Just something to start us off (Ryan)

So, I had something completely typed out and then it somehow got erased, so here's an abbreviated version :-)  On page 27, Bonhoeffer talks about how man's demands for community get in the way of God's intended purposes, which was a great reminder to me of the importance of making God the focus.  For me, this means I want to seriously improve in my time of prayer for my floor and our building because too often I try to take control of community rather than let God be honored and glorified (if that makes sense).  Next, Bonhoeffer talks about how Christian brotherhood is not an ideal to be realized but rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.  Wow!  God used this to sort of hit me on the head and remind me that community is a gift from God and is used to honor and glorify Him.  I frequently forget this and most likely I often fail to receive what I should be from community.  Simply put, I am learning I need to pay better attention to God's voice and be even more intentional in my relationships.  Hope you guys are having fantastic summers and are learning much!  Can't wait to here from you all.

Blogging together

So the summer begins! I hope that you all are finding your summers to be off to a great start whether that is through working, traveling to far away lands, visiting family/friends, house sitting, sniffing paint fumes, mowing super tall grass, organizing other peoples mess or disorganization or a store/storage, and playing with/leading kids in to how to be in the great outdoors. Either way I hope that you find this blog in good terms. As we begin to talk about "Life Together" please do not hesitate to talk about your summers and what you are experiencing. This does not need to be a high intense book study, but I would love to just open up the space for us to talk about questions, thoughts, and/or interactions we are having with this book. As for formality of the blogs I will say that I would love for us to just simply write our interactions, pose questions, thoughts, and the like. If you want I think it would be great for us each to write a blog or two of our own and then interact and engage in the blogs of others. Don't make this into a stressful tasky thing, but make it at least a priority so that we are all on the same page. (book pun) Alright feel free to respond to this blog with any questions, thoughts, and smart remarks. Otherwise here is to reading and discussing this fine book...