Today marks the beginning
of my fourth year of writing #MattMondays here at NBC. And as I have done in
each of the previous couple years, I will devote one blog to looking back at
the previous 52. I will share some things that I’ve observed and learned along
the way, as well as a few stats and fun facts.
If you’ve been one of
our faithful readers, you may have noticed a slight change in my style this
past year. Having greatly benefitted from reading Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, I noticed that I
began two-dozen of my blogs in a similar M & E style. I started out each of these posts with a verse, quote, or portion of a passage, before elaborating on
the opening phrase in greater detail. I enjoyed writing in this way; you can
expect more of it in the future.
I had at least seven
blogs based out of the Gospel of John. We walked our high school students
through key passages of this NT book last fall. Hopefully, they’ll be ready to
follow along with Phil’s new sermon series (LIGHT: The Gospel of John) that he just
started yesterday. Five weeks worth of posts were devoted to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and Isaiah 55 inspired another three.
Below is a list of my
most read blogs from this past year with a quick sentence description for each.
This post gives a
glimpse into our world by sharing part of our family story.
Since it worked out that
Chandler’s birthday fell on a Monday this past year, I wrote about him and how
we’ve witnessed God’s grace through our son.
I wrote this blog with
my friend and boss in mind – our Executive Pastor, Terry Langenberg.
This blog was inspired
by a line in Isaiah 55.
#busyness I’m too familiar with this topic.
This was written about
my fellow lifting partner, Mike Krebs.
I think the title kind
of gives this one away.
I share a friend’s story
about how he and his girls spent one of their days out of school.
Sure, you know Psalm
46:10(a), but do you know v.10(b)?
Careful, this blog was
inspired by one of my favorite holidays, Groundhog Day. (Once you click on the above link, you may have to read it over and
over again.)
Here are a couple more
lists…
Top 5 Most Read #MattMondays
(Through first 3 Years)
Other blogs I greatly
enjoyed writing last year…
While the Lord is
growing me in my ability to write, I have to admit that I published some
clunkers last year (sorry, not gonna be sharing those links). I’ve put out some thoughts
that just felt a tad underdeveloped. There were many Mondays that I was truly excited
about what I was going to write, but then again, there were several times that
I simply wrote out of a sense of obligation. If it appeared phoned in, I’m
sorry, I was most likely slammed for time. Funny thing is that dilemma is
representative of much of my life of faith. And really, my biggest takeaway
from the last year is this: When I have time in the Word and margin in
my schedule to reflect and process, life is so much more enjoyable.
Though I’ve talked and
typed a great deal about rhythm and pace and balance, I’ve been a poor example
of what this should look like in the life of a believer. For the sake of my own
soul, my wife, our kids, and the ministry opportunities God’s given me, I pray
that He will grow me in this area.
I truly appreciate all
your support and faithful readership. It is my hope that I might play a part in
encouraging and challenging you with the gospel. It is this hope that keeps me
at it each week. Might 2016’s writing efforts be more helpful than previous
posts of the past. For our joy and His glory, may we make much of Him…
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| Matt Fowler Associate Pastor of Missions & Students matt@nbchurch.info @fattmowler |
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