Tuesday, April 21, 2009

An explanation is in order . . .

I've been mulling over getting done with blogging for a while, but I don't think that's going to happen. I still like coming here frequently, and I enjoy the interaction with other bloggers. So I decided to change things up a little bit, changing the name of the blog though keeping the same address.

This makes the fourth blog-title for me. I started with Mr. Standfast (a name I first came across not in Pilgrim's Progress but in a John Buchan novel, as I recall), then moved on to gratitude and hoopla, before settling down In the Clearing for the last 600 posts or so. Clearly, it's time for a change.

I've spent a lot of time here posting my frustration with the church, and when I finally decided to stop doing that I sort of ran out of blogging steam. It had become the purpose of blogging to simply hammer away, refining my complaint.

I'm tired of that. Been tired of it for quite some time. But ever since I decided to disengage from my church for a while (beginning in June) I've been much more relaxed (even after hearing Gospel-less sermons like the one I sat through last week). I'm no longer intent on defending my critique here. I'm done with that. I'm moving on.

So what is Wilderness Fandango going to be about? Not sure, exactly. It will be much about the things I love (stories, beer, folks, rivers, music, Jesus, seasons, the Word, and much more). Oh yes, I'm making use of the word "wilderness" with a self-conscious nod to Michael Spencer's tagline, "Despatches from the post-evangelical wilderness." I get that. I'm there.

Did I mention The Word? If it is dwelling in me richly (is it?), it will dwell here richly too. I am still "in the clearing." It is a clearing in the wilderness. Remember what the author of the letter to the Hebrews said, "let us also lay aside every weight"? Yes, let us. The clearing is the place for dancing. I'm not good at that. I'm a bit of a klutz. It's like I have these weights on my feet. But I'm laying them aside, because the fandango looks really fun, and I want to step into it. I'm going to try.

7 comments:

Standfast said...

Interestingly [to me, at least], I found the name I use "Mr. Standfast" the same way you did - I was trying to come up with something, looking along a bookshelf, and found Mr. Standfast, by John Buchan - one of my favorite authors. Rather embarrassingly, Bunyan never even occurred to me.

I read you whenever you post - thanks for what you do. And best of wishes with the new name and emphasis.

Anonymous said...

:-)

ahhhhhh
what a relief

the Holy Sprit is doing some work in you. that is evident.

Anonymous said...

by the way...

you don't need to try too hard.

Brad said...

Looking forward to it Bob.

- an old friend who knows just what you mean.

Brad a.k.a. The Broken Messenger.

Bob Spencer said...

Wow, nice to hear from old friends Standfast and Broken Messenger. And thanks for the encouragement, all. Nancy, you know you're one of my most cherished Internet friends. I love your spirit.

Anonymous said...

i did not know that, that was a very kind thing to say...thanks, bob.

btw...can we do the tango and the boogaloo in the wilderness too?

Milton Stanley said...

Wilderness Fandango. . . I really like it. And I look forward to whatever you choose to post here. I do believe the Word abides in you, and I look forward to how it emerges on this blog. Peace.