A Few Ground Rules

Okay, since I’m not being anonymous, and many out there are, if you want to participate in this blog, through comments, links, whatever, these are the ground rules.

• I reserve the right to change my mind.
• Believe it or not, I do learn new things, and get new perspectives on situations. Comments may actually change my mind! Things that I write later may contradicts things I write now. Instead of going back and editing everything, I choose to leave the original, so that I can track my thoughts, and see where I have grown and learned new things. That includes my right to change these rules. I figure that if I have to wait and write until I won’t change my mind, I’ll never write!
• Please don’t try to tell me what I believe.
• One of the reasons I have avoided discussing religion and theology on the internet is the tendency to label one another, and the assume that person now holds to all the beliefs that a typical Christian/Evangelical/Pentecostal/Baptist/Calvary Chapel/etc. is believed to hold.
• Few things are as frustrating as being argued with over something that I won’t defend.
• You know where to find me, and my posts keep that in mind, please give me the same respect.
• For things I post, I can be found on Sunday mornings at church to answer for them. You can be anybody from who knows where. I’m willing to talk face-to-face about what I say. (In fact I would welcome the opportunity.) Please return the respect by posting only what you would be willing to find me and say to me in church.
• I don’t have to explain everything.
• I don’t owe a full explanation to you about my private life, thoughts, or experiences. I’m here to share thoughts and ideas. When it comes to theology and scripture, I am willing to share the source material found in the Bible, but I’m not out to “Prove” everything written here. It’s a place to share and stimulate, not to convince. That’s a boundary that I choose to set.
• Keep it respectful.
• Sometimes I will probably need to be reminded of this. There’s a big difference between questioning the policies, procedures, and polity of other churches, and attacking the church or pastor itself. The ideas are fair game. The reasoning behind such ideas are fair game. However, different churches are serving different needs, and they are trying to have a positive effect on the Lord’s kingdom. They deserve respect for that.
• Any disrespectful comment will be removed.

For now, that’s about it. I’m sure other ground rules will need to be added later, as I learn more about this blog world, but that’s enought to get started on!
That said, please comment and feedback, regardless of your denomination, religion, or background!
-Travis