Two Years ago on The Daily Saint: 5 Facts About Blogging

Blogging is good for you, or so we think.  My first post in 2005 laid the groundwork for what drives me today- a passion for meaningful work.  The power of blogging is undeniable (think: Blog Action Day) and sites like the Huffington Postare now home to one of our favorite authors, David Allen.  Here are five surprising facts about blogging that are now emerging more strongly than ever before.

1. Blogging is good for your health. An Australia university found that those who blogged for two months regularly felt more connected and purposeful than those who hadn't.  With sites like MySpace, Facebook and various social networking connectors (i.e. Digg), it's easier than ever for startup bloggers to gain vocal power.


2. There are 175,000 new blogs born every day. A lot of people have a lot to say and while that's a good thing, it also makes specialty blogs (like The Daily Saint) more valuable than ever before.


3. One blog is born every half second. With English as the most popular language of choice, followed closely by Japanese, there are more ways than ever before to publish to your blog.  Twitter widgets are gaining popularity (2000 new accounts per day)  and you can even post to your blog via Jott.


4. The Blogosphere is spinning new tails. Apparently political bloggers have driven this movement of new venues and niche markets that cater to the politically savvy among us.  I would add technologists and to a much smaller degree, productivity-minded folks.


5. Blogging will soon slow down and go mainstream. As Seth Godin points out, there is a growing tragedy of the commons when it comes to blogs.  More readers read different blogs, making it easier to leave yours.  The answer: specialization.  My response has been to forge The Daily Saint as within the productivity niche, but with a totally unique spiritual twist.

The Spiritual Twist
Blogging can be helpful in getting thoughts out of your head and onto "paper".  As long as you don't become obsessed with your traffic, RSS subscriptions and what the other guy is doing, I think it is a tremendous opportunity and vehicle.  Looking at blogging as a stewardship is also a good idea.  You are there to serve, not just broadcast whatever is in your head.



What's your motivation for blogging?

*photo by Kristina B

What if You Could Measure Your Faith?

Imagine if you could put three words down on a piece of paper.  Next imagine that they related to one another in a mathematical sort of way.  Now read over the 2nd reading from this past weekend's Mass order of readings and see if you can pull out three key words(Ephesians 5:15-20):

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

St. Paul was giving instructions to the early and primitive church in Ephesus.  In my weekly audio piece, I provided what I think are the three words that sum up St. Paul's message: morality, ministry and measurement.

Each of us has some sense of morality (doing the right thing) and even ministry (serving in the right way).  But how about measurement?  What if you could put a grade on your faith- would you be on the honor roll or the Principal's list?  From a faith perspective, I know that I've not always done my homework and occasionally find myself cramming for a test.  As a way to counter this, I write in my journal each morning and make sure to schedule in moments for prayer.  "Attending class" for my family includes Sunday worship and keeps us reminded of the gameplan within our tradition of faith.

I think that people of faith need to step back from time to time and take stock of their faith development.  How am I doing?  Am I stronger today than a year ago at this time?  What did God teach me in the past week? These questions and many more are vital to a joyful and productive life.

*Photo by Wicks

Service is Never Enough

It's not about you.  Or me.  Or the office.  Or the big leather chair.  Or the title.  In fact, the leadership thing is really just a matter of getting the job done.

The job is always to serve.

The catch, of course is that service is but the percussion behind the song.  If I serve my kids but don't lead them, I've fallen short.  If the CEO shows up but doesn't show others how to excel, she's fallen short.

To whatever degree I then marry my service with my leadership, I succeed. And success means making a difference one day at a time.

*photo by pixeljones

Before You Switch Jobs: Something to Consider

Years ago my friend left a high-paying job in order to work in a nearby Catholic school.  He felt that God was calling him to a different lifestyle and took practical steps to follow that call.  In the Quaker tradition, this is often referred to as a "leading" from the Lord.  Easy to feel, difficult to follow.  Unfortunately for my friend, it didn't work out and he returned to the financial industry within two years.

Do I support a person when they are drawn towards doing work that feels more religious?  Of course.  And yet, it's worth noting reflecting on what the former Pontiff John Paul II said in 1987:

"Two temptations can be cited which they have not always known how to avoid: the temptation of being so strongly interested in Church services and tasks that some fail to become actively engaged in their responsibilities in the professional, social, cultural and political world; and the temptation of legitimizing the unwarranted separation of faith from life, that is, a separation of the Gospel's acceptance from the actual living of the Gospel in various situations in the world. (CL 2)"

What John Paul II is saying here is that one's work is vital, important and essential for changing the world.  Where this work happens is largely subjective.  I happen to work for the Church but that same friend I mentioned earlier is doing God's will just as much in his secular job.  He's honest, works hard and makes a difference right where he is.

You don't necessarily have to work for the Church in order to do God's will.  He needs great plumbers, salesmen, executives and stay at home moms.  Sometimes, right where they are.

*Photo by Acaben

The Four Websites I Just Can't Ignore

I used to use Google Reader until I discovered Twitter.  I then found that Twitter's "favorite" feature (starring) was a great way for me to save links and then read them when I had more time to focus. Twitter just seemed to make my RSS reader seem, well, irrelevant.  I said goodbye to Google Reader and pushed on.

Of late, there are a few sites that I have purposefully not subscribed to via email.  I do follow the authors on Twitter but there's something organic about actually going to their sites on a daily basis.  Why bother?  For me, it's a bit of a ritual but I also find their sites aesthetically pleasing (a fancy word for "looks nice").  They authors are thoughtful and speak to where I'm at right now in my ministry and in life.  So who are these masked men?

1. Michael Hyatt.  Michael is the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the world's largest Christian publishing company in the world.  He writes about Web 2.0, leadership and writing.  I find his insights helpful as a new CEO myself and his Tweets (@michaelhyatt) only compliment the strong content that can be found at his site.


2. Pastor Connections. This site is a combined effort of several pastors who write about different aspects of ministry.  Each day there is a different focus and once a month, pastors join together in Ohio for a shared discussion.  I find this site particularly challenging in a good way.


3. Church Crunch. CC is dedicated to all-things-tech but as they relate to ministry.  You get plenty of high-end geeky stuff but since it has a ministry angle, there is an honest sense that the authors are on your side.  Nice layout and plenty of updated content.  On Twitter, @human3rorr.


4. Scott Cheatham.  Scott is a forty-something pastor in Colorado who is also a church planter.  His articles seem to blend much of the above three sites, weaving tech with ministry with writing.  Scott is also great about getting back to you so feel free to drop him a line.  You can also follow him on Twitter, @scottcheatham.

Sunday Night Reflections from Pentecost Sunday

My parish is unlike any other and the people of St. Vincent's have taught me a lot about the spirituality of work.  Here are some reflections based on today's Mass:

• Fr. Pat, "Today is a great day to be the church!"  Well said from someone who has led the parish for almost twenty years.


• Text messaging is not cool in church.  Tell the lady in front of me, please.  I think her name is Denise based on her messages.


• Support your pastor, after all, he's got a lonely job.  Shake his hand.  Tell him he's cool.  He needs your support.


• Being late for an 11:30AM Mass is not cool.  Just ask me and my family.  Guilty as charged.


• Look around- lots of holy, hurting and happy people trying to draw closer to Christ.  St. Augustine said that the Church is supposed to be full of sinners.


• Mass on a nice day is almost always more enjoyable.  Now if we could just figure out how to program that piece of things.


• Homilies are complicated so try to take just one thing away from them.  What's your takeaway from today?


• Joy- that's the key point that I took away from Fr. Pat's message.  People who say they're Christian should be visibly joyful people.

Have a great week.  Make it great for someone else. Make it a workweek that is truly spiritual.