I keep thinking that I should update my blog and tell you guys how things are going here... but there's not a lot to say. My life consists of six things: eating, going to class, hanging out with people, doing homework, praying and sleeping. Life on a commune is pretty simple. I do have a work duty (or an "act of service") to do every day so I spend two hours working on the grounds here. The base is on something like 35 acres of land and is just a wee bit south of Salem. It's not particularly remote--the Salem commercial strip is just 5 minutes away--but life is very campy. There's fields and trees all around and the noise of normal life seems distant and removed. When I do get off base I experience a mild version of culture shock. It must be the difference between the country/commune life and the bustling/normal city life that unbalances me.

Every week we have new speakers coming through to speak on a particular topic. This week is all about freedom and redemption, but basically it's Christian counseling 101. It's not about how to counsel, it's a class dedicated to helping us look at our deeper issues, motivations and beliefs. It's really good to be reminded of these truths. Here are some good quotes from today:

Humility is a willingness to know who I really am.
You can only give freedom to others to the extent that you are free.
The limits of a tyrant are established by the endurance of those whom they oppress.
God loves an honest heart.
Parents are like prophets to their children; whatever the parents say really is true to that child (as in the child believes it without question).
The glory of God is man fully alive.