Reflecting on Fifty Posts

A couple months ago I kicked off this whole blogging thing and this marks the 50th post. Things have gone well so far, though post frequency shifts from time to time as things get busy.

Fifty posts is not anything to pat myself on the back for. However, it provides a good excuse for evaluation on whether this blog is serving the purpose I started it for and what should be changed.

So, is this blog serving the purposes I started it for?

Well, one of the main purposes was to help me think through what I was reading. It has definitely been helpful in this regard. Whether books, blogs or Scripture, when I write about something I've read its helpful in making me retain and think through ideas.

The focus for the reading I was blogging was the Puritan Challenge. I've realized that it was a bit daunting based upon other reading I was doing for myself and small group, so I've phased that out. I hope to tackle some of the books individually at a bit of a slower pace. My reading in general has slowed down due to a busy schedule in many areas of my life. I'm definitely working to try and address this and once I do I'll be blogging more about books again.

All in all, the blog has been very helpful for me, but I'd like to try and maintain a more regular schedule. Also, I'm eager to figure out how I can make it helpful for me and keep it useful for anyone who reads along or stumbles upon it.

Second, what can be improved?

I know I struggle with brevity at times, but I've been trying to get better and I spend time reducing my posts. It's certainly helping me to be a better writer by using less words to convey more meaning.

I also know that my posts might not always be directed to someone reading along. Sometimes its just a good place to write out some thoughts or a note (almost like a journal) that I might want to easily access later. Not that I'm afraid that people will read it, but occasionally I don't write with others in mind which may be apparent in how I write. As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to write more regularly which means reading things I can write about and taking advantage of writing and scheduling posts ahead of time if necessary.

Any thoughts on how I can improve? Has anything in particular served you? Anything you would like to see more of? Feel free to sound off in the comments. Thanks.

Blazing Blogging Tips

If you are a Christian blogger, you might want to head over to The Blazing Center and check out Stephen's post on some common mistakes and issues that he has encountered after a year of blogging.

Here's a quick list:

• Writing Without Doing
• Writing Without Thinking
• Writing Arrogantly
• Writing Independently
• Writing for Glory

I know that I can struggle particularly with writing for my own glory and wanting to look good and it is easy for me to take an arrogant tone when trying to speak truth. I should be striving to point people to Christ instead of myself and seeking to humbly present the truth in a way that serves and cares for others.

I definitely agree with his points that we need to be accountable to others. I'm glad there are a few trusted friends who read this blog and will call me out on anything bizarre or inappropriate that I say. Also, I'm very grateful for the reminder that I must be a doer of what I am writing, not just someone who is declaring it on my blog acting like I have everything in order. Actually, most of the time I am writing in areas where I am not strong and I am trying to make my weakness clear and apply truth to my own life.

Any areas where you can see your blogging falling into one of these traps? Also, can you see how these principles apply to other areas of your life, like your conversations with others around you?

HT: The Blazing Center

Busy, Busy

I haven't abandoned the blog, I'm just entering the perfect storm of business for the next month or so, particularly this week. School is getting closer to finishing up, but there is still plenty of work every week. We are in the midst of a big coding push at work that has me coming in early and leaving later. I'm on call this week. I've got community group tonight (which is very helpful). My friend Justin is coming to visit this weekend. Not to mention the week to week things I'm involved with at church and the normal day to day life responsibilities.

So, things could potentially be a little slow here for a week or so. But I hope to be back to posting regularly sometime soon. I'll certainly have some things to say about New Attitude.

For now, use the time you were reading my blog to catch up on some reading of your own. If you are anything like me, I'm sure there are plenty of books you have lying around that you've been meaning to read.

Better Blogging

Justin Taylor has a helpful guest post from Abraham Piper, who writes on the 22 Words and Desiring God blogs. Abraham goes through a list of points to help Christian bloggers improve their blogging.

I particularly appreciated his encouragement to strive to write well and make ideas clearly understood and well-thought out. Also, he gives an important reminder that the point of a blog should not be to constantly be contentious and that we should be confident in what we believe while still being willing to discuss and truly consider new information in the pursuit of a better understanding.

There are some great gems here for those who are interested in blogging.

HT: Justin Taylor

Blogging for the Glory of God

With so many friends starting blogs recently and the way the Internet has become a primary source of information for so many lives, I recently found these articles that are helpful in challenging both my blogging and my reading of blogs. I encourage you to read them, especially the Bob Kauflin article, if you blog or read blogs regularly.

• Blogging to Worship God - Bob Kauflin


• All About Blogging - Tim Challies


• Blog Responsibly - Suzanne Hadley

Are there any ways you see that your blogging could be changed glorify God more? Or perhaps areas where you are tempted to use your blog to draw attention to yourself rather than God?