God bless the hearts of those who bless other hearts! I've received encouraging email from some people who've discovered the Superblessed Christian Blog Awards for the first time (it's nice that if you Google or Yahoo the search words Christian blog awards, you get Mere Madness, the very first Christian Blog Awards I started, which will correspondingly link you to this blog).
Yet, I also received some not-so-nice mail from folks who said certain blogs were left out.
Here we go again.
My Favorite Christian Blog of the Year 2002 Bene Diction pointed out that when I launched the Christian Awards, it was during a time when the "blogosphere was in an uproar over other awards and issues." 2002 was a year not without controversy - one of my favorite and most respected blogger links chastised me for not recognizing Martin Roth, who was the man who started organized God-blog tracking with his site; eventually, the list became Blogs4God, which has blessed me immensely in the sense that it's found me many God-bloggers, both local and international. 2003 was also controversial, when Best Feeding Frenzy Blog winner Joshua Claybourn questioned the way I wrote up his triumph.
I've learned many things from this tiny little award-giving exercise, and one of the most important is this: you just can't please everyone.
The funny thing is, that isn't the point behind the Superblessed Blog Awards. There are so many blog award-giving bodies out there, and I'm one tiny little fish in one gigantic ocean. My awards seek to honor those who've blessed me, those bloggers whose sites I visit in times of joy and sorrow, because I desire to know that there are others going through similar situations like mine. That I'm not alone in the race. That Jesus makes Himself manifest through my online friends.
Imagine how I look forward, for instance, to visiting Wifely to learn about how the simplest things make her happy. Or how I always, always laugh and cry with Michael Main when I read about what he and Amy go through. I am inspired by Tray, and humbled by Michael's search for God. I've only recently discovered Real Live Preacher, and find him to be a blessing in every way!
We're blips on a radar screen, and let's face it, sometimes, we need a little pat on the back for our effort. I'm just patting some backs, and telling 'em, "well done."
These people matter to me. I love every person on my blogroll. If you're on my blogroll, it means you're important to me, and I value you and your blog.
Wanna hear the most hurtful thing? Someone said I was doing my awards just to increase my hits. That stings, you-person-who-knows-who-you-are. I don't care if my hits plummet past the 5th bolgia of Dante's Inferno, and I'd be thrilled minimally if I ever got more than 100 hits per day, but I'm not doing this for the attention.
I'm sorry I can't superbless everyone. But God can. So praise the Lord, because His love endures forever!
* * *
If you have time and want to visit more Philippine blogs, do swing by the 2004 Philippine Blog Awards. I did a random search, and found at least three blogs that profess to being Christ-centered, so swing by the blogs of The Son of Thunder (that title's a little too Norsey to be Christian, but, hey, whatever), Marius, Chette, and Christine Beltran, and give 'em quick prayer that they make it to the finals. Christian blogs should stand out in these secular awards.
I've only won two blog awards in my life. One was Blog of the Month from Christopher Wright. The other was Best Christian Blog from Jax Place. Both awards are treasured immensely.
Be superblessed!
Update: A visitor named Lmae referred me to Blessed Chette, whose blog blesses immensely, and is also in the running at the Philippine Blog Awards. You must all visit this site; it's truly amazing, and she's really on fire for Jesus. She will be a force to reckon with next year - must contact her for Bloggerhythm.
Lmae, I'd like to point out though, that the initial set of referrals came from a random search with the words "Jesus" in it. It's not that I purposely left your friend out; it was based merely on what they wrote in their summaries. I hope I didn't offend you by leaving her out, but the point is this: we all love and continue to serve Jesus Christ. :) So, while I'm happy to promote Chette, I want you to know that to imply that she is "a Christian compared to the other 3 blogs [I] mentioned" is uncalled for.
Update: God bless Lmae for her heart. She has apologized, and proclaims her Jesus-love as well in her own blog. So visit and encourage her, why don't y'all?
10 comments:
I searched this one on google and yahoo. I was looking for a Christian award to nominate my friend, whom she blessed so many people because she let herself be used by God.
Then I stumble upon your blog and you gave us a link from philippine blog awards 2004 that you think they are totally "Christian" but when I saw their blogs, wala sila compare sa kailbigan ko.
My friend is also listed in philippine blog awards 2004
the one who owns www.potterhands.com/chetteblog/ now that's a christian compared to the other 3 blogs you mentioned.
I searched this one on google and yahoo. I was looking for a Christian award to nominate my friend, whom she blessed so many people because she let herself be used by God.
Then I stumble upon your blog and you gave us a link from philippine blog awards 2004 that you think they are totally "Christian" but when I saw their blogs, wala sila compare sa kailbigan ko.
My friend is also listed in philippine blog awards 2004
the one who owns www.potterhands.com/chetteblog/ now that's a christian compared to the other 3 blogs you mentioned.
That is just sad. I wouldn't listen to such nonsense. You know what type of person I am. The last thing I care about it grumpy people who feel left our and feel it necessary to try and hurt someone like you. It seems anything can be turned into some filthy game.
Keep up the good work Ganns.
Thanks for the information on that blog! :D I visited it and was blessed immensely (okay, now that Sue says I use that word a lot, I find myself a wee bit self-conscious!).
One of the many great things about new people coming into Superblessed is they can give great information about new blogs that I've never seen. Thanks for the head-up. Will promote your friend. :)
hey ganny.. sorry for my message. Chette talked to me and sorry if I hurt your feelings. My intention was to inform you about the blog and yet the words that came out to me were so 'not-christian like'.
sorry. forgive me.
Be blessed!
Lamey
God bless your heart! :)
Ganns, I don't think you have anything to worry about in terms of others questioning your motives. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes reading anything on your websites knows that your intention was not selfish in starting the blog awards, but to bless those who have blessed you. And we're all blessed by the awards, because it gives us a chance to find other God bloggers out there that we didn't know existed. Half of the blogs you've listed I've never seen before, and I'm so glad that I've found these people!
chette told me to tell you that she emailed you already.
Sheesh...you're ONE guy, who's doing this out of the kindness of your heart to bless the folks whose blogs YOU like to read, and people are acting like it's the freakin' Academy Awards. Some people need to Get Over Themselves.
Awww...well, it's probably not too different from the sort of ridicule a christian sometimes gets about their faith. BTW, the sons of thunder were James and John, weren't they? But I guess it is sort of Norsey, you're right. We all see things a little differently, but hey, it's your awards list and you get to pick :) There's no reason why someone who dissents can't do their own awards, 'no?
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