HAPPY BIRTHDAY DISCIPLESHIP INK!

Just a few days ago Discipleship Ink turned one! After blogging for a year I must say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. And as I do with every birthday (that’s a lie), I now pause to reflect on what I’ve learned over the past year.  (Actually, most birthdays I just eat cake, watch TV, and check my bald spot in the mirror. True reflection is rare.) So without further ado, let the reflecting (of more than just my bald spot) begin.

1) Sometimes I’m funny, sometimes I’m not

My daily mood tends to come out in my blogs. If I’m feeling jolly (I never use that word), my stuff comes out light and fluffy, like a playful jolly (there it is again) cute little frolicking bunny. If I’m stressed or burdened, I write in a subdued, heavy manner, like a fat, slow, aged, overfed, pig on antidepressants. Of course, my wife says I’m not funny even when I think I am. But I think the manner in which I just described my pig writing proves her wrong.

2) Blogging is fun. Whoudathunkit?

My first book, Stuff I Hate About God, is coming out October 1^st. The publishing-powers-that-be suggested I start a blog to help my platform. So I reluctantly did. But once I started posting, I realized how much I enjoyed it. It gives me a place to write absolutely anything that comes to mind (within reason—my brain comes up with some pretty whacky stuff that no one should be forced to read…ever. Like that previous pig description. Or this post.) I’ve also learned that whenever I write about faith, people read…a lot of people read. So it’s helped me see where God might want me to focus.

3) Blogging taught me how to pluralize platypus

I’ve always had a hidden love for the duck-billed platypus. I have no idea why. I guess I just love the unique quirkiness of the animal. I mention the platypus often so I had to learn how to pluralize it. Turns out “duck-billed platypi” is incorrect. I know, WHO WOULD’VE BELIEVED IT? It’s technically “duckbilled platypuses”. This is a valuable rule we should all memorize. It will come in handy someday, just like math.

4) Blogging is power

Don’t mess with a man with a platform. I tell people this a lot. Anytime something crazy happens, readers and friends want to know if they’ll be the subject of the next post. I say “No, I’d never do that.” The next day I send them the link. In fact, this blog happened when a friend wanted credit for a picture she took that I used in my blogs about our Wheel of Fortune experience.

5) If I number my points, I always have 5

I don’t typically number many of my posts with specific points, but when I do, they always seem to have 5. This blog explains why. I included this point here simply to break this vicious, ugly cycle. Now the next one makes 6. I knew math would come in handy.

6) Blogging opens doors

This aspect really shocked me, to be honest. I’ve had people, even strangers, contact me with personal questions about life and circumstances simply because I posted something that somehow touched them. It’s opened doors for ministry, new friendships, and even renewed faith. I’ve connected with people I never dreamed I’d connect with. Several shared that they came back to faith after I told of my son’s testimony from his most recent seizure and 4 day ICU stay. This aspect has both thrilled and humbled me. God will use any avenue when we submit all to him.

So if you’re considering a blog, I encourage it wholeheartedly. But be careful, with power comes responsibility. And as you begin, I would strongly suggest sticking with these two modes of writing for success:

A) playful-jolly-cute-little-frolicking-bunny writing, and

B) fat-aged-stuffed-overfed-depressed-pig writing.

Both can be equally effective when used properly. Feel free to quote me.

THANKS FOR READING!!! If you’re not yet following, click that button over there on the right side of the page that says “Click Here, Get Inked.” It’ll send these posts directly to your email. Now we’re off to the terrible twos so do keep reading. We’re gonna need all the help we can get.