Fifteen months ago today, I started this blog. Since then, I have posted at least once each day, 527 posts in all. Now, the time has come to take a break.
This blog and the resulting relationships and conversations have immensely enriched my life. I never would have imagined when I first began experimenting with blogs in 2000 that they could have such a powerful impact. I never would have imagined when I first pitched the idea of using blogs at Fellowship Church in February 2002 that 3.5 years later we would see the explosion we see today; site blogs, internal blogs, team blogs, and over 20 staff blogs. God has greatly blessed this whole experience and I can't wait to see what lies in the future.
For me personally, however, it is time to hit the pause button and rethink, or as Bono said, "We have to go away and dream it all up again."
I don't know what the future holds for this site or what form that future will take, but I do know that my heart is being pulled in different directions and I want to free my mind and my time to see where that leads.
As always, my deepest thanks to all of you for reading. It has truly been an honor. God bless!
Refresh and renew yourself, Brian. I look forward to your return.
Posted by: Stuart Cowen | July 02, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Ditto Stuart's comment.
BTW, I happened to catch that 30 Days episode with the Christian living in a Muslim community for 30 days. Interesting. Have to remember they only had about 22 minutes so I was left wanting to see more of some discussions. They did a nice animated snippet on the "family tree" of Judiasm, Christianity (even mentioned Jesus' res), and Islam.
Though it wasn't overt, I see how people can come away thinking "can't we all just get along" and brushing over the crucial differences of the religions. Such a challenge to learn about other beliefs without seeming like your negating yours. It's hard to tell people about Jesus withouth conversing with them and a basic conversation skill is asking the other person about themself.
Enjoy your rest. BTW, I think we're still looking for a web person if you know of anyone. :)
Posted by: Lexie | July 02, 2005 at 04:18 AM
A blog is a bowl and we can pour pieces of our souls into it, as an offering to others, for whomever will hear.
http://www.julieleung.com/
-Julie Leung's eclectic garden
... raking through the bowl, we pick out bits of our lives ;-)
Enjoy the break!
Posted by: Jozef Imrich | July 02, 2005 at 07:20 AM
Brian,
Thanks! Your blogging has been inspirational to many! I look forward to your return in the future! May you be truly blessed with your time away!
Posted by: Jimmy Williams | July 02, 2005 at 04:51 PM
Have a nice break Brian and I hope you come back when you're ready. I'll miss you while you're gone.
Posted by: shel Israel | July 02, 2005 at 09:26 PM
You will be missed my friend. I hope you get refreshed and come back soon!
Posted by: Terry Storch | July 03, 2005 at 02:03 PM
Aw, but you're the founding father of blogging to me, Brian. :) No, I certainly support your decision whatever it may be. A couple of good quotes below:
"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." Henri Bergson
"We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Posted by: Cheryl | July 05, 2005 at 04:32 PM
Wait just a second here.... This sure sounds like a goodbye..?...?... Let me say, although I haven't been an active comment contributor to your Blog, it is most certainly been a weekly read for me... So maybe I'm an in the closet Brian Bailey Blog reader. You called the success of blogs back when i thought a blog was some kind of brain condition. After being enlightened by your "build a better blog" post... I just may be ready to start one of my own. Thanks for the blogfluence.
Posted by: Matt Murph | July 08, 2005 at 02:03 PM