Readers: I'm Thankful for You

Top Five from 2024

I’m taking a break from writing this week for Thanksgiving (at least for DruGroup). So this is merely a note to say I’m thankful for you, my readers. I have attempted to dial up my intentionality to routinely write for DruGroup in 2024, and so this email is just a moment to thank you for reading this past year.

Here’s one of my favorite Thanksgiving photos from ages ago. You’ll see here my son (he’s now an adult) enjoying a turkey leg all to himself when he was young—something he used to love to do, acting like a Viking or cave man. In the background you’ll see my Mom and my Dad to the left, with an already-decorated Christmas tree behind him and with a football game already on in the living room. Good times!

In order to share my thankfulness to my readers, here is a recap with some reflections on my five most read articles from the DruGroup Substack in the past year, starting with fifth place:

#5

What Healthy Boards Look Like

This was derived from some materials I’ve used in board trainings for other orgs when I was a consultant and from some board retreats over the years. It seems to have become a useful tool for people when thinking of boards and their function and specifically the priority on governance rather than tactical decision-making approach.

#4

On the Restoration of Ministers

In some ways this article was timely, as some ministers with a national platform were removed from office around that time (although I didn’t mention them by name). Unfortunately, I’d claim, this subject is somewhat always timely. The comments on this one are worth reading if you missed them. Lots of substantive additions and dialog on the subject from readers that I learned a lot from.

#3

What Are My Favorite Max Lucado Books? (I've worked with him for 18 years)

Wouldn’t have expected this but people love Max, eh? Easy for me to share about some of my fave Max books as he’s such a great writer, and an even better person in real life to work with. He’s the real deal.

#2

Christians I Disagree with Politically

I don’t write on politics much, but this one I took a risk on and it sure struck a chord with thousands of readers right away. I’ll emphasize here for those who didn’t read it at the time, that I wrote this before we knew the winner of the US elections in 2024. So, I believe this applies not only to everywhere here in the US, but also every Christian everywhere in all times. The comments on this one are also worth checking out as people grappled with the difficult commands of Scripture on how Christians should treat each other..

#1

From Great to Good: When Keith Drury Felt Like a Failure

The comments here were special to me as so many poured out their honoring statements about my Dad after his death. His favorite holiday was always Thanksgiving, and so this is our first Turkey day with out him, and I’m glad my mother will be with me in my home for that first major holiday without him. I’m thankful for his influence on others, but mostly on me. And I’m also thankful for all of you on this Thanksgiving.

PS: I do have other articles written before 2021 on my main website found here if you are interested, and a few other websites online that others own or maybe even I still do, half of which I’ve likely forgotten by now. On the internet time is usually measured in something akin to dog years.