"TIPS FOR A CHRISTIAN BLOGGER"

Good Evening to All!

Tonight is going to be a bit different. A good while back, I joined a "bloggers group" named "Faithful Bloggers" founded by Courtney. It is a wonderful group, and she has a lot of wonderful ideas. Every week, she posts a new topic idea for those who can't think of a topic to post. Every once in a while I take her up on that topic. I like to use my own, (or what I feel that God puts in my spirit) most of the time, but every now and then I will check her site just to see if her topic jumps out at me. This week's topic did.

Blog Prompt #45 of Courtney's asks "What three tips would we give a new Christian blogger?" There are so many types of blogs out there. Some look like they spend literally HOURS on their blogs, and others a shorter time. Some look like they do a lot of research and others mainly blog about their life experiences. That is what is so neat about blogging and reading other blogs. The diversity is endless.

Well, back to the topic. I KNOW that their are much better Christian blogs than mine, written by Pastors, or elders of a church, or their wives. I definitely am a far cry from being that knowledgeable about the Word of God. This brings me to my first tip: Pray before you begin blogging. You wouldn't be doing a Christian Blog if it wasn't in your heart to do so, so it would serve best if you would pray and ask God what HE wants you to blog about. Ask Him to show you, and He will.

My second tip would be: Be true to yourself. Don't try to be something you're not. I have said more than once that my extent is being passionate about the Word of God, and being a good "servant" by spreading His Word the best way I know how.

My third tip is: spend time on your post. Don't expect to sit down at your computer and whip it out in 30 or 45 minutes. If you truly care about what you are writing, you will want to make sure you get your information right by doing proper research. This takes time. I bought a book about blogging when I first started, and it said we shouldn't spend more than an hour on our post. I disagree. Granted, there is such thing as too much information, and I am SO guilty of that! It's like once I get started typing, thoughts just keep rolling in, and I don't want to stop.

The problem there is, I won't say most, but a lot of people don't like to process that much information at one time. If I were smart, I would break it down into two separate posts. I have tried before, but it seems like my thoughts run so close together, that if I don't keep going, my thought seems half finished. Needless to say, "don't use my blog as an example! LOL! I kid about myself and say that I write like I talk, and I talk too much. LOL! Keep your blog informative, yet at medium length.

Also, I would suggest to have more substance than just Bible verses. Include some personal testimony or commentary that will give a personal touch. That will help people get to know who you are as a person as well as your walk with the Lord.

OK, I know I've passed tip #3, but I'm just typing what God is putting on my heart to say. Check out other Christian blogs and reach out to the writers. I have made some WONDERFUL friends all around blogland, but I have a few Christian Blog friends who I can go to for advice on scriptures or ideas, and they have truly been a Godsend. Don't be bashful about reaching out. I have made some true friends by doing that. Not just in the Christian blog realm either.

Now I know Courtney just asked for three,but I had to go with my heart. Here is the last one. I suggest that you take your blog seriously. I may be "off base" here, but since this is my passion, I look at my blog as me doing my part as a disciple of Christ, spreading God's Word. Just as He told His original disciples to go into all parts of the world and preach the gospel, that is what I am doing with the exception of two things.

One- I am NOT a preacher, so I consider my blog "witnessing". Secondly I reach more people by with my computer than I do in person. I also witness to those I come in contact with if the opportunity arises, but I feel I do a much better job by blogging.

If you have a Christian blog, remember in God's Word, Colossians 3:17 it says, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. This includes your blog, so make Him proud.

I hope that these have been tips that you can take with you and put to good use, because they have always worked for me.

Good Night To All and May God Bless!

"WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER"

Good Afternoon to All!

I really had not intended to post this so early, but evidently I accidentally clicked publish instead of save! LOL! Anyway, tonight, what you see is what you get! LOL!.

Do you believe Christians should be a member of a church? This is a question which Courtney at "Faithful Bloggers" put to "her members"as a Faithful Blogging prompt to blog about. So I now ask you.

I will give my own opinion and reasons for the choice I've made, and then I am hopeful that you will comment back to me on what your opinions are on this subject.

I truly have MIXED feelings on this subject. I do think that people make too big of an issue whether you are a "member or not". I say this because when I was wanting to get married for the second time, I couldn't find a church to get married in, let alone a preacher who would do it, so I had to get a Justice of the Peace to perform the ceremony and we got married in my "then , to-be mother-in-law's house. This was back in 1980. My present marriage was the same, except my brother-in-law allowed us to "use" his church, just that he wouldn't perform the ceremony, so we were married in a church by a Justice of the Peace once again. There were two reasons given for this denial. First, because I had been divorced, and then because I wasn't a "member of their church.

I guess it wasn't a very "Christian attitude" on my part, but my reaction to their reasons was "well, that isn't a very good way to make people want to visit your church and become a member either!"

I feel like as long as we "go to church", I don't think God cares whether we are members or not. My personal feelings about that are that being a member is for "business purposes only". Being a member entitles a person to vote on business matters of the church. Being a member, is being held to a higher standard and helping out in all areas of the church such as fund raisers, cleaning, receptions and so forth.

Yes, we should want to do that anyway, but at the same time I think members are "EXPECTED" to do so.

The way I figure it is God wants us to have a Personal Relationship with Him, in church and out of church. He says "do not forsake the assembling of yourselves, meaning go to church. He does not say you have to be a member of this Baptist, Methodist or Pentecostal church. HIS doctrine in the only one that counts.

According to His word we are supposed to follow HIS DOCTRINE and no other. The only place we will find that doctrine is in the Bible. Yes, we are suppose to go to church and be taught by our "shepherds", but we are also suppose to read His word for ourselves because there are so many "false preachers" out there, we need to make sure for ourselves that the preacher is preaching what is in line with the Word of God. (Which some do not).

It does not take a "church membership" to do that. Yes, I am a member of the church I attend, but if I ever stop being a member, for example if I don't end up following our bylaws for example of not attending regularly or something like that (if we start traveling more), then it won't bother me and I'm sure I will be just as loved by my church family as I am right at this moment. I attend a wonderful and loving church and I rather doubt if I would be taken from the role because of something like that, unless I did something horrible that would embarrass the church in the public eye, and that I would definitely understand.

I enjoy having a say in what goes on, but I don't think my one little vote would make that much difference.

I looked and looked for some reference verses in the Bible about "church membership" but of course, the only church I read about being a "member" of was the "Body of Christ", and We ALL should be members of that church.

This being said it is obvious that this is ALL only my opinion, as I said I could find no reference to belonging to a specific church except the main one.

Have a Wonderful Evening and a fun but SAFE Memorial Holiday!

I couldn't figure out how to do a background to be able to show the white print, so I made it as light as I could but still be able to see it. It is supposed to be Memorial Holiday! If anyone knows how to change the color of the background for just this one area I would appreciate the knowledge.

MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSION AND WHY

Good Evening to All!

Just for a little change of pace, I thought I would do something a little different tonight. I belong to a blogger community called "Faithful Bloggers. The owner of the community started something called "Faithful Blogging Prompts. This is where each week she puts up a new topic to blog about. This way, if anyone is stumped on what to write about, or has writer's block, they can take this idea and run with it. I don't use them all the time, but sometimes if I like the topic I will.

This one is near and dear to me because I cannot count the times in which I have stated, be careful which versions of the Bible you read.

I like several versions, but my favorite "just to read" is the King James Version. It is supposedly the most accurate. Shockingly, my LEAST favorite is the New International Version or "NIV". I will sometimes use it to study by, but I have my trusty Thompson Chain Reference King James Version, my New King James Version (I like it because it has easy reference) and My Message Bible handy.

Now that I've got you all confused and thinking I'm wishy-washy, let me explain my reasoning. First, I will start of by explaining why I don't care for the NIV. It is NOT very accurate. For example, in the King James Version, Matthew 18:21 says; Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Matthew 18:22 replies Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but Until seventy times seven.

Now Matthew 18:21 in the NIV is the same as King James, but in verse 22 is where it goes way off course. It says: Jesus answered, "I'll tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Now any way you look at it, even if a person is lousy in math, they know that 7 X 70 = 490 and NOT 77.

I know that 77 times would be possible in a day, because (not that I have counted, I might try that sometime though) I am a person who is ALWAYS apologizing for everything. Call it low self-esteem, or someone with a horrible guilt complex, I don't know, but I'm always apologizing whether I need to or not. If I haven't done anything wrong then I apologize just in case I do! LOL! Anyway, my point is 77 times asking for forgiveness sounds feasible. BUT on the other hand 490 times, I doubt it. what this is say is we should always forgive. It is being used as an infinite number. Those two versions of this scripture is as different as night and day.

Not only that, but if you will read the Book of Psalms, in both versions, you will find a full passage of Psalms which is in the King James Version is completely missing in the NIV. I like the NIV because it is easy to understand, but I am always careful to match it to the KJV to make sure it is accurate. Not only for my benefit, but also for my readers or those to whom I give a Bible Study. I would not want to be responsible for giving out wrong information, or leading someone astray. I would answer to God for that when "Judgment Day" comes."

I enjoy the Message Bible also. The thing is I would prefer to have the numbered version. I bought my Message Bible before the Numbered version came out. The un-numbered version is hard to compare if you are trying to use it as a study Bible and going back and forth in different versions. It doesn't come close to reading like the other versions as it is in contemporary language, so it is hard to study the way I like to. Now when I get some extra money, I plan on getting the numbered version, and using it a lot, (side by side with my King James, and my New King James.

Just in case you can't tell, I just like studying the Bible. Now let me clarify, I'm NOT putting the NIV down. I know that it is the Most Popular Version at this time, BUT we just have to be careful and make sure the scriptures line up with the King James Version.

Why don't you leave a comment about your specific preference of Bible Versions? I look forward to hearing from you.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

"PROVERBS, MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE BIBLE"

Good Evening to All!

I belong to a group called "Faithful Bloggers". Courtney, who is the originator of it has started something called "Faithful Blog Prompts", where she gives us subjects we can choose to write about and link to that site. This week's "blog prompt" is "What is your favorite book of the Bible and Why?"

My all-time favorite book of the Bible is Proverbs. The key word for this book is "wisdom". It is one of the few biblical books that clearly states its purpose. The words "wisdom and instruction" in 1:2 complement each other because wisdom (hokhmah) means "skill" and instruction (musar) means "discipline." No skill is perfected without discipline, and a person with skill has the freedom to create something beautiful. Proverbs deals with the most fundamental skill of all: practical righteousness before God in every area of life. The key Chapter is Proverbs 31 which is unique in ancient literature, as it reveals a very high and noble view of women.

The Key Verses in Proverbs are Proverbs 1:5-7 and 3:5-6-- (5-7) A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: (6) To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. (7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Not only are those the key verses of this book, they are two of my favorite verses. To me, they are "right up there with "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..... and I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

I love structure and I'm definitely not one for "vagueness". It's like I tell people all the time. I will do anything anyone asks of me, but don't "assume" I can read your mind. S P E L L - I T -
O U T. Be direct. Tell me exactly what you want.

I have always been a lover of "self-help books, and How-to's. Mainly because they spell everything out, like a laundry list.

This is what Proverbs reminds me of. Proverbs spells out God's plans for our lives, how we are supposed to live our lives. What to do and if we "don't do it, what to expect. While I love the book of Psalms also, it to me is just a "book of pretty poetry". We are to look at David's and the other writers' poems and songs and go by their examples. Proverbs states the obvious.

I love this book because if there is something you aren't sure about as far as whether it is acceptable or not, Proverbs is a book you can go to and pretty much find out what is acceptable and what isn't.

I am constantly striving to live the way God wants me to, and have the "mind of Christ", and while the whole Bible is my "text book" on life, the book of Proverbs is my "How-To Guide".I know this post was "short and sweet" but I feel like this is one instance where I could get straight and to the point. I don't know why I can't do that all the time, or why I feel the urge more times than not to go into GREAT DETAIL, but this was not one of those times, so maybe this post will give you the urging you need to go back into the Book of Proverbs and investigate my reason for it being my favorite book of the Bible.

Have a Wonderful evening and May God Bless!