I started because I thought that it would be a good way for some of my old friends to hear the Word of God. The majority of those I grew up with don’t know Christ…But I know that they stop and read everyday…The other reason is that I want to be transparent. I want the people that God has entrusted me with to know that I am an ordinary guy who serves an extraordinary God. I think you hit the nail on the head when you described the talking heads…For what it’s worth, I think withoutwax.tv is doing an excellent way showing His Light.
Michael´s last blog ..Am I a Good Son???

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Thx for this post!

Adam’s note touched my heart! I was also in the Navy and know that the internet is an oasis for military people.

Thx for letting God use you!

Grace & Peace

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I blog to share thoughts and ideas about scripture, life, worship. I blog for silly, “hey look at this” reasons to lighten people’s day a bit. I blog to process information that I take in, particularly scripture, since I don’t preach regularly. I blog to hear what some other people have to say about things I think about. I blog to rant. I blog to share opportunities to give and worship Jesus outside “worship” time.

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hmm..

I guess I blog because I am full of useless information that is just fighting to get out somewhere.

Ultimately, I have learned that I can better understand something if I am forced to try to explain it. When I write, I am teaching myself.

Unfortunately, there are some poor souls that stop by from time-to-time and get exposed to my brain dumps. I should rename my blog that.. Brain Dumps.. with a picture of a manure pile. Just remember good things grow with a little help from manure.

There are times that blogging is probably about my ego as well. Let’s face it, we write in hopes that someone will respond. How much of that is ego, I don’t know.
Tony York´s last blog ..Church Hunt Week 1

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Pete Wilson Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 8:39 am

And don’t forget Tony. I consider you a co-author on this blog as well. We all learn a ton from your comments and observations.

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I agree.

I started blogging years ago, just because I wanted to have a voice in the world.

My blogging has transitioned a lot into much of what you’ve posted here. I try in many of my posts to bring people into the conversation, unfortunately a lot of my readers are not commentors, they’ll tell me in person, “Oh, I loved your post the other day!” – So, I’m still working on the “community” aspect
Nick´s last blog ..Hell in Haiti

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Pete Wilson Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 8:40 am

That’s still community…it’s just not online community.

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I started blogging a little over a year ago because I was doing a horrible job keeping any kind of baby book for my daughter. I wanted a way to journal the things I’d like to remember as well as share them with friends and family.

I love that you blog, Pete. I think it gives us a way to relate to you as a person and not just a speaker on Sunday mornings.
Jennifer´s last blog ..Kids Say the Funniest Things

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I love that you blog. I don’t attend Crosspoint but am so glad that the body of Christ is using cyberspace as another way to get the Word out. (I wish more ministers blogged!)

I blog to share my journey as a single mom, what it’s like to come from two cultures, and to let people know how utterly hopeless my life would be without Jesus.

It’s therapeutic for me and hopefully, it strikes a chord with someone.
Thelma Bowlen´s last blog ..Time Stand Still

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Blogging has become a great way for me to connect with Cross Pointer’s outside of Sundays as well as connect with other leaders from across the country. I love the community!
Jenni Catron´s last blog ..What Would You Say?

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I blog to teach, encourage, review books, and share what God is teaching. I have great blogs other times I wish I wrote them better. Blogging (if that is a term) has helped in my communication of Biblical truth and my writting skills.

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I love to read your blogs. They are so honest, funny and crazy enough I also learn from the blogs.

So keep coming the blogs. I understand it takes a lot time. I will pray for you for wisdom.
Lily´s last blog ..LilyAny: RT @MaxLucado Humility doesn’t mean you think less of yourself but that you think of yourself less.

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I design worship space (stages, auditorium) and experiential elements for worship. At the point I started blogging I could only find one person who did what I did.
What I have found is an eclectic mix of skeptics and believers. Which is so perfect. @Designing for Philistines (which is a reference to one of John Acuff’s early posts)I constantly strive to entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and to ignite passion in the believer (to go into the world)…
The world needs honest, non-judgemental examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Thanks for being a voice.
Dorothy Hooland ´s last blog ..playing…

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I blog because of the nature of my personal story. If by sharing it I can encourage one person so that she does not feel alone in her brokenness or damage then it’s worth it.
Michelle Brown´s last blog ..Chained Glory

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I started for a couple of reasons. 1. To stretch myself. 2. To encourage others. 3. To create community, though I’m finding out that takes quite a while.
Bill Foote´s last blog ..Prayers for sale

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How timely! On Tuesday I met with the pastors at my church to generate a vision and some excitement about blogging. I’m essentially serving as their editor, and wanted them to see it as an important part of their ministry, not just one more thing on their to-do list. I will definitely share your post with them.
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)´s last blog ..I need a Holy Spirit chill pill

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Pete,

Your thoughts and blog (as so many have already pointed out) are very insightful. As a younger member of the Christian community I really appreciate your third point about creating community. While any community, be it electronic or brick and mortar, has its limitations, I know that my own generation is so comfortable with the internet that to ignore this space is to risk alienating a large group of believers. Electronic media is a must for the Church today, and pastors, as well as other mature members of the faith, need to get on board in order to help guide the next generation. With people like you doing some encouraging in this direction I am hopeful that this will happen. Keep up the great work

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Another reason is because I process theology this way. I think theology is more like building platforms. We will never fully LAND on a theological belief. So to blog is to keep building platforms incrementally. Plus, it’s a way to generate conversation. Ultimately, my hope is to blog to make a difference!!!
John Alexander´s last blog ..It’s a LOVE HAITI thing.

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ttm Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 12:44 pm

What an awesome way to put it—”… keep building platforms incrementally.”

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I started blogging because a friend told me too, when I was in school in DC and she was in CT. I guess she wanted to keep track of me Now I do it because I (selfishly) think people what to know what I have to say.

I think more pastors should blog. I used Without Wax as church when I got home from the hospital and couldn’t go to church. Plus blogging let’s people reread things, which helps when you can’t sit for too long etc.

Did you hear the Pope has told priests, “Go forth and blog,” check it out http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100123/ap_on_re_eu/eu_pope_cyberpriests
Sarah´s last blog ..True Story Tuesday

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I started blogging shortly after I joined Acappella as a way to let my friends and family back in Texas know what I was up to and how things were going. Nowadays, I’m still trying to keep people informed, but I’m also sharing my thoughts about different aspects of my walk with Christ. I find it fulfilling to be able to get my take of the Message out, even if only a couple people read it. I don’t have a lot of readers, and I have even fewer commenters, but if only one person is being blessed by it, I’ll keep blogging!

Thanks for your hard work, Pete! Love your blog and your heart!!
Rob´s last blog ..THE LOOK OF LOVE, pt 5

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I blog because I need to write down my thoughts. If I didn’t, I probably would go crazy. Not only that, I blog in hopes that someone else will be positively affected by my story. I pray that I can be a light to this world and blogging is just one of the ways I am trying to do that.
Jen´s last blog ..Swimming Thoughts…

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Blogging is what I do so it is more like Sunday mornings for me. I speak, and I’m not sure anyone listens! Nah…

I do it as kind of a journal for myself. I think what I have to say is on the fringe of being good, but even if no one else reads it (which I’m honestly not sure if anyone does) I do it anyhow. I am able to get the thoughts out of my head and onto “paper”.

I do like the way you leave us with a question so that it causes us to respond and start a conversation.

Thanks for your good words Pete!
Eldon Kelley´s last blog ..Do I?

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I started blogging 5 years ago to share some pictures of my kids with my family that weren’t close by. It has turned into much more that that and I pray that as I am transparent about my family life with others that I am an encouragement to them. I probably only have 30 or so regular readers, but I love them all. I never did make my family blog public since I never felt quite sure if I wanted too many complete strangers reading my blog so when I started to get into photography this past year or so I created a new one. That one is of pleasure to share the gift that God placed inside of me and I excitedly post to it when I can.

I can’t remember how I tripped onto your blog, but I appreciate your transparency as well and your continued solid sharing of your faith. Thank you for being real with us!
April´s last blog ..Girlfriends I Heart Faces Challenge

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i blog & write because God told me to “go and make disciples of all nations”

and if He told me to do so, then i must obey.

since i dont have the $ or the ability to travel everywhere as of the moment….i use cyberspace to tell others about my victories, my pain, my struggles, my joy, my life and my Hope in Christ.

it’s like doing mission trips all in the comfort of your own home.

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I don’t care WHY you blog, I’m just so very glad that you do! If I ever find myself living anywhere close to Nashville, I know right where I’ll be that first Sunday. Until then, I’m loving being where God has me now (in the ATL).

I started my blog to hone my writing skills and build some discipline while at the same time trusting God to teach me how to look for Him everyday. If I can share the seemingly “odd” places He shows up for me, then maybe that can give others (all 14 who read it) a little insight and encouragement to look for Him in their own lives.
Cindy Graves´s last blog ..Fighting With “Why Bother”…

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I had no idea what I was getting in to when I started blogging. My husband had been encouraging me to try it…apparently I have a lot of words and he needed them to go somewhere besides pinging around inside his brain.

I was surprised and overwhelmed by the community I found. We were preparing to relocate back to the US from overseas and have since done so…blogging friends have been such a wonderful support throughout our transition. I was not expecting relationship to be the biggest blessing but it most definitely has.

I love that you blog. Reading here reminds me that we are the church and its not just for Sunday.
joyce´s last blog ..The Random You’ve Been Waiting for

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I was just introduced to your upcoming book “Plan B.” Thank you for being brave enough to discuss a topic that has been largely ignored in church lately. I must first state for the record I believe God is good all the time. But, I have suffered for a long time in many areas of my life. Over time going to listen to people talk about financial and physical blessing in their life week after week just became too hard to take anymore. My weekly young adults meeting became a place where I ended up spiritually limping into my car and crying all the way home. At some point I just grew resentful of hearing these stories when all I could see was suffering in my life. I even went so far as to say to others that I had moved more toward an agnostic viewpoint of God at one point. This was not done lightly. I have been a follower of God for a long time, and for something to shake me to the core like that bothered me.

I am in a different place at this point and time. When I asked God where He was in all this, He sent people into my life to answer the question. The answer is that He is always there. Also that I need to let 3 things settle into my soul. 1.God is 2.God is Good. 3.Good is good to me. The last is a bit more complicated to walk out then you would think at first glance. It’s the belief that faith is knowing God is good to me no matter what my 5 senses tell me. And that all other fruits of the spirit grow from that tree. All this to say, I feel like God has come through my life like a hurricane so that He can rebuild the foundation of who I am in Him.

Thank you so much for talking about this topic. It is one that I didn’t know if I would ever see anything taught about. I’m excited to see what your prospective is on this.

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I love to blog. Just wish I were a bit better at it. Thanks for your inspiring blogs man. I appreciate them a ton.
Stan´s last blog ..Haiti and Me! Or Us?

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I like the second one the most. Encouragement is what it’s all about. If we’re not encouraging (literally putting courage in others… providing certainty in some way), we’re wasting our time.

It seems like I’ve seen this post elsewhere. It’s a great reminder to see you and others talking about the benefits of blogging and encouraging others to get involved… because you’re sure an encouragement to us, your readers.

-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian´s last blog ..How to expose someone’s goodness

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Pete,

I’ve only been going to Cross Point for about a month now, but you have done more to instill a sense of community in me than any other pastor I’ve encountered. Blogging is an immensely powerful tool for accomplishing that. To me, community is one of the most important results of a successful blog; one that truly inspires its readers.
I’ve been learning a lot from your words on this blog and in church. I have been getting much closer to Christ through that education. Isn’t that every pastor’s goal? Blog away, Pete. I’ll be reading.
Kenny Silva´s last blog ..Who Are You and Why Are You Here?

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pete wilson Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Welcome to CP Kenny!
pete wilson´s last blog ..Plan B Video Promo Released

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Thanks, Pete! Great insight into the “blessings” of blogging!

I blog to spread the word about Internet dangers, Biblical purity, and what the Ministry God has provided can offer!

Have a blessed weekend!
Buddy
Buddy Knight´s last blog ..SEXTING!What’s The Big Deal??? Part II

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Hi Pete,I read your blog everyday because it is down to earth and often gives me food for thought. I think it is good to find a preacher who is tolerant of the beliefs of others when so much publicity is given to those who call themselves preachers (of all religions), but preach hatred and and intolerance of any belief which differs from their own. Surely all major religions believe in peace and love! Hate the sin but love the sinner.
Carry on the good work
Granny Anne´s last blog ..The Lucky Generation (part 2)

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Dude. I sent this to like 5 pastors I know.

WHen you said: “In the future church leaders will have to exchange control for collaboration, individualism for community and affluence for influence.” you could not be more dead on!

what are the next 5 reasons?

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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.

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