my 2008 blogroll

After a few months away, it's been good to be back in "blog_land". And as 2008 comes to an end, just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone out there who puts their ideas, insights, fears and emotions on the line week after week. You encourage me. You challenge me. You inspire me.

Here's just a few of the posts I've read this year that I'll want to remember...

Biscotti Brain: Swaziland:Bhventi
So much to choose from… the whole Advent series challenged me, the $8 hot dog convicted me, but Wilsonian’s Swaziland posts opened my eyes to a whole new world.

"How are you?" I ask

"I am fine."

"I am fine."

"I am fine."

They all answer the same way...

Don’t Call Me Veronica: The Problem with Indifference
I’m a contrarian… I like to do things my own way because, well, because I know better. So this post from Tony hit home and demonstrated how even the little things can make a difference.

Eye for Redemption: Facing Down Fear
In a year where I have been trying to figure out what holds me back, Kansas Bob provides ongoing insight and encouragement.

I think that God is amazing in the way that he uses

a wounded man's courage to heal him

when he returns to the battlefield and faces down his fear.

Faith and Family: Witness to History
I’m pretty sure Matt voted for John McCain… but his recap of Kennedy endorsing Obama back in January has stayed with me.

… it struck me at one point that he was somehow

lifting the crowd from their seats and from the floor

and symbolically putting them on the stage

next to him so that they were all looking

in the same direction: towards the future.

He even got me, the skeptical gray-haired Republican,

to move up on the stage with him.

Julie Unplugged: How Pro-Life Voters Like Me Justify an Obama Vote
Long-time Republican Julie worked tirelessly in support of Barack Obama this year. Here’s one of many well-penned essays.

The Republican party has acted as though

"believing in a plank" called pro-life is

the same as actually fostering a culture of life,

as being those who see others as valuable.

One Hand Clapping: Make Something Day
For my wife, Black Friday is an annual social event. I tried it one year and was back home by 6:30 – without the computer on my list. Here, Julie provides some balanced thinking on the alternative.

I like it and I don’t like it.

If it works for you, really works for you, great.

But I’m uncomfortable with it being

the only “just” alternative out there.

PoMoXian: What I Did for MKL Day
It was tough to pass up Dave’s live-blog of the Super Bowl (Go Giants), but when someone steps out of the e-world and actually does something, it’s worth a second read.


Ragamuffin Rambling: A painful, and embarassing, confession
I need to be challenged, and Steve’s hard-hitting Advent post is one I’ll need to come back to time and again.

This is my confession to you all - that I have

lived a life of excess, while others have starved.

And this is my first step at redemption.

I don't know that I will ever live long enough

to make amends - but it starts now.

Sacred Vapor: Tuning In
This beautiful metaphor may be one of my favorite posts of the year.


Sublime Transitions: it is like this
With NaNcY, it’s hard to pick just one. This one captures a lot of what it means to write out in the open about our zig-zagging journeys with Christ.

i want to hear God speak to me,

to know what He is saying,

and to understand what He wants…

Texas Chilly: Wheee!
We were created to discover. Here’s a fun reminder from Missy that we all need to be trying something new.


TSSO: When a hand of the Body is smackin’ your face…
Some people find themselves hurt in church situations… but what is one to do? Karen offers wisdom beyond her years.

I think that we have to walk in the Truth and

stop being doormats for the Body.

God loves us to serve, like Jesus served,

and to be loving and loved, but surely

He doesn't want us to be hurt repeatedly.

This Walk: No Really, WOW.
When you need a quicker-picker-upper, try this post from FLYAWAYNET.

I cannot complain. I've nothing to

complain about. God's been good.

And the best part is, I actually mean that.

.

.

Trying to Follow: Christians and Homosexuals: Love’m or Hate’m?
We have not seen the last of post-Proposition 8 protests. Here, Ariah sees to that.

Rather, I’d challenge you to ask every homosexual

person you know, who will answer you honestly,

if they have ever felt themselves

at the receiving end of hate from Christians.

.

.

Happy New Year to you. And you know of any blogs that I might want to add to my list in 2009, please let me know in the comments section below.