if only they knew...

"no one would love me if they knew, all the things i hide" Caedmon's Call- Love Alone

i think in the darkest part of our hearts, each of us has identified with that statement at some time or another, possibly more often than not. we live in a world surrounded by people that refuse to allow anyone to know who they truly are, for fear of rejection or judgment. unfortunately, we have each gone to churches where this holds as well. rather than being a place where people are authentic and real and transparent, all too often church is a place where people pretend to be something that they are not.

a few of our tasks as a congregation will be to encourage authenticity, while also encouraging growth and change. we need to be a safe place, where people can know that god wants them just as they are, but we also need to let them know that god is not content to leave them as they are. this is an incredibly difficult task, and as such, it will take each of us being very much honest and very much open about our struggles as well as our triumphs. there are, of course, boundaries and times when certain things are appropriate and inappropriate. this is a part of the journey we are embarking on. how do you think we can bring this about? what are some practical ways to implement this type of honest community?

bethany, thanks for sharing about your life. it is good for me to have an update and that is helpful while we pray for you. you guys can pray for me, i really am hating school right now. i realize that i need to go, and the things i learn will help me in ministry, but i also just want to get there and begin. it is also hard for me to watch robin work really hard so that i can finish school. i want to be able to help. what needs do you have?