Some Good Reasons to Blog?

David Swanson, on his blog Signs of Life, has asked the question, "Why blog?"  It's a question I have been wrestling with for a while now.  I've been wondering if blogging is a good use of my time, not just as someone with a family and who is about 5 years late for a much needed visit to my local gym or running trail, but also as a Christian.  Actually it's a question that has been on my mind ever since I read these comments by Rob Bell in Relevant magazine: 

“When the followers of Jesus can think of nothing better to do with their time than to pick apart and shred to pieces the work of other followers of Jesus who are trying to do something about the world, that’s tragic . . . When a Christian can find nothing better to do with their time in the face of this much pain and heartbreak, you start realizing some Christians need to be saved. . . You have to be totally disconnected from the pain of the world to think that blogging is somehow a redemptive use of your time. I guess I have some strong feelings about that.”

Of course I don't agree with everything Rob Bell has to say (honestly I can't think of anyone I agree with completely, that would be spooky), but I wonder if he isn't on to something when it comes to blogging.  It is largely an individualistic activity, involving a good amount of self-promotion, and most pastors, especially those in the young, restless, and reformed crowd (of which I belong) do it (blog) because it's the cool thing to do.  Blogging, like they way we talk or dress, is part of the culture of the young church.  Within that context, blogging is cool and thus a valued activity.  But is it a worthwhile activity and, if so, does it, as Bell contends, require a disconnection "from the pain of the world" in order to arrive at such a conclusion?  I honestly don't know.

What I do know is that I can think of several people with whom I feel connected to via the blogging community.  For example, I prayed for and cheered on Nathan and his wife Tricia, who battled Cystic Fibrosis (CF) while pregnant with their daughter Gwyneth Rose.  Nathan's blog, Confessions of a CF Husband, has been blessing to me, reminding me often of what in life is truly important.  Recently I have felt the same for Matt Chandler and his family as he has battled brain cancer and endured a first round of chemo.  I don't know Matt at all, although I have heard him preach at few conferences and I have been blessed by his ministry, but I sincerely wept when I heard about his cancer because I know he has a young family who needs him and loves him dearly.  It hurts me, as a husband and dad myself, to think of the pain that Matt's wife and children would go through if Lord called him home at such a young age.  I look forward to the updates that Matt posts on his blog each week so I can hear him share his struggles and prayer requests.  The same might be said of the connection I felt to the people of Haiti has photos and stories of tragedy and hope were shared on the news and on the blogs of pastors who were called to go to Haiti and help.  These are just a few examples of real connection I have personally felt to others who I don't know personally, but well enough, via blogging, to pray for them and feel, if even just in a small way, the pain they've endured or are still enduring.  

What do you think?  Is blogging a redemptive use of our time as Christians?  Do it have any value in the Christian life?  If not, why do it?  Do you agree with Bell - does blogging not only promote disconnection from others, but actually require it?