Definitions
Blogs to explore
How to start a blog
More on blogs

Blog is short for web log - a blog is a web page which acts as a personal journal, but is publicly accessible.

To blog, is to author a web log. Blogging is one of the latest crazes to hit the internet.

It is like a notebook where you write down ideas and thoughts as they occur, before they take final shape. It promotes dialogue, lets people get involved in what you are thinking. Its an online diary.

You can invite people to contribute to a blog, you can have a group blog, in some of them people can respond and add comments.

Its a way of touching base with people you are interested in, and finding out what they are thinking/doing. Its a way of keeping a journal, keeping track of your own journey and reflecting on it.

There are some fabulous blogs out there which will be of interest to futurechurch folks, the culture is strongly reflected amongs alt.worship folk who are already into using internet creatively and effortlessly.

WARNING - make a cup of coffee and put some time aside to do this, I think you will be rewarded. Most have lots of links which are worth spending time following up.

Blogs to explore....

Emergent Kiwi Finding God and Self in new places (Steve Taylor?s new blog)
Steve Downunder Steve Taylor's old blog
Maggie Dawn a UK anglican priest thinking out loud about church, emerging, worship, language, and culture
Jordon Cooper's blog
Rachel Cunliffe?s blog
Prodigal Kiwi Blog (Paul Fromon) "With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling we shall not cease from exploration" (T.S. Eliot)
Bob Carlton's Corner jump first, fear later
Spirited Conversations Rosemary Neave's amateur go at a blog
Alternative worship Blogs a great directory of alternative worship blogs
TheoBlogical Community - Theology and blogging/blogging and the church
Signposts - an australian blog with an emerging church chat
Church Marketting Sucks - the blog to frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate
Circle of Dionysius: space for embryonic musings about emerging culture, new spirituality, ancient wisdom, alternate Christianity and the ironies of life while journeying with Jesus.

Do you have a blog/know of a blog that should be added here email rosemary

How to start a blog...

Go to Blogger.com, sign in, set up a new blog, invite others to join..... Grab the ?blog this? image off the home page, and it will appear in your tool bar and enable you to blog from anywhere on the internet, its choice.

Start blogging in 30 mins It seems almost everyone is doing it. Not surprising because anyone ? including you - can do it. It?s called blogging (short for Web log) and is an online journal. There are more than half a million blogs online and Nigel Horrocks reports that the number is growing by the thousands daily. An excellent Netguide intro

For help in designing a blog or using software, contact Aucklander Rachel Cunnliffe

From blogger.com What is a weblog/blog?
A blog is a web page made up of usually short, frequently updated posts that are arranged chronologically ? like a what's new page or a journal. The content and purposes of blogs varies greatly ? from links and commentary about other web sites, to news about a company/person/idea, to diaries, photos, poetry, mini-essays, project updates, even fiction. Blog posts are like instant messages to the web.

Many blogs are personal, "what's on my mind" type musings. Others are collaborative efforts based on a specific topic or area of mutual interest. Some blogs are for play. Some are for work. Some are both. Blogs are also excellent team/department/company/family communication tools. They help small groups communicate in a way that is simpler and easier to follow than email or discussion forums. Use a private blog on an intranet to allow team members to post related links, files, quotes, or commentary. Set up a family blog where relatives can share personal news.

A blog can help keep everyone in the loop, promote cohesiveness and group culture, and provide an informal "voice" of a project or department to outsiders.