And then There Were Five, and God Said, “These Are for You, My Friend!”

1. Go out of your way to be the first to greet another—be it a friend or a total stranger; be the first to smile and say "hello."  Greet people properly:  smile, look them in the eye, and speak clearly, genuinely, prayerfully, and playfully.  Smile before you answer the phone or before someone even says “hello” to you.  Go out of your way to acknowledge the person waiting on you in a restaurant or in the check-out line at the grocery store.  Learn—and remember—his or her name.  When someone comes in to your office, stop what you’re doing—immediately (unless you’re on the phone)—and give that person your full time and attention.  Respond to everyone with an almost overwhelming kindness, respect, dignity, and compassion.
2. Be super-expressively grateful, and open yourself up to those around you—almost to a point that’s pretty much unheard of in our culture.  But do so in a manner that is sensitive to others, though.  Be open, but kindly.  And respectful, too.  WRITE…with all your heart and mind, and let loose what’s inside you.  Tell of God's Goodness and Love, and share who you are with as many people as possible.  Speak the truth (or what you know or believe to be the truth) in kindness with everyone (even yourself), all the time, in every situation, and without hesitation.
3. Enjoy people, build friendships with a patient relentlessness and unquenchable resiliency, and tell those you love how much you love them and what they’ve meant to you in your life—even when they don’t love you in return, for Love does not consider not being loved in return all that big of a deal.  When communicating with another, stop thinking about what you’re going to say while that person is speaking.  Take the time, instead, to really listen and absorb what’s being said (or what that dear one wishes to say).  Then, after that person feels that he or she has been heard AND understood, think about what you might like to say.  Dine on your conversations with others.  Sip—don’t gulp-their soul’s wine.  It will change your life, dude.  And theirs, too! 
4. Create missional culture by living it and by inviting those you love to practice such things with you.  Pursue Acts 2 community living within the newhope community…and in Haiti-Kenya-Durham—where you and your heart live!
5. Pray for people on the spot and whenever they come to mind, for prayer is and will always be your first, middle, and final work, Dave.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.—Acts 2:42-47

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.  Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.   Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary:  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.—Romans 12

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.—1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.—2 Corinthians 9:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.—Galatians 5:22-23

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.—Ephesians 4:15-16

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.—Philippians 4:4-8

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.—Colossians 3:12-17

Be joyful always; pray continually;  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18