How to lose a blogfan in 10 days

Well there you go, I've made my debut in a blaze of glory.

But rather than bask in the adoration of my throng of fans, I must promptly get to work driving them away. I figure that my arsenal of potential posts in waiting will do it anyway so I may as well look like I did it on purpose. Alice, the proud executive of the REALITY CHECK fan club, has boldly stated her intentions to stick with my blog through thick and thin. Are you sure about that Alice? Can I hold you to that? Must I appeal to your sense of integrity?

You see, I need loyalty Alice. Because my subject matter will sometimes be 'change the channel' material. Have you counted the cost? Will you be there with your pom poms and choreographed cheers then Alice? Can I count on you to hang on my every word?
-----
Ben: Today I would like to talk about William Lane Craig's "Middle Knowledge" theological approach to the problem of divine foreknowledge and free will...

Alice: Woot woot bring it on. Yaaaay for Middle Knowledge *shakes pom poms*
----

Ben: In this edition we will explore the quality of my SX electric guitar. Should I upgrade my pickups?

Alice: Yeeaaahh wwoooot Tell me more!!
----

Ben: Today I am exploring why I am compelled to look in the toiletbowl before I flush.

Alice: Give me a 'B'! Give me an 'E'! Give me an 'N'! What does it spell???
----

On a serious note, I'm really not sure who would be interested in sticking with me. Just have to wait and see I suppose. It doesn't help that I'm a weirdo amongst weirdos amongst weirdos. Let me explain-

* I am a born again Christian. This identity is central to my life, my thinking, my passion and
my purpose. And that doesn't make me terribly popular to the mainstream. Our thinking grates with society's thinking. Which inevitably leads to conflict. And we all know the great Australian adage 'never talk about politics or religion'. I'm not overly political. But Jesus Christ saturates everything I do. Hello? You still with me? Walked away yet?

* I am a Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian. That means I believe in a specific expression of Christianity that takes the ongoing supernatural work of God seriously- like healings, prophecies, tongues speaking etc- all that weird stuff. So, in other words, even amongst the majority of Christians, I'm weird. And Mainstream Christians don't always feel terribly positive towards Pentecostals. I hate to say it, but there's often that same awkwardness directed towards me when a Christian finds out I'm one of 'them', with what I would feel from someone who feels uncomfortable around Christians. (Just an important sidenote- please don't think that early morning 'God will make you rich' tele-evangelists are representative of Pentecostalism. It's not. It is an offshoot that most Pentecostals would not associate themselves with.)

* I take theological pursuit, wherever it takes me, seriously. Which means I won't always agree with the status quo. So I sometimes find myself needing to hold my tongue as to some of my beliefs, so as not to offend my Christian brothers and sisters. And it has led to some 'weird' beliefs, of which I will probably share some over the next coming months. And so my next layer of isolation.

So I am a weirdo amongst weirdos amongst weirdos. And I'm mostly okay with that. So if you want to hear my thoughts, my past, my stories and don't mind being offended or hearing stories that will mess with your worldview, stick with me. Get inside my head and see what makes me tick. And I'd love to do the same with you. But that's the thing about blogs and social networking and all that. You've just got to be who you are. Chameleon's get found out.

So if you don't care about what I write, don't read it :).
Except Alice. She has to read it. And like it. She promised :)

Ben