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KUDOS
I just heard about your online journal and thought I would give it a look-see. Awesome job! There is definitely a need for work such as this and I am very pleased to see that need being filled by Communique.
Another journal I enjoy reading is "Regeneration" (can also be found online at www.regenerator.com), but I like the way you guys have a more creative and for lack of a better word, artsy, way of presenting the information. Many are searching for a way to make their faith culturally relevant as well as developing the long-neglected creative aspect of ourselves in light of the fact that God has created us to be thus. Your journal does an excellent job in putting these together. Thank you very much!
-Jayme Reaves
I was delighted to discover the Communique' site, and spent about 45 minutes on it this afternoon. (Slow day at work!) [You] are doing some great work there; I think this is a fantastic medium for people who are interested in the interplay of the various meaningful things in life with the one Meaningful thing. It's wonderful to see others wrestling thoughtfully with these issues...I applaud the work you're doing, and hope to hear more from you as time permits.
-Sean McMains
I'm a good friend of [Communique freelance writer Robert] Leahey and he led me to your first edition. I have to say I'm impressed. I was particularily pleased to see that this email would be going to Mr. Lawrence as I really enjoyed his piece. I agreed with all that was said, experienced no new thoughts, and yet was moved in a new way. Like reading John 3:16 for the millionth time and being innundated with, "Ah ha!". Many an friendly email-box will receive a link to your article.
...I enjoyed Robert's essay. It's ironic, in the past few days I've suddenly discovered essays written by two friends of mine ... when for the past few months I've been toying of stealing time from my schedule to write a few of my own. I wish I had something to submit to you for a feature edition.
One request: post email addresses! This message began as a request for Jeff Lawrence's email address. I suppose some may not want their address posted, but it would seem abnormal for a Web publication.
Another possible request: I don't know if this would risk cheapening the quality production, but allowing reader's to post comments that others could read appended to the end of an article / photo display / etc.
I'm also impressed with the quality of the art work throughout. Top notch presentation, and yet not weighed down by too many images. Very nice balance. The whole site is great. To the point and stylish. More non-publication sites could take some tips from you guys.
-Chris Morris
UNDER THE DENTIST'S DRILL...
I have just browsed through Communique for the first time, and I like it quite a bit! Robert Leahey's musings were quite interesting, and it seems to me that they may arise to some degree out of a frustration with what he sees as uninformed people asking him the wrong questions about what he does for a living, which is understandable.
I think there are problems, though, with his analogy between musicians and dentists. Concertgoers are not a "captive audience" in the same way a dental patient is; leaving a performance is a real option and does not endanger one's health in the same way as leaving a dentist's office in the middle of a root canal. Also, music does include verbal expression, which is much more suitable for sharing the Gospel than a dentist's drill, and this detail was glossed over by Mr. Leahey.
I probably agree with his general ideas about music, but I found this analogy problematic, along with the statement about the "subjugation of art." Every artist has a worldview of some sort that necessarily comes through in his art, 'subjugating' it; therefore, I find it impossible for any artist not to produce what Mr. Leahey would call "propaganda".
Perhaps I don't fully grasp what he was saying.
Sorry to ramble; I really do have a life. I just think this topic is interesting and I would certainly be interested in any feedback.
Thanks!
Melanie Seibert