The Best of HFE so Far! Counting Down the Top 10 Must-Read Articles

Last month, I published the 60th post here at HFE.

That’s an incredible achievement, especially since I never thought I’d make it past 40.

I’m not someone who can write about stuff I don’t care about. So the fact that I’ve been able to do this sixty times—with each post averaging close to 2,000 words—is surreal.

But now that I’ve hit this milestone, I think it’s a good time for a review.

I was looking through the popular posts on the sidebar the other day, and I couldn’t help but notice that all the cream hasn’t risen to the top. I guess you can chalk it up to having a small blog or posts just getting lost in the archives, but this gave me the idea to round up all my best stuff in one place. So this post will be a countdown of the top 10 articles I’ve published so far.

The ranking criteria I used here isn’t anything special. It’s mostly a combination of importance, length, personal attachment, and overall quality. And in some cases, it’s just personal opinion.

But with all that said, let’s get to the list. Here are the top 10 must-read articles on HFE so far:

#10: Giant Slayin’ and Legend Makin’: How to Win When You’re Not Number 1

Out of all the posts on this list, number ten is the only one I had trouble picking. The other nine were locks for the countdown. Ranking them in order was the only challenge I had.

But that issue aside, Giant Slayin’ is a great post to round out the list. It’s a mix of storytelling, inspiration, and practical tips—all of which are staples of some my best work.

The post also includes the story of the most improbable 3-on-3 basketball victory ever. And I will proudly brag about that one till I’m in the grave.

Besides that though, it’s just a fun read. I love when I can stay on the motivational side of things and not get too serious. And this post is the result of what happens when I’m free to create like that.

Again, I didn’t initially think it was a lock for the top ten, but it’s still a solid article that can inspire even the lowest of underdogs.

That’s why I included it here.

#9: What’s Wrong with the World? (Explaining the Christian Worldview)

Biblical Christianity explained in a five minute read.

That’s what this post is.

It’s one of the earlier pieces I wrote for the site, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, the message it presents is the most important thing I will ever write about.

I only ranked it at nine here though because it is on the shorter side. Plus it doesn’t go too far in depth.

This one was always meant to be a simple explanation of the Christian faith and it’s place in the modern world. The post is concise, informative, and—depending on the reader’s response—life-changing.

It’s also one of the few posts I received “confirmation” on. 

I’ll avoid the details of what that means for the sake of not sounding too weird, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the message presented there is true. And that’s why it’s a no-brainer for this list.

#8: Dissecting Kobe Bryant’s The Mamba Mentality: How I Play (8 Actions and 24 Quotes to Master Your Craft)

Writing the Mamba Mentality post was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. But the crazy thing is, I wrote it in a less-than-optimal situation.

We had some construction work going on at my job one weekend, and yours truly had to oversee it. So this post was written in my empty office with the sound of a saw shredding concrete in the background.

Writing circumstances aside though, Mamba Mentality is a great read for my fellow basketball junkies. It’s a look inside the mind of one of the greatest athletes to step on the court, but the lessons included apply to much more than just sports.

Academics, business, art, you name it. The Mamba Mentality applies to them all.

Like I said, I really enjoyed writing this one. Reliving all the memories of Kobe’s career was a blast. And I think everyone can benefit from his approach to the game.

#7: Five Unique Men of the Bible Whose Stories Will Change Your Life

Five Unique Men of the Bible is one of the most fascinating articles on the site.

It’s been through a lot of rework since I first published it, but all the changes have only made it a better read.

The five people discussed are Joseph, David, Solomon, Jonah, and Paul—all men who lived some of the most unique lives in human history. The post then covers three lessons we can learn from each of their lives which adds a practical element to the article’s heavy storytelling.

Men of the Bible is one of the first posts where my passion for the Book really shines through. It’s an interesting read for both Christians and nonbelievers alike. (And there may or may not be a VeggieTales song involved too.)

#6: How to Defend Against False Accusations: A Personal Defense and 5 Guidelines to Protect The Truth

False Accusations is one of, if not the most personal articles on HFE. It tells the story of my own fight for my reputation and then transitions into a guide to defend yourself against lies you’ll hopefully never face.

It’s a socially relevant post that shows the danger of false positives. And I hate that it’s something I experienced firsthand.

The good news, however, is that experience is a great teacher. Without that experience, the realness and sense of urgency in that post would be nonexistent. And those two attributes are what allow my advice to carry weight.

A few readers have even sent emails telling how similar defense methods helped either them or their loved ones too. And it’s stories like those that really give meaning to what I do.

But overall, the post is an engaging, personal, and practical experience that can help anyone in a similar situation. So give it a read whenever you can.

#5: Beware of Borderline Personality Disorder

The story is exactly 100% the same [as] my own personal story. Thank you for [the] wonderful excellent post.

—Mindy C., Reader

Read this, and yeah its 100% an exact timeline of this 2 yr relationship that destroyed me in sooo many ways.

—Mitchell K., Reader

I’m glad I wrote this one but I wish I never had to.

Beware was one of the first articles that brought traffic to the site, but it was never without controversy.

Many people were relieved to meet someone with a shared experience. A few others have cursed me out for it.

I never intended to spark hate though. It was more of a “I needed to know it, so I’m gonna tell it” deal.

The post begins by listing behaviors that may lead to a BPD diagnosis, and then tells the story of how almost every relationship with an undiagnosed sufferer plays out.

It’s a very raw, passionate, and still practical read. Yes, it may come across as too aggressive at times, but it’s this tone that so accurately expresses the view of anyone in the same shoes.

Again, it was never meant to spread hate though. It was meant to protect people who may not be aware of the illness.

It’s a post that was born from a pretty awful situation. Yet it’s still proof that good can result from something as bleak as that.

#4: “All Christians are Hypocrites,” and Why I’m Not Religious Anymore

Religion and the internet.

Name a more controversial duo.

Those two lines start one of the most relevant faith-related posts on this site.

Hypocrites actually started as two separate articles, but I eventually merged them together and the transition between the two works well.

The first half discusses the common “All Christians are hypocrites” sentiment, while the second half explores the difference between religion and a godly relationship.

This one is particularly interesting because it shows how so many faith-related opinions are actually addressed in detail by the Bible. The second half also makes a much needed appeal to reason as to why Christianity is still important today.

But the biggest reason I rank this post so high is because of its personal nature.

Hypocrites details some of the great things God has done in my life so far. It also explains how good He’ll be to anyone else who seeks Him.

I know modern Christianity is stereotyped as boring, restrictive, and close-minded, but I don’t see how anyone could walk away with those thoughts after reading this.

#3: How to Screen Out Promiscuous Women (15 Red Flags Every Man Should Know)

Great article Drew.

All young men should be sent a copy.

Young teenage boys should study this at school. And be tested on it.

There seem to be very few moral women or men around. So the moral ones get taken for a ride (either sex).

There needs to be a guide like this for women too.

—Arnold, Reader

By far the most popular article here, How to Screen Out Promiscuous Women is a fun read that some may find a tad offensive, but it’s not a topic I wanted to be P.C. about.

My goal there was to be as honest as possible and help every man spot the signs of a bad partner. So while yes, it is one of the more subjective posts I’ve written, I approached it from an analytical angle to ground it in reality.

Truth be told though, I was hesitant to post it at first. No, not because I feared anyone’s opinion, but because it may have led readers to get the wrong idea about who I am.

My intention with this site though has always been to write about things I needed to learn. Promiscuous Women simply reflects that intention.

Red flags are red for a reason. And that post is a goldmine for guys who need to learn some hard truths.

#2:How to Read the Bible: The Non-Overspiritualized Beginner’s Guide

I love this post, man, I really do.

This one actually started as a draft I wrote months before, but it was nowhere good enough to post back then. In fact, the only parts that carried over to this version were about the various Bible translations. Everything else had to be redone.

This post is the longest article you’ll find on the site—it’s estimated to be a 20 minute read—but that’s because I wanted it to be as thorough as possible. Most similar articles aren’t nearly as in-depth and they don’t cover different translations, basic study techniques, and examples all in one place.

The structure of that post is very organized and there’s a smooth progression from the individual techniques to the main example at the end. The resources provided are also helpful and prove that I wasn’t just speaking from my own knowledge.

For these reasons, the post as a whole is a useful guide for whenever you get stuck interpreting verses. And overall, it was a joy to write.

Yes, it was challenging and it did take a lot out of me to finish. But I’m proud of it, and I believe all the good people I’ve learned from would be too.

#1: 5 Things Jesus Did That The Modern Church is Terrible at (And How We Can Fix Each)

As you can tell by this list, I’m very passionate about Christianity and the Bible. But with that being said, I’m not the biggest fan of modern Church culture, and this post explains five reasons why.

Things Jesus Did is one of the most theologically dense posts on this site, but I tried to explain my points simply enough to engage less experienced readers as well.

I’ve ranked this post as number one because of its large scope and relevance for the modern world. It’s a macro view of how believers act today compared to how the biblical Jesus behaved, and i think it came together well.

This article is also the most recent post on this list—a fact displayed by its overall quality and presentation. And if I had to name a post that most accurately defines who I am and what I do here, this would be it.

You can see the influence of everything I’ve been through in this one. It’s the culmination of all that HFE is so far. And for both of those reasons, it’s ranked at number one.

The Best is Yet to Come

Keep this up. Don’t stop. Be honest. Good stuff.

—Keith B., Reader

So those are the top ten must-read articles on HFE so far.

Going through this list brought back a ton of memories and I’m looking forward to making more soon. So check those posts out for now, and stay tuned for more in the future…

I have a good feeling that the best is yet to come.

-Drew