I was told there’d be a road of yellow bricks.

I spent the night in Las Vegas’s airport in July because of a weather-related canceled late night flight. Quite unpleasant. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again!

(According to rumor, the flight crew had exceeded its in-the-air hours, but the airline blamed the weather. Airline’s fault = free hotel stay. Weather’s fault = sleeping on grody airport chairs or paying for your own expensive near-the-airport hotel room.)

Rest easy, everybody.

***Scroll down for questions***

A gathering of Christians working to advance the Kingdom through blogging + internet technologies.

I’m headed back to Vegas!

I’m returning to the God Blog Convention, sponsored by Biola University in La Mirada, California. This year’s convention will be held at the Blog World and New Media Expo on September 20 and 21. (Last year’s GodBlogCon was in Vegas, too.)

Why a Christian blogging convention in Vegas? Blog Expo founder Rick Calvert wanted to organize a sort of blogging tradeshow where all kinds of bloggers (faith, tech, business, etc.) could gather and network. He asked the GodBlogCon organizers if they’d consider holding their annual gathering at the Expo, and they were happy to do so.

This is my fourth invitation from the good folks at Biola. In 2005, I led a break-out session on Christian blogging at the first GodBlogCon. In 2006, I spoke on a political blogging panel. Last year, I was a featured speaker, and this year, I’m on a political blogging panel funnyman Scott Ott of ScrappleFace.

Additionally, I’m speaking on a panel at the main convention. Rick asked me to participate in a Q&A discussion on hiring professional bloggers.

The blogging medium has provided yet another opportunity for Christians to share the Gospel and declare the word of God. As long as I’m able, I will continue to do just that.

Question for Christians: Has my blog and other Christian blogs helped you grow in faith?

Question for non-Christians: Has my blog and other Christian blogs helped you understand what we believe and/or given you a different perspective about Christians?

I’m open to suggestions for improvements and blogging topics.

These questions aren’t just discussion starters. I really want to know whether and how my blog has been a help or a hindrance to you.

***Live-blogging at Boundless Line and below***

***For earlier live-blogging, see Part II***

This photo was taken yesterday by Jim of Gateway Pundit. More photos here. Pictured: Matt Sheffield of NewsBusters.org, me, and Soren Dayton of RedState.org.

10:05 a.m. PT: It’s Day Two of the Blog World Expo/GodBlogCon Convention. Biola University professor Paul Spears will discuss “Trafficking in Substance: A Blogging Dilemma: The Case for Blog Euthanasia.” Christians interested in God blogging need to be representatives of a “bigger thing.” What does it mean to have “substance” on your blog?

Paul says Christians have a responsibility to enable our audience to come to an understanding of larger things. It takes work, but there’s no other way around it. This assumes you want your blog to be significant, to come from a place of substance and help other Christians in their walk toward Christ. Paul showed a series of famous paintings. These artists created the kind of beauty that lasts. Lofty idea for mere bloggers, but we should strive to create something meaningful that endures.

What’s the story we’re telling? For me, I want to share the story of how Christ affects lives, my own and other people’s. There’s more than enough blogging out there about the latest trends and hottest politic topics. What we need is transcendence.

11:06 a.m.: Dustin Steeve of Biola University is discussing the basics of blogging and finding the platform to meet your needs. Pros and cons of free services like Blogger.com, WordPress.com, etc.

I’m up next. Break a leg!

2:53 p.m.: If I do say so myself, my presentation went well. Didn’t talk about my testimony (as I did here), and I hit most of my points on “writing well in the new media.” I was nervous this morning and right before I went on. Took a few deep breaths, stepped outside myself, took the focus off myself, and shared with the audience what I know about writing on the web. Writing online is somewhat different than writing for print publications. I encouraged bloggers in the audience to be bold for Christ on the web and not to worry about offending people. Our very existence offends people. The exclusive claims of our faith offend people. Don’t hesitate to take a strong stand on controversial issues.

Right after the talk, I was asked if I wanted to speak at next year’s GodBlogCon. A resounding “Yes, I do.” I may create a post based on my presentation.

GodBlogCon sessions are still going on, but I decided to walk around and try to meet other bloggers. Met Rick Moran of Right Wing Nut House, Dean Barnett of Townhall (what a nice guy, man!), did a Blog Talk Radio interview with Captain Ed and Duane Patterson and an XM radio interview for Pajamas Media with Ed Driscoll. I chatted with Vodkapundit’s Stephen Green, whom I met in NYC at the Pajamas Media launch.

Yesterday, I met cool coder Mark Jaquith, who recognized me and introduced himself (he’s cute!). I hired Mark to do some coding for me couple years ago. Since then, he’s become hot property, slinging code all over the blogosphere.

Let’s see…I met D.C. Thornton, a guy who’s been on my blogroll for years. Got to chat with Pam Spaulding again. For those who don’t know her, Pam and I are political and social opposites. She’s a homosexual “marriage”-supporting liberal lesbian. And she’s cool. We didn’t get a chance to do the photo thing this time, though.

I met others, but I’ll have to remember who they were later.

Anyway, check back for more GodBlogCon updates.

To Professor John Mark Reynolds and Biola University student volunteers: Thank you so much for inviting me to speak. It’s a privilege to know such mature, godly young people. You are kind, thoughtful, and extremely generous. Your energy and dedication astounds me. I wish I’d been only half as hardworking and focused when I was your age.

***Live-blogging at Boundless Line and below***

***For earlier live-blogging, see Part I***

1:20 p.m. PT: Ran into Matt Sheffield, blogging pal since the early days, and Henry Copeland of BlogAds, who remembered attending my faith blogging session at BlogNashville back in 2005. Met Andy Beal of Marketing Pilgrim. I did some consulting work through one of his former companies.

Rhett Smith is up. He’s discussing social media sites like Facebook and how Christians can use the “new media ministries” in youth ministry. Rhett does youth ministry and was reluctant to create a page on MySpace. His online forum was getting little traffic, so he decided to try MySpace. He started getting visitors to his site. He also joined Facebook, a site that I have yet to get into.

Rhett said he had to go where the teens are. Put yourself in the shoes of high school kids, he said, or young adults. They’ve always had the online world, with social networking sites. For an oldster like me, even though I’m a blog consultant, I have no use for MySpace or Facebook. Yet. If you do youth ministry, of course, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with those sites.

[UK update side note: I mentioned my desire to go to the UK to a couple of people this morning and got two more leads on places to stay. Cheaply. One sounds really cool - Related to C.S. Lewis. I'll keep you posted.]

How do you use Facebook effectively for your youth ministry? You can stay engaged with teens in your ministry by joining the same groups, subscribing to their newsfeeds, etc. Rhett says he no longer creates hard copy flyers for events. He creates an events page on Facebook, and all the “friends” in his network are alerted and can respond to the invitation online. He talked about advertising on Facebook for free, as opposed to spending $1,000+ to take out an ad in a college newspaper.

Rhett says he got some objections from church leadership over joining the social networking sites.

2:24 p.m: Gearing up to head to Hugh Hewitt’s live-from-Blog-World-Expo radio show on the convention floor at 3 p.m. Bonnie Lindblom of Intellectuelle is discussing how Christian bloggers can learn to communicate “biblical womanhood.” Applicable to both men and women. Women have it good in 21st century America, but we’re still looking for purpose and meaning. Each of us is influenced by different things: our families, our subculture, etc. What’s different about Christianity, Bonnie says, is that it’s not “culture.” Christian truth is beyond culture.

Regardless of culture, the first thing women can do is take leadership of themselves. We women must take responsibility for ourselves. Blogging can provide women with an outlet and help them discover their talents. Bonnie says the blogosphere is wide open for women to write on topics pertaining to sexuality: singleness, chastity, etc. In the model of the Titus 2 woman, older women can minister to younger women. There’s room in the blogospher for these kind of discussions.

Bonnie says her vision for blogging is encouraging good thought, clear thinking.

3:00 p.m.: Joe Carter is up next. Make it quick, Joe, make it quick! He’s discussing “culture points” Christians can blog about. What types of messages should Christian media carry? Whatever is true? Noble and right? Pure and loving. Admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Christian bloggers should seek to improve our writing and expression.

What are these “culture points” he’s talking about? Folk culture (appeals to those with common ties), pop culture (appeals to the masses), and haute culture (intellectually above common works). Joe says Christian bloggers should be covering these points. We should be bold creators of culture, since we do worship a bold Creator.

[Side note: Andrew Jackson is here! Met Rick Calvert, Blog World Expo organizer. He knows me!]

5:41 p.m.: Finally met Eric Olsen. Even cooler than I thought he’d be. Going to the Hard Rock P.F. Chang’s for dinner with Joe, Andy, and a few other GodBlogCon speakers (including Albert Mohler and Hugh Hewitt). No happy hours for me. And no Hanson concert! See you guys on the second leg of the tour.

***Live-blogging at Boundless Line and below***

5:17 a.m. PT: Hi, my name is La Shawn, and I’m a coffeeholic. And I like to get up at 4 a.m.

I’m in Vegas, blogging before dawn. Lots of bloggers to try to meet today. Over the next two days, bloggers from many parts of the blogosphere – including Christian, political, business, tech, culture, sports, military, legal, and the “podosphere” – are here, talking about how to make money from blogs, win friends, and influence people. Bloggers will discuss how to use the new medium for God’s glory and connect the body of Christ in the digital age. Bloggers will show others how to use the “long tail” to their advantage. Business owners will learn how to hire bloggers. And on and on.

I probably won’t have time to meet all the bloggers on my list. Eric Olsen, a guy who created a little site called Blog Critics (and published a concert review I wrote) a few years ago and built it into an influential (press credentials), money-making venture, is near the top. I have a long list of business and tech bloggers I want to meet, many of whom don’t know me, I’m sure. Reading their blogs helped me shape my consulting business, and I continue to learn from them every day.

I’ll be on an NPR show called “The State of Nevada” this morning, along with fellow Godbloggers Joe Carter and Professor John Mark Reynolds, to talk about Blog World Expo (read convention updates here). The segment will air on KNPR between 9-10 a.m. PT.

I might be able to update this post today with photos and what’s happening at the convention. There seems to be an issue with the wireless.

9:37 a.m. PT: There’s something comforting about being around other Christians, even strangers.

I was impressed that NPR’s producers dug deep into my blog to quote from Margaret Sanger of the Blogosphere:

“Even in cases of rape and incest, I do not believe the unborn baby should be killed. Is that clear enough? I’ll make it clearer. Even if a man rapes his 13-year-old daughter and impregnates her, the baby should live.”

I repeated what I wrote and what I believe. Even so-called pro-life people draw the line at rape and incest. Not me, for the reasons I stated in the post.

Blog World Expo is underway. The convention center is cavernous. Haven’t met the must-meet folks yet, but a blogger (staffer?) from The Huffington Post introduced herself while I was walking around looking lost, having recognized me from the bio page photo (I presume). I had the pleasure of speaking to milblogger Bill Roggio again. We had similar complaints about the nasty political climate. Bill and I blogged together on Easongate.com during the Eason Jordan scandal in 2005.

10:57 a.m. PT: I am scandalously self-focused. Haven’t met Eric Olsen yet, but his wife Dawn recognized me. Other people do double-takes as I walk through the halls. Do they recognize me, or are they surprised to see one of only … like five … “people of color” here?

John Mark Reynolds is giving good blogging advice, tips to help you stay motivated to blog in “Focus and Motivation: Beginning and Maintaining a Meaningful Blog.” He said we should try to focus on external ideas that reflect inner development rather than focusing on self. It’s about a self engaged in something else. Now, there are blogs that focus on the blogger, like personal journals. It all depends on how a person decides to use the blog, which is just another communication tool.

Write for the permanent side of the blogosphere, John Mark says. Search engines like Google will drive “long tail” traffic to your blog. Your traffic stats may drop if you don’t blog every day, but if you blog with a long-term strategy in mind, other sources will drive traffic to your blog. Make sense? It’s all about getting out of the “hell” of blogging.

(Worth reading: Dumbledore is not Gay: Taking Stories More Seriously than the Author)

Goodness, truth, and beauty – three things the Christian blogger should keep in mind when writing a blog post. Also, what you see may not be what God is doing. In other words, ask yourselves how you’ve gotten to where you are. How is God working in your life through your blog?

We need to believe in “noble pagans,” he said. We’re here in Vegas because we believe the other new media folks here have something to say to us. We can learn from our secular peers in the blogosphere.

And finally, live to see the face of God, not to blog or to podcast or anything else.

11:53 a.m.: So cool to be recognized. Here I am in a sea of fantastic business and tech bloggers, and people know me. Wild stuff.

Pastor Mark Roberts’s presentation is on pastor blogging. Be careful, pastor bloggers, of turning your blog into an idol. Blogging can greatly expand the impact of a pastor’s teaching beyond his own congregation. Think Google. Posting a sermon on the blog can impact lots of people. Blogging can allow pastors to address topics that could not be addressed in church. Mark is a big supporter of comment-enabled blogs. Preaching can become more of a conversation and less of a one-way street. Blogging can provide excellent means for pastors to enhance the daily devotional lives of their congregations.

Blogging can help pastors get out of the saltshaker and into the world! Blogging can make a pastor’s congregation nervous, even jealous if they believe it can take him away from them. Pastors should see blog as part of their calling and stewardship of gifts.

No pictures today. Camera batteries are dead, and I left the charger and fresh batteries back in my room. I’m make up for it tomorrow, especially after my presentation. I’ll be free to roam! There are a few exhibit booths I want you to see. And tomorrow night, I plan to walk the Strip with my camera. And I plan to buy one of those “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” shirts, and other cheesy tourist stuff.

Yeah, Las Vegas is a little tacky (the strip), but so what? I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never seen the city, only the slot machine-filled airport on a layover.

You may recall that I mentioned attending two concerts on Hanson’s “The Walk Tour” so far. Well, I have an opportunity to attend a third. Just by “coincidence,” Hanson is playing in Las Vegas this Thursday night. All I have to do is let the publicist know I’ll be in town and…but I won’t.

The only thing stopping me from going to the venue, possibly walking in the door past a long line of excited girls and young women, and talking to the guys before the show is…pride. I’m too old to be any band’s groupie (although they don’t make me feel like one – last time I saw them, I didn’t want to bother them with picture-taking, but one said, “Hey, guys, let’s take pictures!” – yeah, I had my camera with me, buried deep in my bag, but they didn’t know that), and I don’t want to give the appearance of being a groupie, either. (But if I were 20 years younger…) Those guys are so nice, though.

(Also see Hanson Still a Family Act After 15 Years, an article/video for Hanson fans among LBC’s readers. And thanks for letting me know you’re out there!)

Anyway, I look forward to having dinner with fellow Christian bloggers that night. I’m not sure if it’s too late to sign up for GodBlogCon. If not, come on out! My presentation is on “writing well in the new media,” or something like that.

Update (11/7): A reader writes: “Life is short…go to the concert!! Don’t worry about the groupie thing…you never know what God is up to…maybe He needs you at the concert. Enjoy Vegas!”

So tempting…

(Thanks for the shout-out, Melonie!)

"For that one fraction of a second, you were open to options you had never considered. That is the exploration that awaits you. Not mapping stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence." - Q to Captain Picard, episode "All Good Things..." from "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

Well, that was fun. Where to now?

I’m going to NYC on Friday to speak at this event, then back to DC, where I plan to double the workload so I can have free time to hang out in Las Vegas next week. GodBlogCon. Then I’m starting the Thanksgiving holiday early, jetting back to California to hang out with baby sis and niece. Then, I’m off to…somewhere.

I’ve got a brain drain, which leaves little energy for updating this space. Sorry.

Don’t you hate when bloggers blog about how they don’t have time to blog? Actually, I blog every day. I just do it for others. Paying others. But I feel uncharacteristically guilty for not updating this site as frequently as I used to, despite what I wrote here. I say a lot of things many people can’t or won’t say, and some readers check the blog daily to read my opinions on politics and faith. I know how I feel when my must-read blogs aren’t updated as frequently as I’d like.

To make matters worse, both my MP3 players – iPod and Dell DJ – decided to break at the same time. I’m without a portable device to blast my digital tunes. I never realized how dependent I was on those gadgets. I must have the music. Back to the old portable CD player until they’re repaired. At any rate, I hope you’ll stick around. This blog will continue to exist as long as I do. God willing.

Well, I’m falling like the House of Usher, man. Yeah, it’s only 7-ish, I know, but I really need to…

Update (11/1): Regarding my recent post, By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone, the Independent Conservative writes:

“When someone is moving up in the world of journalism, they have some big choices to make. By avoiding certain topics they stand to line their pockets well. By lurching a little from firm footing, they can get paid, while tossing out varied views that please the masses. I was just reading a post over at La Shawn Barber’s Corner and was glad to see she continues to contend for the faith in spirit and in truth.”

Thanks for the shout-out, IC, but I’m not really “in the world of journalism,” moving up or otherwise. I’m just a blogger with a few short features and op-eds under her belt.

He adds: “Finally I’ll mention, that without God moving La Shawn to be a blogger…His divine plan might not have included others like myself doing the same.”

It’s only by God’s grace I’m out here contending for the faith. And there’s much more to come.

I’m a bad blogger. I forgot to plug the 2007 God Blog Convention — “Helping Christians engage new media” — and I’m a speaker!

Yeah, what Joe Carter said.

The previous two GodBlogCon’s were held at Biola University in La Mirada, California, where professor and blogger John Mark Reynolds teaches. This year, it’s in Vegas (woo hoo!) at the Blog World & New Media Expo on November 8 and 9.

Register here.

This is the third year in a row I’ve been invited to speak at GodBlogCon. Gathering with Christian bloggers (especially ones whose doctrinal beliefs are the same as mine, but others, too) is a joy. If you have the means and the time, come out to Vegas and hang with us. There will be lots of non-GodBlogCon stuff going on, too.

Check out the GodBlogCon archives.

Update (5:02 p.m.): I really could get used to this blogging stuff.

Tomorrow I’m speaking on a panel about how blogging has affected the news business. The Leadership Institute invited a New York Times reporter to talk about it from the mainstream media perspective, and two other bloggers and myself will discuss the topic as bloggers. Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner opinion editor and blogger, will take both sides, I suppose. I’ll write it up next week. After this panel and this event (and I celebrate my three-year blogiversary the day after the mid-term elections), I think I’ll take a few days off and do…nothing!
—————————————————————————————————————————

This time last week I was in California for the second annual God Blog Conference in La Mirada, California. See previous post, GodBlogCon: Blogging Out Loud.

Last year I led a breakout session on blogging while Christian. This year I got to share a panel with Christians and bloggers like Charmaine Yoest (pictured above in the center; Stacy Harp on the left), Mark D. Roberts, John Mark Reynolds, Hugh Hewitt, and Joe Carter. I even had my own personal assistant. For some reason, the organizers thought it was my first time at Biola University, so they assigned an undergrad to help me out. Katelyn Statton was so helpful and thoughtful. I could get used to having a personal assistant.

[Correction: Biola student and blogger Emily writes in the comment section: "So you know - all the speakers got a personal assistant, it wasn’t because we thought it was your first time. " Thanks, Emily!]

The panels were “Bridging the Christian Divide,” “Bridging the Political Divide,” and “The New Media Political Revolution.” I participated on the latter two. I’m told that audio of all three panels will be available for download. When those are up, I’ll let you know.

I attended the conference all day on Friday but didn’t attend on Saturday because I wanted to spend some time with my sister. Long-time readers may remember that she moved to California last year to attend John MacArthur’s Master’s College. (She graduates next May!) We did one of the most tourist-y things around: We drove down Sunset Boulevard, through Beverly Hills and Bel Air, and gawked at the houses.

More pictures below!

The only breakout session I attended was “Maximizing Ministry in New Media,” led my Mark D. Roberts (pictured below in left photo). He said that he’d gone into new media and ministry “kicking and screaming” because he was suspicious of the downside of media. Mark thought focusing on media and the “big screen” took the focus off people.

But he had a change of heart. A medium like blogs is just another way to reach people, and I believe Christians should utilized this valuable tool. Mark said his new media model is the Apostle Paul, who wrote letters to all the churches. Paul was reaching out to the churches through correspondence. He pioneered, in a way, the use of letters to do the work of forming, shaping, and pastoring a community.

Mark said he got into blogging because Hugh Hewitt (pictured in right photo) said he should. He discovered that blogging gave him a chance to discuss things he wouldn’t preach about. For instance, he reviewed “The Passion of the Christ” on his blog and received lots of feedback. What you put on a blog is “alive” and continues to be useful, Mark said. Blogging is an opportunity for communication outside the church. For instance, through his blog, he had e-mail discussions with a Jewish professor about “The Passion of the Christ.” The professor opened up and expressed how afraid he was for his children about what he perceived as anti-Semitism.

Mark says he puts up devotionals and other things he believes will help people. He asked, “What are ways we can communicate? How can we be creative?” Mark gave us an example of his creative communication. He posted a picture of a sunflower (no text) because he loved the intricate beauty. “Yellow argument for the existence of God.” He next posted a picture of a rose, the aesthetic argument for the existence of God. I liked it.

One theme that emerged on the panel “Bridging the Political Divide” was that the organizers invited “liberal” Christians and other non-conservatives, but they chose not to attend. I didn’t learn until later that John Mark Reynolds, blogger, professor at Biola, and GodBlogCon organizer asked those whose particular brand of theology was unknown to agree to a certain confession of faith. I can’t remember what that was, but John Mark said some refused and decided not to show up. More on that when the audio is available.

This year’s conference was much smoother than last year’s, but it didn’t get the same attention from the media. There was no AP reporter this year, and I haven’t read a single story about the conference.

I have to give a special shout-out to Crossway Books for giving us copies of The ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament: English Standard Version. I’ve always wanted an English-Greek interlinear Bible.

It’s a wonderful feeling to be around other Christians, openly praying and talking about Christ. Something as small as praying over food is so much easier when everyone at the table is a Christian. Each of us comes to Christ by a different path, and those paths converge when we become members of one glorious body.

Thanks for inviting me, John Mark, and thanks to all the students who volunteered to drive us around and help us carry our stuff. Though I’m sure they were quite busy and stressed organizing all those bloggers, their smiles and pleasant attitudes befitted them as maturing (and patient) disciples of Christ.

I’m headed to California tomorrow to meet up with Christian bloggers at the God Blog Conference to talk about blogging, our love for the Savior, politics, and whatever else we have time to discuss.

Upon my return from last year’s GodBlogCon, I wanted to curl up in a corner and wish the world away. This year, I want to make a triumphant return to the East Coast with lots of good things to share, and no jet lag.

To make matters worse, we “fall back” to standard time this weekend. Traveling to California won’t be a big deal. It’s the return I dread. I’m in California from Thursday afternoon to Sunday/Monday.

Any advice you can give me — sound medical advice, home remedies, urban legends, anything — will be appreciated.

Update: I’m sure we’ll get around to talking about this mess at the conference. God’s judgment, indeed. I hope the ruling leads to some serious voter backlash. Be careful what you wish for…

Update II (10/26): I have a column deadline today, so between flying and writing, I probably won’t blog about the conference until tomorrow. I’m on two panels, I think. I may live-blog.

Excessive pride. I’ve got it, and it’s not pretty. Like most humans, I don’t like admitting weakness, either. It’s Monday afternoon, and I’m recovering from a three-day trip to California. The words drained and sluggish come to mind. This happens to other people, right? Of course it does.

Reasons: I never got used to the time difference, days were long and filled with activities (little time to “come down”), meeting so many new people at once and listening to new ideas put a strain on my brain, such as it is.

It seems like the whole world is moving at normal speed, and I’m walking among the living in slow motion and everyone is a blur. I’m having trouble stringing together coherent thoughts. But here’s a thought I have no problem expressing: I’m angry that the Associated Press reporter who was supposed to interview me for her widely-disseminated story on GodBlogCon decided not to for reasons unknown. AP stories are picked up by various and diverse newspapers all over the world.

My sister says there will be other stories, better stories some day. She’s correct, I’m sure, but I want “some day” to be “now.” Covetousness. Lust. Sins. Despite my grumbling (which vexes God very much), I trust God, and I ought to start showing it. But I admit it. I want to advance the kingdom and receive worldly praise. More sin. Fallen but forgiven.

In my Christian Blogging 101 session, I wanted us to do some self-reflection. As professing Christ-followers, the world is against us, and Satan — yes, Satan, an actual being — will use people and even our own weaknesses to oppose us. He knows I love to “debate” and to be right. When he sends his minions to annoy me day and night, I must call on a power greater than he is, the One who made him. The Enemy is created, just like me, not Creator. Amazingly comforting.

It was good to be around other Christians who wrestle with the same issues I do. My church congregation counts, but being with Christian bloggers is…different. Despite the press of late, blogging is still new and constantly evolving. I still don’t quite know what to expect from all this, and neither do they. I often ask myself, “What am I doing on this thing every day? Can’t I find something better to do?”

Yes I can. I can be a better blogger.

In response to my question, “What have you discovered about yourselves through blogging,” one blogger said he’s learning what it means to be a good Christian. Before the blog, he was focused on being a “good Republican” or “good conservative.” Radical mind-shift.

Weaknesses discovered through blogging? Various answers: the need to be liked, to be recognized as a great writer at the expense of our purpose as Christian bloggers, un-Christ-like responses to commenters, too much passion, too much righteous indignation and too little love and grace. Christians, bloggers and non, must remember that we may be all the “Bible” some people will read. We may be the first “Christ” they’ve ever seen. Are we worthy of such an important mission? Ought we to cease blogging until we know how to get it “right?” Or does allowing the world to see us raw, honest, prideful, stubborn — human — provide an opportunity to witness that much more effectively?

Self-examination is good for the soul, Christian bloggers. Believer, judge thyself!

(Pictured with me is a budding young comedienne and future blogger. )

People I met after the convention at Grace Community Church: Fred Butler and Phil Johnson.

GodBlogCon Recaps: Jolly Blogger, Smart Christian round-up, GBC Blog round-up, Mike’s Noise, DJ Chuang, Charmaine Yoest, The A-Team Blog (and thoughts on men and women bloggers), Skye Puppy, Talkwisdom, The Sheep’s Crib, Another Think…

Also see A Ready Defense, Jordan’s View, Writing Write, Just A Woman (What a woman!), Mark Daniels, Voice in the Wilderness, Holy Coast, great interviews at Blogs for Books, B Relevant…

I was interviewed for an upcoming story in this wonderful magazine. I’m glad I found the growing homeschool blogging community.

5:55 p.m. (PT): Hugh Hewitt broadcast his show live from Biola University, and it was standing-room only. He interviewed a number of attendees, and I was supposed to be one of them. But I missed my queue. I was being interviewed by someone else at the time, so I’m only a little upset.

Lots of interviews. I did one for a documentary and may have one lined up for a journalist’s book. No, it’s not all about me; great conversations going on, and I’ll fill you in later.

7:48 p.m.: I’m blogging this from a panel moderated by Hugh Hewitt. Panelists are John Mark Reynolds, Mark Roberts (who wrote an article I referenced for one I’m writing), and Tom Bolsinger.

Charmaine Yoest is live-blogging. I arrived late; hanging out with the girls. Sarcasmagorical is also live-blogging (very detailed).

The panel is discussing some of the pitfalls of Christian blogging. How do you handle “fame”? All three are pastors, and they’re talking about blogging and accountability. Hugh is asking a series of questions. The most interesting: who shouldn’t blog? Answers: People with a lot of anger, perfectionists, narcissists, those who don’t allow give and take, those who care too much about what others think, people who don’t care about spelling and grammar (this got a lot of laughs, but it’s true!)…

They’re discussing whether pastors should be political. John Mark said he was de-linked by some Christian bloggers after he suggested that people shouldn’t vote for John Kerry (Weird, heh?). Make sure readers know whether you’re blogging for yourself or on behalf of your church or organization.

Most relevant: what is “God blogging?”

Dean Peters is funny. Wish he were here.

2:00 p.m. (PT) Putting aside substance for a minute, let’s talk about form. Stacy Harp asked a question about the prevalence of male bloggers in the blogosphere generally and the evangelical Christian side specifically. Stacy also blogs at the Christian Persecution Blog.

Her question emboldened someone to ask why the main discussion panel was comprised of Presbyterians. Interesting. Read updates on the GodBlogCon blog.

Answers? What can you say? Most bloggers are white males…and/or high-profile or “important” bloggers are men. Even at a Christian conference, you can’t get away from “political” questions.

Check out these Christian women bloggers: Kicking Over My Traces, Amy Hall, Post-Darwinist, Church of the Masses, Wittingshire, The View From Her, By Dawn’s Early Light, Laura’s Writings…

More women: Little Red Blog, Skye Puppy, Just A Woman, Salvation Walls, B Revelant…

Carolyn McCully is a Christian author and blogger I met at a meet-up, but she couldn’t make it to the convention. Check out her web site and blog, Solo Femininity.

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.

I’ll be in California tomorrow for the GodBlogCon. I’m leading a session called Christian Blogging 101. I led a session called Faith-Based Blogging at BlogNashville in May, and we all got along very well, considering I’m an evangelical Christian and most of the attendees weren’t. “Religious right” stereotypes, and all that.

I was sort of nervous about it, but we conducted ourselves like civilized, mature, intelligent, and curious adults. If only the blogosphere were half as well-behaved.

Blogger Ed Cone participated in the faith-based blogging session. He said he decided to have one at his blogging conference, ConvergeSouth, because mine was so successful. Mickey McLean was session leader.

As you may remember, my sister Shannon moved to California a few months ago to attend The Master’s College. On Sunday we’re attending her church, pastored by John MacArthur.

I will update this post tomorrow. God willing.

Update (10/13 @ 9:42 p.m. PT): And the Lord wills it. The clock in the room and the one in my body are not in sync. Crashing now. I have a few things to tell you. Tomorrow.