Said At Southern - Take Two

Day 2 - design #2

I've reworked the site based on feedback. It is much cleaner. The only big drawback is a two column theme. What do you think?

Moving To Wordpress

For the last month we've been plotting our move to WordPress and the SaidatSouthern.com domain.

Now that finals are over, we're ready to make that happen.

This new design will allow many improvements to our site. If you have comments or suggestions please leave them at the new site on any post.

Please update your bookmarks and blogrolls.

Our feedburner feed has been updated and will point you to the right place.

• VBS 2008 Guide - Vacation Bible School 2008 Themes and Curriculum


• Free Sunday School Lesson Plans for Children's Sunday School Lessons


• Guide To Baby Dedication and the Baby Dedication Service


• 3 Steps For Sunday School Lesson That Motivates Children To Learn


• God Is In The Church Nursery


• 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect


• Children's Ministry - Ministry to Children Ideas Resource


• Sunday School Lesson On Encouragement

Said At Southern User Expectations

The Said At Southern team has written this list of expectations to define how our blog works.

You can think of this as a user agreement or blogger covenant. Either way - we want to clarify how our blog works, who gets linked, how we moderate comments and how you can participate in this project.

Said At Southern User Expectations

1. We insist that all participants maintain their personal blogs in a way that honors Christ. We want to only write in a way that is appropriate for Christian witnesses. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29 ESV
2. We insist that all participants clearly identify their real name on comments and on their personal blogs. We want you to avoid anonymous opinions. We do not encourage bloggers to have an autonomous virtual identity. For example I use "Tony Kummer" or "T. Kummer." It is not acceptable to use initials only or an assumed nickname "Super Seminary Smarty" unless your blogger profile or personal blog clearly states your real identity.
   
3. We insist that all participants be willing to receive and give correction when these expectations are not met. As believers in Christ we are responsible to confront one anther when our blogs do not honor Christ.
4. We insist that all participants avoid useless conversations. There are many topics and opinions that are out of bounds for Christians. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” 2 Timothy 2:23 ESV
5. We invite all participants to fully support and contribute to Said at Southern. We have structured our blog to allow multiple levels of participation
• Open Comments: We encourage humble, relevant and thoughtful comments by anyone who reads this blog. This extends beyond the SBTS blogging community. We want to interact with readers from diverse backgrounds.
  
• Linked Bloggers: This is the entry level of participation. These blogs get linked from the aggregator boxes. We request that all linked bloggers reciprocate by linking us on their blogs.
• Contributing Bloggers: In addition to linking Said At Southern, these bloggers contribute via comments and backlinked posts. On our sidebar we will display the last several posts from our contributing bloggers. They are invited to submit guest posts for Said At Southern.
• Featured Bloggers: At its core Said At Southern is an echo-chamber for what SBTS bloggers are saying. On our sidebar we will display the last several posts from our featured bloggers. Our design is to give better exposure to better content. This group of students, faculty and alumni are increasingly important voices in the blogosphere. Inclusion in the "Featured Bloggers" category is by the discretion of the Said At Southern team.
  

If you have suggestions on how we can improve these expectations please contribute them to the comment section.

Be sure to subscribe to our feed in a reader or Get Said At Southern via Email.

Comments are open.

- posted by Tony Kummer

The Blog in Our Eyes

Nathan Busenitz over at the Pulpit Live blog as started a series entitled "The Blog in Our Eyes" in which he addresses how Christians should approach blogging. I found this appropriate to highlight which is also consonant with what Tony had posted earlier. Let's pray that our blogs and our lives reflect the character of God, edify one another, and ultimately brings glory to Jesus, by whom and for whom are all things.

Be sure to subscribe to our feed in a reader or Get Said At Southern via Email.

Comments are open.

- posted by Timmy Brister, April 25, 2007

5 Ways We Can Help Your Blog

Blogging isn't fair.

SBTS bloggers are engaging culture like few others can: from a Bible-saturated, God-glorifying, Truth-defending, Church-serving, Christ-exalting worldview.

These are the best blogs that NO ONE READS. How will your voice be heard above the noise of the blogosphere?

We can help.

We’re building this blog to serve you. Our site is an open door to all that is being Said At Southern. We only started last month but the response had been strong. View our traffic and links. That said, here are 5 ways we can help your blog:

1. Growing Traffic
   Our site is designed to drive traffic to your site. The aggregator boxes, the RSS feed displays, the weakly reviews, the top secret features we’re developing – all of this is will send readers your way.
   
   
2. Our Network
   At its core blogging is a social expression. Intelligent conversation will make you a better thinking and a better blogger. When you read Kingdom People, Consumed, Col 3.16 and P&P you will grow. Interact with these guys and it will happen faster.
   
   
3. Comment Threads
   Add relevant, thoughtful and humble comments to all our posts. Readers will want more. This is old news if you watch your traffic. Regular comments here will payback with comments on your blog. Because we're building a conversation, the S@S team replies to comments several times per day.
   
   
4. Guest Blogging Opportunities
   We're seeking guest content for Said At Southern. Your content can be a regular part of what we publish. This is open to alumni, students and faculty. Just email TonyKummer@Gmail.com
   
   
5. Expectations
   This week we will post our “Said At Southern Blogger Expectations.” This document will bring accountability and quality control to our growing network. How does a Christian blog? What scriptures should restrain and compel us in what we write? Our user agreement will help you glorify God when you blog.

All this begs the question, "How can I help Said At Southern?" We'll have to get to that in another post. For now subscribe to our feed in a reader or Get Said At Southern via Email.

Comments are open. Where would you like to see this Said At Southern? What new features would you suggest?

- posted by Tony Kummer, April 16, 2007

Is blogging bad for your soul? 5 questions to ask before your next post.

I repent.

I’ve spent too much time working on this blog. Sure it’s fun and I’m making new friends. But enough is enough. I've let my affections become inordinate.

I want to keep my little desires for blogging in right order with my biggest desire to glorify and enjoy God. So here are 5 questions I’ve been asking myself. I'm praying that these will help you too.

Before your next post ask yourself . . .

1. Do you bath your blogging in prayer? None of us would presume to preach or teach without asking the Lord’s blessing. The same should be true of our blogging. Do you pray that God will use what you’ve written to show his glory and be helpful in people’s lives?
   
   
2. Is your blogging a clear expression of love for neighbors? For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14 ESV) Is this true when your blogging? Are you consciously loving your readers when your write? Do write about others in a way that demonstrates love?
   
   
3. Do you intentionally write words that will encourage and build up other believers? Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 ESV) Most blogs don't strike me as encouraging, neither do most of my posts. But this is never optional. Do you aim to build others up when you blog?
   
   
4. Do you follow after sensational topics to build readership? But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3:9 ESV) I’ve fallen into this trap. If you watch your stats then you know that people like junk. Does this drive your blog?
   
   
5. Does you blogging keep you from serving others? For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13 ESV) God designed your liberty in Christ for the service of others. How does your blogging track with that? Could you be helping more around the house? Does your two hours at the keyboard keep you from serving others or sharing Christ?
   

There’s more I could say. But I'm done for today.

Posted by Tony Kummer, April 9, 2007.

New Audio Features Added & Alumni Links Wanted

To the right you'll see several podcasts from Southern affiliated people. If you know of more let me know. I'd also like to link alumni with content online.

How To Get Linked On This Blog

Said @ Southern wants to link active Southern Seminary bloggers - if that's you leave your address in a comment on this post.