Do Not Crave His Traffic

PROVERBS 23:1-12, BLOGGERS EDITION

When you login to network with a moderator, note well what is before you, and delete your post if you are given to trolling. Do not crave his traffic, for that social networking is deceptive.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich or drive more traffic to your site; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at blog ratings, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky or blogosphere like an eagle.

Do not comment in the post of a stingy blogger, do not crave his traffic; for he is the kind of bloggger who is always thinking about his ranking. "Post and comment," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have Dugg and will have wasted your shouts.

Do not reply to a blogging fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your comments.

Do not try and change moderators rules or trespass on the forums of the clueless, for their webmaster is strong; he will take up their case to ban you.

Apply your heart to your profile and your ears to His "About Me" pages.

- Proverbs 23:1-12 (Bloggers Edition, Alexander)

See also:
Bloggers Demand Miraculous Signs

Alexander is a writer in the online spiritual battlefield. You can also find him at The Scrooge Report.

Bloggers Demand Miraculous Signs

A recent series of comments about Intelligent Design in an exhaustive BlogCatalog discussion prompted me to post verses from the Bible that talk about the foolishness of this world.

This morning, I've run with those verses and come up with a "different" interpretation. Hope you like!

For since in the wisdom of God the blogosphere through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was posted to save those who believe. Bloggers demand miraculous signs and trolls look for wisdom, but we blog Christ crucified: a stumbling block to bloggers and foolishness to pagan posters, but to those whom God has called, both bloggers and trolls, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than blogger's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than blogger's strength. Blogroll mates, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were Dugg; not many were of noble ranking. But God chose the foolish posts of the blogosphere to shame the wise; God chose the weak comments of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this blogosphere and the despised things--and the things that are not--to bury the things that are, so that no one may rank before Him.

- 1 Corinthians 1:21-29 (Bloggers Edition, Alexander)

See also:
Do Not Crave His Traffic

Alexander is a writer in the online spiritual battlefield. You can also find him at The Scrooge Report.

Versical: Devotion

DEVOTION
by Versical

It’s been a journey, full of change
You had Your work cut out
Accepting me, just how I was
A sinner full of doubt
But slowly You have done the job
Of stripping down the mask
Today I stand upon the rock
You have fulfilled Your task
Of changing me into the child
That You made me to be
Devoted to Your guiding hand
Which saved a fool like me
From following the world, to death
Defeating satans plan
Through Jesus, I am born again
I’m Your devoted fan.

Read more of Versical's poetry at Mike's Blogs

ShareYourStoryNow: 'Finding My Identity, Growing In Self-Esteem'

Sometimes my "blog time" appears to be going nowhere. I have no devotion to write. I don't know if I should be "Digging" or "Googling" or what...ever. I don't have a plan!

This morning was just such a time, when shortly into it I ran across shareyourstorynow.org and found a gem. Now whether you'll get as big a kick out of it as I did is not my call, but I hope you do.

It made my blog time all the worthwhile!

This from Abby's story on shareyourstorynow.org:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

The other night I caught myself cleaning the house, and during one of my many breaks, a song by Ginny Owens came on called “True Story.” It’s one of my favorites, but I hardly ever really listened to the lyrics.

The chorus melted my heart. I must admit, it made me say “Oh wow.”

You see my imperfections
Still You say I’m a masterpiece
A marvelous reflection
The image of Yourself in me
You paint with strokes of grace
Undoing my disguise
You say beauty lies in the true story

She nailed it right on! God sees all my imperfections: my stubborn mind, my doubting heart, my constant learning soul. Through it all, He sees His reflection.

He takes every label that I have placed on myself and slowly but surely He peels them apart till they are no more.

As a young child I dealt with self-esteem issues. Daughter of parents who were immigrants, I didn’t speak fluent English until the age of 11, my hair was a frizz ball and my clothes were often hand-me-downs.

In my parents attempt to have me in the best schools possible, I was always in schools where little girls had the latest brand-name clothing, had perfect smooth hair and could speak more than English, but also French.

As I grew older and was finally able to tame my wild hair, learn English to the point it became my first language and had a part time job where I was able to buy some clothes for school … I learned that I was never the daughter of immigrants, but the daughter of a mighty King.

It took me a bit to accept that. Geesh, I still deal with it today! It’s something that on a daily basis I have to remind myself of … that I have a God who loves every curl on my head, and then some. Amazing isn’t it?

Be sure to visit shareyourstorynow.org!

Versical: Now is the Time

Blogger Mike has been given the gift of writing Christian poetry. He wants to share and encourage those who visit his Versical's Blog.

Often, his poetry speaks to me directly and in an area I am struggling with or need encouragement. Mike prays that God blesses you all. Also, he writes in his About page: "feel free to copy any you like."

This from today's post on Versical's Blog:

NOW IS THE TIME

Now is the time to be the one
Who you are meant to be
Finally you’ve died to self
You are now set free
To use the gifts that you contain
To bring the harvest in
The hands and feet of Jesus Christ
With many a heart to win.

Now is the time to do the things
That you are meant to do
Guided by the precious One
Who lives inside of you
Together you can be a power
To light the days of gloom
If only you will give yourself
Allow The Spirit room.

- Versical

Choosing Blogosphere Battles, Internet Missions

There's something about the stream of thoughts on the internet that makes humanity very real...and that includes the exposition of good and evil.

Blogging, forums, discussions, and comment sections bring out the best and worst in people.

I'm going to try and discuss this kind of "spiritual battle" as often as I can here. I wanted to start today with part of this discussion found at BlogCatalog.

If you are new to social networking, just hang in there...there's nothing too complicated. Just follow along.

The group at BlogCatalog is Religious Debate. The Discussion headline: to all blievers. The discussion text: to all believers 2 simple questions do you thing that your religion is the true and the only true religion and if yes then why

BlogCatalog does a great thing...they allow "religious" discussion although, there was a moment when its managers were fed up with the "personal attacks" (a common social networking problem) so, they decided to sequester "religious topics" out of general discussion and into its own discussion group. However, it appears that's no longer the case.

Anyways, my response to the "2 simple questions" is this:

I don't belong to a particular "religion". I am Christian (which is not a religion). It means I am saved through Jesus. Yes, I made a decision to follow Him...but it was by His grace that I can have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus is the door.

My faith is real by the assurance I am given since the time I made that decision.

Now, whether someone follows a certain "religion" and then is able to spend eternity in heaven upon his death or not...is not my call!

Let me say this, I would highly discourage anyone from ignoring the possibility that Jesus is the answer! He has been for me and millions of others. My life has been transformed...and I have never been the same since!

....and I still have "fun"!

So, I'd like you to ponder this...we choose our battles...do you choose the blogosphere as your battleground for what you believe is right? ...and if you are a Christian...do you consider the internet a mission field?

Alexander is a writer in the online spiritual battlefield. You can also find him at The Scrooge Report.

Add DeKalb

Why is it that when tragedy strikes close to home we often look to God so much quicker and more intently than ever before? Thank you ThirstyJon for giving us this snapshot of your life, DeKalb, Illinois, and a call for prayer after yet another campus shooting -- this time at Northern Illinois University.

Trouble in DeKalb

This from The Thirst for Freedom blog:

I was born in DeKalb, Illinois and grew up in Sycamore - the neighboring town. We ate lots of corn in the summer where I lived. I worked for the DeKalb Ag in the Corn Fields “de-tassling” corn when I was in Junior High...

...My wife and I were driving along an Australian Freeway between Mt Gambier and Adelaide with a group of fun young people when we got a call from a friend back in Illinois. A mad-man has shot up the campus at NIU. Just hours ago. The police were there in less than a minute (I am not surprised by their quick response!). People have died. The university whose political science program had helped produce liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, and helped produce missions author Ruth A. Tucker, and even had a small part in indirectly influencing the relatively unknown Founder and Chief (only) blogger of Freedomthirst.com (ThirstyJon!) has been attacked! The city where I (and Cindy Crawford) was born has been added to the growing list of towns that have faced this kind of disastrous violence...

...Then for a brief moment I wept. The world is a crazy place...

...We need to produce a generation that sees the world through God’s eyes as best they can.

Banning guns won’t work. A generation of heroes will.

Join me in prayer for the families of the victims at Northern Illinois University and the grieving town of DeKalb, Illinois.

Then join me Seeking the Kingdom of God on Earth, as Jesus commanded us to do when he taught us how to pray:

“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven.”

Read full post at Trouble in DeKalb