Connections

Who is following?

So...I am twittering now.  Follow me if you would like.  What I am wanting to know is this: Is there anyone still following this blog?  

If you would, please leave a comment and let me know who you are so that I know who my audience is now.  I want to write blog posts that are targeted and useful.

Thanks a ton!

Taking a Break!

This blogging thing has been a wonderful journey.  It all started in November 2006 with this post and I have been going strong ever since.  I have met a ton of people that I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise. I have had some heated yet friendly debates via comments. I have admitted to having a blog addiction.  It's hilarious when I go to a conference and people watch to see all the bloggers that I follow.

However....the thing that got me into blogging was writing.  This was long before I knew about technorati, stats, and the pursuit of becoming a known blogger.  I will have to admit somewhere along the way, I lost my passion to write in the mix of getting a post (mostly not very good ones) out and  aggressively checking my sitemeter.

Because it is 2009 and the chance to make some changes....I will be making some changes to this blog.  I'm not sure yet what the changes will look like, nor when I'll be back to blogging regularly. However, please take some time to subscribe to the RSS feeder if you would like... so that you will get the first post in your email when I'm back.

I have met many of you over the years, but I would really like to get to know some of you who have visited recently.  Either way...If you would like, please email me at richbutler@crccsc.org and let me know who you are. 

Thank you so much for stopping by richbutler.org.  I appreciate all of your comments, your friendships and your readership.  I will be back!

You Can Vote However You Like

I need your help!

I need your help for this Sunday's message!  I am preaching on one of my favorite subjects....the subject of PRAYER!  Prayer has changed my life.  It is an often misunderstood discipline of the Christian life.  Because of all of the questions surrounding this subject....I thought it would be helpful to ask you, my FAITHFUL blog readers to help.

1. What questions do have regarding prayer?
         
                       OR

2. What do you think the MOST common misconception is concerning prayer?

Thanks for your help. I will try and answer the questions as we get some healthy conversation going around here.

Catalyst Recap

In years past I would blog every session of the Catalyst conference or any conference for that matter.  It really wasn't to give my readers valuable information but rather to namedrop.  I think I have become a bit more secure in my life and am on my journey to break the curse of "people pleasing" and "trying too hard."

Anyway...I do want you to have the highlights from the conference.  This year was the best that I have been to.  Tony Morgan used ScribbleLive to capture quotes and highlights of each speaker. Instead of re-inventing the wheel....just go on over to his blog and read what he wrote.  Very good stuff!

Spontaneous Blogging Break

I have been on a spontaneous blogging break....it has been refreshing. I was in Mississippi for a few days for an intercession gathering for the Southeast and now will be at Catalyst with our staff till Friday.  I will update some highlights and will be back in blogging business before next week.

Why Do You Stop By?

This blog has been a great source for me to vent, share, communicate and to connect.  I value blogging because I have had the chance to connect and meet guys like this one and this one, spend regular time with pastors in my city and email/call other pastors around the nation.

There are almost 100 unique visitors a day to this place. I appreciate you, listen to you, and value your time on this blog. I want to write what you want to read!  There are times that I will just vomit my thoughts out on this site, but other times I really think through how this site will help you lead, love and live. 

So because this blog is for YOU and.....ME....I would love for you to comment on why you stop by at richbutler.org.

Fiji Water Responds to Quote

Just received this email from Grace @ Fiji Water.  Isn't blogging great!  You meet so many new folks. Here is her response to my previous post.  

"I’m contacting you on behalf of FIJI Water and I just wanted to provide you with factually correct information regarding local access to drinking water in Fiji.

Reliable access to clean, safe drinking water is common throughout much of Fiji, but there are still some remote villages where infrastructure is lacking.  The water we bottle and ship is sourced from an isolated underground aquifer unsuitable for public use, and thus unrelated to this problem.  Through the FIJI Water Foundation, we are currently funding projects to make sure that these communities are provided with a safe water supply.  FIJI Water has taken direct responsibility for providing water access to the villages that surround our source in the Yaqara Valley.  

 

In addition, FIJI has partnered with the Rotary Club to fund the Pacific Water for Life Trust, which will provide the infrastructure, expertise and skills necessary to deliver safe, clean and sustainable water to more than 100 additional communities, schools, health centers and nursing stations throughout Fiji over the next two years."

Also check out www.fijigreen.com for more information on their efforts. I have respect for a company who would take time to email a blogger to kindly inform them of the truth.  The quote was not mine, but rather Fast Company's....but it's nice to have some updated information.

Getting unBlocked

What I read/do when I have writer's/blogger's block?

1.  Made to Stick blog

2. Listen to podcasts (leadership, sermons and business)

3. Read: Collide, Relevant, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and Wired magazines.

4. Seth Godin 's Blog

5. Call a leader on the phone that I know to find out how their church, business, organization is doing.  Something they say usually spurs me on to think creatively.

6. Look back through my Bible Study journal at what the Lord has been teaching me. (I've moved from the ruled Moleskine to the plain Moleskine to enable me the opportunity to draw, outline, etc..)

7.  I let others speak when I have a block by linking to worthy posts, articles and websites.

What do you do to get un-blocked?

Trusty Blogs

There are some seasons where I follow close to 100 blogs a day ranging from tech blogs to ministry blogs to sports and political blogs....some are safe, some are controversial.  There are also seasons where I focus on a few trusty blogs.  These are the blogs that challenge me, inspire me and motivate me to post. 

What trusty blog's do you read?

What blog motivates you?

What blog challenges you to think?