So it’s been over a year since Twitter Commandments Part 1. I said in that post that there would be a part 2 and a year and some odd months later, here it is. Not sure why it took this long. Maybe we all have gotten better at Twitter and there wasn’t a need for 5 more commandments, but all good things must come to an end and so here we are with 5 more. If you need a review of what the first 5 Twitter Commandments are you can click HERE.

Let’s do this.

6. Thou shall not retweet a Happy Birthday tweet. I’ve been guilty of this one, but it’s time to put a stop to it. Can anything feel less satisfying than a retweet happy birthday? You are basically saying, “Oh it’s ____ birthday. I’m too lazy to say it myself so let me just hit this retweet button. Done.” You wouldn’t do it in person!

John: Happy Birthday Alex! Hope it’s a good one.
You: Alex, what John said.
Alex: Thanks?

Unacceptable.

7.Thou shall not fall for the spam DM. You aren’t in a funny blog post, picture or video. I know it would be nice, but you aren’t. If you want to lose weight, it won’t happen by clicking a link and it won’t make you rich either. Just isn’t going to happen. So let’s all agree to that and stop falling for it. If you do happen to click one of those links and it takes you to a Twitter sign in page, don’t sign in. It’s fake and then you will be adding to the problem. Also, if you do write a funny blog with me in it, don’t advertise it as “Hey, I wrote a funny blog about you!” You won’t get many clicks now.

8.Thou shall not tweet to tweet. I was a middle school pastor for a year, so I follow a lot of students…and they tweet a LOT. Here’s some examples:

“That’s completely homo.”
“to hot to tan.”
“Just woke up.”
“I look like a hoe right now.. haha”
“GIRL, yooo booty hungry. #pickthatwedgie”

And that was in the past 10 minutes. Seriously. I see tweets that say, “Only 124 more tweets until 2,000! I’m going to make it tonight!” Tweeting 124 more times in a week is WAY too much much less a night! I think the only thing that will change this behavior is time, but I’m throwing out this rule anyway.

9. Thou shall not tweet longer than 140 characters. Twitter has a limit. 140 characters. That’s all. And when you tweet longer than that people have to click a link to go see just how crazy it was when your dog jumped into the pool wearing a mini skirt and high heels. Ok, that tweet might be worth the click, but the majority are NOT! Simplify your message. Make it shorter. 140 characters isn’t a suggestion, it’s the law. Don’t break the law. If Justin Beiber can abide by the rules, so can you.

10. Thou shall not live tweet TV shows. There is no such thing as appointment TV anymore. DVR’s are just as common as reruns of Full House, so when I get out of an incredibly long and boring ballet that my wife begged me to go with her to and I have DVR’d the season finale of Dexter, I don’t want to look at Twitter on the way home and see, “Oh my GOSH! Dexter chopped Deb’s head and his own head off! And Mr. Weasley, the school janitor, was the killer the whole time! What a way to end the season.”  That moment sucks for me. (No, I didn’t ruin Dexter for anyone. All that was made up.)

Yes, I realize that once a show has aired it should be fair game, but can we agree to just comment on how good it was and not give specifics? I wanted to include music award shows in this, but Grant Jenkins is my friend and Matthew Paul Turner said he might want to volunteer at the downtown campus and I can’t screw that up. (And he’s my friend.)

So there you have it. The complete set of Twitter Commandments. Learn them. Memorize them. Obey them. Happy tweeting.

Wow.  It’s been a while.  I could give you all the reasons in the world why there hasn’t been a blog post since before my wedding. After all, I started a new job, settled in a new home and got married.  That means I am very busy, right?  Well yes, but there were plenty of chances for me to write.  I actually sat down and started to a few times only to be distracted by what was on TV or chasing my wife around the house, just because I can.

The real reason why there hasn’t been a post in quite a while is, honestly, a lack of discipline.  You know discipline, the word that sent shivers down your spine as your kid.  Well, as an adult it doesn’t quite mean the same thing but it still causes hairs to stand up on end.  Discipline is tough to get.  It seems that some people just have it and while sometimes I do “just have it”, there are also times that I “just don’t”.

My friend Grant Jenkins, who will be upset with me that I didn’t just link his name, has encouraged me to do a #OneWord2011 post.  After initially saying “yeah, maybe” but in my head really saying, “no chance” I reconsidered.  So without further adieu my one word for 2011 is…..

Discipline

Discipline in taking my wife out for a weekly date.
Discipline in reading the books on my list.
Discipline in exercising.
Discipline in writing creatively on this blog more.
Discipline in serving.
Discipline in learning all of the kids in my ministries names.
Discipline in engaging my kids more on their level in their environments.

Discipline in writing messages in advance and showering them in prayer.

But if I somehow failed in becoming better in all of those and improved my discipline in this one area, it will still be a win. Discipline in spending meaningful time with the creator of the universe and savior of the world.  I used a qualifying word in that sentence.  ”Meaningful.”  No more sitting down with only 10 minutes to spare to speed read a passage and say, “thanks for the day.”

Meaningful time spent in prayer and study.  Conversations with God on a deeper level more consistently.  If I accomplish that, then I am a firm believer that most of the other things I desire discipline in will come.  I also believe that the more consistent I become in meaningful prayer and study, the less it looks like “discipline.”  The discipline becomes more of a passion and the hairs on my arm will remain laying peacefully down.

That’s my #OneWord for 2011.

I love Twitter.  It has become my first option when it comes to social media surpassing Facebook.  It’s quick, easy and a great way to get information out.  In order to make sure everyone has a great Twitter experience I have decided to compile “The Twitter Commandments.”  There are only 5 at the moment, but I’m sure more will come as the world turns.

When Twittering try and keep these in mind.  You will make the Twitter world a better place.  Without further adieu, I present to you “The Twitter Commandments, Part 1.” [..]

I have a good friend named Grant. He blogs here.

Grant noticed that my blog needed some work done to make it more useful for everyone.

Grant suggested change.

Blog definitely changed and I am switching my writing style to tap into the 6 year old learning to read market. [..]

Not sure I want to post this…

I hope my future wife doesn’t read my blog, whoever she is…

I think I learned how to iron…