Without blogs, I would never have been introduced to this (which was cool the first eight times I saw it)...
...or this (which I still find funny)...
...or the genius of OK Go:
Of course, I also would have been spared this:
So, I guess if I'm arguing for or against blogging on the basis of youtube videos...it's a mixed bag.
At the end of 2006, Time magazine published an issue celebrating the way in which the internet (and blogging in particular) served as a great equalizer. Millions of people now had the ability to make their voices heard.
They could publish their thoughts on the latest geo-political development. They could express their support or opposition to an upcoming piece of legislation. They could download a video of their grandmother slipping on the wet pavement and falling into a vat of chocolate.
Of course, I also would have been spared this:
So, I guess if I'm arguing for or against blogging on the basis of youtube videos...it's a mixed bag.
At the end of 2006, Time magazine published an issue celebrating the way in which the internet (and blogging in particular) served as a great equalizer. Millions of people now had the ability to make their voices heard.
They could publish their thoughts on the latest geo-political development. They could express their support or opposition to an upcoming piece of legislation. They could download a video of their grandmother slipping on the wet pavement and falling into a vat of chocolate.
George
Will, alas, was not impressed. In his article, “Full
Esteem Ahead,” Will disagreed with Time’s
assertion that Thomas Paine had been the first blogger and Benjamin
Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac was
basically MySpace (*Note for younger readers: basically, MySpace =
Facebook). He writes:
Nevertheless,
I’m excited to tread into the blogging waters with my fellow pastors. Ritch, Art, and Scott are dear friends. Each of them have had a significant impact on
my walk with the Lord and my ministry.
Franklin's extraordinary persona informed what he wrote but was not the subject of what he wrote. Paine was perhaps history's most consequential pamphleteer. There are expected to be 100 million bloggers worldwide by the middle of 2007, which is why none will be like Franklin or Paine. Both were geniuses; genius is scarce. Both had a revolutionary civic purpose, which they accomplished by amazing exertions. Most bloggers have the private purpose of expressing themselves for their own satisfaction. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is nothing demanding or especially admirable about it, either. They do it successfully because there is nothing singular about it, and each is the judge of his or her own success.
In other words, Will (1) believes that most blogs are ultimately
self-serving and (2) are not likely to contribute something substantial to the
public discourse. As he puts it, “George III would have preferred dealing
with 100 million bloggers rather than one Paine.”
I’m
confident that the three men who are joining me in contributing to this blog—and others who will be contributing occasionally—will be a great resource for your spiritual edification. I’m confident that I will grow as I read the
posts of the other men. Far from pursuing a running narrative about themselves, I'm excited as the bloggers here pursue exalting Jesus Christ.
Even
though I run the risk of “expressing myself for my own satisfaction,” let me
share just a few things about myself by way of introduction. My wife, Whitney, and I have been married for
almost thirteen years and have four wonderful children. I’ve been on staff at Bethany Community
Church for almost four years and, prior to that, was on staff at Bethany
Baptist for eight years.
Today
as I was cleaning my office, I found a copy of my ordination
certification. I glanced at the portion
of the certificate where the men who had served on my ordination council signed
the document. The first three names on
the certificate? Ritch Boerckel, Scott
Boerckel, and Art Georges.
These men were instrumental in helping me begin my pastoral ministry and I'm excited they will help me continue to grow in it.
Looking forward to hearing more of what you guys have to say...as I listen to "Friday" in the background with each read.
ReplyDelete...also, am I missing the email subscription button/field? I see the one to receive emails via follow-up comments, but not one for posts. I'm pretty lame at following things if they don't come to the central hub of my email...and since this blog is about me and my needs, I expect results here.
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