For me, I love the blogs that share personal experience.  I especially love the blogs where a person shares how God taught them something through their experience.

I avoid the blogs where people merely tell me to do something "good".  For example, I avoid a blog with a title like "PRAISE GOD ALWAYS".  God does a better job of leading me than anyone else can.

I also avoid blogs where people preach cultural preference on gray areas.  Most of the blogs concerning Halloween are a good example.

Any blog where someone says "I can't see how anyone can be a good Christian and do X", where X is not something the Bible states is a sin is also a good example.  I have to admit, I get pretty worked up over this kind of attitude.  Who am I to look at God's servant and judge them?  That's God's job.  I'm a poor substitute.

Since you cross-posted your link I hope you don't mind me reposting my comment. This little program is cool for those who don't like to read long articles.

I guess I would have to agree with you. Initially I look at the topic. Then I check the length. Sometimes I just don't want to read long, drawn out blogs. Especially if they are not double-spaced or paragraphed appropriately.

Often times I read the blogs that have been commented on a number of times by other readers.

But one thing I might suggest for some. Is a text-reader. For those of you who are not familiar, there are several text-to-speech programs available online for free. This way instead of reading long passages of text, you can simply copy and paste the text into the program application window and listen to it.

Granted, most of the free versions speak with a computer, or robotic voice. But you can certainly understand them. One of the great features I like is that you can speed up the speech to say, three times normal speaking speed, and listen "chipmunk" style.

Just a suggestion, but it does work and it allows you to search or browse through other things while listening.

The one I use can be found HERE

Thanks Deb.  I think this is one of those blogs everyone can use.  It must have been God's idea.  I can't come up with anything this good =D

Thanks Spooksam.  I love this statement: Sometimes we can make our experience of God so based on our circumstances that we define our theology by our experiences.

Sorry Jeff.

The link rule is just for this blog, because of the nature of the blog.  I figure on this blog, where we are saying "I don't like this because...", it leaves too much room for blogger bashing if I let people link to someone elses blog and say "I hate Bubba's blogs.  Read them here to see why."

If you feel more comfortable deleting my response with the link from your blog, that's cool by me. 

I feel a blog etiquette question coming up in me. Would you consider it proper etiquette to post a comment on someones page that is basically a preaching sermon?

I am more apt to read and enjoy blogs that aren't too long, and, even if they are blunt, you sense there is still a loving spirit behind it.  I love it when ppl are transparent.  Even when I don't always agree with ppl on their interpretations, that won't repel me.  The only thing that really has repelled me is false doctrines and blogs that seem to attack individuals or a group of individuals in a jealousy  provoked way, I sometimes think.  It's the heart behind the blogs, ultimately.

I love the variety we have on here!   

Wow!  Thanks All!

I guess this blog was really needed.  21 comments in an hour, and only 4 of them mine.  I didn't intend to copy another blog theme.  It seemed the other blog was mostly about blog length.  I wanted to open the topic up more.  Hope I didn't offend or confuse.

I'll respond to all of the responses when I get time.

Thanks, Shannon.  I would definitely respond to a blog about comments I do or do not read. 

Jess you hit the nail on the head with "Who am I to judge God's servant", Christ took a handfull of sinful men and turned them into warriors! no one has the right to judge except God!!!!! full stop.. I agree with you, we are not here to judge or fight each other because we don't like the way he or she does this or that. We all have a sinful nature even though we have been forgiven. We need to focus on Jesus and all will fall into place Hallelujah...do I hear an Amen?  Stu.

Thanks Michael,

I don't mind any link that presents someone's blog in a possitive light.  The one thing I ask is the link goes to a specific blog entry, not a person's home page.

I understand Jess. Sorry if I bent the rules slightly. I just really liked this guys story and I thought it represented a good example of the type of reading I enjoy. Its up to you whether it remains here or not. Not trying to be disrespectful by any means.

I tried the link, the corrective link that is, it does go to that entry if I am not mistaken.

Thanks MaKelly,

I'm not trying to single any blog style out, or make anyone feel defensive.  I'm just giving people a chance to voice what they find appealing in a blog. 

Thanks Shannon!  That's the best compliment I've heard as a blogger =D

I have a gift a teaching, and I've noticed more people learn something if I let God do the teaching, rather than me.  I learned more math from tutoring math, than I did from taking classes (although the classes were necessary).  I love to encourage people to teach themselves, with God's direction.  God and you can teach you better than God and I can =D

And here's my link for an excellent blog.  Lara wrote a blog about the "Who am I to judge God's servant" issue.  It's awesome.

To Him That It Is Sin It Is Sin... But For The Other Person...

1. is well formatted to facilitate easy reading
2. utilizes a text size that is neither too large nor too small (see #1)
3. does not involve too much scrolling to read it all

Jess - Interesting blog of blogs.  *grin* I am relatively new to MyChurch.  My experience with blogging was as a parent lurking on my kids Xanga sites and here.  I love sharing ideas.  I love being accepted in spite of differening opinions.

I tend to not read a blog that is judgemental or seems to now be spoken in love.  I don't mind topics I don't quite agree with if the topic is approached in love.

I would say length is not a distraction if the topic is interesting or if there are a lot of people I know commenting on the subject.  It is hard for me to read a blog that is not formatted (like if it is one long paragraph).  I keep having to highlight a row of text to not get lost in a long never ending paragraph.

The blogs I am really drawn to are real people in their struggles or sharing in what God has taught them, especially when they share what God has showed them through the scripture.

 Finally, I would like to thank the people on MyChurch for the welcome I have recevied these past couple of months.  That is such an encouragement to me.  Grace and Peace, Brent

If I have to scroll constantly to read the blog, I think it's too long (if it's in a normal font size).  If it would print out as about a page or two, then I'll read it.

Of course, one of the best blogs I read was about a man and his dog, and what God taught him through his dog.  That one's on my list of perfect blogs.

BTW, Becky, I don't recall a blog of yours that I avoided. 

One great way to write a longer blog is to serialize it.  Chop it up into managable chunks, and put an order number on it (My Serlialized Blog Entry Part 1,  My Serlialized Blog Entry Part 2, etc...).

Thanks Jess, but if it is too long for me to have to proof then it is too long for other readers. I will try the one page in wordperfect, or serializing in the future. I am in the blogging spirit again, and this is helpful for me.

Also another question, and I have seen where you have answered this before Mike and Jess, but I lost it.

* Could you give tips on copying links to other bloggers pages they have written?
* Also, How do you put the links to your blogs on the front of your profile all lined up and pretty?

I am old and like I said on my profile, a trekkie, not a techie... so teach this old dog some more tricks.

Great topic Jess!

Howdy Suzanne,

I have ADHD too!  God's made us hyper-creative =D

Can you point to an example of someone highlighting scripture?  That term can mean a few different things.

Gene are you accusing me of stirring up controversy????

"lol" "kidding" ..... :-)

No problem, Gene.  That's one of the blogs I would link to as well.

Thanks Sue,   I lost that link.

Wow!  I wanted to respond to everyone's post.  I didn't expect so much feedback.  Please forgive me if I don't respond to your post directly.

Thanks everyone for posting where you are coming from.  I really appreciate hearing from you.