Thursday, July 28, 2005

Issues Etc. Program on Blogging

Issues, Etc. (at KFUO.ORG) Wednesday, July, 27 has a program on blogging, with guests Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer and Sandra Ostapowich.

You can download and listen to it for free!

7 comments:

Stan said...

I usually appreciate Wilken's questions, but the blogging segment was less than stellar on his part. He clearly doesn't like blogging and his questions were very much aimed in such a way to bring that out. I guess I just thought he could have asked better questions.

Props to "Madre" though, as always - she rocks.

Preachrboy said...

Yes, Stan, it did seem a little ironic that Wilken was so wary of bloggers "saying something they didn't mean", all the while Todd himself works in the realm of radio - a medium much more prone to saying something foolish "off the top of your head". (Just ask President Kieschnick about Baptismal Regeneration).

At least with blogging you have to write it down and think about it, and press that button to publish...

Gee... should I press it now???

One more thing... What's with the OBVIOUS chance to mention the Lutheran Blog Directory... and neither interviewee took the opportunity!! DOH!

Now where is that button....

TKls2myhrt said...

Thanks for the tip. I listened to the program to day and part of Thursday's followup hour. I, too, was confused and disappointed to hear Todd Wilken's negative opinion of bloggers. I learned in HIGH SCHOOL how to properly research a topic and cite written content. I had even more practice in college, of course, but a basic high school degree would do. Sure, there are irresponsible writers who keep a blog...and irresponsible radio announcers...and pastors...the list could go on. I wish he knew how much thought and prayer went into my posts. Sure, I blow it once in a while, get (deserved) negative feedback and I rewrite or remove the piece. And the Lutheran blogospher does a great job of policing its own, as we have all seen.

Stan said...

Pr. Chryst,
From talking with Sandra, I think both her Pr. Stiegmeyer were a little surprised by both Pr. Wilkens tone and questions. That might explain why no mention was made of the Lutheran blog directory. Also, I know Sandra would have liked to have given more of a plug to the HT-Blog's which have been starting to move along. It just didn't sound like such opportunities were easily available, and then at the end they were rushed too.

One of the advantages of blogging, that was not mentioned, is unlike the radio when you write it down, it's there for people to hold you accountable to what you said.

Wilken also did a doosie running the way of the law by arguing the value of bloggers based upon those who abuse it. Imagine if we argued theology that way, what treasures in the church would we lose?

ghp said...

Leveraging off of Stan's example of Pr. Wilkens' "running the way of the law...", I would add my disappointment in the inference that the (potential) time investment is a negative about blogging. For, if the time spent reading & writing blogs is wasted time (and thus sinful), then it's not too much of a stretch to tar listening to the radio with the same broad brush.

Such thinly veiled pietism is neither convincing nor becoming.

I wonder if the whole topic of blogging wasn't forced on him...

-ghp

TKls2myhrt said...

I wrote Pastor Wilken a letter and hope to get a response.

Dear Rev. Wilken,

I listened to your program for the first time yesterday. I am amazed that your synod has its own radio station! What a great resource for Lutherans. I am a new confessional Lutheran and belong to the ELS. I was raised in the ELCA (ALC) and then spent 20 years as a generic "evangelical". Pretty soon upon finding the joy of scriptural truths in confessional lutheran practice, I began writing about my experiences. I was introduced to blogging my another Christian and it was a perfect fit. I never dreamed that my blog would be read by many people; instead I just wanted to write my life stories in a format that I could share with others. Within a couple of weeks of starting my blog, I discovered the blog, Random Thoughts of a Confessional Lutheran. From this blog, I found a treasure chest of other confessional Lutheran bloggers. Among my favorites, and there are so many, are Bunnie Diehl, a World Mag blogger/journalist from Washington DC; Confessing Evangelical, written by young lawyer, father and husband in London; Beggars All, which you already know; and Love and Blunder, written by a young Lutheran couple. My life has been richly blessed by reading the stories of other confessional Lutherans. I believe we encourage and strengthen each other in God's Word.

Getting back to your program, I am writing about the program on blogging with Pastor Scott Steigemeyer and Sandra Ostopowich. You said that one complaint you have about those who keep blogs is that they often don't directly address the person they are discussing, so I decided that I would let you know my thoughts on your segment on blogging. You also mentioned irresponsiblity of subejct matter and wasting of their own time. I don't think you gave bloggers a very fair portrayal. Not that what you said was untrue, because there are many people who are irresponsible in their activities and blogging is no exception. However, I must tell you that my experience in the confessional Lutheran blogosphere has been very positive. This group of writers is very careful and considerate in keeping their blogs. There are a couple of "young bulls", but they are the exception. We keep each other accountable and on our toes. The Lutheran blogospher does a great job of policing its own. As far as good use of time, most of the blogs I read are written by adults with active careers and families. They don't have time to waste "blogging"; they are writers wrestling with the issues of our day and sharing their thoughts with each other. This can be done around kids' busy schedules, early in the morning before work, late at night or over a lunch break.

Most of us learned in HIGH SCHOOL how to properly research a topic and cite material. I have found that MOST bloggers are as responsible, and usually MORE, than the journalists and writers of our day. Sure, there are irresponsible writers who keep a blog...and irresponsible radio announcers...and pastors...the list could go on. It is my experience that the confessional Lutheran blogosphere puts much thought and prayer went into our posts. Sure, we all blow it once in a while, get (deserved) negative feedback. We then rewrite or remove the piece.

Maybe you just aren't one to spend much time at a computer and I can appreciate that. Keep in mind, though, that the computer is just the tool bloggers use to write and communicate. How could I ever have met people from all over the country who share my same faith in a very powerful and loving God? Don't think us us as merely "bloggers"; we are confessional Lutherans, prayerfully writing our thoguhts and sharing our faith through an online format. I know that I will certainly be giving Issues, Etc. another try.


What do you think? I think he will answer.

TKls2myhrt said...

Oh man, I can't believe I misspelled thoughts. Sheesh..