Do I Know my Neighbour?

As Christians learn to interact with the culture as us Joe Thorn as a good question

"Do you know the people, the local issues and struggles, the values, practices and interests of your neighbors? There will be no cultural engagement unless you are there, hanging out, interacting with the world outside of the church. Need a place to start? Introduce yourself to your neighbors and invite them over for dinner, read the local paper, participate in local events, let your voice be heard when appropriate, be a regular at local establishments."

As Mel and I have moved around in my exploring pastoral ministry and particularly in the last few years with Sovereign Grace, it has been very hard to get to know our neighbors and it has been hard inviting them over when we haven't had a house to invite them to. However, it has been a longing for both of us, that if Lord willing we would plant a church back in Ottawa, [or wherever we end up] the practice Thorn is talking about is something we want to do. Not only to engage the culture, but to by God's grace build the church.
But in the meantime I need to be creative and not allow the challenges to be excuses from this call to be salt and light to those God has placed me around.

So I leave the question for you today, do you know your neighbour?

Love and Good Deeds

Man, props to guys that do this every day and multiple times a day.

A truly Christian faith is that which produces good works; but all good works which it produces are by love [13]

If I love God [a truly Christian faith] I will be producing good works and this good works will be produced because I love God.

It can seem like circular reasoning but I need both sides.
The first is a check that if I love God, it will be evidenced through good works expressed towards others. My wife, my daughter, my family and my friends should see that I love God through my actions towards them.
The second half is a reminder and challenge that I don't do the good works to be seen by these people or for people to pat me on the back or impress them. Instead they should grow out of a love for God and a desire to honour and please Him.