Blogging

I know some of you who read this blog think it’s a bit much sometimes. That’s ok. Some of you would like to avoid the clutter and just get the meat-and-potatoes, high-octane longer posts, and so….

Here is the solution – a new blog that will feature only my longer pieces of writing, some of which have been published in print and others that are waiting to be published. The blog is called simply “Michael Krahn – Writer”

I’m hoping to keep the post frequency on the new blog to about once a week. So, if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for, you now know where to find it.

Go and take a look at the new site here.
You can subscribe by email by clicking here.
You can subscribe by RSS by clicking here.
The Facebook group for the new blog is here.

Enjoy!

(The blog you’re currently reading – “The Ascent to Truth” – will continue to THE “go-to” source for figuring out what’s going on inside my social media saturated brain. Here I will continue to post thoughts on music, media, theology and whatever else might present itself on a given day. Thanks for reading!)

Here are another 5 of the posts that generated the most conversation in 2010:

Does God Hate Haiti?
Does God hate Haiti? That is the conclusion reached by many, who point to the earthquake as a sign of God’s direct and observable judgment.

What If Pastor Can’t Preach? (Pastor Peter and Pastor Paul)
For the majority of the congregation in most churches, the Pastor search process is heavily biased toward the 30 minutes people see the candidate on one Sunday morning when they deliver a sermon. This is unfortunate

Church Planting: Slums or Suburbs? WWJP? (Where Would Jesus Plant?)
When we intentionally – and almost exclusively – associate with the opposite class of people that Jesus associated with, we miss the main thrust of his life and ministry.

Rejection By Silent Majority – The Fate of Many Modern Worship Songs
The problem with most worship songs written today is NOT simplicity, it’s singability. Writing a good, singable song requires both artistry and servanthood. These qualities are difficult to balance, and unfortunately many of today’s worship writers are not doing a very good job of it.

Churches as “Heretical Structures” – Who Said It?
“The most common fault is for the church to be structured for ‘holiness’ rather than ‘worldliness,’ for worship and fellowship rather than mission… Further, our static, inflexible, self-centered structures are ‘heretical structures’ because they embody a heretical doctrine of the church…”

Here are the posts that generated the most conversation in 2010:

Christian Death Metal: The Message of the Medium
Like a good Christian music listener, you look at lyrics before you listen to music. Good for you. This of course keeps us all safe from “bad” music, right?

The Health and Wealth Corner
You don’t think you’re interested in statistics, but you are. Watch this. As it turns out, the whole world is getting richer and living longer.

John Piper: the Emerging Church was “an upper-middle-class, white, departure from orthodoxy…”
Piper: “The EC is a fading reality that has seen its best days. I think you will not even hear the term “Emerging Church” in 10 years – I think it will be over and gone.”

Onward Christian Soldiers?
Kevin DeYoung: “Military service is one of the most common metaphors in the New Testament to describe the Christian life. We are to fight the good fight, put on the armor of God, and serve as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

I think Anne Rice just went Emergent!
All the tell-tale sign are there:
- Remains committed to Christ but is no longer a “Christian”
- Sees other Christians as difficult to get along with
- Refuses to be against anything
- Quits Christianity and being Christian “in the name of Christ”

An FYI… If receiving blog posts by email is more convenient for you, you can set that up by entering your email address below. I over-posted a bit in December with all of the extra Christmas content. I plan to get back to my one post per day routine in the new year.

(Those of you reading via RSS may need to click through to the blog here)

Below is a summary of the most popular search terms that brought traffic to my blog in the second quarter of 2010.

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2010 has been a bit of an experiment for me – and a successful one. I’ve been trying to put up one post per day and because of this my traffic is up, there are a lot more comments coming in, and other opportunities are surfacing because of it

But now it’s time for a break – to write, to read, to reflect. So I’m going to take April off from blogging.

See you May 1.

One of my favorite writer-bloggers is Michael Spencer (a.k.a. The Internet Monk). Like Matt Chandler, Michael is also dealing with serious cancer. His has debilitated him far more than Matt Chandler’s has. Matt is still able to write and preach (and tweet). That is certainly not to minimize Matt’s cancer, but I can’t help but think Michael’s has been somewhat overshadowed by it.

Here is an update from Michael posted at www.internetmonk.com this morning:

My situation is serious. Sleep is a big issue. I need rest and it is hard to get. This cancer situation is not going to give my old life back. It may take the life I have. I choose whatever mission God has for me, the utmost need is a simple prayer on my behalf.

If what I am going through reminds you of what you have been through what you what been through in the past, I pray for you and hope others will be the same.

I am home most of the time but I am on the road on almost every day to various doctors. Tomorrow I finish my first found of chemo and have a fell week off. I am so proud to have come through radiation and to this point.

Thanks for all donations. I will no longer be able to acknowledge them through Paypal. Denise will try to acknowledge all that come via denisespenc@gmail.com.

Once again: Very, very serious. Pray, give and pray. Thanks to all who are buying the book in advance. It will be at Amazon but eventually everywhere. Almost 100% new material. (Pre-order his book here: Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality )

This post took almost an 3/4 of an hour to write and correct. That’s how much I have changed.

That last sentence tells a story. Spencer is a prolific writer, often posting thousands of well-chosen and readable words a day. Over the years, I have mentioned him quite a bit. He has influenced my think a lot. Here are some links to my favorite writings and interviews:

Michael Spencer: “The Big Worship Goof”

Michael Spencer on “The Shack”

iMonk on Mark Driscoll’s Talk at DG08

Michael Spencer on “Steve Brown Etc.”

Here he makes a passionate defense of Thomas Merton. I certainly couldn’t have said it better myself. He also posts  a very personal post about himself and Merton.

On Acts 15 and the implications for church leadership.

A look at the king of criticality, Ken Silva.

Michael’s income ended in January and the health insurance through his employer ends in late February.

Those interested in giving financially can click on the link below.