“As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.” —Proverbs 27:17

 

Rocky and Kirk on our front porch

When I first met him he looked nothing like a farmer or “homesteader” (a person who wishes to utilize their lands to sustain their lives), but more like a hipster. He introduced himself as “Rocky”—yes, Rocky—and as I shook his hand warmly images of Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith flew through my mind. We didn’t see each other for sometime when we recently crossed paths last Fall.

While talking at a friend’s Christmas party this past December I later asked if he would want to meet to discuss some of the topics we talked about—building community, having significant local impact, participating in public life—all while still walking with God. He happily agreed, and now we have been meeting early on most Thursdays, to drink coffee and talk about how to walk with God and have a local impact.

He told me about the 40+ acres he and his wife purchased and how he was learning how to build a home. The “hipster becomes a farmer”—one who wishes to see his community flourish economically, culturally, spiritually, values the importance of place, land, and Jesus in that growth. He has a vision to see his local world changed—he wants to see his nearby small town changed for Jesus. And that Jesus wouldn’t only bring salvation, but also transformation—and then their community could flourish regardless of circumstances or difficulties faced.

Jesus Himself said in John 13 that our love for one another would be distinctive. So distinctive that love shown at a personal—dare I say local—level would become known by “all people”.

So, we’ll continue to meet, drink coffee, share our stories and trust our Lord that he’ll change us and others around us. We will talk about his farm—something that interests me—and our ministry to the art community—something that interests him, and trust it will bring about a little more of the power of “loving one another.”

Rocky has already attended a few of our events, and we plan to join him at some of the events in his community.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:35

Blessings-