Hopefully I didn't sound like I was stating that blogging was dead. Clearly...from this blog, and several others that are so influential and leading the charge, that isn't totally the case. I covet the sheer awesomeness of those of you who are blogging rockstars.

I guess I am wondering what my relationship is or will be with blogging.

I've often coveted the blogs of others. But, I think I am being convinced that you can have an effective and valuable online ministry/presence in the social media universe without a blog.

Paul, great thoughts. I love your ideas and insight.

Confession time for me:

I have been blogging for a long time...and for the entire length of that time, I've had a love/hate relationship with it. And for the last few months, here is what I have been wondering:

Is the blog still relevant in an online culture that consumes in 140-420 character bites. Twitter restricts to 140 characters...Facebook to 420. Are people willing to read much more than this? Can we still make a splash using only Twitter and Facebook? I stumbled on to a webpage not long ago that states, "People don't read books anymore, they read statuses." Is this true? If so, what does that mean for the blog?

Having said all that, I think you are right...content is king. Good content will engage and people will read. (Interestingly, the same could be argued for us preachers: will folks sit through your 1 hour long sermon when they are used to watching TV shows in 13 minute segments? Yes...yes, they will. If, however, you are saying valuable things.)

Just a few of my own thoughts as I've been wrestling with this "front" in my own social media life.

No shame in your game, Paul. I haven't used my Google Reader in months. I'm sure I would be amazed to see the number of unread posts over there.

Thanks so much. These are some of the most encouraging comments I've heard in quite some time! They are some of that "fuel" creative-types need in their tank to keep moving ahead with ideas. (You surely know of which I speak!) I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

Thanks, Christie.

I have found that I consume a lot more on Twitter than I do Facebook. I love to read all of the valuable things others post on Twitter...but, for whatever reason, I find it harder to contribute things of value on there. Facebook is easier for me to contribute to the conversation...

Not sure the reasons for this. I don't want to get ahead of the next post about Twitter...but I'm curious if others have noticed a difference in how they use the two (besides the conversation above).

I've started using Posterous to send specific things (videos, pictures, etc) to my family and close friends via lists. It's a pretty hand tool.

Paul,

I take a slightly different approach. I don't limit my friends on Facebook or Twitter...but I do limit the number and types of pictures I post on Facebook and try to keep super-sensitive issues out of my updates (you know, the kinds of things I wouldn't normally talk about with EVERYONE).

I, too, would be interested in hearing from others who limit their Facebook...and the fruits from that approach.

Tami,

I was recently in Haiti. It was hysterical, because the people we were working with couldn't speak English, and I don't speak Haitian Creole. However, they all knew how to ask me if I had Facebook.

Ah, Facebook...the international language!

And you make a great point about the communities on Facebook...I didn't have the space to explore the usefulness of groups and pages in Facebook land. They are crucial for narrowing our message and for deeper engagement. Thanks for pointing that out!

Great thoughts. I lead several mission trips every year...and we have just begun to make sure we have a team of people devoted to social media: Facebook, Twitter, and blogging.

It's an incredible experience for that team...but it allows thousands of others to experience and pray for the trip with us.