The tremendous Alastair Adversaria is back. Hooray. One of the very finest Christian blogs around. If that joker Al had not moved to Scotland, Zoomtard would never hope to become the greatest Christian blog in Ireland.
One of the weirder tasks I have set myself this very packed and utterly fascinating summer is to speak at a big Christian conference-festival-thing called New Horizon. As far I can tell, about 6,000 people go up to the north coast and clap their hands in a big blue tent. One informed person told me that it is a conference for sectarian Protestants who don’t want to be sectarian anymore.
Zoomtard will be joining the legendary evangelist Michael Green and the soon-to-be legendary songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty. But sadly he is not top billing, or indeed billed at all. Partly because he is just doing a one hour session on blogging and partly because he didn’t write In Christ Alone.
So here is my series of questions. Firstly, do any Zoomtard readers inteded to go to New Horizon? Cos I don’t know where it is or what it is or why I am going and a friendly face would be very cool. We can all drink coffee and talk about blogging? Or go drink whiskey (Bushmills is up near there, right?) and talk about cool stuff. Like church.
Secondly, what’s the point in blogging? Seriously, what benefit if any, do you think, can be accrued from us sharing our opinions online like this. Any opinions of why it could be a positive thing for Christians? Give me something to work with cos I may be dreadful at many things- saying no to people, impregnating women, sitting still and saying the word “celebration” but I hate to give a shoddy presentation.
Pray. For. Mojo. Or blog. Whichever.
Your Correspondent, Run, free yourself of him as fast as you can
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You might like some of Clay Shirky’s essays about media, community and groups.
http://www.shirky.com/
I particularly liked “A Group Is Its Own Worst Enemy”
http://shirky.com/writings/group_enemy.html
which resonated fairly strongly with me (having been involved in various online communities).
I’ll be there with bells on (though in retrospect without the bells on, there’s always the same creepy guy there every year who actually has bells on…), have been for the past 10 years or so. But only if I’m still allowed to be sectarian. The 16 yr old bushmills is the tipple of choice i would suggest. I might even sneak some into the big blue tent disguised in a five alive…
Blogging provides me the means to be more honest (or even insulting) with those around me without having to actually say it to them. Though when i put it like that i can see that’s kind of a bad thing.
Lots of people read blogs who wouldn’t know what to do with such a book as mere christianity, so it’s a way of getting Lewis into them without them even realising. If nothing else it makes them think out their faith, even if it’s only in the tiniest degree.
I do not like it Sam I am.
NH that is.
Large collections of Norn Irish christians are to be avoided at all costs. Also they invade our wee town and are decidedly ungracious when fighting for car park spaces.
I do, however, sneak into a seminar or 2. Mostly for the free childcare.
I like blogging.
Just a wee tip… Mention a wee tipple of the local spirit at NH and you will get a one-way ticket to excommunication… It’s not that NH attendees don’t drink the devil’s buttermilk… They just don’t tend to admit in public that they do!
for some reason I saw the name Michael Green and Keith Getty, added it together and got Keith Green.
Then I thought he can’t be speaking, he is dead.
Hide the Bushmills in a thermos flask and have a lunchbox with a ham sandwich. Hopefully this be enough although they will be keeping an especially close eye on you because you are from the free state….
Main benefit of NH is that you get several thousand Christians to agree, that they do, really, after all, when you think about it for a whole week, actually love JESUS. As long as you don’t mention more important issues like whiskey anyhow.
NH is great for flirting with Christian totty… if thats your thing… i’m thinking not, these days.
i still have a CD around my house somewhere of jaybercrow doing a seminar on ‘faith in widescreen’ … was excellent. back when i thought ‘faith’ equaled good
Ok. So whiskey is an afterwards treat, hopefully enjoyed with Nelly And I. Wife-unit is to be kept in the dark while I engage is extra-marital discourse with the opposite sex. And the first fifteen minutes of my seminar is given over to the many merits and wonders that make up Espero and her pro-blogging position.
Sounds like a productive Tuesday so far.
Here’s some blogging things to about (I expect you’ve already done so):
To what extent does being a church leader (of a particular church, in a particular context) impact what you “can” or “cannot” say or talk about on your blog?
More generally, and to the point when talking in front of a heterogeneous (ho ho) group, what are the pros and cons of anonymity for a blogger? Is there any such thing as anonymity anyway?
Even more generally, how does making particular identifications – e.g. “we are Christians”, “we are married”, “we are gay” – colour or enclose a particular community of bloggers? What are the benefits of making identifications, and what are the drawbacks, immediate or potential?
Anyhow, that’s just a few thoughts I had while stirring the chilli. Enjoy!
Sweet advice. You are surely a chilli-inspired genius.
May I invite you to the Bushmills Inn Appreciation Collective?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457276900
Not yet. Let’s not jump the gun there Williamson! I still have to experience this pleasant place
I spent ages last night composing thoughts on how blogging is a useful way to get grass roots opinions quickly and to say what you think when no one will listen, but I was half asleep at the time and now that I am fully conscious am wondering why anyone cares what grass roots think. They only ever see people’s feet, and maybe some worms and bird poo.
So now I just think blogs are good ways to point out how good you are at organic gardening.
I think NH is great. Usually great teaching and seminars (and QMs not wrong!). Given the numbers who attend I suppose (being in NI) to some degree inevitably it can have a feel of ’sectarian protestants’ but actually I think there is a wide range of attendees (But still probably best not to mention the Black Bush! – Unless it’s been autographed by Big Ian)
I totally agree with the suggestions for your seminar from disapproving ex-housemate. I often wonder about the whole idea of anonymity. Also the fact that I and some fellow bloggers do not feel comfortable to share their blogs with certain church members/leaders. Perhaps this says more about our churches than it does about the blogs.
Personally I have found engaging with blogged subjects (spiritual and non-spiritual) challenging and helpful in my faith, especially as I am someone who doesn’t read very much generally.
Looking forward to your seminar.
Having been the one who roped you in i’m nicking off to Peru to join the liberation theologians, and play with the minds and hearts of some irish students.
Some of the seminars will be really good.
I’ve tended to do a quick in and out to NH to avoid the pretence at conversations where everyone is more interested in checking out the talent over your shoulder than talking to you. Or maybe thats the effect my stimulating conversation has on people…
I intend to bring a bevvie of hotties with me to stand behind me and so reduce the distance people have to look past me while pretending to care what I think about Man City’s new signings…