Every now and then, someone will ask me why I blog. I'm used to rolling out answers like, "It builds the writing habit for you" and "Gaining sharp readers improves your thinking."
But when asked in the future, I think I'll lead with a new reason: You can go to GodBlogCon. The friendships I have formed through blogging are reinvigorated every year at GBC, which makes it one of the highlights of my year.
Here are some reflections on this year's event:
- I didn't live-blog the conference because I decided to focus on meeting people and hanging out. Plus, why live-blog when others will do it far superior? See Boundless, STR, A-Team, and LaShawn for write-ups of the different talks.
- If you want to listen to the content, you can listen to podcasts of the seminars at Scriptorium. The content of this year's event was exceptional, particularly Dr. Mohler, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Spears, Kevin Wang, LaShawn, and........oh, just listen to them all.
- As an alumn of the Torrey Honors Institute, I'm clearly biased. But this conference was run with a stunningly high degree of professionalism and skill. Dustin Steeve, Jen Hardy, Julia Kiewit and the rest of the students are a remarkable lot.
- Joe Carter suffers from a serious case of self-deception that he really needs to get over. He may be wrong in his distaste for Platonism, and he may be merciless in his humor, but he's not a jerk.
- There are certain people who are naturally cool. For them, it's not a heresy--it's built into their genes. While Rhett Smith is one of those people, he is also devilishly intelligent. The same goes for Motte, Ted and Steve from Boundless, with whom I was able to briefly interact.
- Hugh, JMNR and Paul, Abraham Piper and Josh Sowin, and Joe are all great guys whom I respect and admire, but their teasing abilities are sorely lacking. Apparently, I am enormously easy to tease, and these gents exploited that weakness mercilessly.
- The ladies from STR (Melinda and Amy) somehow always end up hearing me at my most spirited. How they stand it, I have no idea. Presumably, only seeing each other every few months helps.
- When Andrew Jackson sees a good idea, he seizes it. Thankfully, he won't need my help on his latest project, which is to utilize Facebook to bring Christian bloggers together (it's so simple and obvious that no one has tried to do it until now). I spent more time with Andy than in previous conferences, which was a treat for me. He is a man of depth and wisdom.
- Someday, I hope to know as much about obscure Reformation history and theology as Jordan Ballor of Acton.
- GodBlogCon is for meeting new friends as well as old. Among the former, I met David Kotter of CBMW, Eric Jones of TransformedDaily, and R. Scott Williams of FamilyLife's Culture Watch, and Frank Lockwood (in addition to a number of names I've already mentioned). Their blogs are firmly lodged in my feed reader, and they should be in yours too.
There's so much more to say. This year's GodBlogCon was by far the most fun and stimulating blogging event I've ever been to. For those who have any doubts about blogging, getting to know people like these provides a justification that is intrinsically worthwhile. It's just too bad GBC is only once a year.
Update: How could I forget the ladies at Intellectuelle, with whom I had a pleasant and challenging conversation? Dr. Reynold's assessment is spot-on: "The women of Intellectuelle are intensely rational, but appear to be enjoying it immensely."