The Trinity consists of three distinct entities, but yet is one single entity. This is a difficult concept to grasp, but is easier to understand through a division of the three, and then the idea that they operate with a common purpose, motivation, and essence/power that makes them one entity at the core (though Christ and the Father have expressed different, though not conflicting, opinions.) However, the easiest way I've found to explain this is through the idea of a three-role God.
The first role is Deliverer- the role of the Father, who uses his power in order to actively intervene, and seems at many times to be the sole acting force of the Trinity (though that would be inaccurate, as the Son and the Spirit have unique roles). The Deliverer role manifests through a concept of power, doing things that we would call miraculous, or by setting up events to happen, or through a variety of factors (there are more in-depth studies of the way God works, and I'm not particularly familiar with that sort of literature). The Deliverer is also the Judge, determining what is right and wrong and serving as the ultimate King.
The second role is Redeemer- the role of the Son, who uses his life as a sacrifice for our sin. As a perfect individual (at least morally), His sacrifice is the only way to permanently atone for all sin (notably, this hypothetically invalidates traditional sacrifice as a rejection of God's plan from a Christian viewpoint, but if you don't believe in Christ, you don't believe in the Son and would reject the Christian viewpoint from which I am writing anyway). The Redeemer needs not possess "supernatural" powers, merely invoking the Father, but may (I wasn't there, okay?) and certainly fulfills His part of the Trinity by providing a shield for humanity, allowing the wrath of God to be averted by covering imperfection with the sacrifice of perfection.
The third role is Truth- the Holy Spirit, who functions as a semi-tangible presence of God after the desertion of the temple and the death and ascent of Christ. Since Christ represents a new era of faith, with God being not only actively involved, but actively guiding (previously, God established rules, and enforced them, but Christ provides for mercy) and shaping community in order to make the church function in the way that it ought in order to best serve society and to protect and spread Truth. Many "churches" operate without true spiritual guidance because they fail to recognize the importance of adherence to scriptural Truth, but also without any form of the Holy Spirit (a difficult explanation to someone who has never experience the Holy Spirit's guidance. It's not like a seizure of control, but more a gradual shift where things that God finds abhorrent become abhorrent to you, and things that please God become pleasing to you. It's really a subtle change, and not only difficult to recognize as spiritual, but also easy to deny as maturing or becoming morally adjusted. My growth was marked by when I began to read the Bible every day which made a shift, but did not drastically change my habits or personality), making it difficult to remain centered in scriptural accuracy. Sorry Rob Bell, but you can't simply make scripture change to suit your needs. When we assume human inerrancy, we eliminate all room for the holy spirit to act.
To conclude, the Trinity is a set of three roles that fulfill different purposes (sorry for the poor explanation of the Spirit), but most importantly one unified body that functions with one purpose. Congress is made up of many individuals, but they are one corporate body, and while God is not hindered by party politics, the analogy is, if marred by humanity's perspective, appropriate.
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