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great blog john! it should be a MUST READ! for everyone ! What's happening is- people are coming in from secular sites and approach this site with secular expectations...  this site makes it easier to get to know people after the spirit and not the flesh, and a lot of folk aren't used to that!
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Posted 04/30/2009 11:35am
Author: blackrose65
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I already had put my two-cents in on this when I wrote a blog on building relationships here recently. I wouldn't say I have a "bazillion friends" but over the past 21 months I have developed some wonderful friendships. As in real life, I have a couple of people that are right at the core. As in real life, we had some common issues which bound us together as friends However, after that I have a number of people whom I would call very, very good friends. We laugh and cry together as well.
I have to tell you, especially since the limit on friends was put into place, I'm much more selective about my friends. Also, that's because I want friends I feel connected with...not mere acquaintances. Because of my cancer-issues, this is probably doubly-important to me. I really need people who are there for me and I like to think they'd tell you I've done the same for them. I am slowly purging my friends list of people who just never are around much.
So, my tip is...once you make friends with people, make regular KK contact with them in some manner. There are some people I PM every day or nearly every day. Sometimes it's just to say hi and have a great day. Other times it's "lengthy epistles" as one of my friends says. One of my closest friends lives on the other side of the globe so...staying connected through our comments and a group we're in and personal messages is very important as rarely run into one another in the chatroom. This just goes to show you can still develop close relationships outside of chat. In fact, I didn't meet my closest and dearest friends in chat...I ran into them through blogs and comments.
May everyone be blessed as they build up their community!
K 
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Posted 04/30/2009 11:59am
Author: kreynolds
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Have to agree with kk on the friendships but I do wanna add one other thing, well not add just a pat on the back to what you wrote about the chat room. It's a great way to really get to know people. I've met some amazing people, and some I now call my cb best friends forever... It's hard to fathom that I didn't even know them six months ago but it seems like we've been friends forever. The bond between a christian brother and sister can not be replaced. I thank God for Bethy's voice, kk's quilts, child's Ma'am (no I didn't just say that.lol), k and alight being, well k and alight poc's wisdom, shani's down under vocab as well as her wit (she's my sister)...and wow could I go on with all the others, like rose being my prayer warrior, jim being so sweet, art being alive n the Word and I can't replace matt n melissa's love, anna and angel always sharing with me about their kids and hubby's, jules being a jewel, mona and her love for Christ, wb and I being way too much alike... These are all, every single one of them, my family...and I wouldn't trade one of them for nothing. The thing is, I make new ones every single day and the more we chat, the closer we become so my encouragement is to not just build your page but build your heart for the people and get on the chat...it's a blast John you're doing a great job, and I call you not just my friend but my distant brother whom I rarely get to speak too but when I do it stays with me forever
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Posted 04/30/2009 02:05pm
Author: girlforgod
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John this blog should be mandatory reading for anyone who wishes to make CB their home. I have to agree with you on the issue of writing a testimony and a little bio. I find it incredulous that someone would want to join a christian site and not give any sort of testimony.
I certainly cannot disagree with anything you have said. I can only stand in amazement at your wisdom 
Like Jamie, I too have found that chat is also a wonderful place to be,, I find it a great place to worship and pray and praise. I have also found my bestest, bestest , bestest friends here. And I have you John to thank for that 
But no matter how often I speak to someone in chat, I really see their heart in their prayer responses, their blog comments or the fact that they take the time to read blogs at all.
But John.. !!! pleaseeeeee i thought we had put the issue of golf to bed!!!
Beth
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Posted 04/30/2009 02:41pm
Author: bethy
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I think this might be true - but only to a certain (very small) extent.
We have to remember that those in the "top bloggers" or "seasoned bloggers" sphere have a LOT to do when they log into ChristianBlog.Com! They not only have to write/publish their Blog Entry, but they have to do follow-up on existing blogs with new comments, they have to answer private messages, check in on any Groups they belong too, update their Status to whatever might be going on, and a whole host of other things.
Whereas the new members to the website are just learning their way around how the website works, reading a few blogs here and there (hopefully posting comments!), posting a blog or two, and such. They have, as I said above, much more change of the "In order to make friends you have to put the effort out to make friends!" opportunities than those who come to ChristianBlog.Com and end up having a lot more to take care of in their limited time at the website.
While I totally understand the point you are trying to make rhennyah, I also understand that from a time perspective, new members have a much greater chance/opportunity to be able to expand their network of friends than older/seasoned members.
Thanks,
John
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Posted 07/13/2009 03:31pm
Author: abelajohnb
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I'm glad you brought this up John. As someone who has been here for a while (two years the end of the month) and has written a few blogs (over 400) I guess I would qualify as a "seasoned blogger" here at CB and I have to say I really relate to what you are saying John.
I would love to be able to read and respond to each new blog but it just is not possible. I'm a elementary teacher by profession so most of the time, I can only be here very briefly during the day. I'm on a bit of a break right now and have loved having a chance to get on here a lot more.
However, there is, as John pointed out, much more than that. In addition to writing my own blogs, I also run three groups here at CB. One is just a "fun group" you might say for people who are familiar with my home state. The other two groups are ministry-type groups. We do have a lot of fun (at least I think we do) but they are also very serious. One is a group for people who deal with chronic illness either themselves or they care for someone who does. I, myself am a cancer survivor. I have people in this group who battle life-threatening diseases and some of us really depend upon each other. Obviously this group needs my attention. The other group is a ministry group for women. Once again, in order for it to be successful it requires a great deal of attention. I have some people who help me but I also currently have 32 women who are only connected via the internet and they are scattered all over the world.
As people have found, in order to run a successful group at CB requires a lot of time and investment on your part. Although they don't show up in your blog counts, I would say that many of my "articles" for those ministry groups would easily qualify as blogs so when you take that into consideration, I'm doing a lot of writing.
I have a lot of friends here at CB and I'm not talking about just the kinds of friends you stick on your list. I'm talking about some very deep friendships which have formed over time as a result of "going through stuff together". These are the people who pray for me and have cried with me and laughed with me over the past couple of years. They might be in cyberspace but all I have to do is call on them and they are there for me with their prayers as well as meeting up with me in chat or letting my cry/vent via personal messages or talking to one another through one another's blogs and comments.
I'd be the first to admit that I read/checkup on my friends first. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. However, as John said, that takes time.
Finally, a lot of my friends congregate in chat now and then. Not all of them but a number of them. There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with your friends.
As much as we want to be greeted with lots of open arms when we come to a new place, the reality is that's only going to happen to a certain degree. CB was a lot smaller when I came a couple of years ago but even then, I wouldn't be the "seasoned blogger" that I am with the network of "close friends" which I have unless I put forth the effort to make it happen.
It is up to me to make that happen in the end.
Blessings!
K
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Posted 07/13/2009 04:23pm
Author: kreynolds
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As a fresh starter to CB, join only a couple of hours back, I would like to thank you John for the blog on how to get started and tips on building a network and making friends. It is really helpful. The comments from the sisters and brothers above are also very helpful and again a proof from our Lord that he guides us in such a way to illuminate our path in our search for his light and wisdom. This is the first time in my life I am actively seeking fellow Christian friends to share in with, up until now those Christian friends I have stumbled upon, or rather I should say God has put them on my path without me consciously seeking them. My sense of belonging is such that I feel the need to share in with fellow Christian brothers and sisters, experience, prayers, help and support, be there for others in times of need. Thank you for this wonderful way of uniting us. God bless you all!.
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Posted 07/23/2009 08:34am
Author: elias1965
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Log Into Chatroom 
