Hotsoup.com
A few months ago, one of the co-founders of hotsoup.com, Ron Fournier, invited me to be one of the contributers to hotsoup.com which launched today--October 19.
I certainly wasn't expecting this week's press release. Let's just say that Lora and I had a good laugh. I never expected to see my name in the same press release with these particular names. Too funny!
HOTSOUP.com Announces Lineup of 80+ Nationally Known Opinion Drivers Who Will Join the Conversation
October 17, 2006 -- HOTSOUP.com today announced that former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Mitt Romney, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, will join the Web site’s discussions in the coming weeks and months. Also joining the lineup are entertainer Jon Bon Jovi, Producer/American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and Lead Pastor of the National Community Church, Mark Batterson.
How funny is that?
It's sort of a what's wrong with this picture deal or which name doesn't belong :)
The cool thing is that I really feel like this is an opportunity to give expression to one of my core convictions: the church is called to compete in the marketplace of ideas.
Paul didn't boycott the Aeropagus. He competed for the truth.
I'll be able to remain apolitical--that is part of our DNA at NCC. And I can comment on issues I choose. With the diverse array of influentials I really think hotsoup.com is taking social networking to the next level. It has huge potential to shape the culture via conversation.
ABOUT HOTSOUP.com
HOTSOUP.com is the premier online community for the millions of influencers who want a say in how to improve America. Harnessing the power of social networking technology, HOTSOUP community Members discuss and debate the topics that are relevant to their lives and critical to our country's organized institutions – from politics and business, to religion and the media. A community comprised of involved, passionate, and concerned individuals, HOTSOUP will turn the pathways of influence in this nation upside down as community Members help rewrite the national agenda and leaders engage with their constituencies in new ways.
I certainly wasn't expecting this week's press release. Let's just say that Lora and I had a good laugh. I never expected to see my name in the same press release with these particular names. Too funny!
HOTSOUP.com Announces Lineup of 80+ Nationally Known Opinion Drivers Who Will Join the Conversation
October 17, 2006 -- HOTSOUP.com today announced that former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Mitt Romney, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, will join the Web site’s discussions in the coming weeks and months. Also joining the lineup are entertainer Jon Bon Jovi, Producer/American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and Lead Pastor of the National Community Church, Mark Batterson.
How funny is that?
It's sort of a what's wrong with this picture deal or which name doesn't belong :)
The cool thing is that I really feel like this is an opportunity to give expression to one of my core convictions: the church is called to compete in the marketplace of ideas.
Paul didn't boycott the Aeropagus. He competed for the truth.
I'll be able to remain apolitical--that is part of our DNA at NCC. And I can comment on issues I choose. With the diverse array of influentials I really think hotsoup.com is taking social networking to the next level. It has huge potential to shape the culture via conversation.
ABOUT HOTSOUP.com
HOTSOUP.com is the premier online community for the millions of influencers who want a say in how to improve America. Harnessing the power of social networking technology, HOTSOUP community Members discuss and debate the topics that are relevant to their lives and critical to our country's organized institutions – from politics and business, to religion and the media. A community comprised of involved, passionate, and concerned individuals, HOTSOUP will turn the pathways of influence in this nation upside down as community Members help rewrite the national agenda and leaders engage with their constituencies in new ways.
5 Comments:
Mark,
Congrats on this...it is EXACTLY where you should be spending some of your time for influencing the culture for the cause of Christ. You go baby!
Thanks for the encouragment. It's outside my comfort zone, but I feel like it's a great opportunity to stretch. Hopefully I won't pull a hamstring in the process.
Mark
Hey Mark,
I love your sense of humor. That paragraph made me laugh out loud, too! :)
Tim
10,731 days
Mark,
One other thought for you. I ran across a Wired.com article today about Hotsoup.
They quote your buddy Fournier as saying, "Everyone is welcome, but our target audience is leaders of social networks, whether it is a small group of women who get together and read books, or the head of a church." I'm guessing he had you in mind when he said that!
"Whether they are someone famous like Clinton or someone unknown, we are just asking for them to get the conversation started," Fournier said. While someone like yourself may be "unknown" to most in those circles starting out, I'm guessing that would probably change.
Lastly, he said, "We have no problem with partisanship and strong points of view, but we hope it will be engaging, civil and productive, not just a mindless, irrelevant food fight."
Your comment about being "apolitical" seems about as out of place as you feel your name was in their paragraph. They don't seem to be looking for apolitical! Further, it looks like an excellent opportunity for a leader in the Church to speak out on issues that really matter and have eternal importance.
Can you imagine a politian saying, "I'm going to be aspiritual--that is part of my DNA"?
Politics is not "temporary" as I've heard evangelicals say. What happens on Capitol Hill matters to God!
Help them get a conversation started about what a new mix of church and state looks like!
Tim
10,731 days
Good thoughts Tim.
By apolitical I simply mean non-partisan as in overtly republican or democrat. For what it's worth, there are lots of issues that I don't view as "political" but "spiritual" while others may see them as "political."
We'll see what happens...
Mark
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