This post promises to be fun and worth your time. Sit back, put on your iTunes, get a hot cup of joe and enjoy.

Ladies and Gentlemen…I present to you the the long awaited, much anticipated, Fighting to Stay Awake Birthday Post…

How it started…

I owe it all to Josh Farmer. I was first introduced to blogs and began reading his over a year ago. It was so cool I just had to have one.

So I set mine up: Theblancspot.blogspot.com, and started blogging (very slowly, randomly and pathetically too).

One day I stumbled upon Randy’s Blog. Oh lordy. Now I knew I was in over my head. This guy posts something every day! Every single day… how does he think of things and have time to write them?

After a few months of faithful writing on my blog and faithful commenting on Randy’s I bribed him for a spot on his illustrious roll of peeps. That little spot helped push my blog into the big times. Thank you Josh and Randy for helping this little guy get started.

Getting Schooled…

In the past 12 months I have learned a lot about the community and the geekery that exists around weblogs.

I found out what a RSS feed is and why feedburner is my friend. I learned about CMS, SEO, WYSIWYG and NAACP.

Why I’m here…

When I began blogging my goal was to have a strong, faithful readership with regular commentor interaction. I have spent 12 months building the readership and conversation of this blog by begging, pleading and even bribing. But there is a reason to it that you may not think of…

…the long and the short of it all is that I want others to live a big life. I want you to run to win. I am compelled by reality: it is the end of the age, and His hand is at the door. Jesus is the stability of our times, and I want us to make the Lord our refuge.

A Noble Weblog…

I have discovered that there is more to blogging than you and I having nothing to do.

There is more to it than a feed, a search bar and a blogroll. So what if I have a fancy layout, and a cool font on my sidebar? I really believe there is something significant and worthy of your time on this blog.

Many of you (especially Nick) caught my vision concerning stewardship. There is something more to this site than my raging insights. I believe with all my heart I have something to offer that is of eternal value. God has put a message in my heart and I am committed to getting it out in any manner possible. Why not on a global medium? Why not preach every time I hit that ‘publish’ button?

Why not find God and enjoy Him while I blog?

My Favorites…

After 302 posts, 1,448 comments and 1 survey; what are my priceless moments?

• One thing I have never shied away from is speaking honestly and openly. If there are difficult issues that I am going through someone, somewhere is or will go through them also. Some of my more personal posts are here: I, II, III, IV, V, and of course VI.
• Jo asked for my most caffeinated post. The first one that came to mind was this one. The second was this great post.
• A, B & C are a little inside I know.

So what’s my favorite post ever? Too tough to call. I have many pillar posts. They are in my sidebar. Those 168 hours were pretty intense. And I’m still hold fast to my commitment to you.

Thank Yur…

I am astounded at the quality of readers on this blog. You all amaze me and make me proud to blog.

This blog would not be what it is without each of you who have contributed to this site. Your insights, understanding and mad typing skills have made FTSA a destination URL. Thank you.

The Next 12 Months…

I have no intention of backing down, slowing down, or taking prisoners.

For this next year I am fully energized to dive deeper into the Word of God. I thank God for all the blogs that are popping up with quality Christian content. We need more and more and more of them and I am fully intent on being counted among them.

If you are in need of a daily read about hungering and thirsting for righteousness then this, my friends, is the place for all of us.

Good luck and God speed,
- Shawn