Top Blogs - Stuff Christains Like

Top Tier . . .

There’s a country song that the chorus goes something like this:

Too much fun? What's that mean?
It's like too much money, there's no such thing
It's like a girl too pretty, with too much class
Being too lucky, a car too fast
No matter what they say I've done
I ain't never had too much fun

I get the feeling that is blogger Prodigal John’s theme song. One of the most unattractive character qualities a person can have is taking themselves too seriously (because usually they’re the only ones that do)—and I would add that to blogging as well. Prodigal John will never be accused of that. Consider this recent note on his blog:

I don't talk a lot about the many, many awards this site has won for two reasons:

1. I'm wicked humble.
2. The site hasn't won any.

Those are the main two reasons.

Prodigal John is the creator and sustainer of several blogs, but his mainstay is the blog: Stuff Christians Like. If you’ve never read it, stop reading this right now and go there! You’ll get the idea by reading his last two posts: #484 – When people you are witnessing to think you are hitting on them, and #483 – Feeling guilty for rooting against the Christian guy in the Super Bowl? I anticipate a laugh every time he posts, and I’m rarely disappointed.

But between the lines and the humor, he always has a relevant point to be made. Does post #484 hit home a little? Maybe a lot? You have to wonder what the uninitiated think of our “creative” evangelism opening lines and events?

I can guarantee that if you read SCL every day, you’ll laugh out loud once in a while (especially if you’ve been around the church very long), and you’ll be challenged to think often. In my book (or corny evaluations), this is a clear recipe for blogging success; even if your blog has never won any awards.

Well, below is my detailed evaluation (based on my “subjective criteria” and 3 Star Rating System) of SCL:

Content – Touches on all three, but it would mainly fit the ministry and spiritual formation categories, in a back-door kind of way. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.

Informative – You have to think (which of course, is normally a good thing), but it usually has a good point to be made. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.


Current – New posts every day, sometime multiple. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.

Interesting – Never dull, and he does cover a wide variety of topics, no one is exempt, and little is “out of bounds” from the good natured satire. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.

Creative – Always unpredictable, and as indicated above, everyone and everything is fair game. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.

Relevant – Yes; but for the overly sanctimonious, too much so at times—however, to me this is a good thing. Rating: 3 Stars - Excellent, always good stuff.

Appeal – The format is plain, but it serves the purpose of SCL well. And, if you don’t appreciate humor, this site is probably not for you, you “just won’t get it.” I suppose some would think him a bit over the line at times, so for that reason, a reluctant 2 star rating. Rating: 2 Stars - Pretty Good, most of the time.

Well, you get the idea, I love the site. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but for those us who enjoy a good laugh at ourselves, this is the perfect medicine. And for those of you keeping score: 20 out of 21.

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.