Our Blog Is Not Our God
I am broken.
I care entirely too much about what you think of me.
And you care entirely too much about what I think of you.
The truth is we both suck.
So we admit things that suck about ourselves on our blogs and so that we get praised for admitting that we suck.
See how broken that is?
So in this brokenness of inward focused admittance of suckiness so that we don’t feel so sucky…
Remember…
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:5
Just a reminder to confess before the Lord before we confess to one another.
Because in spite of what we may accidentally believe…
Our Blog is not our God.
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
Wow. . . amen.
I need to watch my motives.
You're right Los… our blog is NOT our God and many fall into the thinking that it is. May all who blog remember that it is an incredible tool that can be used to tell others about Our God…. for Our God is an AWESOME God!!!
Ouch! And Thanks!
I feel the sting too
Great reminder!
I love this…with all the social web out there now…blogs, myspace, twitter…so much of it turns to vanity. We no longer live in a culture where you can be yourself and not feel pressure to "be somebody". It's time to get back to the basics and focus on REAL living for Christ and ignoring the vanities of this world.
Awesome stuff…this has really hit home and inspired me. I needed this today.
I think the problem is we just like the sound of our own voice. And the whole social network phenomenon enables anyone to dump their voice anywhere. Thus our thoughts, feelings, and overall brokenness becomes an RSS feed instead of a prayer.
In "Life Together" Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, "Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother? God is holy and sinless. He is a just judge of evil and the enemy of all disobedience. But a brother is sinful as we are. He knows from his own experience the dark night of secret sin….we must ask ourselves whether we have not often been deceiving ourselves with our confession of sin to God, whether we have not rather been confessing our sins to ourselves and also granting ourselves absolution."
Wow. Amazing
Ouch. for real. Always giving us things to think of.
for sure…God is much more forgiving than people, anyway, right?
Amen. All praise and glory to Jesus, and not us and our brokenness.
isn't that the truth. priase the Lord for He has done GREAT things!
bless you today bro.
Good words. Now the question is: Will we allow this truth to change us, or will we be back here a day from now? Or even an hour from now?
Thank God that He loves us in spite of our suckiness.
You suck for posting this. Haha I'm totally kidding. Thank you for recognizing our suckiness and reminding us to bring it to God before Blog. 'Doh. I've been having the same conviction lately and it's confirming to see someone go through the same. Welp, through this I learn more that God is greater than all our sins combined! No sulking required. His work will be finished regardless of our own right or wrong motives. Amen.
I appreciate the punch in the face this morning.
Thanks for writing this my friend. This is something that I get caught up with everyday. Wanting more traffic to my blog, more comments, and more friends. I often find myself obsessing over it, thinking that I will find some kind of self worth from having a lot of views of my blog in one day. My Dad asked me yesterday, "What is your goal with your blog?" I realized that my main goal was for people to listen to what I have to say. I have been working through this attitude and re-evaluating my motives.
ouch
http://www.youversion.com/niv/Jas.5.20
I agree. If I am honest, this environment opens my eyes to the need of confessing to my maker. You and your crew constantly remind me that I ain't sh*t without Christ and that the finish line isn't even close. So, don't stop.
thanks man. niether of us are sh*t
That's Real Talk Bro.
yup
Los…long time reader, but never responded till today. Your post meant a lot, and is so true. Thanks for being real…even when being real sucks sometimes.
Nice reminder, Los. I can get so caught up in the "new creation" and my own abilities that I forget, at the core, I'm broken. That then perpetuates both the brokenness and the blindness. I'm going to drop Steve Taylor's "Jesus Is for Losers" into today's playlist.
Thanks for the gentle (somewhat!) reminder. I needed to hear it.
I punched myself too
Dude, one of your top 10 posts of 09 for sure. So, so true.
First of all, I love the picture! That is just cool. Secondly, thanks for addressing something that needs to be addressed. Blogging for many has become just another "clique" or "Click", and if I see that it's all about getting hits and lacking substance for my daily life, I just don't return. Brokenness in front of God means a lot more to me than brokenness in front of man. I mean, both are good, but we know which one matters.
You suck! But so do I. Thanks for your transparency. It's a good reminder for me to do the same.
Thank you for this Carlos. It really resonates with me as I've recently found myself becoming obsessed with my blog stats and being worried about posts that are merely shameless self-promotion. I really needed this reminder from reality. Thank you.
Carlos, this needed to be said. Thank you for your honesty.
Awesome reminder! We were just discussing this with our team the other night! We need to die to ourselves daily, and surrender our selfish motives to Him.
Been “blogin” with my husband about our marriage. Your post was just a great reminder of why even share our story. When your sitting in an empty house wondering if your husband will choose his family, no best friend because she is the one he had an affair with, no church home because he was the senior pastor and asked to leave…. When you hit rock bottom and have lost everything it makes sharing your story of redemption sweeter. For us there is no glory… we’re not pastors of a church or run a ministry, were just… well… waiting and hoping for God to use us! BUT in the waiting we hope our journey stays this pure… never again to fall into the trappings of sharing for the “pat on the back” but purely to have Jesus say “well done” And when it does creep its ugly head I am reminded of my empty house with only Jesus there with me. Great Post!
~Trish
At the risk of falling precisely into the pattern of "praising your brokenness", I couldn't have imagined a more concise way to describe. Thanks… and amen.
Well spoken. I'd say, Amen.
It's tough for sure
I need to keep reading it too.
In your avatar…I know its a tree. But since it is so small, it looks like you are wearing a wreath on your head.
haha! Well, because of that i am going to change my avatar…..it has been up for 2 years. time for change. Thanks for urging me on.
counting the seconds…
yea. thanks for dropping in to talk.
Thanks. Now. How is that conversation we had at the fish taco joint going?
Looking forward to picking up where we left off next time we see each other. Wish I were closer so we could do it again soon.
Just curious, but how does this post not feed into the issue you call yourself and each one of us out on….?
Don't get me wrong, it was a kick in the pants for me (so thank you for your words) as I often us my blog as a public therapy session in a way to deal with my "stuff" but also a way to display the appearance of transparency to others around me (if I am being honest).
Sometimes I think we love saying "we suck" as a way to keep on sucking it up…if that makes any sense at all. Excuse me if the train of thought does not make sense, but it is lunch time and I'm starving…
So we should never speak for fear of praise? I think you got the point though.
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No, we still speak, but I think it goes back to motives which is the one thing you can hide from everyone else, but yourself and God. Why are we saying the things we do on our blogs? What are we expecting back in return? What is missing that we feel the need to solicit "pats on the back" or "that a boy."
My original question was just a thought that ran through my brain that I thought I would throw out there. I enjoyed your thoughts quite a bit and they challenged why I write…no ill will was intended.
I want to say "good post", but that kinda defeats the purpose of the post. So…I love you and I care what you think to the extent of considering your feelings above mine. You're a good soul, and I'm not trying to puff you up. Bless you and press on.
Very good point. And might I dare add, neither is our church our god. Beleive me this comes from experience. When you find out the hard way that God has been put at the bottom of the priority list below other relationships, well,..it's not fun. The outcome is beautiful if the seeking is real. But the process is not fun. People you would never expect will hurt and abandon you even when they don't know what they are doing……Jesus will NEVER do that….. And I find it very interesting how so many have traded church at a building for church on a blog and call it something different and better……….
yip, and sometimes I find myself spending more time blogging than working on my relationships, First to God and then my Wife. Quite a trap even for a Christian blogger.
Yea. After reading that, it sounds like we just said the same thing. LOL.
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Thanks for that wake up call Los
Los, this is one of the burdens YOU carry because you have a literal community here. Some family, some friends, some admirers, some haters… a true community of folks who judge you, good or bad and either praise you or shun you. No matter how it's all said, you are loved for who you are and you are criticized for who you are. However, this is what you talked about creating back when you first started this blog and now you got it. In the end, more folks do more self-reflecting, more folks learn about brokenness (and not so much self-boasting), and more folks learn about one man's true struggle to be a Christian. A God-fearing, Christ-loving, community-serving husband, father and family man. This is a good thing and ultimately it is a blessing all around. Take it in, breathe and then let it all go, good or bad. Much love to you my friend, Rhi J
Thank you for the post. It reminds me of that great Martin Luther quote that we even need to repent of our repentence. Praise God that it is for sinners that Jesus came.__"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." 1 Tim 1:15-16
My wife and I are "create from scratch"types.We rarely do anything without thinking through.I'll admit that I jumped into my blog without going through the creative and spiritual process first. I've neglected at times to put God first in my life and in my marriage. Now I'm sitting and contemplating what to do now that a bunch of stuff has changed…
preach
I just checked out your blog for the first time, even though I've seen you linked to all over the place (or at least the places I frequent). And wow, you preach a good word. Thank you.
OUCH!! but so true
our form of "Brokenness" is self righteous self pity…
This is awful, circular logic. I used to occasionally check your blog and liked it for it's content and links to relevant blogs, but I will be looking elsewhere.
You understand enough that "admitting" you're "broken" or prideful or self-righteous seems to show honesty or integrity or transparency, and, to be sure, your blog readers want to see that. But it's a show now, a parody of humility.
Struggling with pride is fine, "admitting" to others (over-and-over) that you struggle with pride is counterproductive. If you really want to fight pride and insecurity, stop telling everyone about it. Fix it.
Sorry about that Sean.
There are many blogs out there to read.
If you don't like it here…
No one is keeping you from leaving.
And the last time I checked…
This is my second post on this topic out of twothousand and fiftytwo.
That would be 2 out of 2052.
I'm not a mathematician, but I think that is less than 1%.
Please go take your bad math elsewhere and have a drink or something.
None the less you band kicked ass while they were around.
Tell Mike and Steph and CJ hey if you see them.
Haven't been a reader for long, but by far your best post. Thanks for keeping it real.
good stuff. thanks.
I'm thinking along the lines of Tony – doesn't this blog post imply the need for type of behavioral change? Not trying to sound like a jackass but it's kinda like saying "I don't treat my wife the way I should" without saying "So I'm changing"…
I think the post is a call to live out that scripture.
That simple.
Los
I want to comment but the words aren't matching my response. Yes, powerful post….
Remember it's also about balance. We are but dust. We are His beloved.
Brokenness, authenticity, confession…these things plant seeds of hope and healing in hurting hearts. We are all broken, brokenness expresses in different ways. All our hearts are fashioned alike and without Him deceitful. We share the same sinful nature. But He is a Redeemer. A mender of broken hearts. One who restores and washes us clean.
What do I think of you? What do you think of me? May we choose to see as He does…sinners saved by grace, not by works lest any one can boast.
Thank you for your presence in this place.
wow. i'm so guilty man. it's so easy to blatantly confess failures publicly, not out of humility, but out of a twisted pride we've developed and think we're so clever… thankful that there are people like yourself and others that remind me i'm not all that. really timely post for me.
thanks.
and freakin rad picture man. you treat that d300 right. ha.
los, this is undoubtably one of the most penetrating, truth-soaked posts…ever
word! thanks for the reminder.
So true Carlos, we ALL want to be so real with each other…but tend to fall into the suck category with being real with God. I think we also are lame at praising/thanking/showing appriciation to our family in real life but are awesome at bragging about how great they are on our blogs. I know I am good at talking them up in blog world, but that means nothing to them! Same goes for how we praise God off our blogs. Glad to hear these words today.
#1 awesome picture. #2 great thoughts. – As a new blogger its a streach for me but I must admit that I am addicted and blessed by this blog. thank you.
Interesting what Cody said here. But I can see it from the flip side of being someone who wonders if people are not commenting because you don't fit a certain christian mold or standard. If you're not living up to others ideas of a good person or what they think your blog and writing should be so they out cast you or judge you then that is not right in and of itself too. And to live off of people commenting and agreeing with you is a strong form of narcissism as well. But in that same aspect a blog is anyones way of expressing themselves for the world to see and address with there own voices so it makes sense that people would want themselves to be seen and heard or else why blog unless it's private. But I guess if I'm spending my time wondering any of this I need to re-evaluate my thought process and motives as well. Good blog Carlos.
I'm just honored that I'm 1 of 3,456 people that you're following on Twitter.
Hi there! First time to comment, here. I was convicted of this after Jon Acuff wrote about it a few weeks ago and my friend Beth and her church went on a media fast for a week. I've cut back on my computer time now. When I look back on my earlier writing, I notice that I spent much more time on a post. Now that more people read my blog, sometimes I find myself just cranking out posts to get a certain number out in a week. While I do write some posts reflecting my wretchedness, I've never really felt the need to do so in order for someone to tell me how un-wretched I am. My pastor and my husband both read my blog, and while they rarely comment, they're both pretty quick to tell me if I'm full of crap or if I need to get over myself. And while I've come in contact with some fairly awesome folks in the blogosphere that I would consider friends, I also understand that my allegiance is with my God and Savior, my husband, my kids and all the non-virtual peeps in my life.
P.S. – I'll be at Catalyst and Off the Blogs in a couple of weeks. I hope I get a chance to meet you in person.
Hi there! First time to comment, here. I was convicted of this after Jon Acuff wrote about it a few weeks ago and my friend Beth and her church went on a media fast for a week. I've cut back on my computer time now. When I look back on my earlier writing, I notice that I spent much more time on a post. Now that more people read my blog, sometimes I find myself just cranking out posts to get a certain number out in a week. While I do write some posts reflecting my wretchedness, I've never really felt the need to do so in order for someone to tell me how un-wretched I am. My pastor and my husband both read my blog, and while they rarely comment, they're both pretty quick to tell me if I'm full of crap or if I need to get over myself. And while I've come in contact with some fairly awesome folks in the blogosphere that I would consider friends, I also understand that my allegiance is with my God and Savior, my husband, my kids and all the non-virtual peeps in my life.
P.S. – I'll be at Catalyst and Off the Blogs in a couple of weeks. I hope I get a chance to meet you in person.
Howdy Carlos,
I don't know you, but your boss is someone that is so very important in my life personally, so when a friend sent me the link to this post, it's because of your boss that I took notice. This post moved me, Carlos. I'm a secular entertainment industry chick who is new to the Franklin/Christian product industry bubble, and I look around, and well, I could vomit. Literally. I spent decades in the secular entertainment industry….a rare Christian in that world. And yet, after a short time working in the Franklin bubble, I realized rather quickly I was surrounded by more honesty and reality in my former Holly-weird career than I ever was here on Main St.
I could go on one my famous rants here, but I'm working on that part of my personality so I'll spare you that. Lol. But what I will say, is that I read this particular post and felt like taping it on the door outside Merridees. Seriously. I've never felt more out of touch…more uncool, unhip, geeky and all around out of touch with culture than when I moved to Franklin, TN. Me! Who knew?! Heck, a person that assumed she was on the cutting edge of culture somehow landed in a town…or "road" that assumed they were creating a culture that nobody outside their world hadn't already been living, and attempting to define.
Sorry, but that just seems blatantly small-minded and pompous to someone like me.
To cut to the chase…I hear people at Merridees spend a ton of time pontificating about how they are "creating culture," and I can't help but chuckle. Cause you see…there are random people like me outside the "bubble" that have been working their asses off participating in a culture that is already changing….there is a large population of Christians in the secular entertainment industry that don't necessarily "fit" that bubble, and yet they have profound ripples of influences far wider reaching than a few "cool Christian blogs" could ever touch.
So, I humbly say this, there are a few of us that are/have been bright lights in dark places that have the ability to reach outside the box. All these Christian rock star blogs are super cool, I love them all. But….how about reaching outside that demographic….how about hooking those people Jesus set us on the path to the reach out to. We could cluster…uhm…love…forever. But don't we already have eternity to do that? I mean….shouldn't we be working to bring people outside for the ride of a lifetime?
I'm just saying.
Your sister in Christ,
-andrea
aka @Wonderfalls
mm. cognitively