Check out the new redesign.

If you read this via email or RSS click here.

Thanks Mr. Gabe Taviano.

More changes coming soon.

Thoughts?

Simple is good. Who wants 25 steps when it only takes 1? Take cookies for example. When fighting hunger, I’ll head to the pantry. If I pick up a bag of cookie mix, I can lose my appetite real quick if I see 10 steps on the back in order to prepare the dumb thing.

Suddenly the granola bar looks real good.

Am I just lazy? Maybe. But these days i think simple is often better. Who wants to follow a blog when it’s complicated? Well. Now it’s not. Look to your right. See the subscribe tools?

If you like what you’ve read here lately then exert enough energy to click the envelope to subscribe via email or the little orange button to subscribe in a reader. With all the time you saved, now you can go bake those complex cookies.

Reason #2 Why it stunk in the past = Complicated Subscription Process

Reason #2 Why it doesn’t stink now= Super Easy Subscription Tools

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e. they employ easy subscription tools): Ed Stetzer and Eric Bryant.

See you soon with the #1 REASON why my blog stunk! (The anticipation is killing me.)

Reason #3 Poor layout

Although content might be King, a close second is a Queen who’s easy on the eyes. This brings me to a discussion on Message vs. Medium or Substance vs. Packaging.

I address in detail this in one of my talks called: “Unpacking Postmodernity.” I’ll save you from the semiar, but rest assured that Message and Medium are both key! If Message were King, God would have just given us the Bible. Instead, He also valued Medium, hence He came in the flesh-the Incarnation.

When blogging or writing or speaking or evangelizing. Remember! You’re conveying a Message and a Medium. Bring the King and the Queen to the conversation.

Reason #3 Why it stunk in the past = Poor layout

Reason #3 Why it doesn’t stink now = Easy on the eyes 

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they’re sweet at layout): Brett Ullman (video blog), Dave Ferguson, and Rethink.

See you soon with Reason #2

Reason #4 Too Stoic

(Probably like most men) I’m not good at decorating. My wife Kelly on the other hand, she’s amazing. She’ll put any woman’s skills to shame AND for much less money (I like that part). 

I decorated my office at work. (Mark Artrip wants me to change my office, but that’s not the point.) I hung a picture of Jesus laughing. I don’t even know where I got it.

In a season of depression about 10 yrs. ago it somehow just “arrived.” The picture shaped the way I saw Jesus. Until then, in my book, Jesus was a little too “spiritual” to laugh.  

I like this picture. It has shaped the way I do ministry and life. And now it will affect the way I blog too.

Reason #4 Why it stunk in the past = Too Stoic

Reason #4 Why it doesn’t stink now = Sporadic Infusions of Humor (and Smiles) 

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they offer an occasional lighter side of life) Gabe Taviano, Mark Artrip, and Lanny Donoho. 

I leave you with 1 question:

• When was last time you lost control laughing? Why was it SO funny.

See you soon with Reason #3

Reason #5 Impractical

Theory is fun once in a while, but a head full of philosophy doesn’t pay the bills.

“Blue-sky” and “green-light” sessions might be serene, but they quickly lose their cool and their color when they hit the pavement. I prefer wisdom that’s weathered and worn  – the kind you can hop into and walk around a bit. 

Reason #5 Why it stunk in the past = Impractical

Reason #5 Why it doesn’t stink in the past = Pragmatic Posts

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they offer you pasteurized content - refined enough you could drink it right from the {milk} bottle) Brad Lomenick, Brad Abare,  and BMH.

I leave you with 1 question:

• What’s the least practical class you took in high school or college?

See you soon with Reason #4.

Dialogue. Conversation. Discussion.

These aren’t dirty words, but nouns which open doors. Blogs that utilize the power of two-way communication (i.e. with buttons at the bottom of posts such as share/save/add to any/tweet back/etc.) allow readers to weight in with their thoughts.

Check out Michael Hyatt’s great post (7 strategies for increasing your blog comments) for more information.

A lecture can be stimulating, but a dialogue is much richer. Jesus knew this. That’s why in the Gospels, He often asked questions. That’s why the Biblical book of Job contains over 300 questions. 

I was chatting with a skeptic the other day. He found it odd that God asked Adam and Eve questions in the Garden of Eden. Questions like, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). “Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11).  The skeptic thought that God’s questions proved He wasn’t divine (“all knowing”). 

Personally, I’m glad God asked the questions. Sure He knew the answer. But His questions opened the door for a conversation. And remember - conversation is the beginning of relationship. 

Reason #6 Why it stunk in the past = One-Way Communication

Reason #6 Why it doesn’t stink anymore= A writing style and a blog format that encourages a dialogue.

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they encourage conversation) Mark Waltz, Bill Grandi, and Mark Batterson.

How about leaving a comment on this post so we can keep the dialogue alive?

Reason #7 Too Lengthy

A blog isn’t a book and a book isn’t a blog.  We forget such simple distinctions. I don’t know many people who like long lines, especially when they have somewhere they need to get. Most of the people I hang with are very busy and don’t have time to read a long post.

Posts are meant to be as quick and refreshing as a cup of cold water.

Remember the kid who took a super long time at the water fountain after recess?

Plain and simple: blogs that frequently post too much content are only communicating one thing = disrespect for their readers. In a world where the average person encounters over 3,000 ads a day…LESS IS MORE!

Reason #7 Why it stunk in the past = Too Long

Reason #7 Why it doesn’t stink =  A commitment to brief, concise, quality posts.

See you soon with Reason #6

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they’ve cracked the code on correct length): Mark Waltz, Brad Lomenick, Marla Taviano.  

• Were you “that kid” who took a long time at the drinking fountain?
• If not, did you ever punch “that kid” for taking too long?

I received this email the other day through my YouTube account. Evidently a reader watched the interview below where I sign off by praying for those who self-injure, i.e. they are cutters.  In case you didn’t know I was a cutter. Turns out the risk was worth it.

Here’s her email:

i was watching 1 of ur interviews…the 1 about the cutting and stuff..and i felt jst lyk u desrcribed..and when u said u were at the point of cutting curse words into ur arms…i …well it was weird…bcuz jst recently thats where i am…and i burst into tears dring ur prayer…i jst cnt take it anymore..i hate me more then anything….i want to kill myself..and i can’t feel god beside me…..i’M SITTING HERE IN CHAINS….and i feel lyk he doesnt care..i feel lyk i’ve done 2 many bad things for him to love me….bcuz i know what i do is wrong…but i do it anyway..then i get scared and ask for forgiveness….but then the next day i jst do it again…like i said..i hav no clue why i’m msging u..but i cant take this anymore …i need help..i need somthing …anything

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuRCUTi1o_8

I emailed this person back and tried to reach out to her. Her main melody line is that she hates herself. 

Here’s what I told her:

You are very close to a breakthrough.
Hating yourself is the first step….but you are missing the other half.
 
Satan…the one who steals, kills, destroys, and the one who loves to see you cut….also wants you to stay frozen in the place of hating yourself. For in that place you are hopeless and you know it. You can’t save yourself.
 
I was a self-injurer for well over a decade. I finally got the place where I hated myself so much, I hated life. There was no escape……and that is the point.
 
Up until that time I told myself I needed to get “cleaned” up before I came to God. What I didn’t know was that my statement was laced with pride. I thought I could actually clean myself up….the truth is nothing can BUT God. He’s the only one who can save us.
 
Hating youself is part of the process….the more important question is what are you going to do with that hate.

Suicide? That will just usher you into God’s presence eye ball to eye ball….it won’t solve your pain….in fact, what God will say is …..you are early….look at all that I had planned for you on earth…then he will show you a full life of happiness and pain and what you would have contributed had you remained on earth….
 
If I would have killed myself at 20 I would have missed being a father of 3, a pastor, a husband of almost 10 years, a 4 time author, etc. At the age of 20, life sucked from my perspective…but that was the turning point.
 
Until that time all I did was hate myself. I had yet to turn to God to save me…and if you kill yourself without having God save you…well, then you are telling God you don’t need his Son and that you want to be measured on your own good…and believe me…none of us is good enough….we need Jesus.
 
Here’s my advice….get past hating yourself….give Satan the cold shoulder and turn to God…ask him to save you…go to him all screwed up…that’s the only way he wants us….i am praying for you and I leave you this verse…..
 
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

We are continuing to dialogue via email. I ask you to pray for her…pray that she continues to hope and live. 

My next book, YOUR SECRET NAME, is one huge risk. That’s why we are fasting and praying for 12 months. The book releases in September and the website next month.

Reason #8 Why it stunk in the past = Vanilla

Reason #8 Why it doesn’t stink = Risks. 

See you soon with Reason #7

A few blogs taking some risks ( i.e they include the human element): Anne Jackson, Ben Arment, and Tullian Tchividjian.

Imagine showing up at the Taco Bell drive through wanting to slam down a Nacho Bell Grande. Instead, you get handed a Big Mac. You’re bound to get a little frustrated.

Walking around in that illustration a little bit longer – imagine the next time you pull up to the same drive through and you get handed a  Dairy Queen Blizzard.   Get my point?

It might be a pleasant surprise the first time or two. But  visiting a blog regularly and getting completely different subject matter has the same effect as throwing a Nacho Bell Grande, a Big Mac, and a Blizzard into a blender and drinking it. In case you’ve never experienced such a phenomenon (maybe you didn’t grow up going to a youth group) it doesn’t go down smoothly.

Some blogs are about media. Others about investments or knitting.

All these subjects are good (although I don’t knit myself), but the point is don’t confuse your audience by giving them a potpourri of content.

Reason #9 Why it stunk in the past = Unclear Objective

Reason #9 Why it doesn’t stink now = Focus on Faith & Culture, Leadership, and Personal Transformation.  

See you soon with Reason #8

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they have a clear objective): Tony Morgan Live, Collide, and Preaching Today.

I am resurrecting it because a number of people have recently asked me for advice on how to change their blog from stinking to smelling sweet.

Here you go…enjoy the fragrance.

Reason #10 Unpredictable PACE

Because I am a pastor, author, speaker, father, husband, (etc.) I used to justify blogging in bursts.

Cool for me.

Not cool for readers who are trying to tune in. Imagine flipping on the TV, expecting to see your favorite show (let’s say LOST) only to realize they are taking the next 2-4 weeks off. (Oh wait, they do that all the time.)

Might work in the TV world with big budgets. But in the world of blogging you need reliable content with a reliable PACE.

Reason #10 Why it stunk in the past = Unpredictable pace

Reason #10 Why it doesn’t stink now = Content at least 3 times a week. 

See you soon with Reason #9

A few blogs doing it well ( i.e they have a predictable pace): Stuff Christians Like, Michael Hyatt, and Ragamuffin Soul.