Researching Blogging

[McDLT]

Blogging is something I've been checking into these last few months. I've been trying to brainstorm (definition: any ideas, no idea is a bad idea) some ideas on how to make this work on the church website.

From the Pastor's Desk
- much like a church newsletter

Church Members
- ask church members to submit their "rants and raves" on certain topics and add them to a general blog

Webmaster
- I just write stuff I want to talk about - maybe about being a webmaster and computer stuff

Ministry
- ask the various ministry and program leaders to submit stories on what's been happening in their programs. (Careful not to turn this into a big advertisement)

Haven't fully developed any of these. I'm still thinking.

[David Gillaspey]

Hi Dawn,

If you're not already aware of them, here are three other threads in this forum that touched upon blogging, with example sites:

http://www.greatchurchwebsites.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45
http://www.greatchurchwebsites.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64
http://www.greatchurchwebsites.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[Faithhb_lutheran]

I like the ideas. Heres a new one. blogging is a great way to get people that have a lot of outside commitments to be able to do great commission work. Soon our church will be hosting three blogs done by church members that don't have the time to get involved in face to face ministries.

[cwgraves]

It is important that the blogs are moderated. Even though we are discussing church websites, we can't control who comes to the site. If the blogs are publicily accessible, the content of the blog may contain offensive material.

The last church I helped get a website going had a blog for their youth group. It was open to any of the youth that regularly attended and provided a username and password. I was contacted by the youth pastor to implement a language filter to stop bad words. You wouldn't believe some of the "stuff" that came from "church kids"! (Maybe you would?!)...

Whatever software you decide to use for blogging, make sure it has a manager approval feature. If not, don't allow everyone write access.

[flutem3]

Curtis wrote:

"It is important that the blogs are moderated. Even though we are discussing church websites, we can't control who comes to the site. If the blogs are publicily accessible, the content of the blog may contain offensive material".

Hi, Curtis,

I have run into pastor's blogs which were fine...until a person hits the "next" button and an inappropriate blog appears.

I am looking for a way to use testimonials on the website...maybe. At least I am investigating the possibility. I know the kind of thing I am looking for. It is a cross between a blog and a guest book. :confused: That is the only way I can describe it.

I am looking for something that is not called "guest book" which the members or others can access and write their testimonials. I even have a name for it.
That way I can delete unwanted material...and it doesn't go to another blog/website. Now, I don't know if this has a name, but it seems that I should be able to do that. I am at the website frequently so I can delete readily. I have already discovered that is necessary with the guest book which hardly anyone signs.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

Carol

PS I am doing a little bit of work with html. It is interesting and like learning a foreign language or music...all kinds of signs and symbols, order, and rules which are necessary. I know it isn't the technology isn't the main thing, but if I can design pages that load faster, that would be useful. Can someone tell me wha the difference is between html and CSS? Can a person learn one without the other. And what is "old-fashioned" html? What is it that I don't want to have to "unlearn." Thank you.

I just thought of something. I wonder if a guest book can be renamed and used? hmmm

[cwgraves]

It is a cross between a blog and a guest book...I've seen moderated blogging systems that will send a notification message to the system administrator when someone posts a message. The administrator must approve it before it actually goes live. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where I've seen them (I go to too many sites and didn't write it down). If I stumble across one, I'll let you know.

Can someone tell me wha the difference is between html and CSS?Every site, no matter what system or browser it is on, uses HTML (hypertext markup language). The most recent sites, use CSS (cascading style sheets). HTML is the language that all web browsers recognize and use to display images, text, tables, etc... on the screen.

CSS, on the other hand, is used to describe certain pieces of an html page. For example, if you have a header title, "Welcome to my site", you might use CSS to tell the system how to draw the title on the screen. Things like the font to use, the size of the font, whether it is bold, italic, underlined, etc... You can also use CSS to set the background and foreground color of the title.

CSS was an attempt to standardize the way the different browsers and operating systems display the html items. A Macintosh displays things differently than a Windows PC.

If you would like some more specific information about CSS, let me know and I will point you in the right direction.
I just thought of something. I wonder if a guest book can be renamed and used? hmmmAbsolutely!

[Faithhb_lutheran]

I agree with the moderation need for official blogs. As far as HTML and CSS goes . html is supposed to dealwith structure and CSS with design. The guestbook problem I'm a little congused about. I have a guestbook script that should be able to work for you if you want it?

[flutem3]

Hi, Curtis, Kyle, and you all,

I asked if I could change the name of a guest book to something else...like testimonials. Curtis said, "Absolutely!" I use www.ultraguest.com and could not figure a way to change it.

Kyle, you offered me a script. Would you please send it so I can take a look, please? I have in my mind what I want to do even if I have been clumsy in explaining it. Sorry.

I now have a question for everyone. Several people have been after me to learn html and CSS. I understand a couple of the benefits...cleaner pages, faster loading times. I am stuck with this dilemma in my mind. I know that content is the most important thing about a website. I have no doubt about that. And I admire people who are skilled with html etc. However, I know I can learn it. But I have a physical energy problem more than anything else.
I can work at the computer for an hour and a bit more at a time. Then I have to stop and come back later. That is how I have to do it. I don't have a choice in the matter. I just run out of oxygen and energy.

Can somebody please tell me if there are compelling reasons to use that energy to learn html and CSS? I really need some considered advice here. If all of you with your expertise truly think I need to learn it, I will see if I can do it. If you see no compelling reason, let me know, and I will let it go except for learning some basic things. It has become obvious that it is helpful to know a little bit at least. I know I have been somewhat of a pest with this issue, but I need to resolve it for myself one way or another.

Thanks for your help!!

Carol :confused:

[Faithhb_lutheran]

Carol,

I will get that script out. It's in perl though is that ok. As far as the HTML/CSS goes it saves time in the long run. here is a website http://www.w3schools.com that have a lot of introductory tutorials which don't take more than a half an hour each. I would suggest that you learn HTML at least as it is the bridge to future technologies.

[flutem3]

Carol,

I will get that script out. It's in perl though is that ok. As far as the HTML/CSS goes it saves time in the long run. here is a website http://www.w3schools.com that have a lot of introductory tutorials which don't take more than a half an hour each. I would suggest that you learn HTML at least as it is the bridge to future technologies.

Hi, Mark,

I have no idea whether that will work or not. I have been at the W3 schools. The tutorials take me longer that half an hour though. I am learning this stuff from almost zero knowledge.

I am going to give HTML a whirl. Curtis has convinced me too. He doesn't know that yet. And I understand the bridge concept.

I have many irons in the fire right now so I have quite a juggling act going on. However. within a month I should be able to devote more time to HTML and learning how to use it. I have 1st Page downloaded, and it doesn't scare me to death any more. And I can do just a tiny bit on it. I have taken the first step which is to do something instead of sitting there like a dolt.

I am so thankful to everyone for your support and time. There are many constructive activities a forum can have. And I think this kind is tops!!
Thank you, David, for providing the means for this kind of exchange to occur.

Carol

PS I put the underline and bold in using tags. :D Three Cheers!!
By the way, why on this forum are [ ] used and in other places < >?