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I Need Your Help!

Today, I am feeling introspective, excited, and needy.

Introspection is a standard January instinct for me.  We usually pull back (my wife and I) and take the previous year in through stories, and reflections, loves, and frustrations.  In a totally separate conversation we try to take our dreams about who we are, and what we know we would love to be doing in the next year and consider those things like a fresh uninterrupted dreamscape.  This is hard to do if the last year has been impactful in either a negative or positive manner, but I try because I don’t like to make my dreams serve either my momentum or my reactionary fear--neither of which is hearing God or being true to ourselves.  Momentum, which comes from success, can sweep us right off into places we do not want to go.  Reactionary fear of repeating mistakes can rule us as we become more focused on avoiding pain, and less committed to pursuing our dreams.

What is hearing God?  Well, for me it is mostly resolving to be myself.  Ok, don’t freak out because I didn’t first externalize the process and talk about fasting, praying, retreating, audible voices, inner whispers, etc.  I love all those things, and I believe that Jesus loves to speak to us or he wouldn’t have said, “My sheep hear my voice” in the ongoing, present tense visual.  I know I am a son.  Old things have passed and new things have come.  My dreams and my passions are a reflection of the creative hand of God, not a diversion from it.  I can’t thing of anything I would wish for my sons than for them to grow up being totally free and full of joy just being themselves.  Can you?  Well, I am excited about making Dad proud.

I am excited because I have some great expectations for this year.  My boys are big enough to go on big adventures with dad (we learn to ski tomorrow!), my wife has reached a new season of enjoying her unique journey as a mom, a counselor, teacher, and pastor, and I...well, I won’t draw my whole list for you here, but I will say that Churchthink continues to challenge me and tickle creative instincts in countless ways.  It is an important part of my focus continuing on into 2009. I began this site a couple years back with the desire to fire up engaging conversations around Kingdom values.  At that time I posted only paragraph discussion starters and tried to moderate the thoughts of tons of people I didn’t really know.  That was hard.  I morphed it back in early 2008 to allow me greater space to grow as a writer and communicator by challenging myself to write beefy articles on key Kingdom foundations.  I did not purposely promote discussion, even though comments are available to readers, as I focused on trying to complete my own thoughts.  Now, it is time to ask you for help.

I need you to help me. I am desperate for your feedback.  I want to be a help to you and I want to encourage you in your journey toward the Kingdom of God, and I can’t get better unless you talk to me. Here are the things I would like to know about, and to whatever degree you can comment I will be very grateful (my notes here are going to be very specific):

1. Do you read the article and listen to the podcast or do you choose one or the other?
2. Are the articles written in a tone and style that you enjoy or would you prefer some adjustments to make them more attractive to you and your friends?
3. Are the articles just too stinking long, or do they just make you want it even more expanded in book form?
4. Are the podcasts enjoyable to listen to?  Are they too long?  Just right?  Boring?  Exciting?
5. I will never turn on unmoderated comments because I don’t want to be liable for the ideas and issues of strangers (how is that for honesty), but I don’t want to put down open discussion.  Would you prefer a more interactive forum or are blog comments ok in the context of Churchthink?
6. Do you want to get together at a retreat and share these things more deeply in person?
7. Do you want Ben to come to your area and spend time with your tribe?
8. Is subscribing to podcasts or email blogs, etc. easy and has it been good for you?  Or do you try to read or listen off the website while in front of your computer?
9. Are their sites or blogs or forums that we should learn how to link to or write for in order to get better connected?  I am not very smart at this part of blogging and I would appreciate your insights.
10. All skate.  Whatever you think could help make our web experience and the content better...

I can’t tell you how much it would mean to me if you would take the time to email me, or comment in the blog on this post with your thoughts.  I will take each comment to heart and consider making immediate improvements in order to love you better.  You can email me, blog comment, or even call me if would like:  719.633.2515.

Thanks,

Ben

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