As much as we don't want to admit it, we need community. We need to be around people. Not just people, people like me, everyone! Newborn babies who are not touched and have no interaction with people will die, literally! Humans who do not interact with others will die emotionally too! I love going to Starbucks because the people know me by name and have my coffee ready before I approach the register. (I don't pay for half of my coffee because they love me) I know their names and ask about their lives. We complain about the awful Bob Dylan music and wonder when they will have an 80's hair band set, Winger, Whitesnake, Journey, Boston, Foreinger, REO, etc... We talk about families and just hang out. I hang out with Todd and Dave from the Grove UMC. They are awesome guys who are trying to reach West Mobile for Christ. I hang out with a few Charismatic Church Pastors. I hang out with non-believers. It is a community! Unfortunately in most SBC churches like the one I serve at, we are so busy, we don't have time for people outside our church. How tragic. I barely know my neighbors because I'm hardly home. What kind of difference are our churches making if we are always doing things at the "church building?" I am for streamlining our ministries and allowing time for the "church" to be "a Church" not "DO" church!!!!!! I don't have a lot of control here, but one day I will be a Catalyst for this type of ministry. We don't read a lot about Jesus' messages. A few but mostly we read about Him doing ministry among the people! I have a vision for the "attik" to be a place where our students can bring their friends to a "GRACE FILLED" place and they can be themselves. If they dress in ways our prudes don't like then who cares. If they let a few choice words slip out who cares. Lost people will act like lost people. I pray that my life and my ministry is one of community and grace.