[Note from the Proprietor: In case you're wondering what it's all about, well, we're smack in the middle of BLOGAPALOOZA! Hey, you're welcome to join in the fun if you like! All ya gotta do is click that cute little link and read all about it!]

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Guest post by Ken Leonard who writes over at A True Believer’s Blog

In my blog, I try to cut through chatter and apply my real principles to what I say and do. I started the blog because I saw Christians taking positions in direct conflict with what we say we believe. It evolved from there. (By intelligent design, of course!)

So here are my picks for my favorite posts of the past year:

In January, I had more than 30 posts. Most of them dealt with the Mike Huckabee campaign, though, so I’ll go with “Meanest Mom?”, a post which dealt with the self-described “meanest mom,” selling her son’s car.

In February, most of what I had to write was about the Mike Huckabee campaign. However, I did put in a Bible study post, which included an opportunity to attack the practice of relying too heavily on study Bibles as I asked “A Question About John 5.”

I don’t mean to brag, but March was a good month. Not as many posts, but I think that they were better-quality than the earlier months of 2008. I had some serious wrestling to pick my favorite post from that one. I settled on “A Pro-Life Approach to the Cluster Bomb Treaty.” It lacks a catchy title, but really reflects the kind of thinking that is the point of why I started the blog in the first place.

In April, I didn’t post much at all, but I did interview a Presidential candidate, so I’m going to have to go with my “Interview with Joe Schiner.”

In May, I didn’t have much, either, but “Speaking for God” was well worth the read.

In June, no post (even if there were more than there are) could have contended with “God is Here.”

July, though, was a pretty good month. I was very disappointed with reaction to this post, especially since I allowed the comments to get hijacked, but the post that excited me most was “Martian Invasion: A Thought Experiment.”

For August, I’m going to have to go with my book review of “Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run” by Sam Riddleburger. He sent me an advance review copy of the book, coming out in April of 2009! That’s exciting, and I want people to see that review.

September brought me one of my favorite posts, “Praying for Stupidity.”

In October, I participated in Blog Action Day and expected to be picking one of my Blog Action Day-related posts, but I’m going with “Touching Jesus,” because that was borne out of a powerful realization.

For November, I’m going to take a lightweight post … a bit of humor that explains why my wife is nicknamed “Theta.” “Zeta”. It’s a sweet little post that I called “This is romantic, if you’re a geek.”

For December, I’ve got a couple good ones … But I was very excited about my series on Christmas songs, and even though I cut the series short for lack of time, “Christmas Songs” Joy to the World” turned out pretty well, and seems to have been well-received by readers.

So, there we are! Welcome to my weird, wild, and wacky world.

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I’ve been broken, and I’ve been saved. I’ve learned to cry, and I’ve learned how to pray. And I’m learning that even I can be saved.

I’ve also learned how to rip of Rich Mullins lyrics, haven’t I? (That was “Growing Young.”)

I’m 35, divorced and married, the father of five. As of this writing, one of those five is not yet born and the fourth (Little) was miscarried in July 2008.

I have had a number of struggles in life … An emotionally abusive wife, a painful divorce and her adultery, recovering from mental illness, and the financial repercussions that just keep on coming.

On the other hand, I’ve seen grace and love poured out in my life. God has been good to me through everything. He has always been with me, holding me up with His strong and gentle hand, whether I knew it or not.

Now, I’m a stay-at-home dad, mostly. I take work now and then when need be. I’m a member of my church’s worship team, and a guy who loves God.

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[Further note from the Proprietor: Hey, if you're interested in having your own "best of 2008" posts highlighted right here at the Middle Zone, then by all means, click on this link: (BLOGAPALOOZA: What I Learned From 2008) and read all about it! BLOGAPALOOZA will be open for entries from now until Sunday, January 25.]

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