about the “body of Christ.” You are Christ’s body and each of you is an individual part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
This is why individual believers being a part of a local fellowship of believers is most important. There are certain aspects of our spiritual life and spiritual growth that are only realized in the context of community.
Each person must understand their role, fulfill their function and be content with the contribution and the assignment they are given at a certain time. That makes for a smooth operation of many hands working in the same direction. As the old childhood preschool song says, “when we all pull together, how happy we’ll be.”
 In your church, in your organization, in your political party, “how is the pulling?” In the words of Phil Robinson (Duck Dynasty) I hope you are “happy, happy, happy.”