Many thanks to all of you who publicly (comments) and privately (emails) criticized my being critical of WiBo.

A couple of thoughts:

1. I agree with Mike McKinley that Ben A. did a great job organizationally and must live a mysterious life that allowed him to pull together such varied speakers.

2. I agree with Ben A. (see his comments) that any meeting or conference is going to have highs and lows.

3. For the record, I think 9Marks, the organization I lead, needs to do a better job in presenting its ideas. I think we are probably one of the most boring conferences around. The material is too often dense and can become tedious to listen to. I think the material is very good. I just don't think a normal person can listen for 12 hours without an intermission, graphics or a bathroom break.

4. I know it is common for this generation of parents to rarely criticize or correct their children, but that is ultimately hurtful. It is deceitful. It is not preparing the children well. Faithful parents and pastors need to be able to criticize and correct without having a critical spirit. We work hard in our little corner of the world to learn to take criticism. It is for our good. We grow by it. The goal of criticism is to bring discernment. So we invite and even seek out criticism. At Capitol Hill Baptist Church we have built it into our weekly schedule with a "Service Review" that is done among the staff and interns. We spend hours evaluating events and rehashing talks. We have changed some things we do and think because of it. Impossible without godly, constructive criticism.

5. Finally, we cannot simply think that all the different models and techniques that are being thrown at us are equally valid. I want to write more in the future about Hebrews 13:17. If you think you (pastor) are really going to give an account someday to God for how you cared for his sheep, then you must discern what is being offered up in the name of "church." There are vastly different models being floated. You have to pick. Traditional? Willow Creek? Purpose Driven? Emergent? Missional? You're not picking between five different brands of detergent that essentially get your clothes clean. It's not paper or plastic; either one caries the groceries. You, pastor, are picking a model that very well can change the message and in so doing lose the gospel.

Thanks for the criticism. Keep it up!