No good blog would be complete without a year end review (or year beginning, I guess). Probably the best way to jump back on the blogging bandwagon is to reflect on where I’ve been the past year. Mid-2009 saw my blogging taper off quite a bit, but not before we had a few great discussions. Here’s a quick list of the Most Commented Posts (written in 2009, starting with most commented):

• Open Thread: Why Is This Image So Popular? (Note to self: apparently open threads and Titles that are questions are welcome invitations to conversation.)
• A Sermon Discussion: Did Christ Die For Us Or For God? (Note to self: “Discussion” invites conversation too)
• Further Thoughts On Church (This and the Church post below where some of my ramblings about what church is and what I wish it was)
• Please Don’t Buy Chocolate This Easter (A rather simple straightforward appeal regarding chocolate)
• Stories of Creative Nonviolence (An intro to a regular series that I dropped off on. Maybe I can pick it up again in 2010)
• Why Do You Go To Church? (see above)
• Compassion Ad Get’s It Wrong (Critique of an ad in a magazine)
• The Flawed Experiment: A Reflection on the Fourth of July (Something I repost fairly regularly around July 4th)
• So, What Do You Do? (Thoughts on being a Dad)
• A Simple Bike Project (Start of the Northside Bike Project)
• Driscoll: Who Would Jesus Dehumanize? (Critique of some of Mark Driscoll’s outlandish comments)
• How Much Is Enough? (Thoughts on money and what I might preach on if I ever had the chance)
• Child Marketers: Exploiting Children Like It’s Their Job (Critique of marketing to children)
• Odds and Ends (Just what it says, odds and ends)
• This Is Not A Political Post (A rather political post apparently)

The blog also saw the launch and ruminations of many of the different things I’ve been doing this year:

• InsideNorthside.org
• Northside Bike Project (and update)
• Letter to Wheaton College
• My published articles (in Geez and Conspire)
• Being a dad
• Open letter to Mayor Rybak (mentioned in Star Tribune)

Finally, here are some interesting stats about the year, and compared to previous years on the blog:

I wrote just 121 posts this year, significantly less then previous years (most of those before June).

There was also less commenting (940 comments), though on a post:comment ratio it was the best year,  averaging 7.7 comments per post (you .7 commenters know who you are).

Looking Toward 2010

So, what do you have to look forward to in 2010? Regular posting at least. I’m shooting for one thoughtful post a week (less thoughtful ones on an “as needed” basis). I’m also hoping to read 30 books this year, a more modest goal then 52 books in 2008, but also more practical with two toddlers running the house.

Your 2010 Resolution

The only thing I’d ask in return is that one of your 2010 resolutions be to stop by and comment more. If I only post once a week or so, can you resolve to stop by and add your thoughts a couple times a month? It’ll be a growing experience for both of us. I’d love to hear what your other 2010 Resolutions are, so stop by and leave a comment.