I realized that it's been quite a while since the last time I checked in here, so I took the opportunity to catch up on my blog reading for like the last week....there's some good stuff there! Congrats, Molly, on a successful blog attempt. Oh, yeah, and also to you and to Robert for graduating from your various programs.

I had the chance yesterday to attend my first Greenhouse meeting, and I was very impressed, as I suspected I would be. Lots of good input from all the participants. Alan tells me I only met like half of the usual bunch, so I'm looking forward to meeting the other half soon. I met one girl who has a connection to someone getting ready to go to Ireland for a year (!) for missions. I'm maybe a little bit jealous, but as Cara said for herself, I know I'm not spiritually or financially ready to jump into that just yet. I do plan to pray for her friend and the team she's going with, though. If I can't go myself just yet, I can at least pray for those who are going.

We talked a lot about things during the meeting like prayer walking, which I've heard about and even attempted before, but now I'm more fired up about the idea. I really don't even know any of my neighbors, and those I know I don't really hang out with. My apartment has always been just kind of a place to sleep in or veg out at, and my "life" really has always taken place "out there". I've been wanting to start a program of walking for exercise with little success--maybe if I add this little twist it'll be something that's not just for my benefit and therefore something I might actually do. :) We also discussed the finer points of cooperating with other churches in our area in ministering to the city with no real agenda other than getting out the Good News....in other words, with no competition motives. A simple idea, but seemingly chock full of obstacles and implications. It was refreshing to hear that these other people, whom I have much respect for and look to as mentors of a sort, are going through the same kind of issues we face in dealing with "building-oriented" churches.

Alan, you'll be pleased to know that I visited the discussion board at the vbcc website, and amused to know that I didn't know it existed. I even put my two-cents'-worth in! (Which is probably about what it was worth.) Please understand that I'm a first-time traveler to the World Wide Web, and there are things I find fascinating that I'm sure all y'all are oh, so blase about. Anyway, it was cool to find yet another way to connect with people all over the world and find like-minded folks.

| posted by #Debi | 11:40 AM | |