New focus, new blog

There's been a lot of chatter on IHOPer blogs lately about blogging and about our purpose in doing so. As I follow the conversations, I've been thinking about sharpening the focus of this blog a little. I originally started this blog as a diary that my family could read during my internship. As my environment and lifestyle have changed, however, this blog has changed too. I think I would like to start to present a more refined face to the world: a blog that is more focused on the Habbakuk 2:1–2 mandate to write:

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the L-rd answered me [Habakkuk] and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie."

As Shawn Blanc has said,

The Lord has given you something to say. He has put the Word in your heart. What if one of the mediums for you to share your faith is through your blog? ...If we will speak encouragement and truth on our blog we are already tapping into the prophetic testimony of Jesus. And that is just a starting point. I think the Lord has given many of you an audience on your blog and you have an invitation to steward them. To speak the revelation that He has put in your heart.

I'm going to continue doing what I've been doing, but with the occasional effort to "write the revelation" and blog about the prayer movement. Rest assured I will continue with my usual occasional silliness, however; I am constitutionally incapable of refraining from it.

Shawn has been trying to get Blogspot users to switch to Wordpress, another blogging site. I took a look at it and liked what I saw. So far Wordpress doesn't support migrating post-beta Blogger accounts to Wordpress, but when they do, I will move this blog over there. It'll have a new look, a new name, a redefined purpose, and be a better venue for my thoughts.

I have to confess something, though. Although my hopes and goals for my blog are to glorify the L-rd, keep my family up-to-date, and entertain the occasional visitor, I have a desire not so deep in my heart to belong. There's a definite "in crowd" of IHOP bloggers, people who are on each other's blogrolls and have dialogues with each other in the comments sections. I have my few faithful readers (shoutouts to my family, Amy, Steph, Kate, and whoever else is lurking out there [blast you, Sliker!]), but I wish I had a regular audience...people who would give me feedback on stuff from the viewpoint of this little community we share in KC.

I need to lay that aside. My responsibility is to steward what I've been given—some writing ability and a slowly unfolding understanding of the Bible. Yeshua told us that those who advertise their righteousness get what they want on the earth. "Assuredly, I say to you, they will have their reward," He said (Matthew 6:2,5,16). Remaining humble and not looking for honor for men is the only way if I want what I do to have lasting value.

So during my future switch to a new blog, I will give up my desire for fame and acceptance, and my belief that my words are valuable in themselves. All I have is from Him; I was worthless when He found me, and without Him, I am nothing.

On that cheery note, I will bid you goodnight. Oh, and I want chocolate. But then, I always do.