It’s time for the obligatory ‘top posts’ post. These are the most read posts from the blog in the past year. If you’ve missed any of them, here’s your chance to catch up.
1. Myths About the Bible: Noah Was Mocked?: The Fight Against Apathy
This post from February got a lot of traction at one point and was by far and away the most read post with around 600 clicks.
2. A List of Benedictions
This post was number 3 last year, number 2 this year. If you need a benediction, this one’s for you.
3. C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton: Reading, Fairy Tales, and Mental Health
This post was number 1 last year and still gets a good number of reads. The quotes have remained helpful to me in expressing the importance of reading good fiction.
4. C.S. Lewis Defining and Defending the English Puritans
This post was from late December of last year and records a number of Lewis’ quotes concerning the English Puritans.
5. Recent Reading: The Mind of the Maker, by Dorothy Sayers: Part 1 – Summary of the Argument for a Trinity in Creative Art
This is one of my all-time favorite books and I am pleased that quite a few folks checked out my summary. Hardly a day goes by that I do not think about this book in some way, shape, or form. It has been absolutely invaluable in my preaching on Romans 8:28-30.
6. On Self-Centered Music (Ken Myers, Mars Hill Audio)
This is another post from February. I found a talk by Ken Myers helpful and decided to write down some thoughts.
7. Michael Polanyi, Tacit Knowledge, and Indwelling
This post was in the top 10 last year as well. It’s a simple application of Polanyi’s idea to the biblical idea of indwelling. I based an entire sermon series on the biblical doctrine of ‘indwelling’ or ‘abiding’ as a result of the insights I gained from Polanyi (thanks again to Ken Myers and Mars Hill Audio).
8. Recent Reading: A Tale of One who Traveled to Learn what Shivering Meant
This was number 9 last year and is still hanging in there. This story is one of my favorite fairy tales and I have frequently drawn from its wisdom. As a matter of fact, I used it as a sermon illustration just a few weeks ago. Read the post and you’ll probably see why.
9. Anthropomorphism, Unlikeness, and Reality in Fiction: Opening the Eyes of the Blind
I wrote this post in July 0f 2012 after reading The Wind in the Willows. The Wind in the Willows is one of the best books I have ever read and Mr. Toad has an enduring place in my heart. He is a constant reminder of my own pride, which someone once said is like underwear – the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off.
10a. Science a good servant, but a bad master
This is a great quote from Michael Aeschliman’s book The Restitution of Man. It is currently in a tie for the 10th spot.
10b. Recent Reading: Leaf by Niggle, by J.R.R. Tolkien
This one is from June of this year. I wrote it after my second reading of the story. As I finished reading, I happened to listen to a Tim Keller talk that used the story as an illustration. The post draws from Keller to reflect on the story.
Here’s hoping the next year of reading and thinking will be more productive and fruitful than ever.
A good reminder that I need to do a Top 10 post as well. I already know the number one post of the year. It’s the same post as last year, and the year before: Top 10 Blue Bell Ice Cream flavors. Sometimes you just get a deep theological tome that keeps on giving. Unfortunately, that post wasn’t it. 🙂
Folks love some ice cream, no doubt.