Community...

I have been thinking much about community these past few weeks. I started reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer since I have been home this weekend and I have really enjoyed it so far.

Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

I feel like I am part of so many different communities at one time. I am part of communities such as Providence, Faith Covenant Church, Norquay Covenant Church, etc. These communities are all a very big part of me and who I am. But at the same time, they feel so different. I do not think that these communities should feel the same by any means; it is good that they are different. But I think that my place in these communities looks very different from one another.

Some of my best friends at Providence recently mentioned that they hardly ever talk to God and had a hard time remembering the last time they did talk to God. I didn't even know what to say at first. But after thinking about it for a while, it really is not that hard to believe. It left me feeling pretty convicted that I had never really even thought to ask questions about faith.

The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and His work become the one and only thing that is vital between us. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

I think that I have to make more of an effort to make my relationship within these communities a little deeper and open.

Be well, friends.

My Stupid Mouth...

Do you ever have one of those days where it seems like everything you say is wrong? That is how this whole month or two has felt. Right on.

Serving

As I sit in this little coffee shop that serves the best americano's I have ever had, I am supposed to be studying. But I can't help but to think of anything else. I did terrible on my first exam (which should have been very easy,) so I should do well on this one.

When I was in Calgary, some friends and I went to go serve at a homeless shelter downtown called "the Mustard Seed." We really had no idea what to expect when we arrived. But we ended packing food hampers which would be given out at a later date. We packed for around 45 minutes and then by that time much of the space that was usable to store the hampers was used up. After this we went on a tour, which was cool but it wasn't what I had in mind for the whole experience. The tour guide was quite a derelict though which was very entertaining. My preconceived notion of the whole experience was way off. I expected to be preparing food in a kitchen and or serving it to these people, but that was not the case.

I had a conversation about service with a good friend this weekend. Service should be something that we should be willing to do anytime. But in our world nowadays, this is pretty unrealistic. We all have jobs and school that we often put before serving. Service is (oftentimes) something that we "fit in" to our schedule. I do not think that this is what service is supposed to look like but I can't see it looking any other way, in my life anyways.

I think that often my view of service is very narrow-minded in terms of what service actually does look like. When I think of service I think of helping homeless people or serving in a church but I think that service can look different for everyone.

Serve well and serve always. Something I need to work on.

Michael

You win some, you lose some...

Since I left home, I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy being by myself. I liked being by myself at home too, but more so now that I am away from home. I am not sure what the reason is, maybe it is because I am an only child but I love going fishing, driving, walking, and most things by myself; except things like badminton or tennis - that is just stupid. But I also love being with people, so I don't know exactly where I fall on this introverted/extroverted spectrum.

I was in Calgary for a few days this last week and it was a good time. I got to see the mountains and stay in the "Stoney Nakoda Lodge and Casino," which is just off the number one highway on the way to Canmore. It was pretty epic. The term, "you win some, you lose some" definitely took new meaning for me due to me losing more money than I wanted at this damned casino. But this lodge did have a stellar slide. Actually, it wasn't that great but it was fun anyways.

I got to hang out with many good people who I haven't seen for a while which was good and I also experienced "Life Together" which was also a good time. Rollerskating on the other hand, not a big fan.

All in all, good times.

A Lack of Words...

There is really nothing new going on in my life that I feel is worthy to blog about. But, for the most part much of what I blog about is pointless anyways. So I will give you a run-down of my last few weeks.

I was at home for a week with a ball-bustin' flu. That was no fun. It wasn't like a throwing up type flu, just a fever of 104 degrees for nearly four days type flu. But, in that time I did manage to read a book and crack off a book review about said book.

Missing a week of school sucks; trying to catch up on all the missed readings, writing 2 papers and 3 exams. Oh well, tomorrow I am off to Alberta to hang out with friends and hopefully get into the mountains at least once!

Be well, friends.