Posted on by PeaceBang

Please Consider “Subscribing”

So, pigeons.

PeaceBang is tired.

I’ve been blogging for you for four years – five in April, I think. And I have to start thinking about the fact that this is, as one reader recently wrote to me, a “one way street.” It is a ministry and I love it, but as I tally up the e-mails I respond to off-line and realize that the number is in the hundreds, I have to assess whether I want to be available to you at this level for no remuneration except your thanks.

If everyone who reads this blog contributed $5-$10 through PayPal that would feel fair.
And I think this is really about fairness. Writing a blog is great fun and millions of people do it for free. We should – that’s how blogging works. However, many popular bloggers change their format so that their blog essentially becomes an advertisement site, and that’s something I really don’t want to have to do. I would like to keep Beauty Tips for Ministers an advertisment-free space. Other bloggers also — and this is huge — do not respond personally to dozens of inquiries each month, and I do. I talk on the phone with you, I consult with you in person, and I do care. But as in any healthy relationship, I want that care to be reciprocal and since you don’t live close enough to help me around the house, bake me a pie, rub my shoulders or in any other intimate way return the energy that I am giving to you, buying a subscription to this blog for $5 or $10 (use a sliding scale) for say, six months to a year (it depends how many readers respond) seems like an obvious way to give some energy back to me. I would use any money earned through this blog for massages, visits to the chiropractor, and other self-care (you know, that expensive stuff that we skip because it’s too expensive!).

At this point I think it’s the principle of the thing. We all know full well that there’s a LOT of taking volunteers for granted and exploiting willing people for their time and talent in church work. Some people are totally cool giving and putting their life force out as a volunteer for many years. Some people get resentful. I don’t feel resentful, I just feel like I want some support. If you would like to offer some, there is a “Make a Gift” button at the top banner of this blog. It is very, very easy to make a donation through PayPal, and it’s perfectly secure.

You’re a wonderful community and I think what we do through this blog is awesome. What I would love to feel is that the BTFM community has my back the way I have yours. If you’re local and you can stop by for hugs and dinner, I would seriously prefer that. I would like hugs and laughter and your in -person presence and affection way more than I would like anything else. But because that’s not possible, I can do caring things for myself sponsored by you, and it will be very much in the knowledge of your spirits sustaining mine.

Thank you.

32 Replies to “Please Consider “Subscribing””

  2. Done! Many thanks to you for your wonderful blog.

    If you are ever in LA, please let me know; I would love to have you over for dinner.

  4. One more quick comment – I pay $15.00 – 25.00 a year for magazine subscriptions. I plow through them in one quick sitting. Many of the ads do not support my values.

    Yet with your blog – I wake up every morning, excited to see what you’ve posted. I love reading the comments. I agree (or disagree) with your analysis but I always appreciate the theology behind your words.

    Now I think I should have donated more! You rock.

  5. Done. Thank you so much for all of your hard work in helping me learn to dress like a grown-up and actually enjoy it.

  7. I don’t mind ads, to be honest, as a source of revenue, nor do I think any less of people for having them on their blogs. (I usually think “wow, they have enough readership to make it worthwhile! how fantastic!”)

    At some point I may make a donation (not tonight, because I just got in from a late-night event :))… but I don’t think there’s anything wrong at all with doing ads.

    At least that way you have a guaranteed way for renumeration from every visitor, not just the few who are able/willing/recognize that donating truly helps.

  8. Thank you for no ads. I hate them.

    And I live in Cambridge, MA. I would love for you to be my in-person friend and to share some brownies a la mode!

  9. Done! I’m a faithful reader and so appreciate this ministry. Thank you for helping your clergy colleagues to look (and feel) fabulous!

    And I live in Weymouth, so give a shout if you’d like to have a South Shore get-together.

  10. I once was offered a pastorate at almost nothing wages. When I countered that I couldn’t possible live off that, I was told that I didn’t understand, it was a rural parish — I certainly would be paid in chickens — and vegetables, too! Fine, but I can’t repay my school loans or car loan in chickens, and I can’t make a contribution to my IRA in tomatoes.

    Cash is what we expect to be paid, cash is what you should be paid. Thank you for the direct reminder — and have a wonderful time with Asher!

  12. Will donate $10. when I get paid, the earlier poster is right I spend money on newspaper subscriptions but like reading your blog better.

    But no I don’t think there is anything wrong with ads.

  13. I’m so glad you were forthright about this need/opportunity. I have seen the “give” button at the top of your site but never really gave it much thought. I’m grateful that you asked and very grateful for your advice and support.

  15. I’m glad you asked too! Could you remind us in 6 months so we can pitch in again?

    This time I went to your amazon wishlist and got you a little something from it, but next time I’ll plan ahead and have some cash available! 🙂

  16. Thanks so much for being honest about your needs! If we could all do that with such grace, the world would be a better place.

    And I second the request for another post like this in 6 months.

  17. I’m so glad you asked. Your advice on maintaining a professional image, and your encouragement for us all to attend to wellness have been so inspirational to me. I read every one of your posts avidly the minute they hit my inbox.

    (And besides, it’s the least I can do for the person who made the Rector of St. Barbara’s-by-the-Sea in Malibu world famous!) — Julie Fisher

  18. Done!

    I’m still learning the T, but once I get it down, I’ll make sure to give you something in person.

    Plus, you know Rev. Schade and I would love to see you out here in Central Mass.

  21. Will do, because your blog has been such a resource for me. Also, I think it is fair to suggest an donation range for those who wish to have more personalized advice! There have been a few times I have wished I could just fly you out for a little “what not to wear” therapy in my own closet, but, then I’d have no money for food for my kiddo, let alone new clothes.

  23. If you decide to formally charge, charge for the consulting, not the blog. I’m reviving my blog to (1) generate search terms to sell more of my products, and (2) to promote the people, practices, and products I like. Because I just have to, altho’ it means more eyeball-frying time at the computer. It’s more helpful to think in terms of value, not cash. If we all kicked in our thing to the world, it’d be a better place. (Note, your blog already hosts a Google ad.) Thanks for your good work.

  24. I’m not a minister. I am donating because referring ministers to your blog is such a kind way of dealing with interns with pony tails, ministers with sandals and dirty feet and other distractions to those of us in the pews who notice such things

  25. I don’t have a PayPal account. Are items from your Amazon wish list equally appreciated?

    Also — thank you for AGAIN setting a good example by making your needs known! Too often, we keep them to ourselves, for a myriad of reasons. But by speaking up, we give others the opportunity to give of themselves! And who doesn’t enjoy doing something special for those who are special to us?

  26. Contribution sent – PayPal says 3 – 7 days for you to receive it.

    I hope that you are able to have something that you really want which will remind you that we do value you, dear PB – may not always agree but definately value!

    I’d much prefer to have you over for dinner and you could cuddle my cats, but I’m guessing that USA – UK is just a little bit too far?!

  27. BUT–you’re coming to the UK next summer, correct? Be in touch, as it looks like you could have a lot of home-cooked dinners!

  30. Hi – I always enjoy your posts and the honesty of your blog. I have thought that some of your product endorsements might have been paid, and while I’m interested to hear that they are not, I do think that advertisements would be fine, if you have the energy to pursue them. seems like a lot of work to me, in addition to what you are already doing.
    Here’s a gentle tip for receiving contributions: A few months ago, I did donate $25 through Paypal, simply because I wanted to support your work, and while I was glad to do that, I would have loved to receive a simple form acknowledgment of the gift. Not a gushy, personal thank you, but something to let me know it had gotten to you. My credit card was charged, but I have been curious whether you really got the money. If you begin receiving such contributions regularly, a system of acknowlegement would probably be a routine worth the trouble. Blessings on your work. [Anne, I didn’t get it. This is a worry. Let me see if I can track it down. I don’t know about systems of acknowledgement, I don’t know how to do them and I think this will have to be a thing where people just understand that it’s just me working without any help. I can’t thank everyone who contributes $5 or $10 and write a column as well. I can’t keep up with my e-mails as it is. – PB]

  31. Funny you should mention this — I’ve been thinking for some time, “I’ve gotten more useful information and entertainment value out of this blog than I’ve gotten out of some hard-cover books,” and I thought I’d send about the amount of a hardcover book and was meaning to get around to it.

    So this week I did. Thanks for all you do.

  32. Anne’s note prompted me to tell you that I paypal-ed you on the 25th or 26th. I love this blog, and am glad to support it and you.

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