Words of Wow
Any writer knows that sending something you wrote into the world makes you feel pretty naked. “Did anyone find it helpful?” “How many typos did I overlook?” “Did I glorify God?”
For some reason publishing something in book form only heightened that feeling for me. Last week Benjamin Vrbicek and I released Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World. The response has been overwhelming. I am so grateful that the book has been a source of encouragement and help to fellow writers.
Here is how some readers have responded:
“I’ve longed for voices like Benjamin and John’s, filled with seasoned wisdom and an unwavering resolve to elevate the glory of God over all other aims. Forged out of the hard hours of reading carefully, working the keyboards, and humbly connecting with other writers, this book proves that Benjamin and John are fast becoming two voices to heed in whatever lies ahead.”
++Chris Thomas, ploughmansrest.com
“As a blogger who has been writing for over five years now, I found tips I hadn’t known about and was bolstered in my purpose as a writer.”
++Brianna Lambert, lookingtotheharvest.com
“John and Benjamin are reliable guides to how you can still blog to the glory of God.”
++Collin Hansen, thegospelcoalition.org
“Immensely practical and engaging, this book is for bloggers of every age and stage.”
++Glenna Marshall, glennamarshall.com
“With this book Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson create a needed community.”
++Jen Oshman, jenoshman.com
“I am a blogger and manage the blog for an organization that gets about 50,000 hits per month. Most of the books on blogging are painfully self-centered and produce tremendous tension for the Christian. How can we write for the glory of God when everywhere in the digital sphere the pressure is to self-promote endlessly?
“Vrbicek and Beeson answer that question. For new bloggers, this book is a 100-level introduction to the technical side of writing for a web audience. But for experienced bloggers, this is a refreshingly humble perspective from two guys who aren't afraid to admit that it's okay not to "make it big."
“This book is worth it for all the practical wisdom alone. But for me the greatest takeaway was its reorienting on the spiritual perspective. Our audience size does not matter if we are writing for an audience of One.
“I highly recommend this book to any Christian writer, whether at a lay-level, in ministry, or even a professional writer.”
++Alex Kocman, alexkocman.com
“My advice to any Christian who is thinking about starting a blog is to first read this book—and to pay close attention.”
++ Joe Carter, thegospelcoalition.org
“John and Benjamin put words to my calling as a Christian blogger and shook everything back into perspective. it’s easy to build a platform and gain traction and somehow forget the chief end.”
++Bethany Melton, bethanyjmelton.com
“If you are looking for a book on blogging to simply increase your readership, grow your ‘brand’, or get famous you should carry on scrolling. But, if you have a desire to serve, be shaped, and grow as a follower of Jesus in your blogging then this will be a great help and encouragement to you.
”The depth of the research, heart level concern, and winsome guides that Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson provide to those blogging and writing into the vast expanse of the internet is second to none.”
++Ryan Williams, mystrengthmysong.com
“Blogging for God’s Glory” contains a helpful roadmap to success in blogging, if one considers success to be faithfulness in the little things. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever blogged, or has the desire to blog or create content on the internet!”
++Walter Shaw, wtsreads.com
“This week marks two years since I started my blog. In that time God kindly has given me lots of reasons to rejoice, but there have also been hard-won lessons about my own sin. I wish I’d had a book like Blogging for God’s Glory when I first started out. I won’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone, whether a seasoned blogger or someone who is just thinking about the possibility of starting to write. Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson have given a wonderful gift to Christian writers in this book.”
++Cassie Watson, cassiewatson.com
“Full of first-hand experience and lessons learned, helpful blogging basics, and a challenge to truly remove "self" from the equation while bringing glory to God in a world that often encourages the exact opposite, this book is insightful, highly relevant, and extremely encouraging…The book has challenged me on fronts I didn't expect, has forced me to reckon with the "why" behind my blogging efforts, and has helped me create a schedule for moving forward in my public-facing writing.
A must-read for all bloggers - those who are thinking about jumping into starting a blog, those who have been at it for years, and anyone in between. Don't miss this one!”
++Laura Pyne, taketwoblog.com
“Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World is desperately needed in today's technologically saturated world… The book is written in such a way, that as Christians, one cannot help but be convicted that we are not to blog and write as the world does. We are to glorify God in all things including blogging... I would encourage every pastor, ministry leader, and church congregation to take the time to read this book, especially those who are gifted with a passion for writing.”
++Jason Crocker, fbce.com
“Believe it or not, this book is not just for bloggers. If you preach, teach, write in any way for a public audience, or advertise and promote a ministry, this book is for you. Blogging for God's Glory in a Click-Bait World helps us take a much needed biblical look at our ministry motivations, our attitude towards self-promotion, and the excellence in which we pursue our ministry craft- whatever it is. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Your heart and your audience will thank you.”
++Stephen Morefield, ccleoti.com
“It is [the blogging] industry they hope to shift from an almost-default self-congratulatory intent for bloggers to instead “serving your readers and glorifying God.” Along the process they model a helpful axiom, helping us all do the same: ‘Lift others up, and lift Christ up higher still.’”
++Jeff Patterson, detheos.us