Article 4 in “The Ghetto: Solutions”.

So, yeah – I’m a new kid on the block, I have some interesting ideas – maybe. That’s nice. So what. The blogosphere is an interesting phenomenon, but can it be used the way I’m talking about? If we do the same old things… No. That’s why we’re in the Ghetto to begin with. Remember? To change the paradigms, and actually get _out_ of the Ghetto – we have to rebuild it. Will it happen all at once? Of course not. Can it happen? I believe it can. Why do I believe this? I’m about to tell you why. I’m also going to tell you _how_ I think it’s possible for us to do it.

I’ll go back to my familiar themes. Hubs/Metablogs, Meta-Niching, and Individual Blogs.

This, time, though, I’m going to step past theories, models, and ideas – and get to practical application. I told you I was going to…
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We’ve discussed concepts, we’ve discussed theory – now, let’s discuss organizational models.

We all know by now what the “Ghetto” is. It’s the circular, exclusionary group of Christian god-bloggers who can’t seem to get out of their rut. That rut consists of several elements – but I want to focus on two – and the organization (or lack thereof), which causes them.
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Updates:

Wheat and Chaff takes on DarkSyde (~DS~, from EO commenting), concerning his Dare to Dream – primarily concerning his use of “self-evident” as a faith statement – when he’s an avowed atheist.

(HT: Evangelical Outpost, New Covenant)

Apologetics:

AllThings2All weighs in on Pascal’s Wager. Intelligent read, and a timely reminder.

Welcomes:

Weapons of Warfare, to the Apologetics scene. He should be asking to be added to the aggregator right about… now.

Now.

Now.

Well… whenever he’s ready. 😀

Thank you’s:

Evangelical Outpost, for the flood of traffic, and kind words, he’s been shooting my way. Thank you very much Joe. Want a fan club? I’ll do it!

Jollyblogger, for the very nice multi-flog.

View from the Pew, for the paragraph-long adulation! I’m not worthy. Seriously 😀

Mr. Dumpling, for his flog.

(Note, however, that I WILL take whatever nice things people say about me… lol.)

Around the ‘sphere:
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Well, we put forth the “concept”, in the first post – and got some commentary. Now, let’s look at a bit more of what I’m speaking of. I do understand, I really do, what Brad is getting at with his points about helping the church. I’m trying to take some concepts out of his discussion, and apply them to the God-blogosphere, though. As much as I love helping at my church (and I do), blogging isn’t how I believe I can help my church. My church needs my technical skills, and my musical skills. That’s where I help them. The young(er) denizens are the ones who are “hip” with the computers, technology, and the like. But… the internet ministry in my area doesn’t have much demand, and doesn’t get much play. Let me explain why, so you see where I’m coming from.
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At Every Thought Captive! The subject this week is “What does apologetics mean to today’s Christian church?”

Go read it – NOW!

I’m very encouraged, and very happy about the good number of entries – especially for an initial offering. I’ll be hosting the next Vox Apologia right here. I’ll have the subject posted on Wednsday.

Would you like to host? Please drop me a line at rk AT razorskiss DOT net

Now, this time – note how this is affecting the mid-level blogs – particularly how much they are moving. See what the “anti-ghetto” is doing? I just honestly didn’t have time to plumb the depths of the ecosystem yet again… so I just did up to 1000. We now have 50 (that I counted – I didn’t go over it that thoroughly) in the top 1,000. We were at 37 to start with.

(Links were updated for all in the top 500, and all that Joe annotated in the original. I added a |first week#| (+ /-) |second week #| to all of the link-annotated blogs.)
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I’ve been following the conversation at Evangelical Outpost with a tremendous amount of interest. Joe is really shaking things up in the Evangelical blog community. I’m wondering, if it really isn’t an attempt to encourage what Brad, from 21st Century Reformation is saying over at The Dialogical Coffeehouse. I certainly took it that way myself.

What way? Well, let me tell you. Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit, is so widely influential because his blog is what is known as a “metablog”. He links to specialists, who have the specific commentary on an issue. Well, I think we DO need meta blogs. But, we also need “communities”. If we are going to be “God blogs”, let’s follow the Biblical model. There is the overarching church – there are the individual churches – then there are the ministries within that church, and the small groups – the bible studies, and the like. So, let’s look at Brad’s graphic, concentrating on the right.
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This entry is for the first “Vox Apologia,” a weekly showcase for apologists, and the defense of the Christian faith.

I believe I’ll examine what apologetics is to many churches, and to society – and a bit about where the “common” conceptions are wrong.

The Culture
The common conception, from the “culture’s” view can be summed up as follows:

I’m sorry. Allow me to enter an objection to the term ‘apologist’ as being more pre-judicial than probative. In short, the implications of the term ‘apologist’ implies in common wording that I am allowing for an ‘apology’ for something. Since I have no desire to provide an apology, be it in justification sense or otherwise.

In short. Anybody who asks for my justification that there _is_ a god, and that the Christian types are on the right track in that particular quest, must first provide his own justification or ‘apology’ otherwise.

Until the moment when an ‘Atheist Philosopher’ becomes an ‘Atheist Apologist’ I shall maintain this view. The term is unfairly prejudicial.

Which is a good point. Sort of. It “apologizes” way too much to “common usage”, and not enough to “classical scholarship”, though.

But, even more telling… I read this in a forum signature the other day.

What, is something so bad about Christianity, that you have to apologize for it?

Popular culture really doesn’t know what apologetics is. They don’t know, because they rarely see it. They have bought into the lie that Christianity is something “private”, and that they shouldn’t be “forced” (as if anyone can be “forced to listen to anything…) to hear what someone has to say about it. So, anyone who tells them what Christianity is, that doesn’t match up with the preconceptions they’ve been given, is either intrigued, or appalled by “insensitivity”.

It’s an interesting dilemma. However, that’s not the subject. Forgive me for digressing.
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Oh Joe….

Look who’s the top Evangelical blog…

But, in other news… on the left is updated, on the right is the original.

Links were updated for all in the top 500, and all that Joe annotated in the original. I added a (+ #) to all of the link-annotated blogs.

Yes, Virginia… there is an Evangelical Blog swarm.
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Announcements
Don’t forget about Vox Apologia.
Every Thought Captive, the first host of VA, has his post announcing it up, as well.

Welcomes
The Undoctored Past
Dad’s Coins

Hat tips
Spare Change, for their nice Flog.

News and Commentary
Newdow gets the smackdown.

Nigeria: The Mature and Holy Hope of a Nation

Did you know Terrorists are like our Founding Fathers? They are to this guy.

Around the blogosphere
A commenter at Diplomad really has no clue.

Another post about the SBL. And the sequel. Yet another. A slightly different view. But a good point.

However… the SBL has to be off their rocker, if they don’t recognize that the wording they use is a major dig at conservative evangelicals.

Oh, and here’s a somewhat… “interesting” take on the SBL letter.

To say the least. Let’s say he won’t make it on my blogroll. He makes some interesting discussion though – and, he’s most likely good at what he does. He’s just… a bit… liberal… for my tastes – shall we say. Just so you can see what the “other side” is saying. So to speak.

Al Gore… hah. Priceless.

Very interesting point about “fundraisers”

Whoa… Biblical “Virtual reality” sites. Cool.

On Joan of Arcadia.
——————-

Isn’t it a beautiful day in the neighborhood? It IS a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

I crack myself up, sometimes.

Back to surfing my blogroll. Have a good night. Comment often, comment early, and comment well.

Or something.

—————

Updated:

Oooooh!!! More fun stuff just arrived.

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met. I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any pains so i decided to contact you through this medium .As you read this, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.

My name is AZIZZ JAFAR, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer that was discovered very late due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few months to live according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends and Schools in the UAE. I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, London and Ireland. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and donate the money, which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which is the huge cash deposit that I have with Financial Firm Abroad .I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and let them know that it is I AZIZZ JAFAR that is making this generous donation.
I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed where I wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to support and assist me with good heart

God be with you.
AZIZZ JAFAR

Hrmm. I have a strange suspicion that this is full of crap.

Oh, wait. I know it is.

I want to see what they try to scam me with, though. I’m a glutton for messing with scammers.

I wonder if I’ll be asked to send 4,000 dollars, so I can pick up all of his assets…

I’ll keep you posted!