I always thought the frequency of my posts would increase when I was no longer in school. Perhaps that was a bit naïve, but I had high hopes that my blogging would pick up and become more substantial. However, more often than not, I click “New Post” and sit in front of a blank screen, not entirely sure what to write about. I was doing that a few minutes ago and then decided to read some blogs (something else I don’t do a lot of anymore). That’s when I ran across Josh Brown’s “Why I Don’t Blog Anymore.” Josh, who has been blogging since 2002 (I started in August of ’03), and has been a very prolific blogger himself, share why he has moved away from blogging recently:
Then something happen. It’s inevitable I suppose. And it only makes you sound like an arrogant prick to bring it up . . . but blogging got cool. And when it did it quit being a voice for those on the outside. It became another tool for those at the top and the middle to further perpetuate the same vanities and power structures that existed before.
Interesting thoughts on what blogging has become for sure, and you may or may not agree with Josh’s views. But it does make me think about what I’d like pomomusings to be. Right now, I’m finding it a little difficult to come up with interesting and challenging content. It’s probably partly due to my own schedule and the amount of time I put into blogging. But it’s hard to know exactly what to post. I know you all don’t care how I spend every minute of my day (besides, you already get that through my Twittering), but writing posts like this one end up being quite polarizing and tend to spill over into my life beyond the blogworld interesting ways.
Yet with 500-700 daily unique hits and over 900 people subscribing to the feed, I really enjoy the community that has been created through this site and don’t really have the desire to quit. So, as I have done before, I’d like to offer the question back to you: What would you like to see me cover here at pomomusings? In other words, what topics are you interested in hearing about? What do you think I should focus my writing on? What would be most beneficial and helpful to you?
I love to write and do still enjoy blogging. But I would like this to both be a benefit to me as well as to readers. By answering the above questions, you’d really help me in determining the future direction of pomomusings. Thanks.
Adam,
I think a focus on your internal life and struggle in your faith. We are in a time of transition both economically bu spiritually as well. Hearing how a young follower of Christ tried to live out their Kingdom calling, and the struggles and questions is important to hear.
I think you’re in a unique place and time of moving from preparing for ministry in our “traditional” seminary mode into doing ministry full-time within the church. Blogging on your experiences, excitement, let-downs and ministry discovery, growth and challenges would be interesting.
Bob and Monte. Thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate that and that is already giving me a couple ideas on topics I could write about.
i am curious about how youth ministry has changed in the last 10 years. When you worked with me the internet was in its infancy and blogging did not even exist. Now you have the ability to reach thousands and even keep in touch with people you knew in the past. But kids interests also change, (video games,reality tv, facebook) I am curious has the advancement in tech made youth ministry easier, or are future generations more disconnected with the real world?
I love reading theology blogs – and I love them because of the variety of insights that different bloggers have on the way that faith and life intersect. I wonder if you aren’t putting too much pressure on yourself here – pressure to say something new/interesting, or to say something that will produce conversation, or to say something unconventional. I would love to hear about the moments in life where you see God working in the world, in you, in others, or about the moments where you have a hard time seeing God at work – no matter how “boring” or mainstream those moments might be. :)
write more about your own faith. That’s more interesting than theology sometimes.
Theology is important, and talking about church an church issues is important. But personal faith is interesting. How do you talk to God? How does God talk to you?
Adam, I’ll be a bit selfish here and just tell you to write about the things that interest me. A few of the things that have been on my mind recently:
How we train church leaders. I’m speaking as a seminary student, although I’m in a non-traditional distance learning format, and I think that the seminary model is unsustainable. Tuition is going up and the attendance at churches is going down; either our model must change our we will be forced to change. As a person who is fresh out of the traditional seminary model and now working in a local congregation, you may be uniquely poised to speak about how we train future church leaders.
You’re creative, theological reflective, and thoughtful. We need more people like this in youth ministry. The only way we will get that is if people like you tell about how you are doing youth ministry and/or are thinking about doing youth ministry. There is a coming shift in how youth ministry is practiced and you could help make it happen.
Your emergent connection in both of the above is helpful as well.
Adam,
I have liked in the past when you’ve done series where you pose questions and have people answer them to come up with a “communal” definition, etc. I think it could be helpful if you did it in a youth ministry-centric manner. I also have enjoyed when you invited other people (theologians, bloggers, etc.) to give you their opinions and blog them. Those are some good ways to lean on the community that you love surrounding your blog.
I’d also be interested in how your actual youth ministry is doing. We’ve heard some stories, but not a whole lot about what you’re doing and your reflections therein.
Cheers.
Read Thomas Aquinas – or any real theologian – and try to make sense of him publicly. Then this blog might actually be interesting.
I often wonder if I am adding anything unique to the discourse on race, gender, sexuality, faith, etc. TDP is getting increasingly disjointed and in many ways just turning into a personal “day in the life” blog – totally NOT what I intended.
As to your frequency of posting and being out of school point – it get’s harder when you aren’t in school anymore. I am often too tired by the time I get home to even think about blogging. When I do have time to blog, I often feel like I have nothing meaningful to contribute.
As to topics on your blog – ecumenical dialogue, inclusive theology, creative liturgy, scriptural deconstruction…..
love, love, love your blog and held my breath for a moment after reading the above when I thought you were writing that you were discontinuing it. I enjoy the music, books, etc that you preview. I think what I like the most is that your blog creates conversations. Keep up the good work and if I think of anything new that you could cover– I’ll send them your way.
Yes, what Jason said. Because if we’re all honest with ourselves, the church fathers is not only where it’s at, but the only AT that is even remotely stimulating…and relevant!
This is why i have eliot reading CITY OF GOD — sure, it could be construed as over his preK head, but i want him to live an interesting life and this is where is starts. Why, he’s already censuring his teachers with, ‘it’s your yearning for self preservation that dooms you to a life of the flesh!!’ oh how he makes his father proud.