Some 2005 Blog Favorites

When I first started blogging, all the blogs I read were those of people I knew personally. But over the last couple of months, I’ve discovered some absolute gems by people I've never met. Many of my favorite blogs now are those of complete strangers (though brothers and sisters in Christ) who frequently challenge me to love Christ more, think more deeply about the world, and/or keep the Gospel central. Enjoy surfing through some of my favorites…

*Scott Klusendorf was the speaker at the northwest Ohio CPC’s spring banquet back in April. Fantastic pro-life apologist: his logic and reasoning are rock-solid, so he easily holds his own with abortion advocates completely apart from Scripture (which, though of course important, is not convincing to the world at large). His Life Training Institute blog, which provides news and commentary on pro-life issues, is clear and compelling—and the other bloggers who write here are thought-provoking and insightful as well.

*Don't be misled by the title of Carolyn McCulley's Solo Femininity: I’m not single, but I am daily encouraged and challenged by the things she writes. I come away from her posts admiring this woman of God, but more importantly, seeing Him more clearly. Her pursuit of the Lord as a single woman and her passion to serve Him are inspiring.

*I only discovered Gospel Driven Life a couple of weeks ago, but it has already become a must-read. Mark Lauterbach looks for the Gospel in all things and constantly reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing. I know I need to be pointed back to the centrality of the Cross again and again—this blog helps me get there.

*The subtitle of Between Two Worlds is an apt description: I get a whole lot of my news on “theology, philosophy, politics and culture” from Justin Taylor. He provides great links and occasional commentary that both keep me up to date on what’s happening in the world, and help me look to the world beyond.

*Carolyn Mahaney and her married daughters, Kristin, Nicole and Janelle, team up to exhort women to love Christ more and grow in grace over at Girl Talk. But this one isn’t just for women, either. Though there’s often “girly” content, these godly ladies post challenges about holy living and reminders about the Gospel that men can benefit from as well.

*Bob Kauflin started his blog not long ago as a resource for worship leaders—it’s so much more. From theology to devotional thoughts to practical advice about corporate worship through music, Worship Matters has fantastic content for everyone. And this guy practices what he preaches: I was at a conference where he led worship a few years ago, and I believe it was one of the most Christ-centered experiences of worshiping passionately in spirit and in TRUTH that I’ve ever had. He’s talented, and more than that, he’s dedicated to glorifying God through real, Cross-focused worship, as his blog illustrates time and again.

*I "ran into" Tony Myles when he commented on my blog a few months ago. No idea how he found me, but I’m glad he did, because his blog is now a frequent stop for me. The first post I read was the one that explains his quirky title, Don’t Call Me Veronica (there's a link to the explanation post at the top of the blog), and his sense of humor hooked me. Glad I’ve kept reading—besides being funny, Tony is consistently excellent at getting me to see the church and the world from a different and refreshing perspective.

Happy reading!