For some, blogging is a hobby.  For others, it's a job.  Some use blogging to keep their families up to date and some use it to find friends.  Some use it to destroy others and there are those who simply complain.  Some use it to educate and others use it as a voice for God.  For some it's political and others, it's motivated by an agenda.

As vast as a blog purpose is, so can be it's media.  There are audio, video, pictorial and written blogs.  There are blogging communities and blog awards.  There are blog conventions, blog subscriptions and blog skins.  It would seem that blogs are taking the cyber world by storm.  There is certainly no shortage of "opinion" and "creative flare".  You see, blogs have great potential for beauty - for bringing loveliness to a dark world.  Unfortunately, not all are striving for such a thing.

When I began to read other bloggers, I realized very quickly that I'd need a measuring tool by which to determine what I should and should not read.  Not everything out there is healthy for our minds.  God knew this which is why He told us (through Paul):

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

We must protect our hearts and minds because we know that Satan, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour".  He comes at us in subtle ways through our eyes and our ears.  What may seem trivial or harmless at first ends up locking us into a relationship that isn't ideal.  Of course, while we must be careful what we see and hear on the blogs of others, that doesn't excuse us to say and do whatever we feel like with our own voice.  To quote Edward Bulwer-Lytton, "The pen is mightier than the sword." 

How true indeed.  How many lives have been ruined by mere words?  Countless.  At the same time, can we not uplift with our words?  Can we not bring truth, honesty, justification, purity, loveliness, goodness, virtue and praise to the blogosphere?  Of course we can.  Whether you blog in words, pictures or video, you have a sphere of influence.  You also have a responsibility when it comes to such influence.  God takes the leading of others very seriously.  How we represent Him could mean an eternal difference to someone.  Maybe you don't see yourself as a leader, if you have an "audience" you are leading in some way.  In the same way we can be influenced by the content of other blogs, we too influence.  Let's make sure we are careful with the freedom we enjoy.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:9-10

Yes, this passage deals with eating food sacrificed to idols, but I think the same could be true with almost any word or deed.  I believe this can be applied to many areas of our blogging.  Who are you allowing to influence you through their words (or deeds)?  How are you influencing your audience?  Are you bringing beauty to the blogosphere?  Ultimately, true beauty in blogging can only come through Christ.  Do you know Him?

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Colossians 3:17