I’ve been blogging now for over seven years. I’ve logged 2,457 blogposts during that span of time that has, to some degree, become quite biographical. Having now upgraded the blog, I thought a little re-introduction was in order. People have various reasons for starting a blog. Most of those reasons don’t last as more blogs go into nonexistence each year than get started. Having hung around for seven years now, I thought this would be as good of a time than ever to share why I started blogging in the first place.
How I Was Introduced to Blogging
I first heard about blogging as a mainstream form of media in 2004 during “Rathergate“. Bloggers were able to do the job mainstream media would not and could not do in exposing the falsified documents regarding then President George W. Bush’s supposed avoidance in going to serve in the Vietnam War. I remember reflecting on this phenomenon–how some no name people can have the opportunity in a flattened world to influence an entire nation with this new online platform. I was intrigued to say the least, but it was not enough to get me into the world of blogging.
In the Spring of 2005, a good friend of mine was “researching” in the first floor of Boyce Centennial Library (Southern Seminary’s library) on what was then called a “Xanga blogring.” For those of you around back in 2005, you remember Xanga and Blogger were quite popular. My friend encouraged me to check them out, and so I decided to join both. One was going to be comedic in nature (Xanga), and the other was going to be devotional in nature (Blogger). I had a communications dilemma because my monthly online newsletter fell upon hard times as I lost all the contact information of hundreds of friends and family who were interested in keeping in touch while I was in seminary. I figured a viable solution was to transition from an online newsletter to a digital journal of sorts through blogging.
In the beginning, I shared my experiences in seminary and mostly my devotional thoughts from personal study and Bible intake. I honestly did not know what I was doing and had never heard of the word “hyperlink” before in my life. I also did not have a name for my blog and felt that at least I could do that. Without much thought (literally less than five minutes), I tentatively called it “Provocations and Pantings”, and here’s the reason why.
Why I Called It “Provocations and Pantings”
In college, I was introduced to Soren Kierkegaard’s spiritual writings. After completing a research paper on his theological and philosophical contribution to Christian history, I proceeded to read more, including books like Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing and Provocations. What impressed me about Kierkegaard is his unrelenting willingness to challenge status quo and challenge nominal Christianity. He desired authenticity–something which folks in my generation seem to care a lot about, and he provoked people toward that end. At the same time, I became heavily influenced by the Puritans through a little bookstore called Mount Zion Chapel Library in Pensacola, FL. I would be a “run” to P-Cola about every month and stack up on Puritan literature at the cheapest prices around. What gripped me about the Puritans is how practical and “experimental” they were with their theology. It seemed they were pushed against some of the same nominalism Kierkegaard faced in his day. Except in their case, the word “panting” (not “painting”) surfaced time and again. It’s a Bible word that we don’t use anymore. The deer “pants” for the water brooks, and as the Psalmist says, our soul “pants” after God. This speak of a passionate pursuit, intense longing, and earnest affection to know and enjoy God for all that He is for us. I found myself at a crossroads where I felt being “provoked” about much of religion I grew up with and at the same time “panting” for more of God, more of His Word, more of what is means to be “Christian.”
Thus, the name Provocations and Pantings. And while it was intended to be tentative, with a cooler name to follow, it has stuck around.
“The Social Network”
After a couple of months on Blogger, I began to find my way around. Someone even told me that there was a way to check for stats on your page. I was just jazzed that I had my own cheap version of a website. I installed a stat counter, and behold, more people were reading my blog than my parents and a few friends back at home! I was blown away that 20-25 people a day were reading my blog. I realized what I should have already known, that anyone in the world can access and read my blog if they found a way to it. It was then I started taking the “public” idea of blogging a little more seriously. My devotional writings began to look like actual blogposts or articles. I began writing on current events and issues taking place in evangelical life, inserting stuff I was learning in seminary. In 2005, the main form of aggregation was getting on someone’s blogroll, and over a period of time, I began to network through people’s blogrolls and developed friendships with guys like Joe Thorn, Steve McCoy, Marty Duren, and Tom Ascol (among others). Southern Seminary had its own blogging aggregator where the latest posts from SBTS students would appear on the home page. Through these means, I began to connect with like-minded folks who knew a lot more about blogging than I did!
Looking back, one of the most significant contributions I hope to have made was the start of a fellowship of bloggers in 2006 called Band of Bloggers. It was a simple idea that gained immediate traction. Through this (almost) yearly gathering, I have had the opportunity of meeting hundreds (literally) of evangelical bloggers who care deeply about the gospel and the church. Band of Bloggers has sold out every year since its first gathering, and I am grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people in the process.
You see, here’s the deal. I would say of the 99% of the people I know in the evangelical world, I initially got connected through the Internet, and principally blogging. I don’t know or am intimately connected to really important people. No one in my family has a prominent role or status in the evangelical world. I have not written a book, nor do I pastor a large, well known church. But as I have plodded along, I come to know many people first online and then in real life (some of them becoming lifelong friends). In fact, the very position I hold as a pastor of Grace is largely attributed first to blogging and getting to know Tom Ascol through this medium.
Much more can be said about why I started blogging and the journey of these past seven years. Without a doubt, there are things I have written that I would do differently or not do at all. But I do not regret starting a blog! Through it, God has blessed my life with encouragements I don’t deserve, friendships I deeply value, and an opportunity to bless others with information and encouragement one blogpost at a time.
So, if you are a blogger, why did you start blogging? What got you going?
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I began blogging as a way of keeping myself publicly accountable for staying in the Word regularly. However, my site took off in a different direction as I became more and more enchanted with the Christ-centered nature of the Bible. Now it’s more of a clearing house for all things gospel-centered.
Thanks for sharing, Dave. I have heard of several folks who started blogging for that very reason. I’m glad you’re writing on all things gospel-centered!
I started blogging during the IMB policy wars, and then just as a commenter.
I would love to see someone do a “history of Baptist blogging” book, interviewing some of you guys that were there on the cutting edge of the phenomenon.
I was sort of second wave. I followed the pioneers into it, though few of those original pioneers are currently blogging.
This post was interesting, Tim.
Thanks, Dave. I remember when the second wave happened. I actually wrote a blogpost about that!
http://timmybrister.com/2006/07/the-greensboromemphis-effect/
it’s true that several of the old school bloggers aren’t around anymore, or blogging on Baptist issues. I wonder, did you ever hear about “Missional Baptist Blog” that Steve McCoy ran? it was one of the best early SBC blogs out there, and he killed it in one day.
BTW, I’m not sure if my feed is working properly, so my posts may not show up on the SBCVoices aggregator. You might need to update the feed to this:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ProvocationsPantings
Thanks for your work on SBCVoices, brother.
I guess after a few false starts myself, I started blogging for the similar reasons. I don’t expect to achieve some sort of stardom, but if I can meet new people, have a platform to encorage and challenge others, and spur on my own writing development and creativity, then I feel like blogging will and continue to be a success. Thanks for sharing! I love to hear these kind of stories from bloggers and your story is an encouragement to less experienced bloggers.
Great to hear from you Joshua. One of the things I have learned through this process is just to keep plodding and leave the results to God. Trying to get a lot of traffic or notoriety will ironically compromise the quality of your writing and leave you frustrated. Do what you love to do, and it will be an encouragement to others.
I started blogging in 2009 as a way to discipline myself in study, worship, and interacting with biblical truths. I took a break for a while, but the past 12-18 months of blogging has been more consistent.
It is interesting to me how a blog can take on a life of its own. Much of what I post is related to my own study and the theological/denominational rumblings going on around me. This tends to shift throughout the year and helps to keep things fresh.
It is strange, but a joy, to meet people who read my own blog and writings because they know so much about me already and yet I know little to nothing about them. When I introduced myself to you in NOLA you didn’t know me from Adam, and yet I felt like I knew you from reading so many posts of yours. Blogging is a strange and exciting medium. The world has never experienced anything like it and I am thankful to be along for the ride.
Josh,
It was great to meet you in NOLA, and yes, it does seem like we can know each other simply through blogposts and following via social networks. I look forward to reading more of your blogposts in the future and, Lord willing, seeing you again.
Timmy,
In addition to what you’ve mentioned here, I appreciate the contributions you made in the early years of SBF. The archives are still there and still useful.
I don’t blog alot, but I started by commenting on a number of SBF posts over time, and then Andrew asked if I wanted to contribute. Not much going on there these days, but obviously the issue of the doctrines of grace in the SBC continues. I’ve interacted a bit with Tom just this past week.
I probably will start a blog of my own, since alot of things I’d like to share don’t really fall into the SBC category, and probably the minsunderstood SBF name itself can scare people away.
By the way, I’m about an hour from Pensacola, and I agree about Mount Zion and their resources. I’ve pointed some friends who moved out there to that Reformed fellowship, which they really enjoy. But the ministry of literature that comes out of there is remarkable indeed. And what a blessing the Puritans have been to me as well.
Grace,
Darrin
Darrin,
When SBF started, we were going to critique everything BaptistFire put out. However, they were not up to the searchlight and went completely dark in 11 days after we started. That changed the work we did on the site, and I’m glad the archives are still up there. I believe that was a crucial time for Baptist Calvinists, especially in the SBC, to have an opportunity to offer a biblical/theological defense of what we believe in light of the onslaught we were receiving from denominational leaders.
I’m glad you have connected with Andrew, and recently with Tom. Andrew is a good brother, and Tom is like a spiritual father to me. Perhaps one day I can meet you in person. Blessings on your blog efforts!
Hey Tim, I really enjoyed this post by you. It was fun getting to know some of the background behind your blogging journey. Just a few weeks ago I wrote this post, http://www.jtcochran.com/2012/06/18/why-pay-good-money-to-blog-for-others/ that talks about my story of getting into blogging. The inspiration of Simply Savoring My Savior is no huge backstory. I like alliteration but I don’t over use it thankfully. I think we overcomplicate the Christian life too much and so I value simplicity. Along with that point I’ve always enjoyed the concepts of investing, enjoying, and not letting the Christian life become fleeting. To be long in both suffering and savoring is a discipline we all need to hone. Blessings brother.
Thanks for sharing Joey. The discipline of writing has, over the course of seven years, been a really enjoyable experience. That discipline has proved to be more fruitful for several friends who have now become authors. I hope that happens all the more in the future.
I started blogging because I wanted to put down some theological ideas and get some interaction from others on them. I found more interaction in the comment streams of other blogs. But I’m a non-linear thinker, which makes communication difficult. Writing with the thought that someone else might read it helps me organize my thoughts linearly and has helped me learn to develop class series and sermons (as a “lay” preacher) that are more helpful for people.
That’s good to hear, Jim. I can say that a lot of my initial thinking has been hashed out on the blog and eventually turning into teaching or sermon material at a later time. I have also benefited from community feedback on getting insights, definitions, etc. on particular issues I’m addressing in a local church context. I think some of the best use of blogging is when you can connect your online community/content with reality life community/context.