While having a conversation via email with a few guys (all but one of which are registered on this forum) regarding issues that would have been very appropriate to have been posted here, the comment was made, "wow, this conversation should have been held on mCMTC's site".  The reason it was not was because the guy who initiated the conversation was the one not registered on here and we all simply hit "reply all" to respond.

When discussed, it started to lead us down a new rabbit trail, asking if there was something to be done w/ this site to encourage more open conversation.  We decided it best to continue that part of the conversation over here so that everyone else could chime in and make this site a better resource for what was desired out of it.  Here was the latest in the thread:

On 5/15/08 11:09 AM, "Jeff Krabach" <jeff@krabach.net> wrote:

But the question to ask is would Bob have initially placed this comment on mCMTC?  Or is there something about mCMTC that intrinsicallty deters us from adding comments like this.  Has it already tried to take on something that we never wanted it to take on, a more organized and scholarly bent that intimidates us.  I know I for one have a lack of desire to pursue the conversation in the forums of mCMTC.  Just putting it out there.  Maybe I am alone in all this.  Maybe I am just a paranoid messed up church guy.  I blame Pagan Christianity and the conversations I have had with you guys, hahah.  No it is good conversation.  But this email does make me wonder about mCMTC's website.  Not that it is not a good website but I wonder as to if it will find the impact that we desire.  I guess time will tell that one.

I am not so much saying that it is you or anyone in particular. Maybe all in all I just am lazy and lack the drive to check this thing all the time (yes I know Brian I can get email updates on forums before you even point it out).  And again maybe it was because Bob was not on here that the conversation generated in the email.  But I guess part of me wonders if that kind of conversation that seems from the overflow of what is going on in our lives will be drawn forth into this community of online people or if we will be reserved in our words out of fear of what mCMTC might think (not just you Greg but the thing as a whole).  I am all for diversity and I have been learning that some of the old scholarly guys know what they are talking about as much (if not more) than I do.  Many times they validate my thinking, as long as I am still free to ramble like an idiot, as I often do.  Like I said maybe I am the only one who feels something of this.  And maybe the only reason I feel this is because I want to see this mCMTC website launch off the ground and be an amazing tools where a community is generated online that in turn becomes a community in life.  So maybe it is sheer impatience that makes me ask the question.  Maybe it is sheer immaturity in life that make me wonder.  Who knows.  Thanks for hearing my rants and raves.  In a way that is why I wanted the blogs attached to this because I felt like it was a freer form than the forum would be.  Although if you look at many forums they are a breeding ground for rabbit trails and flames (unfortunately) and you have to sift through the garbage to find the nuggets of gold in there.  I am not so much advocating that as it is counterproductive to the purpose of this website but somewhere inbetween.  And again maybe I am just perceiving it all wrong.  And maybeI just need to get a blogspot up and going so that I am can write what I want (knowing full well that anyone can read it, i.e. not writing things like "I hate my boss" (which would be bad cause my boss is God))  Thanks again I will stop typing now.

Thanks Chris,  I totally agree with you.  I am reminded of the words of Gamliel as you write your blog.  "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39).  I feel in a way that the more we try to force this thing out then the quicker we will kill it.  (maybe that is also true of missional attempts but that is for a different blog).  The more we just allow the Holy Spirit to move in us then maybe God will choose to bless it.  My pastor out in WA said to me when I moved back to OH that my responsibility as a pastor was to gather people and build relationships and if God chose to bless that it was up to him.  I cherish those words for they place God back in control of this all.  So for me I think maybe I am jumping to conclusions on the forums.  Maybe we can't stand forum silence as much as we can't stand silence in a conversation.  Who knows?