Buzzard Blog 1 Year Anniversary: Thank You, I’m Shutting Down My Blog, That’s Not True, A Way You Can Serve Me (2 Quick Questions I’d Like Your Feedback On)
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of Buzzard Blog. And I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for reading and interacting with what I write here. When I launched this blog on August 20th, 2006 I had just a handful of visitors. Things picked up from there. Today, several hundred people read Buzzard Blog each day.
So, thank you. Thank you for helping make this blog a success through your regular visits, comments, encouragements, and suggestions. I mean it–thank you.
Once, a few weeks back, I had the thought of shutting this blog down once it reached its 1 year mark and walking away from the blogging world, grateful for my fruitful year of involvement. But, like I said, I had that thought only once. It was a quick thought–I gave it about 11 seconds of my attention and I’ve never thought about it again.
And so today I launch into my 2nd year of Buzzard Blog: Musings on the Gospel, the Church, & Culture. And as I enter my sophomore season I’d like to ask for your help. There’s 1 key way that you could serve me here at the outset of this 2nd year. Below are 2 questions. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me a quick comment in response to these 2 questions as that would help me better shape the content of this blog over the course of this next year.
1. What have you appreciated about Buzzard Blog?
2. What would you like to see more of or less of on Buzzard Blog?
Thank you,
-Justin Buzzard
Happy Anniversary (Marital and Blog), man! Thanks for keeping up the good work.
Personally, I like the book reviews and quotes.
I’d like to see less of you in a swimsuit.
Hope all’s well out there in Cali…
I appreciated your semi-live updates from the Gospel Coalition conference, and your posting the documents from that conference.
That’s all I can think of for now. Blessings to your ministry.
I too like the book reviews and quotes. You put just enough of the personal (wife, son, skinned knees) to remind me that you aren’t just my computer screen.
There’s not much here not to like. I reckon if you start posting cute pictures of kittens I may be less inclined to visit.
I like the balance you have. I’ve been known to laugh out loud, tear up, get convicted, really think, be encouraged and thank Jesus for who he is along with what he’s done for me……all while reading your Blog. Pretty cool. Thank you and Happy One Year Blog Anniversary
I love hearing updates about what’s going on in your life and with your family. I also really like all the pictures that you post of Cru…he is so adorable!!!!!
1. I’ve appreciated the…
- Book reviews
- In depth interviews
- Practical advice
- Humble transparency into your life and thoughts
- Relating everything to the Gospel
2. I would like to see more…
- Books written by you
- Complex multi-part theological expositions of topics important to you
- (As long as none of the above infringes negatively on family time)
Justin. I’ve enjoyed the journey. Highlights for me have included, links and articles that you seem to find that I would most likely never stumble across.
I’ve also enjoyed the journaling style entries like your Nantucket trip.
I would like to see a wider blog, literally… ;-) 50% of your blog on my screen is red bars!
Oh and more substantial, I would like to see maybe more of our church life.
buzzard blog strengths:
1. you seem to know what people are interested in. You consistently post on topics I want to read about.
2. your posts do not take much time to read. given my priorities and schedule, I usually don’t have time to read long blog posts. your blog does not hinder my pursuit of good stewardship (or, I should say, it doesn’t tempt me to be a bad steward of my time).
3. your last name is really, really cool.
4. you are passionate about the gospel…
Bottom line: keep up the good work.
you’re blog takes to long to load… streamline, baby, streamline. i like that you talk about the gospel, you connect me to good resources, and you seem to know what i am thinking about and then you blog something really insightful and i wish i had thought of it and blogged it first.
Good bye season 1, hello season 2.
You’ve found the formula that works for me. Keep it coming.
Maybe you can teach some others in “the back of the church” to blog. :-)
Although I am not a pastor or interested in reading a lot of the books you review, I find very nourishing the outstanding quotes. I also like your opinion on non-christian books, movies, issues. The pics are cool too. Specially that one where you climb the tree. Nice. I find those little windows into the Christian walk of Buzzard inspiring.
Good work.
I mainly appreciate your very interesting family updates and current events musings, but I know my husband most appreciates your theology quotes and book reviews (although he’s too busy lately to comment much). Keep up the good work & God bless!
As others before me have mentioned, I appreciate the topical variety of your posts. During the first year of Buzzard Blog, I especially enjoyed the posts that sparked debate/discussion amongst the readers (i.e. Red Line Bibles, and there were a few others but they aren’t coming to mind instantly). My only suggestion is to include some more posts of that nature. Excellent work, husband! This site is a fun spot to visit daily.
Justin, I really enjoy your blog — it’s one of my favorites. I appreciate that you don’t post 1200 word essays. Your stuff is long enough to be substantive, and short enough to actually read.
A few things I would like to see more of:
1. What the rhythm of your life and ministry looks like. How do you schedule your time. It’s obvious you do a lot of reading, and blogging. How do you fit everything into your schedule and how do you prioritize?
2. More interviews (if possible).
3. More links to my blog.
4. More cowbell.
Blessings.
Danny
Oh yeah, and I’m glad you’re not shutting down :)
i think you owe me a tiny bit of credit for your success, since i tell basically everyone i know or meet about my really smart and courageous friend J-buzz and his kick-butt blog. i’d like to think i’ve contributed to the numbers somehow. i’m really proud of you, and glad that i can unequivocably recommend your sermons and your writings to people who need to hear and read them. i love saturday shots, especially the one of me (because i’m still a self-centered sinner in sanctifying process). i got mad love for you old friend–keep preaching with your words and your life. Happy Anniversaries!
1) I really appreciate the resources you have brought to my attention (books, conferences, other worthy blogs) I am working on a second degree from SBTS and have Just heard of Goldsworthy from your blog. Please keep that stuff coming!
I dig the Saturday shots. I like knowing of someone in the bay area who loves Jesus and puts effort into thinking carefully about the gospel.
2) Bravo interviews! How about some more Puritans?
Everybody,
Thank you for your very kind and very helpful comments.
I will try to bring a little more cowbell and a little more Puritan theological work into this 2nd year of blogging.
And, Matthew, great idea: I wish I could make the posting portion of the blog (the middle of the screen) larger, but I don’t know of a way to do it.
Justin,
I started reading your blog after i got a link to it through one of the Sovereign Grace blogs around the time of the Leadership Conference. It made me laugh…hard.
1) I really enjoy and appreciate your openess (not sure if that is a word) you don’t feed in to what people want just what is important or fun to you.
2) Please include more book reviews.
Thank you so much for your willingness to keep up with a blog. I truly enjoy it.
Mark
Hi Justin,
Great work. Your blog keeps me in touch with a growing family I miss. I also particularly like the links and connections to others engaged in the conversation and action.
You have inspired me to blog too.
I really enjoy your posts on controversial topics or people that relate to our culture today. Prosperity Gospel, Proper/Improper evangelism etc. Anything that is confusing and potentially damaging to the faith that people don’t get the opportunity to talk about.
Suggestion: Use the popularity of your blog to draw support for 1 or 2 charity organizations you are excited about.
I agree with Francis about your posts on controversial topics and how it relates to our culture.
I am from the deep south and I was amazed with your video at Christmas from your mall about ” who is Jesus”? I could not believe the answers. So, for me I like to see and read about the West coast because it is very different from I live.
You do a great job and I thank you for your work!
Your blog is chock-full of candor, great book reviews, links and resources to other similarly minded Christian thinkers. It is a refreshing site and I appreciate your real life wranglings with the Gospel. It has been a blessing.
