Every once in a while I like to look at what keywords people are typing in Google, Yahoo!, etc. that land on my blog. These are interesting things people have recently typed to reach Thinking in Progress. Some are funny. Some are sad. Some are just plain odd.

1. “Are you realizing that i have had diarrhea since Easter?” —- (Bummer. Must have been the Peeps)
2. “How to overcome evil thoughts” —– (pray and talk to a friend)
3. “pictures of Jesus flexing” —– (Either a pastor looking for an illustration or a sick freak)
4. “things a leader should never do” —– (be a pansy)
5. “thinking about thinking for Christians” —– (you over-analyze things…I think)
6. “what are men thinking when they watch porn” —– (tulips and butterflies)
7. “i like the way i’m living and i’ve got my reasons why” —– (You’ve got a beer commercial stuck in your head)
8. “rethinking thinking” —– (That’s like a dog chasing its tail)
9. “I cannot wear slacks in my religion” —– (Another reason why religion sucks)
10. “i know that god uniquely created me. what areas of my personality background and physical appearance am i struggling to accept” —– (You are uniquely and wonderfully made)
11. “everyone poops” —– (indeed)
12. “why are so many Christians fat?” -—– (potlucks)
13. “a leader cannot be all things to everyone” —– (then why do so many try?)
14. “Trailer Park Destiny” —– (At least you believe in destiny)
15. “build a bear policy on facial piercings” —– (I’d like a bear with a nose ring created by an employee with a nose ring)
16. “current celebrities from Massachusetts” —– (get a job)
17. “do dress codes affect productivity” —– (I’ve never been big on strict dress codes)
18. “What religion is Jason on American Idol?” —– (dunno)
19. “mark driscoll views on oprah” —– (I’m sure Mark wears an “I heart Oprah” shirt)
20. “speaking in tongues crazy weird” —– (I’m gonna bite my tongue on this one)
21. “Proper etiquette when talking to a married man” —– (For starters, don’t sleep with him)
22. “speech for 4th grade student council treasurer” —– (Oh, elementary politics. Gotta love it)
23. “why do i think something bad might happen to my son” —– (A parent’s greatest fear- but don’t park your mind there)
24. “shoppers value paper plates” —– (recycle by washing and hanging them on clothesline to dry)
25. “i hate Perry noble Jesus” —– (I happen to know that Perry Noble loves Jesus)

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I’m trying an experiment this week on the blog.   All entries will be one-liners.

I want to present my myself with more clarity and brevity yet still provoke thinking.  I figure doing one-liners will help me with this goal.

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Perry Noble gives us some things to chew on as we examine this question:

• If you feel confident that you can accomplish what is in front of you with no problem at all…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If no one is angry at you…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If you don’t have to ask anyone to sacrifice to make the vision come true…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If religious people are not steaming at you, blogging about you and/or leaving your church…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If you have the money in the bank to do what God has asked you church to do…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If every step is perfectly designed and nothing happens to totally throw you off along the way…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If someone doesn’t try to talk you out of what you are about to attempt…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If you don’t stay up at night thinking about the vision…then you didn’t hear from God.
• If your vision is in contradiction to God’s Word…then you didn’t hear from God.  (And no, you didn’t get a “special revelation” that gave you permission to trump His Word!)
• If you know all of the answers…then you didn’t hear from God.

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I don’t believe in accidents.

On Thursday, I’m connecting with Shawn Michael Shoup, a local youth pastor here in Rapid City. We’ve never met in person. But what’s cool is that he and I both preached an eerily similar message this past Sunday in two different churches in Rapid City including the text we chose. Hmmm.

Read these quotes from his message and then click here and say hello:

• “it’s scary when we put expectations on people to clean up before they ever even enter our church doors… too many people don’t feel like they’re “good enough” and therefore will never come. makes me think about the “love chapter” in Corinthians 13: “…love does not demand it’s own way.”
• “God was really good with people relationally; He spent a lot of time hanging with people at their house and at the dinner table, communicating one on one and with the crowds… maybe we should too, instead of cold-turkey “here’s a tract” or “knock-knock and go” tactics…”
• “love is at the top of it all… it’s dangerous when we kick people out of church and make them feel like we’ve “dealt with them”. Healthy people don’t need a doctor; sick people do… and we will never fulfill our calling as a church until we learn to love unconditionally…”

I like the way Shawn thinks and the passion in his words.

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One of the coolest blogs out there today is Stuff Christians Like written by Jon.  Awesome stuff that just cracks me up.  If you can’t laugh at some of this stuff (and yourself) then I feel sorry for you.

Jon straight-up, unapologetically ripped off the idea from Stuff White People Like- which is also funny.

Here are some examples- even a few that are directed me:

• #3- Reading “love is patient” at your wedding
• #11- Thomas Kinkade
•  #46- Super, Happy, Shiny Christian Radio
• #47- Rooting for secret Christians on American Idol
• #108- Not knowing how to hold hands
• #116- Using “let me pray about it” as a synonym for “no”
• #125- The mandatory youth minister goatee
• #135- Dave Ramsey
• #142- Gloria Estefan’s song, “Coming Out of the Dark”
• #145- Weird Christian Dating Sites
• #147- Trust Falls
• #149- Boycotting Stuff

Check out the blog for explanations of these and many other funny ones.

What would you add?

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While most of were watching the NFL playoffs or napping on Sunday afternoon, John Mayer is “messin’ around” with a Timberlake song. Incredible stuff from Mayer. His genius is showing.

Here’s what he posted on his blog.

“Starting to get back into production head, searching for new sounds on a Sunday afternoon… My (anticlimactic) take on “I Think She Knows Interlude”. It’s probably not all that close to the actual recording. I’m too lazy to learn it for realz.”

P.S. A special prize to the first person to tell me where the phrase, “You’re genius is showing” came from.

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Read this manifesto by Mark Batterson.  These are compelling words to help launch the new year.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

If you haven’t done so, read Mark’s book- In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.

It will rock your world.

Filed under: Blogs, Cool People, Life, books | 1 Comment

2007 was my first full year of blogging and its interesting to look back at all that I’ve experienced and written about. I’ve really enjoyed this outlet for my thoughts as well as the connections I’ve made as a result of this site.

Without further ado, here are the top ten posts on thinkinginprogress.com in 2007.

1. Life as a Beer Commercial - This post about a Coors beer commercial is by far the most widely-read.
2. Love and Marriage - Who knew a simple recap of a conversation with a buddy would resonate with so many dudes?
3. Overcome Evil With… - My take on the surprising message in the film, “Blood Diamond.”
4. 5 Things a Leader Must Do from Perry Noble - I can’t take credit for this one. These are notes I took at a conference while listening to the passion and wisdom of Sir Perry Noble. He’s one of the best Christian communicators alive today.
5. Presidential Campaigns Begin at Birth - I rarely write anything political, but this one set-off all of the right and left wing nutjobs. Emails and comments abounded. Thank God for moderated comments.
6. Review of “Vintage Jesus” by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears - This was recent but I must have written this book review at just the right time because it got a ton of hits. I’ve discovered that Mark Driscoll is as polarizing as Hillary Clinton.
7. National Guard and 3 Doors Down - Another simple post that set off a firestorm from those who oppose the war. I wasn’t even making a statement about the war.
8. Caveman Theology - This is just what the title says it is. My attempt to simplify my theology.
9. Opening Myself to Ridicule and Mockery - I listed songs I secretly liked and I haven’t let it down since. You know you like “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly and Kenny.
10. The Infamous Gary Lamb Session - You’d be surprised how many people type, “Gary Lamb” in Google and find this post. I love Gary and his all-out, unapologetic approach to leading a church. The church needs more pastors like Gary Lamb. These were my notes from his session at the churchplanters.com Conference

Thank you to all of you who read the mere words I write. I hope you all have a great ‘08! Happy New Year! It should be one wild ride.

Jason Salamun

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• My wife and I saw Beowulf. What an experience! I’ve never seen 3D like that before. Very good narrative and message. I’ll leave it to the experts to determine if it was true to the classic poem from British literature.
• A conversation between my wife (Gwyn) and I:
  • Gwyn: The trash is overflowing
  • Me: Just like our love.
  • Gwyn: [Eye roll]
• The Eagles lost…again. Something tells me the Super Bowl may not be in the picture this season.
• Went to the mall.  About got mauled in Old Navy by a bunch of ruthless and thrifty ladies.
• One of my favorite bloggers, Ben Arment, had a great post here about using words of discouragement as kindling to light a fire in us.
• I’ve been listening to a C.S. Lewis class from Reformed Theological Seminary on iTunes U. I’m really digging it.
• Speaking of Lewis, here’s a great quote: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”
• I was saddened to read about the shootings at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and the YWAM camp in Arvada, CO. Turns out one of the wounded is from Rapid City. My prayers are with them.

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