I've always considered myself to be a fairly smart guy! I was the kid who always got "A's", panicked if I every got a "B", and did all my homework on time. Teacher's loved me and school came very easy! I whizzed through college, got my Master's of Divinity at seminary, and have always had plans to get a doctorate.... someday (perhaps soon)! When I was in the military I took a few tests and was allowed to skip "tech school", moving straight to a job in high level cryptography and communications. I was privileged to own a very early model of the personal computer, long before they became a part of the mainstream. I started carrying a cel phone when they "bricks" with an antenna, and I've been on the internet with my account on AOL since they started. I can write term papers or sermons in a single session, have a couple of books outlined, and can write a newsletter article on just about anything (like this one!).
But in all that there has been one thing I have consistently avoided until now....blogging! I've had lots of people tell me over the years that I needed to launch a blog. Afterall, if my email correspondence is an example, I could be prolific! Yet, for some reason I've always avoided getting started in the "blogosphere". Maybe it's just the word "blog" that bothers me! For some reason I've always had the feeling "blog" meant "boring, long, obnoxious grumbling." That certainly described a few of the blogs I've read. Anyone can get a blog and they can ramble on about whatever they want, whenever they want, to whoever is silly enough to read it.
However, despite my avoidance issues, I am now officially a "blogger". I didn't come into the "blogosphere" overly willing. The reality is, I do have an abundance of material that I can post on my blog for all to see. I'm preparing myself even now for the strange comments, grammar corrections, irate rants of those who don't agree with me, and occasional condescending message from someone who shakes their head when reading my blog and says "Poor Larry".
Why would I do this to myself? I was asked to by the CCS Board. The idea is to use my blog to help us market the school through the internet. Obviously the blog can't just be an ongoing sales pitch for the school, so I'll fill it with inspirational articles, past "Principal's Corners", excerpts from the books I'm writing, and information about the church and the other various ministries I'm involved in. But each post will include some "tags" that will help connect us the world of the internet search engines. It is our hope that folks looking for a high quality, affordable Christian school in Portland will be drawn to my blog, and from their to the CCS website or directly to the school. As the old adage goes, "You can't get them if they don't know you're there."
I'm not sure what will happen with all this, but I do think it will prove to be a good experience for me. Besides just forcing me to get some of the things I've written out there, it will also require to actively think how I can promote and market the school beyond our own little neighborhood, and reach more people with the truth of the Gospel. The internet is a powerful tool that those of us in church and Christian schools have often been reluctant to use. It takes time and effort to learn the skills necessary. I'm sure I have a lot to learn about the tricks of the trade, but hopefully even my initial efforts will help the school and touch someone's life.
I hope you'll help spread the word about the blog and its' connection to CCS. If you're one of those dedicated FACEBOOK junkies you'll probably see a few of my posts connected there. Pass them on to your family and friends and let me know what you think.
Here's the address:
http://crosscurrents.typepad.com
I called it "Crosscurrents" on purpose. My goal is to provide some insights and ideas that will probably go against the grain of much of the accepted norm in our society. That is also the name of the men's minitry I run here at Crossroads Church.
Here's hoping we all learn to swim a little upstream and cause a few ripples of our own. Hoping my blog isn't a real "boring, long, obnoxious grumble",
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