Kicking Things Off

Today I roll out my first post on my new blog, and there are a couple of things I'd like to mention as I'm getting started. First, thanks for reading it! I hope you'll visit this site often, and I hope you'll let me know what you think. This is my way of speaking out, and I hope that what I write makes you think. I'm not a graphic designer, computer whiz, or veteran blogger; this is not a site that will keep your interest by impressing you with bells and whistles. It's just me and my words, but I promise those words will be true, constructive, powerful, and reasoned. I hope to glorify God in what I write, and so I promise that if I make a factual error, I will acknowledge it publicly, immediately, and personally. In addition, if I think I've responded to something in a way that is unbecoming of a Christian, I'll apologize -- publicly, immediately, and personally. I don't "do" anonymity; neither do I have others do my work, so if you read it here, unless it's got someone else's name attached to it, it's what I think. I speak only for myself; my family, church, and friends are not responsible for what I say and I would ask that you direct any criticisms to me.

What you'll get at "Prevailing Winds" is my perspective on matters of faith, culture, and politics. Mine isn't the only Christian perspective, of course, but it is informed by my faith. I'm writing for those who identify themselves as Christians and those who do not, and I'll try to avoid jargon and overly-scholastic observations. What I won't do, however, is play nice at the expense of truth. My faith requires that I be kind. It isn't always appropriate to be nice.

I also write on Moscow's community email forum, Vision 2020, and some of what you see there from me might be included here. But "Prevailing Winds" is where I'd like to really explore issues of faith and culture -- and I won't leave you wondering where I stand on sexism and racism in and out of the church, un-Biblical notions of hierarchy and power, ecclesiastical bullying, and interpretation of Scripture. (By the way, I'll be quoting on rare occasions from either the NET Bible or the TNIV Bible, both excellent, gender-accurate translations). Those people and institutions in Moscow that I view as threats to a Biblical worldview, egalitarian social, ecclesiastical, and household order, and civility in the name of Christ will be named. But this isn't an "anti-Christ Church" blog. In fact, it's not "anti" anything. If I refute and rebuke error, I will always offer a better, more true, way. I oppose the things I've mentioned because they stand in opposition to this Better Way, and I hope to point my readers and myself to that Way in every post.

So, my friends, let the games begin . . .