9:20 a.m. (PT) — I know LBC readers like/love my political rants, but today I’m avoiding it as if my life depends on. 
GodBlogCon (check for updates) is about Christian bloggers talking about blogging as Christians, most of whom happen to be politically conservative. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. This morning we’re listening to a panel of Christian bloggers. David Wayne of the Jolly Blogger, Joe Carter, Evangelical Outpost, and the blogger who instigated the convention, Andrew Jackson (pictured) of Smart Christian (who has a great sense of humor, by the way.)
Dean Peters of blogs4god is “here,” so to speak.
Christians are to do all they do for the glory of God, but I know that not everything I do and write glorifies God. I’ve experienced a certain level of conviction since I’ve been here. I think about my hostile attitude toward some commenters and haters, and my responses have too often been less than “Christian,” at least in my mind. The effort to be Christ-like is part of our struggle, and as long as we’re in fallen bodies, we’ll fall short. It’s in our nature to strike out against those who oppose us.
9:40 a.m. — An interesting topic: As Christian bloggers, which takes priority — Christian readers or our local congregations? Blogging is definitely bringing together people of different denominations. Christian bloggers communicate with one another, pray for one another, and give when help is needed. But God does call believers to gather together. Are some Christian bloggers neglecting the local congregation?
Last night John Mark Reynolds gave an excellent presentation called “Blogging as a Means to Cultural Impact,” and I hope it will be available as a podast today. Christians have a responsibility to lead people to truth as revealed by the written word of God, but we also have authority (freedom?) to live that truth, and this approach takes many forms. Some bloggers (like myself) discuss politics from a Christian point of view, although my purpose may not be explicit.
Secularists don’t understand the connection because they buy into the sharp “separation between church and state” doctrine that represents a profound misunderstanding of what the original founders intended. But Christians know we cannot separate faith from politics, and we know it within our souls, although some Christians suppress it.
10:04 a.m. — Blogging is often compared to the Protestant Reformation. But, says Andrew Jackson, blogging shouldn’t be seen as an agent of renewing the church. The focus isn’t on blogging per se; it’s the people blogging. Says Joe Carter, it wasn’t Martin Luther’s 95 Theses that started the Reformation. It was the critical mass of Christians bringing about the changes.
I met an interesting woman named Denyse O’Leary, and she blogs about intelligent design. Visit her blog, Post-Darwinist.
I’ll try to post a few pics and updates today. Stay tuned.
