“Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  He said to him, ‘What is written in the law?  What do you read there?’  He answered, ‘You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.’  And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’” – Luke 10: 25-28

            It’s all about relationships, relationship with God and relationships with our neighbors.  Relationships that are grounded in love, love of God, and love of our neighbors.  1 John 4: 10-11 puts it this way, “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sing.  Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” 

            When we have a relationship with God, grounded in love and growing in love, we have life.  When we have a relationship with our neighbors, flowing from our love of God, we have life.  Notice that the lawyer was concerned about life after death (eternal life), but Jesus says that eternal life begins now with a loving relationship with God that shapes our relationships with our neighbors.  “You have given the right answer,” Jesus replied, “do this, and you will live.”

             Church Camp at WAPO was all about our kids building their relationship with God and with other campers and counselors (aka “neighbors”).  VBS, the Church Garage Sale, the Youth Mission Trip, and the Mission Trip to Tanzania are all about building relationships with God and neighbor, even when those neighbors live far away, or in the case of the Garage Sale come from far away. 

            As you are reflecting on your summer, so quickly flying by, and pondering the fall, I want you to make a commitment this fall to growing in your relationship with God and with your neighbor. 

• You may commit to more regular worship attendance on Sunday morning and the new Wednesday evening RECHARGE. 
• You may choose to join a small group this fall, for fellowship, Bible study, or mix and match your own. 
• Check out the Sunday morning Adult forums.  
• Perhaps service is your thing, so you may want to join a committee or ministry serving the church and our community. 

The main thing is to get connected and focus on growing your relationship with God and your neighbors.  Love God and love your neighbor, do this and you will have life and have it abundantly!