I made an entry earlier about “Community of Hope”, thinking of how it is better to have an alternative than simply to say no, as Jim Wallis often says. That “alternative” is the all-too-rare community in which these alternative ways of living can be modeled, and tried, and set up in spite of, and in contrast to, this sickened, materialistic, individualistic, “me-and-Jesus is it” so I don’t have to woprry about how my life is no different from the rest of the world.

People cannot do this in this society without a community that has committed to that, and holds each other accountable to do this, and holds each other in their hearts and commit to a “Life Together”. There is none of this in today’s Church. It is non-existent as far as I can tell. I have written of how I can never be satisfied with anything less than the kind of “New Community” that the Church of the Saviour introduced me to 29 years ago. Nowhere have I seen anyone come close. And if they do, somewhere, where are the stories of such? I am both fortunate to have read and heard of such things, but I am also burdened with it, knowing how far we have travelled in opposite directions from realizing this in our Church life. I’m tired tonight, and cannot go into to what I’m talking about, but I’ve said such things before. I keep asking and praying when that will be found, even in some small way. Am I supposed to find a way to rediscover fire? Me? If not, then where is it? And how am I supposed to find it?