I’m wondering if we need to fine-tune our direction yet again. That is, put the burden of “the list” on an aggregation service such as Del.icio.us or Bloglines under pre-defined categories - and simply create a mob-blog using WordPress to pick off categories.

The question is, who populates the list?

One of the successes of Martin Roth’s original list was the fact that he sought out the Christian sites, listing those he thought had “the juice.” One of the ongoing problems with blogs4God is that often, despite our documentation efforts, people with “rye grass” like blogs eagerly sign up … and then move on. Again, creating a directory that is bloated with abandoned and/or infrequently maintained blogs. Well that - and spammers again are knocking at our door.

I don’t believe you can go home again.

This portal has shown technical excellence, but what Martin Roth had, Blogs4God cannot have for several reasons. Martin put a personal touch into his list, he was not partisan, and he didn’t have the explosion of blogs to deal with that we see in 2006. Nor where there competing interests such as The Blogdom of God, GodBlogCons, blogger rows, professional bloggers and aggregators. 

Martin is first and foremost a writer; not a technican, which made his list the forerunner of what we see today in faith blogs. Martin also showed maturity, kindness and respect to people that disagreed with him and knew how to work with others.
Today outrage is considered a virtue, sarcasm a religious right.

Martin had the luxury of being able to write from an Australian perspective, and as someone who has travelled, he saw a bigger picture. Blogs4God has had difficulty in seeing a larger picture, it is US owned and based and has catered to that market since shortly after it’s inception. What opportunity existed melted like morning fog, and I know good people tried, they have my regard to this day.
Other venues like ‘St. Blog’s’ have maintained under various forms because those that have tended it have done so with persistance, good humour, professionalism and tenderness. It has not only survived, it has thrived. The faith blog or god -blog subdivision is too small in the grander scheme of things to be careless about one’s battles.

Martin Roth showed stewardship back when stewardship was possible. He got a bit of extra help when he got technically snowed under, and knew how to hold things loosely but well. I can truthfully say even under stress, deadlines and illness Martin always showed respect for himself or others. I think god-blogs grew up and left home, and that is how it is.

Now a pioneer portal of sorts has decisions to make, and if you have ideas, pass them on.
Given my history with these beginnings and with this portal, I respecfully decline to generate ideas, and once again wish b4G well.  
In the immortal words of a Kenny Rogers song - you gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em.
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