New: Audio Files at RLP

February 6, 2006 - 4:45pm

I've created a new audio file and opened an audio section here at Real Live Preacher. For the next year, I'm going to be producing AT LEAST one audio file a week, and probably more than that. Once I get this down, it shouldn't take me long.

Next up, my wife Jeanene and I are going to sit in front of the microphone and talk about what Real Live Preacher has done to and for our family. You'll get her perspective on this thing. Neither of us have felt very much in control of it. Real Live Preacher kind of took over our lives. We're still trying to figure out what this means for us. It will just be casual conversation. Like you were sitting down and talking with us.

The RLP podcast will probably be ready by the end of the month.

As I said in my recent State of the Blog Address, the audio section is a way of saying thank you to RLP subscribers. But the first version of it is open right not to anyone.

rlp

Submitted by Recovering Christian on February 7, 2006 - 2:21am.

Just wondering. You say it's taken over your lives. RLP has become so big that I've heard you referred to as the most influential and widely read Christian writer in the blogosphere. In your opinion, has it been worth it?

David Learn
http://tbyxeg.blogspot.com

Submitted by rlp on February 7, 2006 - 7:44am.

David,
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To ask whether it was worth it implies that I had some kind of control over it. I started writing and writing became addictive or at least compulsive. Can you imagine the amount of time it takes to produce the amount I've written in three years? Take a look at the essay list. It's huge. Every one of those represents perhaps 10 hours of highly focused completely committed time.
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I can't control the number of people who read, and I don't really care about that. I care about the work. And the fact is, I can't do the work unless I find some way to make it pay - just a little. Just enough to justify the work.
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The new site is just a way for me to keep this going. Worth it? I don't know. I don't really see how it could have unfolded any other way. I'm not disciplined enough to shut down my writing and say, "I'll only write 10 hours a week." You can't do that as a writer. Writing takes everything. It must have your best time. You can't put things off. I've been known to leap out of bed at 3am to get some notes written down because I knew they would not be there in the morning.
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RLP is what it is. I can either run with it or stop it. I so desperately don't want to stop it.

Submitted by Recovering Christian on February 7, 2006 - 1:29pm.

Can I imagine the work it takes? Easily. I'm a professional writer turned stay-at-home dad, and I not only understand completely the struggle between family and the writing compulsion, I'm amazed you gave away as much of your writing for as long as you did.

I don't mind that you're trying to make some money off the writing. I'd do the same if I could with my own blog, and I'm trying to find some free-lance opportunities to supplement my wife's income. The compulsion to write, to share what I have to say, is a strong one. If I can't write, I'm not fully alive. It's how I worship best.

I wish you luck, and I appreciate the honesty of what you say, as one writer to another, both clinging to the Cross.

David Learn
http://tbyxeg.blogspot.com

Submitted by Anonymous User on February 7, 2006 - 7:35am.

I have been an avid reader and ardent admirer since I first discovered your blog. I ordered and read your book. I ordered two copies of your CD, one for me and one as a gift for the Episcopal rector for whom I work. I read Christian Century and have read all of your articles with great enjoyment. I guess progress is a good thing and the expansion of your blog site is quite impressive, however bigger is not always better and I kind of miss your former blog. I remain a fan. Sincerely, DonaFrog

Submitted by rlp on February 7, 2006 - 7:40am.

Well, the former blog just isn't an option for me now. It was very unhealthy for me then. I'll either make a small living as a writer, or I'll have to do other things. Of course, I'll never stop writing, but I'd like to continue to have the time to produce and work as I have the last three years.

Submitted by reverend mommy on February 7, 2006 - 8:03am.

It is as it is. It will be as it will be.
___
A nice little fatalistic saying, but it all is good. Everything. Even the struggle is good, the conflict is good. Somehow.
___
Plants that grow in still air become leggy and unhealthy. Plants that have to strain against the wind become stronger and vigorous. Things that grow are shaped by the Wind. You told me once that not all stories have happy endings. That's true, but I have to believe that in the end, it all will be good. This will all be good.
___
Prayers your way this morning.
___
http://reverendmommy.blogspot.com

Submitted by Anonymous User on February 7, 2006 - 8:28am.

when you speak of writing, of how it "takes everything", I am reminded of Jeremiah wrestling with the cost of being a prophet: "If I say 'I will not mention him, or speak anymore in his name,' then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones;I am weary of holding it in and I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:9) I think that writers and other artists are often prophetic. I too have been known to get up in the middle of the night to write, especially when my kids were younger. It was the only time there was any quiet in my house. You are exactly right, you are not in control. Art comes from somewhere, God probably, who loves us but is not necessarily "nice". Maybe not ever "nice". But you know that already. I loved hearing the essay, by the way.

Submitted by Anonymous User on December 13, 2006 - 10:07am.

Dear. Anonymous user, I want to tell you that God is nice and sweet and kind and gentle and He is Love and longsuffering towards you and everyone, we are living because of God right now and He still loves you very much thats why He deals with you. And the true reason why you said the He is not nice is because you don`t know Him and you have not accepted His Son Jesus Christ for your Lord and Savior so that you will know that He is good and loving to you and so you can feel His love and presence in your life and have eternal life in this world first then with Him if you come to know Him and stay with Him forever. God`s Son the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world 1900 years ago to suffer and die on the cross for you personally, yes He did it for everybody but He want you to know that He did it for you personally so you can recieve Him personally for your personal Lord and Savior and have salvation and eternal life with Him and love Him too, will you ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you and save you and come into your life now by faith not by works He did it all for us to be saved, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead thou shalt be saved, and whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shalt be saved now!Will you do it? He is waiting and He is watching and He loves you so much now! from Willie Anderson.

Submitted by JoKeR on February 7, 2006 - 12:03pm.

Format of Audio Links (comment title)
The links to the audio files simply return a text page which is itself the address of the mp3 file. This address is not an html hyperlink, it is just text. I have to copy the address and paste it into my browser's address space to get to the audio file. Can you tell me if this is a flaw in my browser configuration (don't know that I've ever seen an "m3u" file anywhere else) or could this be done differently so that a clickable link to the mp3 file is available? Not really sure what the options are as I haven't played much with sound files before. I have certainly enjoyed listening to them, in any event.
Peace,
JoKeR