I had planned to write regularly on this site and I hope to actually fulfill those plans soon. Originally this site was meant as a way for people to keep up with me, the O’Day family in general, and our transition from Tennessee to Utah. Posting updates proved to be a serious weak point in my abilities. Additionally, a blog seemed to be a poor tool for such a purpose.

As my family and I have established our life and ministry in Utah, the tool of this blog does now suddenly seem appropriate. Much of my time is spent trying to think and communicate clearly. As strange as this may sound, Utah has a different kind of culture. I am an American in an American land, but I often feel like a foreigner in many respects. The LDS church has produced not just a belief system but an entire culture around it much the same way that there is cultural Christianity in the Southern United States. Due to this, I found myself often trying to communicate biblical realities to people who do not share with me the same biblical literacy, presuppositions, and overall worldview foundations.

The upside to all of this is that I have been forced to think more deeply, challenged to develop a “cut no corners” kind of expression, and to communicate with succinct clarity. I admit that I am still a work in progress. Yet, my desire to progress in this is why I now find the tool of a blog to be much more useful. This is for two reasons in particular.

  1. First, clear thinking and communication is not accidental. It takes time and effort. One must set aside blocks of time in order to work through an issue and establish the best way to express what the Bible says about it. Contextualization is not evident or it would have already taken place.
  2. Second, clarity rarely happens off the cuff. There are those magical moments where one does communicate with pure brilliance, but that is the exception and not the rule. Usually our best communication is carefully constructed. One might be able to come to a personal conclusion about the nature of God, but the communication of said conclusion and the reasons for it cannot be thrown out haphazardly if we want it be helpful, winsome, and clear.

Writing is a superb tool to facilitate both the ends of deep thought and clear communication. It takes time to put your thoughts down on paper (or type them out) and, as you write, it becomes evident rather quickly if you have a good flow of thought or even grasp the subject matter.

I hope to use this blog as a tool to help me develop my thoughts as I share the gospel, make disciples, and work to see more churches planted here in Utah. I am sure that the topics will vary, but my desire is that I would help both myself and others in communicating the truths of the Bible. Please feel free to contribute by sharing your insights or pushing back on what you find here.

That’s a bit on what’s to come. Consider this a place to read over my shoulder, gain some possible insight, and add some helpful notes to the conversation yourself.