andrew perriman, and others, have asked the million dollar question, "By the way, how are we supposed to use this blog? Is it meant to be interactive, like a discussion board? Or just a number of personal blogs interwoven?" - ok, that is actually "questions" - your right.

the answer: yes. yes, it is designed to be interactive, like a bb - people bouncing ideas off each other and seeing them grow. yes, it is designed to be a place where personal blogs can be interwoven to build community and connection. think of it as an organic garden - some plant, some water, some watch, some harvest - and all benefit from the bounty. for me, one thing that keeps coming to the surface is the idea of community - we all talk about it, most of us write about it and yet most of us live in our limited physical communities - i believe that the internet is a great place to expand that community base. i love the idea that no matter where i may travel, i could have developed a friendship with someone in that area - that's very cool. i am going to az this next weekend november 11 and 12) to speak at a leadership conf (called "upstairs), and i am going to spend time with aaron norwoord (he's the man to eamil for more info - email address is on the side under "the gang") and others i have met on line - i am excited, not because i get to talk, but because i get to share time with aaron and the people at the bridge.

for me, and i think for most, i would love this community to define what is happening here, and not by words but by actions. while i may have some basic ideas, it is all of us who contribute and give it life. the more voices, the more ideas, the more involved, the easier it will be to define what we - as a community - are looking to accomplish. this is a "breeding ground" for ideas for doing ministry in the emerging church - so if we all work together we can strive to be something more then just "me" and "you" we can actually become "us."

what do you think? what do you see as the possibility of this blog?

pax
john o'keefe