I just wanted to drop a line letting you guys know that I appreciate this forum.

I was reflecting this morning and thought about relationships in the church.

I tried to start a message board at my church with no success. Partly because there is a low number of members online and partly because many relationships seem to be on the surface instead of deep.

I wondered if there is a lack of trust in sharing.

As I write this I think I have a partial explanation; there is a level of anonymity in a message board with members that only know each other online vs. seeing people face to face on a weekly, almost daily basis.

No matter how much time you spend with some folk, there seems to be a mask that we wear to protect ourselves (o how I pray the masks be removed!).

I want to be transparent in my relationships and when you encounter masks, phoniness, etc. it is hard to resist throwing up a mask yourself.

I am praying that 2007 become a year of openness; a year of fellowship; a year of selfless devotion to our family, friends and God's people in general.

Thank you for the ear.

Rev. Frank