Travis Johnson

I am a few days late with these kind of reflective posts on 2006.  I just haven't been hacking away at my computer during my down time.  Here are my top 10 posts of 2006 (according to me):

10.  On Continuationism - My brief thoughts on what the Holy Spirit is up to these days.

9.  Lamenting the Loss of Masculinity - I succeeded in stirring up a debate on the Lee University MYSpace message board over these insensitive thoughts.

8.  A Missional Denomination Is an Impossibility - Sounds fatalistic.  But, it is actually a great post with some good links to action being taken by a group in Tulsa.

7.  A Call to the New Hudson Taylors - This is not one of my most commented posts.  But, it is one of my favorites.

6.  Blogging the COG General Assembly - This is actually a series of posts on my perspective of denominational process.  Exciting, no!?

5.  In Pursuit of a Missional Denomination - More denominational ruminations something I have been trying to do less of.

4.  Disappointed in Seattle and On Working Toward a Civil Conflict - These posts led to the second highest amount of traffic ever on my blog. 

3.  Geneology of My One Book Meme - This is illlustrative of how big the net is and how small it has made the world.  Pretty cool.

2.  Reflections on My Malleable Years - This one is for me.  Just a little personal history.

1.  Ticked at My Wife- Men, I Need Your Help! - The Johnson marriage is strong even after this very public and fully interactive spat over a most sensitive issue.  By the way, thanks to the guys who have my back. ;)

1. He was born in a barn.
2. He was true to His friends, even the one that was not true to Him.
3. He loved to work with his hands and create things.
4. He committed major social faux pas because it was the right thing to do.
5. He knew how to draw a crowd and drive His point home.
6. He knew how to get away from the crowd.
7. He rejected religious thinking in favor of thinking that honored God.
8. He enjoyed eating and hanging out with people who thought differently than he did.
9. He got severely ticked off at people who claimed to be religious leaders but did everything they could to discredit the name of God so they could instead advance their own agendas.
10. He left a legacy of compassion, strength, commitment, and trust for those He led.
11. He genuinely loved people.
12. He was totally human with emotions, a rational mind, and spirituality.
13. He affirmed the Scriptures while ridiculing the "cultural baggage" that had been added to the message of Jehovah over the years.
14. He was thinking about His mom as He took His last breaths.
15. He left life as an earthly man by giving words of empowerment to ordinary humanity. He empowered the masses with the words "Go" and "Love."

And, please add to the list!

I'm inspired.  First, the recent Johnson Family Feud and overwhelming support from some real men around the world.  Second, the upcoming God-Love-Sex message series at LPC. In the thread over on my wife's blog some well meaning female suggested that men should sit...Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing the chickification of HuMANity.

I must now do my best to impart some wisdom into the vest wearing mama's boys that may read my blog.

Top 10 Reasons Why Chicks Don't Dig Some Dudes

10. Because some dudes will lie and say they believe anything to get the chick.
9. Because some dudes wear sweater vests and act like pansies.
8. Because some dudes have got bad moves and are creepy.
7. Because some chicks are psycho.
6. Because some dudes are too much of a nice guy and they think being stepped on is the way to a chick's  heart.
5. Because some dudes want some chicks to like them too much.
4. Because some dudes share how they feel too soon.
3. Because some dudes think you have to have great looks and cash to get a good chick.
2. Because some dudes think they are God's gift to chicks.
1. Because some dudes watch Christopher Lowell instead John Wayne.

1. You'll read a book a week if you read a chapter in the morning and a chapter at night.
2. Leave a book in your car to kill time when you are waiting for people.
3. Keep a book in the bathroom.
4. Go to work a little early and down a couple chapters before the day gets busy.  You'll avoid traffic and grow in knowledge.
5. Instead of sitting in front of the TV all night, steal away for a few minutes of a relaxing read.
6. Download books and listen when you run, walk, or workout on your iPod.
7. Publish what you read and scan what others (like Bob, John, and Chris) are reading or what Dave and Tony are writing to keep your interest peaked and your horizons new.
8. Put down books that are boring.  Don't burn yourself out trying to read through a book that does not captivate you.
9. Review or excerpt books you read from time to time.  You'll spare people from wasting money on a lame book and help people to make a good investment on an exceptional book.
10. Keep a journal for your "to do" lists, big ideas, and thoughts.  Among those notes, record the nuggets you got from each book.  Then, loan out or give away the books you've finished.