Here is the list of our top ten posts of the year, as measured by WordPress’ stats for views. A quick note for other bloggers: WordPress, Google, and SiteMeter all measure views somewhat differently. I’m going with the WordPress stats for total views, and the google stats for unique views. In other words, the first number is how many times the post was viewed, and the second number is how many unique IP addresses viewed it..

Four reasons my family trick-or-treats. Jesse explains why he lets his family dress like butterflies and go door-to-door, hitting people up for candy (8k/7.5k).

Congratulations to Allyson Felix. Nate follows the biblical principle of “props where props are due,” and honors Allyson’s Olympic Gold. Allyson’s dad is Greek Professor at The Master’s Seminary (10k/8k).   Continue Reading…

Mike originally published this post on December 30, 2011.

As we approach the beginning of the New Year, many people are reflecting on the previous year and how they’ve lived their lives, and are making resolutions and determinations to live better in the coming year, whatever that may mean. The process seems to involve a kind of refocusing on things that are important to us so that when we will have come to the end of this next year we will look even more favorably on it than the previous one.

Though I’m a few days early, as we anticipate the coming of 2013 I want to write an open letter of sorts that focuses on the most important realities in the world. And the addressee of my open letter is you. No matter who you are—whether young in the faith, a seasoned saint, or not a believer in Jesus at all; whether we’re good friends, have only spoken a few times, or if I don’t know you from Adam—I can think of nothing more profitable that I’d like to say directly to you. And perhaps the most interesting distinctive about this open letter for 2013 is that it’s nothing new. It’s the same old message for a brand new year, because it’s the only message that is sufficient to transcend all times and cultures. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope you’ll read carefully.

Continue Reading…

When you looked into the mirror this morning, who did you see? Certainly not a cold-blooded killer…right? Maybe you should look again.

Just yesterday, I struck up a conversation with a couple that I sat next to, on a flight home to Baltimore. Eventually the discussion moved to the evil that struck Newtown, CT. “I’m no health professional” the husband said, “but something must have been fundamentally wrong, for someone to do that.”

“There is”, I replied, “and it’s the same thing that is fundamentally wrong with all of us. It’s sin.” Continue Reading…

Christians should speak about the Newtown shootings, because we have something to say.  This kind of tragedy raises questions that we are equipped to answer, and they are not in realm of gun laws or health care. In fact, it should frustrate us to see non-Christians framing this tragedy in moral terms, and (in a great reversal) Christians falling back on political ones.

There is a chaplain in Los Angeles, Phil Manly, who works mostly at the USC medical center. USC happens to be one of the largest hospitals in the US, and the morgue there has become a temporary resting place for unidentified bodies in Los Angeles county. They are cremated, and the ashes held for a particular duration of time. If unclaimed, they are buried.

Every year USC does one of these mass burials of all the ashes of unidentified and unclaimed bodies. It could just happen in obscurity, but the chaplain won’t let it. He insists on doing a memorial service each year for these remains.

Keep in mind that nobody knows who those people are. Except for the funeral home caretaker—who is there mostly as a witness—the service is before an empty room. Occasionally a reporter will come and watch. Last year there were 1,600 different people who were buried in this mass grave. Continue Reading…

Max McLean has the spiritual gift of reading. He has the voice of an angel, and he uses it for the glory of God and the good of the church. His readings of Scripture have been used to make audio Bibles in the ESV, KJV, and three versions of the NIV. Beyond that, he often records sermons from famous Christian dead people (my personal favorite is George Whitefield’s “The Method of Grace”), as well as scores of books.

I recently was able to interview him. I took questions on my Facebook page, and here is our conversation:   Continue Reading…

It’s that time of year. Turn on the radio, take a trip to the mall, or simply stroll down the aisles of the local grocery store, and you’re likely to hear songs about Jesus’ birth playing in the background. Though we call them “Christmas carols,” they are really just Christian hymns celebrating the incarnation of our Lord and Savior. For a few weeks each December, these profound songs of worship become a ubiquitous part of the holiday atmosphere. And our society’s pervasive interest in them provides us with a unique opportunity to share the gospel. After all, it’s the perfect time to explain the meaning of these songs to those who don’t know Christ.

Today’s blog post is just one example of how the content of Christmas carols can be used to share the good news of the gospel. It is adapted from an evangelistic message I put together a couple holiday seasons ago. Whether you follow a format like this or not, be sure to make the most of this Christmas season — sharing the truth of God’s grace with unbelieving friends and family.

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The carols that we sing each year do such a magnificent job of underscoring who Jesus is and why He came. It makes me sad, really, when I hear secular musicians singing Christmas carols; the irony strikes me about how these musicians, who make no claim to believe in Jesus, sing these beautiful songs about His birth. And the reality is that they have no idea what they are singing about. Perhaps you are in a similar place, familiar with the tunes of the great Christmas carols because you’ve heard them every winter season. But you’ve never stopped to consider their lyrics. Let’s consider some of these great songs and the profound truths they proclaim. Continue Reading…