A friend introduced me to blogging in mid-February 2005. He blogged for all of 3 months, signing off the day after twenty-five friends and I launched Common Grounds Online. Through this friend's blog I met a friend of his, and through him I met David Wayne, the Jollyblogger.

The Jollyblogger was one of a few heavily trafficked Christian blogs in the spring of 2005. David had already attained a vast readership and it was obvious why he had: David had a gift for taking complex, often controversial topics and reflecting upon them with clarity, wisdom and grace.

David and I shared in common RTS-Orlando and a love for Richard Pratt. In short order I read everything he posted and at some point our virtual relationship developed to the point that I took him up on his public invitation to DC/VA/MD bloggers to meet up for dinner in near DC. Read more

Against a brooding, wine-dark backdrop, what’s going on in the painting is at first difficult to make out. A spotless white tablecloth rewards an unseen light source, showcasing a meal in the offing. Then you see Christ the Lord, facing you, eyes closed in prayer, hand outstretched, giving thanks over the meal. Then gradually, first one, then another, disciple, and a third, a server, materialize around the Christ. Finally, it dawns on you that all three of them are registering a surprising recognition that is standing everything they thought they knew, including reality itself, on end. One man has spread his arms like an eagle, his fingers like a fan; he looks about to take off. The server has the look of one who is saying, what the heck is going on here? Who is this guy? It takes you a little while to make out Man #3, even though he is closest to you. Gradually you see that he has lurched forward in his chair, gripping its arms while he rivets Jesus’ face in eye-opening recognition.Read more