After blogging for nearly a decade now I’ve encountered pretty much every type of motivation for blogging imaginable.
Many people blog because they are interested in making a few greenbacks, many more blog because they are particularly passionate about something, someone, some idea and/or cause. Some blog just for fun while other’s blog because “they can”.
Businesses blog because it’s a marketing and public relations channel (but ultimately they do it for the green) and many more do it for online reputation management, control, and (perhaps) manipulation.
This is where the Christian has a unique opportunity to provide a new model for a new kind of motivation: Connection.
Sure, we’re passionate people passionately interested in our Savior Jesus Christ, but we have an opportunity to put our foot down and tell the blogosphere that there is a new motivation for blogging in town, and that’s the desire to connect with other people so that we may communicate an invaluable message.
We don’t do it for our own personal fame and glory, we don’t do it for money or to fill our pockets with stuff that “moth and rust will destroy,” we don’t do it “just for fun” (although it can be and is fun) because we are “on mission” to connect with others. We don’t do it just to market our church or pimp our ministry, we do it to raise up Christ.
I’m liking this new model. I think, for myself personally, it’s the only motivation that’s truly sustainable.
[Image from Agelakis]
anivus says
John… good thoughts. I have been struggling with this for sometime now. I have been blogging on and off for 8 years – When I first started blogging – there was no "blogging for churches or companies" strategies. It really was all about connection – I am not sure what happened to change this… but it did change quickly. I am down with getting this technology back to making connections.
human3rror says
anivus,
great thoughts. yeah, it's changed… but it's time for a comeback.
Phillip Gibb says
sorry – that is the only model that suits me.
if I was in Atlanta 3-6 months ago and went to the same Starbucks you went to
and you were talking about this to someone
I would have listened but would not have made so much as a little eye-contact.
I would have walked out thinking that it would be rude for me to say "Hi – I like what you are talking about" and I would have regretted it.
But blogging
now that is different
look where we are now.
Blogging for Connection is what it is about – the conversation – the comments.
This shared interest in this form of communication is perfect for this tribe.
human3rror says
phillip. we've gotta hang out man.
Graham Brenna says
Let's all go to South Africa!!!
Graham Brenna says
well said man!
AndyC says
Connection is what I strive for, but it is not always easy. There is so much going on in this space that you can easily get washed away in the flood.
But when you make a connection, ah, the effort you put in so feels like it was worth it, doesn’t it?
human3rror says
yes, it does… like when we eventually hang out…!
Phillip Gibb says
that would be a cool thing
human3rror says
when you coming in?
Phillip Gibb says
When someone buys me a airplane ticket for me and my Wife :-O
Alas I am not part of the group going to Drive09, otherwise I would be there chatting with you.
human3rror says
k.
human3rror says
sad
chrissulli says
It is interesting because I think connection is what I strive for but haven't necessarily experienced through blogging. I'm more than content, however, to know what God has been doing in me through my blogging and trusting that he is reaching the people he wants to reach through it. We talked before about how rarely people comment and give encouragment. Just enough people tell me it makes a difference to keep me writing without my ego getting out of check. Keep up the good work John.
human3rror says
Chris,
Thanks! It took a long time for me to make any “obvious” results in terms of connection… in fact, years. That's probably because i'm not a very relational person naturally… for others, i know they build those bridges much faster.
i think it's the “marathon” idea again… gotta think long term.
john
PaulDz says
I'm just sitting here clapping. Great post. I'll tweet it….keep it going 🙂
human3rror says
thanks paul!
PaulDz says
Thanks to you. I thought it was so good that I went and blogged on it myself: http://www.dzubinski.com/blog/?p=361
Kevin_Martineau says
Awesome thoughts John! To me, blogging has always been about making connections. I enjoy the interaction and the "sharpening" that comes along with that interaction.
Phillip Gibb says
In the words of Midnight Oil; "The time will come"
Anna Meadows says
Agreed… it is a great motivation. Thanks for a great thought.
human3rror says
Anna,
Thanks for stopping by!
Jay says
A very interesting post considering the timing. I've been blogging for about 8 years now on a host of subjects – politics, pop culture, sports, etc. It's interesting that you talk about connections because I started a blog that was geared more towards the spiritual, but I found myself hardly every updating it. It took me awhile to figure out why, but then I realized that my motivation for starting it was wrong. I was trying to be "Mr. Spiritual."
Recently (like in the past week!), I started another blog and on this one, I decided that authenticity was going to be my focus. An open book. After listening to James MacDonald talk about choosing to be authentic it was a no-brainer. Whether the people who read the blog are Christian readers or just readers, I didn't want to put on a mask of any kind. I guess my initial concern when I started the previous blog is that friends and other church members would be in on just how 'average' I am despite playing drums in the worship band and leading a Life Group. In other words, I was blogging for others and not really for myself. With this new blog, I wanted people to know that I'm not really "Mr. Spiritual" but just an average guy with hangups, issues and problems like anybody else. I just happen to follow a risen Savior who carries me when I need to be carried.
Now here's some added information I think you'll like John. A huge inspiration for me to start that new blog was when I started reading Carlos's blog. http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com I found his blog via ChurchCrunch. I found ChurchCrunch on Twitter when somebody I was following re-tweeted one of your tweets. It was information found on ChurchCrunch that helped me write a proposal to the leadership at my church outlining a strategy for the church to use social media and technology to reach more people and keep the current congregation engaged. I recently shared it with Graham Brenna after I commented on his guest blog entry, 'My Wheelbarrow of Patience – Part 2' and hopefully, we'll be able to offer each other advice and share our experiences.
How's that for connection, brother?
human3rror says
Jay, this is like a textbook case for “connection”… would you like to write a guest post that would re-iterate some of your personal experience and add some additional thoughts?
Let me know… that would be awesome.
Jay says
I'd be happy to do it. Thanks for asking. You can email with any details: jaycaruso [at] gmail
solarcoast says
Great post. That is the reason I post on my blog … it's the reason I twitter and the reason I am on facebook as well as many other social sites. There is a passion I have to communicate good news with others and it overflows into these networks. There's also a flip side and that is that through those connections I discover others with big ideas and great insights and I get to learn and grow as well.
human3rror says
Shawn,
Thanks for stopping by! As a pastor, how has it been to manage all those social networks? do you have a team?
john
Tina says
Really good thoughts. I encourage blogging ministry updates and will be using this post as a complement (posting it today in fact). I can give all the communication and time mgt reasons in the world for blogging but it really does all come back to this. Isn't that what we keep telling folks that ministry updates are supposed to be about anyway? Relationships?
Good reminder! And one I had (sadly) missed.
human3rror says
weboverload… what's that about? love the name…
Jim says
i was thinking about something I saw recently and if i change the wording from preach to blog:
Blog from the Heart; Blog from the Word; Blog to Change Lives http://tinyurl.com/cy8skg
Graham Brenna says
This is the best model for blogging! It's why I do it… and it's why I'm trying to get my fellow ministry leaders to do it (or leverage some form of social media for use in their ministries). I'll be saving this one and passing it around to my staff when the timing is right. Thanks John!