"Where everybody knows your name..."

For a minute I'd like to wax randomly...
I recently finished two books, Essential Church (Thom & Sam Rainer) and Little Chapel on the River (Gwendolyn Bounds). At first glance there is absolutely no connection. T. Rainer is the president of Lifeway Christian Resources (In case you don't know, that's THE Southern Baptist HURRAH.) and S. Rainer is the pastor of a church. Bounds, on the other hand, is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Essential Church is about church (DUH?!). Little Chapel on the River is about a grocery/pub located on the Hudson River. Now, I realize I run the risk of getting in trouble here. First, I am telling you that I read a book about a pub. Second, I am going to make a comparison between said pub and the church. So fine, it won't be the first time I've been in trouble. Here's the point I want to make. The Rainers state that in order for the church to impact culture in America, specifically the culture between 17 and 30 years of age, it must become essential to their lives. They make references throughout the book to interviews conducted while researching the material for its content. In one interview a young man said that he began to drop out of church at the end of his time in high school. The reason, his circle of friends (i. e. his drinking buddies) were more essential to his life than the relationships he formed while attending church. He is now a "grown man", but continues to fellowship with those same friends because the connections they made influenced and enriched his life. He needed them. They needed him. They were real with each other and maintained a tight-knit community. Likewise, the people at Guinan's (the pub) found a family. They found a place where they could make real connections with real people.

The brothers and sisters from the way-back were on to something when it comes to 'essential', 'real', 'connections' and 'family'. Check this out...
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending temple, together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

That's it! A place "where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came."