Howard's Blog : Ethos

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Why Blog? is anyone out there?

Podcasting seemed logical maybe there was somebody out there who was interested in listening to my sermons. Even if there wasn't I was preaching Sunday by Sunday and it saved burning CD's for the Kids workers. But Blogging that was completely different is there really a point if nobody reads your thoughts, sorry posts?

Having embarked on my 3rd Church plant, although Cheltenham is a real contrast to Teesside and Manchester, a common denominator is that communication in the pre-launch phrase is one to one over meals or a coffee as you seek to gather people. You don't get to preach and to paraphrase Jeremiah 20:9 God word remains in your heart like a fire shut in your bones.

I thought about writing a book? It was fun to look over Dave Stroud's shoulder from 200 miles away as he wrote his new book "Planting Churches, Changing Communities". Which made me at the same time feel this is do-able and this is beyond me? The thing about a book is then you really are out there asking the question does anybody want to hear what I've got to say? An inner confidence says "Yes I'm sure it would be compelling and sell" but my level headed insecurity tells me "I don't think I'm ready for the rejection". There are too many would be authors out there with boxes of vanity copies of their first book in the garage. The book will have to wait; maybe I'll start in secret, maybe not!

So why not blog? Ok it no real substitute as you don't get to preach it like I like to preach it [see Tope Koleoso http://jubilee-church.org/news/2009/06/why-i-shout-when-i-preach.htm ] or enjoy the humour or emotion of that wonderful chemistry between preacher and listener; but you do get the weekly (or daily) discipline of composing those thoughts that you are happy to put out there, (the really personal stuff hopefully won't leak out like it sometimes does when I'm in full preaching flow).

So yes I am going write a blog called ethos, and write it for me and avoid the temptation to look at the stats and see if anyone is out there.

UPDATE 22nd September. I found out somebody in Canada was out there,and visited Hope Church Manchester in my last few weeks there! If you know me this is my signiture sermon! H http://righteousradiogirl.blogspot.com/2009/07/sword-of-gospel-1-samuel-13.html