L.L. Barkat tagged me with an interesting "meme" that she created. The task is to write "Five Ways Blogging Has Changed My Life."
1. Blogging has become a discipline that has helped me sharpen my thoughts and clarify my thinking. This blog exists to provide encouragement to its readers from the perspective of a Christ-follower. These posts must necessarily be brief which forces me to really think through what I choose to post.
2. Blogging has given me the opportunity to learn from some very good bloggers. I have been blessed immensely by reading Scot McKnight’s blog. His tone, manner, and approach to various issues has greatly impacted me. There are other very fine bloggers who I am also encouraged by.
3. Blogging has allowed me the opportunity to interact with numerous people who I otherwise would have no contact with. I thought about listing some of these people but I am afraid that I might leave someone out. Many of these people are bloggers themselves. Others are good people who have reading this blog for several years.
4. Blogging has allowed me the opportunity to hear numerous stories. Since the beginning of this blog, I have received numerous e-mails from a variety of people asking questions, sharing their story, and communicating in some way the status of their lives. I feel honored that people would entrust me with concerns that are so important and in some cases, so deeply personal.
5. Blogging has been a discipline which helped me pay attention to what God has done in history (as recorded in Scripture) and what he has done and is doing in my life. The discipline of blogging has helped to sharpen my awareness of the work of God that is right in front of me in ordinary life.
At the end of this post, I will tag a few people to hopefully participate.
Here are the rules (L.L. Barkat)
1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post (I’m
not so much interested in generating links, but rather in tracking the
meme so I can perhaps do a summary post later on that looks at patterns
and interesting discoveries.)
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them
Perhaps the following people may want to consider being a part of this:
Now, that’s two of us who put Scot as a major point. A testament to his influence!I liked change 5, which is like saying blogging is a spiritual discipline. Maybe someday when Calhoun revises her Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, we shall see blogging as a new category! : )Great to read how blogging has influenced your life.
L.L., I’m glad you proposed doing this. It was good for me to think through this. I look forward to reading your post after reflecting on the various posts that others are writing in response to your meme.
I will certainly leave my comments that of being vage; although reading up top #2, #4, and #5. All creatively working to refine my private life with Christ. Also, through public conversations from ohters who need and desire authentic communications from all different aspects and core beliefs in their personal lives. Example: a fellow co-worker of mine at a bank-as well as seminary priest he is. We gigle are way through daily of discussing such disciplines, discernments, expectations from God of othernesses…and more. Blogging in my opinion can open doors who have abandoned the church–as well to be a so called witness to the un-churched-desiring for more pruedent forthright knowledge..love too-God style! At it’s best!!
Have linked to you and encouraged comments on my blog Conversations@Intersections. My readership is small but eclectic and smart. We’ll see if they comment or just email me.
My responses are up! My thoughts are now posted and a bit wordy, but the process was good for me. I think I could have approached it several different ways. I’ve learned so much about fountain pens, good reads, snorkeling sites, etc from bloggers I read. I’ve prepped for Bible studies through blogs, your included! My thinking has been challenged as much by reading those I don’t agree with as by those who take me deeper.My responses are more personal and introspective, but hopefully not too tedious for those who don’t know me. Thanks for the passing on the challenge.
Thanks for the shout out. For me, blogging helps me dump thoughts out that would clog my preaching on Sunday. It lets me get them out of my head in a non-distracting way.
Please Ms Jill Shaw may u get in touch with me. You were my Bible Knowledge Teacher at Chiredzi Christian Secondary in Chiredzi between 1983-5
Please, please get in touch. I am with the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Stellenbosch, Cape Town nSouth Africa.
May God Bless