Thursday, August 6, 2009

A Different Take on Christian Blogging

Hello, my name is Heather. I am a college student living in Pennsylvania, studying Political Science, and I have been a Christian for just over a year now. Several people have encouraged me to start a blog centered around my ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. I'll admit the idea attracted me from the start because I have always enjoyed writing and there's nothing I love doing more than thinking about, talking about and learning about Jesus and what he did on the cross. Yet I was put off by the weaknesses I observed in many other Christian blogs; namely, that too many of them mixed politics with their faith or used their blogs as platforms from which to proselytize or stir up controversy.

My intention for this blog is to share my personal experiences as I wrestle with the Word of God and God's will for my life. Yet my personality is far too inclined toward the preaching and arguing that I find unhelpful on other Christian blogs. I sometimes joke that my speech has quite enough "salt" in it, but not enough grace. I hope, with Christ's grace, to keep a humble and loving attitude as I write this blog. I do not claim to be a preacher or an authority on Scripture in any way. I want to avoid preaching or arguing about controversial issues of faith, yet I will not run from them. I believe that God speaks through the most ordinary and simple of his children and I affirm the priesthood of every believer. God gives wisdom to those who ask for it, not just those who undergo ordination.

It is my prayer that my personal wrestlings with understanding and obeying God may be able to encourage others who encounter similar struggles. God sometimes gives me conclusions that put my mind at peace, and I am eager to share these with others. Other times, no answer is given. Perhaps my readers will have ideas. I hope my blog can be a meeting place for believers to encourage each other, with myself providing the general topics as I encounter them myself.

This blog is a work in progress and I want the readers to have a lot of input. To the right I have a poll asking what kind of problems others see in the Christian blogosphere. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this post and all future posts. I will be filtering the comments and ask that readers avoid profanity and treat me and others, especially nonbelievers, with respect and love.

Thank you for reading, and I hope God blesses our discussions and stretches out his mighty arm to do awesome work through us.