out of isolation & into community.

so.. it is day 5. a glorious day 5 it was. i can describe it in one amazing word.. COMMUNITY. :)
just saying this word.. brings so much joy into my life. what does community even mean? is it just a neighborhood of houses? a racial group? is it exclusive?

what i do know is that it brings LIFE. JOY. & much ENCOURAGEMENT! today.. we visited a church in north minneapolis & the message was on community. "out of isolation & into community". what a glorious conversation. it was so encouraging to see the body of Christ fighting to reconcile God's people back to Christ himself. whether that be racially or culturally. it is necessary & we as the body of Christ should be fighting for these things. also, our lives should be inviting people into a holy priesthood, a lifestyle where community not only with the Father is present but with people too. our culture screams that we must be an individual & that it is all about us & our needs. we must fight to get to the top. when in reality, we are called to know Christ & Him crucified & that alone. it's interesting see the effect of our own selfish individualism. it just brings pride & loneliness. why live in such a way when another life is offered to us? jesus lived & breathed community. look at his life. it shouts.. "we need each other". even Jesus had a group of likeminded people living life with him. i feel as if the "church" has been sucked into this unhealthy individualistic mindset. we've started preaching a gospel of "me" rather than a gospel of community. some try to "save" people out of hell & that alone. God is in it for the lifelong rescue not just the one time out of hell & into heaven kind of deal. God brings us out of the isolated pit into a transformational community. man.. there is so much joy in that! i know i want to be a part of God doing that here in minneapolis. i pray i would be available to that.

along with a radical message of truth this morning, i was able to spend a restful day with the lord through reading & journaling. then, my new community of people here went to the "hidden lake", which wasnt so hidden. this turned to be such a restful time & we found a mudpit! haha. a mudpit + out of control kids = me getting thrown in by a 10 year old & getting pegged in the face/head several times with mud balls. nevertheless it was a joyous occasion. after lake time, we went & grilled out with more new awesome people. it just shouted geniune community. i really am enjoying my life here thus far.

continue to pray that i'll find much joy admist the unknown. tomorrow i start at the somali education center. pray that God will continue to soften their hearts. & pray that i can love them with a fierce love like jesus.

grace & peace.