Blog "Look Back," part 5

I received some nice comments about the blog "look back" (see parts 1, 2, 3, 4) and some encouragement to summarize the whole blog. So, here is another installment, looking back to the start of the blog from July through September 2007.

July 2007

• After an intro post, the blog began while speaking after John Piper at his church in Minneapolis. He made some challenging statements, particularly at a church planting conference (good comments-- but also a bit surprising in that context). That led to more comments from my friend Kenny Stokes and the video of Piper's comments finally being posted.
• Spoke at Concordia University in Irvine and shared some helpful insights from a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Bishop.
• Posted on the future of mission agencies.
• Questioned whether there really is a "call to preach."
• Posted new data from LifeWay Research reported in USAToday on youth dropouts. Guest bloggers included Mark Lydecker, Jim Johnston, Scott Stevens, and Jeff Schadt.
I gave my own thoughts in an interview.

August 2007

• Reflected on my 30th spiritual birthday.
• Started my "Meanings of Missional" series (full series listed here) that are still the most commonly read posts on the blog.
• Called for more civil discourse in denominations (particularly mine).
• Talked some about my time with some Anglicans and what was happening in their movement.
• Reported on an article in Christanity Today by Collin Hansen that included an irritating reference to my friendship with Mark Driscoll. Collin and I talked later and he had a great line: "how could I not include that?!" So, I (sort of) moved on. ;-)

September 2007

• Talked about racism in the 9 Marks journal.
• Posted my SBC sermon (reprinted in SBC Life) and provided the full length video of the message that some loved... and some, not so much...
• Posted the Evangelical Press Awards. I judged the biblical exposition and listed my choices.
• Became a columnist for Catalyst Monthly and posted my first article here. It received many good comments, but many objected to my defense of the church.
• Rejoiced concerning a commitment to end the sniping between SBC agencies. Still rejoicing while I wait for that to be fully implemented.
• Talked about the Emerging Church and shared some upcoming conferences and publications related to it.