Here’s a fun new series of blog posts: my answers to nonexistent questions. These are the types of questions that bloggers think about a lot, because we are self-absorbed and certain that you, dear reader, want to know what we think on any given subject. This is how we justify it: I write about my opinions, you read about my opinions, therefore you must be interested in my opinions. For that reason, my opinions are important. So I will give them to you, whether you have asked for them or not.
Thus, my answers to Questions I’ve Not Been Asked.
Question #1: What websites do you visit on a daily basis?
Glad you asked! Here are a few of them…
Slate.com and Salon.com. These are the news magazines I read just about every day. Both always have interesting articles about everything from politics to religion to pop culture to the environment. Slate is my favorite because it’s a little more playful and a lot more balanced, politically. Salon is a bit more knee-jerk in its embrace of liberal politics and its editors seem to have some anti-Christian bias, but still they have some great interviews, reviews, and commentary.
JesusCreed.org. Theologian Scot McKnight’s blog. The author of The Jesus Creed and several other accessible theology books for non-eggheads, McKnight is one of the most knowledgeable, grace-filled, and theologically astute voices within the emerging-church crowd. He’s prolific, too. JesusCreed.org sees at least three new posts every day, all of them worthwhile. How he does all the blogging and book-writing and speaking while also teaching college classes at North Park University in Chicago is a deep mystery. I suspect Scot is magic.
Boars Head Tavern / InternetMonk.com. Both are run by an equally prolific blogger named Michael Spencer, who is a teacher and minister at a private Christian boarding school in Kentucky. The BHT is a group blog that carries on dozens of conversations at any one time, about everything from theology and church practice to the merits of certain microbrews. The BHT is always fun and always thought-provoking. Internet Monk is Spencer’s personal blog, where every week he posts well-crafted confessional essays, reviews, podcasts, and commentaries. He asks hard questions and doesn’t always give easy answers, and as a result he ends up angering just about every corner of the Christian blogosphere. I’m pretty sure this means he’s doing something right. Always worth reading. Good job, Michael.
BleedCubbieBlue.com. Because I grew up loving the Chicago Cubs, and because I still love the Chicago Cubs, and because I’ve spent all of the past two months biting my nails thanks to the Chicago Cubs. Al Yellon’s excellent (and always optimistic) fan site is one of the best for nail-biters like me.
TheLongbrake.com. I met Joshua Longbrake about a month ago when he crashed at our home in the middle of a long road-trip. He’s a good friend and a great person, and his blog — whether he’s posting recent photography or spilling out his unique take on life — is always worth visiting. A long-time advocate of living with less, Josh is learning the value of simplicity the (really) hard way. A couple of days ago, a few of his most treasured possessions — including his camera and computer — were stolen from a friend’s car in Seattle. A rough start to a new season in his life. (Josh is also a frequent contributor to Relevant.)
CCMPatrol.com. CCMPatrol, edited and operated by David Sessions, is, by its own admission, the place where Contemporary Christian Music is allowed to get bad reviews. Really bad reviews. David and his contributors are brutally honest, hilariously crotchety, and not afraid to stomp around in the shallow pool of the Christian music subculture. I love the idea and love the execution of it. In fact, I enjoy it so much I contributed this article a few days ago.
There are a few more blogs I visit each day, but you’re probably getting tired of my opinionating (I know I am), so I’ll stop.
So what are your must-read blogs? (Extra points if you say mine.)
