My own little rolodex of subject-matter experts

I rarely update this blog anymore, but that doesn't mean I've given up on blogging. I'm just not (actively) authoring one myself. Instead, I'm reading other people's blogs and nuturing some really valuable connections. I've discovered incredibly amazing people through blogs. Some of them have become like my own little rolodex of subject-matter experts.

I've linked to a PR/marketing professional in China and formerly prolific blogger through Facebook. I can gather great insight into a field and geography that I find interesting. I'm connected (also via Facebook) to an environmental scientist for the U.S. Navy that also happens to blog about the intersection of Christianity and the environment. I wouldn't have met these guys if it hadn't been for their blogs.

What are the blogs that I read regularly nowadays, outside of those I read for work? (Yes, I consider some blog-reading to be part of my job.) Here's four that I check in on at least every couple weeks:

1. Imagethief. This guy is a PR/marketing flack from San Fran living in Shanghai and provides lots of good insight into what it's like for an American marketing professional to live and do business in China. The biggest plus, however, is simply his writing. Ab-so-lute-ly hilarious. I dare you to try keeping a straight face while reading a post. I'm not connected to Imagethief on Facebook, but would like to be.

2. Gideon Rachman. The foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times in London, Gideon combines what I think is a nice outside view on U.S. politics with classic British drollness (is that a word?). Not sure if Gideon has a Facebook account ... that'd be interesting to check out.

3. Agent Intellect. I really appreciate my online friendship with Jim Slagle. He's from Portland and is studying for a Christian philosophy doctorate in the Netherlands. He has time and persistence to do the reading and studying that I wish I did. I especially value his thinking on how science, Islam, and philosophy relate to Christianity. Jim, you really need a Facebook account.

4. Gentle Wisdom. I was overjoyed to have found Peter Kirk's blog a few years back. Since then, his blog has become quite a bit more popular, judging from the comments sections in his posts. Peter is not only a Christian of the charismatic strain (as I am), but also studied physics at Cambridge and theology at London Bible College. He currently helps translate the Bible into little-known languages! (How cool is that?) We're also Facebook pals, and I reference him when I have a particularly pressing exegetical question to ask. It's like having my own personal Bible commentator. Thanks, Peter!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share these links. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, I might be open to that. Just leave a comment to this post.