Which sites do you read regularly on the web? I read the headlines from many sites, but I rarely slow down long enough to actually read a whole post or article unless there is something really special or interesting that turns me around!
I thought I would share with you today some of the sites that I often (not always) make it a point to read, ones that you may or may not already be reading as well.
Let’s start with the bigger, better known sites. I read Belief Blog on the CNN site quite often, especially for current issues, but also to read intelligent counterpoint to what I believe to be true. Daniel Burke and Eric Marrapodi are co-editors of the sight. Stephen Prothero, professor of religion at Boston University and author of numerous books, is a frequent contributor. Some recent titles are “Satanists Square Off on Abortion. (Yes, really!), “The Belief Blog guide to Ramadan,” and “Behold, the Six Types of Atheists.” I do want to warn you that the comments to each post can be addictive, but they also are often egregiously sarcastic or cynical.
By the way, I did search Fox News for a religiously oriented blog and did not find anything. Just for those of you who think CNN is from the devil.
Staying in the commercial arena, I receive and read parts of Christianity Today Direct almost every day, Not only is one exposed to the best of the articles from the monthly magazine version, but since, it seems most denominations are moving toward the center, that is, neither extremely liberal theologically and certainly not extremely fundamental, Christianity Today and its writers find themselves writing to and for many readers other than their traditional evangelical audience. In these daily gleanings, one gets a little news, reviews of pop culture, as well as a daily article that addresses either a current event or a current religious issue. You will not often be offended, though you will be challenged—not a bad combination.
Now to a couple of blogs from the private sphere which you probably are not reading, but that I find engaging, notwithstanding that the two are very different.
Accompanying the current trending toward The Book of Revelation, 7 Subversive Letters, a blog by Dr. Richard Oster, is scholarly, thoughtful, and insightful—and absolutely accessible. Dr. Oster is a New Testament professor at Harding School of Theology in Memphis. What I especially enjoy are the enlightening glimpses of historical artifacts that Dr. Oster uses to expand one’s understanding of the already challenging book. He is also not afraid to challenge popularly held ideas. I suspect this particular blog grew out of his readings and writings for his latest book Seven Congregations In a Roman Crucible. (I like the title of the blog better!) If you try this blog, try more than one before you decide to subscribe regularly.
And, finally, I want to risk all kinds of hoots and hollers by recommending to you New Vintage Leadership, an excellent blog by my son-in-law Dr. Tim Spivey, senior minister of New Vintage Church in Escondido, California. Of course I’m biased, but I’m not the only one because his blog on church leadership is very popular. As you could find out yourself with a little research, his early blogging was more personal. A couple of years ago, in conjunction with the launch of a new church planting in Escondido, he decided to focus his writing on church leadership. Tim is especially good with practical advice in areas of administration and organization. Since such topics rarely surface in seminary courses, ministers find his writing especially helpful. As a ministry leader myself, I think the same would be true for anyone in a leadership position.
On Fridays, Tim treats his readers to “Friday Stream of Consciousness,” a panoply of thoughts that give you an insight into his person. These little snatches of thought I find a bit unique and quite beneficial to this kind of focused blog which otherwise could have been just as impersonal as many other blogs.
Well, try some of these—and if you like them, tell them that Mark sent you!
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