Tag: blog

how then shall we blog?

It seems that I’m reading more and more thoughts from followers of Christ (and maybe those who aren’t) who are looking at the proper etiquette and attitude we should have towards blogging.

Brian McLaren said in a recent interview:

It’s way easier to talk than to actually do, and the people I respect the most spend less and less time critiquing and more and more time serving, loving, showing hospitality, listening, visiting, solving, caring, worshiping, praying, and so on.

I know for myself, I hope my blog shares more good than bad. I hope I’m writing for the common good rather than casting judgment or slinging arrows from afar. I hope my writing is amusing for some and causes others to think. I hope that the stories and thoughts I share preach good news to the poor, free the prisoners, give sight to the blind, release oppression and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. I know this isn’t a hard and fast creed of mine. I don’t double check what I write by these standards (probably even less so when it comes to politics) but I hope that some of these thoughts/standards/ideas become more fast and true when it comes to what I share here on my blog.

I started my blog back in 2005 originally as a way to share some of my thoughts/columns/writings I had after the death of my sister. The blog then developed into a cross between a place to share my weekly newspaper column with friends and family as well as a “link dump” in which I shared things I came across that I might have formerly e-mailed to a mass group in my address book (wish more people would take that route). Of course like all things, it’s evolved from that somewhat over the last 3 years.

It’s still a link dump at times (especially thanks to the automatic delicious link posts), its still commentary on how I see life and its a place where from time to time I share what’s going on in my world (although Twitter and Flickr have become the primary aggregates for that information.

Anyways….

I hope that this blog does more to show the good in people and ideas rather than the bad. I hope it holds to a generous orthodoxy. And I hope you still enjoy it regardless and you often walk away seeing things in a different light.

On that note, Tall Skinny Kiwi shares a poem he wrote back in 2005. (still trying to get back in touch with him for a podcast interview).

how shall we then blog?

with smile we publish glad tidings daily
with giggle we reveal our mundane humanity
with sigh we mirror the tragedies of broken people
with shout we send healing words through a keyboard
with bitten lip we offer more cheek to those who despise us
with double-take we acknowledge the publisher on the screen
with mumbling we paint mysteries with strange palette
with softened voice we offer answer from ourselves
with whisper we speak beyond ourselves
with twinkle we welcome past friends

to reawaken childhood dreams
to publish our journeys
to record our stories
to be noticed
to be heard
to point to
others
who
must
be heard also.

what standards do you try to uphold when blogging? what attitudes do you try to follow? what is challenging about it for you?

related ::
duncan mcfadzean :: blogging is not the solution
jesus manifesto :: brian mclaren – a new kind of ancient
tall skinny kiwi :: how then shall we blog
SSL :: first blog post
my links on delicious
my micro-blogging on twitter
my photos on flickr

Going-ons

Well we’re home resting today. Laurie gave us a bit of a scare yesterday after she passed out at the doctor’s office and fell, hitting her head in the process.

We spent most of yesterday in the ER at Baylor Dallas. We started out waiting and waiting, had an MRI, waited, waited and waited. Then she had a CT scan, a few X-rays and then another CT scan. We finally got some clear results nearly 12 hours after she was admitted.

The MRI showed a possible micro fracture in her t-spine, so that’s what led to the additional CT scans and X-Rays. The additional tests didn’t seem to back that idea up so they finally released her and told her to take it easy the next couple days and see a doctor for a followup. I’m guessing its more of a neck and upper back sprain than anything else.

So today she’s resting/napping and I’m at home with her to help out however and whenever I can. Here’s to hoping the pain goes away soon and/or the pain pills start kicking in better… at least she’s no longer wearing that C-Collar they had her in all day yesterday.

In the meantime…

Stranger in a Strange Land is getting a massage today.

You may see some funny things if you visit the site throughout the day. We hope to be back refreshed and better than ever by the end of the day. Thanks for your patience.

Speaking of anniversaries

My Google Calendar reminded me of something today.

3 years ago today I officially started my blogging adventure.
Stranger in a Strange Land 1.0.

Although back then, it was hosted elsewhere and looked a good deal different (I’m not sure what happened to the old header).

You may notice there are posts older than April 30, 2005 – have no fear – those were added after I started my blog so I could have some record of the columns I wrote for the Belton Journal and Harker Heights Evening Star. You might also find an old Xanga account out there that I tried briefly and I even tried building my own “blog” from scratch but that was taken down ages ago – after I found out all about CMS.

It’s been a great ride so far. The feedback has been great – well most of it :-).

Through writing my blog and reading others I’ve met some great friends like Thomas. I’ve connected with old friends like Chad. I’ve gotten a better insight into the lives of some very close friends. And I’ve even gained a better insight and understanding of my wife.

And hopefully you’ve each learned something more about me as well. Hopefully you’ve been able to see more of what makes me me. While my posts may not always be personal in nature – they are personal to me. They are things that make me think, influence me and challenge me.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the ride so far and hope you continue reading. Thanks!

McLaren talks Homebrewed Christianity

My buddy Chad and his friend Tripp interviewed Brian McLaren this past week for their Homebrewed Christianity podcast.

I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet but Chad promises it’s great. It’s already 9:19 tonight and I’m debating on downloading it and listening to it before heading to bed or waiting and listening to it on the bus tomorrow.

Here’s the quote Chad pulled out for his blog:

“You know, if people want to say that the gospel of sin management is easy and hopeful, I have to ask myself how deeply they’ve thought about it, because what it really ends up doing is making most of life for most people pretty much meaningless, and yet, to me, the gospel of the kingdom then brings meaning and value into every dimension of life, and it brings value to all people’s lives as well. So, I would say, the good news is 10,000 times better than I used to believe.”

You can listen here or subscribe via iTunes.

UPDATE: I’m listening to the podcast now – this quote grabbed my attention (around 11:30 in the podcast):

I would never want to say this in a harsh way, but in a true way the gospel for an awful lot of people has become the ultimate spiritual commodity and it’s a consumer product. And an awful lot of what we call Christian activity is the marketing of that product and the winning of new customers so that they can remain satisfied customers for life. When you contrast that with the idea of being invited to join God in the healing and on going development and growth and fertility and goodness of the world — the difference is staggering.

My boy is growing up

Chad Crawford, who was “my son” one year for UMHB’s Welcome Week is being featured on the Beatitudes Society.

When we got to the summit, we could not believe what we saw there—an expansive panoramic view of the northern part of San Francisco Bay and an exquisite lodge where we could sit and catch our breaths. They even poured us water out of wine bottles with fancy green leaves inside! I knew I wasn’t in Texas anymore. It was a far cry from the extreme poverty we saw everyday on the streets of San Francisco—but geographically only a few miles away. I believe that there are people in my generation who want everyone to enjoy a better quality of life, who want to work to close the gap between the wealthy and the poor, who want to be better stewards of God’s creation. We believe that all of these visions are connected. Sometimes we have to take paths that haven’t been made yet, and sometimes we find roads that have been paved by those who have already been at it for decades, creating the society that my generation also wants.

Read his full article
He also has an ongoing blog.