Hello JWOB subscribers! I would like to share some updates with you about the blog.
I decided in November that I would no longer set a goal of a new blog post each week for 2019. As the blog continues to grow and other projects compete for attention, I simply cannot continue to do new weekly posts. Some of the projects I need to spend more time on are promotions for the blog though Face Book and Pinterest—and that takes time and focus.
Another important thing I need to do is to work with my brother to transfer our family genealogical history and stories to a new platform; I have been putting him off for about a year and it needs to be done. And there are more minor things I have been putting off as well.
What I did not plan on was suddenly declining health and a hospital stay from December 13-19. I have been slowly recovering from that ever since and the doctors have been working closely with me. However, I have been feeling pretty good over the last few days. Fortunately, I had already scheduled my December articles before that and they went up automatically each week.
I have a draft of an article that should be posted next Monday—barring some health setback. I also have a draft of the first article of a new series (and notes on the rest of the series) that you might find very interesting and perhaps surprising.
I Have a Question for You
As I enter my seventh year on the blog, I am considering filling in some weeks between new posts with re-blogged posts of past articles. Some of them are very good—even from my first year (2013) and it would provide something to read that you might not have read before or remember reading. This would not take a lot of time from my schedule but would give me opportunity to make minor improvements to each one. You might recall that I have done a little of this before.
My question: What are your thoughts about my re-blogging earlier articles? And I would like to hear from ALL subscribers who are willing to share—even if you have never commented on the blog before.
And Thanks!
Thanks to you and others, JWOB blog views for 2018 were up 19% over previous year! This continues a record of increases for every year since I began blogging. Thanks!
Jesus Without Baggage 
I think you should reblog old articles. I haven’t read every one and I do not possess total recall. Hope your recovery continues! Praying for you!
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Creek, I don’t think I have seen your name in comments before. Thanks for sharing and for your well-wishes! I need to hear from new voices as well as older voices. And feel free to respond to comments in the future as you wish.
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Glad you’re feeling better! Yes, personally, I would enjoy seeing older articles reblogged every so often. There’s a lot of stuff I probably haven’t even read before, or if even if I have read it I’ve also most likely forgotten about it.
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Thanks, Strange Girl. I appreciate your feedback!
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I would support that! I’ve only joined the blogosphere relatively recently compared to you (Spring 2017), so I haven’t read your older content.
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Thanks for your feedback, Brendan!
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You’re welcome!
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Tim – Repeats from several years ago are beneficial to those of us that have discovered the blog in the last few years. Another case in point is Pete Enn’s use of reposting. May the Lord strengthen and encourage you during your health difficulties.
Ken Hogan
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Thank’s for the feedback, Ken. It was from Pete Enns that I got the idea. I would sometimes read a post and go to write a comment only to discover that I had commented a couple years ago! Also, I appreciate your well wishes for my health.
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I think Jesus Without the Baggage is more important than anything you could do on facebook. Frankly, I will have nothing to do with facebook. You do a great service to Christians with this out of the box thinking. I am a Christian Universalist , and as such, do not feel comfortable in most church settings today. I love Christ but disagree with the way church has developed in the past 30 years. I believe in inclusion and find too many institutional barriers in the church today. Keep up the informational flow.
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Judy, I just wanted to say I resonate with you a lot on that. I’m not currently attending church regularly because I can’t find one that doesn’t upset me in some way. I sorta feel like I should go, but I feel like it’s worse to attend somewhere that I don’t agree with. So I don’t know. I’ll keep looking.
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Yes it is so difficult to find a church where i don’t find myself disagreeing as they speak, your word “upset” fits well, and it’s very distracting! I’ve been at my current church for 18 years and it has good things, diversity, outreach (i went on missions trips to the Philippines and Mexico with them), great music, etc. but i can’t give them any more money as i found out they have an official position against gay marriage (i’m straight but an ally), and they recently asked a girl drummer to stop playing with the worship team when she came out. But yet they sing about how awesome and big God’s love is, but not big enough for gay people i guess, according to them, don’t they see their own hypocrisy? They wouldn’t really let me join a “huddle” which is like a discipleship/leadership class, because i couldn’t agree that the Bible is “infallible” (sic). It’s so hard to find fellow rebels among the congregation too, although i found a life group where it’s safe to disagree and speak our minds. Don’t they also understand that it takes diverse beliefs to reach diverse people?
Then when looking online for an open-minded church they almost all start with the Bible being inerrant and i can tell they are too limited. When i feel like leaving i think i have to stay and fight, but is that a reason to go to a church? My sister made a good point once that if all the reasonable people leave, people might think that Christianity itself is unreasonable, you know what i mean? I’ve tried UU churches but it’s a bunch of old intellectuals (then i realized, uh that’s me!) and much smaller, I agree with what they say but it just seems like it’s missing the Spirit or something.
All this to say i totally identify with what you wrote. I would say keep looking, it is good to meet with other believers, even if somewhat (but not too) narrow minded. Trust yourself and your relationship with God, you can be a blessing to them! And them to you as well.
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Strange Girl and Tom,
You both mention the difficulty of finding a like-minded progressive church–and you are right, of course. However, you might find this useful:
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Judy, thanks for the feedback and the kind words!
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Thank you for all you do Tim! I pray for your continued improving health! I too have experienced some unexpected health challenges over the last couple months. Not fun. … Regarding reposting previous articles, even going back to 2013, is fine by me. Your articles have meant so much to me especially during the reconstruction phase of my faith … a work still in progress. All the best to you as your body heals and you adjust your endeavors in the months to come.
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Robert, thanks for your kind words, your feedback, and your prayers for my health! I hope your health improves and stabilizes as well.
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Completely understand! Since I am a new subscriber reposting would help me catch up on missed posts. 👍🏼
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Great, Images! Thanks for the feedback.
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Please repost. Some will be new to me, some to look through with wiser eyes, and some to ponder anew. Thanks for your ministry and I hope you have a reflective refreshing journey with your brother.
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Thanks for your responses, Clancy! I worked with my brother on the original family project beginning almost 10 years ago. It should be fun to improve it further.
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I echo the feelings already posted: reposting past blogs provides opportunity for those of us who are newer subscribers to read articles we likely haven’t seen. It also gives everyone a chance to see a glimpse of your own evolution, as well as the challenge to see if we might find new insight in previously read material. There’s a plethora of fundamentalist material out there; it’s refreshing to have a progressive, Christ-like perspective.
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Thanks for the feedback, David! And we definitely need more ‘Nice Men’.
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Tim, I am still fairly new to your blog, and it has been a wonderful help to me in my rediscovery of Jesus. One of the first things I started doing after discovering your blog was to go back and read old posts. So, yes, please feel free to re-post. It will give us an opportunity to explore many we haven’t yet read. Also, these are powerful ideas and we can only benefit from revisiting them again.
Please look after yourself. You are in my prayers.
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Dennis, thanks for your feedback and for your prayers!
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It just dawned on me that you mentioned in this post that you had some articles set up to automatically post while you were in hospital and then recovering. However, you still took the time to monitor and respond to every comment made on those articles, and I find that amazing!
That in itself is still a lot of work and something that we as your readers should not take for granted. It gives a personal touch to every one of us, and I thank you for that.
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Ha Ha!
Dennis, you are very perceptive! As soon as I returned from the hospital, I sat at my desktop computer constantly–reading and responding–until I was caught up. There is not much that is more important to me than not neglecting readers’ comments. I feel that I owe it to readers to be as reasonably prompt as possible. Though I would not recognize most of you on the street, I feel as though our relationships are often real and personal.
Interacting with JWOB readers goes far to sustain me in my restrictive disabilities.
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Sounds good to me 🙂
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Thanks for weighing in, Mandibelle!
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Hehe. You’re welcome 😊
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Reblogs works for me. Hope you heal soon.
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Thanks for both, Pamala!
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Since I am a very new subscriber I would enjoy seeing the reblogs. I will be praying for your comfort and speedy recovery.
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Barger, thanks for both the feedback and the prayers!
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God’s will prevails in all things on earth and in heaven. Praying for your return to robust health. As for re-posting, I’m a relative newbie so ALL your posts are new to me 🙂 Blessings throughout the new year . . . to you and all your readers.
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Doulos, thanks for your responses! By the way, I think I can guess but whose doulos are you?
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I’m doulos to the One who created me, the One who bought me for the price of His son, the One who sustains my existence through the grace of His spirit: Almighty God.
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Douolos, great! That’s pretty much what I thought.
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Yes, old blogs would be great. Tim, I hope and pray you will continue to recover. Take your time to get your strength back. Love and God bless, Charlotte.
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Thank you, Charlotte!
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Tim, I pray you receive the medical attention you need and that you have a complete and speedy recovery.
I totally support re-posting previous articles!
1. I’m certain I have not read all of them
2. Refreshing my memory on issues would be appreciated
3. New subscribers would have the benefit of receiving them directly
4. It would allow for additional thought-provoking discussion threads
Thank you for encouraging us to think differently!
-Bonnie
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Bonnie, thanks for the kind and supportive words. And I really like your list!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging and commented:
Reblogs are welcomed
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As a new follower, I will also vote in favor of reblogging to be exposed to some of your older posts. Also, I think sometimes as bloggers placing ourselves on strict posting schedules can at times take away the freedom we are trying to express we’ve found, or at least that has proven true for me. Be free brother!! Love all I’ve read so far and looking forward to more whether old or new!!
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Rocky, thanks for the feedback. And I agree that the pressure of tight schedules can sometimes impact the expression of a post.
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Tim— I think many bloggers do that— repost former articles. I feel that’s fine. We all change constantly and when I re-read something I bring a wider awareness and get more out of it. Hope you are recuperating. Hospital stays are so disruptive! Sure make you appreciate home sweet home!
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“Hospital stays are so disruptive! Sure make you appreciate home sweet home!” Sarah, you got that right! Thanks for the feedback.
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I found your website 2 years ago, I believe, at a very crucial time in my life. I’m very grateful for all the work you’ve done. I already read past blogs and I’ll continue to do so. Thanks so much!
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MA, I am so glad you have found JWOB helpful! I am glad we were there when you needed us.
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Rereading blogs gives me an opportunity to pick up something I may have missed the first time. Go for it!
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Thanks vbensor!
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I offer prayers for a full healing for you. I only recently came to your blog and I have found it fascinating. I would love to read blogs from your past. It will bring insight into the journey you have been on since the beginning.
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BH, thanks for both the prayers and the feedback!
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I would only add, Tim, that (1) do what’s best for your health and your loved ones, as you already know but perhaps need a gentle nudge to do; (2) re-blogging older posts is an excellent idea given how many great ones there have been and how much they contain to ponder anew; (3) another idea to consider, in conjunction with re-blogging, is to invite occasional guest articles from other writers who share the vision and spirit of JWOB; and (4) above all, echoing back to the first suggestion, take ALL pressure off yourself–right now–and leave it up to God, whose kingdom has surely been advanced by your work, to lead you and JWOB in a new direction that may not yet be fully visible. Your blog has been, for me, the brightest spot on the whole internet, the place I visit daily to refresh my spirit, lift my heart, and learn a bit more wisdom. I have little doubt that God, in His own time, will find precisely the perfect way to build upon the extraordinary gift you have given to us all. As shown by the preceding comments, and certainly more to follow, you are loved by so many you have never met. That speaks volumes about you and the future of JWOB.
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Newton, thanks for your very kind words and your other feedback! I am glad you suggested occasional guest posts. That did not occur to me, though I have done a minimal amount of it in the past. Such a guest post must be very appropriate to our target audience; but there are such posts. It might also provide readers with voices they have not heard that would be very beneficial to them. This is an excellent idea! Thanks!
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One thing I neglected to mention, Tim, is that whatever form the new JWOB may take, I think that it is essential, if at all possible, that YOU continue to monitor the comments made to the posts. As much as the content of your blog, what makes JWOB really stand out from the pack is its tone, its respect for its participants, its openness to differing ideas, and especially its avoidance of the personal bickering and character attacks that ruin the commentary sections of so many websites. That guiding hand of yours, making sure that JWOB demonstrates the spirit of Jesus and the best of the Christian tradition, is something that would be extremely difficult to try to replace. God speed in your recovery and in your exploration of alternatives.
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Thanks, again, Newton. Interacting with comments is NOT an area I even considered (ever) as a place to cut back. I really appreciate the community we have all established together and recognize the importance of my leadership in establishing and maintaining the tone.
However, we HAVE developed a group that heavily support that tone. We have also had some who wanted to go the ‘bickering’ and negative route. Where are they now? Not here. And the reason is our consistent insistence on a proper tone. Most have left on their own; I have only blocked maybe two or three in the entire six years.
So no worries there. I have no intention of changing my level of interaction in comments.
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AMEN TO ALL THAT and so well written!
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I agree with everyone above, so it sort of seems silly to post. You did encourage it, though. In December 2017, I had a sudden health problem and ended up in the hospital for 10 days or so, had surgery, etc. I have recovered nearly completely. I know how difficult it can be to recover. I had to give up a volunteer position I had been looking forward to. I very much agree with the people above that you need to take care of yourself and your family. I would be happy to see re-posting of older posts, and even guest posts that agree with your philosophy.
I get notified when there is a new post. If it is not every week, that would still be OK. Do what you need to.
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Johannamm, thank you for your feedback including on both re-posts of older articles and of guest posts–and it is not silly to post it. I would like as much feedback as possible.
Also thanks for identifying with my health issues–though I am so sorry you have had such an experience with it yourself. It can be terribly disruptive to life, to plans, and to schedules.
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If the comic strip For Better or For Worse could go back to the beginning and re run them all (without updating which did show when using a phone with a cord or a VCR) you should do it. And you would be wise enough to update.
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Good points, Marjorie! Thanks!
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Wow you started in 1913? LOL. You have an amazing body of work already, it does take a lot of time and energy to keep it up, yes take it slow, it is fine and even good to take a break, rest and recover. God bless you and prayers for whatever health issues you are dealing with.
Re: reposting old entries, what does that entail? They are already there and people can find them if they look, mightn’t it possibly cause confusion to have them posted twice? I can see if you put some in your update emails as links to the originals or something? Or put them in a separate category or list. But whatever you have been and are doing works, trust your God-guided instincts and do whatever you think is best! I definitely appreciate any and all resources that address the extraneous nonsense that constantly muddles and corrupts Christianity.
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Yes, Tom–1913. But I was just 2 years old at the time so I am still only 108. But seriously, thanks for pointing out the error! After all my checking I never noticed it, but it is corrected now–to 2013.
You raise a really good point about possible confusion from re-posting earlier material. However, they will be clearly marked as re-posts (or rather re-blogs); so that should avoid any confusion. Very good point, though! Thanks for raising it!
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Please excuse the delayed comment. I’m a little behind in my emails.
If Pete Enns and BioLogos can repost articles without even identifying them as repostings, you should certainly be able to, particularly if you identify them as repostings.
I have frequently appreciated your viewpoint on things. Get well and keep up the good work.
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Paul, thank you so much!
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It’s nice to hear of your growing but is tempered by the health issues. I pray you have healing in a timely manner.
Editing and reblogging is a great idea. But just do as you are able.
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Thanks, Rob!
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