Ben Witherington has just announced he is leaving Beliefnet and following the likes of Scot McKnight to Patheos! The new address can be found here. It seems Dr Ben has chosen a good old fashioned WordPress layout too!
When Ben was here in Adelaide last year I begged him to move from Beleifnet. The advertisings is incredibly annoying and the site is woefully laid out. Of course, I am sure my begging was not part of his decision nevertheless I am glad he has made the move elsewhere!
In other blogging news, my holidays end soon (Yep, it is summer here in Australia) and blogging will resume next week. I am really looking forward to joining my Near Emmaus friends and dialogging with you all! I think I have decided to focus less on academics (I’ll leave that for smarter people like Brian and JD) and more on the nature and practice of faithful pastoral vocation (as I understand it anyway). Of all the books I am excited about this year it is Eugene Peterson’s memoir that has me waiting with great anticipation. So much so I have paid the exorbitant shipping price to have it here in Australia in 3 days! Alongside his memoir I also plan to read Peterson’s 5 volume spiritual theology through this year, slowly.
Peace be with you.
the archives near Emmaus 
This was a very good decision by Dr. Witherington! Beliefnet is painful.
I anticipate some great post on pastoral ministry as well as your reading of Eugene Peterson. I think he deserves the title “the pastor’s pastor” and I wish more pastors would follow his example.
that is good news indeed! which are the five volumes of Peterson to which you refer (just to be sure)?
Hallelujah! Now I can comment on his posts too!
I have been listening to a class that he and Marva Dawn taught at Regent. Both were amazing. They held 3 sessions were they discussed reading, sabbath and worship. As a result i bought Dawn’s book on Sabbath and ministry. In these sessions Peterson speaks freely and answers some of the questions that have arisen from reading his books.
He is my pastor, that’s for sure!
Brian (F) They are “Christ Plays” “Eat this book” “The Jesus Way” “Tell it Slant” and “Practise Resurrection”
Mark, I am glad to hear that you will be posting soon. I may follow your lead and stay away from some of the academic subjects as well. I do enjoy them until someone smarter asks a tough question 😉 then I hope that Brian bails me out LOL. Plus I hope to do more techie stuff as well since I am always following those trends. I’ll see how well I balance things this year, I was really burned out last year but the Lord has been kind to me and given me a fresh outlook on many matters. I truly look forward to your pastoral blogs as I know from the past they have been a source of personal refreshment for me. Also give us some espresso brewing tips, that would be awesome!
uh oh… he has a starchucks mug in the header… lol!
Blogg away, blog away.
I’ve read Peterson’s, Christ Plays in Ten Thousands Places in 2009 and started the second volume, Eat This Book a couple of weeks ago. I like his pastoral approach to life in Christ. I want to read all five volumes of the series, as well as his The Contemplative Pastor.