Blog o’ 5

On April 25th, 2004, this blog was born. That makes this blog 5 years old! And 5 years is like 70 in intarweb years. Seriously, it’s a cause for celebration.

:blows celebratory shofar:

It’s amusing looking back at what this blog was intended to be, and how it’s evolved. The first couple months, years even, were comprised of a mish-mash of neither-here-nor-there topics that didn’t attract too many visitors. It sucked, mostly. In the past 2-3 years, I started focusing on a consistent posting schedule with a consistent, cohesive set of topics. My schedule was, and remains, 2 posts a week on faith- and family-related matters.

In these 5 years of blogging, I’ve had hundreds of thousands of unique visitors (ain’t nothin’ to spit at for a personal blog!). I’ve seen the readership increase 100-fold, the comments increase, and discussion improve. And according to the google gods, I now get several thousand hits per month with this little blog thing. That’s cool.

I was a 20 year old bachelor guy when I started this blog. Now that I’m 5 years the dumber, I can say in retrospect this blog served as a means to improve my writing and communication skills. It’s succeeded in that regard. But more importantly, it has greatly matured me in my faith. Really. One thing that’s really helped is the exposure to varying belief systems. I’ve been exposed to atheists, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, 31 flavors of Protestant Christians, secularists, academics, pluralists, and both Blues Brothers.

 

(Just kidding about the last one; wanted to make sure you were paying attention.)

Having this kind of input variety and community exchange tends to refine your beliefs pretty quick, throwing out things that just don’t matter in the long run. I now think it’s unhealthy for a person of faith to be shielded from external input of the world. Shielding is not the answer. Having people challenge your faith is one of the best ways to strengthen it.

A lengthy list of good things have come of Blog the Great. My beliefs have evolved into a more pragmatic faith. I’m less concerned about where others are at and more concerned with where I’m at with God. I think that’s a good thing. It’s caused introspection when I was previously focused on other people’s beliefs. The blog started as a soapbox for me to stand on and preach to people. It’s now more of a discussion forum, where I post what I think I believe, and some big discussion results and I end up learning and sharpening. Through the blog, I’ve met a number of Messianic leaders that have strengthened my faith, encouraged me, lifted me up, given me some stability. Guided me to a better relationship with God. Can’t put a price on such a thing. God be praised for it.

Blogs without readers are nothing. And blogs without comments aren’t blogs. You fine blog readers and commenters have made this blog. I appreciate every comment I get. Really. I respond to just about every real comment. Thank you, fine & dear blog readers, for hanging around. A big thanks to blog reader and Christian good guy Gary Kirkham who, despite vehemently disagreeing with many of my theologies, has hung around longer than any other reader and has almost always conducted himself in a respectable manner.

This blog has served a darn good purpose. I’m happy with where it’s at. Here’s to another 5 years, fine blog readers. :cheers: