If Paul Had A blog Part 3
I have been thinking again about Paul and that blog again (see part 2 here). And this time, I wanted to highlight that although Paul didnt have a blog with which to disperse his letters, the letters that he wrote do provide some really neat frameworks for making a successful blog towards your ministrial areas. Since this is in part an applications exercise, I will have to lay down some tools of the trade.
First off, since this is Mobile Ministry Magazine, the tools have to be mobile. Either a smartphone-type PDA (such as a Treo 650 or Audiovox SMT 5600) or a combination of PDA and phone (in my case I use the palmOne Tungsten T5 and a Sony Ericcson T616 - they connect using Bluetooth).
Once you have your means of getting online established, you will need a program to facillitate the matter. From your desktop, you can set up a blog via a service such as Blogger.com or Typepad.com. This is probably the most fun step as you will want to design a blog that will be easily updatable and will be easily remembered in the minds of your visitors.
On your PDA, you will want to look at a program called Mo:Blog (or similar blogging tool). This program will enable you to post to your blog from your PDA. Using the manual, you can setup Mo:Blog (or whatever you are using), to create the posts that you will be able to upload to your device.
Ok, now that you have the tools, here are the rules. The EFF Legal Guide for Bloggers is the basis for the rules that you will be needing to govern your posting online. And yes, according to scripture, one must obey the law of the land (read this excellent post at Holy Culture Radio that explains that point). Knowing the rules will keep you from doing something that would get you fired, or sued. Understand that blogging is new, and blogger's rights are still being hashed out. No need going into a new arena and then making God look off.
Now for the frame work. And though this might not be every post, many of your posts will have this kind of format:
Greeting
Exhortation to holiness
Identification of a problem
Explaination of solution
References to the Word
Exhortation to holiness repeated
Closing
While this will not be all of your posts, many times when you are wanting to address your audience on particular issues of scripture or church function, this will be a format that will be easily used to speak and be received.
The other thing to remember is that if you are posting from a mobile device, and you do not have a keyboard, you may not want to write out a 20minute sermon. It is best to get in and get out. That way you don't tire yourself in making solid points.
A final and important feature (I believe) in any blog posting, is to have the ability for people to leave comments. When people are able to leave comments, they feel more connected to what it is that you are writing and become more connected to the application of the point that you are trying to make.
So yes, it is possible to be a Paul online. And maybe Paul himself would have done the same thing. The key is making sure that one covers the bases and stays sound in scripture. From there, the tools are there to make things happen for the kingdom.
(I will edit the links in later, got to get back to work)
EDIT: Links have now been added to this post to help all who are wondering about the different products mentioned here.
EDIT 2: Added scripture reference to Joshua and Achan.
First off, since this is Mobile Ministry Magazine, the tools have to be mobile. Either a smartphone-type PDA (such as a Treo 650 or Audiovox SMT 5600) or a combination of PDA and phone (in my case I use the palmOne Tungsten T5 and a Sony Ericcson T616 - they connect using Bluetooth).
Once you have your means of getting online established, you will need a program to facillitate the matter. From your desktop, you can set up a blog via a service such as Blogger.com or Typepad.com. This is probably the most fun step as you will want to design a blog that will be easily updatable and will be easily remembered in the minds of your visitors.
On your PDA, you will want to look at a program called Mo:Blog (or similar blogging tool). This program will enable you to post to your blog from your PDA. Using the manual, you can setup Mo:Blog (or whatever you are using), to create the posts that you will be able to upload to your device.
Ok, now that you have the tools, here are the rules. The EFF Legal Guide for Bloggers is the basis for the rules that you will be needing to govern your posting online. And yes, according to scripture, one must obey the law of the land (read this excellent post at Holy Culture Radio that explains that point). Knowing the rules will keep you from doing something that would get you fired, or sued. Understand that blogging is new, and blogger's rights are still being hashed out. No need going into a new arena and then making God look off.
Now for the frame work. And though this might not be every post, many of your posts will have this kind of format:
Greeting
Exhortation to holiness
Identification of a problem
Explaination of solution
References to the Word
Exhortation to holiness repeated
Closing
While this will not be all of your posts, many times when you are wanting to address your audience on particular issues of scripture or church function, this will be a format that will be easily used to speak and be received.
The other thing to remember is that if you are posting from a mobile device, and you do not have a keyboard, you may not want to write out a 20minute sermon. It is best to get in and get out. That way you don't tire yourself in making solid points.
A final and important feature (I believe) in any blog posting, is to have the ability for people to leave comments. When people are able to leave comments, they feel more connected to what it is that you are writing and become more connected to the application of the point that you are trying to make.
So yes, it is possible to be a Paul online. And maybe Paul himself would have done the same thing. The key is making sure that one covers the bases and stays sound in scripture. From there, the tools are there to make things happen for the kingdom.
(I will edit the links in later, got to get back to work)
EDIT: Links have now been added to this post to help all who are wondering about the different products mentioned here.
EDIT 2: Added scripture reference to Joshua and Achan.
posted by Antoine @ 6/15/2005 11:01:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Very interesting thoughts about blogging as a Christian. I hadn't thought about using Paul's letter (epistle) writing as a guide, but it's a neat idea.
I think that the short post idea is good, even if not mobile. But, believe me, it's hard to really explain and talk about something from multiple angles and do it briefly. Look at typical sermons, like Spurgeon's, for example. Simple points, but many pages long. You'd never be able to type that on a Treo650 keyboard.
I look forward to your continued thoughts on Christian blogging, and what sort of blogs would reach various people with the message of Christ.
My thoughts are that there are many sermons available in print and audio. There is always scripture and daily devotionals also. And some of those are really, really good.
So what can we offer?
My answer would be that format is less important than heart, and letting God's Spirit move you as the writer. We only bear fruit when we are in Him. Only work done by His Spirit through us really lasts. It's not much different than preaching... you have to have that "unction" from above, so it can touch the hearts of the reader and draw them to God.
Ultimately, it's when people see Jesus in who we are and what we do that they are changed and hunger for more. But being so imperfect and falling so short of His glory, it is quite intimidating. Yet, somehow, God has used regular people with a heart for Him all though history. His Word goes forth and it is fruitful. People hunger for God when they get a glimpse of who He is. We just need to find out how to reveal a little bit of who He is so people can find Him. How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news!
Thanks for a great mobile ministry blog that really gets us thinking!
Hey BobR;
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
You make an exccellent point about it being hard to explain and talk about things deep, as blogs are more or less quickie shots of speaking. If you will, that was more along the lines that I was thinking about. I dont know that someone would want to read a sermonette as a blog posting. But the in idea that small ideas lead to the big ones preached, that would make blogs an excellent place to bring up those short ideas.
Now you have me thinking again. I think Paul and that Blog will end up being a mainstay here at MMM. :)
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