Report from the Ministry Fair

Ministry Fair, 2006

R U Blogging w/ me Jesus?

We met at the Ministry Fair for the Diocese of LA on Saturday, March 26th. We discussed blogs asking three questions: Why Blog? How to Blog? What to Blog?

Why BLOG?

An important part of being a Christian is participating in the conversation. Not all of us are called upon to preach. We don't all have that spiritual gift. But all of us are called to speak, to discuss what we have found to be true, what we have experienced and what we believe to be right. Fortunately, we don't have to stand on a street corner with a Bible in our hand. Sometimes these conversations are in the privacy of our homes, on the telephone or maybe even at the side of a friend who is having a rough time and needs reassurance. Another way we participate in this conversation, given the technology at hand can be by blogging. Blogging is like sending a letter that many people will read or writing an editorial that will be available for those who want to turn to it.

Larry and I thought it would be valuable to teach church people how to blog because some of them might have spiritual gifts that equip them to speak to other Christians or to people who have yet to meet the Jesus we know and love. We have also become very aware that there are many voices, many blogs, that do not reflect the compassionate, inclusive Jesus we Episcopalians know and love.

There are lots of religious blogs and even some Episcopalian blogs. Larry and I shared some of these for folks to take a look at. Beware: Blogging (and the reading of blogs) is neither for the faint of heart nor for those who believe that everything in print is true. Some of these blogs are angry and far from compassionate and loving. We need to know what people are saying who claim Christ as their leader. And we need to learn the difference between those who love God with all their heart and seek to love their neighbors as themselves and those who are angry, divisive and seek to create fear and separation. And those of us who can write have a responsibility to write about the God we know and love who sent Jesus to model for us the best possible way.

Here are some blogs to take a look at:

The Alliance for Moderate, Liberal and Progressive Blogs

SALTY VICAR: http://saltyvicar.typepad.com/
An Anglican Vicar in contemporary Babylon reflects upon politics, theology and salsa.

Best Spiritual Blogs
Beliefnet's picks for the coolest, most interesting faith-based weblogs.

Other Blogs to look at:

Blogs4God

AKMA: www.akma.disseminary.org

Anglicans Online: www.Anglicansonline.org

Louie Crew: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/%7elcrew/rel.html

Every voice network: http://www.everyvoice.net/

Preludium: http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/

Salty Vicar: http://saltyvicar.typepad.com/

Titusonenine: http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/

David Virtue: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/index.php

Brad Drell: http://descant.classicalanglican.net

Stand Firm: http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/index

How to BLOG? www.blogger.com

The easiest way to start a blog is to go to www.blogger.com and follow the simple three steps to get your blog up and running. It is not that difficult. The process can be frustrating for first-time bloggers, but a little persistance and courage will get your blog up and running in no time. If you publish your blog and don't want to continue, you can simply go to the settings page and click the blule "Delete This Blog" button at the bottom of the page.

What to BLOG?

When you remember that blogging is writing, just writing, you might have an easier time getting started. Writing teachers tell us to think about our audience. Who are we writing to? Who is in the conversation? What do we feel passionate about? Feeling passionate doesn't mean we are emotionally caught up. In fact, being emotionally attached is often the enemy of communication.

Larry and I have spoken several times about what we would like to see. We would like to see Episcopalians who are passionately committed to the Episcopal Church and the path of loving/serving the marginalized, the outcast and the disenfranchised. We would like to see bloggers from the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles who write about how their lives are affected by their experience with Jesus and the church. We would like to see the conversation deepened by people who read and reflect on the gospel message of forgiveness, compassion and love. We are willing to help get people started.

So what can you Blog about: your prayers, your preaching (even if you are not a preacher), your thoughts, your struggles and your everyday considerations about life as you lead it.

So the answer to the question: R U Blogging w/ me Jesus? is YES, if you want him to!