May Blog Project

4/28/09 - 3rd Day - Evening. Howdy y'all. Hope all is well with all you homesteaders, agrarians, and those who want to be homesteaders and agrarians.

I have mentioned the May Blog Project, so I figured I'd let you all in on it. Several weeks ago I sent out a letter to my friendslist email list that I was going to turn my blog over to my readers for the month of may. Here is the gist behind why I am doing this project...

"...some of you may know, but many of you may not, that I have been under a huge coordinated attack going back to February. This attack has morphed into an attack on our view of Christian Agrarianism, but has really focused on me in particular. I sent you all out an email a month ago that is typical of the kinds of attacks that are being directed at me through emails, blogs, and other postings on the internet. As I said, this attack on me has morphed into an attack on Christian Agrarianism in general, which is now being mocked and attacked as a "cult".

I have considered quitting, not because I don't have the constitution for the fight - I have been being attacked publicly for a decade - but because I have a problem with my children (who are old enough to read and study what is going on) reading that their father is a drunken gambling adulterer who abuses his wife and family and keeps a girlfriend on the side, etc., etc., etc. The people involved in these attacks have no shame, and do not care a bit if my children read these lies about their father...

So I have considered quitting, because I don't know if it is worth it.

The other problem is that the attackers and people who do not know me or how I really live my life are the only ones who get heard. My friends, supporters, readers, etc. have followed my lead in that I generally have not publicly taken on these attacks on my person and tried to defend myself. Sure, I take on the attacks on Separatism, Agrarianism, or on the group here and our work. I do teach on persecution and what it is and why it comes. But I have chosen to remain mostly silent about the personal attacks (other than a sarcastic comment now and then, which is part of my style)...

I want you to pray about writing one blogpost that might be published on one day in May. While I am not asking for praise, and while you all know that I hardly read, much less publish, any fan or praise mail, I do want you to tell the truth about why you are on my friendslist and why you read the blog. If you are affiliated with the ministry... why? You may want to write about our relationship (if you have one with me), or what the ministry means or has meant to you. You may want to write about your Agrarian walk, or how Separatism has worked out for you or what it means to you. Frankly, this will be a test, and it might even convince me whether or not I should keep doing this. If you think the picture these wolves are painting of me, the ministry, and our movement is an accurate one, then by all means do nothing. But if you think it is not accurate, then what would you say to change it?"

I have been very encouraged by the posts I have received. I thought I would let all you blog readers in on the secret, so you can make sure to tune in during the month of May. If you have a desire to write something, but aren't on my friendslist, then you may still submit your posting before May. I cannot promise that all posts will be published, but they will all be read and appreciated. Do not be angry if I don't post your entry, it will all depend on how many I receive, and how many I can get to in order to post them in May. I reserve the right to edit the posts for clarity and do the best I can do spell-checking, etc. I also will expect you to sign your posts like this:

Napolean Bonaparte
needanarmy.blogspot.com
Somewherein, France

If you don't have a blog, first - congratulations, second - don't worry about it.

I also have a fun participatory project in store for June, so you are going to want to make sure to check in regularly.

Thank you all for reading.

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

Michael Bunker