Vini, Vidi, Bloggi in Nomini Dei - GBC 2K5

I Came, I Saw, I Blogged in the Name of God

As I failed to mention adequately in my previous GBC2K5 post, I met a whole host of engaging and godly people. While I had previously read some of their work, there were many who I should have been reading the whole time. Those I had read included: Evangelical Outpost, Blogotional, Hugh Hewitt, and Skyepuppy (see my Blogroll in the sidebar).
Because there were so many great breakout groups to attend, I was forced to meet some terrific writer/thinkers like LaShawn Barber, left, next to me and Hugh Hewitt. [Insert sympathy here...]
LaShawn cut her teeth in journalism by writing OpEd pieces for her local paper, little knowing that it would turn into a career marked by TV and radio appearances, great acknowledgement and awards from her peers, and a ranking on the top end of the blogosphere not only in readership, but also substance. All that, and she's still a humble, approachable Blogstar... Impressive.

The otherwise nameless and mysterious "Skyepuppy"...

Now I Know...

Among those who I should have been reading all along were Mere-O's Matt Anderson, JMR, The A-Team, LaShawn Barber (all listed in my Blogroll in the sidebar), a curious fellow from "Another Think" who wrote a wise follow-up here.
Roger Overton (not pictured) and Amy Hall (pictured, right) were proof that Christian academics need not be boring. I will read the A-Team blog as often as I can carve out the time. Lores Rizkalla (center), blows the theory that an intelligent and opinionated woman who loves Christ is not much to look at, and vice versa. Humble, too, her blog is called "Just a Woman". First in the same photo, on the left, is DJ Chuang, a very cool, self aware, emergent thinker and graduate of Dallas Theological's Masters program. (One more reason we like him!)

He and I see quite eye to eye on some matters of "Christian Blogging". Read all of these folks often.

I travelled three time zones away to meet BRelevant, who works a literal 3/4 mile from where I live, and was given a book in my welcome kit by one of the most clever men I know and also attends/"enhances" my church. Small world? Nah, big God. The Harps were a pleasure to meet. Stacy and her "Isn't He Cute" husband, Randall, who blogs at Wrap Music. We got to hang out after GBC2K5 and really enjoyed each others' company. She's in my blogroll... twice!

Also...

I met Alex Jordan and Charlie Lehardy, from Sword and Spirit, but more importantly, Another Think, which all ought to be read by more people. Here they are at a Mexican restaurant (Mexican food, in L.A.? Really?!), after the conference was over. It was great to hang out and get to know everyone - makes it more personal when you read their stuff, doesn't it?

My host

My best friend Peyton, a.k.a. Solomon Jabby, graciously hosted me for the weekend while at GBC2K5, at his home in Lomita. But there were conditions: “You have to go surfing with me on my extra longboard, you have to come to church with me Sunday night [which rocked], and you have to attend my baptism - in the Pacific-frickin-Ocean!!!”

Before and after...
BeforeAfter

As you can tell from the photos I took, I was happy to attend his baptism. But, on the way from surfing to baptism, we met a really nice lady...by 'accident'. She was trying to get into my lane, but I hadn't left the lane yet, so she met with significant resistance from the rear wheel of my rental car [Thrifty rocks for the PT Cruiser upgrade!]. I thought, "I bet she wouldn't feel so bad if we at least took a commemorative picture." We posed for a post accident photo-op that, I think, may have lifted her spirits - see, she's smiling! Besides, it was but a fleshwound... Did I mention that later that day we got a flat tire on the way back from the beach?! Blogging, not just an addiction, an adventure!

Seasoned with Salt:

The Bible tells Christians to be decent and kind in their conversations (Biblese: "full of grace, seasoned with salt" [Col. 4.6]). While we discussed over the weekend the many potentials Christians have via the blogosphere, we also talked about how to maintain appropriate tone - an issue with which I struggle often in our blog. As believers, we are commanded to be good ambassadors for Christ, "representing the brand" as we do in a commercial sense for the companies that employ us. As Christian Bloggers/Blogger Christians, we force ourselves into public accountability among believers and non-believers alike. What this does for our need to make wise choices and treat others well is what millions of years and megatons of pressure can do for simple carbon. Our hope and duty now is to shine with the brilliance and clarity of such a fiery diamond, bearing the best witness we can of the God we call "Savior".
While I also took away many great "nuggets" on blogging, the most important flowed from what I already knew - "less is more". Over time, I must cultivate my knowledge / expertise on a select handful of subjects in great depth, while increasing superficial knowledge of a vast many in breadth. Hugh Hewitt's words ring in my head: "peoples' attentions are up for grabs" and will go to those they trust as experts on the subjects they seek. I thank you for letting me share my little expertise for now and trusting me to grow wiser in the future. I encourage your questions and accountability when I am "off base". A blog is a living conversation over a long period of time magnified by the size of the internet. Let's converse.

All in all, it was a great trip, an enjoyable conference, and an overall encouragement. Thanks to Hugh Hewitt for broadcasting live at Biola during GBC2K5 and for being so approachable, regardless of his celebrity status. Thanks also to Mark Johnson from Walden media for sharing such great material from the upcoming "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", which opens a day early (December 8th), if you know the right people...