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Weekend Wanderings-May 18
Weekend Wanderings is a collection of links and pages which impacted me during the previous week or so.
They may take you on an adventure or down an unexplored path. Sometimes our casual wanderings in a state of relaxation help us unearth previously hidden treasures.
Gems to ponder over the weekend:
Here is a helpful article over at Life of a Steward about taking a Sabbath. All of us struggle with keeping this one of the Ten Commandments!
A unique article from Seth over at Life As Experienced. We believe we must do things perfectly in order to do them. Maybe we should just do them....even if it is done poorly. Have a look!
Abraham Bates does a short, thought provoking post about our relationship with God.
Tullian Tchivijian has a great devotional on performance versus grace. This guy is one of my favorites on grace!
And to re-engage our discussion of different style of marriage, I would like to recommend this one from Matt Appling, on the site The Church of No People. It is similar to the post I wrote awhile back called Who's The Boss: Two Views on Marriage
Don't forget to wander on by the rest of NoSuperHeroes.com. The top post of the month so far is: Why Christianity is True
What other gems have you found?
Photo by wander.lust at Creative Commons by Flckr.
Add a commentWeekend Wanderings-May 11
Weekend Wanderings is a collection of links and pages which impacted me during the previous week or so.
They may take you on an adventure or down an unexplored path. Sometimes our casual wanderings in a state of relaxation help us unearth previously hidden treasures.
Gems to ponder over the weekend:
One of the best posts I have read in awhile, called Controlling God by Jason Vana
A great, and open post about the need for the church to help one another, for the second week in a row, Ben Reed with This is Awkward but can you Help my Marriage.
A great leadership post by Craig Groeschel: 4 Things I Want to Know About my Staff
And the talk of the internet community is about what Andy Stanley did not say about homosexuality.
I have been listening to the entire series, called Christian. It is a fantastic series. I am struggling to believe the accusations against Stanley. They just do not fit the context of the series. I still have a few more to listen to, so I may weigh in more later. For now I will withhold judgment.
Read the big picture here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/mayweb-only/andy-stanley-homosexuality.html
A great article about the power of slow, incremental change over time, has basketball great Shaquille O'Neil graduating with a doctorate! Not just a dumb jock, but one who studied after games, on road trips, and slowly worked his way to the degree. Not bad for a college dropout!
Don't forget to wander on by the rest of NoSuperHeroes.com. The top post of the month so far is: Why Christianity is True
What other gems have you found?
Photo by wander.lust at Creative Commons by Flckr.
Add a commentTop 3 Reads of 2012 (so far)
I am an avid reader. I find as my children get older, and with the new purchase of a Kindle Keyboard , I am reading even more.
One of my most popular post was the Top Reads of 2011(link) last year.
So having consumed 26 books already this year, let me offer a teaser of what may make the Top Read for 2012 list in the future. (This is not counting Cross-Cultural Servanthood
The drumroll please…..
3. What Good is God? - Phillip Yancey - this is an account of many of Yancey's travels in ministry and the messages he gave in difficult situations. It captures beautiful, cross-cultural pictures of grace in the midst of hardship. This book demonstrates how grace and forgiveness can bring light into the darkest of situations. An inspiring, thought provoking, and uplifting read.
2. The Executive and the Elephant - Richard Dafts
I really enjoyed this book that I won on Michael Hyatt's blog. Dafts takes a look at the mental side of leadership. How often do we get stuck in the cloud of our own perceptions? I've read many leadership books, but this one had some truly unique thoughts. Many books deal with structures and methods, this dealt with the underdeveloped topic of a leader's internal world
1. Real Marriage - Mark Driscoll
Amid all the controversy and publicity, this is truly solid and worthwhile book. I do not agree with all of Driscoll's theology, but as a defense for and positive advocate of marriage; it is fantastic. No couple could read this book and not come away challenged to deepen both their friendship and intimacy
What is the best book you have read in 2012?
Many of the above links are affliate links
Add a commentThe Winners Are...
Today, we are announcing the winners of 20 free copies of Death of the Modern Superhero. Winners will receive a signed, 2nd edition, newly revamped copy. This was a part of a guest post on Life Overseas.
This giveaway introduces the 2nd edition which was edited for readabilty and flow, and "graced" with a new cover. All on the anniversary of the first edition! Sales have been great and the testimonies encouraging. I look forward to greater success with this new edition
Here is a picture of the new cover!
For those who don't win, sorry....
But you can pick up a copy on nosuperheroes.com
But enough rambling. The winners are:
1. Ken Hagerman
2. Sarah Ternes
3. Cathy Morrison
4. Jenny Cornfield
5. Jodie Powell Brite
6. Andrea Farmer Ward
7. Erin Tomme
8. Samantha Davage
9. Chantelle McIver
10. Kristi Synder
11.Gretchen Saalbach
12. Elizabeth Trieber
13. Anna Schubauer
14. Angela Lees
15. Monika McKemie
16. Jenni Colson
17. Tanyse Van Vuuren
18. Korrin Jacobsen
19.Kara Chupp
20. Lorrie Gree
Winners will be notified via email and given instructions how to receive their free copy. Thanks to all who participated.
And another form of winners, here are the Top 3 posts for the month of March on www.nosuperheroes.com
1. Servanthood or Superiority - This post challenges us to not seek only to give or bless, but to learn
2. Have You Lost the Plot? - our perceptions can be tainted by the things we are experiencing, what are the symptoms?
3. No More End Times Predictions - the sad tale of Harold Camping, who repented from his efforts
It has become quite hard to crack into the "popular posts" section of the site, as all of my older posts continue to generate traffic
So along with the top posts in March, I want to offer a "blast from the past", which is outside of the top 5. Could this one crack the Top 5 soon?
Have a look at : Tipping the Scale - Do we find ourselves consumed with our sin and attempts to be free from it?
Thanks for reading!
Add a comment
8 Benefits of Blogging from a Rookie
Michael Hyatt wrote an article recently on the benefits of blogging.
When I saw this, I was excited and dismayed. Excited because Michael always has good things to say. Dismayed because I had the same idea in my blog lineup! Now everyone will think I rip off Michael Hyatt! Oh well.
Michael Hyatt has nearly 200,000 followers and over 1000 posts. As one of the industry leaders, his depth of learning is much greater than mine. His consistency of quality content is hard to match. Not only that, he is someone who is generous in passing on what has helped him. His blog is essential for any new blogger in the Christian or leadership arena.
What would a newbie say?
If you are like me, when I began, it is impossible to imagine publishing 1000 posts. You might wonder what it would be like to do a few posts; what would the benefits be?
Well, here you have it! The benefits of blogging from a newbie, a veteran of a whopping 59 posts. I started in late October 2011, with a goal of posting twice a week. I have a collection of ideas lined up, as well as receiving inspiration as I go through daily life. Here are few of the things I have learned after just a short period of blogging:
1. Blogging is great for personal processing. I used to sporadically journal. Now through blogging, I process my thoughts and emotions on a more regular basis
2. Seemingly ordinary events become learning opportunities. People and events I would have previously passed by, have become opportunities for deeper learning when I dwell on them for a blog post. I read and experience life differently.
3. Technology can build my "reach". My ministry is not limited to South Africa or the places I travel. I regularly have readers from as far away as Kuwait, Thailand, and Russia.
4. Greater ability to learn. Along with my reach, blogging effects my depth. Through interaction and engagement with blogs and bloggers, I grow as a person.
5. I've become a better writer. While completing the second edition for my book, Death of the Modern Superhero, I have found the routine of writing has sharpened my skills. The second edition will be more readable than the first.
Point 5 1/2. Generosity. In case you missed it, blogging has given me the chance to GIVE AWAY my book. Have a look at the guest post
and giveaway I am currently running at "Life Overseas". Some very lively discussion was sparked as well!
6. Networking with a lot of kind, helpful people. Tips and suggestions flow from the blogging community.
7. Inspires me to read even more. Already and avid reader, it has increased my desire for reading and the amount of books and articles I consume.
8. Showed me something I really enjoy and never knew it.
I look forward to deeper, Michael Hyatt like, revelations as I continue on this path. After only a few short months, I have seen the fruit in my life and the lives of others.
What benefits do you find in blogging or reading the work of others around the world?
Photo by andyp uk at Creative Commons by Flckr.