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Restored Community
Jason Baziotis
 We all know from Matt's sermons that to "restore" means to build back up or reestablish, such as when you restore an old classic car to its former glory by rebuilding the engine and hammering out all the kinks in the frame. We get it... and regardless of whether you care anything about cars or not, anyone can appreciate the work and restored beauty. However, sometimes I like to take words apart and dissect them (why yes, I AM a nerd, thanks for asking!) to get to the root definition. In this case, one definition of the word "store" is: "to have high regard for; value; esteem." Here's why I think this is a huge discovery!
If I say the words "Michael Jordan" to you, you immediately think of one of the most amazing players to ever grace the basketball hardwood. He often talked about his love and passion for the game of basketball, and that passion coupled with his talents and hard work drove him to the pinnacle in the sport with 6 NBA championships. However, after winning his 3rd consecutive NBA championship in 1993, Michael Jordan did the unthinkable: He retired from the sport. It had nothing to do with his appreciation of the sport or its fans, but rather because he was just tired and worn down. In short, his "regard, value, esteem" of the sport of basketball had run out, and his love of the sport needed to be restored! In his case, this restoration occurred via Michael playing baseball for almost 2 years, and while he was gone his love of basketball was rekindled. He needed to be reminded of why he had fallen in love with basketball to begin with.
Restoring a community, OUR community, has a similar process. A community is comprised of buildings, services, and people. Helping to restore old buildings and blessing people with your time and efforts are great and can have very beneficial results... but do you put "store" into your community? Do you have a "high regard for, value, esteem" for the city of Ogden? Did you love it once, only to find now that you've lost your passion? It's ok if you have, because a relationship with our community is like any other relationship: It takes work, attentiveness, and a continued effort to be honest with it and yourself. Take the time to remind yourself why you fell in love with Ogden to begin with: The people you meet, the atmosphere and spirit that resides in it, or maybe the fact that God has planted you here. Take your time, because passion and true love can't be faked. And when you're done and you can't stand your city being under siege by Satan any longer, then seek out opportunities to help restore your community via prayer and keeping watch for those you can bless!
There's one more point I want to make here about restored community. Maybe you've been wronged or hurt by your community. This can happen in any relationship, and this one is no different. Regardless of what the other person or persons are doing, the most important step for you to be able to move on is to forgive them. Yes it's easy to say, and no I don't know what happened, nor do I understand how little they deserve or have earned your forgiveness. I get it. Ephesians 4:32 tells us "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." It says God "forgave" us, past tense... not that He continually forgives us, but He forgave us already! There is POWER in forgiveness, and when you hold onto your anger and hurt you are continuing to give that power up to others. And when you forgive and are able to care and feel whole again, you might find that your community isn't the only thing that's been restored.
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