Before WordPress, before Facebook and Twitter there was a blogging website called Xanga. I was on there from November 2004 to 2008 or 2009. Eventually it was shut down. Was anyone else on there?
Much of what the Christian community on wordpress was similar to how the Christian community was like on Xanga.
During my time there I befriended someone name Barry. He was a dentist. He would posts contents that are biblical, and also apologetics especially with creation ministry related topics.
I remember he was someone who read my blog and prayed for me with various things. I was still in the Marines then and he would pray for some of my overseas time.
Over time he’s also got to know some of my personal friends who also joined Xanga and he’s reached out to some with the Gospel.
He recently passed away.
One of things I remember he asked for prayers about was his son’s salvation. It was dear to his heart. I was moved to pray largely because of how passionate he was about his son’s salvation.
I am glad the Lord did saved his son.
It was amazing to know the Lord saved him.
And of course the father was happy. And I was joyful too, knowing God was working.
I’m glad recently I reconnected with his son again.
But I was sad to learn that my friend from Xanga passed away.
We were from different states. Different age, different generation and different region.
But we were Christians who have the same common Lord, salvation, love for apologetics and God.
I thought a bit in light of his passing about what it means to be a Christian online with social media and blogging.
He’s encouraged so many.
He’s witnessed to many.
He’s also prayed for many.
He’s wasn’t a keyboard warrior but shared his life with others and also cared for his family.
Sometimes we can make too much about social media and blogging. But we can also make too little of it. My friend from Xanga was an example of how God uses our blogging, social media, and online presence to be an encouragement, an evangelistic witness and a prayer warrior. His son’s salvation also made me think about the importance of apologetics, Gospel witnessing and theology.
This is my tribute to my old Xanga friend. I plan to share this post with the son sometime later today.
The Domain for Truth 
Well, that story gives me pause. Maybe I should take blogging a little more serious? It’s probably last on my to-do list and I don’t reach the bottom of the list very often. Sigh…
I think you’re doing fine. It’s hard to balance between the wrong view that blogging is the most important thing while also not taking the view that it is not important at all. And better to have everything else in order first before things online, amen?
Amen to that Jim. Thanks
Thanks for sharing this. Our work on line is so very important. The word of God and the good news of Jesus is getting out.
Blessings!
Prayers for you and your friend’s son. Yes, God uses social media…thanks for ministry.
I am sorry for your loss in this world of a good friend, but we praise the Lord for his faithful witness and his presence with his Lord now. Our blogs are part of His Divine plan I am sure, we will never know how many folk are blessed by them until we get to Heaven. Thank you for this encouragement Jim, may our Father God continue to guide you in your ministry brother.
I love how you stated this: “we will never know how many folk are blessed by them until we get to Heaven.” That is one thing I look forward to heaven, not the only thing but one of the things, is to see what did God do with the seeds we planted, watered or reap unknowingly, etc. Do you think of this often? Been thinking a lot about this lately.
It is never far from my mind Jim, especially as I get older. My main curiosity from several years ago was with regard to gospel tracts I had written which were used freely on the web for downloadable tracts. In the last year I have been thinking more about whether I have sown good gospel seed in my posts.
What a heartfelt post, thank you for this! I praise God for WordPress because I was able to meet y’all. I do need to be more confident in my blogging, I can get so anxious about will anyone want to read, will it be relevant? I am amazed by your heart for Jesus! PS: I emailed you a PowerPoint and I hope it will work for today!
Wow excited! Thanks for the ppt, let me go check it out on email and yes we can have that as shared screen for today’s study! Thanks for all the labor you poured into this sister, see you in 15 minutes, praying!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for sharing this although I know there’s also some sadness involved for you. It encourages us to continue our blogging ministries and reminds us that “virtual” friends are or can be as important as our face-to-face friends.
On this note, thank you for your friendship. It’s been some years now we have been friends on FB. Let me know how your shift is going!
Thanks and I appreciate your friendship and counsel over the years. Hard to believe we’ve been doing WP together for almost 5 years,
Feeling much better, brother. Thanks for your prayers! Yesterday was a real slow workday and that was exactly what I needed my first day back.
Sadness but Joy for his life.
Amen; this event reminds me how valuable is the friendship we have with each other on WordPress among the believers including you Bonnie. I’m grateful for you sister!
And I for you.:)
Great post man, thanks for honoring him.
I never heard of Xanga before. Very touching post. Your friend is in glory now. Great to hear his son came to Christ. And thank you for now following my blog Slim Jim
This is the first time hearing about Xanga and will look it up. Sorry for the loss of your friend but there is joy knowing he died in Christ. Have a great day/night and remain safe.
Thanks Tangie for these kind words. I hope you too are safe, healthy and in His grace and mercy. Have a blessed Lord’s Day tomorrow!
[…] A Tribute to an old Xanga Friend and Thoughts on Apologetics and Parenting — The Domain for Truth […]
A loving tribute
I am sorry for the loss of your friend, A meaningful tribute and thank you sharing.
Last week I had news of a blogging friend here in WP who passed away unexpectedly. I took it really hard. Although I had never met her personally there was a connection between us because we belong to God’s family. I miss her.
Praise God that your friend’s son was saved, God is so merciful.
Oh no! Was it someone I know??
I don’t think you followed her blog.
I had friends at college with Xanga accounts, so I started in 2002. (My tagline was “Running around in circles with everywhere to go.”) I met several missionaries and evangelists who became mutual encouragement, and I now live in the hometown of the husband of one of those missionaries in Thailand (her home country) and China. It is crazy that we met that way and are still connected 18 years later.
I last checked on Xanga just before getting married in 2009, having not used it since 2006, but I had not realized it was gone.
Thanks for the encouragement, brother!
Wow you were on Xanga too. There are some people I still remain connected to on xanga. By chance what was your user name back then?
AlwaysMeNotYou
[…] A Tribute to an old Xanga Friend and Thoughts on Apologetics and Parenting […]
Thanks Jim. I was blessed with sharing my writing and faith with my late stepfather. In return, he blessed me even more.
I am sorry your friend passed away since you miss him, but glad he was a Christian and in God’s hands. Hallelujah that his son was saved through intercessory prayers! God is ALIVE. 💗
Sorry about the lost of your friend. This is a beautiful tribute to him. It is quite interesting to hear about Xanga.
Thanks for your kind of words. I hope you are able to be safe and healthy and in peace in Christ during these times. Hope your son is recovering too
You are welcome. We are doing fine. Thank God. Blessings and peace to you.
I can relate with this! I also have an online friend, we pray for each other, for our children’s salvation and encourage each other. We live in different continents, we belong to different race and probably age, but our common factor is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I don’t think we connected by accident. On that note, may the soul of your friend rest in peace!
Wow praise God! I imagine your are in Africa though I’m not sure where. I’m in America and an Asian
Thanks for sharing and the encouragement that came with it.