It's time for a few changes here and there. This isn't to say we're disappointed with what has unfolded in our (almost) two years of existence. We've had some great - even lively - conversations about preaching. But there's so much more we'd like to do. Most of all, we'd like to sharpen the focus.

With all of this in mind you can?well?expect some changes. Most notably, the Preaching Today blog is going to focus more and more on helping preachers find the intersection between Gospel and culture. We've flirted with this idea in the notables sections of our weekly pop culture roundups. We've decided to flesh that out just a little more. We want to take an issue that has caught our eye in culture and examine it as closely as we can.

What does that movie tell us about culture - about humanity and its ways?

What questions does that book beg us to answer?

Could it be that the lyrics of that song could inform our preaching in some way - not above or beyond the Bible, of course, but still?

For an example of how we've done this for preachers, check out my article on the rise of the antihero in television that I did for the mother site. It gives you an idea of what we want to do.

In many ways you can consider this move as an effort at expanding the illustrations section of the mother site - a way for us to deliver illustrative goods to you in a quick, timely manner in a fleshed out form.

I know we all have mixed feelings about movies, books, TV, news headlines, and the like, but we do hope this thrills you for purposes not just of relevance (you'll get that, I suppose), but for purposes of effective preaching that knows the times well and celebrates them (when appropriate) and contends with them (when appropriate). And we aren't just going to focus on movies and music and TV. We might focus on the stock market crisis or, as we've done in the past, a news item that is particularly intriguing.

Oh - and one last change: you. You wanna know what I would love in this new year? If you would talk more. Talk boldly. Talk loudly. Talk, talk, talk. A little piece of me dies (yes, I'm exaggerating) each week when we post items and no one even whispers one. little. word. I would love for people to disagree with me, agree with me, or lovingly call me a loon. So have at it, friends. Let's talk. I can only do so much, see so much, listen to so much, and write so much. This is a team effort - and I look forward to such as 2009 unfolds.

So, here's to a new year, a new focus, to new ideas for preaching. I hope you're game.