Don’t Look Back — It’d Be Immature of You
Now, I can’t control what every other blogger in the world is doing (oh, if only I could…). I can, however, tell you what they’re all up to these days. And that is: reviewing their top 10 blog posts of 2010. I’m not going to suggest this is a fruitless endeavor, or that I’m above such. But it is backward-thinking at best, and resting on one’s laurels at worst. And here at aliens and strangers, we want to be about the future — not the past. Yep, no laurels for us (literally, there are no laurels on which for us to rest). After all, Paul did say…
There’s one thing that I do: I forget what’s in my past and I comtemplate what’s ahead… Anyone who’s mature should do the same. — Philippians 3:13-15 (taken completely out of context and summarized by me)
And we all want to be mature, right? So I’m not going to do this “Top 10 Posts of 2010″ thing. Instead, I’m going to offer you up my top 10 posts of 2011. Seriously. [I can't link to them yet, of course, as they've not yet been written. But still... here they are.]
Top 10 Posts of 2011 — aliens and strangers
1. auburn wins the national championship
Yep, this one will be posted tomorrow.
2. 10 steps to a successful blog
This will be a satire piece. I may not know successful blogging — but I do know satire.
3. i left my wallet in el segundo
Music I remember from my childhood, and how it helped me become the man I am today.
4. 10 things i have to do on furlough
Christie and I will return to the states in August of this year for about three months. Our (my) goals are to visit family and friends (many have not met Baylor), encourage and be encouraged by our sponsoring churches, participate in a few great opportunities for continuing education, and accomplish these ten things.
5. 10 mistakes i’m afraid we’ll make on furlough
Lots of things can go wrong during a 3-month visit in the U.S. Ranging from the occasional embarrassing cultural faux pas to legitimate and problematic blunders, this post will be a top 10 list of my biggest fears.
6. a post / series on discipleship which doesn’t yet have a title
This series is currently being written by John King, one of my mentors and shepherds at Stones River Church (our sending congregation). He is a gifted teacher, and I think of him as my own personal expert on discipleship. Soon he’ll be yours.
7. why i am a member of the church of Christ
From a page out of Dr. Leroy Brownlow’s (in)famous book, in this post I’ll explain a bit about the church of Christ, my own religious heritage, what I appreciate most about it, and why I’m a member of this “movement.”
8. an ode to bacon
This is SO self-explanatory.
9. silly abbot, pixar’s for kids
I have no idea what this post is going to be about. I just really liked it as a title.
10. ??????????
This is where I need your help. Please feel free — encouraged even — to give me ideas for blog posts (you’d like to read) in the comments section below. I’m happy to accept suggestions for subject matter or even just possible titles of posts. If you’d like to read more Bible study material or poetry or short stories or top 10 lists — or if you just want me to shut up and leave the whole blog idea alone — let me know. I’d also be delighted to hear what you think has and hasn’t worked on aliens and strangers.
Which of these posts are you most looking forward to in 2011? And what’s your idea for post #10?
