[the #haiti diaries] through vivian’s eyes

[present perfect] project wordle

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10 must-read posts [from the first half of 2010]

Dude… This year has brought way more so far than I could have imagined, and it’s really just the beginning! I had a feeling that this year would take me (and many more of us) into new places and new experiences, and what we accomplished so far certainly didn’t disappoint.

We had 95 posts that got over 23,500 pageviews during the first six months of 2010! While I look forward to some incredible stuff coming up in the second half of the year, I wanted to take a quick look back at some of the posts that really stood out in the first half…

[dillon burroughs] on evangelism (colossians 4:2-6)

Author Dillon Burroughs joined my Evangelism Ministry class via Skype, and we were able to record the session and share it as a series here at BibleDude.net. This post was the main teaching that he shared with the class, and was a great lesson in developing a personal evangelism strategy.

can you give me a ride? [a question in christian ethics]

Who knew that a woman asking me for a ride would turn into such a dynamic discussion? This was apparently an issue that LOTS of people had some really strong feelings about. I feel it’s important to toss around potential ethical dilemmas like this so that we can better prepare ourselves to handle these situations next time they come up.

perfect love, imperfect fear

I love it when great ideas come out of group Bible studies! This Spring I taught a Homiletics class where we had some incredible conversations about various Bible passages, and this post is the result of one of those conversations.

[real-time connections] chapter 2: hearing God’s call

I also love the group blogging projects that we host here, and the one we did on Real-Time Connections was no exception! This post by Marcus Goodyear made me (and many others) really think. Marcus has a way with asking challenging questions in a way that makes you want to engage them.

google maps images of #haiti

My heart broke when the earthquake devastated Haiti earlier this year. And I’m excited to be making the trip there soon. Among all of the other images of Port-au-Prince, it’s difficult to even look at the Google Maps images of the area after the catastrophe.

god just wants your heart [an interview with tom davis]

One of my favorite interviews this year was with author and president of Children’s HopeChest Tom Davis. It was challenging, inspiring, and empowering. Just when you think Tom would tell you how you can help him, he turns it around and shows us the heart of God in affecting change around the world.

[the mystery of the cross] part 6: ways to worship

Another one of our group book blogging projects was on The Mystery of the Cross. In this post, BibleDude.net project newcomer Crystal Rowe asks us an important question about the simplicity of the cross and worshiping the amazing awesomeness of our God.

10 must-read posts [from @thehighcalling blogs network]

Okay, okay… so this one is another ‘top 10 list’… But if you check out the links on this one, then you’ll understand why I couldn’t leave it off of this list. It’s simply some of the best Christian content on the web!

where you are [by jeremy horn]

During my Skype interview with Ardent Records musician Jeremy Horn, he played a song for us from his upcoming album. I had to add this one to the list not only because I like the song, but also because it’s just cool to have an ‘exclusive music video’!

[the 72 project] churches, zoos, and salt shakers

Special contributor Andi Shaw hit the road this Summer on a road trip to minister to the homeless. Along the way she’s been sharing her stories here, and this one is an incredible reflection that should (and will) challenge all of us to reach out to those in need no matter where we’re at.

[the mystery of the cross] author’s closing thoughts

Thanks for featuring The Mystery of the Cross as your online study. I appreciate your attention to my book, and enjoyed reading the entries. Even in this electronic age, an author only gains limited opportunities to reader responses. So this was a treat!

I decided to write The Mystery of the Cross for two reasons. First, as a part-time art historian, I wanted to research Christianity’s central image through the centuries, observing its visual transitions. Second, as a Christian I wanted to learn how early believers related to this sign. Did it influence their daily lives and worship? And if so, how?

As I worked on the book, I received much more than answers to these questions. Several times I thought, I don’t know if readers will get anything from this book, but it’s definitely affecting me. These rewards—and a fast-approaching deadline—sustained me through the sometimes tedious research. This included tracking down obscure books, managing conflicting opinions, and verifying minutia. However, after wading through research, the personal rewards emerged. I noticed the following:

A sacred appreciation. I’ve been a Christian since childhood and Passion Week seems as familiar to me as my own face. Consequently, through the years I’ve taken for granted the depth of Christ’s suffering. Reading details about the crucifixion process renewed my gratitude for his sacrifice and reshaped my approach to the recent Easter season.

A stirring within. Working as an author and art historian, it’s easy for Christianity and its images to become a project instead of a personal belief system. Spending months examining the core personality (Christ) and message (salvation) of the cross stirred my personal faith. I recognized my own need for spiritual renewal. I’m now pursuing spiritual transformation through a Forty Days venture. (See the Notes from Judith blog at www.judithcouchman.blogspot.com.)

An altered perspective. I look at cross images differently than before the book. I think about how early Christians revered images of the cross, focusing on the Savior who died for them. I try to do the same. I live in a culture that doesn’t need to sacrifice for its spiritual beliefs, and I want to remember and honor those who did (and still do). The cross meant everything to them. How can I increase its meaning to me?

One of my favorite biblical characters is Simon of Cyrene, who strolled into town after a day’s work and unintentionally contributed to history’s greatest story. Forced to shoulder Christ’s cross, Simon probably protested and resented the painful imposition. But carrying the cross, in close proximity to the Lord, changed him. He believed.

Encountering the cross can change us, too.

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