Don’t Miss Them! Here are My Top Five Posts from 2021
Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!
While 2021 has been rough in many ways, interacting with you has given me great joy.
From email exchanges and comment threads to thirty minute phone calls and hourlong coaching conversations, you’ve made 2021 a happy year.
Thank you!
Thanks especially to those of you I served as coach.
You entrusted me with hours of your time over many months as we walked through challenges and opportunities facing you and your churches. We talked, commiserated, and sought the Lord together.
And he gave light and clarity. Praise his name!
Thank you for letting me join you on your journey.
And so, before we turn the calendar to 2022, I have one more list for you to add to the others.
Here are the posts you read the most in 2021.
5. Look to Jesus in a Season of Fasting and Prayer
This post from February set many of us on a journey together during Lent. Distressed by the hateful words and actions of brothers and sisters, we considered an ancient disease in the church.
So we took the 40-day season to listen to leaders of color, to lament our own sins, and to look to Jesus.
You can revisit journey that here.
4. Christian Nationalism, Misogyny, and Racism – Three Elements in a Toxic Brew
Posted on March 20 I shared my thoughts as an Asian-American on the uptick in violence against AAPI persons in the US.
The article includes a couple of video links that freely discussed Christian nationalism, misogyny, and racism.
It’s available here.
3. My Favorite Books, Podcasts, and More From an Unexpected 2021
My most recent post runs through my Best of 2021 list.
For the first time I added my favorite podcasts, podcast episodes, and TV shows this year. And one movie. (I missed out on a lot of movies this year.)
2. Jesus, Our Only Hope in Life and Death, Please Get in Our Way
The title of this post was inspired by my good friend, Jim Salladin, whose idea sparked the Lenten Fast we experienced together.
Together we as pastors felt the absolute calamity facing the church, especially in light of the riot on January 6.
More than that, we were chastened.
Chastened because what we witnessed that day was in large part a failure of us pastors to do our job well.
This post kicked off our season of fasting and prayer.
1. Longing for Home – My Hymn for Advent
I was inspired to write a song of lament for Advent this year. The result is entitled “Longing for Home.”
It follows the story of exile throughout Scripture, echoing the words from Psalm 137, “we sat and wept.” The story resolves in Jesus, and yet we still await the end.
You can download the lead sheet here or listen to Kimberly sing a demo of the song here.
Happy New Year, everyone!