| Bloggers Block |
| Written by John Smulo | |
| Wednesday, 29 April 2009 10:09 | |
 I don't need to tell you that I haven't been blogging much these past few months---or maybe that's these past couple years. It's obvious from the dates on my blog posts that show weeks between posts. There was a time when I worked hard to put up a post a day. These days, I care less and less about putting up a post every other week. Or am I lying? The thing is, I care and I don't care. That may sound contradictory and confused, but its accurate. I enjoy blogging and want to keep connecting with the blogosphere. However, I enjoy my day-to-day existence more and it takes up far more of my time at the moment. Here's the other thing: I have had a hard time blogging about anything that doesn't involve whining about the church or the state of Christianity. I think this says a lot about where I'm at with both, though I'm grateful to say my love for Jesus hasn't changed as a result of this. Yet, I struggle with being so negative all the time in my blogging. Here's another thing about a different thing: I keep wanting to blog about marriage and family and parenting and work and friendship. Yet for some weird reason I think I'm scared to do this, and I also don't feel like I know how to blog about these topics. I'm hoping that some time, maybe today, maybe in a month, I'll start giving it a shot. Anyhow, what's going on with you?
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Comments (19)
 
I have no life if Smulo does not blog
 1
April 29, 2009
I blog to vent… so if I have nothing to vent about, I have no blogs. That can be a great thing.
I have another blog for bible study. So if I have nothing there, it means I'm not reading my bible. That's not a great thing. And I have Facebook, in which I am technically micro-blogging whenever I answer the question, "What's on your mind?" Twitter users do the same thing. If I can get it out of my system via Facebook, I don't really need to via my blog. Maybe you're like that too. I don't understand being scared to blog on various topics… unless you're afraid of a negative response. Or exposing too-sensitive areas. Maybe blogging anonymously would be the way to go. 2
April 29, 2009
You know what I think. Just do it! I think it will come. Ok ok, I will if you will, how about that!
3
April 29, 2009
Actually, I'm having a bit of a blog renaissance at the moment - I actually managed to post something positive about something I'd been thinking about tangentially related to Christianity. Well done me.
 Positive is good. I find it helps not to think about Church. Maybe I'm over it enough to move on...? 4
April 29, 2009
I, too, have been slacking at my blog. Part of it is having less to vent about or just being tired of the same old complaints. Maybe a lot of us are coming to the end of "detox" where we've had to expel a lot of bad stuff.
I'd be interested to hear what you have to say on those topics. There's plenty of room for positive, creative ideas that go beyond the churchy cliches we're all sick of. 5
April 30, 2009
Hey all,
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm sorry for the confusion for some of your with comments. I forgot that I had another blog post with the exact same title, which created the exact same URL, so many of the comments went to there! Doh  6
April 30, 2009
I have periods of 'blogstipation' as well. A lot of it comes from having written so much already. So I feel like everyone knows my positions on torture, equality for all, religion and atheism, yummy recipes, my family, my favorite colors, my hopes and fears. It's all out there, so what to write now that's new and interesting? Not much.
Then I go through periods of what I call "blogarreah", where I just can't stop posting. Not in one of those periods right now. I for one would love to read about marriage and family here, if and when you figure out the right way to do that for you. 7
April 30, 2009
J,
'Blogstipation' and 'blogarreah'. You crack me up! I feel like I've gotten to know you through your blogging even though we know each other in person. I like it when bloggers post on a wide range of topics. I'm trying to get off my one subject blogging kick. 8
April 30, 2009
but I LOVE your blog, John~!
9
April 30, 2009
What's going on with me? I just had a Microsoft certification exam - and I passed it! YAHOO!
 10
April 30, 2009
Hey John -
Blogging is a weird animal for me. Sometimes, I feel like it has an important role in my life, my relationships, and our culture. Other times, I think it is stupid. I have concluded that it is a tool (just one of many) for self expression, developing relationships, talking over important issues, and discussing silly stuff. I think it will ebb and flow with our circumstances and our emotions. As you know, I have been hard at work at trying to breathe some life into the medium in a way that I hope is purposeful and helps some people. I believe that it has that potential. Grace & Peace 11
April 30, 2009
This post says a lot of what I've been thinking/feeling about my blogging/lack of blogging. Been away for some time and it is hard to get back into the swing.
I do enjoy your blog and read it whenever I am catching up on the dozen or so that I actually really follow. Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Amen. 12
May 01, 2009
Hello JJ,
I was wondering if you would realise that your current blog item "Bloggers Block" (29th April 2009) links automatically back to an earlier posting "Blogger's Block" (17th June 200  . I was trying to add a post to the 2009 version but I kept getting sent back in time and space to 2008. There's nothing new under the sun eh?.....Gosh, this whole subject is as deep as the ocean....I wonder if this strange virtual time vortex is an annual phenomenon. I wonder if blogger's block is an annual phenomenon. Regarding your 2009 post: I thought I did notice a gradual loss of momentum and impetus with your site. I felt a kinship and an inevitability with you and with a process I thought I recognised. The process being, the gradual running out of energy, as the many problems and faults of organised Christian religion were discussed, defined, and redefined to the point where I felt spitless and tired. I've come to believe that a perfectly clear definitional statement that finally puts into a nutshell all the gripes I have with organised religion; will not solve anything; will not change anything. Early on there was great benefit in the process as there was a chance to link up with other people who suffered as I did........ it was just good to find that such like minded Christians existed. It was good to have a chance to vent. Very therapeutic I think. After a while though, It becomes time to move on into more positive and creative waters. The temptation to wallow in an even more thorough redefining of the problems actually becomes self defeating and makes one feel as if God has just left us all to our own devices.... to struggle on as best we can. No abundance. No victory. No joy....... (not a good way to be). For me, any success I have from this point on usually comes when I take on a much lighter and less serious approach to life. (Yolk easy/Burden light). It's not all up to me.... I can't "make it happen".....It's not my responsibility...... I can't MAKE people get saved.... I can't SOLVE the problems in church. I can, however, be the person God made me to be and do the good works HE puts before me to do. I can be a part of a Christian community (including the organised bit) without being sold out on the system or feeling that it should meet my needs. God meets my needs. Church often actually creates some of those needs.... but I don't want to abandon my brother's and sisters by leaving church life completely. Sure there's lots of crap....lots..... but I'm just looking for the good bits now and trying to ignore the rest, (changing the crap where I can without going mad about it). Blogging and cyberfriendship is amazing and of great benefit. However you can't put your hand on the shoulder of a cyberfriend .... you can't give them a hug.... or a delicious biscuit....or a coffee. You can discuss a movie that you've both seen but you can't sit beside them as you watch it...then have lunch together. Cyberfriends can cease to exist after their last posting. They just don't post again and that's it. They're gone. I wish you well John Smulo. We're on opposite sides of the planet but we'll always be friends. We've got a history and we're both playing a part in the same epic story God is telling. Cheers Brother, 13
May 01, 2009
What about a post on faith and fatherhood or something like that?
14
May 02, 2009
I like Ross' thoughts. Blogging is something personal. Faith is something personal. In some ways, it doesn't really matter what the rest of the Christian world is doing with regard to your own faith.
Maybe blogging about the 'simple' things in life and how they connect to your personal faith walk would be fun.  BB Mike 15
May 03, 2009
John why don't you have a Myspace page ... Thats about the only thing I check anymore.
A Blog Site pretty cool maybe i should start one of those ... as you know I always have plenty to say. Email me John so we can catch up or GET A MYSPCE PAGE ... lol. 16
May 05, 2009
Take a Pepto-Blogsmol and blog me in the morning.
(Please.) 17
May 10, 2009
John-- I'm feeling the same way as you and a lot of the other people who commented. I'm tired of griping about the same things over and over again; but then again, I do like blogging but don't know if I should start over, or even if I want to. But I love when you do post something, so I'll be anticipating the next post! They always make me think!
Kate 18
May 14, 2009
Man, I feel what you are saying. I'm blogging less and less about church, largely because I either can't say something in a way that fits the blog format, or I'm simply being too negative. For me, the best blogging comes out of doing, so I guess if one is not "leading" a church or heavily involved in day to day church stuff, then churchy blogging will have a limited potential at best.
Blog about what you from week to week - that's the only formula that seems to really work. 19
May 17, 2009
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