OK So, it's been a few days since I wrote anything here. Thing is I have about six or seven posts in the old "draft" file. I may finish one in a day or two. But right now I would like to share this; A friend of mine recently brought up something on his
blog.He brought up the fact that blogging has become something different than he intended it to be. That he hasn't felt like he could do what he originally wanted to do with His blog. To reflect on his point I'll say this.
When I started my blog it for me was I place I could just lay anything out there. As time has passed to some extent I have become a little more cautious about what I write. I guess I feel like some of the things I say could come back to me, maybe misunderstood and even skewed from what my intent was.
The point is, what does everyone else do? Do you just say what you want on your blog and not worry about it? Have you ever had someone say something to you about your blog and it be someone you least expected?
Taking it one step further - if you read my blog - all three of you - leave me a comment and just say hey. Maybe you could tell me what you think I should talk about here, or what you have enjoyed or not enjoyed. Tell me what you would find most interesting. I am even going to allow anonymous comments from you, just for this post. I pretty much don't usually do that, as I have my own reasoning, but I am just that interested. So hit me with your best shot, inquiring minds want to know...
k2 said...
brotha chris, you know my history, and my writing prowess, or should i say lack of. man, if you don't write what you feel, then you live a lie, in my humble opinion, and in a way i live that lie, too. wow that was a long sentence. i leave some stuff out of my blog, because i am afraid of offending my parents and others in my family. how does that make me look? i don't like it. i wish that i had the ability to write and not worry about the rejection, because it is not me they are rejecting, it would be what i feel about my Savior, and my God.
and with the way i have been writing e-mails of late, this comment is probably going to upset and offend others, too, but oh well. its not the first time and will not be the last.
please know this. i love you as my brother, and always will, no matter what you write. i may not agree with it, but hey!, you don't always agree with me, so there!
take care, bro, and keep peckin'!
jamie riley said...
Chris - I blogged into your place from Mike Cope's blog...
I really enjoyed hearing your heart as I read several of your posts. I appreciate your honesty, and I want you to know that I think it's important to share what God has put on your heart.
There are a lot of people talking in the world today, some are sharing things that have no life to them. It's nice to see and hear someone sharing things that have life and really matter.
If it's up to me, I say keep blogging bro. As for what to write about -- it seems as though God was doing a pretty good job in the posts I read. Just keep listening...
By the way, I thought the pictures of Hayden were great! God has blessed my wife and me with a beautiful little girl - Kendall. She's three and a half yrs. old now. Aren't little girls a gift from God.
I'm praying for you, be blessed!!
Donna G said...
You know I have been through this whole thing off and on since I started blogging. I wish in retrospect that I had not shared my blog address so freely. I measure what I say fearing what others will think. But now when I talk about being down or struggling with something, my "blog" friends "worry" about me and try to help me! Sometimes I just need to vent to be able to work through something, not that I NEED help!
But, this is about you. I enjoy all that you have to say and respect your viewpoints and your struggles.
Grant said...
OR you can just stuff it all, have an 'episode', show up on Oprah. :)
seriously - I don't think a public blog that has known names and faces could ever be an 'intimate place.' At some level, if we are honest, we write with the audience in mind.
A journal - or completely anonymous site - COULD be that intimate place.
I see my blog as a personal place. I'll be cordial, talk openly about my convictions and ideas - maybe even disagree and push.
But a personal prayer journal? Not for me. Too risky and not sure I nor my audience could handle that kind of vulnerability.
Scotty G said...
Hey guy, just happened by through some leads and saw your post.
For me, when I write it out, I'm forced to throughly examine what I'm saying and how that will be read or interpreted by those who read it. As a result, I've been a little more careful about HOW I say things, rather than just what I'm saying.
I'm also guilty of emailing a post to a friend before I post it to get their feel for how I'm coming across.
So, yes, I guess I'm cautious because of my readers, but I'm still me, posting my true feelings.
I don't mean to be critical of anyone, but there's something kinda dark and spooky about having a secret blog or identity. frankly, the first thing I do when I read a blog is check out who it's coming from.
artgyrl said...
I usually talk about what's going on in my life in my blog. The entries mostly have to do with school. I talk about my teachers somewhat, but I don't put anything really offensive or deeply personal. If I do feel the need to express some inner turmoil, I'll be very vague. However, if you paid attention, one could get who or what I was talking about. That's where song lyrics come in handy. :)
I also like to post photos and links to stuff.
So, as far as your blog, I say write whatever you want. I mean, I don't think you should write something about someone that you wouldn't feel comfortable with them knowing, unless you were absolutely sure they would never read it.
jamie riley said...
CL - thanks for visiting my blog as well, feel free to stop in anytime. As I said before, I read several of your posts and I find your writing very encouraging. I think God uses you to bless those around you. I'm praying your family and church family have a great service this Sunday, and a Very Merry Christmas!!!
BYW - Do you take your youth group to Winterfest? Maybe there's a better place to ask that, but this works.
Malia said...
I'm gonna come back and post a real comment later, right now I've procrastinated too long and don't have time to properly share my thougths on this. Just know, you're not alone!
Malia said...
Ok, I'm back. I read through the other comments and I really think that all of us who blog must decide for ourselves what we will reveal and not reveal, what we will say and not say. We all write with an audience in mind. For the most part, we know who is reading our blog. Partially because of the comments that are left and partially because we have been told by people who read but choose not to comment. It seems that of late I've seen this sort of questioning about blogging coming around in the blogs that I read. Some are just plain tired of it, others are questioning it's purpose and worth.
Like Grant said, only a private journal or completely anonymous blogspot could free you to say whatever you want to. If this sort of venue works for you, then stay with it. If it doesn't then find something that does. I know someone who has two blogs. One is their "public" blog that family and friends know about and the other is an anonymous blog of sorts that only certain people were clued into since this person had things they wanted/needed to put out there but knew that there would be those who wouldn't approve or understand.
So there are options my friend. I hope you keep this site going. I like the questions you put out there, the things that you're thinking about. I like the pictures of Hayden and the posts about the cute things she does. I like the blog community in general. I get to keep up with friends and family that I don't see on a regular basis and I get to engage in a lot more dialogue with people (mainly church people) that I otherwise would not get a chance to do.
I don't know if this is at all helpful but that's my 2 cents worth (well maybe more, it was kind of long!)
Merry Christmas!
Jason Retherford said...
CL,
I know this is a little late, and I apologize for waiting so long. I agree with what Malia wrote about each blogger deciding what to post and what not to post. However, you know brother, that there are times that we are wounded and we need a place to vent and think through some things. I don't know if a web log is one such place.
I know you are, and have been through a lot in your ministry setting, and I do wish you well and many more years of ministry wherever the Lord would lead you and your family to.
I know that with the bloggers who occassionaly visit my blog, and from reading the thoughts of others, this blog world certainly has provided a sense of community that I fear many of us aren't able to yet enjoy in our churches.
So, with out sounding to cliche, hang in there. Keep writing, and if you need to dump on someone, brother, shoot me an e-mail.
Blessings, and Happy New Year!
JD said...
Sometime in your nearly month-long haitus from posting, I stopped checking every day ... and of course my days are full of stuff I can never predict ... but I'd rather read something that's on your mind anyday than some carefully thought-out treatise.
When did it become wrong to wonder about things?
I wonder. oops.
Anyway... keep it real ... and at the same time ... do no harm to thyself.
Love you, Chris!
