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How Much Can You Really Share on a Blog?

For over two years I have been trying to add posts to this blog on a consistent schedule. My goal is to upload posts three times a week. It’s a personal goal, one that challenges me and one which I often fail.

Sometimes I view this blog as a journal of my thoughts. Recently I have learned that some things are left unsaid, not because they are wrong or rude or insulting, but because they might be misinterpreted.

How open should or can you be on a blog?

Does the amount of openness depend on your job?


A New Look for Michael’s Notes


Michael’s Notes has a new look thanks to @richardfoshee.

It also has a new blog address www.michaelhsmith.com. If you found the new page by using www.michaelsnotes.com know this address will still work; however I would appreciate it if you would change your entrance to the site to www.michaelhsmith.com.

The old blog was hosted by typepad.com at this address www.michaelhsmith.typepad.com. In the next few days this former address will be closed.

I often get asked why do I blog, here are some of my reasons:

  • It is a creative outlet.
  • It challenges me to look for topics to write about.
  • It encourages me to read on a variety of topics.
  • It helps me organize my thoughts.
  • It hopefully helps the people I lead know me better.
  • I am enjoying the challenge.

Do you write a blog?

What are the reasons you write?


I’m Glad I Twitter

Thanks to
Randy Elrod (@recreate) I was introduced to Twitter two years ago. At first I had no concept of what it was or how I would use it. Since that first introduction I have enjoyed the benefits connecting with persons in my interests, field of ministry and those at my local church.

Here is a true story that could only happen through Twitter.

Last fall I noticed a person’s (whom I had met briefly in my home town) twitter post about looking at the view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Our conversation went something like this:

@caseysee:
love the view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

@michaelhsmith:
I love those mountains and miss seeing them, grew up in Fresno

@caseysee:
me too! Hoover ‘77

@michaelhsmith:
McLane ‘77

@caseysee:
I am here with my mom, we want to know if you played Little League at Scandinavian

@michaelhsmith:
yes

@caseysee:
what team

@michaelhsmith:
Twins

@caseysee: Red Sox, but my dad was the coach of that team. My mom remembers you

Since that conversation we have been able to connect back in Franklin and have had lunch together and plan to do so again. We
probably never would have connected so quickly and with such detail if it had not been for Twitter. Come to find out @caseysee and I moved to Franklin the same year.

More Reasons
To Twitter

In the last twelve months Twitter has helped me:

·
Connect with someone where I live whose father was my Little League Baseball coach in Fresno California

·
Connect with people who share my job in other parts of the country and world and see how they are doing ministry.

·
Meet other business leaders face-to-face and share ideas

·
Meet people whose blogs I read

·
Get a great deal on a cruise to Alaska, where I met people I had only known through Twitter.


Social Networking A Reality for Personal Accountability.

Twitter_Michael_H_SmithFacebook

Most of us have heard it said one time or the other ‘you
never have to worry about being caught in a lie if you always tell the truth.’
In these times of social networking that becomes even truer.  As we use Social Networking tools we become
fully exposed. The caution is not with what we personally post but what those
who may witness our actions or hear our words may post. This change in how our
society interacts becomes another tool for Personal Accountability. So the old
saying could be changed for these times to read: “if you have nothing to hide
then it won’t get uploaded.”


Twitter, Facebook & Prayer

Social media has invaded most of our lives. I guess that statement should have a disclaimer: ‘if you allowed it to.’ I am one of those that have allowed it to become a part of my life and I am very thankful.  In this fast paced world, social networking has become a way to stay connected with family, friends and even those I work for and with.

One of the social networking tools I use is Twitter.  This tool is a great way to connect with people with similar interests and with friends.  An unexpected connection is how Twitter can become a ‘prayer chain.’ In the last few weeks I have received Twitters asking for prayers.  Twitter is real-time communication and the prayer requests are for something that is taking place right then.

The following is a group of tweets sent by Pastor and Author Max Lucado while he was ministering and attending a service in Honduras.

•    Time 2 go to the crusade- leaving hotel for the immense field where 10s of 1000s will gather.
•    I'm in Honduras w/ Mike Silva. The festival is live on-line – Google "Enlace". Mike preaches. I smile and pray:) pray with me!
•    Could I ask you to pray one more time? The crowd is restless, distracted. Mike is preaching his heart out, but it's a battle. Dear, Lord..
•    Amazing! A peace has settled over the crowd. They are listening!
•    Every raised hand is professing faith in Jesus. Thank you for praying. Thank you Lord for listening
•    Last tweet of the night is a huge thanks to all who prayed! God uses Twitter!

Just this week I received this request:
•    OK Twitter peeps. Please pray for friends of mine as they minister to a woman who is considering suicide. Prayers needed all around!

I even know of a small church in Georgia whose pastor needed a way to communicate quickly with his deacons and prayer leaders.  The pastor asked all of them to sign up for Twitter and now he can send one brief text message and the prayers of people and for situations are being voiced to God.

My personal story: over Christmas my family experienced a tragedy, while the event was taking place I sent out a short Twitter asking for prayer. Almost immediately I received twitters from people saying they were praying; people I knew and people I had only connected with through Twitter. And this past Sunday I sent out a request for prayer and again I received responses, immediately. (I have Twitter set up to interface with Facebook, so that all Twitters show up as status changes on Facebook. Many of the responses came through Facebook.)

I don’t know how long Twitter or other social network tools will be around. I do know they can be used affectively to communicate and to support each other through prayer.

Related Posts
Why Twitter

A Personal Story…God Has A Plan


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