Best of the Blogroll: 2009

I like to close out the old year by celebrating the best post(s) of the year from various blogs on my blogroll. Welcome to the Best of the blogroll, 2009 edition:

• Ancient Hebrew Poetry presented a moving piece about the price tag of standing up to evil -- and what it says about those of us who have never ante'd up.
• Bede's Journal provides a balanced book review of a fascinating but not-necessarily-balanced book on Nazis and Christians. Kudos for spotting the diamond in the rough and for going to the extra work that it took to create a fair-minded review of it.
• Blogotional writes of faith in the face of adversity.
• CADRE Comments reviews the evidence of a very early Christian writer being familiar with Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
• Chrisendom keeps me in touch with new books in various fields. Here we have a book review of Misquoting Truth, a response to the ever-polemical Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus.
• At The Cross Reference, Jeff offers a demonstration that the author of Revelation believed Jesus to be God.
• Culture Watch's self-proclaimed Curmudgeon sheds his grinchly guise to enjoy the odd fusion of Jazz and Theology ... not a joke, I think, even if posted on April 1.
• The Dawn Treader continues to remind us of C.S. Lewis' insights, with a timely quote on the temptations that attend certain views of the future.
• Dr. Platypus on errancy/inerrancy and understanding the Bible.
• At Faith and Theology, Ben M. offers hope that there are more like this out there: people who see theology as a legitimate area of research, and who look forward to the benefits that research brings to theology.
• At Familyhood Church, Kevin looks at life's epic battles in Scarred for Life. Without resorting to shallow quick-fix answers, he still holds out hope.
• The Fearsome Pirate (or Comrade, or Tycoon ... he does like to change masks) reflects on a nagging doubt about the prominence of dogmatic hairsplitting.
• Over at Hyperekperissou, Phil Snider continues to do the lion's share of work organizing and hosting the monthly Patristics Carnival, one of my favorite carnivals in the blogosphere.
• Paul Gregory Alms at incarnatus est offers reflections on the view that creation is theophany, or revelation of God.
• The Internet Monk served up a thought-provoking and prayerful reflection, Has Grace made me gracious?
• At Kyrie, Eleison!, Anastasia ponders What happens when unholiness encounters holiness? It's a tale straight from the pages of the gospel, though we're too likely to forget it.
• Metacrock, writing a blog that regularly engages its largely-atheist following with thoughts about God they might not hear elsewhere, writes To Know God is to Love God. What does Petula Clark have to do with it? You wouldn't believe me even if I told you ...
• Proclaiming Softly is also a crafty person, did you know? Some liturgical stoles she has made are beautiful things.
• At Pseudo-Polymath, the Eastern Orthodox Mark Olson responds to Frank Turk, who urged against signing the Manhattan Declaration because of its accepting stance towards Eastern Orthodox, among others. I think Mark shows more charity than I'd have had an easy time mustering. He must have been praying a lot.
• Ed Cook at Ralph the Sacred River shows us that the world of Qumran scholarship is not always as dry and technical as it seems in Raphael Golb Arrest.
• The Rebel God's author is an artist by trade. He posts an original piece in Picturing the cross.
• Rev. Cwirla celebrated Zac's Excellent Adventure -- the story of the 17-year-old who sailed around the world solo.
• Scott Morizot reflects on God's holiness in a positive way in Holy, holy, holy.
• Over at Sun and Shield, Martin LaBar offers some practical advice on being more encouraging to those around us in The 90% rule for marriage.
• At Thinklings, Bill tips us off to an audio performance of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, with -- a special treat -- Andy Serkis as Screwtape! Philip steps us through how love works in Love Is Kind, Really. Jared offered some cheering, life-affirming thoughts under the surprising title Mind Your Own Business (the title makes more sense after you read the post).
• At Threads from Henry's Web, Henry Neufeld considers The Bad Name of Evangelism -- and the obvious things we can do to remedy that.
• Pastor Weedon asks, "Why do we settle?" -- and posts a beautiful ancient musical setting for Psalm 119. In the comments there are some comments I find helpful on my own liturgical quests.

I'd also like to bid a fond farewell to Aardvark Alley, who has gone inactive this year. Best wishes, whatever your endeavors, and thank you for the many years of blogging!