This week we (the staff at PHCC) spoke to our new website designer who was singing the praises of blogging. She said it's the latest and greatest thing for pastors to do. "All the rage!"

OK

But, really, many pastors are turning to blogging to communicate with ever growing congregations. However, recently we had a meeting with a congregant (fancy word for someone who goes to church with us) and they were offended by something in an email. I pointed out that with written communication you can't hear the tone of voice or see the facial expressions or the eyes and sometimes we read the emails and insert the wrong intentions for the writer.

I'm a bit concerned about that in blogging AND I'm remembering how we used to worry that people would lose the 'art' of letter writing. . . no danger there with email and blogging and texting!

That said, we can understand too why God looks on the 'inward man' meaning He sees what's in your heart. We humans do a lot of things to hide our true feelings if we think letting them out will hurt us. But we can't hide from God. He won't hurt us. He loves us.

I challenge you to do the same. . . look beneath the surface. Seek to know the heart of people. Those are true friends. In an ever shrinking world, due to technology, we often call people whom we have never met 'friends'. And you may indeed be friendly toward each other from a distance, but a TRUE friend is a CLOSE friend. They are someone who has seen you in person and remembers your mannerisms and knows enough about you to understand the thinking behind your words.

We should be TRUE friends with God. I know we can't literally SEE Him, but we can read Him and know Him in the Spirit. He certainly knows us inside and out. Revisit the Bible today. There are many modern language versions and even online versions. They are easy to read and understand. Then consider talking with God. Have a conversation with Him. (John 4:24 God is a Spirit, so it's not actually a Him, but you get the idea)