Being a Real Witness

Hey Y’all… Tim here again.

Just a quick post to give my thoughts on a controversy I brewed up yesterday when I posted pictures of, prepare yourself, beer drinking! Gasp! I don’t know what I was thinking.

The suggestion was made that I was possibly being a bad witness. I was asked if I had considered that I might lose business for my fledgling blog and web design business. I was told that the use of the phrase “Bible thumping” could be offensive to some.

After a day of deliberation I finally pulled the post off last night. The most convincing argument for removal was “what do you have to gain by having that on there?” vs. “what do you have to lose by having it on there?” It seemed that if I offended someone who might have otherwise hired me, I would lose something. I couldn’t immediately see what, if anything, I had to gain by the presence of the post. So, the little box that says “keep this post private” got a check mark.

But I was a grouch after that. I was mad. I figured I’d sleep on it and see how I felt in the morning. I prayed about it, but not in a huge deep way because it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to me. I just thought (when you think “to” God, that’s a prayer) “God, am I wrong here? Did I do wrong?” I had to clarify what I was talking (thinking) about, because a “Did I do wrong?” question to God seems kind of silly. Yup.

This morning I think I’m going to put the post back on. If I lose business, so be it. I don’t want to be a puppet. Either there is something wrong with my wife and I going out to a concert with her parents (in a Steakhouse/Bar combo in a retirement community!) and having a beer, or there isn’t. But I don’t have any interest in showing “part” of who I am on a blog and not showing “most” of who I am. Nobody shows it all.

“What do I have to gain?”

By making this blog what we (Kim and I) want it to be, we can share the experiences of our lives with friends, family, and the rest of the world. We can become a part of a new wave of social connectedness that blogs and other social media make possible. We can step back and join the Generation “Y” crew in being REAL and authentic. What’s the point of doing otherwise? It’s a blog, not a sales pitch.

“What do I have to lose?”

The whole point of the blog. The enjoyment of blogging. The freedom to express myself. That was the whole point of my post to begin with. The idea was that we weren’t going to fret over every post. We were going to write what we wanted to write! If, over time, that reveals that we are bad people, then folks can move on and read someone else’s blog. Sayonara!

Speaking of learning about people over time, here are some of our past posts that would give you a different perspective on our life.

Focus Not On That Which is Seen

Happy Easter!

How Your Blog Can Change The World

The Daily Thanks Category

Pray For Us

Look, if you’re a Christian, then we are in the same family. You might not like my blog and some of the things I do. I might think your shoes are funny looking, or the way you painted your house, or worse! But that doesn’t matter. We are on the same team and we all need each other’s support. Not judgment. And certainly not fear.

So, at great risk, I admit… Sometimes I thump my Bible. Sometimes I drink beer.

And, with great relief… All the time, I am a child of God, and He loves me.

Your thoughts are welcome in the comments!