The writers over at the Gender Blog have posted another great article on manhood. They have just begun a series of posts on how to teach truths about manhood to boys through the (slow) sport of baseball. But there are plenty of lessons here for the big version of boys too, otherwise known […]

The blogging world has been a great adventure for me allowing me to “meet” many wonderful people and to read their thoughts. One such person is “Maggie” over at Magnanimity. Maggie runs a terrific blog and offers many helpful thoughts and tips about blogging. Several weeks ago, Maggie bestowed on me a “thoughtful”  honor…a thinking blogger award for my article on Oprah Winfrey and her involvement in New Age thinking. You can read that post by clicking here. Thank you so much, Maggie. It is deeply appreciated. Unfortunately, it came at a time where I couldn’t participate fully in the purpose of the award which is to point you, my readers, toward blog entries that have made me think.  But happily, I can now participate in that goal.

Here are the rules of the award:

“The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blog posts that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.”

So, with all of that out of the way now, I would really like to encourage all of you to take the time to go and read these wonderful, and thought-provoking entries from around the blog world. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Rules of Vulgarity - This is over on Dave Milam’s blog. Dave is a church planter in Charlotte, NC. They had their church equipment stolen and went to great lengths to establish contact with the thief. They even posted billboards across the Charlotte area. Many thought the billboards crossed the line and contained vulgar language unbecoming to a church. This post addresses the idea of vulgarity. Really interesting stuff.

Why Heaven Isn’t Where We End Up - I found this deeply challenging post on Backyardmissionary.com. The blog is written by a church leader in Australia. This post is an excerpt from a book that he has read. I taught a series of messages at The Grove a couple years ago about this subject, but this post contains some additional thoughts that I have not wrestled with before. It’s a long read, but worth it.

Six Reasons Not to Quit - A powerful post on ministry that is moving slower than our “success” meter is happy with

Biggest Mistakes as a Leader #1 & Part #2 - These two posts are over on Perry Noble’s blog. Perry leads a church in SC that has grown to over 8000, but he comes across as totally real. I have come to deeply appreciate his wisdom and insights on life and church. It is truly helpful to read posts like this from leaders of churches that are making a difference.

I’m Not Connected - I “met” Bill Reichart through the blog post that got this whole “Thinking Blogger” award started for me. We’ve had the opportunity to speak on the phone and I really appreciate Bill’s heart, his ministry, and his talent for blogging/writing. As a “Connections” pastor at his church in Atlanta, he has a front-row seat on the problem of people feeling disconnected with church. I’ve referenced this post before and think it is worth noting again.

Expectations - This is one of the most powerful things I have ever read. It is on Darryl Strickland’s blog, but it is attributed to Mark Beeson, the head pastor of Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. Granger is a church that is seeing amazing results for the kingdom. And Mark Beeson has proven to be a leader worth listening too. Do not miss reading this.

Thanks again to Maggie and all the wonderful bloggers out there who challenge me, and sharpen me and never even know it. I am a better man for your efforts.

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