Category Archives: blogging

2012 in Review

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WordPress, the blog platform used to produce and host The Master’s Table, creates a year in review infographic for each user.  Stats include the most read post, most commented on post, most active commenter, etc.  Click the link at the bottom of this post to view the full report.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 120,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

The Read and Share File

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I know it’s been a while.  Here’s what’s up:

The bookstore – far from dead, they may be doing better than you think.  Check out these 12 stats.

Hurricane Sandy, Frakenstorm, or whatever you call it is still dumping rain and snow.  It’s too not early, however, to plan a response and begin mobilization.  Talking about the Gospel is one thing, giving a child a cup of water is another.  Let’s go.

“You can’t get something for nothing.”  Christians know this is untrue.  While on the subject of free gifts, John Piper wants you to have this Martin Luther biography as a free e-book (available in many formats, including pdf). Continue reading →

Bethany’s Blog

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I read a post some weeks ago about the lack of females in the Christian blogosphere.  While I don’t have binders full of them (sorry) I would like to share… one.

Even if you didn’t see Soul Surfer you must be somewhat aware of Bethany Hamilton.  She and her family not only consulted during the production of the film (based on her autobiography) Bethany herself did many of the stunts seen onscreen.  The fame has created an audience she would not have had otherwise, and she thanks God for the opportunity to be a witness.  Hamilton has traveled the world telling her story and doing mission work.  Here is the link to her blog, but I will warn you she averages one or two posts per month.  She was nearly eaten alive by a shark; what’s your excuse?

I’ve Got Friends in Blog Places

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I love the Internet; no surprise there right?  I watch movies online, stream music, author multiple blogs and make excessive use of Facebook.  My wife and I each have a laptop, and our own handheld web devices.  I’m blogging in the kitchen while baking a lasagna, but that’s probably more intel than you need.

One of the privileges afforded by the internet is that anyone can have a global audience.  This blog is read around the block and around the world.  I in turn have made blog friends in places such as Canada, Australia and Israel.  While brothers and sisters in the Kingdom, we have never met in person.  Paul Wilkinson (he’s Canadian, eh) is the author of Christianity 201 and Thinking Out Loud, both of which are listed in the blogroll at right.  He wrote me last week and asked about submitting a guest post, which I am always happy to do.  Good blogs include links to other places, and one test of your own blog worthiness is being linked to by others.  Featuring a guest author adds variety to your own blog and increases the web presence of your guest.  If no one has coined the term Internetworking let me toss it out there now.

My latest post, Jesus Said More Than the Lord’s Prayer, is featured at Christianity 201.  Paul adds new content daily from a variety of sources, so be sure to visit again.

Storyline Drops September 6th

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Donald Miller’s new book Storyline, available tomorrow on Amazon.

Donald Miller, as in Blue Like Jazz and Searching for God Knows What.  Jump to Miller’s blog here.

 

The Read and Share File

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It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to share.  Here’s what this writer has been reading:

9 Marks offers tips on leading the church in a healthy direction.  Read them here.

Tim Challies is doing a series on the holiness of God.

Ray Ortland suggests that small talk has a place in ministry.  While I agree, I’m not totally sure that’s what happened in Acts 10:27.  Read The Astonishing Amiability and see what you think.

Continue reading →

Bloggers, Moderate Your Comments

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Typically I allow anyone that has been approved before to have their comments automatically displayed.  Meaning that your first comment to this blog will be held for moderation and after that one is approved your others will appear instantly.  Some blogs strictly moderate every comment, while some allow everything to appear regardless of the source.

Keep your eye out for comments from L.W. Dickel.  If there is even such a guy (it could be a group of people) he keeps leaving exactly the same inflammatory remarks on multiple posts of multiple Christian blogs.  It’s nothing more than anti-Christian spam, but my filters didn’t catch it and I’ve seen at least two Christian blogs displaying the same comment.  Keep an eye out, moderate your comments, don’t bother engage.  If he wants a legitimate dialog, let him follow the rules.

 

The Read and Share File

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When I heard the SBC would appoint their first ever African-American president I thought “well that’s neat.”  When I learned he mangled a new motorcycle at age 21, later walking down the aisle on crutches… now there’s a guy I can respect.  Read more on Fred Luter’s life in ministry here, via Baptist Press.  

Here’s another story coming out of the SBC convention this week – in something of an ongoing conflict, SBC messengers passed on a resolution on the “sinner’s prayer.”  The headline for the article is worded badly, but the report is excellent.  Full text of the resolution is included.

It’s not nearly short enough for Twitter, but here is the message of the Bible in only 221 words.

The Donald Miller blog is going on hiatus and will return new and improved on August 1st.  Here’s the list of what to expect.

Meanwhile, Tall Skinny Kiwi just changed the appearance of his blog, citing the old look as “boring.”  Check it out, I like it.

I always enjoy getting some classic iMonk, and here’s a collection of original Internet Monk selections from 2005.

I don’t regularly read Mark Driscoll, so thanks to Noel Heikkinen for sharing 11 Practical Ways for Men to Lead a Family.

I didn’t even know there was a .church internet domain; meanwhile, LifeChurch.tv wants to own it.

Did the Supreme Court strike down indecency laws regulating t.v. broadcasts?  No it did not, although the Associated Press initially reported so.  The Court ruled a narrow decision on only the two cases, involving FOX and ABC, that were being considered.  The Court did not overturn the existing laws nor consider constitutionality of the existing FCC regulations.  Full story here.

The Read and Share File

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The Six Commandments?  A federal judge suggests that public displays of the 10 commandments can be made constitutional by removing the four that directly mention God or the Sabbath.  More here.

Tim Challies comments on The State of Preaching. Notice what he says about the Gospel.

Ridley Scott (director of Alien and it’s prequel Prometheus) says he plans to direct a Moses film. Scott is skeptical of all religion, calling it “the source of all evil.”

Chaplain Mike, of Internet Monk, takes a break from reformed theology and reminds us he has a sense of humor in Signs You May Have Hit the Wall.

I enjoy celebrating a good *blogiversary, and  Tall Skinny Kiwi just turned nine. 

It’s apparently been around for a while, but I just saw the Blue Like Jazz trailer this weekend (before watching MIB3).

…

*There is some disagreement on spelling.  I prefer blogoversary, the same way we spell blogosphere.  Blogiversary uses the letter i presumably to look more like anniversary; I used the same spelling in this post that Andrew used.  I’m probably overthinking it, one of the marks of a good blogger.

The Read and Share File

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This is the Read and Share File, where I share with my readers what I have been reading.  This past week has been busy, this week will continue to be, and I haven’t read much.  But here are a few things:  

When Jesus and his disciples were criticized for not washing their hands, Jesus uses the opportunity to explain what really defiles a person.  It is not what goes into a person (Mark 7) but what comes out a person.  Luke’s version of this story says “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  This post from Theologigal has a lot to say about what’s in a person’s heart.

Tall Skinny Kiwi lists 10 things he sees happening the the church that I don’t see happening here (in the United States).  It’s about smaller stages in churches and entering people’s homes.  And the Gospel.

Mitt Romney acknowledges that while Mormons and evangelicals have different faiths, the two can work together.  More at Baptist Press.  

At reading the title The Theology of the Chocolate Sampler, I thought something like “Free will allows us to choose each piece, but what’s inside has been predestined.”  Gary Shogren doesn’t go there (thus writing a much better post).