Yes, we are up and running again. I thought that I should make this announcement with its own post! It's been some time (specifically since Blogger made the beta standard) but now we can all talk about whatever is on our minds and hope that we step lightly (but not too lightly) on one anther's toes. I am hopefully launching some renovations to the site. I won't be changing hosts or anything like that... I want to change the content of it all. Make it a bit more "user-friendly."

I am going to try to start limiting my "updates" posts and make weekly or bi-weekly updates which are half as sporadic as what I'm already doing. I want to include a bit more on religion and politics. I am finding myself changing more and more in the past few months. I expect the new posts to relfect that somewhat.

I will not be posting eloquent papers on the finer points of doctrine or what-not. I think those are boring to read and somewhat useless, as many of you don't know me personally and would only see them as words without a living person incarnating those particular values. At least, that's how I feel.

I hope to make new friends on all sides of all camps. I want you poorly disciplined liberals to say "Mike seems like a good guy. Well, maybe not, but at least can make me laugh!" I want to angry blood-letting conservatives to be my friend as well, saying, "That pomo Mike kid sure does know how to spark a conversation (i.e. stir the pot) hopefully I'll see him in heaven so I can lecture him on a thing or two." Hell, I even (perhaps especially!) want you so-called "free-thinkers," the religiously and/or politically reserved folk, to poke a bit of fun at me. I don't know what you'll say but I do hope you'll do so in a (struggling) mutual spirit of charity and understanding.

I want you to disagree with me, or at least question me. Joshua Hearne is one of my favorite commentors simply because he asks little questions of when I have either assumed too much on the subject at hand or have not gone far enough to say anything of any value to anyone. I want to see more of that. Make me think! I am NOT here to teach anyone. I am here to learn, together, with all of you who choose to interact.

I want you all to leave frequent comments on what you'd like to see. I want you to let me know where I can improve this blog so we can all walk away satisfied, if not even a bit happy! Write here! Don't just read what I have written. I am not that great of a writer anyways. This is what it is only because of those of you who have chosen to participate in it and make it something worth keeping up and improving. Thanks to you all!