Friday, October 21, 2005
Surveying The Reaction To GodBlogCon
For the most part, reaction to GodBlogCon, at least from those that bothered to show up, has been positive. There have been some pretty ugly negatives (which for some reason this story put me in mind of) but largely it has been well received.
I think my most favorite comments; howver, have come from Tod Bolsinger
But strength lies not in isolation; it lies in numbers -- in genuine community. Consider, politically a blog swarm is what changes things. Not even Glenn Reynolds or Hugh Hewitt can really sway things on their own -- but if we all join in a chorus, then look out world.
God, it seems understands this. He metaphorically designed a plan for it. I Corintihians 12-14, Romans 12 - Ephesians 4, God has designed us to work together to make a whole, we are not designed to stand alone.
The power of the Christian blogosphere lies not in our individual efforts. It does not lie in "the best blogs getting the most traffic," It lies in us learning how, as body of bloggers, to function effectively together.
I firmly believe that Jesus and the apostles got the amazing responses they did becasue they were attractive. I don't mean good-looking, I mean there was something about them that attracted people. What was it?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Can those things be demonstrated in a vacuum? NO! -- they are demonstrated in relationship. No blog can be attractive in this fashion, but blogs together can be.
It does not make any difference what you blog about (within reason) but it makes a huge difference how you blog, and with whom.
Form an alliance or community of bloggers today. Maybe you want to do one on topical lines -- great, but do one geographically too. Just so you can get togther with them periodically.
Everytime you sit down to blog, ask God to demonstrate that list of characteristics above in what you write. Link generously.
Let's be the people of God when we blog.
BTW -- Get your mp3's of various sessions here.
I think my most favorite comments; howver, have come from Tod Bolsinger
What was reinforced for me at the conference and reiterated by suggestions like Bill Rice's is that genuine Christian community, discipleship and cultural transformation cannot be brought about through any technical medium if the commitment to Christian community, discipleship, and transformation are not the "hardware" that is at the core of all we do.and Another Think (HT: Mere Orthodoxy)
To be effective evangelists, however, GodBloggers must to be welcoming, open and authentic, and committed to building relationships with those who drop by.Blogging is by nature a solitary activity. Many of us, I fear, are drawn to it because it creates a sense of community without the risks of genuine intimacy. The anonymous, or near-anonymous, nature of it also allows us to pretend to be something other than we really are.
But strength lies not in isolation; it lies in numbers -- in genuine community. Consider, politically a blog swarm is what changes things. Not even Glenn Reynolds or Hugh Hewitt can really sway things on their own -- but if we all join in a chorus, then look out world.
God, it seems understands this. He metaphorically designed a plan for it. I Corintihians 12-14, Romans 12 - Ephesians 4, God has designed us to work together to make a whole, we are not designed to stand alone.
The power of the Christian blogosphere lies not in our individual efforts. It does not lie in "the best blogs getting the most traffic," It lies in us learning how, as body of bloggers, to function effectively together.
I firmly believe that Jesus and the apostles got the amazing responses they did becasue they were attractive. I don't mean good-looking, I mean there was something about them that attracted people. What was it?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Can those things be demonstrated in a vacuum? NO! -- they are demonstrated in relationship. No blog can be attractive in this fashion, but blogs together can be.
It does not make any difference what you blog about (within reason) but it makes a huge difference how you blog, and with whom.
Form an alliance or community of bloggers today. Maybe you want to do one on topical lines -- great, but do one geographically too. Just so you can get togther with them periodically.
Everytime you sit down to blog, ask God to demonstrate that list of characteristics above in what you write. Link generously.
Let's be the people of God when we blog.
BTW -- Get your mp3's of various sessions here.
