Why I've joined the world of blogging.

Yes it's true, I've joined the world of blogging. To keep it simple, my inspiration for bringing my thoughts, experiences, and observations into the realm of public domain has been 2 people, 2 women. One whom many of you probably don't know (yet), and the other whom many of you probably do know.
The person who you probably don't know is a 17 year old friend of mine, whom, because I'm not sure she wants to make her thoughts free for all to observe, I'll call Jen. A few days ago Jen posted a real, raw, and transparent note on her facebook 'notes'. It's not for everyone to see, but only for a few whom she tagged in the note. As I read her entry, I wasn't only struck by the depth of her emotion and the intensity of her loneliness, but by her transparency. She poured out feelings of insecurity, emptiness, and confusion in a way so raw and powerful, it's been in my mind for a few days.
I belong to a Vineyard church. I had visited other churches, been part of other churches, but it wasn't until I came to a Vineyard church 12 years ago that I found a place where people are open about their junk. They didn't put on a happy face and pretend everything is fine and then walk out the doors and return to business as usual. These people were real. Sure, there are tons of churches where this transparency is modeled out and real healing happens, but this was where I found it. Jen's words reminded me that we all need to know we're not alone and the only way that happens is if some of us are brave enough to talk about it, blog about it, and also go public about the healing and change that takes place as we do it. We all need each other, we need each other to be real and meet us, through transparency, in our loneliness, shame, insecurities, confusion, etc. So Jen was the first person who inspired me to start this place of transparency available to any who are hungry and, like me, are looking for bread.
The other woman who inspired me is probably known to many of you: Julia Pickerill. Julia was one of the first to welcome me at the Vineyard 12 years ago, and now she's in Europe with her hub, 3 kids, and a merry band of other adventurers starting a church in Amsterdam. I've appreciated Julia's blog, and noted what an encouragement it's been not only to me, but everyone else who's been rooting along for them in their mission. It seems that Julia's documentation of their journey outward to bring hope and a message of love to others greatly encourages all of us who seek to do the same wherever we're at. I want to live my life like that here, in Columbus OH, and I want to publicly chronicle where I see my friend Jesus moving too that any who might need a dose of encouragement might benefit.
Also, it's just good to know what Jesus is doing through all of us, because if he does anything good through me, if he reaches anyone through me, others should know because others have helped to produce it. It's only because others have loved me: People like the Pickerills, like the Thompsons, like Alen and Brett, Alicia and Sarah; People like Sara Carlisle, Greg Varner, Jason Jarvis, Dan Gladiuex, Jeremy Gunn, Lori Wood, Carol Achmoody, Rhodie Shreve, Rich Nathan, Chris Meekins, so many others, too many to recount here...they have prayed for me, hugged me, encouraged me, and done so many good things for me, that I'm able to stand on their shoulders and do the same for others. So I think others should be able to share in what Jesus is doing.
It's for those two reasons that I join the world of blogging, I hope you're encouraged along the way as I have been by others.