Lately there's been a lot of talk about community so I've been thinking about it quite a bit.  Community is or at least should be more than just living with or interacting with people.  I think true community involves sharing your heart with them...your true heart, what's really going on inside.  I think community (in a Christian sense) needs to be centered on Christ with a lot of selfless love.  I think this kind of love involves being intentional about your relationships within the community; intentional about seeking them out, intentional about having the hard conversations, intentional about living life together.  But here's something else I've been thinking about...how far do you pursue community if others don't seem to be interested?  Do you continue until God brings you to another place in your life?  Do you move on and seek true community elsewhere?  I feel like I could really see both being true, on the one hand I don't think that Jesus really just gives up on people necessarily...He continues to love.  But on the other hand, if we're supposed to be living in community with one another, building each other up in love, wouldn't it be better to continue loving  but move on at the same time?  Or is more or less giving up on relationships not loving?  How far does community go...I don't believe community can be done halfheartedly if it's going to be a true community...and why would anyone want to be real and transparent with others who are not intentionally seeking a relationship with them?  Oh Lord Jesus, what does one do in a situation like this one? 

Well those are just some of my present thoughts on community living...and here's some pictures from my last two weekends in wonderful Iowa :)

Roommates Kristen and Brittany

Roommates Tina and Roz :)

All of us after playing at this awesome park!

 

We got to see Lizzie :)

And we wished Lori was there...

Josiah scored 4 touchdowns in the first half of his game!  This is is fourth!

Sam and I enjoyed watching the game :)

I got to see Charley do quite a bit of flags...isn't she cute?  :)

 Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries too soon and I didn't get any with my parents or Shelb, but I loved getting so see them!  Home is my favorite place and I'm excited to head back there again next weekend!