Why I (Still) Blog
Quick update, I have raised about 25% of what I need so far. Will you consider donating to help me stay up and running? If so, please click the Pay Pal Donate button on the side bar. Thanks!
Blogs are like the old sayings about opinions, which are like belly-buttons. Everyone has one. OK, maybe not everyone, but a vast majority of people seem to. Obviously, I like blogs. I read a few of them a day. Many are either focused on theology or technology. Compared to most of the blogs I read, mine is pretty small. Why do I continue in the mix?
Demian nailed it.
I have several reasons, but one of the most important has to deal with the commission God has laid out for us to subdue the earth. I will not get into it too deeply because I believe Demian over at Fallen and Flawed nailed it. You can read his dissertation here. To sum it up for our purposes, we are called to “overwhelm our culture–the world–with a Christ-centered, God-exalting mandate…” (quote taken a smidgen out of context).
I firmly believe I play a role in spreading the Gospel by the means in which God has given me to do so. One is with writing. While I am not the most prolific writer, I do enjoy it and I try hard to do it well and to the glory of Christ.
I think I have a different voice than others.
Once again, I think there are absolutely wonderful blogs out in the world. In no way do I think I am picking up their slack or that other blogs are lacking and I am making up for what they are missing. In truth, I sometimes feel these guys are picking up where I lack. My friend, Jon from Sorting Beans, has an intellect which is far superior to mine. He can define big words and write about deep philosophies I can’t even comprehend. I sometimes feel like Peter to his Paul.
Others have more experience than I. As a growing church planter, I read many blogs about church planting (surprised?). I do not know half what these guys know. I read what they say and try and understand and apply. Most of the church planters out there have already faced what I see looming on the horizon.
What do I really have to offer that I cannot find elsewhere? What makes me feel I am doing anything of any good for the Kingdom of God that has not already been done?
At the least, I am taking up space.
I use Google Analytics to show me how much traffic I get. It may seem vain, but in reality, it helps me understand who I am writing to. I can do this by looking over the key words people search in Google to get to my site. Let me share some of them:
- How pastors are accountable to God
- When your pastor cannot explain his vision
- Why did Thomas Young take his own life?
- What happens during an Acts 29 assessment?
- Are there churches that still Love?
- Christians and Santa Clause
- Is it wrong to talk bad about a pastor?
- Pastors are bullies
- What to do if you are hurt by your pastor
These are just a handful of searches that lead to my site over the past 24 hours. Some of them are pretty deep. If you read a little into the words people are searching, you will see hurt, pain, questions, and an honest attempt to learn. People can end up anywhere via an odd search. What if a person where to get a bad answer to a question about being accountable to God, or about the love shown by the church? What if, instead of my site, they landed on a site promoting gossip about pastors? This could feed into their sin. Instead, my hope is they land here and see Christ glorified and sound doctrine written in an understandable way.My hope is they spend their 15 minutes on my site instead of on porn.
I know I am not the best one out there.
But I do know God has bestowed a gift to me, this website and my ability to write. My prayer is I can continue to do this for God’s glory as long as people continue to visit. My prayer is an echo to Demian’s, that we subdue the Internet in the name of Christ.
Why do you do it?
Why do you have a Facebook, a Twitter, or a blog? Why do you explore the Internet?
-Don-
New Years Panhandleing
Figure I will throw my net wide.
Happy New Year! I took a lot of time off the last week and it felt good. Writing is a hobby of mine, and I hope to do more of it this year. While taking the break felt good, it feels even better to be back. In case you missed it, I had four AMAZING guest posts the week of Christmas (click here to read them). I hope to offer more guest posts this year, at least two e-books, and who knows what else?
In order to continue, I need you.
I never really thought it would come to this, but my current electric bill / broken heater issues has depleted our funds a tad. The problem is, my web hosting bill is due at the end of January. Because of this, I am asking for a little help. Would you consider donating to keep me up and running? I need about $100 to keep it all up and running.
I am NOT tax deductible, and this won’t get you into heaven.
There is really no benefit of donating. Seriously. I have no free gifts. This is not “seed money” that will help you live “your best life now.” You cannot even claim this on your taxes as a write off. I don’t have a sob story to tell you (but I can make one up), and I am not trying to build an orphanage in the Congo. I am just a little short on funds and could use the boost. You would just simply be “helpin’ a brotha out.”
If you wish to donate, here is how:
Click on the Pay Pal button:
