All over the world, each and every day, people are blogging. They're publishing posts. They're sharing videos and pictures. They're commenting on other blogs. They're making known to the world their lives, their expertise and their experiences.
Blogging was once for the 'geek', but there's no doubt it's now gone mainstream. According to Universal McCann, 184 million people have created a blog, and 77 percent of active internet users read blogs.
Not sure what a blog is? No fear - here's a great 'plain English' guide to blogs by Common Craft:
Blogging has been made easy by the high-quality, free software that's now available for free that enables anyone to very quickly start a blog (see Wordpress, Typepad and Blogger if you're feeling inspired to start your own blog!) If you do, you'll join a broad spectrum of people who blog:
"¢ Social activists blog.
"¢ Millionaire business magnates blog.
"¢ Politicians blog.
"¢ Pop stars [link: blog.
"¢ Tennis players blog.
"¢ Even the White House has a blog!
The Bible College blogosphere
So it comes as no surprise that Bible college students blog. In fact, quite a large number of Moore College students blog. Here's a list of current Moore College student who blog (there's more than appear in this list, but I've only included those who gave their express permission):
"¢ A Salty Life
"¢ Ben Bathgates
"¢ Check 1-2
"¢ Cruciformity
"¢ Dave Miers
"¢ Duck5
"¢ Fish Piper
"¢ irRegular Expressions
"¢ Jason's Exodus
"¢ kt-rae
"¢ Matt Stedman
"¢ Papermind
"¢ Skunk Egg Brick Walnut
"¢ The Ton
"¢ True Lies
"¢ Tubeman Travels
"¢ Will God Keep Gumtrees?
"¢ Without a Shepherd
(Thanks to everyone - and particularly Ben Bathgates and Dave Miers - who helped me compile this list. Michael Jensen has also compiled a list of Moore bloggers at his blog).
Four reasons you should blog
Some people are very skeptical of blogging. Some argue that it's a waste of time, others contend that it's presumptuous to think that people want to hear what you've got to say, others say that blogging is the journalism of the uninformed.
So is it a good idea for Bible college students to blog? I'm not at Bible college. I've never been to Bible college. But from my vantage point, I think there are at least four good reasons for students to blog:
1. Keep in touch with supporters. Many students at college will have supporters in their home towns and home churches who are prayerfully and or financially sustaining them. By blogging semi-regularly, supporters can keep up with what's happening, the trials and joys, and be informed on a more regular basis about how they can be praying. I've tried to get a regular newsletter out for my MTS supporters - it's hard to keep it up! Blogging can make this task more manageable.
2. Keep in touch with non-Christian friends. Going to Bible college (or full-time vocational ministry) is an isolating experience. So much time is spent 'doing ministry' that it can be hard to keep in touch with most people outside of church. This is particularly true of people you may have known prior to starting college, such as ex-colleagues. It might seem strange to send them a newsletter with prayer points, but sending them a link to your blog leaves the ball in their court, to explore what you're doing.
3. Share and discuss what you're learning. Bible college is a great chance to read and think. Writing is a great way of retaining thoughts and articulating what you think. Blogging is a great way of allowing others into your thoughts and reflections - to comment, challenge and encourage.
4. Develop an eye for what's meaningful. This reason isn't mine - it's Abraham Piper's, and over at Desiring God he lists 6 compelling reasons pastors should blog. As Abraham puts it "For good or ill, most committed bloggers live with the constant question in their mind: Is this bloggable? This could become a neurosis, but I'll put a positive spin on it: It nurtures a habit of looking for insight and wisdom and value in every situation, no matter how mundane."
Of course there are lots of pros and cons to blogging (as with most activities in life), and the advantages are closely tied in with why you blog. Some students preferred I didn't post a link to their blog because it's more about what they did on the weekend than any meaningful reflection on college or life - and that's ok!
I'd love to hear from the college students (from Moore and elsewhere) - why do you blog? Is it for other reasons than those listed above? Has it been a healthy exercise (or just an unhelpful time-waster?!).
On a related note.
Lots of pastors blog too. I'm keen to pull together a list of Sydney Anglican pastors who blog. So if you blog, or know of a pastor who does, please add the address for the blog in the comments section below.
