You will notice a poll widget in the sidebar.
Why am I even asking this?
Basically for the first year this website was mostly about personal news and especially theological reflections. And frankly I think that is when people enjoyed it more.
But since 2008 it has shifted dramatically toward political issues. And although I receive far more hits people seem to enjoy it less. I find it interesting that politics is far more divisive in my experience than religion. Check out Baptistlife.Com if you want hard proof of this. I have “broken ranks” with my “moderate Baptist” friends on several points since 2008 which was truly a watershed year. I used to think of the “conservative” forum members as “them” – now I think of them as “us” and my moderate friends as the new “them”. Drat.
I am not comfortable with a site named “Live the Trinity” being mostly about politics as well as entertainment/media analysis. It suggests some sort of connection between Trinitarian theology and (conservative) politics. I feel torn at times between my role/identity as Christian pastor (and occasional scholar of Semitic languages) and my personal/private political and social views. I do not discuss politics within the church family I serve – partly because some of the parishioners are committed Democrats. But mainly because it is not appropriate.
So I am toying with a name change. My best idea – a pretty good one I think – is “The American Foreigner”. Hunh? Let me explain.
I am an American. I like America. I like what America stands(?) for. In a nutshell freedom. Most of the people involved in our little parish are from the People’s Republic of China. We get along great. But I often think “my goodness – I can say whatever I want about our political leaders and not be afraid of arrest… we can worship and serve the Holy Trinity freely without fear of social or political persecution or mere harrassment”. We are an amazingly free country and I am not sure most Americans appreciate this fully.
But I have lived overseas and know (sort of) what it is like to be the “foreigner”.
And to return to my nation and find it strangely “foreign” – I have seen my own country from the outside.
One last point. In my pastoral work I have become increasingly convinced that the lessons of ministry with internationals apply to ministry with Americans. My wife thinks I should write an article (for Christianity Today or some other magazine/journal) entitled something like “Americans are internationals”. No I will not elaborate on that right now.
So there you go.
By the way – even if I change the name of the site I may not change the domain. Changing the name is easy. Changing the domain/address is a much bigger pain in the neck. Not to mention $6/year.
