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Key Bible Verse: Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:2).
Bonus Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Richard and Pat Lord—he's an M.D., she's a chemistry Ph.D.—are two high achieving, structured white folks who came to Rock Church and became sponsors of the junior high youth group.

One day Pat said, "Pastor, don't say your target to end the service is one o'clock. Your target isn't really one o'clock or we'd hit it once in a while. I'd rather you'd say two and let it end at one-thirty. But I get frustrated when you go beyond the expectations you've set up." I felt motivated to work on our ending time on Pat's behalf because she said what she wanted, yet I also knew she was willing to give me some flexibility. If we can be transparent while withholding judgment, it builds a phenomenal foundation of trust.

Another time we had a black awareness program that went until 2:30—nearly four hours. I said, "We've got to figure out what to cut out when we do it next year." But Richard and Pat had an idea.

"Why don't we just scrap Sunday school that day and start then? That way we could keep all the parts of the program and still finish at the normal time." Their sincerity was developing their sensitivity.

—Raleigh Washington in Breaking Down Walls

—Peggy Noonan (writer)

Adapted from: Raleigh Washington and Glen Kehrein, Breaking Down Walls (Moody Press, Moody Bible Institute, 1998).

NOTE: For your convenience, Breaking Down Walls is available in the ChristianityToday.com Shopping Channel.

Prayer for the Week

God, bless me with the friendship of someone who's different from me. Help me to honor your blessing.

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