This weekend was all about amazing conversation and fellowship. Playing Frisbee til dark. Talking about life.  Watching shooting stars. At one point, there was a shooting star that seemed to split the sky in half; it was unlike anything I have ever seen. So the weekend has been quite joyful, and I can see that it is because of community.


God made is to be in community: with Himself, with each other, with the world. But we lusted for His job, and as a result of our sin, our relationship with Him, each other, the earth, and even ourselves was shattered. But Jesus came to establish a new community, a new kingdom. And at the renewal of all things, our relationships will be made new.


A community of faith flourishes when we view each other in expectancy, wondering what God will do today in this person or that one. And when we are in a community with those Christ loves and redeems, we are constantly finding out new things about them. They are new persons each morning, endless in their possibilities. We explore the fascinating depths of their friendship; share the secrets of their quest. It is impossible to be bored in such a community, or to feel alienated among such people.

The church is intended to be a beautiful place of community. A place where wealth is shared, where when one suffers, everyone suffers. A place where one rejoices, everyone rejoices. A place where everyone experiences real love and acceptance in the midst of great honesty about our brokenness. Being a part of a community of faith involves being exposed to the life of Christ in others.


When we isolate ourselves from each other, we are going against who we were made to be. In fact, if you study demon possession, you'll find that the primary way evil attains its victim is isolation. If we are alone, we will get picked off one by one. Depression, anger, and greed are all severe forms of isolation; we cannot let these things come between who we are to ourselves and to others. Mother Theresa says it elegantly: "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."


All the law and the prophets hang on one command: Love. Loving God and loving people you cannot do one without the other. Many think of it as God 1st, others 2nd, me 3rd, But "me" isn't even in the picture. Jesus just commands us to love him and love everyone else, but you'll find that when you do that, you'll have all the love you could ever want. It is the gift that keeps on giving.



Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


John 15:9-12
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 


So let's love. Everything else is just details. 


Love you guys