Posts With the Most

Happy new year! Welcome to 2012, everyone!

If there’s one thing I like better than compiling a collection of my favorite posts at the end of each month for our Posts with the Most feature, it’s assembling a collection of the best of those best for a special year-end edition!

Yes, I’ve taken my favorites from each month of Posts with the Most in 2011 and posted them here for your reading pleasure.

Congratulations to all the amazing bloggers who have contributed to PWTM this past year, and a huge thank you to all of you readers who support and encourage them!

Here they are, sorted by month:

1. January 2011 – The Cat Who Descended From Heaven – Kristin Herdejurgen shares on Tony Alicea’s Expect the Exceptional blog about a new and unexpected addition to her home.
2. February 2011 – The Gospel According to Football – She doesn’t post very often at Musings of a Bible College Drop-Out, but Elizabeth Birak sure knows a thing or two about football!
3. March 2011 – “The retard in the next booth” – Jason of JC Wert hit this one out of the park. If you’ve ever used the word “retard”, you need to read this post.
4. April 2011 – Homemade weapons, letting go, and avoiding bloodshed - Sooner or later, we have to allow our children to make their own mistakes. Brad Huebert offers his insights from one step in that journey.
5. May 2011 – I want to be like Josh when I grow up – Ryan Tate of The Compelling Parade presents the story of an unlikely role model.
6. June 2011 – But for the Grace of God: My Life as a Would-Be Call-Girl – Tamara from Tamara Out Loud has some very interesting thoughts about grace.
7. July 2011 – Truth Hurts – Liz McLennan of Life With Bellymonster learned from her son that Mom doesn’t always know best.
8. August 2011 – breaking down marriage: part 1 - Sharideth Smith dishes out a healthy serving of wisdom and humor at A Woman’s Guide to Women: A Blog for Men.
9. September 2011 – A Letter to My Son…and the World – Get a hanky ready. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. This is the second appearance in this edition of PWTM for Liz McLennan of Life With Bellymonster.
10. October 2011 – Treasured Guidance - A moving tribute to her Mom and her legacy from Carol H. Rives of Pause and Smile.
11. November 2011 – Festive Bushes and the Like - Amanda of Mandie Marie puts the Christmas back in Christmas tree.
12. December 2011 – Looking for Jesus – Billy Coffey has been featured many times here in PWTM. Of all his posts, this one is my favorite.

I hope you all had a wonderful 2011, and wish you a blessed 2012!

Which post was your favorite?

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You’ve probably heard that question – is the glass half empty, or half full?

Of course, some smartie-pants engineers would argue that the glass is simply twice as big as it needs to be.

But as I composed this post, a similar question popped into my head.

Is this the end of an old month, or the beginning of a new month? Hmm…

Either way, it’s time to present my favorite posts from around the blogosphere for the month of December 2011 – the Posts with the Most!

Listed here are links to my faves in random order. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

1. The Quest for a Christmas Tree – Ironic Mom Leanne Shirtliffe shares some fond memories of tree hunting with her Dad.
2. Looking for Jesus – Billy Coffey hits me where I live. Again.
3. The Day I Lost Me – GaryMo offers some liberating perspective on who we need to be.
4. Finding God in Unexpected Places – Amy of Ordinarily Extraordinary makes her PWTM debut with a gem!
5. 19 years and counting – Sharideth from A Woman’s Guide to Women: A Blog for Men has some wisdom to share about how to help your marriage last.
6. If I Were Santa Claus – Big Matt Cannon, aka The Seeking Pastor, makes me wish he were Santa Claus. Even if he wouldn’t let me sit in his lap.
7. Lessons for Christians from the Occupy Movement – My buddy Clay Morgan writes stuff that I wish I had written. Like this guest post for Kim Wilson’s New Life Christian Fellowship blog.
8. You Wrote an Article for WHO??? – I’ve been a fan of Andy Andrews for years. One of the things I’ve always liked about him is his candor about what it takes to do what he does. If you’re an aspiring writer, this post is a must read.
9. Stained – Melissa Brotherton provides a profound analogy here, as well as a decent tip for keeping your carpets clean.
10. What kind of year has it been? – My brotha-from-anotha-motha Jason Wert wraps up his Mustard Seed Year with a post about the wisdom he has gleaned through some less-than-ideal situations. It’s a long read, but well worth it!

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Christian in the Rough today so you don’t miss our special Posts with the Most 2011 edition – a collection of my faves from the entire year, coming later this week!

What was your favorite post from December 2011?

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Welcome to December, everyone!

It’s once again time to look back and celebrate some of our favorite blog posts from the previous month.

You’ll notice that we have a relatively short list here this month. I need your help to fill it out.

So, while paying these worthy blogs and bloggers a visit, why not leave a plug for one of your own favorites here so we can share?

Let’s offer a well deserved thumbs up to all the great blogs and bloggers out there!

In no particular order, here are my November faves:

1. I am more than a celery cop or chocolate patrol – Brad Huebert knows that there’s more to his morning ritual than just monitoring his children’s eating habits.
2. Lest We Forget – Liz from Life With Bellymonster has a Remembrance Day story her family – and you – will not soon forget.
3. Getting what we’re owed – Billy Coffey gives some welcome perspective to the Occupy movement.
4. Festive Bushes and the Like – Mandie Marie puts the Christmas back in Christmas tree.
5. A father’s greatest compliment – Jason of Mustard Seed Year poses a very good question.
6. Guard your heart, bro. – Newcomer to PWTM Jamie the Very Worst Missionary offers some great spiritual advice that’s not just for girls.

Now it’s your turn. Be sure to leave us a link in the comments. It can be from your own blog or someone else’s…

What was your favorite post from November?

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I always look forward to the start of a new month.

It’s a time of reflection and taking stock. It’s a time for figuring out what worked, what didn’t, and what we can do better. It’s a time of resolve and renewed energy.

But most of all, it’s time for the Posts with the Most!

If you are new to the neighborhood, welcome! Posts with the Most is a collection of my favorite blog posts from the previous month, collected from the dozens of blogs in my reader.

As great as these posts are, I know I’ve only covered a fraction of the entire blogosphere. So I’d like to ask you a favor. Would you kindly add your favorite post for October 2011 in the comment section here?

Let’s recognize as many great blogs and bloggers as we can! 

I’m proud to share these picks with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

1. Astonish Me – Dustin Valencia from Abraham Chronicles gives us an encouraging Christian perspective on the motto of a graphic design pioneer.
2. Sweaty Worship – Gary Molander of GaryMo reveals that worship is probably a lot more than you thought it was.
3. Peace at the Laundromat – This gem from Alise Wright of Alise Write! proves that agitation is best left to washing machines.
4. Monitoring My Blessings – Liz McLennan rocks. She leaves comments on my blog that are better than my posts. Here she does a little bedtime eavesdropping on her sons at Life With Bellymonster.
5. Blah Blah Blah – Matt Cannon aka The Seeking Pastor says it all here, remarkably with very few words.
6. Treasured Guidance – A moving tribute to her Mom and her legacy from Carol H. Rives of Pause and Smile.
7. Shining Your Light – Feeling unsure of yourself? Let Billy Coffey give you an encouraging reminder.
8. Occupy Your Community – Before you organize a demonstration, check in with Keri at Pop Parables for some sound direction.
9. How to Overcome Perceptions – I love how the theme of many of these posts tie together. Here Ben Reed’s Life & Theology teaches us about real public relations.

What was your favorite post for October 2011?

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Waaaaait a minute…

It’s the end of September already? Where does the time go?

For me it has been a whirlwind, including four weeks of job hunting, a refreshing weekend away with the young adult group from our church, riding a horse for the first time in 30 years, a really cool vacation in Michigan, my 44th birthday, and my 21st anniversary. I hope you’ve had an incredible month too!

Of course, as each month draws to a close I look forward to presenting our Posts with the Most – ten of my favorites from around the blogosphere. Many thanks to my wife Monique for helping me whittle the list down to ten. That’s always the hardest part!

In (mostly) chronological order, here are your September 2011 Posts with the Most:

1. A Letter to My Son…and the World – Get a hanky ready. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Liz McLennan of Life With Bellymonster wrote a couple of PWTM-worthy posts this month. But this one is my favorite. If you don’t subscribe to her blog already, do it. Right now.
2. Memories of Anger or Grace – There must be something about blogging and the name Acuff. I’m not sure whether Suzanne Acuff of The Acuff Family is related to blogger Jon Acuff or not, but both are great bloggers. In this post, Suzanne shows how we can shape our children’s lives through one simple choice.
3. To Love A (Wo)Man – Messiah Mom Kristin Herdejurgen is feelin’ the love. Why not head over and see how?
4. “I know you’re going to say no, but…” – This was actually a re-post of an earlier Billy Coffey classic. When it came up again and was eligible for Posts with the Most, I…ahem…couldn’t say no!
5. My love letter book – Husbands, wives, parents, siblings, everyone who knows and loves someone – you need to read this post by Brad Huebert.
6. First World Monday - Gene Anderson of Rucksack Revolution has been places that most people would never want to go. He has a perspective on things that is well worth sharing. While you are visiting, be sure to also read Gene’s post about 10 Things You Should Know About Homelessness From The Inside Out.
7. Making Them Smile – The Seeking Pastor Matt Cannon knows how to make people smile. And he also has some good reasons why!
8. Tenderness – Mandie Marie (aka Amanda) switches gears slightly here from her usual quirky, hilarious posts, showing incredible depth and talent as a writer. After reading this post, check out her Friday Field Notes!
9. Guest Post: “Everyone You Meet” – This is why guest posts are so great. Tamara Out Loud hosted Amanda Williams of life. edited. yesterday. I had never heard of Amanda before. Now I’m very glad that I have!
10. If You Think I Take Grammar Seriously, You Should See Me On Rosh Hashanah – Yes, Christian in the Rough is promoting a Jewish post. Who knew? After reading this gem about Rosh Hashanah from Renee at Lessons From Teachers and Twits, I think you’ll see why it’s included here. Dip your apple!

Ok, now it’s your turn:

What was your favorite post from September 2011?

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