Just about every day, when I log onto our website to begin leaving my blog, first I look up the five most recent comments. They are always "Propecia" or "Viagara" or "Online Poker" or some stupid (oughta be illegal) spam message. It's always on an old blog, too. And it's random. Someone programmed a "robot" or software program that searches the internet for blogs with comment entries on it, and it automatically adds comments. I have over 15,000 comments on my staff blog section alone -- then 5 or 6,000 in the album and dvd review sections. Some day soon after deadline I will close up all the old blog comment entrances, so on older blogs no one can leave comments any more. I will keep all new blog comment entrances open, and once I get "caught up," I will make it a habit to close up the comment entrances on anything older than one month.
It's so cool when real people comment on our website. It makes it fun and interactive. This will remain a constant. No one usually comments on blogs or online articles that are more than a month old, and the comments that we make will stay locked on the site so people can read them forever, but adding to them will expire in a month.
I hope stating all this doesn't slow down or curtail the commenting that's been happening here lately. It's so fun to read comments and see others' perspective. I just thought I'd explain why ocassionally we'll see some goofy spam blog comment around here.
I made some strong coffee this morning. I'm drinking out of my favorite mug -- a huge Starbucks mug that says "Portland." Lots of Vanilla creamer, too. Ahhh.
In 1 Peter 4, we are reminded that Christ has suffered in the flesh; and are exhorted to "arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
It's interesting how pursuing such lusts are really mostly all acts of selfishness. When we can focus clearly and seriously set our "course" for the will of God, it allows us to serve others with peace and joy (both of which usually can't be had in selfish pursuits). It's a sobering admonishment -- to live for the will of God. His purposes sometimes conflict with our plans, but His ways are always better.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at January 19, 2005 08:40 AM"portland" mug, huh? I guess you know that portland is the name of cement used to make concrete!
Posted by: solomon at January 19, 2005 10:19 AMAMEN!
The problem, as I see it, with the Church is that it has suffered from too many years of bad theology and philosophy. Whatever you want to call it; flesh, ego, self, we stop short of crucifying it. Much of even so called holiness teachings has believers keeping their flesh in check instead of on the cross. We give it a right good thrashing, fill ourselves full of self-loathing, impose endless lists of don'ts (while ignoring the big "do" of the 2 greatest commandments. We seek to whip our flesh until it resembles raw meat but we won't take it all the way to the cross. We forget Galatians 2. If we would just die and embrace the new creation we found our true self, the one Jesus intended when He formed us in our mothers' wombs.
So please don't struggle another day. Try Propecia and put an end to hair loss!
Doug:
I've been a reader of HM for a long time. In fact, as a young Christian I wrote a letter to you, that was published, complaining that you told readers that they should boycott Rage Against the Machine for being pro-choice.... Years latter I am a much different person, and still and HM fan. Recently, I've really enjoyed reading you blog- you are always an encouragemnet, and have great things to share. Thank you.
hahaha
i remember that letter (vaguely...it's like a dream in black and white).
you know, it wasn't me that said boycott rage. i believe it was a news piece on rock for life or something.
thanks for the encouragement and the fun memory..
Posted by: doug at January 20, 2005 09:28 AMThis is stored FOREVER? Oh, man, I'm nervous now....
I was reading the recent U2 review (awesome CD), and one of the comments leads to a expose on the "sins" of rock'n'roll website. Now, I realize that popular music has a lot of crazy things in it, but I would never jump on a band like Creed or U2 because their beliefs don't exactly match up with mine. No one will ever want to follow Jesus if you jump down their throat for every wrong idea they have.
But, my question is this: what do you think is the best response to sites like that? Or even the whole "Christian rock is satanic" sites that are out there? I tend to float between bombard them with email and set them straight, to just ignore it and it'll go away. But I write for a local magazine in my town, so I know I have a voice to address these issues with other people. What's your take on all this?
Try Valium and put an end to sanity loss!
strong coffee....vanilla creamer....come on ya ruined it!! ha
I've enjoyed reading your blog....and the mag...and the shows you host at C-stone....but vanilla creamer???????
Posted by: Donna V. at January 21, 2005 02:41 PMI think, if you had to sign in to post comments (perhaps integrate it through the forums) then you wouldn't have any of those spam robots anymore.
Posted by: Darren Tindell at January 22, 2005 10:55 AM