Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category

Posted on November 1, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Return to Blogging…as a Married Man!

I’m back from a two week honeymoon and I’m 100% married to my beautiful Robin. Thanks so much to all of you who wished us well and prayed for us on our special day. The whole day was absolutely amazing and surreal. Its still weird to think that we’re married – but we’re loving every minute of it.

So yes, blogging should now resume as per normal – whatever that looks like for a married guy. Blessings all.

Posted on October 2, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Back in the Game

I’m back in the blogging business – I’ve replaced my stolen laptop with a really convenient little Acer A1 which I can take everywhere because it just about fits in my pocket. So it means I can hopefully be a bit more regular in my blogging for the next two weeks or so at least. After that I’m going to do a bit of a disappearing act during the second half of October courtesy of a rather pressing wedding and honeymoon I’m about to take part in – as groom! Till then let me see if I can occupy some of your wasted time with some light (and sometimes not so light) relief. Lata…

Posted on September 13, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Obstacles to Blogging…

…when two guys break into your flat with an axe and steal your laptop! (Fortunately I wasn’t in the flat at the time)

Posted on September 2, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Start a Blog Campaign

I want to see more reformed and evangelical South African Christian blogs – I want to see more people talking about what it means to be the church in South Africa in the contemporary world in which we live. So I’m laying down a challenge to anyone out there who is a South African Christian to start a blog.

Now most people think its a stack load of work to keep up a blog – and I guess if you want to post everyday then it is a bit of work and time. But I think its also very rewarding (read my post on the 10 benefits of blogging I’ve experienced in the last 2 years) and you don’t have to post everyday to write a good blog. So go over to Blogger or Wordpress (blogging platforms) and get going.

Here are some tips to start off with:

• Start reading other good Christian blogs (browse through the links on my sidebar)
• Learn how to use a feed reader and syndication (I use Google Reader and Feed Burner)
• Don’t write long complicated posts
• Sign up with Amatomu
• Link, link and link to other similar blogs
• Make sure the template or layout you choose is simple and easy to read
• Categorize or tag all your posts
• Don’t use corny pseudonyms – use your real name!
• If you can, make your name the url
• Always give credit to material you find on other blogs by linking back to the source
• Don’t promo your blog by dropping spam comments on other people’s blogs telling them to check out your site
• Don’t rant and preach too much on your blog – people will get tired of you – write posts that encourage dialogue rather
• Have fun…

If you decide to take up this challenge then leave a comment below with a link to your new blog. Come on your bloggers…

UPDATE: If you already write a reformed, evangelical South African blog then introduce yourself and leave us a link in the comment section to your blog.

Posted on September 1, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

New South African Blog

The small community of evangelical Christian bloggers in South Africa has just grown by one. My friend, Martyn Kilian, has decided to take the plunge into the Christian blogging world. Martyn is the pastor of the Church on the Hill in Simon’s Town. Go over to his blog and give it a read: newLIFE

Posted on August 22, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Blogroll Revamp

I’ve removed a number of blogs from my blogroll on the basis that they either don’t exist anymore or they’ve been inactive for a really long time. If your blog doesn’t fall into either of these categories and I removed it then drop me a line and I’ll put it back.

Posted on August 20, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Three Blogs Worth Reading

In the past few months I’ve added some blogs to my sidebar without mentioning them in a post. Maybe you’re getting tired of the same set of blogs in you feed reader, well here are three more that I’ve begun following over the last few months:

Church Planting Novice: This is the blog of Jonathan Dodoson, a church planter in Austin, Texas and part of the Acts29 Network.

For What it’s Worth: The blog of Mike Kendall a pastor in the UK

Arieljvan.com: The blog of AJ Vanderhorst an urban church planter in Kansas City (I can never tell if Kansas City is in Kansas or Missouri or both?)

Go have a read…

Posted on August 12, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Time to Show me that You Love Me…

All right many of you know just how much of my self-worth I invest into this little blog. When hits are up so is my mood and vice-versa. Well now you can all make me feel very loved and appreciated by joining my Facebook blog network!

On a slightly more serious note – I’d really love to find out who some of the folk are out there reading this blog so join the network and say hi.

Posted on June 5, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Link Thursday

I’m kind of on break at the moment – although I’ve still got work to do (plus some of the details of a wedding to organise) – it’s kind of weird taking a break with work hanging over you. Well, whilst I rest, and the rest of you slave at your work, here are some links worth following up and having a read when you get a second:

Tim Chester has some audio online on the subject of ‘Re-thinking the Church‘.

I saw this a while ago and I forgot to mention it, but Jeff Vanderstelt, one of the founding elders of Soma Communities in Tacoma has started his very own blog on all things missional.

Jason Allen has been posting thoughts on rethinking small groups: Part I – Methodology, Part II, Part III – Strategy and Part IV – Leadership. (Jason I can’t find Part II #4-6?)

And finally, Adrian Reynolds thinks that there are tell-tale signs that suggest that what is going on in Florida with Todd Bentley at the moment might not be from God – I think I’m pretty much in agreement with him. (HT – Dave).

Posted on April 30, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

The Briefing Blogs

The peeps from the Briefing have started their own blog: Sola Panel. If you can put up with a bunch of Reformed Aussies then you’ll probably enjoy this blog. I was especially excited to see that Mark D. Thompson is one of their contributers – his book ‘A Clear and Present Word‘ has been one of my best reads in the last two years or so. They’re good gospel guys – go give them a look.