404 Consecutive Blog Posts

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I posted on my blog every day for 404 consecutive days from January 1, 2012 through February 7, 2013. Sometimes the posts were very late at night – written after my wife went to bed and the lights were out in our room.

Often I would sit there and wonder – what have I got to say? What is worth writing about today?

I had challenged myself in 2012 to post daily — and I did it.

As 2013 started, I wasn’t sure that I would post every day. I thought I’d just continue what I’d been doing the entire year before. So I kept posting. Day after day.

And then my computer died. It needed to be fixed and after spending the afternoon in the Apple Store I was relieved that it was only a software problem and not a hardware problem. However, this resulted in a full restore of my computer.

I missed posting that day – but just added an extra post the following day.

Then a few days later, I was backing up my computer and missed another day. I decided it was time for a break from blogging. After 404 “consecutive” days I was ready for a break. So I skipped a few days. I thought I’d just take a week off. It’s been about three weeks.

I’ve decided to re-engage. You may be wondering why I blog.

5 Reasons Why I Blog

1. For me, blogging is a way to express my thoughts and share what I’m learning. I used to do this every week when I was preaching at Lake Hills Church. Now that I’m not preaching every week, the blog is a way to express myself. On some days, it really doesn’t matter if anyone reads it. I just have something to say and blogging lets me say it.
2. However, there are other days that I have something to say and I hope it gets noticed. I want to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I want my blog to be read. I want people to comment. I want to write something that causes people to think about…Jesus, His mission, His church, disciplemaking, church planting, coaching, and so much more. I write because I want lives to be changed – and I hope something I say will make a difference.
3. I also write for the discipline it brings to my life. It’s not easy to post something every day. It requires discipline, concentration, and focus. I like the fact that blogging every day adds to my own discipline. I could write posts in advance and schedule when they appear on my blog. In the future, I plan to do this. But for the past 404 posts, every one was written just in time to post that day.
4. I actually like getting feedback. Feedback helps me to get better. I like blogging because as I put my ideas out there, people can give me feedback. Sometimes I get an email or a comment on a post. Frankly, I wish this happened more often. But the reality is – you and I need feedback from others to help us think more clearly and comprehensively.
5. I want to grow a network of followers who will actually benefit from one of the services that I have to offer. That may seem a bold statement to some who read this blog. But it’s true – I hope to offer you something of value. It may be a book, or coaching services, or training – or something else. But the reality is — my blog is a way to connect with people who need what I have created. (From a personal perspective: my wife and I serve as missionaries with One Challenge. It has been challenging to raise the necessary support we need to live. It’s my hope that blogging will expand the audience that engage with the topics I write about. If that’s you — maybe you’d be interested in having me speak at your event, or attending one or our training workshops, or buying my newest book (The Missional Journey) I’ve written with Bob Logan, or starting a coaching relationship.) My blog is a simple vehicle to engage with you in a way that could lead to further interaction.

Well – that’s a quick summary of why I blog.

I’ve decided to start blogging again.

It’s my aim to blog for another 404 days in a row – although I’m prepared to schedule some of my posts in advance. It’s time to stop posting in the dark after midnight. It’s time to start falling asleep when we turn out the lights.

If you’ve been reading my blog or benefiting from any of the Missional Challenge posts this past year – please take the time to comment and let me know what you’d love to hear more about in 2013.