As various conversations exploded  in the blog-world, it created and national and international network. Blogging became a key tool and a legitimate community builder. As we pushed the envelope of theology, church, missional thinking and culture, many of us forogt that their was still an old world lurking, reading and disagreeing. I’ve had friends lose their jobs because of theological information they discussed on their blog, blogging was no longer safe. 

Bloggers had to grow up and think about the content they posted. If you wanted to blog you knew you would be held accountable. So blogging became more official and our thoughts had to be more detailed and succinct. Christian bloggers had to learn how to write, discuss, debate and still have a sense of humility in the process. 

Now the blog world is older, more mature and for the most part normal in Christian circles. When I meet someone for the first time I would much rather have their blog URL then their cell number. Its not like we’re going to call each other. We really do life online through Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Blogs. 

But there is a downside to blogging; it can become an addiction. I hear bloggers all the time communicate how they need a break from blogging but they are scared they will lose readers. Many bloggers are fascinated with their technorati rank. It’s frustrating to see bloggers who write lame one-sentence posts to create comments and stats. How do we continue to blog but not lose authenticity in the process? 

Many bloggers put a lot of time and effort into their blog. They blog with a sense of purpose. They want their bog to do well and to be read by many. I do care about my readership, I don’t want to waste time blogging if no one is going to read my posts. Also, I do know Simply Missional has created a space for friendship, collaboration, networking and mission. I feel like this blog has been an encouragement for the most part.  

Like all things we just have to be careful as we blog. We can’t allow our blogs to control us, we can’t allow blogging to create a culture that is not healthy, we can’t become so fixiated with our popularity that we lose a sense of health and balance. 

So blog and blog well…But please keep it authentic and balanced.

If you know I already read your blog but would like to have others read feel free to add your blog. 

Thanks.

So I just installed a new commenting system called Intense Debate. So here is what I need from you. Can you leave me a quick comment. Let me know what city you live in and what you do for a living. This will help me learn this commenting system. 

Thanks

I found a free wordpress theme and my friend John, from the Strange Idea Labs did all the coding and whatever web guru’s do. If you need some design work give him a call. He will hook you up.

I love the design, its simple but still has a creative spark. I’m excited to also be able to add all the various plugins that I could not add with wordpress.com.

I still want to do some tweaks and I also have a few ideas I’m working on.

Happy blogging!!!

Here is what I do know. I represent the majority of church planters/missional thinkers. Therefore I’ve been able to connect with folks all across the globe. Of course I do consider myself something like blog pimp as I link to interesting stories like Driscoll/Bell controversy etc. I’ve gotten 4000 hits off that one link alone.

I have no strategy when it comes to blogging. I think-I blog-I regret-and I rarely blog for more then 3-5 minutes for any given post)

Therefore my blog is very random at best. But I have lot’s of fun and I love looking back over previous posts and laughing at myself and also seeing some cool things God has done.

Now I wish my friends who write and think better then me (like KN & SM & JC) would actually blog more. Or my other friend who leads worship at mega-churches and has worship albums that rock and lead at passion conferences like (JDA) would stop blogging about travel trips to random places 30 times a year and add some real legit content to their blog because all these guys are better then me.

I think I just digressed???

Technorati: 126,00

Blog Stats

Total Views: 42,543

Best Day Ever: 391

Views today: 225

Totals

Posts: 607

Comments: 816

Categories: 110

Tags: 212

Anyhow, for you other creepy bloggers who are highly seeking your next Technorati breakthrough do all of us a favor and stop pimping your blog to total strangers. Please try and build some sort of friendship and reader loyalty before you send the random email that goes like this:

“Hey I read your blog today, cool stuff…I have a blog also, here is the address: http://creepyblogger.wordpress.com. Do you mind linking me to your blog, that would be great.”

What do you say to that?

Of course for those of you who for some reason read my blog and deal with the 4th grade grammar and crappy spelling let me say a big “thanks” to all of you. If your interested in a friendship and you want me to add you to my blogroll I would gladly do that, just let me know.

I RSS most of my readers so I can keep up with their story, pray for them, root for them and maybe someday we will meet and be able to do cool things for God and our world or at least “virtually” encourage each others journey. These are the folks that go on the blogroll which I will update in the next week or two.

I would hate to see the emails that the big boy bloggers get like (Carlos, Swerve & TSK )

Again thanks for reading and from now on I can refer to this post when the creepy blogger emails come into the inbox

Of course whenever I think I’m wasting my time. I will get an email or a comment of encouragement.

This past week I got a couple of those. Some from other pastor friends who told me how much they “needed” to hear a certain post.

I also received an email from some other “young” dudes who are considering church planting. They both told me that reading this blog and encouraged them to plant a church. ( Not sure why ) These cats are strangers and for some reason they found inspiration in my chaos, failures and poor grammar
Therefore I’m making a greater commitment to take this blog to the next level and consider it apart of my “job description.”

So starting on Monday I will work through a series of post on creativity and how to keep the creative juices flowing.

I added a new “header” graphic. (Mad props to Scotty for sending me a hi-res “love wins” graphic.)

I updated my reading list. Truthfully I haven’t been reading a lot for some reason. Need to change that.

I also added “Vista bloggers” to the blogroll.

I always struggle with having too much information. But I think I have a good balance.

Also, today in Austin was just perfect. Simply amazing day. Now if I could just stop coughing.