During a visit to see my sister in Los Angeles a few years ago I had the privilege of partaking in a meal called Iftar- which is a meal consumed after sunset to break the fast during the month of Ramadan. My sister's church had partnered with the local mosque to invite people to sign up to be hosted by a family observing Ramadan, and who was willing to host people for the meal of Iftar.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this time, those practicing Ramadan fast, pray, and reflect individually and with their community in the Islamic faith- and at the end, they celebrate together. 

At this Iftar dinner my sister, her husband, and myself were welcomed into the home of a family who was from Turkey and received incredible hospitality and delicious Turkish food. We laughed together, learned about Turkish culture, what Ramadan is about, and just got to know each other. It was beautiful and memorable. At the end of our dinner together we sat and talked and shared about what each other believes about God- not to convert each other- but actually just to know each other better. We listened to each other's story, each other's heart, each other's life. This family sang a song together and actually asked us to sing a worship song as well. My brother-in-law and myself- being worship leaders- we sang the song, "All the Poor and Powerless".

Why am I telling you about this significant experience in my life? 

Because I learned that night what it means to love a neighbor just to love them- with no agenda. And to be loved back, with no agenda. 

I had a choir director in high school who used to say to us all the time, "Do the dishes, just to do the dishes." And what he meant was, don't do something to receive something back. Do the dishes without expecting a 'thank you', or a favor to follow what you've done- just do the dishes to do the dishes. 

Love people because you love God. Serve people without agenda. 

That's what Jesus did. Jesus loved and loves us with a desire to draw us closer to Him so that we would know deep, life-changing, radical love. The kind of love we can only find in Jesus. What joy. What good news.

This Sunday Pastor Mark will be preaching through Nehamiah 5, teaching us about what the heart of a leader looks like- and how it reflects God. He says in his summary,

"Everyone created in the image of God is a leader. God invites us all to pursue biblical leadership in our lives by stepping aside and letting Him lead our lives so that God's Kingdom can be established on earth as it is in Heaven." 

Join us this Sunday online or in-person and we'll learn about the "Heart of a Leader", together. 

See you soon,

Chelsea Maitland