Blog-Fast for September

I intend NOT to blog for the month of September. This will be my longest ever blog-fast.

Why?

– Because I feel that a new season is upon us and I need to take a breather before plunging in. If i dont, I may miss this new season through laxity and the curse of routine sameness. Does that make sense??????

– Because after my 5 year blogiversary I decided to take an extended break and rethink my blog. But it never happened and I feel like I should have.

– Because I Do suffer from blog addiction and blog fasting is a way for me to kill the old man and crucify him again – allowing God the opportunity of resurrection in his way.

– Because I have travelled FAR TOO MUCH in the last 3 months and I want to be around for my family this month. I also need to do non-blogging tasks like reading, writing, administrating and emailing and i dont want to get distracted.

– Because my blog is old and tired and not nearly as much fun as it used to be. I want to be re-inspired and invigorated.

– Because I have an idea of how blogging should be and I want my blog to catch up to my vision.

– Because I have been SELFISH in my blogging recently, concerned with building my own blog and tracking my own progress rather than being a resource on other people’s blogs.

– Because the quality of my blog posts has decayed and I am posting fewer poetic posts [a sign of good spiritual health] and fewer thoughtful theological/missiological posts [a sign of rigorous thinking in my head] and I need to raise the bar.

– Because I have become infatuated [again] with my stats and my blog authority and google-ranking – a form of idolatry and narcissism that can only be harmful.

– Because my blog is becoming institutional and I want to OWN it again – as a whole-life blog and not a way of fulfilling other peoples expectations.

– Because my blogging world is more complex, involving a number of blogs, and I need to think on how to bring all these worlds together

– Because I want to PURGE my site of the thousands of visitors who are jumping in without any history and would do better reading someone else’s blog written by someone who has the time to explain the basics.

Probably other reasons also. There will, however, be one or two posts to finish off the month of August that i might back-date to put them in place.

Anyway, when i come back on October 1st, I hope to be in a better place and have a smaller but more committed readership. Those of you who read TSK daily and are thinking of moving on to other blogs – God bless you all. Thanks for being a part of my life and allowing me to be a part of yours. Those who want to track with me in the NEXT STAGE of what God is doing in this crazy emerging Kingdom thing, then pray for me over the next month, hook up again on October 1st, and get ready for the next level. Together!

Peace out.

Andrew (tall skinny kiwi)

Related: Blogging Less, Living More

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The Blogger’s Prayer 1.2 by Andrew Jones

Our Father

who lives above and beyond the blogosphere

Give us this day a life worth blogging,

The access to words and images that express our journey with passion and integrity,

And a secure connection to publish your daily mercies.

Your Kingdom come into new spaces today,

As we make known your mysteries,

Posting by posting,

Blog by blog.

Give this day,

The same ability to those less privileged,

Whose lives speak louder than ours,

Whose sacrifice is greater,

Whose stories will last longer.

Forgive us our sins,

For blog-rolling strangers and pretending they are friends,

For counting unique visitors but not noticing unique people,

For delighting in the thousands of hits but ignoring the one who returns,

For luring viewers but sending them away empty handed,

For updating daily but repenting weekly.

As we forgive those who trespass on our sites to appropriate our thoughts without reference,

Our images without approval,

Our ideas without linking back to us.

Lead us not into the temptation to sell out our readership,

To see people as links and not as lives,

To make our blogs look better than our actual story.

But deliver us from the evil of pimping ourselves instead of pointing to you,

From turning our guests into consumers of someone else’s products,

From infatuation over the toys of technology,

From fame before our time is right.

For Yours is the power to guide the destinies behind the web logs,

To bring hurting people into the sanctuaries of our sites,

To give us the stickiness to follow you, no matter who is watching or reading.

Yours is the glory that makes people second look our sites and our lives,

Yours is the authority above all authorities

Yours is the ranking above all rankings

For ever and ever,

Amen

Original: Bloggers Prayer 1.0 by Andrew Jones (2002)

Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

36 Comments

  • Good on ya, Andrew! i applaud you, will be praying for you, and will be back Oct. 1st for the “next phase” of TSK! Be at peace, have fun with your family, and be rested to catch up on all the things you mentioned like emailing, writing, etc. May the Lord inspire and refresh you. Also, THANK YOU for your humility and honesty with your struggles. You are an example to us all. Bless you, my friend! Adele

  • Kester says:

    Strange minds think alike. I’m planning on a similar break before the US edition of the book comes out.
    Enjoy!
    Good to hook up at GB.

  • Jon Harris says:

    Before you go… any ideas as to what the new season is gonna be about?

  • Andrew says:

    Andrew – May this blogfast be a time of refreshing and new insight for you. I think I need to take similar action, and soon. Not only a blogfast, but a podcast. I’m becoming increasingly addicted to this.
    Ah, technology, you Faustian bargain!
    AC

  • Good for you. See you in October.
    Peace,
    Jamie

  • Adam says:

    Blessings to you. I look forward to your return. Use the time wisely.

  • emma says:

    Andrew,
    Enjoy this time of renewal… be inspired! I have so appreciated all your honesty here, it inspires me. Looking forward to the next stage of your journey, see you on Oct 1st.
    Emma

  • Dana Ames says:

    All good reasons.
    Thank you Andrew.
    May you and God be more present to one another this month- and to all the rest of your loved ones- and may your “chores” be graced with the same Presence.
    Dana

  • David says:

    RESPECT!
    Fantastic. I think this is a great thing to do. I am sorely tempted to join you (will need a quick think about disappointing my three readers!)
    Hopefully will find you again in October.
    Christ with you in the ebb and flow.

  • Mathias says:

    Great idea! I had a blog break during the month of june, and it really changed my unhealthy attitude toward blogging. It was all good, and I think you blog fast will be the same!
    God bless your month of september! And your family’s =)

  • Nadia says:

    Wise.
    Blessings on the journey.

  • Alan Cross says:

    Good idea, Andrew. As I read your reasons why they seemed pretty appealling to me as well. I’ve been blogging a lot lately myself, and a disciplined break sometime soon might be a great idea. Thanks for leading the way, yet again.
    I look forward to October 1st!

  • maryellen says:

    as well as reading..take long hikes in nature

  • Mike Higgins says:

    Andrew,
    You will be missed. You have givien us some hits of what to pray for. Do you have any other prayer requests?

  • Brian Heasley says:

    will miss it andrew, but think it is a cool step to take. Shalom

  • Rodney Olsen says:

    I look forward to the new season.

  • suzanna Bond says:

    Blessings on your fast. Enjoy the angels it may invite.

  • Mick Gordon says:

    It must be nice to have so many unwanted readers, though I am sure if they realized they were unwanted (as I did at the end of the post) They would not wish to intrude. You sound seriously depressed, maybe the blog is only the tip of the iceberg.

  • bless you as you take time to be refreshed
    you are one of the bloggers who inspired me to start blogging

  • Thanks for your honesty and radical step Andrew. Really refreshing.

  • my blog is so irregular i’m not thinking of joining a blog fast! (perhaps though i should consider a conference speaking fast ;o) but all you’ve said makes sense. nice to see you at GB, and hope the period proves time for God, family and inner refreshment.

  • robbymac says:

    Oh, so I’m not the only one wanting to re-think the whole blogging thing?
    You have no idea how encouraging it is to hear that!
    Maybe we should all blog-fast for September…

  • Bryan Riley says:

    great post. I’m glad I don’t know how to get addicted to those things, like google rank, etc., because I’m sure if i did i would. My techno skills aren’t high, but I do know that blogging can be addictive if you let it. May we be addicted to Him and His glory, and then the rest will work itself out.

  • gavin says:

    definitely a good for you! may this time be a blessing. shalom, -g

  • josh says:

    dude we miss you already!

  • Scott Howard says:

    I think that is a great idea and while your gone if anyone is interested in a Christian resource you can check out http://www.dipnoi.org

  • Keswiggle says:

    Trust an old fogey like me to find an interesting blog just as it goes into a season of mellow fruitfulness (hopefully) hibernation. At least I’ve learned some Inuit – I didn’t know that blog meant “tip of an iceberg”.

  • Ross Garner says:

    A few months ago I signed up for a site meter to see how many people visit my blog. The strange thing is, I could not install it … the Holy Spirit kept reminding me of the mess that King David got into when he organised a census. So I remain (almost) content to post my little thoughts which are shared by a few (that I know of) and a few more that just lurk. It would be nice to know how many were reading it though, don’t you think? >-)

  • hamo says:

    I have very similar feelings at times.
    Its funny how you start soemthing for the pure enjoyment of it and somehwre along the line begin to feel responsible for it…
    At times i ponder winding it up – but then I enjoy it… yes addiction is an issue too.
    At other times I find it an oasis to plant thoughts and watch what develops.
    And there is some kind of community developed by this strange practice. Its a funny new world we live in… 🙂

  • maninthepew says:

    Because I want to PURGE my site of the thousands of visitors who are jumping in without any history and would do better reading someone else’s blog written by someone who has the time to explain the basics.
    I have been a regular visitor to your site – I am not sure what to make of this remark. It sounds very patronising and judgemental for those who ‘do not know the basics’. It is a disappointing and condescending comment from you which is sad as you are one of the major voices of the emerging church blogs.

  • maninthepew says:

    I hope all those beginners will keep away from you blog in Oct and only the ‘TRUELY INITIATED’ will return and understand/appreciate you

  • you crack me up. your blogger’s prayer is brilliant. i may have to borrow a line of two, with appropriate credit of course.
    interesting that while you are declaring Sept a blog fast i decided to reenter the blogosphere after nearly a year’s sabbatical. i hear ya on the whole bloggy thing. it really does suck me in, too. i’ll likely have to make blog rules for myself so as not to neglect my family or responsibilites.
    maybe we need to start a recovery group for blog addicts. We could call it BS, Blog Survivors.

  • julie says:

    how exciting – nearly time for you to make your return – anticipation is killing me – HURRY UP !!!!

  • PJ says:

    I’ve briefly read your blog. I’ve been attending a Vineyard Church in Indiana now for 4 years. I’ve even graduated from VLI Leaderhip Institute. I have to admit–and I wish I didn’t feel this way–but I find the teaching at my Bloomington Vineyard to be extremely shallow–and I don’t expect to get all my spiritual needs met at church. There is no accountability for people who need it. Time after time the people I bring to Christ receive no follow up at the time they most need it. Those with critical issues-addiction, maritial problems, etc.–are left on their own. Yeah, they love–right into no accountability and no direction. I am really burnt out and disappointed in this particular Vineyard. I believe it isn’t like that in every Vineyard church, but I feel like I am asked to put my brain in a jar by the door before I walk in. I am a thinker. I’m a professor. That is what God called me to do, but I have never felt that the combination of that and being a woman has a place there. In fact, I’ve felt that this personal quality that God created me to use has been actually criticized at this Vineyard.
    I believe in Vineyard Theology, but I am not one to appear emotional in church, but I do have my deeply personal times with God. I feel after 4 years at the Vineyard that they have their own form of Cookie Cutter Christianity–Vineyard talk, the Christianese–I am deeply disappointed. I feel as if there isn’t a place for me. I’ve hung in there, but I’m losing confidence. Please don’t think I am complainer. This is the first time I’ve even spoken about this–
    PJ

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