Cerulean Sanctum » Best of Cerulean Sanctum

Best of Cerulean Sanctum 2009

Dan Edelen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:01:23 +0000

Yep, I’m a bit late to this. Forgot that I had not done a Best Of for last year. But as it is almost July, think of this as a sort of Christmas in near-July!

If you are new to Cerulean Sanctum, the Best Of links in the sidebar are a great place to start if you wish to review what’s been written here in the past. I continue to get emails from people who find this blog, then hit those links and write much how they blessed them.

The Great Unconfession

When finding meaning to life proves elusive.

The Rules of Attraction (Spiritual Edition), Part 1

The Rules of Attraction (Spiritual Edition), Part 2

The Church is beautiful and must be attractive, letting the cross alone serve as the barrier to lost people.

The Hell Birds

Birds threatened Abraham’s sacrifice and thus his blessing from God. How the Enemy threatens to steal our blessing, and how we must fight him for it.

Tragedy in Three Acts: A Revolution, a Theory, and a Theology That Devastated Western Christianity, Part 1

Tragedy in Three Acts: A Revolution, a Theory, and a Theology That Devastated Western Christianity, Part 2

An essential primer to understanding how the Western Church’s poor choices in the 19th century have left us flailing today.

The One Ingredient Essential for a Successful Church

It really can be this simple.

Who Is My Neighbor? (Community & Economics Edition)

Imagine a world where people sought their neighbors’ good…

A Dozen Sayings of Jesus That Will Change the World—If Christians Ever Believe Them

One of the most Googled posts here at Cerulean Sanctum. Find out why.

Wicked Systems

Evil doesn’t always have a face.

Is the American Church Too Macho?

We’re always hearing how the American Church has become too feminine. But what if the opposite is true?

Purpose—And Why Christian Men Don’t Always Live Theirs

The factors that work against men living out their destiny in Christ…

Killed All the Day Long

Is living by the sword truly the Christian way? Or are we merely running from martyrdom?

Farewell, Shekinah

If the glory of God departed, would we Christians know it?

Is American Evangelicalism on the Verge of Collapse?—A Response

In which I respond to the ARIS Report’s dire news for Evangelicalism and to the debate between the late Michael Spencer and Leith Anderson over its significance.

The One Who Left the Gate Ajar

What one sheep wandering away says about us.

The Real Sins of Sodom

We all know why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Or do we?

Finding the Center—The Response

We Christian talk a lot about our “center.” But where should it be?

Fumbling the Gospel

The Three Marks of Genuine Power Evangelism

How to mess up power evangelism and how to do it right.

The Error of the Unstrung

What we lose when we go hopping from church to church or when we shun the assembling of the saints…

Equipping the Saints: Request for Reader Info

Equipping the Saints: Too Many Questions?

Equipping the Saints: What We Must Expect…and When

Equipping the Saints: That Catchy Tune

Equipping the Saints: Murder in the Church

Equipping the Saints: Stepping on the Brake

Equipping the Saints: The Simple Genius

Equipping the Saints: The Synergy of Spirit & Word

Equipping the Saints: The Totality of Knowing God Begins Here

Equipping the Saints: Blessed Are the Educated, For They Shall Know God

Equipping the Saints: How to Have a Sweet Hermeneutic

Equipping the Saints: Leaders, Doers, and Community

This series examines how the Church can best equip the saints to be the saints. If you read only one post, check out “What We Must Expect…and When.”

Jumping from Bridges

A church that preaches safety first accomplishes little for the Kingdom.

The Finger in the Mirror

All this hand-wringing in American Evangelicalism about what other people are doing wrong, yet so little wondering whether our mistakes abetted those wrongs…

Bank Account of the Living Dead

For the Christian, whose money is it really?

The Church and the Halloween Alternative Party

When trying not to look like the world ends up looking exactly like it…

The Problems with Christian Fiction

Yep, it sure could get better.

Why Christianity Is Failing in America

Why Christianity Is Failing in America—Further Thoughts

The titles say it all.

How to Fix the American Christian—Lightening the Load

How to Fix the American Christian—Unifying Faith and Praxis

All is not lost if we are prepared to lose ourselves for Christ and His Kingdom.

The Church Amid the Economic Storm

What happens when the offering plate is empty? And why did we not prepare for that eventuality?

This feed is from Cerulean Sanctum (http://ceruleansanctum.com), a blog by Dan Edelen that covers issues facing the American Church.

Best of Cerulean Sanctum 2009

Cerulean Sanctum’s Best Posts of 2008

Dan Edelen — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:01:22 +0000

I’m a little late to the “Best of 2008″ game, but better late than never.

In looking back over 2008′s posts, the major themes that dominated were the crumbling economy and how we Christians should respond, the American Church’s (detrimental) fascination with politics, and the carnival known as the Lakeland Revival and what it means for the Church as a whole (and charismatics in particular). Interspersed between dozens of posts I wrote on those topics are others that sparked intense debate, discussed overlooked topics in the Church, both supported and dissed Christian bookstores, and even included a few works of fiction.

With that, I offer Cerulean Sanctum’s Best Posts of 2008…

The Economy, Finances, and a Truckload of Greed

Most of February and March 2008 saw posts in the enormous “Banking on God” series, which covered a host of financial issues. How prescient, right? Well, for years on this blog I’ve talked about the coming financial meltdown and the Church’s lack of preparation for it. What we are experiencing now may not be the final economic failure, but we can no longer be ignorant.

Banking on God: Series Compendium and Final Thoughts

We Had a Choice, and We Chose…

Living Lighter, Living Larger

Avarice

Jefty Economics and the Least of These

Moths, Rust

A Nation of Fig Trees

Ragnarok, Recession, and Real ID

Lakeland, Spiritual Gifts, Charismatic Issues, and the Supernatural

Nothing tickled the fancy of a large number of Christians in 2008 more than the Lakeland “revival” in Florida. Even normally sane people jumped on that bandwagon. Yet only months after it subsided, it’s as if that massively hyped “revival to beat all revivals” never happened. And that’s for a very good reason.

Strange Fire in Florida?

Discernment, Revivals, and Godly Common Sense

The Coming Charismatic Civil War

Spiritual Lust and Infatuation

Burned

Cleansing the Charismatic Crackup, Part 1

Cleansing the Charismatic Crackup, Part 2

Cleansing the Charismatic Crackup, Final Thoughts

The tendency in the aftermath of the death of Lakeland and what it stood for led to a piling on by those critical of people who believe that the charismatic gifts of the Spirit are still for today or who have a tendency to look beyond the physical realms to the supernatural. That’s a mistake.

Pentecost, 21st Century

Who’s to Blame for the Prosperity Gospel?

THAT Gift—And Why We Need It

Politics

The rhetoric from every corner of America concerning the presidential election of 2008 burned white hot. Unfortunately, playing with fire may mean getting burned. Plenty of people said crazy things, with the prophetic movement going especially overboard. Now that the dust has settled on the election, the truth will out.

Only One True Kingdom

The Two Christianities on Display

Unhinged

Christ Alone in All Things, Even Politics

Aftermath

Christian Bookstores

In 2008, I tried to both defend Christian bookstores and offer them up for ridicule for their consumeristic idolatry. I’ll let readers decide which post wins.

The Truth About Christian Bookstores

Deconstructing the Family Christian Stores Catalog

Fiction

I believe that fiction can be a powerful source for truth. I wrote three fictional pieces in 2008, two of which I offer here.

Tangleknot on Leading the Opponent’s Subjects Astray

And They Laughed at Him

Christian Living

What does it mean to be Christian in 21st century America? How are we to live? These posts offer some clues.

How to Improve Your Body, Mind, Soul, and Spirit

The Faith That Isn’t

Dropping Our Stones

The Saint Wore Negligee

A Dirty Tampon by the Side of the Road

The Commodore Decker Conundrum

Live from the Battlefield

Soul Man, Spirit Man – Part 1

Soul Man, Spirit Man – Part 2

Are Small Groups Doomed?

The Bad, Good Son

The “Please, Someone Notice Me! Generation

Thank you for being a reader and supporter of Cerulean Sanctum.

May God richly bless you in 2009.

This feed is from Cerulean Sanctum (http://ceruleansanctum.com), a blog by Dan Edelen that covers issues facing the American Church.

Cerulean Sanctum’s Best Posts of 2008

The Best of Cerulean Sanctum 2007

Dan Edelen — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:01:53 +0000

When people come to Cerulean Sanctum for the first time, they’ll read a post and wonder what else is here. Most find the link in the sidebar for “Best of Cerulean Sanctum” and check out a few of the archived posts of the past. I know this because WordPress’s stats tell me they do.

I think it’s important, too, for a blogger to keep in touch with past posts. Some posts are like old friends, while others vanish into the ether. I’ve been blogging since a few days before 9/11, so I’ve written many posts, the majority of which I’m sure I can’t remember offhand.

But the Best Of posts stick because they’re, well…the best things I’ve written here. Many received a majority share of comments from readers because the featured topic touched people. Some are simply controversial. Some discuss subjects that go unmentioned in the Godblogosphere. And some capture lightning in a bottle, reflecting the Lord’s quickening of the best of the writing skills He gave me.

In years past, I’ve grouped my best post together under a variety of headings, but I’ve never done a list of my own personal favorites. What were the posts I liked the most? Well, let’s kick this off with those select Best of the Best.

Dan’s Best of the Best of Cerulean Sanctum 2007

100 Truths in 30 Years with Christ
How do you sum up a life in Christ? This post attempts that feat. The hard-won lessons and the accumulation of wisdom never come easy. I pray each person that reads this post can take away a few nuggets.

The World’s Best Bible-Reading Program
I never thought this post would be the phenomenon that it’s become, but I’m glad for it. We go through our Bible-reading plans and one-year Bibles, yet so few of us glean deep truth from these arbitrary and casual approaches to reading the Bible. Most of us will be Christians for decades before we pass into glory, yet we don’t come to the Bible with long-term discipleship in mind. This reading program addresses that glaring issue.

The Holy Who?
The second most commented post of the year, this one touched off a firestorm on a number of other blogs and got people talking about the Holy Spirit. Just who is He? And why have we tended to ignore the Third Person of the Trinity?

The ChristCon Con
Another huge Christian conference/convention/event is coming to town. They seem to come with great promises and leave with a whimper. Yet we mark up our calendars and spend millions of dollars to attend them. What is the fruit? A look around should tell you the answer.

Fumbling the Torch
As I see it, one of the greatest losses to my generation of Christians (and generations that will follow me) is the previous generation’s failing to pass on their knowledge of Christ. Every day, we lose touch with the generation before us and the godly wisdom they acquired. How could it happen? This post discusses that how.

The Two Christianities & The Two Christianities: Comparison Table
Two other posts that got plenty of others talking. Has American Christianity bifurcated into two separate branches with entirely different worldviews? I believe it has. What do you think?

Welcome to Jerkville, Population Me
Being a jerk comes easy to some of us, especially when we’re confronted with the harsh realities of life. Lay down my life? Esteem others better than myself? Well, it’s a lot tougher than it sounds.

A Letter to Rich, the Young Ruler
Wherein I send a letter to a well-off young American who, tonight, may have his very soul required of him. You may even know him yourself.

The Church God Uses
Ekklesia is the Greek word for the Church. We attend church every week, sometimes more than once in a week. Some of us live and die by our churches. But what is the Church that God uses and how can we be that Church?

Choosing Your Canaan
Be in the world, but not of it, right? Yet how do we live out that practical wisdom? This post asks that hard question and comes up with controversial answers.

Those are my picks for the top posts of this year.

The Best of the Rest

On Pastors:

I wrote on pastoral ministry a couple times this year and both posts resonated with people. One addresses how we treat our pastors as fellow believers and the other looks at the ridiculous ministry load we place on them:
The Pastor: Not One of Us
Killing Him Softly

On Community:

Rodney King once asked if we we can all get along. Should it be so hard? That denominations skewer each other should appall us all. That we fight so easily over petty things should shame us. That we continue to talk about community yet live in antithesis to that talk should drive us to the altar for repentance.
Throwing Stones in Glass Houses of Worship
What the Other Guys Taught Me
Radical Thoughts, Real Community
Why We Need Each Other…
Love Your Lord? Love Your Staff!

On Men:

Several of the posts I wrote about issues confronting Christian men received plenty of feedback. Men in the Church face a number of trying issues. These posts address some of those intractable problems.
The Gospel of Manliness
Nowhere Men & Nowhere Men—More Thoughts
The Cash Value of a Man

On Charismatic Issues and the Holy Spirit:

As a believer who upholds the modern workings of the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, I wrote several posts addressing the mishandling we give those gifts and how poorly we understand the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer’s life.
When the Spirit Falls
A Lesson on the Spirit from the Three Little Pigs
The Spirit Has Left the Building
And Now a Word from Our Sponsor…
Following TBN Off a Cliff

On Discernment:

For all our talk of knowing Christ, why is it that we don’t seem to be able to hear Him very well? Listening to the Lord and testing the spirits to see if they are of Him should be bedrock to our faith.
Dissing Discernment
Guidance the Monty Hall Way

On Our Status As Believers:

Sometimes we Christians fail to understand who we are in Christ and the intimacy we should have with him. This failure colors the way we live out the Faith before the world.
Sinners or Saints?
OT Christians vs. NT Christians
In the Bedroom

On the Richness of Living the Christian Life:

Being a Christian means more than doctrinal adherence. It means an intimate walk with God. It opens our lives to richer experiences of truth. It takes a drab world and colors it through God’s goodness to us. Yet sometimes we settle for so much less than God’s best.
Wonderland
Blind, Deaf, and Dumb
The Half-Born
The Wrong Toy in Your Happy Meal
The Marriage of Word & Image
The Jesus Love Revolution
In My Little Kingdom (and Yours)

On Issues Facing the American Church:

Because this blog focuses on issues facing the American Church, I’m going to write about those issue. Seems obvious enough. The follow posts tackle a wide variety of topics that we must confront if we’re to be salt and light in a dying world:
Church Growth Movement Fall Down and Go Boom!
The Question No One Wants to Ask…
Two Halves of the Whole Gospel
Need? What Need?
One Simple Word Modern Evangelicalism: An MAO Inhibitor?
Caltrops on the Road to Glory
Kingdoms and Bitterness The Church of Gil Gunderson
Sex and the Created Order
21st Century American Evangelicalism: The Ne Plus Ultra of Christianity?

I’ll end this 2007 edition of the Best of Cerulean Sanctum with two posts.

Many of you reading this blog. As Christians who blog, we have an enormous responsibility to the Lord. For this reason, our every word should matter for the Kingdom.

How to Be a Godblogger Who Matters…

And on a personal note, I had a chance to get behind the wheel of my dream car. It may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but I saw something bigger in that experience. I hope all of us have dreams and that God teaches us His unique truths through our experiences of receiving those dreams—and also in muddling through when they fail to come to pass. The Lord is good.

Lessons from a Dream Car

Thanks for being a reader. Be blessed!