Now might be a good time to clarify a few things about this blog.  If you have other questions that I don't cover here, please feel free to post 'em and I'll answer them. 

1.  This is my blog.  Me.  Personally.  I pay for it, it's my spare time that I put into it, and the thoughts here are mine (except for the particularly good or lucid ones - those I've plagiarized from other people).  What I write about here is what strikes my interest, but I do keep in mind the various folks who have expressed an interest in reading along.  But ultimately I write about what I decide to write about.

2.  Which means that what I write here is not reflective of or representative of in any capacity official or otherwise the congregation I pastor or the school that I teach as an adjunct faculty member for.  I may write about things related to these two arenas, but I seek to do so in a way that constantly respects both and never disparages or discloses confidential information.

3.  What I write here is not necessarily reflective of or in any way an official representation of the theology of my denominational polity (LC-MS).  While I believe my thoughts tend to track very well with my denominational polity, nobody is putting their stamp of approval on what I write here, nor should anyone be construed as doing so.

4.  The point of this blog is to stimulate thought.  Mine firstly, and then the rest of you as well, hopefully.  If I'm willing to write it out for the world to see (or at least the four of you now reading), I tend to think that what I'm saying is accurate and true.  But it's possible I'm wrong.  Part of my hopes in this blog is that there will be opportunities for discussion - to be challenged and forced to think things through again or more deeply or more intentionally.  I reserve the right to be wrong, though I don't intentionally seek to be.  

5.  There is no fee for reading this blog.  Lord knows, you're suffering enough as it is without charging you.

6.  Feel free to share it with others that you think might be interested.  If you do so, be aware that I talk about current events and issues and I come at them from a specific frame of reference.  While I seek to write in a way that allows anyone to come in and sit down and chew things over for a bit, sometimes a better way to do that is to invite someone to come in and talk with me face to face.  When discussing things that are extremely emotional and controversial, sometimes telling someone to read my blog isn't the best way to start, continue, or finish a conversation (or an argument!).  

7.  Anyone is welcome to post comments and responses to what I write.  I review all responses before posting them.  I will approve any comment/response that is relevant and respectful, even if I disagree completely with what you have to say.  Remember, my goal is discussion.  I don't expect us all to think alike, and for the sake of our world and the rest of you, I hope we don't all think exactly alike.  I'd hate to have to start sharing my meds.

8.  I have something resembling a sense of humor, and so should you.  I resort to sarcasm, irony, the occasional obscene limerick, and many other ways of expressing myself.  I don't generally do this because I'm not serious about something.  Usually, it's because I *am* serious about something and I like the idea of trying to defuse tension.

9.  Please feel free to submit articles or ideas or conversations you've had as potential blog-fodder for me to write about.  Several of you have done this already and I always appreciate it!  That being said, please don't take offense if I don't choose to blog on something you share with me.  After five years I've written a lot, and possibly too much on certain topics.  I may opt to not write on an article for any number of reasons.  But I *always* appreciate your sharing it with me.  

10.  As per number 1 above, this is my stuff and my material.  You're welcome to quote me if you're crazy enough to do that, but outside of common copyright law, please do not cut and paste anything here into a homework assignment, alimony settlement, prenuptial, or anything else that you're claiming to be your own work.

I think that's about it for now.  I'm glad you're along, and I pray that this is useful to you (as well as to me).  To God alone be the glory!