Today, I officially gave notice to my old web-hosting company that I wouldn't be renewing my old domain name: badchristian.com. Anybody who knows of the shenanigans that went on there will be surprised to hear that I hadn't cancelled the official hosting service until now. After all, it's been over two years since I've written anything of substance there.

Much to my surprise, however, I found myself more than a little nostalgic about good-ole "badchristian.com". Deep down I know exactly why I miss badchristian.com. There are several reasons in no particular order.

1. When behind the thin veils of near-anonymity, I had the uterus to be a prophet. This isn't a special calling, I realize. We're all called to a certain bit of prophesy if we're honest with ourselves. I find myself burdened with a prophetic message to those on the pseudo-fringes of Christianity...and it ends up being uncomfortable to share. In short the message is this: If you're going to be a "fringe-dweller" at least be honest enough with yourself and your God to put Christianity before all else. Too many times self proclaimed Christians on the "fringes" of faith are more enamored with portraying themselves as cool/hip/culturally engaged for no other reason that being perceived as "fringe." Let's be honest, it's cool to be "fringe". It's not cool, however, to be mainstream and put on the sheep's fringe-wear. I used to have the guts to tell people that...and I miss that it's gone.

2. I miss the people. The Internet lets you share morning coffee with friends in Oklahoma, San Francisco, Michigan, the UK, any number of farther flung locales, and even to form new friendships with people you idolize. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Since the mid 1990s Internet researchers have been theorizing that technological mediation may facilitate enhanced social interaction, I just hadn't thought it would happen to me. But, it did and I miss the connectedness blogging brought me.

3. I grew as a person--even as a person of faith--by being introspective. I guess I shouldn't be surprised about that either. Thoughtful reflection and meditation has long been one path of insight for many Christians. I miss that I don't do that as much as I used to do.

So, with a great deal of fear and trepidation, I think I'll give blogging another go. I'll probably post once and then quit, so don't get too excited. And, I'm fully aware that I'm writing for an audience of myself, so there's that too. Nonetheless, I've been voiceless for too long, and now that my Ph.D. is done I've got way too much time on my hands.