I was reminded this week that the blog has been live for one year. What an eventful year we have had. Thank you for following along. To those who have stopped me at church or other places to mention a post, I really appreciate the encouragement.
I want to use the occasion to review what has happened here. Let’s take a look at some stats and popular posts.
Stats
| Posts | 43 |
| Views | 3,114 |
| Visitors | 2,153 |
Not surprisingly, Facebook is by far the biggest driver of traffic to the site.
Popular Posts
What happened in Grand Rapids?
In this post, I reviewed Trump’s election performance in Grand Rapids and Kent County. Trump’s vote totals were poor compared to other Republicans on the ballot and even Mitt Romney’s 2012 numbers.
In defense of short-term mission trips
I argued here that thoughtful and appropriate short-term mission trips will help you grow and provide a real benefit to those whom you are serving.
This post has two meanings. The literal meaning relates to my beautiful, mid-century home. The allegorical meaning is a plug for conservatism and our intellectual inheritance.
Welcome to Wasteland: Christian, don’t despair
How does one move forward when confronted with the cold, difficult, and unfair realities of life? This post was pure emotion. My only comfort is my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
What are you going to do with that?
The liberal arts are returning to favor. Kids, it is ok to major in history or Latin. Seek the good, true, and beautiful.
Across three Marches
Writing is a pure hobby for me. I’m not selling anything. I’m not running for any office. This is my golf.
My purpose here is not to yell “stop” at the rush of history. Rather, my cry is “wait, what are we doing?” Thoughtful reflection is the thankless task of every conservative. Everyone praises the chef for some exciting innovation, but nobody thanks the faithful laborers in the supply chain for preserving the essential ingredients that make the innovation possible.
In March 2016, I was concerned about the soul of the Republican Party and the unhelpful ideologies of MAGAism. As the year progressed, events in my life spurred on an introspective streak. Matters of religion took their rightful place as my chief concern.
Sadly, cultural issues threaten to further divide the church in the United States. If Tim Keller has become too controversial for a seminary award, well, then, we are in a sad state of confusion.
In no branch of science would there be any real advance if every generation started fresh with no dependence upon what past generations have achieved. Yet in theology, vituperation of the past seems to be thought essential to progress.
J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism 39 (2009).
Over the next year, I plan to defend giants and foundations. I can’t think of a better use of my time. See you next March if the Lord wills it.
Tyler Dale Gaastra 